Paid Vacation Before Your First Day on the Job? How does the idea of taking a vacation before you've started a job sound? The pre-cation is a fairly new development in hiring perks, and both new hires and the companies giving them out are reaping the benefits. Pre-cations may be particularly valuable to new hires that have recently left a job that was very frustrating or energetically draining. These workers are often exhausted to near burnout, and although they are grateful to have a new opportunity, they are often not in the best shape (physically and mentally) to start out on the r... view article details

The start of a new year is always a good time to set new career resolutions. No matter where you are in your career -- entry level, mid-career, or nearing retirement -- there are always new challenges to tackle and goals to meet.Make this year the year you shine at work and make some long awaited changes. Here are 15 resolution ideas to help make this the year you get ahead.Resolution 1: Conquer a fear Is there a pesky fear that's holding you back at work? Think about what that may be costing you. For example, if you're afraid of public speaking, it may be costing you opportunities to... view article details

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

Tips for Negotiating Salary Even After You've Accepted the Job Offer When it comes to the intricate back-and-forth game of salary negotiation, there are many crucial points in the process where a misstep can trip you up and cost you thousands. It starts with the ominous "list your current salary" entry on an online form or job application, continues in the first interview with human resources, and could be brought up again by the hiring manager. One thing is for sure, once you've received an offer and agreed to accept the job at that level, there’s no going back. Or is there? A common scenario... view article details

Volunteering Has Many Benefits Millennials love to volunteer. Why? In short, it makes them happy. But surprisingly, college students and young professionals also lead the pack in volunteerism as a means of developing themselves professionally.In fact, an employer’s involvement in causes was cited in the 2014 Millennial Impact Report as the third most important factor when determining whether to apply for a job. And a Deloitte study found that Millennials who frequently participated in workplace volunteer activities were more likely to be proud, loyal, and satisfied employees.Millennia... view article details

A glance at the newspaper headlines in the past few months tells a disturbing story. Whether or not one uses the dreaded 'R' word, it's clear that more and more companies are reevaluating their workforce. Instead of worrying about your job security, be proactive and lay the groundwork in case you should need to find a job quickly. A little planning can go a long way if you are faced with an emergency job search.The following tips will help you prepare for an unexpected job search. At the same time, however, they are a great way to both update your network and assess your current situation.Netw... view article details

Looking for a raise? We’re happy you are using our salary wizard to find out your job’s value. Our data can provide valuable negotiation points, and we have additional articles on how to ask for a raise we think you’ll find useful. Here’s the top articles pertaining to how to ask for a raise we feel are worth the read: 1) Is it OK to Ask for a Raise? If you’ve never had a job where it’s customary to ask for a raise or promotion, you may need a quick crash course. We’ve got plenty of specific tips and points of advice, but it’s important to understand the basic strategy behind the ask. Here’s... view article details

So, you want a raise? Great! But do you deserve a raise? Have you adequately displayed your value to the company? Or do you believe you can easily receive a raise because it's been a year? Before you go in and ask for a raise, it's important to make sure you have enough going for you. Here are seven reasons to ask for a raise. 1) A Positive Attitude Don't underestimate likability. Do results matter? Absolutely. However, a positive attitude goes a heck of a long way in helping your cause. This doesn't mean you have to be best friends with your boss (in fact, that's a no-no), but a good attitu... view article details

Job hunting is a nerve-racking process. Scouring LinkedIn for opportunities, waiting by the phone for employers to call, and sending out countless résumés to people who may never read them is a huge pain.But as any HR professional will tell you, the best time to look for a job is when you already have one. When you’re happily employed, your negotiating power skyrockets and you're more likely to be wooed by hiring managers with higher compensation, better benefits, and stock options. That's where passive candidacy comes in.Passive candidates are people who aren’t actively looking for a job but ... 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