Writing a resume is a tough project. Paring your career down to a few wispy action oriented sentences requires you to be able to distill your experience in a way that retains some elements of truth. The first hurdle involves having a clear grasp of your strengths and weaknesses. Your self-concept is a story that you tell yourself about the way you fit into the world. It is composed of experiences, reflections, memories, dreams, and accomplishments. It is a mental picture of who you are. Who Are You, Really? It is very hard to know whether your view of yourself is accurate. Social science off... view article details

Have you ever felt ambushed during a business meeting? Or have you either clammed up or lashed out at a boss when unexpected criticisms come your way during a performance review? If so, chances are you were in a 'Crucial Conversation.' And you blew it.Kerry Patterson, a New York Times bestselling writer and co-author of 'Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High,' says crucial conversations happen on a near daily basis both at work and at home. The trick, as Patterson tells Aaron and Wendy on this week's episode of Salary Talk, is to recognize them when they happen and act ... view article details

We all want to be heard, but a surprising number of people only half-listen. If you spend more time listening than talking, use your listening skills to your advantage in job interviews, negotiations, networking, business meetings, and when selling anything to anyone. If not, improve your listening skills.'I remember an interview I had for a job,' says Doug Fidoten, president of Dentsu America, a full-service advertising and marketing-communications company. He shares this in my book, Self-Promotion for Introverts®: 'I had already met with a number of other executives, and this was the last on... view article details

Twitter Had a Lot to Say About Bad Bosses You think your boss is bad? Read the #WorstBossIn5Words Twitter hashtag that took place last week and see if you still think you have it bad.If you haven't watched Comedy Central's @midnight TV show, you should start. It's hysterical and one of the most popular segments is called #HashtagWars, during which the show puts out a topic and pores over the replies that come in in real time. Last week, the topic was #WorstBossIn5Words, and -- as the name implies -- asked readers to use a five words to describe the worst boss they can imagine. The res... view article details

Earning a promotion is one way to move up the career ladder -- but it's not the only way.Even if an upward move is not in your near future, there are steps you can take to increase your earnings.This article explores 14 ways that can help you collect a bigger paycheck.Increase your education Earning a certificate, an advanced degree, or taking classes in your field can translate into higher earnings.Check out classes and programs at your local colleges and universities, as well as online distance-learning programs that allow you to earn while you learn.Also be sure to check out Salary... view article details