Whether you are unemployed or simply looking to make a move, in a world where jobs are more competitive than ever, finding a job is a full-time job.You can up the odds of landing a good gig by creating an organized, systematic plan to generate job leads. This article explores 12 active ways to ensure the leads keep rolling in.1. Use your network Only about 25 to 30 percent of jobs are advertised in the newspaper. The rest are 'hidden.' The best way to access these hidden jobs is through friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and contacts in your industry.Identify and reach out in an orga... view article details

These 5 Simple Steps Will Significantly Improve your Culture of Accountability Accountability is a topic covered in basic management courses. Unfortunately, there seems to be a burgeoning gap between theory and practice when it comes to this concept. Recent surveys suggest 40 percent of employees in US organizations are not held accountable for results. This is a dismal statistic, especially considering issues to do with accountability in the workplace can negatively impact employee morale. There are five strategies organizations can use to ensure accountability is instilled as a core element ... view article details

Have you ever felt ambushed during a business meeting? Or have you either clammed up or lashed out at a boss when unexpected criticisms come your way during a performance review? If so, chances are you were in a 'Crucial Conversation.' And you blew it.Kerry Patterson, a New York Times bestselling writer and co-author of 'Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High,' says crucial conversations happen on a near daily basis both at work and at home. The trick, as Patterson tells Aaron and Wendy on this week's episode of Salary Talk, is to recognize them when they happen and act ... view article details

Q: I joined my current company (Pre-IPO) right out of school as a junior QA engineer testing our product. Over the last three years, I have moved from that position to one with key responsibilities while the company has gone from 30 people to 50. Although I have been given the responsibilities of a software project lead reporting to the CTO and supervising the work of the others, there has been no official change in my title. I have been given raises quite frequently, but am still getting paid less than those I supervise. This is mainly due to my low starting salary as I have been given approx... view article details

Most of us have heard of the strategic petroleum reserve. This national stockpile generally contains about 700 million barrels of oil, some of which can be sold off if the commercial supply is disrupted. The strategic reserve helps ward off extreme price spikes and acute shortages. But the United States isn't the only country hoarding valuable resources and petroleum isn't the only substance being squirreled away for a rainy day. Let's just say that if China and Canada got together, they could serve one seriously epic breakfast.So let's take a brief tour of some of the world's most intriguing ... view article details

Q: Heather, I read your article about dealing with office bullies and replied to one of the other people who commented. Could you please answer this question for me: 'Wouldn't asking about dispute resolution at an interview be as taboo as asking about the money they are willing to pay you?' Thank you,Michelle A: Excellent question, Michelle. I’d like to expand upon my prior email response to you.In June I took my three kids hiking throughout Colorado. Because we were doing high altitude hiking, we had to be prepared for the types of weather events and emergencies that can occur above 14,000 fe... view article details

Sunday night, the 2018 Tony Awards celebrated the best and brightest of Broadway. The Band’s Visit came away with 10 Tony Awards, making it the big winner of the night. With so many wins, could The Band’s Visit be the next ‘Broadway Blockbuster’ like Hamilton? Over the past decade, Broadway shows have increased exponentially in revenue and popularity, with ticket sales (and prices) through the roof. With so much money flowing through Broadway shows these days, we started wondering: what does the compensation landscape look like for aspiring musical theatre professionals? When visualizing a B... view article details

Mars, Venus & All That Jazz Men and women are different. This hardly counts as a revelation, but new research in neuroscience hints at the scope and complexity of these differences, and helps to explain some of the social differences, too. Men, we’ve learned, are apt to practice an agentic style of leadership, marked by assertiveness; and in the extreme, a “take no prisoners” attitude. Research shows that male leaders are more likely to clarify the roles and responsibilities of subordinates, and to weed out those who don’t measure up. Women, on the other hand, tend toward a communal s... view article details

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

When it comes to colorful language at work, on one end of the spectrum there's the timid colleague who gives up the occasional 'Darn!' and, on the other, there's the over-the-top constant curser who's probably got a trip to HR in his future.But sometimes, things are not be so black and white. That's why knowing the difference between the good, the bad and the ugly can save your ears -- and possibly your job. Here's how...Team Work: The Good Teams that can freely express themselves may build stronger ties. For example, when emotions run high, overlooking a 'freakin'' here and a 'What t... view article details