Be an Ant, Not a Grasshopper  How to Invest in a 401(k) or Other Retirement Plan   How to Roll Over Your Retirement Accounts       How to Roll Over Your Retirement Accounts  What happens to your retirement accounts if you change jobs? First of all, it's your money and no one can take it from you. Initially your best option is to do nothing and leave your 401(k) or other retirement money where it is. Then, after you've made more concrete plans, you can act accordingly.If you find another job with a company 401(k), just roll the money over into the new plan. But be careful how you do this. Make ... view article details

Don't Hate, Appreciate! The first Friday of March is Employee Appreciation Day. But do you feel appreciated?This 'holiday,' established in 1995, serves as a day to honor workers across the country. After all, National Bosses Day is celebrated in October, so it’s only fair the rank and file employees have their moment in the sun as well. That’s why it doesn’t matter whether you scrub toilets or if you’re a budding advertising executive on Madison Avenue – Employee Appreciation Day is about recognizing people for a job well done. Every job and every worker.The question is how should you... view article details

Why Do Workers Jump Ship? “I’m so sick of this job. I swear, this year I’m outta here!”It’s a safe bet we’ve all been there at one point or another, as the decision to actively search for a better job at the start of a new year is a fairly common one – especially considering salaries only rose a total of 4% from 2008-2012. But have you ever wondered what kind of workers decide to leave, why they want to jump ship, and how often they’re out there beating the bushes for job leads?We surveyed more than 1,300 people to find out more about the current mindset and attitude of American worke... view article details

Telecommuting Can Increase Employee Satisfaction and Productivity Research conducted by Pennsylvania State University suggests myriad benefits of working from home. Telecommuting can reduce business expenses significantly and increase employee satisfaction. Here are five reasons companies should consider allowing employees to telecommute on a regular basis. 1. Less Wasted Time Employees working from home have more control over their work environments. Working from home can eliminate the headaches and hassles involved with traveling to work, and employees can invest more time in performing... view article details

Q:  Sometimes, as I arrive at a prospective employer's office for a first interview, the receptionist hands me an application that must be filled out before the HR manager interviews me. This protocol seems to take the focus of the interview away from my candidacy. I prefer not to disclose personal information such as salary history, age, Social Security Number, etc.before we've discussed my skills, my experience, and the benefits I can bring to the organization. How can I handle this situation tactfully without giving offense?A:  Organizations sometimes expect applicants to complete an applic... view article details

Dear Jack:I am in the final stage of a job interview and I just received an email from the recruiter who wants to know my current salary and my salary expectations. Please advise.Hello,Recruiters are an exception to the rule of 'postpone salary talk until there's an offer.' You actually score points, so to speak, with them by being candid about salary. On the other hand, you don't want the recruiter's expectations to be low. If you're currently underpaid in your job, you don't want that to diminish your salary.Here's what I suggest. Don't do this by e-mail. Start by calling the recruiter and s... view article details

Do you know nearly one-fifth of all employees NEVER negotiate their salary when they accept a job? You wouldn't take the first offer from a car dealer or when buying a house, so why would you accept the first offer from your future employer?Jim Hopkinson, author of 'The Salary Tutor: Learn the Secrets of Negotiation No One Ever Taught You,' is this week's guest on Salary Talk, and he's dispensing some great advice on how to prepare for -- and succeed -- in getting hired with an adequate salary that not only pays the bills, but leaves you feeling happy and content in your new position.Starting ... view article details

Q: 'My husband was offered a job in Florida. They flew me and him out there for a weekend and interviewed my husband. They offered him the job but their relocation of $5,000 was too low. We would be relocating ourselves, three kids and dog from Seattle, Washington. My husband asked for $8,000 and also itemized what we were using that amount for. First, last, security deposit on a house, ship one car and travel costs to drive while towing our third car and belongings. He was happy with the annual salary as cost of living is cheaper in Florida. My question is were we reasonable to counter their ... view article details

Get a Tan & a Raise If the winter of 2013-2014 felt like one of the worst on record in your town, it probably was. The amount of snow in Chicago and New York City was in the top 10 all time, while Minneapolis had 50 days with temperatures below zero (and not surprising, reported 225 cases of frostbite). And even if you tried to escape it, the number of canceled flights was the worst in two decades.In other words, bring on summer!However, just because you can finally exchange your snowsuit for your swimsuit, it doesn’t mean you should ignore your career for the next few months.Here are... view article details

Be An Essential Part of Your Company's Plans As companies downsize and jobs are lost, many people wonder why they're let go while other employees remain with the company. Although there are always many factors to consider -- political, economic, etc. -- it often comes down to being considered indispensable.Having worked at several companies that have downsized in the past, I've learned these seven things that can help ensure your company is happy with your performance and holds onto you at all costs.Be EXTRAordinary Do at least one thing every day that someone didn't ask you ... view article details