Think Ahead While there are no ways to guarantee that a negotiation will succeed, there’s one way that will pretty much ensure that a negotiation will fail, and that’s to go in without any kind of plan.Common errors include entering a negotiation without doing research of your value on the market, not role-playing the conversation in advance to make sure your selling points are on target (and preparing for pushback on those selling points), and the least effective technique: barging into your boss’ office randomly and deciding to demand a raise or promotion.I recently came across a ve... view article details

'Stock mutual funds can be geared toward an investor's risk threshold. The more conservative investor would focus on lower-risk balanced funds that usually are composed of high-dividend-yielding stocks and bonds.' Anyone who's shopped for a mutual fund knows finding the right one can be harder than locating that proverbial needle in a haystack. There are so many to choose from. Remarkably, people seem to navigate the selection process somehow, because statistics show that most stocks held by the average American are purchased by way of a mutual fund. Mutual funds do the work for you'Certainly ... view article details

Dear Annette,One of my teammates is a slacker. I'm tired of carrying his weight. What can I say or do?AtlasDear Atlas,I'll never forget the time Dickie had to fire his pedicurist for inattention and neglect. We were being recognized on International Women's Day in the thrice-named, fictitious Eastern European country where I was born. As we processed down the aisle of the newly repatriated 11th-century cathedral where the ceremony took place, Dickie went 'clickie-clickie' all the way to the altar, paw-nails reverberating for seven seconds. It was as if Pravda's Cold War typing pool were taking... view article details

As the employment market becomes more and more competitive, career path and what jobs to persue have gradually become a concern of the contemporary generation. Specifically, quiet people are struggling more about the question: what are the best careers for introverts? Introverts want to do non-custom serving jobs, as they don't know how to interact with customers. On the other hand, the type of job is not the only aspect to consider. Like all other people, introverts dream of a good career with higher salaries. The options below tell you what an introvert can do. Job advice ... view article details

Q: I have started a new job under the assumption that I would be working out of my employer's home-based office for about four months. Now he is telling me I need to work from my home. I have an associate's degree with over five years of experience in the administrative and HR fields. I am doing accounting, HR, business development, project administration, and travel coordination. He thinks I am doing a great job. I only make $28,000. Should I ask for a raise? Since I am working from home and using my own computer and materials, I think he should increase my pay. He doesn't pay for any of my ... view article details

You've picked an agency - now you have to apply for a spot on the team. It's not as easy as just walking in unemployed and being handed a job (or, placement in temp jargon). The people at the agency have to decide whether they want you to represent their company.Make an appointment at the agency and prepare yourself accordingly. 'Be professional and dress as if it's a 'real' interview,' said Jacqueline Johnson, who has more than 10 years of experience temping in Washington, DC, Boston, Mass., Nashville, Tenn., and Northridge, Calif.Bring a resume with a detailed work history and contact inform... view article details

Q. I work in a hospital in Florida as a computer operator. Before this I was a computer operator at another company for almost 20 years. I am paid a salary of $19,406, well below the Computer Operator I salary quoted in the Salary Wizard, $25,310. I really like the company, the job, and the people I work with. The hospital management does not seem to care about what they pay their staff. They are giving only 3 percent raises, and I don't think they'd try to stop you from leaving if you asked for more. I am a good worker, I work most of the overtime they ask of me, and I am not out sick very m... view article details

Q. I work in a hospital in Florida as a computer operator. Before this I was a computer operator at another company for almost 20 years. I am paid a salary of $19,406, well below the Computer Operator I salary quoted in the Salary Wizard, $25,310. I really like the company, the job, and the people I work with.The hospital management does not seem to care about what they pay their staff. They are giving only 3 percent raises, and I don't think they'd try to stop you from leaving if you asked for more. I am a good worker, I work most of the overtime they ask of me, and I am not out sick very muc... view article details

Do You Have a Blueprint for Job Search Success? Like a brand-new day, 2015 is peeping over the horizon, promising changes to come. Now’s a great time to pause in your job search, set new goals, and find ways to keep established goals fresh as you map out where you want your career to go in the new year.Question: do you have a 2015 career blueprint? And why would you need one, anyway? Well, working without a job-search plan can set you up for a lot of frustration and can stall forward motion in your career. Instead of losing ground trying to figure things out willy-nilly, pause now and... view article details

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, about 5 percent of job seekers obtain jobs through the open job market which consists of help wanted ads, the internet and print publications. Another 24 percent obtain jobs by cold-calling companies directly. Twenty-three percent obtain jobs through employment agencies, college career-services offices and executive-search firms. The remaining 48 percent obtain their jobs through referrals or “word of mouth.” These individuals get the job referrals by networking. A job search that targets only advertised job openings will likely miss more than half ... view article details