Most self-help books tell you all the things you need to start doing if you want to be successful. Which is why James Waldroop's 'The 12 Bad Habits That Hold Good People Back: Overcoming the Behavior Patterns That Keep You From Getting Ahead' is not your run-of-the-mill self-help book.Waldroop is this week's Salary Talk guest and he sits down with Aaron & Wendy for a rather unusual conversation. Instead of doling out tips on what people should begin doing if they want to succeed, Waldroop's book is a list of bad habits people need to STOP doing if they want to get ahead. And some of those bad ... view article details

Getting ahead at work and becoming a leader isn't just about hard work. You have to be able to relate to people, read them and their emotions and win them over. And that goes for people above you and those you eventually hope to have working under you. You truly need to have 360 degrees of influence.Harrison Monarth wrote the book '360 Degrees of Influence: Get Everyone to Follow Your Lead on Your Way to the Top,' and is this week's guest on the podcast. Monarth talks about influencing people at all levels, knowing your audience and why understanding and possessing emotional intelligence are v... view article details

Make the Best of a Good Situation In many ways, it is an ideal situation. Looking for a job while you already have one has many benefits. You can take your time to find a job that you love without feeling the pressure of having to pay the rent. You get to bone up on your interviewing skills, and discover if the field that you’re interested in is really a fit for you.That is, if you don’t get caught.The one huge caveat about job hunting while you have a job is just that…you already have a job. And if your boss or catty colleague catches wind that you’re interviewing for another positio... view article details

Don't Fall Into the Trap Sometimes we get very specific about problems and pitfalls on this site. Resume mistakes, potential errors on cover letters, individual ways you can network more effectively.But sometimes it’s good to step back and look at the bigger picture.Many people say they’re unhappy at work, but fewer really take a deep and introspective look to figure out why. Look past your annoying boss and other issues on the surface, and figure out what you’re doing that might be negatively impacting you. That’s what we did, and we came up with a list of traps most people are falli... view article details

Over its history, the temporary employment industry has evolved from using gopher-type seat-warmers to fill-in for vacationing administrative assistants, to placing highly skilled, valued, and courted contractors into managerial positions. Although job descriptions and qualifications have changed, temps are still considered part of the fringe labor market, since the temporary work force is just that: Temporary.Since 1990, the temporary work industry has grown five times more than national employment. In 2004 alone, the country has seen an increase of 230,000 jobs since this time last year, acc... view article details

A collection of degrees and a host of credentials is all well and good, but if you don't have the right attitude at work you'll likely be shown the door. And that's a costly outcome for both employee and employer.Mark Murphy is the author of 'Hiring for Attitude: A Revolutionary Approach to Recruiting & Selecting People with Both Tremendous Skill & Superb Attitude.' He's also this week's guest on Salary Talk, and tells Aaron and Wendy the hard truth about the way companies hire employees today -- that most of the standard approaches to hiring are wrong.Past employment at Fortune 500 companies ... view article details

Q: I work in an office that has a casual atmosphere. Next week I have a job interview at a company with a much more formal office culture, so I would be expected to wear a suit and carry a briefcase to the interview. Everyone who knows me will pick up on it, because I’m usually pretty blasé about my appearance. Annette, how can I escape detection?A: Hiding a job search takes careful planning and constant attention to detail. I find it easier to hide a lover than a job search - a cooperative lover, anyway.The secret to pulling something off is...pulling it off. So keep your focus on presenting ... view article details

Q:   I am in negotiation with an employer for a higher position than the one I currently hold. They are asking that I send them a pay stub. I told them you can't really compare both positions, as the responsibilities and duties are so different. However, they keep insisting. I am trying to hold my ground. Please help. A:  You know, an employer-employee relationship is based on trust and good faith. When a company asks you to produce a pay stub, it means they don't believe you are making the amount of money you claim you are making; or they are trying to validate what someone in your position a... view article details

In Honor of the New Movie “Horrible Bosses,” Salary.com Polled Its Readers to Find the Worst Real-Life Bosses At some point in your career it’s happened to you. You get saddled with “that boss.” The boss who drives you crazy, mistreats you and takes credit for your hard work. A boss who is just horrible!That’s the premise of the recently released movie “Horrible Bosses,” starring Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and Charlie Day. Three friends with three wretched bosses (Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell and Jennifer Aniston) get so fed up at work they devise a plan to rid themselves of their r... view article details

If you're on the job hunt, your first goal is to land an interview. But what you say in the hot seat can impact whether you land the job -- or even a second interview. This article explores the right and wrong ways to answer eight common interview questions. What is your dream job? Wrong answer: "I want to be CEO of Apple Computers." Stay away from naming specific jobs. If you say the job you're interviewing for is your dream job, you'll come off as disingenuous. If you name a job other than the one you're interviewing for, you may give the impression you won't be happy in the position i... view article details