Growing up in the 1980s provided me a very interesting take on life in the businessworld. Rather than looking at work as dull and pointless, I've learned to view it like a video game. Projects are nothing more than quests. Office supplies are, well, supplies. The key to succeeding in the work place is realizing you have complete control over how you interact with the environment. You simply have to find the right strategy guide and you're on your way to winning!Look at your work like a video game and you'll master it in no time.DRESS FOR SUCCESSMario has a suit for every job. When he needs to ... view article details

This Year's Survey Results are In If you saw the number of workers looking for new jobs has risen, you’d probably think it’s because employees are unhappy where they are. But you’d be wrong.An annual survey by Salary.com found there was a sharp increase in employee satisfaction in 2013, yet the percentage of people looking for new jobs continued to rise. This new information is part of Salary.com’s annual “January Job Hunters” survey, which was taken by more than 1,200 people regarding their current jobs as well as plans to search for a new job in 2014.Read on to see what this year’s ... view article details

Networking is Essential Industry conferences offer outstanding opportunities for networking. They’re ideal places to meet new people, catch up with those you already know and -- if you plan it right -- introduce yourself to your next employer. But that's easier said than done, especially if you're new to the conference scene or you've never been taught any networking skills. But whether you're an extrovert who fits naturally into any situation or someone who has a hard time meeting and talking to new people, networking is a necessary skill if you're looking to get ahead.With that in m... view article details

Hot to Nail Down Your First Job Are you planning a transition “from college to career?” You won’t want to miss out on advice from Lindsey Pollak, a recognized expert on next-generation career trends. She recently released a new edition of her terrific book, Getting from College to Career.  In this second of a two-part Q & A with Lindsey (read Part I here), she outlines some best practices for networking, following up, and transitioning to your first job.Harness the Power of Twitter Q: In addition to LinkedIn, what online tools do you think are most helpful for new grads to im... view article details

 Personal Budget Planning Builds Household Wealth  To some people, 'budget' is a dirty word. In reality a budget is just a schedule of income and expenses, a way of documenting how much money comes in and how it should sensibly be spent. There's everything to gain from sticking to a budget, but adhering to a budget is difficult for many people because it usually means denying cravings and luxuries beyond reach.Well, after all, that's the point of a budget.What percentage of your income goes to housing every month? What goes to entertainment? Knowing those spending ratios is a valuable tool to ... view article details

The Sequester, Job Search, and You A recent Gallup poll states 51% of Americans don’t know enough about the sequester to judge if it’s a good or bad thing for the economy or for themselves personally. I tend to take a more negative view. As a layperson, and a veteran resume writer, I hear from many people who feel the effects of the sequester and believe it’s a bad thing, even if those changes have not already taken place. It’s like waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop: You know something bad is about to happen, you just don’t know when.This article spells out in layperson’s ... view article details

Some gentlemen prefer blondes. Some ladies will only date men of a certain height.The laws of attraction differ from person to person, but Salary.com recently surveyed readers to find out if the size of a person's paycheck is a determining factor when men and women are looking for romantic partners.We surveyed nearly 2,000 people regarding the role money plays in romantic relationships, and discovered some revealing information about how men and women view money and attraction.Money Matters More to Women When asked if the number of zeros in your significant other's paycheck mattered, ... view article details

Feeling at Ease with Negotiating Here’s a test. Over the past year, what has been the typical response when you ask people “How’ve you been?” My guess is that very few answer, “Actually, I’ve been incredibly relaxed, calm, and productive.” Most likely they say, “I’m so busy!” “Things have been so crazy!” “I’m so swamped at work!” “I’m exhausted and busy and crazy!” I could go on.So when the end of the year rolls around, it seems that is the time that people finally set aside time to be with family, unplug from the working world, relax and recover. But what if you could feel more relax... view article details

Survey Results Show Employees Crave At Least Some Structure When It Comes to Dress Codes Dress codes are, and always will be, a hot topic that gets fairly contentious in a hurry. Employers need to spend considerable time pondering office dress codes---whether or not to have one, what is permitted/prohibited and how to implement it---and consider the kind of work environment and image to project. Depending on your company and your personality, there are many factors to consider. For instance, if you're opening a beachside surf and skate shop your dress code will likely be much more informal tha... view article details

It might not be fair, but the way you look plays a part in how much you’re paid. Looks Do Matter Discriminating against people based on their physical appearance is wrong -- both morally, and in many cases, legally speaking. The way you look usually has no bearing on how you’ll perform in your job, and in a perfect world everyone would be judged solely on his/her merits. But the harsh reality is this isn't a perfect world, and discrimination -- whether intentional or inadvertent -- still plays a role in the workplace. And while it should never be condoned, job seekers and employees need to be ... view article details