Q.I was promised by my supervisor, but not in writing, that the company would increase my pay by 10 percent. When I got my raise, it was only 3 percent. I questioned my supervisor, who said she never promised me more. We talked it over and compromised at a 7 percent raise. It is now a month later and I have yet to see any increase on my paycheck. How can I get the raise I thought I was promised?A. In this age of the Internet it is always a good idea to send an email confirming any conversation you have with your supervisor or your human resources department. This way, if you misunderstood what... view article details

Q. I never know what to say when the interviewer says, 'Tell me about yourself' or asks, 'Do you have any questions for me?' Most of the time I don't, because the interviewer has given a good description.Then there's 'What are your salary requirements?' I know you should not discuss pay, but how do you get around it without sounding really bad?A. To get a good idea of the job you are interviewing for, ask what expectations and objectives the supervisor or manager has in mind. You may also want to know the scope of responsibility of the job, and whom are you expected to interact with to get the... view article details

You're sitting in a conference room or office, face-to-face with the person you most want to impress - your prospective boss - and he or she is asking you, 'What is your biggest weakness?' How do you answer a question like that?The good news is, it's a job interview, not a confessional. No one expects you to demonize yourself in hopes of appearing forthright. After all, you are selling yourself and you want the interviewer to buy, not pass.You could try stalling - think hard for a minute or two and answer something to the effect of, 'I can't really think of any aspect of my personality that ha... view article details

Q. I have accepted a job at a salary that is far less than I was making earlier as a contractor for the same company. I talked to the human resources department, and they are not ready to increase the salary yet. I was thinking of talking to the manager on the first day of work regarding the salary. What do you advise?A. It is never a good practice to accept a position, then ask for an increase in your salary the first week on the job. The best time to negotiate a competitive salary is before you accept your job, when both you and the employer are trying to establish a relationship. You accept... view article details

Q. I just earned a bachelor's degree in human resources management and I have three years of experience. Based on Salary.com's results, if I am a qualified applicant I should be getting a median income in the mid-40s per year. During interviews, when asked, 'What is your salary requirement?' I don't know what to say. Based on my experience as a recruiter, I hated when I asked the same question and didn't get a concrete response. I was taught to start low and work my way up with the salary until the other person 'gives in.' What's the best way to answer this question?A. I'm not a believer in wa... view article details

Q. I started with my present company in Raleigh, NC, in February as an HR assistant on a temp-to-hire basis at a salary of $25,000. In March, the company hired me full-time and increased my salary to $28,000.At the time I came on board, our HR director resigned. We were without an HR director for about two months. Then the benefits generalist turned in her resignation. I took the initiative to learn her job in less than two weeks.At my performance review, the new HR director complimented me on taking the initiative to learn the benefits generalist's job and on how quickly I caught on. She then... view article details

Q: I'm a mailroom clerk for a publishing company and make $17,889 a year before taxes. I logged on to Salary.com to see if I'm making the right amount of money, and I was shocked to see that I am underpaid by at least $4,257. But when I first interviewed with the company, I requested $16,000 in my cover letter and received $17,889, not knowing how much I really should be making. How should I approach my boss about this situation - because it's not fair.A: You had asked for the company to offer you a salary of $16,000, yet they gave you $17,889, nearly $2,000 more. Your company clearly has a mi... 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

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

It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security. Taking control of your job search before your job offer and conducting a smart search that takes into account more than just financial considerations can also lead to that elusive condition called happiness. Are ... view article details