Graduating from college is a wonderful thing that should rightfully be celebrated. But in six months or so, that celebration will be substantially muted when college loan payments begin.Did you know the average 4-year undergraduate has $18,625 in student loan debt that will end up costing $25,720 between now and 2022? Being saddled with that kind of debt often leads to putting off major life decisions such as getting married, buying a house and starting a family. That's why Patrick Kandianis and the SimpleTuition.com team offers a SmarterBank account with SmarterBucks rewards. Basically how it... view article details

Who is looking out for your career - your boss? Probably not. Your accountant? Doubtful. Headhunters, search people, and employment agencies may seem to have your interests in mind, but they're retained - and paid - by the company. So although they can be very nice to you, at the end of the day, their goal is to place candidates and collect a fee.It's time to think like an entrepreneur, with marketable business skills and abilities. It's time to conceive of your career as a high-potential venture, with you as CEO. In this environment, you've got to be your own agent.Learn to look out for your ... view article details

Would you study and memorize all of your friends' contact information even though you had a working smartphone? How about doing the dishes by hand despite an operational dishwasher in your kitchen? Of course you wouldn't, because both of those devices make life exponentially easier and more efficent.Which is why taking a traditional approach to job-hunting when a host of social networking tools are at your fingertips doesn't make any sense.So says Miriam Salpeter -- a career coach, Salary.com blogger, and author of 'Social Networking for Career Success: Using Online Tools to Create a Personal ... view article details

Dear Annette,Which is worse: not getting any Valentines at work...or getting Valentines at work? Anxiously,Be mine…or don'tDear Mine,The answer is quite simple. You want as many Valentines as you can possibly get. And you know it.You want Valentines from peers, from subordinates, from bosses, from real lovers, from imagined lovers, from your mother, from your pet - and if necessary, from yourself. You want your coworkers to think you have an outstandingly well balanced life. You want them to know not only that you brim with self-esteem, but also that someone loves you for it. Wishing it can ma... view article details

It's common to get to a point in your career where you find yourself wanting more – whether it be more money, fulfillment, advancement, or even all of these things. It can be daunting trying to figure out how to make these kinds of life-altering career changes, however. Potential avenues to explore include: considering a career change, going back to school, making a horizontal job move, or seeking professional development courses from your employer. Here are some articles that can help you explore your options: 1) 10 Jobs Perfect for People Who Love to Travel Are you the type of person who get... view article details

The modern war for talent is marked by competition for highly-skilled workers. Companies know that a robust vacation package, remote work flexibility, and summer Fridays can appeal to all those darn millennials. But perhaps organizations shouldn't draw the line at these common work-life initiatives. Psychological evidence widely shows that shortening the 40-hour workweek altogether will increase productivity and employee engagement. Organizations Breaking with Tradition Earlier this year, New Zealand-based trustee company Perpetual Guardian took the working world by storm when it experimented ... view article details

In Part I of this article we discussed  six common roadblocks faced in the workplace, and how to recognize them. In Part II we’ll talk about specific strategies that will allow you to knock down roadblocks, so you can happily and successfully reach your destination.Roadblock #1: All talk, no action. Instead of daydreaming about how great your life would be if you reached your goal, take action.Strategy: Adapt the adage “There’s no time like the present.” Set goals that are SMART—Specific, Measurable,Attainable, Relevent, and Time-Bound. Taking this important first step will brea... view article details

Dear Annette,I am a cubicle dweller, as are most of my coworkers. Even though we try to keep our voices down, we can't help overhearing one another's personal calls. Should we just pretend we don't? What if it's about a subject, such as a medical problem, where one of us could offer help and information? Hear and NowDear Hear and Now,You've hit on one of the ways in which reality is far more convenient than television. On a television show, an inquisitive half-sibling, soon-to-be-ex-spouse, or henchperson has to listen at the keyhole of a thick wooden door or tap a telephone in order to hear t... view article details

Yet keeping resolutions is important. Why? Keeping your resolutions will give you the confidence and motivation you need to set—and reach—new goals throughout the year. The ten tips below are designed to help you create and keep your resolutions.Tip #1: Limit the number of resolutions you make. Sure, there are a million things you would like to accomplish, and you are excited about every single one of them. But making a huge list of goals will ensure you won’t have the time - or energy - to reach them. Prioritize your list, and then pick one or two resolutions to follow thro... view article details

There are many reasons for wanting to quit a job. In Salary.com’s 2007/08 Job Satisfaction Survey released earlier this year, respondents who were unhappy in their current job felt they were underpaid, not given opportunities to advance, not adequately recognized, bored, and not given access to learning opportunities leading to career advancement. Given individual circumstances, these may be legitimate excuses. But when do you know you’ve really reached the breaking point? How do you know that the time is right to say good bye? Here are six possible scenarios:You really are underpaid! ... view article details