How Do You Spend Your Time? You know how some people are always late but tend up spending way more time in a meeting than you think is necessary? And how some people are always prompt? An easy way to recognize someone’s personality style is looking at how they spend their time. Review these descriptions and see if you recognize yourself and your coworkers.Direct Style Time Management People with a Direct style don’t waste time. They are almost always in a hurry, and they get impatient with you if you aren’t. They are action-oriented, making quick decisions and implementing th... view article details

Job Search Tips to Hit the Ground Running Hi. I’m job search expert Rick Gillis. I’m new to Salary.com and very proud to be here. I do a number of live presentations annually and for many years have promoted Salary.com as one of the most useful sites to job seekers. That said let’s get to work.While we'll delve deep into job search strategies and insider tips at some point in the future, it never hurts to cover the basics. So whether you're a new jobseeker just setting out on interviews or a grizzled job search veteran who could use a refresher, here are some job search basics that al... view article details

Negotiating is not easy. And, for many people, not at all pleasant. Complicating matters even further is the difficulty involved with negotiating your own self-worth following a job offer. Most people know how much hinges on salary negotiations and performance reviews. Failure to argue your self-worth often means leaving thousands of dollars on the table, and can potentially cost you millions of dollars over the course of your life. Yet our research found nearly one-fifth of workers never negotiate after they're offered a job. The question is why? With so much on the line, why ar... view article details

Less than a year after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University first united to launch a free online education initiative known as edX, the program has gone global.EdX announced last week that it has added six new schools to the consortium, included renowned universities in Australia, Europe, and Canada. These additions bring the program up to 12 schools offering dozens of courses.'We’ve always had a very international student body, but this brings in a diverse set of schools to serve our diverse set of students,' said edX spokesman Dan O'Connell.Joining the consortium ... view article details

Dear Annette,I work in a small office. One of my coworkers doesn't shower very regularly, and we are unsure how to talk to him about it without hurting his feelings. He is a very funny, nice and bright person, but this is a problem.OdorlessDear Odorless,Every morning I review my Philosophy of Fragrance: that my personal scent is an opportunity to tell others who I am and what they can do for me. 'I am an unwashed person. Write for help' is probably not what your colleague had in mind. That's a pity, because aromas contribute so much to the formation of a personal brand. The beautiful memories ... view article details

Dear Annette,My boss talks to other employees about employees. Is this an accepted practice? He claims to be quite educated in new management styles. However, I do not feel as though I should know that he is thinking about firing his secretary, also known as my coworker. Sincerely, Rather Not KnowDear Rather Not Know,Perhaps like me you recall the era when information was the currency of fabulousness. How much energy and time used to go into hiding and discovering secrets? How many Saturday and Sunday mornings has my dog Dickie spent sniffing around the back doors of my little Beverly Hills ne... view article details

The Aged Must Adapt You're over 50. You're entitled to feel that you've proven yourself by now, and your current employer seems to agree. But you see the cubicles filling up with 20- and 30-somethings, and you wonder: what do they bring to the workplace that I don't? How does my manager compare the two of us? Face it: sometimes they are the managers!How can you make sure everyone concerned -- you, your younger co-workers, and your employer -- benefits from the situation in which you find yourself? Fortunately, some of those managers are happy to talk about their older workers, and the... view article details

Q. My boss has cut back my hours because of budgetary concerns, yet she has 'found' the money in her budget to get her two college-age daughters part-time work in our department (human resources), as well as odd jobs in other departments. She also hired friends of hers. I learned that one of her friends got a raise when the rest of us didn't, even though the friend had just started working here. I have always worked very hard, often working through lunch hour without asking for overtime. Lately I've started sending out my resume. Is there anything else I can do?A. Unfortunately, there is no la... view article details

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: Are verbal agreements legally binding? I was recruited by my current employer through a management recruiting firm for a lateral position. The recruitment came with a verbal agreement that I would move into my supervisor's position in two to three years, after he moved back to the division headquarters. Now that he's moving back, the new plant manager has decided not to honor that agreement and the HR manager tells me no one is guaranteed a promotion.A: I'm not a lawyer - and I don't play one on TV - but I never take verbal agreements seriously. If your supervisor planned to move you into a... view article details