There is no escaping the fact that college costs are rising. The College Board reports that most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,440 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college attended. Average College Costs for 2007-2008: Private four year $23,712 (up 6.3 % from last year) Public four-year $6,185 (up 6.6 %from last year) Public two-year $2,361 (up 4.2% from last year) Financing Options Families are encouraged to seek federally backed loans first, then shop for private loans, based in part on the recommend... view article details

Dear Annette,Call me old-fashioned, but I can't get used to conference calls. I miss in-person meetings, especially with clients or vendors. Now that I'm self-employed, the lack of in-person time is even worse. Do you have any suggestions for making conference calls seem more true-to-life? TelephobicDear Telephobic,Preparing for meetings outside the office has got to be one of the most fabulous parts of the business regime. In the morning, you get to choose your clothes and preen as if you're going on a date. Often you get to take your own car and get reimbursed for an impressively large parki... view article details

This might be the best job search article you read today because it’s simple to implement and so very powerful. I insist that my clients, men and women alike, attend all interviews with a box of 4' x 5' thank you cards and envelopes. Keep them in your car, messenger bag, purse -- no matter where -- keep them handy. You do not have to spend a lot of money to obtain a batch of professional cards from an office supply store or big-box retailer.Job search experts correctly tell you that upon completion of an interview, you should email or handwrite a thank you note to your interviewer. But I find ... view article details

We all have days when something unpleasant happens at work and we wonder 'What am I doing here?' These moments of reflection help us put things into perspective and even reaffirm the reasons we took the job in the first place. But, when those reflections turn into an all-consuming preoccupation it could be a sign it's time to move on. Here are nine more signs that are telling you: 'It's time to get a new job!'Tick-tock, body-clock At some point it may dawn on you that you're exhausted from not having enough hours in the day. When you become aware that the hand on... view article details

Dear Annette,Everything in my tiny cubicle is beige. Day after day I arrive at my desk and think, 'Well, there go all my ideas.' All this beige is making me blue. Annette, how can I bring my workspace to life?Dingy in DaytonDear Dingy,Three words: accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Nothing stimulates creativity like nice things. You clearly need to give your cubicle a makeover.Besides, everything talks. Every book and every accessory communicates something about your motivation, attitude, and of course, personal style. Why Blah when you can Blossom?Give your office space the same loving to... view article details

Annoying Coworkers Make Office Life Miserable You know who they are.Maybe it was something as huge as taking all the credit for a game-changing business idea, or something as small as chewing gum too loudly at their desks. But whatever the reason, we all have coworkers we absolutely hate. And some of us are that coworker -- whether we realize it or not.It's inevitable really. After all, you can't spend 40 hours a week with the same people day in and day out, trapped together in a confined area and forced to share space and resources, without developing a little bit of acrimony from ti... view article details

Parting with Tradition For most of us, working on a resume is pretty uninspiring stuff. Fire up Microsoft Word, search for synonyms for “experience,” fiddle with the spacing until everything is lined up just so. Should the font be Arial or Times New Roman? 12-point or 11-point?But because we live in the digital age, there are a few brave souls among us who are turning the tedious traditional resume into something a little more creative and compelling. Personal branding websites, video resumes and social networking profiles are becoming increasingly valid ways for job seekers to distin... view article details

A Career in High Gear Hugging the curves of a winding country road, the James Bond roadster seems to float on air. A fork ahead. Which road to take? The driver chooses the one leading further away from the office. Will the boss mind this Tuesday afternoon excursion? Not at all. The Road to BMW People are always asking Jason, "How did you get a job test-driving $128,000 cars?" Hard work, determination, and a bit of good timing is the answer. Ten years ago the automotive technology trade school Jason attended had just started a relationship with BMW. Wanting to impress, the school sent BMW the... view article details

In most jobs, it's unlikely your employer will ever send you home to change if you break one of the written or unwritten rules of the corporate dress code. But every day, you get a chance to make a statement about your value to the company through your choice of clothes. Moreover, salary negotiations can happen at any time. So don't get caught off guard in your old lucky sweatshirt from your college exams on the day the company decides to offer spot bonuses. Here's a list of ways to say 'pay me more' - or at least avoid saying 'pay me less' - with your wardrobe.Would you ask for a raise wearin... view article details

You have a proposal due at 2 p.m., a meeting at 3 p.m., and a conference call at 4 p.m. Then, after work, there are kids to be shuttled to dance lessons, groceries to be shopped for and laundry that just isn't going to wash itself. And weren't you thinking about going to the gym sometime today?Just about everyone with a job knows the feeling of trying to squeeze work, family and personal activities into a very finite amount of time. And the busier we get, the more the pressure builds. How can you focus on your monthly sales report when you are also mentally calibrating a car pool schedule?But ... view article details