Q: I'm happy with my current job, but out of the blue I received an 'opportunity of a lifetime' for a new job.What percentage salary increase should I expect in taking the new job? In other words, once all other points are negotiated, what percentage increase should I expect in salary alone? Ten percent, 15, 20? Is there a norm for folks changing jobs?A: Your level of satisfaction with your current employment does not really dictate your worth in the marketplace. As always, go to the Salary Wizard to find out how much your job is currently worth or get a Personal Salary Report to fine-tune the... view article details

Q:   I have worked at a few short-term contract positions in the past few months after being laid off by my previous employer. How should I present this information on my resume? Is it possible to consolidate this experience into just one entry? If so, how should I list the companies, dates, and locations? I don't want to give a future employer the impression that I was job hopping, but this has happened considering the current state of the economy and the scarcity of opportunities.A:   I would call it what it is - short-term assignments. Don't try to consolidate the information. If your prosp... view article details

Q. I am a temporary employee for a large firm. Before I interviewed for the job, the agency representative asked me what salary I wanted. The hourly wage I quoted was too low and does not reflect my years of experience. Later I was told that neither the agency nor the employer was able to find anyone to perform this job (the person I replaced is on a job-related disability leave). This is a professional position. The basic salary is below the Salary Wizard median. In addition, several other people at this department will be taking extended absences. What is the appropriate avenue for requestin... view article details

The only way to truly get the life you want is by taking positive risks and planning a strategy for doing so.'Unlike negative risks, which are typically impulsive and emotionally driven, positive risks are calculated,' says Gail McMeekin, a nationally recognized creativity and HR career coach (www.creativesuccess.com). 'You must think them through, and anticipate what could happen,  before you jump.'Choosing to find a mentor to help accelerate your career is one way of taking a positive risk.  Develop “a road map” by first deciding if you want the mentor to be someone inside the company... view article details

On this week's episode of Salary Talk Aaron and Wendy chat with Stuart Diamond, the Pulitzer Prize winning former journalist turned Wharton Business School professor who literally wrote the book on negotiation when he penned the New York Times bestselling book Getting More last year. Tune in to take advantage of Diamond's invaluable advice on everything from asking for a raise to getting your toddler to go to bed on time. Stuart Diamond is the author of Getting More: How to Negotiate to Achieve Your Goals in the Real WorldRemove emotion from the equation, focus first and foremost on the perso... view article details

The only way to truly get the life you want is by taking positive risks and planning a strategy for doing so. "Unlike negative risks, which are typically impulsive and emotionally driven, positive risks are calculated," says Gail McMeekin, a nationally recognized creativity and HR career coach. "You must think them through, and anticipate what could happen, before you jump." Choosing to find a mentor to help accelerate your career is one way of taking a positive risk. Develop “a road map” by first deciding if you want the mentor to be someone inside the company or an outside coach. Know what s... view article details

It's Tough to Succeed When You're Sending All the Wrong Messages Your Personal Brand is Critical for Success Donald Trump. Martha Stewart. Mark Zuckerberg. Sarah Palin. Chances are you can think of a few things to say about each of them based on the impressions you’ve gathered about their personal brands -- however unconsciously -- complete with triumphs, missteps, and various forms of public humiliation and scandal. And depending on what those critically managed (not always successfully) impressions are, and by how many they are held, the lives and affairs of the Trumps, Stewarts and Palin... view article details

You've just been notified of your last day of employment. Your supervisor hands you a severance agreement and release and your mind is flooded with questions. How can this happen? Can they do that? Unfortunately, if you are an employee at will your employer can terminate you at any time, without notice and with or without severance. After the shock, here are a few things you should consider when reviewing a severance agreement and managing the transition from one company to your next opportunity. 1. Last Paycheck vs. Severance Package For most, the first questions that come to mind are "what's... view article details

The Big Game Is Just Like Your Career It’s no secret Americans love NFL football, especially considering more than 100 million people will tune in for Super Bowl Sunday. But even if you hate football or just watch the big game for the commercials and the nachos, there’s something you can learn from the quarterbacks involved. Things that can be directly applied to your career.4. You Need to Take Charge One of the defining characteristics of a quarterback is leadership skills. Against all odds, at the end of the game, great quarterbacks take charge of a situation and make thing... view article details

Is Higher Education Worth Higher Prices? Many students over the last couple of decades have been raised by parents who viewed college not as an option, but an inevitability – no matter the cost. But as the price of higher education goes through the roof and combines with rampant unemployment for recent college graduates, some people are beginning to wonder if the massive student loans are worth it.So, we asked people directly.More than 1,500 of you took our survey and told us your opinions regarding whether college is necessary for career success, if it is still worth the money, and o... view article details