It Might Not Be Illegal, But Employers Should be Wary More than two weeks after the Associated Press reported on the trend of employers demanding access to applicants' Facebook accounts, politicians, job hunters and the social network itself continue to grapple with the story's ramifications. The uproar began when AP reporters Manuel Valdes and Shannon McFarland wrote a story recounting several incidents of jobseekers being asked to provide their Facebook passwords to potential employers or to log onto their accounts, allowing the hiring company to peruse private posts, messages and ph... view article details

Know Which Interview Questions Employers Can & Can't Ask You During a Job Interview This article was submitted by the U.S. Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices, to follow up on an earlier Salary.com piece regarding illegal job interview questions. Employers must know that while they have the obligation to obey immigration law by hiring only authorized workers, they also must not violate anti-discrimination laws when hiring or firing workers. The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), in the Justice Depar... view article details

Going back to school is a great way to invest in your future. Learning new skills can lead to better work opportunities and increased income and programs designed to help you attain a short or long term professional goal are helpful in giving you the edge you need in today’s competitive job market. Finding the right college or professional program is very important. You need to find a school that is affordable and flexible. But finding time for additional learning outside of the workplace presents a significant challenge to most employees. Here we highlight some terrific advantages to pursuing... view article details

Performance reviews present an opportunity for employees to demonstrate their accomplishments and distinguish themselves and their value to the organization. It is important to maximize use of this critical tool, as it has significant impact on pay, professional development, and job security. Here are ten tips to make the annual performance review work best for you, while also making it easier on your boss to write you a terrific review: 10. Know Your Role During Performance Review If you are uncertain about any aspect of your job, seek clarification. A great place to start is a detailed list ... view article details

Performance reviews present an opportunity for employees to demonstrate their accomplishments and distinguish themselves and their value to the organization. It is important to maximize use of this critical tool, as it has significant impact on pay, professional development, and job security. Here are ten tips to make the annual performance review work best for you, while also making it easier on your boss to write you a terrific review: 10. Know Your Role During Performance Review If you are uncertain about any aspect of your job, seek clarification. A great place to start is a detailed list ... view article details

For many, if not most, of us, the Internet is an essential work tool. It lets us send e-mails, share documents, participate in video conferences, conduct research, and browse cat videos (only during breaks, of course). Now, three communities are taking things even further, deploying widespread networks with speeds at or above 1 gigabit per second in the hopes of boosting economic development.How fast, exactly, is 1 Gbps? Well, the average Internet speed in the United States is somewhere between 5 and 6 megabits per second, according to various reports. These 1-Gig systems, therefore, are as mu... view article details

Any real estate professional will give you a litany of reasons why it makes sense to buy a house. But as with everything else, it depends on who and where you are, in your life as well as your career. Despite the prevailing assumption that everybody, everywhere sooner or later should settle down and buy their own home, research shows there are actually times and circumstances when renting might be a better idea.Will you put in the time?In any investment, there's no such thing as a sure thing. What usually makes real estate a better risk than most is time. The longer you commit to a property, t... view article details

We've all been there.You're doing your job and covering for someone else. But instead of getting recognized for the extra effort, it seems all you ever get is guff. We've all had to do more than our fair share to pick up the slack for incompetent coworkers, but can you really ask for a raise because of it?Jack Chapman, Salary.com's resident salary expert, has your answer!QUESTION I am currently employed as a Registered Nurse at an outpatient Ophthalmology Surgery Center. For the past six years, I have also filled the position of Charge Nurse. However, I was told that I would only be in charge ... view article details

Talking about salary is always tricky. Bring it up too soon and you might screen yourself out of an interview. Put it off too late and you could be at a disadvantage towards the end of the process. And sometimes---as is the case with this week's guest---your hand is forced because your salary is a matter of public record. So what do you do if you're going for your dream job but your current job has paid you peanuts? Are you at a disadvantage because they don't take you as seriously? If so, how can you make sure you don't get lowballed? As always, our expert Jack Chapman has your answers!QUESTI... view article details

Job interviews are stressful. But if you're unemployed and really need a job to support yourself or your family, it's not uncommon to accept a lower salary offer you wouldn't ordinarily accept. In this week's 'Ask the Salary Expert' mailbag, career coach and our salary expert Jack Chapman helps out someone who agreed to a lower salary than was discussed, but now wants to fix the situation. Is it too late? If not, how do you bring it up without stepping on anyone's toes? It's a subject filled with potential landmines, but Jack has solutions that will prevent things from blowing up in your face.... view article details