Q: I work in an office that has a casual atmosphere. Next week I have a job interview at a company with a much more formal office culture, so I would be expected to wear a suit and carry a briefcase to the interview. Everyone who knows me will pick up on it, because I’m usually pretty blasé about my appearance. Annette, how can I escape detection?A: Hiding a job search takes careful planning and constant attention to detail. I find it easier to hide a lover than a job search - a cooperative lover, anyway.The secret to pulling something off is...pulling it off. So keep your focus on presenting ... view article details

In 1982, the Village Voice started the trend of offering domestic-partner benefits, or benefits an employer voluntarily decides to offer to an employee's unmarried partner of the same or opposite sex, to its employees. The cities of Berkeley and West Hollywood, Calif., followed suit in 1985. And since then, about 3,500 employers - including nearly one-fifth of Fortune 500 companies - have offered domestic-partner benefits, according to Kim Mills, education director for the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay and lesbian political organization.'[The trend] really took off in the IT sector in ... view article details

Amazon recently announced an ambitious plan to offer on-site health care to its employees. The tech giant will open a pilot clinic in its Seattle headquarters later this year and begin expanding the services to more employees in 2019. Like other companies, Amazon wants to address the rising costs of emergency room visits, which are the most frequently used type of outpatient service. In January, Amazon announced a joint venture with Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan Chase to work towards cheaper, higher quality health care. The CEO of the venture – Dr. Atul Gawande – is specifically focused ... view article details

In most jobs, it's unlikely your employer will ever send you home to change if you break one of the written or unwritten rules of the corporate dress code. But every day, you get a chance to make a statement about your value to the company through your choice of clothes. Moreover, salary negotiations can happen at any time. So don't get caught off guard in your old lucky sweatshirt from your college exams on the day the company decides to offer spot bonuses. Here's a list of ways to say 'pay me more' - or at least avoid saying 'pay me less' - with your wardrobe.Would you ask for a raise wearin... view article details

Broadly, the engineer's job is to apply scientific and mathematical principles to solve problems and/or fill human needs. This can range from planning a bridge to sending a person in space to inventing medical instruments. Since an engineer's solution should be fully functional, economical, and compatible for human use, an engineer's job may also consist of testing for these many critical factors.Engineering is a field broken down into specialty areas, including but not limited to: Aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engine... view article details

Q. I keep hearing and seeing salary surveys that say I should be making about $10,000 to $20,000 more than I am currently making, but I find it very hard to compare when you take in all the factors of cost of living, profit sharing, medical benefits, and working environment. Is the grass greener elsewhere?A. Companies normally focus on the total rewards package they deliver to employees rather than on base pay alone. Total rewards include compensation, benefits, and work/life balance programs such as flex time and telecommuting.The average merit budget for most companies hovers around 4 percen... view article details

Don't Freak Out! We've Got Your Office Gift-Giving Strategy Covered With Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the rearview mirror it's time for some minor motivating panic regarding your office gift giving. Smiling at that thought? Tapping your toe to the holiday music? You're obviously ahead of the curve (and slightly obnoxious with the gloating. Keep it down over there). But if you've been procrastinating and the little holiday alarm just went off, it will behoove you to spend the next few minutes reading this article. We're here to help guide you through the minefield of... view article details

Earning a higher education degree is a big investment. With all that money (and time) on the line, students may want to confirm that the entry level jobs they’re setting themselves up for tend to yield a good return on investment (ROI). Using Salary.com data, we found 10 jobs that have median level I salaries over $60,000. These jobs promise even bigger pay outs as employees climb the ranks. Read on to see if one of these jobs may be right for you to pursue: 1) Electrical Engineer I What you’ll earn to start: $68,171 What you’ll do: Assist with the design, development, and testing of electric... view article details

Check Out These High-Paying, Entry Level Careers Perfect for Recent College Graduates College is Over -- Get a Job! The month of May brings us Mother's Day, the Kentucky Derby and -- most importantly -- college graduations. After four long years of toiling and late-night study sessions, graduates have their caps, gowns, and that diploma is waiting for you across the stage. But the biggest question for all graduating college seniors is whether or not they have a job. In honor of society's newest entrants to the labor market, let’s take a look at some of the hottest jobs for this year's crop ... view article details

There is no escaping the fact that college costs are rising. The College Board reports that most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,440 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college attended. Average College Costs for 2007-2008: Private four year $23,712 (up 6.3 % from last year) Public four-year $6,185 (up 6.6 %from last year) Public two-year $2,361 (up 4.2% from last year) Financing Options Families are encouraged to seek federally backed loans first, then shop for private loans, based in part on the recommend... view article details