{"store":{"customizeEditHighlightKey":null,"customizeEditingSectionKey":null,"customizeScrollToKey":null,"baseInfo":{"podcastTitle":"The Next Step: Adulting 101","slug":"nextstepready","podcastDescription":"

It's Adulting 101.

This podcast is focused on everything you *should* learn in school - but likely didn't. What EXACTLY is a deductible? How does insurance ACTUALLY work? What is the difference between a defined-benefit and defined-contribution plan? What does a good job offer look like? How do I negotiate a job?

We'll cover these topics AND more. We'll break down complicated concepts with industry professionals - you know, like what are the differences between a HMO, PPO, and HSA?

Discover more about the Next Step Program here.

Get the book here!

","podcastLogo":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/21889964/Beige_Neutral_Simple_Podcast_Cover-2964y0.png","podcastShareLogo":"https://d2bwo9zemjwxh5.cloudfront.net/image-logo/21889964/Beige_Neutral_Simple_Podcast_Cover-2964y0_1200x628.jpg?s=80c578cb3c166212eec23271457b3984&e=png","podcastUrl":"https://nextstepready.podbean.com","podcastCanSearched":true,"feedUrl":"https://feed.podbean.com/nextstepready/feed.xml","theme":"elegant","podcastDeepLink":"https://www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-gye2g-14e03ac?from=usersite","removePodbeanBranding":"no","brandingLogo":null,"timeZone":{"timeZoneId":11,"gmtAdjustment":"GMT-06:00","useDaylightTime":1,"value":-6,"text":"(GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)","daylightStartTime":"Second Sunday Of March +2 Hours","daylightEndTime":"First Sunday Of November +2 Hours","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"podcastDownloads":null,"totalEpisodes":38,"showComments":true,"iOSAppDownloadLink":null,"customizeCssUrl":null,"androidAppDownloadLink":null,"showPostShare":true,"showLike":true,"author":"Nichole Harken","enableEngagementStats":true,"shareEmbedLink":"https://admin5.podbean.com/embed.html?id=pbblog-gye2g-14e03ac-playlist","language":"en","sensitivitySessionExpireTime":3600,"podcastApps":[{"name":"Apple Podcasts","link":"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-step-leaping-to-adulthood/id1870719749","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/apple-podcast.png","title":null},{"name":"Podbean App","link":"https://www.podbean.com/pw/pbblog-gye2g-14e03ac?from=usersite","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/podbean-app.png","title":null},{"name":"Spotify","link":"https://open.spotify.com/show/6eJo2EzZgO5HhN1z4lhgLj","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/spotify.png","title":null},{"name":"Amazon Music","link":"https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e3ea3dde-8f26-4f1b-9d6f-9b9d5a260c21","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/AmazonMusic.png","title":null},{"name":"iHeartRadio","link":"https://iheart.com/podcast/318428402","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/iHeartRadio.png","title":null},{"name":"PlayerFM","link":"https://player.fm/series/3712885","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/PlayerFM.png","title":null},{"name":"Listen Notes","link":"https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-next-step-leaping-to-adulthood-nichole-8iBe2ZE3RKb/#google_vignette","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/ListenNotes.png","title":null},{"name":"Podchaser","link":"https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-next-step-leaping-to-adult-6350162","image":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1/site/images/admin5/Podchaser.webp","title":null}],"components":{"base":[{"id":"MainStyle","val":"light"},{"id":"Font","val":"Geometric Humanist"},{"id":"SecondaryFont","val":"Geometric Humanist"},{"id":"PlayerColor","val":"#428200"},{"id":"PlayerStyle","val":"player1"},{"id":"PlayerWave","val":"show"},{"id":"Favicon","val":null},{"id":"CookiesNotice","val":"hide"},{"id":"CookiesNoticeContent","val":"

Cookies Notice

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies.

