Q. I have been trying to contact my human resource department to get a fair market value (pay range) for the position I have held for 6 years. My HR department has told me they do not have the fair market value of my position. The bank I work for does have pay ranges and I have asked for those, but the HR department said the pay ranges do not mean anything because they overlap.How can I find out what I am worth? How can I get this information from my employer to compare other positions in my area?A. Pay ranges and pay grades are tools companies use to help them administer their pay programs. C... view article details

Q. I have been trying to contact my human resource department to get a fair market value (pay range) for the position I have held for 6 years. My HR department has told me they do not have the fair market value of my position. The bank I work for does have pay ranges and I have asked for those, but the HR department said the pay ranges do not mean anything because they overlap.How can I find out what I am worth? How can I get this information from my employer to compare other positions in my area?A. Pay ranges and pay grades are tools companies use to help them administer their pay programs. C... view article details

It is a teacher's daunting task to add life to their student's school day by generating interest in all subject areas, even those that can be tedious for most students.         Job descriptionThe majority of teachers are primary and secondary school teachers. They generally choose a specific grade level or area of specialty in which to teach. Teachers are responsible for planning and then evaluating student performance. They are then responsible for promoting growth through providing additional assistance and meeting with parents and school staff to discuss student development and ways to impr... view article details

Q. I was just looking at the Salary Wizard and decided to play. I am a librarian in Atlanta, Georgia, and I don't make anywhere near what the Salary Wizard said I should make!The job description for librarians says it may 'require a bachelor's degree and two to four years of experience in the field or related area.' In my experience, a librarian must have a master's degree from an ALA-accredited institution.I'm forwarding Salary.com's salary information to my director immediately - he has some catching up to do!A. The intent of the job descriptor for librarians is to give a general view of the... view article details

Going back to school is a great way to invest in your future. Learning new skills can lead to better work opportunities and increased income and programs designed to help you attain a short or long term professional goal are helpful in giving you the edge you need in today’s competitive job market. Finding the right college or professional program is very important. You need to find a school that is affordable and flexible. But finding time for additional learning outside of the workplace presents a significant challenge to most employees. Here we highlight some terrific advantages to pursuing... view article details

Job descriptionParalegals are responsible for handling a variety of tasks and providing support for the lawyers they work for. Under the direction of an attorney, they work to resolve routine legal issues. They help lawyers to research laws, judicial decisions, articles, treaties, and other legal documents that can be applied to cases. They may also be responsible for preparing written reports to assist lawyers in handling cases. Paralegals hold an organizational role in coordinating the activities of the law office and its employees, and also in the filing of financial records and case docume... view article details

There are many advantages to online courses and degree programs. Not only does it offer an opportunity for those unable to take traditional full-time classes such as working professionals and parents, but it also offers more freedom and flexibility to students of all types. Online education is widely accepted as being just as valuable as the classroom experience. And many colleges, universities, businesses, and organizations worldwide, now offer their students fully accredited online degrees and continuing education programs. But there are still important questions and steps one should conside... view article details

Dear Annette,My boss talks to other employees about employees. Is this an accepted practice? He claims to be quite educated in new management styles. However, I do not feel as though I should know that he is thinking about firing his secretary, also known as my coworker. Sincerely, Rather Not KnowDear Rather Not Know,Perhaps like me you recall the era when information was the currency of fabulousness. How much energy and time used to go into hiding and discovering secrets? How many Saturday and Sunday mornings has my dog Dickie spent sniffing around the back doors of my little Beverly Hills ne... view article details

Q. My performance review is coming soon, and I would like to learn more about the do's and don'ts of performance reviews. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.A. The review process is normally broken down into two parts. The first is spent discussing your overall performance during a defined 'performance period.' The second part of the process is how much you will receive based on your performance.I always advise managers that employees should never be surprised by their review. The purpose of a performance review is just that: to review an employee's performance. In other words, your manag... view article details

Salary Benchmarking Is a Vital Tool When Hiring Employees Salary benchmarking, also called compensation benchmarking, is the process by which internal job descriptions are matched to external jobs with similar responsibilities to identify the market rate for each position. When creating a new position complete with job responsibilities and a corresponding salary, it is important for those working in human resources to perform these market assessments and salary comparisons efficiently and accurately. Many factors such as geographic location, company size, and education level factor into th... view article details