Thrill Builder! Slowly the car inches up the improbable incline, defying gravity, and propelled by unseen forces. As the roller coaster car gets to the crest of the hill and peers over the top at the twisted tracks and loop-the-loops that lie just ahead, you try to convince yourself that the person who designed this cruel contraption knows what he is doing. Relax. He does. Kent Seko originally wanted to be an architect. He rode roller coasters as a kid, but never thought about designing them until years later, when a friend who worked at Arrow Dynamics, Inc., a roller coaster design firm, talk... view article details

Q: At work, two departments have two separate requirements. One requires a four-year bachelor's degree with a lower starting salary than the other, which requires only a two-year associate's degree. Is this appropriate?A: I know of no legal precedent requiring employers to pay someone with a bachelor's degree more than someone with an associate's degree. If your company has a compensation strategy that pays its employees based on competence and skill sets, it is possible that someone with an associate's degree would get paid more than an employee with a bachelor's degree.I can't say whether it... view article details

There has never been a better time to plan progressing your career. In today’s war for talent, there are more job vacancies than there are unemployed individuals to fill them. As for the future Marty McFly, a report by Dell Technologies estimates that 85% of the jobs today’s learners will be doing in 2030 havn’t even been invented yet. So whether your resolution for the new year is to enter the workforce for the first time, move into a more senior role, or make a lateral move, you should start strategizing now. But with so many possibilities, how do you know which path to take? In addition ... view article details

There has never been a better time to plan your career path. In today’s war for talent, there are more job vacancies than unemployed individuals to fill them. Career growth will certainly evolve in the future. A report by Dell Technologies estimates that 85% of the jobs today’s learners will be doing in 2030 haven't even been invented yet – good luck future Marty McFly! So whether your plan for career growth in the new year is to enter the workforce for the first time, move into a more senior role, or make a lateral move, you should start strategizing now. But with so many possibilities, how d... view article details

For Tony Danza, having a thick regional accent keeps him working. But for the rest of us who are interviewing and looking for jobs, sounding like Snooki from Jersey Shore or Matt Damon when he played that 'wikkid smaht kid,' is not helpful. Research indicates human resource professionals hold biases against different accents, and it affects their decisions. But which accents are the worst offenders and what can you do to make sure you avoid being screened out simply for the way you talk? Read on, we've got you covered.Address the Accent All it takes is one higher-up ma... view article details

Should we fly? Or surf?  Prior to 2001, business travel spending was on the rise. It seemed as if everyone was jet setting off to meet a client, or attend some conference or another. Since the attacks on September 11th, things have changed. While it is true that business travel, and travel in general, has increased from the decimated levels we saw in the fourth quarter of 2001, they are still nowhere near where they were prior to that time. The reason for this seemingly slow recovery is that there actually has been no 'recovery' at all. The travel industry, in general, has all but recovered fr... view article details

Tips for Living within Your Means'It's not like I'm disorganized,' said Michelle E., a 28-year-old paralegal from Aurora, Colorado. 'My friends even joke about my CD collection being alphabetized. Yet my savings account is always empty and I never manage to pay down my credit cards,' she said.Cathy W. is 36, single, and facing a similar dilemma. 'I'm a freelancer in computer graphics based out of San Francisco. I think I make decent money, but there's never any left over. I don't see how I could ever afford my own home - certainly not in this town. I have no investments, never mind retirement ... view article details

Careers That Don't Require You to Commute Farther Than Your Living Room Yahoo! Makes Waves by Banning Work-from-Home Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, caused quite a stir this week when she told her employees they would no longer be allowed to work at home. And in doing so, both sides of the always contentious debate have sprung into action either supporting Mayer's decision or lambasting it. Mayer and Yahoo! have said their policy is not a referendum on the wisdom of working at home, but simply what's best for the company. They feel nothing truly replaces face-time and person-to-person interac... view article details

Part-time work offers employees the flexibility to stay at home with their children, care for relatives, go to school or have more time to themselves. These kinds of jobs are also a way to earn supplemental income throughout the year or on a temporary basis during the holidays. Whether you already have a job and you want to work part-time to supplement your income, or you just need extra money for the holidays, we have some suggestions for jobs that may suit your needs.Part-time Seasonal and Supplemental Jobs Before you start your search, consider the following: Use a... 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