Are you uncomfortable in group settings? Do you abhor public speaking? Do you have better ideas than the loudmouths in your office, yet you watch helplessly as they get promoted while you're barely noticed working silently in your cubicle?If so, you're likely an introvert who is going to need some help from this week's guest, Nancy Ancowitz, author of 'Self-Promotion for Introverts: The Quiet Guide to Getting Ahead.'Whether you're introverted or extroverted, promoting yourself is mandatory, not optional, if you want to get ahead at work, Nancy tells Aaron and Wendy on this week's Salary Talk. ... view article details
Everyone's had mornings when they'd rather stay in their bunny slippers and gloat at the traffic reports while sipping coffee and working from their "home office." But in the past (let's call it the dark ages), some bosses considered "working from home" a euphemism for "doing errands" and only allowed it in the event of major plumbing or medical emergencies. Fortunately, progress in technology has made it possible to stay in your PJs and also be productive. Here's a surefire way to get even the most stubborn boss to let you give "teleworking" a try. Staying home is not just for snow days anym... view article details
Lessons to be Learned from Don Draper & Company The fifth season of Mad Men came to an end on Sunday night, closing for a time everyone's favorite window into the working world of days gone by. While the expectations for workplace behavior have certainly changed since the 1960s, this season of Mad Men still offered up a few useful lessons for today's ambitious professional. And thus we present you with the Top 10 Workplace Do's and Don'ts, as gleaned from season five of Mad Men.1. Don't Make Lewd Comments About Coworkers In the season premiere, Megan performed a sexy song-and... view article details
This Year's Survey Results are In If you saw the number of workers looking for new jobs has risen, you’d probably think it’s because employees are unhappy where they are. But you’d be wrong.An annual survey by Salary.com found there was a sharp increase in employee satisfaction in 2013, yet the percentage of people looking for new jobs continued to rise. This new information is part of Salary.com’s annual “January Job Hunters” survey, which was taken by more than 1,200 people regarding their current jobs as well as plans to search for a new job in 2014.Read on to see what this year’s ... view article details
The Importance of Buckling Down You know the feeling when you look at the clock and suddenly it’s 5 p.m. and your to-do list is barely touched. Thanks to multiple meetings, an email inbox with an endless supply of new requests and information, and shifting project deadlines that demand juggling, it’s no wonder that many of us reach the end of the day the way an exhausted runner approaches the finish line: spent.Even when you think you’re buckling down, chances are you’re not as productive as you could be. Taking a quick break for coffee or fresh air is one thing. However, a mental shi... view article details
Q: I have started a new job under the assumption that I would be working out of my employer's home-based office for about four months. Now he is telling me I need to work from my home. I have an associate's degree with over five years of experience in the administrative and HR fields. I am doing accounting, HR, business development, project administration, and travel coordination. He thinks I am doing a great job. I only make $28,000. Should I ask for a raise? Since I am working from home and using my own computer and materials, I think he should increase my pay. He doesn't pay for any of my ... view article details
Dear Annette,My husband just gave me a beautiful large diamond ring for my birthday. I want to wear it at work, but people in my office tend not to wear expensive jewelry even though many of them could well afford to. Is it tacky to wear my ring in the office? If it is, where else can I go to get some use from my ring? All That GlittersDear All That Glitters,'A kiss on the hand may be quite continental / but diamonds are a girl's best friend.' Truer words were never sung.As a small child in a small European republic near water where everyone speaks three languages and grows flowers, I once won... view article details
Hooray! This "pawsome" day has finally come. It’s Take Your Dog to Work Day 2018. Instead of leaving your four-legged friends at home – their sad eyes piercing your soul as you sneak out the back door feeling shame-faced – you can bring your furry companion along to the office (on the condition your workplace is participating, of course)! You will be your pupper’s watchful "humanager" for the day. You will conduct rigorous "furformance" reviews. Everyone will be cheerful and take a “pat break” at noon. A corgi named Banana Bread will pant along to your favorite song on Spotify. A Great Dane th... view article details
Create and Hone Your Organizational Culture Based on your Business Personality Just as people have different personality styles, organizations have different styles, too. Organizational culture or style is influenced by many factors -- by the person or people who started it, by its current leaders, and by the surrounding geographic and societal conventions, as well as by the nature of the work it does. But even those employees who like their jobs could end up clashing with your organizational culture. According to the founder of the Center for Values Research, Dr. Charles Hughes, harmon... view article details
What’s the worst thing an entrepreneur can do? Not listen, according to Chicago entrepreneur Adam Fridman.“We -- I am including myself on purpose -- get excited about an idea and we fire. Pausing to listen to advice seems a waste of time,” he said.Fridman would know. He founded three Chicago companies, making him a prominent entrepreneur in the Windy City startup community. While earning his Master's degree in finance from Depaul University in 2003, Adam founded Idea2Result, a Chicago based B2B appointment setting staffing company. Following the success of Idea2Result, Adam co-founded GoBumpe... view article details