If a job candidate is far enough in the interview process that the human resources professional is ready to ask for references, the candidate is close to being offered the job. For that reason, the references are crucial and have a significant impact on the final hiring decision. Any company that is going to hire you should ask for references, so be ready to give them at least three solid ones.Choose References Who Will Portray You FavorablyWhen asking people to serve as a reference, choose people who are unquestionably ready to offer a glowing report. If you won't be using them immediately, y... view article details

'Thank you for your Salary Wizard. I had no idea what people in my line of work made until I checked out Salary.com. I used the info on your site to ask for a raise and I got it. Thanks!'We get a lot of emails like that one from people who use our site to find out what their job pays. That information allows them to better negotiate a starting salary so they can earn more money. Money which then gives them the ability to do things like buy a house, get married, start a family and begin saving for retirement. And it all started with our free Salary Wizard.But don’t thank us. Thank Brian.Brian C... view article details

Talking to Your Boss -- You Can Do It! You love your in-office job. But at this point in your career (and life), you need to work at home. Convincing your boss that you’d like to telecommute is not as difficult as you might think. Here are some tips on how to negotiate a flex work schedule that benefits both you and the company.7. Assess Your Job Write down everything you currently do in your job. Now, which aspects of your position could be done working at home? Maybe it’s writing proposals or researching tech companies. Be very specific about what can clearly be done at hom... view article details

Dearest Readers,What was I doing in Billy's Boxer on Boxing Day? Zipping along the 10 on our way to the Ask Annette celebrity shareholders' retreat in Palm Springs, naturally, when suddenly my newest Hermès scarf blew away, and it got me thinking: It's the new year. Whatever will we wear?Moreover, what simple steps can today's office worker take to become even more fabulous in the coming months? Here are some of the shareholders' resolutions.CourtesyFinish and mail your holiday thank-you notes by January 15.When you restate someone else's idea in a meeting, give the person credit.Have your Peo... view article details

Most employers conduct salary reviews as part of the performance review cycle. This is one of the best opportunities to negotiate for more pay. Startup companies and other employers may offer a salary review after the first three to six months on the job.Many companies believe in separating the performance review from the salary review, because one is an evaluation and the other is a negotiation. But the business world moves so fast that that the two discussions are often combined.Companies set budgets for pay increases. Usually the budget calls for the average employee to receive a 4 percent ... view article details

They call them the salt of the Earth; the people who spend their lives learning a specific labor, directly benefitting the public with effective service. There are all kinds of skilled laborers, many of whom choose to work at The Jim Beam Company – makers of the best-selling bourbon in the world. Meet Kevin Boone, Process Control Sr. Maintenance Supervisor at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. He works in one of the three principal Beam factories in the state, just twenty minutes outside Louisville. The history of the Beam brand dates back to 1795, when the first generation of the ... view article details

Salespeople are a company's ambassadors to the world. They actively promote the company and its products and services. They are the front line between the company and its customers, and are typically the driving force of revenues - top-line company growth. These employees have a direct impact on how the marketplace perceives their employer and its products.The way salespeople conduct themselves is often a reflection of the company's sales compensation program; and how well the company does is often a reflection of the effectiveness of its commission program. A well designed sales compensation ... view article details

Q. After having 12 weeks off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to care for a newborn baby, I have decided to reduce my work hours from 40 to 30 per week. However, I am a bit uneasy about negotiating for the time.I have worked for this company for three years (I have over a decade of experience). On all of my past reviews I have been given the highest rating. I live in an area with very low unemployment and great demand for skilled employees, which will work in my favor when I negotiate for the time, but I am unsure of how to go about it.Should I begin by writing up a proposal, deta... view article details

When Timothy Cook was named CEO of Apple in August 2011, he got more than just a promotion: He was awarded 1 million shares of Apple stock, valued at $376 million. And a few months later, the company decided to raise his base pay from $900,000 to $1.4 million. All told, Cook’s 2011 compensation package was valued at $378 million, according to documents filed with the Securities Exchange Commission last week.Commentators were quick to draw a contrast between Cook’s pay package and that of his predecessor, the late Steve Jobs, who famously received compensation of just $1 per year. But executive... view article details

'Why would anyone want to put savings somewhere unsafe? But the fact remains that a large percentage of popular saving and investing vehicles provide no guarantee of earnings, nor even assurance that the original capital will be preserved.'     Saving your money in a safe place may seem like an obvious priority. Why would anyone want to put savings somewhere unsafe? But the fact remains that a large percentage of popular saving and investing vehicles provide no guarantee of earnings, nor even assurance that the original capital will be preserved. Those that do make such a guarantee are conside... view article details