70% of people believe they have above average leadership skills. This effect is called the Superiority Bias. (Sometimes, it’s called The Lake Woebegone Effect, Illusory Superiority, or The Better Than Average Effect). It is one of many cognitive biases that prevent us from seeing ourselves and others clearly. Everyone has a set of unconscious biases that support their view of the past, present, future, and how the world works. These unconscious ideas are based on our own perspectives and experiences. We believe that our own perspective is correct and applies to others the same way it works fo... view article details

The Research Status of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Vaccine The novel coronavirus pneumonia has spread to more than 160 countries and regions worldwide, and the virus has no specific medicine so far. Under these circumstances, the research and development of a vaccine is very important. Presently, many companies have participated in the research and development of vaccines, but four vaccine giants' attitudes toward coronavirus pneumonia vaccine are ambiguous. So now, the question becomes: which companies and institutions are involved in vaccine research and developme... view article details

Ever since she was a little girl, Jeanne Sarmiento wanted to be a lawyer. As she grew older, however, her life took some unexpected turns.After what she calls 'a series of poor choices' as a young adult, this mother changed her life and became inspired by her children to go to school. Even as a single parent of an infant, Sarmiento was determined to get her degree, and she added credits slowly but surely over the years. Eventually, she graduated with an associate's degree. She is now going back to school for an additional degree and cannot wait to hear her kids yell, 'You did it Mom! You did i... view article details

Last week, we brought you '9 Reasons You Should Nap at Work,' which discussed the benefits of daytime snoozing and highlighted some companies that encourage their employees to nap on the clock.This week we tackle the more practical aspects of catching some ZZZs at work.1. Understand your company's culture and rules Before you put your head down on your desk and start snoring, do your homework.Many employers discourage napping. Others consider it grounds for firing. Gradually, however, more companies are allowing or even promoting naptime in the office. Some progressive companies have... view article details

Discouraging predictions of lower salary hikes coupled with a tough job market have increased the already growing number of people returning to school. Numbers have been steadily growing because of increased educational requirements in the job market and the fact that on average a higher level of education translates into a higher annual salary. Salary.com's calculations for 2003 placed bachelor's degree holders at an average salary of $43,000, and master's degree holders at $53,000 (see earnings chart below). Therefore many professionals assume it is logical to go back to school, just as many... view article details

Q. I've been employed with the same company for 10 years. My official job title is financial analyst, and I report to the financial operations manager. For the last year and a half, the manager and I have been working at both locations, rotating throughout the week. The company decided it is inefficient to have us rotating plants, so I was informed that I would take over all of my manager's duties at one plant and she will handle everything at the other plant. Since these are two small plants, we handle all HR-related issues, all financial issues, benefits, general office management, etc. I no... view article details

Q: I recently hired on to a new company and could use some advice. On my second interview with my new company, I was offered a salary on a yearly basis. I accepted this offer and began work. The paperwork I signed accepting this offer also had the same figure termed as 'annual.'After one month of working, the company was purchased by a leading retailer. They announced this to all the employees and said that we would be a wholesale division of the retailer. When I received my 'Welcome to the team!' letter from this retailer, I was addressed as an hourly employee. This was surprising, to say the... view article details

The American Time Use Survey was developed by the Department of Labor and conducted by the Census Bureau. Established in 2003, this study collects information about the things Americans do each day, such as work, household activities, educational pursuits and leisure activities and how much time we spend doing them. While the study looks at American households, Salary.com decided to take a look at this data from a different perspective – men vs. women – and some of the findings are pretty interesting.At Work According to the survey, employed persons worked an... view article details

The Career Coward's Guide to Career AdvancementHello and welcome to Salary Talk, the official podcast of Salary.com.We'll be bringing you interviews with renowned authors on all things related to salary, job hunting, career coaching, negotiations, resumes and more. The podcasts---which will run between 15-25 minutes in length---are available free of charge. You can listen to them while on the site or download the interviews to your mobile device and listen later.Our inaugural interview is with Katy Piotrowski, M.Ed., author of the Career Coward's book series.She has been a career counselor in ... view article details

The holidays bring with it extra expenditures that can be difficult to manage especially in light of the current economic situation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that, over the past 24 months, consumer prices have risen 7.8%, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to keep up with the essentials. Information Resources, Inc., an independent market-data firm, recently conducted a survey of how consumers’ shopping and spending habits have changed in recent months. The results, while not surprising, are quite interesting. They report that the majority of consumers earning less t... view article details