Q. I've recently been offered a position in another company making $6,000 more than I earn now. When I gave notice, my current employer came back the next day and matched the prospective employer's offer. I called the prospective employer and said, 'My current employer offered me more money to stay. Would you consider upping the pay a little to get me?' Now, I've already accepted the prospective employer's first offer. Did I do the right thing?A. The trick with counteroffers is that nagging sensation that if they could afford to pay you more, why didn't they?But even if you're satisfied with y... view article details

Q.I was recently interviewed for a position of senior network analyst in Chicago. My current position is network administrator (MCSE W2K). The position I was offered was network analyst, reporting to a senior network analyst. They offered $69,000. Initially I had said I wanted $70,000, but I countered their offer with $73,000. The hiring manager rejected my counter. Basically they told me, 'Thanks, but no thanks' and took the original offer off the table. Did I make a mistake, and if so, what should I have done to correct it?A. Let me make sure I understand this correctly. You interviewed for ... view article details

Q: Assuming employees are meeting the requirements of their position, what are the new standards of annual salary increases (percentage-wise)? Also, what happens to long-term employees who are earning beyond the position's salary range, because they steadily received 4 percent increases and are now almost 'overpaid'? Do they stop getting raises?A: Each year, salary survey companies ask employers to tell them how much their merit budgets will be for the upcoming year. Most companies don't know what their merit budgets will be until sometime in the fall. Then they report those merit budgets to t... view article details

Q:  My title is Senior Web Editor at a growing Internet company in New Jersey. With a nearly exact match in responsibilities as indicated for this position in your Salary Wizard, my total compensation falls short of the median by $25,000. I have presented this information to my bosses who assured me they cannot match the Salary Wizard figures and told me I can go elsewhere if I need more money. But my question is, where are these places that are paying $75,000 for my skills? Nobody who I have spoken to in the industry is being paid that well. Are these the companies that are now out of busines... view article details

The interview is an essential aspect of the recruiting process, but it can also be a nerve-racking experience for job applicants. After all, you want to make a good first impression in your interview in the hopes of landing the job! Of course, you don’t have to be too nervous as an interviewee. When a company invites you into the office for an interview, it proves that they think you could be a good match for the job – and that you could also be a good fit culturally for the organization. From the organization’s perspective, the purpose of the interview is simply to compare you with other app... 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

In the modern war for talent, it’s every company’s dream to secure spots on coveted lists that dub their workplace ‘the holy grail’ of organizations. While many industries and companies are struggling to attract qualified candidates, making it onto Forbes’ ‘America’s Best Employers’ top 500 – a list derived by polling 30,000 U.S. employees – is an accomplishment that can help companies edge out the competition. Here are America’s top five best employers from 2018, according to Forbes. We also provided the average median annual salaries for roles associated with these industries based on Salar... view article details

In the modern war for talent, it’s every company’s dream to secure spots on coveted lists that dub their workplace ‘the holy grail’ of organizations. While many industries and companies are struggling to attract qualified candidates, making it onto Forbes’ ‘America’s Best Employers’ top 500 – a list derived by polling 30,000 U.S. employees – is an accomplishment that can help companies edge out the competition. Here are America’s top five best employers from 2018, according to Forbes. We also provided the average median annual salaries for roles associated with these industries based on Salar... view article details

Patagonia, the popular outdoor retailer, is providing its employees paid time off on November 6th so they are able to vote in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. Following the same initiative for the 2016 presidential election, the company will close all its stores nationwide, its support center in Nevada, and its headquarters in California to give personnel uninterrupted time to travel to the polls. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center study, 35% of eligible voters said they were not able to vote in that year’s elections due to scheduling conflicts with work or school. In her own, candid word... view article details

Q: I have an interview tomorrow with a prominent company and am very eager to please them. Can you give me some important pointers on interviewing?A: Jitters are a marvelous sensation, providing that refreshing sense of being alive in a big wide world. Your nerves are telling you that you would like to show this company You at Your Best. Isn’t it wonderful to feel that way about an opportunity?I’m sure you have prepared for the interview in the basic sense – printed fresh copies of your resume and slipped them into your classic portfolio, studied the company’s recent financial performance, spe... view article details