It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security. Taking control of your job search before your job offer and conducting a smart search that takes into account more than just financial considerations can also lead to that elusive condition called happiness. Are ... view article details

Ellison Says, Stock OnlyA look at Oracle Corp's (ORCL) proxy statement filed September 11, 2000, reveals that CEO Lawrence Ellison will take all of his pay in stock options for four years.For the company's fiscal year ending May 31, 2000, Ellison was paid $208,000 in base salary and received no annual bonus. This is considerably less than he received in fiscal 1999: a base salary of $1 million and a bonus of $2.75 million. But before you start worrying about how the Ellisons are going to make ends meet, take a look at the next column on the summary compensation table. It shows that Larry Ellis... view article details

According to recent statistics put out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 9.5% of all Americans are unemployed and looking for jobs. Add those who are looking for promotions or are simply exploring change, and it's probable that the jobs you apply for will be highly sought after.How do you gain a competitive edge and stand out among other applicants? Follow these 14 tips:1. Customize your resume for every job Your resume must clearly outline how your skills, experience, and accomplishments will fit the needs of that particular employer. When faced with hundreds -- s... view article details

Q. When I started in my new job six months ago, the salary was not exactly what I asked for. My employers promised me verbally that they would review my performance in six months and raise my salary then. How should I approach this since they have not mentioned it since? What kind of an increase should I ask for?A. As I have often advised, verbal agreements don't mean very much. However, you may consider sending your employers an email reminding them of the promise they made to you. At the same time, ask them what their merit practices or policies have been in the past. What, for instance, was... view article details

Dear Annette,I've been working two years at a startup that is about to go public. I enjoy working hard, but am starting to worry that I take it all too seriously. We are going through a very awkward stage of growth and there is much confusion about roles and responsibilities. Politics is rampant in what used to be a very team-oriented team. I find myself very angry and unmotivated. I want to make this work - any suggestions? Thanks,KimberlyDear Kimberly,Congratulations for making it this far. It takes brains, guts, and a cornucopia of snack foods to take a business from wish to winner. It's a ... view article details

If you’ve elevated into management, you can often negotiate higher bonuses, stock options, and profit sharing, tying your performance into the success of the overall company. Since you may have put your stake down on a house, priorities change in that you might take a job that’s closer to home, has a less brutal commute, or allows you flextime to work from a home office a few times per week. And with your kids reaching school play and Disneyland age, you’ll want to lobby for more vacation to keep up your work-life balance.For those not ready to throw in the flag on middle age just yet, many pr... view article details

Lean on the strengths that you have… a large network, the benefit of experience, the ability to see new trends, and learning from the excitable newbies that you are now managing and mentoring.In your 50s, earning at the very top of the salary range might not be your priority right now. It becomes more about negotiating the type of work you want to do, where you want to do it, and having a more balanced life. You’ve learned that life is too short to work for a boss that’s a jerk or at a company where you can’t get anything done.CLICK TO GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE!How much are you worth?Per... view article details

Thinking about moving to Portland for a company you’re dying to work for? Does the thought of experiencing a new culture and working in Europe for a year sound exciting? Intrigued by a startup with long hours and below-market pay … but with the upside of stock options that could pay off handsomely? Many will tell you that your 20s is the time to do this, when you probably don’t have a spouse or kids or mortgage to consider.The biggest payoffs in your 20s come from changing jobs and negotiating salary assertively when you do. While the average raise might only be 3-6%, when changing jobs (and g... view article details

Did you know that you may be able to negotiate some of your benefits? Even though companies put fixed policies on most benefits, some benefits are negotiable - and sometimes, all you have to do is ask. Signing bonus. If a company wants you badly enough or can't meet your salary demands, it might sweeten the deal by offering you a signing bonus, a one-time payment that doesn't increase the base salary on which everything else is calculated. A signing bonus is a good-faith demons... view article details

Typically, employees have performance reviews once or possibly twice a year. You might have a performance review after your first three months in a new job, to make sure it's a good fit. If it has been more than two years since your last performance review and your last raise, you are probably overdue.Some companies schedule everyone's performance review at the same time, for example the end of the calendar year. Others conduct performance reviews at employees' anniversary dates. In either case, make sure your review happens. If your company seems to be dragging its feet, take the initiative t... view article details