It's not your parents' workplace anymore - nor their dress code. Gone are the stuffy three-piece suits and conservative skirt sets of times past, replaced with a canvas of khaki on which a world of individuality is expressed, as if to say, 'Trust me: I'm casual.' In some corporations and industries, it's Casual Friday every day of the week. Yet even with today's relaxed standards, it's still not a good idea to show up for work in torn shorts and a baggy tee shirt. Especially if you deal directly with customers, the way you express yourself to the world is far more important than the true you ... view article details

There is plenty of advice out there about writing a good resume. From grammarians parading the benefits of a bullet proof resume -- at least from a spelling and grammar perspective -- to hiring managers threatening to toss out your resume for failing to 'suit their tastes,' almost everyone has an opinion. Nothing is necessarily wrong. Resume writing is inherently subjective.But despite the diverse viewpoints, there are some clear differentiators that go into the making of a great resume. I am not talking about writing just a good resume. Today’s job market demands greatness. For better or wors... view article details

'Dear Heather,I hate my job. Ten years ago, it was fun and challenging. Even two years ago, I felt like my opinion was of value, and that I was having a positive impact on the company’s direction. At this point, however, after some unfortunate corporate choices at the upper levels, I have more responsibility than actual power. I’ve been forced to implement decisions I disagree with as if they were my own. My heart races when I walk into the office, and I actually cried during my commute this morning. My husband is doing OK at his job, but my income has factored heavily into the family budget. ... view article details

Good news for this year’s crop of college graduates! Job Outlook 2008, an annual survey of college recruiters, reports that employers plan to hire 16 percent more new college graduates than they did last year. Reasons for this expanded recruitment effort include an increased demand for many employers’ products and services and a high number of current employees who are retiring or near retirement age. According to the Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Salary Survey says that the overall average starting salary offer to new college graduates, despite a less-than-robust eco... view article details

Q. I work for a company that pays me $72,000 a year with no bonus. However, they match 50 cents to the dollar on my 401(k) plan. The company I'm interviewing with has no matching contributions, but they have averaged bonuses of 11 percent over the past five years and 20 percent over the past three years. How should I calculate a base salary with bonus vs. my current base with no bonus?A. Companies have a certain amount of money to spend on variable pay and/or benefits. The senior management of a company may value long-term investment higher than short-term incentives. And companies are more li... view article details

Dear Annette,I've been working two years at a startup that is about to go public. I enjoy working hard, but am starting to worry that I take it all too seriously. We are going through a very awkward stage of growth and there is much confusion about roles and responsibilities. Politics is rampant in what used to be a very team-oriented team. I find myself very angry and unmotivated. I want to make this work - any suggestions? Thanks,KimberlyDear Kimberly,Congratulations for making it this far. It takes brains, guts, and a cornucopia of snack foods to take a business from wish to winner. It's a ... view article details

One of the main reasons people cite for leaving a job is not getting along with their boss. They complain the boss is 'too this' and 'not enough that.' They change jobs just to get away from a specific person, perhaps sacrificing a potential promotion or career growth. Has that happened to you? Consider this example:Philip has been a midlevel manager at a construction company for 10 years. He and his former boss, Keith, had a great relationship during those years, and he really enjoyed his work. He liked Keith’s hands-off management style, which he described this way: 'Keith basically left me ... view article details

In a study by the American Society for Training and Development, more than 750 U.S organizations provided data about their expenditures on training programs as a percentage of payroll and on a per-employee basis. Here's how they compare by industry on several key factors.Business sector Commitment to learningServices (hotels; professional, business, and personal services; educational, legal, social, and consumer services)High percentage spent on training and a significant increase in the use of new learning technologies, including computer-based training, the Internet, and teleconferencing.IT ... view article details

Greetings Jack,I interviewed with a university office today; for a Licensing Associate position in Technology Transfer.This requires MBA, skills in business, science, and heavy communication with cold calling, together with database management, etc. I have all of these and more (PhD and MBA), and my experience in science is 10+ years and in business is 2+ years.Someone who I know and works with the director of that office, told me that the base salary was to be $55,000, but that the director was also planning to raise it to $75,000. The interview went well. They are planning to fill the positi... view article details

Q. I work in a hospital in Florida as a computer operator. Before this I was a computer operator at another company for almost 20 years. I am paid a salary of $19,406, well below the Computer Operator I salary quoted in the Salary Wizard, $25,310. I really like the company, the job, and the people I work with.The hospital management does not seem to care about what they pay their staff. They are giving only 3 percent raises, and I don't think they'd try to stop you from leaving if you asked for more. I am a good worker, I work most of the overtime they ask of me, and I am not out sick very muc... view article details