"},{"id":"EpisodePageListenOn","val":"hide"},{"id":"EpisodePageCustomizeComponent","val":"hide"}],"home-header":[{"id":"HomeHeaderTextColor","val":"#000000"},{"id":"HomeHeaderBackgroundColor","val":"#ffffff"}],"page-header":[{"id":"PageHeaderTextColor","val":"#ffffff"},{"id":"PageHeaderBackgroundColor","val":"#868686"}],"episode-list":[{"id":"EpisodesPerPage","val":10},{"id":"EpisodeStats","val":"show"}],"navigation":[{"id":"NavigationFontColor","val":"#000000"},{"id":"NavigationBackgroundColor","val":"#e9e9e9"},{"id":"NavigationSearch","val":"show"},{"id":"NavigationLinks","val":[{"id":"Home","type":"Link","value":"/","text":"Home","subitems":[]},{"id":"Subscribe","type":"Link","value":"https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/DMWLOgClOukR","text":"Subscribe","subitems":[]},{"id":"Profile","type":"Link","value":"https://www.podbean.com/user-O1WoGwfa6uz2","text":"Profile","subitems":[]}]}],"footer":[{"id":"FooterType","val":"Footer2"},{"id":"FooterFontColor","val":"#ffffff"},{"id":"FooterBackgroundColor","val":"#000000"},{"id":"FooterCopyright","val":"Copyright 2026 All rights reserved."},{"id":"SocialMediaLinks","val":{"facebook_username":"","twitter_username":"","instagram_username":"","youtube_username":"","linkedin_username":""}}],"customize-container1":[],"customize-container2":[],"customize-container":[{"id":"EpisodeListType","val":"grid"}]},"allLinks":[],"mainStylesDefaultSettings":null,"defaultCustomizeComponents":null,"scripts":[],"metas":null,"appConfig":{"package":"com.podbean.app.podcast","app_store_id":973361050,"app_name":"Podbean","scheme":"podbean"},"customizeCss":null,"canEditCss":null,"enableJsCodeInCustomizeContent":false,"enabledIframeCodeInCustomizeContent":true,"sectionMaxCount":10,"enableEditorLink":true,"enableEditCookiesNotice":true,"siteRedirectToFeed":false,"podcatcherRssUrl":null,"showFeed":true,"showTopBar":false,"enableWebSiteLike":true,"organizationName":null,"organizationPageLink":null,"subscribeLink":"https://www.podbean.com/site/podcatcher/index/blog/DMWLOgClOukR","isPrivateChannel":false},"backToListUrl":"/","tinymceLoaded":false,"listEpisodes":[],"userLikedEpisodes":[],"userLikeCheckedEpisodes":[],"topBarIframeLoaded":false,"listTotalCount":0,"listTotalPage":0,"listPage":0,"listType":"all","listValue":"","listName":"","pageLoading":false,"apiBaseUrl":"https://nextstepready.podbean.com","apiV2BaseUrl":"","apiCommonParams":{"t":"6a9e28b0","clientSignature":"9e4e21d5bedb81ac6b61211592b60ae3","u":null,"customizing":null},"apiCommonHeaders":{},"comments":[],"commentsTotalCount":0,"commentsTotalPage":0,"commentsPage":1,"commentEpisodeId":"pb27411462-hkzks","episode":{"id":"pb27411462","idTag":"hkzks","title":"Episode 2: Staying Organized: The Application Process","logo":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog21889964/Untitled_1400_x_1400_px_7idf9_300x300.png","shareLogo":"https://d2bwo9zemjwxh5.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog21889964/Untitled_1400_x_1400_px_7idf9_1200x628.jpg?s=f87da0f490ed6fa98e8ed0d5f13952f8&e=png","largeLogo":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog21889964/Untitled_1400_x_1400_px_7idf9.png","previewContent":null,"content":"

In this episode we discuss managing multiple job applications emphasizing the importance of staying organized by using a dedicated folder in the cloud and detailed application tracker. Nikki also discusses the role of Applicant Tracking Systems and AI, advising job seekers to adapt their materials and remain authentic. Application Tracker

","publishTimestamp":1768951539,"duration":618,"mediaUrl":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/hmi43hrkdfs43jtm/Episode_2_-_The_Applicaiton_Processazplq.mp3","mediaType":"audio/mpeg","shareLink":"https://admin5.podbean.com/embed.html?id=pb-hkzks-1a24406","likedCount":0,"deepLink":"https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hkzks-1a24406","transcriptUrl":null,"permalink":"/e/staying-organized-the-application-process/","downloadLink":"https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-hkzks-1a24406?download=1","fallbackResource":null,"fallbackResourceMimetype":null,"downloadCount":64,"status":"publish","hasMoreContent":false,"chaptersUrl":null,"explicit":false},"episodeShareLink":null,"deepLink":"https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hkzks-1a24406","playlist":{"episodes":[],"current":0,"start":0,"stop":0,"playing":true,"playerLoading":true,"playbackRate":1,"playbackRateIndex":1,"volume":1},"toasts":[],"confirm":null,"customizeEditorFormZIndex":999,"lastRequestTime":null,"validateChangesOnBeforeunload":true,"windowWidth":1000,"previewDevice":"desktop","VITE_FS1_CDN_URL_PREFIX":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/fs1","reloadStats":false,"userIdEncrypted":null,"userProfilePicture":null,"username":null,"isVerified":false,"loadUserInfo":false,"loginUrl":"https://www.podbean.com/site/user/login?return=https%253A%252F%252Fnextstepready.podbean.com%252Fe%252Fstaying-organized-the-application-process%252F&rts=d91a35f26fbacf0457a421f6ee22e70ae113eb7e","recaptchaV3Loaded":false,"recaptchaV2Loaded":false,"likesLoaded":false,"commentLikeMap":{},"commentOffset":0,"widgetCommentsLoaded":false},"episode":{"id":"pb27411462","idTag":"hkzks","title":"Episode 2: Staying Organized: The Application Process","logo":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog21889964/Untitled_1400_x_1400_px_7idf9_300x300.png","shareLogo":"https://d2bwo9zemjwxh5.cloudfront.net/ep-logo/pbblog21889964/Untitled_1400_x_1400_px_7idf9_1200x628.jpg?s=f87da0f490ed6fa98e8ed0d5f13952f8&e=png","largeLogo":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/ep-logo/pbblog21889964/Untitled_1400_x_1400_px_7idf9.png","previewContent":null,"content":"