You've Gotta Want It! Has your gym lock been repurposed for use as a paperweight? While it might be quite effective at holding down all those 'must read' memos, it looked better dangling from your gym locker. Remember? The gym? You first wandered in months ago. Hopeful. Resolved. You made promises. Signed papers. And bought a lock.Sure, it’s tough to fit in fitness. Especially in the dead of winter with crowded gyms full of people clinging to their New Year's resolutions and temperatures that make working out outside more than a little icy. Not to mention the fact that your job may re... view article details

The Wait is On In 1965, basketball player Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to earn $100,000 in salary. But that didn’t sit well with Bill Russell, who had already led the Boston Celtics to 8 championships in the previous 9 years. As the story is told, he went to the team and demanded a salary of $100,001, which he promptly received.If only asking for and receiving the job and salary you wanted could be that fast and easy for everyone.If you’ve been job searching for some time, then you already know the frustration it can bring. According to one report, the average length o... view article details

Take Some Responsibility There's no two ways about it -- it's tough out there for jobseekers.No one is denying things are grim. Job openings have started to increase, but hiring still hasn't picked up enough for anyone's liking. Competition for good jobs remains absolutely fierce, with dozens, or even hundreds, of candidates all vying for a single opening. And far too many companies still rely on automated resume filtering software that values keywords over finding the best talent. So yes, it's tough.However, jobseekers need to shoulder their share of the blame as well.It's easy to si... view article details

Everyone Thinks About Changing Careers Most people have thought about changing jobs. But what if you’re someone who has been doing a job for what seems like forever? Someone with a truly unique set of skills? Someone like -- Santa Claus.Even those of us with great jobs occasionally wonder if the grass is greener. So it stands to reason the big guy in red -- who has been doing the same gig for quite a while now -- might be a little bored with dashing, dancing and prancing across the globe every Christmas Eve. But even if he could find someone else to make the toys, drive the sleigh and... view article details

Don't Make It Any Harder on Yourself Is it any wonder job interviews are such fertile ground for disaster?Just think about it for a second. The hiring manager has to fill the position quickly and with the right person, and has to choose from a pool of candidates who are more than likely desperate to find employment and pay bills. Applicants have an hour or so to present themselves in the best possible light, and if you believe some experts it only takes a few seconds following a first impression for people to make their final judgments. Finally, throw in a hefty portion of self-doubt ... view article details

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome is Real Some people are hard-wired to go to bed late and wake up late. They’re not lazy and they’re not insomniacs. Instead, they just have to keep a late sleep schedule or they’re liable to pay a huge toll in their health and well-being, not to mention their careers. To function well, we all need to match our sleep schedule to our body's circadian rhythms, which are being increasingly researched by sleep experts.In this fifth story in a series about delayed sleep phase syndrome (also DSPS, or delayed sleep), you’ll meet Tina Garner, an engineering design ... view article details

When Early Isn't an Option How does a night owl who arrives at work after noon each day succeed in his career?The first story in this series covers the basics about a type of circadian rhythm disorder called delayed sleep phase syndrome (also DSPS, or delayed sleep), which half a million Americans suffer. In the second story, a writer with delayed sleep says she felt like death holding down a 9-to-5 job, and ultimately felt better when she began freelancing. In this third story, you’ll meet Tom Lemmon, a software engineer at a top Internet company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Lemmon, ... view article details

So, you taught your dog to catch a Frisbee and your parrot to squawk 'Loser!' when your brother walks into the room. Well done.The rewards of animal training are many -- ranging from the obvious advantages of a puddle-free house to the potential 15 minutes of 'stupid pet trick' fame on Letterman.  But it goes both ways. Our pets also model valuable behaviors worth emulating, such as loyalty, trust and affection. Are you learning, Teacher? Consider what pet traits are worth following and which demand avoidance in the workplace. Here are a few....Old dogs can -- and should -- learn new tricks ... view article details

Is it time for a tablet? Think about how much paper you use at your job on a daily basis. You print out emails and spreadsheets, take notes during meetings and fill out forms which are then shipped across the office.But all three tasks can now be accomplished using tablet computers which saves time, increases productivity and ensures at least a few more trees will remain standing.Top Productivity Apps for Going Paperless Apps like Documents To Go and Quickoffice® Pro allow you to open Microsoft Word (doc) files or Microsoft Excel (xls) files. You can also “print” to an Adobe ... view article details

Just like an interview, a job offer can tell you a great deal about a potential employer. An offer can reveal how serious the employer is about the offer, how valuable you are to the company, and most importantly, whether you should make the move. Jobs are customarily offered over the telephone or in person. The employer should offer more than just, 'Congratulations, you've got the job.' He or she should explain the offer in detail and answer your questions. It is appropriate to respond to a job offer within two to four days, so in the meantime, check out Salary.com’s Job Assessor tool, which ... view article details