Do You Have a Blueprint for Job Search Success? Like a brand-new day, 2015 is peeping over the horizon, promising changes to come. Now’s a great time to pause in your job search, set new goals, and find ways to keep established goals fresh as you map out where you want your career to go in the new year.Question: do you have a 2015 career blueprint? And why would you need one, anyway? Well, working without a job-search plan can set you up for a lot of frustration and can stall forward motion in your career. Instead of losing ground trying to figure things out willy-nilly, pause now and... view article details

“My meeting to ask for a raise went terribly.”Needless to say, this is about the worst thing you can hear after giving someone advice on how to negotiate, but once in awhile it happens. Like many things in life, a test of one’s character isn’t how they live their life when things are good, it’s how they react when faced with a challenge.Let’s look at a case study from the viewpoint of Kristin, a marketing assistant. There is a 3-step process for our company reviews:Fill out an evaluation formHave a review discussion with your managerFollow up with upper management to discuss compensationI have... view article details

Get the Most Out of Your Employees Without Breaking the Bank Many employers lose good employees, thinking a pay raise or bonus will keep them going. Of course, money is always a solid motivator, as is a strong compensation plan, but a bigger paycheck is not always the better answer. Gas, groceries and daily necessities can eat up a bonus; rather than something employees can enjoy, it is quickly gone with nothing tangible to remember. Here are six ways to motivate your employees, achieve higher productivity and a happier business culture -- without buying it. Work isn't supposed to be Romper Ro... view article details

Employers do not owe you a response to your application for a job. Just because you send a company a response to its job ad, you are not entitled to a response. The term ‘resume black hole’ refers to the frustration some people feel when they don’t get a response to a job application. It would be really nice if people told you ‘no’ quickly. But, you know how hard it is to actually say ‘no.’ There is nothing pleasant about telling you that you didn’t get the job. Many employers believe there is a legal risk in telling you ‘no.’ The combination of fear of saying no and fear of making legal err... view article details

Have you always been passionate about pursuing a career in education? There are many different roles that come with nice paychecks for you to explore in this realm. Using Salary.com data, we provided the average salaries of 10 in-demand jobs in the education space. We also provided job description summaries so you can determine if your skillset matches up: 1) High School Teacher Average salary: $59,639 What you’ll do: Prepare lesson plans, instruct adolescents, and evaluate and monitor student performance. This role requires a bachelor's degree and 2-4 years of experience in the field or in a ... view article details

Safe Travel Tips from the U.S. State Department  Relax: You're Flying   Should We Fly? Or Surf?    Relax: You're Flying  One mile high, as the stars come out, you place cucumbers over your eyelids and settle in for a good night's sleep in coach. Children may kick the seat behind you, the guy to your right may encroach, and strange human noises may blend overhead with the dry relentless forced-air ventilation system - but you're moisturized, hydrated, relaxed, and ready to do business tomorrow. At least, in your dreams.How do veteran road warriors do it, week after week, flying from city to cit... view article details

Q:  What should I do when a prospective employer asks for salary requirements or salary history in the resume or cover letter?A:  Defer and delay. Never be the first to say a number.Employers will go to great lengths to try to get candidates to disclose their salary requirements first. As the buyer of a service - your time - they are trying to bring down the price they will pay by talking about numbers prematurely and by getting you to give up information first. This puts them at a significant advantage in the subsequent negotiation.Every employer with a job opening has a budgeted range for th... view article details

Dear Annette,My husband just gave me a beautiful large diamond ring for my birthday. I want to wear it at work, but people in my office tend not to wear expensive jewelry even though many of them could well afford to. Is it tacky to wear my ring in the office? If it is, where else can I go to get some use from my ring? All That GlittersDear All That Glitters,'A kiss on the hand may be quite continental / but diamonds are a girl's best friend.' Truer words were never sung.As a small child in a small European republic near water where everyone speaks three languages and grows flowers, I once won... view article details

After establishing contact with the party you're trying to reach, you should be ready to use the time as effectively as if you were in a face-to-face meeting.The speakerphone – friend or foe?Speakerphones are a great tool for communication via the telephone, but they must be used wisely. Some people prefer to use a speakerphone even when no one else is listening in so that they can take notes during the conversation without having to juggle a phone receiver. If you're one of those people, make sure you inform the people on the line with you that you are using a speakerphone, and if they seem a... view article details

You work hard. You deserve your vacation. Yet in a world where we're all shouldering more and constant connectivity is par for the course, leaving the office behind can seem difficult, if not impossible.Yet with a little preparation and follow-through, work doesn't have to ruin your vacation.This article explores 12 tips to a restorative, relaxing, and work-free vacation you can truly enjoy.1. Consider timing If you prepare taxes for a living, don't schedule your vacation during the first two weeks in April. Pick a time of year when your workload and the demand on your time is reasona... view article details