Your Values and What You Value Are Always Changing Christmastime is rife with financial responsibilities, so along with that new gym bag and must-have designer shoes, you’re probably thinking about looking for a new job, too. And a big, shiny paycheck to go with it!The biggest compensation boosts come when you leave an employer for greener pastures (there’s a reason they call 'em that). How much of a bump depends on your ability to negotiate, market demand for your skills, and flexibility. In other words, are you willing to relocate to make the really big dollars? (Why, yes…yes, I am.... view article details

Employee Reward Ideas: Small Acts of Recognition and Appreciation Can Go a Long Way Incentivize Employees with Appreciation Gifts Do you ever wonder how to reward employees? Some bosses feel a paycheck is the only reward an employee needs. But employees want to feel that their hard work is appreciated, whether they are paid minimum wage or a six-figure salary. Wondering about employee reward ideas? Get creative and experiment with a few new employee recognition ideas - you’ll be amazed by how productive your staff suddenly becomes. 10. Gift CardsGift cards are a classic. Nobody ever tur... view article details

Why an Employee's Salary May Be Higher Than Reported by Our Compensation Reports You're an employer who has market-priced your open positions and employees. Perhaps you used our Salary Wizard Professional tool (SWP) to do so and found that you have an overpaid employee on your hands. Before you take any drastic action, there are a few important things to remember when it comes to employee compensation. There are a number of reasons why an employee's current compensation may be higher than the market data in the Salary Wizard. Please remember that being higher than the market numbers shown does... view article details

Making Movies If you can name a movie director off the top of your head, chances are it's a member of the Hollywood elite who earns massive sums of money. Yet for every Steven Spielberg or James Cameron there are hordes of lesser-known artists, happily hammering away at their craft. There are all kinds of movie makers, just as there are all kinds of movies - major motion pictures, independent films, cable movies, documentaries, sitcoms, TV dramas, and more. Some directors make excellent livings while others just scrape by, hoping for a lucky break. In reality, making it as a director has much ... view article details

Guardian Angels of the Sand Next time you're out strolling the beach, stop and take a good look around. For up beyond the sand and surf, you - and everybody else out there - are being watched. Not by some sneaky Big Brother, but by the tan hardbody in the red trunks. From a small post tower, a lifeguard peers through binoculars, anticipating the inevitable. And no matter what dangerous predicament we get into, this guardian angel of the sand is there to fish us out. Life Guards in Los Angeles form a division of the County Fire Department, made up of highly trained men and women who protect t... view article details

Sunday night, the 2018 Tony Awards celebrated the best and brightest of Broadway. The Band’s Visit came away with 10 Tony Awards, making it the big winner of the night. With so many wins, could The Band’s Visit be the next ‘Broadway Blockbuster’ like Hamilton? Over the past decade, Broadway shows have increased exponentially in revenue and popularity, with ticket sales (and prices) through the roof. With so much money flowing through Broadway shows these days, we started wondering: what does the compensation landscape look like for aspiring musical theatre professionals? When visualizing a B... view article details

Career Coach & Author Jack Chapman Tackles All of Your Salary and Negotiation Questions We've been listening to your questions and the vast majority of them revolve around salary. This week's mailbag query is no different. How much money? You want to know how much a company is going to pay you and they want to know how much you're going to accept. And more and more often lately---especially with the advent of automated job application forms---companies want the answer to that question sooner than later. Prevailing wisdom consists of putting off talk of salary for as long as possible, but wh... view article details

If You Want a Signing Bonus, Try a Little Honesty Negotiating, in and of itself, can often be difficult and unpleasant for many. But if your financial situation is dire and you desperately need money, it becomes even more tenuous. So what do you do when a company finally shows interest, but you need upfront cash for a variety of reasons? Should you just keep quiet and thank your lucky stars you have an offer, or is it reasonable to attempt to negotiate a signing bonus? Jack Chapman, our salary negotiation expert, fields this real-life question this week and comes up with an unexpected, yet sim... view article details

The foundation laid now often sets the tone for what the future will hold. This philosophy possesses very significant meaning in education. Selecting a place of higher learning definitely helps chart the course for future career opportunities and success. It may not be that any of the schools are necessarily wrong—it’s really about uncovering that one school that is right for you. A few things to consider:Ask the online-accredited colleges to send brochures and information packets about their programs. Seeing the quality and depth of information sent will help determine the type of education... view article details

Is your job just a way to pay the bills, or would you prefer it to be a source of great fulfillment?If you chose the latter, one way you might be able to reach that goal is to ensure that your career matches your personality.While we are all individuals and none of us want to be encumbered with labels, certain personality types complement certain types of jobs.This article explores seven common personality categories and the types of jobs that may lead to more success—and ultimately, happiness.1. The Leader You are self-confident, decisive, have excellent communication skills, and lov... view article details