Get a Tan & a Raise If the winter of 2013-2014 felt like one of the worst on record in your town, it probably was. The amount of snow in Chicago and New York City was in the top 10 all time, while Minneapolis had 50 days with temperatures below zero (and not surprising, reported 225 cases of frostbite). And even if you tried to escape it, the number of canceled flights was the worst in two decades.In other words, bring on summer!However, just because you can finally exchange your snowsuit for your swimsuit, it doesn’t mean you should ignore your career for the next few months.Here are... view article details

The Income Gap & Why We Should Care Two weeks ago, we looked at some numbers that suggested the gap between rich and poor in the United States is growing. Last week, we considered some possible reasons for this growing inequality.This week, we answer perhaps the most important question: So what? The numbers suggest the real income of the poor is holding steady; it is the soaring income of those at the top that is widening the gap. Why then should that one number -- the difference between the top and the bottom -- be of concern?According to several analyses, income inequality can cause... view article details

Volunteering Has Many Benefits Millennials love to volunteer. Why? In short, it makes them happy. But surprisingly, college students and young professionals also lead the pack in volunteerism as a means of developing themselves professionally.In fact, an employer’s involvement in causes was cited in the 2014 Millennial Impact Report as the third most important factor when determining whether to apply for a job. And a Deloitte study found that Millennials who frequently participated in workplace volunteer activities were more likely to be proud, loyal, and satisfied employees.Millennia... view article details

Research shows that humor works wonders for your health by relieving both physical and emotional stress and connecting you to others.Because of this, appropriate office humor is one of the best ways to relieve on-the-job tension, boost morale, and promote teamwork.But not all humor is created equal. Used inappropriately, humor can also alienate co-workers and create a hostile environment, which, in turn, can contribute to excess stress.How do you know when you've crossed the line? This article explores seven dos and seven don’ts of workplace humor. Don't alienate When the honey-haired... view article details

Is your job just a way to pay the bills, or would you prefer it to be a source of great fulfillment?If you chose the latter, one way you might be able to reach that goal is to ensure that your career matches your personality.While we are all individuals and none of us want to be encumbered with labels, certain personality types complement certain types of jobs.This article explores seven common personality categories and the types of jobs that may lead to more success—and ultimately, happiness.1. The Leader You are self-confident, decisive, have excellent communication skills, and lov... view article details

Dear Heather:I read your 'Death in the Workplace' column and found it to be helpful. But the person who was sick/dying wasn't in the workplace. It was a spouse of a co-worker. Right? How do you deal with a death IN the workplace?Thanks, 'Rachel'-----------------------------------------------Dear Rachel,While job promotions, moves, and career changes can shift the balance of personalities and politics in an office place, death leaves a sudden and often unexpected vacuum. With a co-worker's ascent up the career ladder, there is at least the promise of 'lunch' and a continued connection on Linked... view article details

Dear Annette,One of my teammates is a slacker. I'm tired of carrying his weight. What can I say or do?AtlasDear Atlas,I'll never forget the time Dickie had to fire his pedicurist for inattention and neglect. We were being recognized on International Women's Day in the thrice-named, fictitious Eastern European country where I was born. As we processed down the aisle of the newly repatriated 11th-century cathedral where the ceremony took place, Dickie went 'clickie-clickie' all the way to the altar, paw-nails reverberating for seven seconds. It was as if Pravda's Cold War typing pool were taking... view article details

If you open up a biology textbook and look at the pictures, you'll find a number of dull images of DNA, chromosomes, and photosynthesis that have been putting you to sleep since high school. Unless you’re looking at a book with new and enthralling scientific illustrations by Nicolle Fuller. As an independent science artist, Fuller conceptualizes and creates the scientific images found in magazines, scientific journals, and textbooks. Her artwork runs the gamut from paintings of ancient dinosaurs to intricate depictions of highly complex cellular systems. What every one of her pieces has in com... view article details

There are seven common reasons why networking fails in the professional arena.The most common among them is the fact that 1) people are unsure of how to start a conversation, let alone what to say or the appropriate questions to ask. This can often be unnerving, making people 2) uncomfortable, particularly with people they have just met. Naturally, there is a 3) fear of rejection that accompanies networking, but networking can also be difficult due to 4) people's busy schedules, which causes them not to respond, understand the request or care enough to engage in a networking conversation. This... view article details

Choose Your Investments Wisely When a couple decides to have children, the sacrifices start early. Perhaps they look around their cramped city apartment and think about the spontaneous days when they’d hop on the back of a motorcycle and speed off to wine country for the weekend.Suddenly, the conversation turns to selling off the Honda CB77 Super Hawk for a Honda Odyssey EX-L with third row seating, and researching suburban towns where you get the most room for your money.A smart couple putting a premium on education continually weighs the cost of an investment versus the potential pa... view article details