24 THE COURIER SUN • AUGUST 13, 2015 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com business Employment Matters: Making a Good First Impression Dear Mindy, I am getting ready for a really important interview. What tips do you have for making a good impression? Need Help in Bayside Dear Need, The fi rst few minutes of an interview can set the tone for the entire meeting and the slightest mistake can ruin your chances for success. As Will Rogers once said, “You never get a second chance to make a good fi rst impression.” With that in mind, here are some job-search tips to ensure your interview begins on the right foot. Research the company. Before you walk into the offi ce, be sure you know something about the company. This shows your interest and gives you the opportunity to engage in conversation about things that matter to the organization. Is the company acquiring another business? Did they recently receive a prestigious award? These are all pieces of information that can be great conversation starters. Dress for success. Your clothing, grooming, hygiene and hairstyle are an integral part of your professional brand. Consider your target employer’s company culture when selecting your interview outfi t so you look like you’re already a part of the team. Regardless of the company’s dress code, make sure your outfi t fi ts you well, is clean and pressed, and looks put together. Your interview starts before you enter the office. Your interview starts as soon as you enter the premises. Assume everyone you encounter, from the security guard to the receptionist is part of the vetting process. Be friendly and considerate with those around you, including others waiting for interviews. Don’t talk on the phone or gulp down a quick meal in the waiting room. Instead, focus on reviewing your materials and mentally preparing for your meeting. Show confidence. Most interviews begin with someone asking you to “tell me about yourself.” This is the perfect opportunity to describe how your experience and successes can transfer easily to the new organization and provide value to the employer. Be prepared with memorable examples of how you have demonstrated your qualifi cations in the past. Smile. Make sure your body is sending positive vibes. Don’t fold your arms or stick your hands in your pockets. Lean a little forward in your chair to indicate your interest, but don’t invade the interviewer’s space. Maintain eye contact and don’t forget to smile! If you would like more tips to about how to ace your interview, or would like an expert to help prepare you for that important interview day, contact Mindy directly at www.askmindynnow.com Mindy Stern, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, ACC is a trusted HR advisor, career coach, author, speaker and president of AIM Resource Group Inc. Visit the website at www.aimresourcegroup. com or call 718-217-1074 to get RESULTS! Do you want your questions answered in this column? Send requests to: www.askmindynow.com The Elder Law Minute TM Questions frequently asked of an elder law attorney BY RONALD A. FATOULLAH, ESQ. AND STACEY MESHNICK, ESQ. Planning for a loved one can often be overwhelming. Seeking the advice of an elder care attorney can help to allay concerns and allow for appropriate planning. The following are some of the questions that clients typically ask elder law attorneys. Q: My mother is aging and her health is declining. What sort of issues should I be thinking about? A: As Mom ages it is important to think about who will handle her fi nancial and medical affairs if and when she becomes incapacitated. Mom can execute a well drafted power of attorney appointing individuals who will handle her affairs. This document should include the ability to handle all types of planning as well as the authority to gift assets to effectuate such planning. A health care proxy appoints someone to make health care decisions, including those regarding artifi cial nutrition and hydration, in the event that Mom is unable. Q: My father is preparing to apply for Medicaid, and he wants to gift assets to me, but I was told that he can only gift $14,000 annually. A: Medicaid planning and estate planning are two totally different arenas. Medicaid will impose a transfer penalty for assets previously transferred for applicants applying for nursing home Medicaid. This has nothing to do with the $14,000 annual gift tax exclusion, whereby individuals are permitted to gift $14,000 per recipient without the requirement of fi ling a gift tax return. Q: I am a joint owner on all of my mother’s joint accounts. She wants to leave one of the accounts to my sister. Should she sign a will in which she leaves the account to my sister? A: While your mother should have a will that designates her dispositive wishes upon her death, if all of her accounts are jointly held with you, the assets will pass to you irrespective of what her will indicates. Q: What is the difference between a will and a trust? A: It is necessary to prove (“probate”) a will once a person has died. Probate entails providing notice to those who would inherit assets. It must be proven that the will was signed in accordance with state law. Once the will is approved and all necessary steps are taken, including marshalling the assets, the executor may distribute the estate assets. A trust is an agreement wherein an individual- the trustee - (either the creator of the trust and/or another person) is entrusted with holding assets of an individual. The trust indicates to whom assets are to be distributed (unless held in further trust) upon the death of the grantor. It is not necessary to prove a trust. There are several other advantages to a trust that are beyond the scope of this article. Q: Are there different types of Medicaid for my 85 year old ailing parent? A: If your parent can remain in the home, community Medicaid is an option as long as your parent’s income and resources are within allowable levels. There is no lookback period for community Medicaid. Thus, prior transfers will not create a penalty period. If your parent needs nursing home care, then institutional Medicaid is an option. There is a lookback for all transfers made within 60 months prior to the application. The rules differ signifi cantly between community Medicaid and nursing home Medicaid. An elder care attorney can review your particular situation and advise what may be best. Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq. is the principal of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, a law fi rm that concentrates in elder law, estate planning, Medicaid planning, guardianships, estate administration, trusts, wills, and real estate. Stacey Meshnick, Esq. is a senior staff attorney at the fi rm who has chaired the fi rm’s Medicaid department for over 15 years. The law fi rm can be reached at 718-261-1700, 516-466-4422, or toll free at 1-877-ELDER-LAW or 1-877-ESTATES. Mr. Fatoullah is also the cofounder of JR Wealth Advisors, LLC. The wealth management fi rm can be reached at 516-466-3300 or 800-353-3775. ELDER LAW RONALD FATOULLAH ESQ, CELA*
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