Think back to your biggest accomplishment. The thing you're most proud of which you still brag about to this day. Maybe you lost 100 lbs, climbed Mt. Everest or successfully finished that marathon. Whatever your goal was, chances are it was difficult and you were emotionally invested, which made the success that much sweeter.Mark Murphy, author of 'Hard Goals: The Secret to Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be,' is this week's guest on Salary Talk, and tells Aaron and Wendy that many people---and companies---have it all wrong when it comes to goal-setting.While SMART (Specific, M... view article details

Dear Annette,I am a cubicle dweller, as are most of my coworkers. Even though we try to keep our voices down, we can't help overhearing one another's personal calls. Should we just pretend we don't? What if it's about a subject, such as a medical problem, where one of us could offer help and information? Hear and NowDear Hear and Now,You've hit on one of the ways in which reality is far more convenient than television. On a television show, an inquisitive half-sibling, soon-to-be-ex-spouse, or henchperson has to listen at the keyhole of a thick wooden door or tap a telephone in order to hear t... view article details

Ah, the holiday season magical time of year associated with snow-laden pine trees, ribbons and wrapping paper, the smell of gingerbread and sugar cookies . . . and office parties. Whether you can wait to mix and mingle with your co-workers, or whether you’d gladly give your raise and promotion to get a pass, attending the office party is, simply, a part of your job. This article explores five common situations associated with the office party, and shows you how to handle them.Situation: The party includes a cankee Swap?or secret Santa?and you need t... view article details

I sometimes tell a story in my presentation about the sales guy who persisted over several months to get an appointment with a corporate buyer. Regardless of how hard he tried he could not get this woman to make the time to see him. She was a 'Master of the Universe' in the cosmetics industry based in New York City, and doing business with her could do wonders for any company or career.Sales Guy (yes, it was a man and his gender is important to the story) managed to get through to the gatekeeper who, after all his months of trying, came to appreciate his persistence. And from this gatekeeper, ... view article details

How to Hire Good Employees: Save Time During the Hiring Process by Spotting Red Flags Early Today's job market is very tough; there are many more job hunters than available jobs. The good news for businesses is that it's a buyer's market. But at the same time, it can be overwhelming to sift through a mountain of resumes flooding your inbox or the resume repository. That's why you need to have an eagle eye for scoping out the best candidates. Here are some things to look for when embarking on your employee selection process: 1. Quality Cover Letter A quality cover letter can tell you a lo... view article details

Get yourself into the habit of recognizing when you have been doing a good job for an extended period. This is the classic signal that you're ready for a promotion, a pay increase, or both. Learn the etiquette about pay talk on the job. Then get yourself into the habit of asking for what you deserve. What Have You Done for Them Lately? First, you need to be able to explain the logic behind the hunch that says you're ready for more. You need evidence to show your manager that you deserve it. No one is paying closer attention to your work than you are. What have you done for your company lately?... view article details

Dads are officially in flux. And the ongoing changes and shifts in what's considered masculine is a great conversation to be having. In the 1950s, a "good dad" was one who brought home the bacon and had his Stepford wife fry it up. Sure maybe he doled out some discipline every now and again when mom uttered the "Just wait til your father gets home!" line, but for the most part work and being a breadwinner was the benchmark of a good dad. But now? Well, things are much different. Women are the breadwinners in 4 out of 10 families. The number of stay-at-home dads has doubled in the last 25 yea... view article details

You Bought the Compensation Analysis, Make Sure You Understand It It is important to understand the terminology used to express the statistics presented in compensation analyses. The terminology used expresses both the nature of an employee's pay and where the levels of pay fit within the continuum of the employee's peer group. Making the most of your answers can involve any of the following: Interpreting Your Answers Base(Base pay) The fixed portion of compensation paid for an employee's fulfillment of a job's essential functions. Base pay does not include differentials, premiu... view article details

Exceeding your annual performance expectations may seem impossible. But, according to Nick Camelio, Vice President of Human Resources at Salary.com? that doesn’t have to be the case. The key to exceeding your performance expectations is to be an active participant in establishing your goals from the start. By focusing on key objectives and defining a plan that makes sense for you and your employer, you are on your way to meeting and exceeding your performance goals. To help get you started, Camelio offers the following 6 tips:1. Understand your Role The first step ... view article details

Where's the Beach? There’s a radio advertisement running on one of the stations I listen to regularly. It’s an ad for “the beaches of South Walton” and hopes to inspire listeners to vacation there. The problem is, the ad's writers assumed a lot about the audience when they created their piece. They barely mention the beaches are in Florida and allude to the 'white sands,' which requires some knowledge about Florida to conclude the beach must be on the Gulf coast -- because the Atlantic Ocean’s beaches don’t have white sand.Unless the goal was to specifically target people who already ... view article details