When you take a job, your employer will offer you a set of benefits.  For most college graduates, you might be confused by the content description of your benefits. 

Outlined below is a brief description of the types of benefits you might be offered.

• Health care – this is one of the most significant benefits.  Your employer will help you with your health care, but you will also be required to pay for part of your health care coverage.
• Retirement – this along with health care is the most important benefit. Your employer will contribute to your long – term financial security.
• Vision Care – your employer may contribute to all or part of your eye care including doctor’s visits, glasses/contacts, corrective surgery.
• Dental Care – your employer will pay all or part of expenses related to dental hygiene and care including routine dental check ups, dental cleanings, and corrective surgeries.
• Prescription drugs – some organizations will help you with a part of your medicine costs. 
• Health savings account – this is a way to put money aside for medical needs in a way to reduce your overall tax requirements.
• Educational assistance – many employers will help you pay all or part of your graduate degree.
• Child care – some employers will provide financial assistance or other support in taking care of your children as you are working
• Adoption assistance – some employers support adoptions by helping you with part or all of these costs.
• Leaves of absence – most organizations let you take time off for personal needs such as death in family, birth of a child, care for seriously ill family member, pursuit of an advanced degree, personal illness, and other similar situations.
• Relocation assistance – if you are reassigned to another location, your employer will help you move including all moving expenses and possibly helping you sell your home.
• Disability insurance – if you are unable to work on a short-term or long-term basis, your employer will help pick up a percentage of your salary during part or all of the time you can’t work.
• Life insurance – many employers will provide you with an insurance policy that provides for your heirs at the time of your death.
• Employee assistance – Many employers have a contract with a counseling organization that you can turn to for counseling in such areas as addictions, grief, marital issues, and other personal needs.
• Home office – some organizations allow you to work from home and will equip your office with computers, furniture, phones, etc.
• Alternate work arrangements – some organizations will provide you with alternative ways to work including flexible work hours, and job sharing with another person.
• Stock purchases – most employers whose stock is traded publicly will be able to buy stock without paying brokerage fees.

As you can tell from this list, you have many things to consider in looking at your benefit options.  In subsequent topics, each of these will be covered in more detail..