Q: I was hired by a software company at an entry-level sales position. I have a four-year degree and sales experience.I was brought on board at a salary of $27,000 per year, plus a monthly bonus. After my first week on the job, I was moved from an inside sales position to a regional sales manager position with no increase in pay.I've been in this position for three months, and I have had to learn everything on the fly. I've maintained my territory with flying colors, and have increased sales from last year's numbers. Coworkers have told me the man I replaced was making $73,000, with no four-ye... view article details

Looking for a job depends on where you start. You do things differently if you are looking for work while you have a job than when you don’t. You use one approach if your employer is hitting a rough patch. It’s a whole different story when you’ve just graduated from college (and which college seems to really matter). It’s another story when you are reentering the workforce or shifting careers. Where you are in your professional development plays a role. While it’s wonderful to think that recruiters will come hunting for you while you are gleefully enjoying your current gig, that doesn’t often... view article details

Q. A coworker recently moved, and the owners decided not to hire a new employee. The office manager and I are splitting the extra duties. Would this be a good time to request a raise, since I am now doing more work at the same pay rate as before?A. It depends on what tasks you're being expected to take over and on how these new tasks have changed the impact, scope, and responsibilities of your job. Just because the company has increased your tasks does not mean the value of the job has increased.In many cases, a company may increase the number of tasks in someone's current job function without... view article details

Women earn less than men. Estimates vary, but a recent report by the Institute for Women's Policy Research put women's earnings at about 82 percent of what their male counterparts make. Many theories have been proposed to explain this discrepancy: Women take time off to raise families and thus don't increase earnings as quickly as men. Women tend to choose jobs in lower-paying fields. Sexism leads employers to offer women less money. Women are less aggressive negotiators than men. Now, a new study from the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Mass. suggests the last factor may be... view article details

Many employers will be conducting their annual “focal” reviews over the next few months, which in layman’s terms means the time in which you sit down with your boss and go over your achievements against goals. For most people, it is an uncomfortable conversation that produces as much anxiety as going to the dentist or asking for a raise.For the majority of companies, the annual review is the only formal conversation employees have with their boss about their performance and usually ends with an overview of an employee's new compensation package such as merit increase, bonus payout and stock gr... view article details

There are many hard and fast rules that a job-seeker can learn when preparing for a salary negotiation. For example, having the right mindset, the importance of doing research, and keeping compensation numbers open-ended, speaking in terms of salary ranges vs. naming a specific number.However, one of the more difficult aspects of negotiating a job offer is adapting your approach based on the personality of the person you are dealing with.There are three phases that you must master:Develop a negotiation mindset and learn the tips and techniquesPractice and role play with someone to simulate the... view article details

Seven Tips to a Better ReviewThe performance review induces a case of nerves in most employees, but if you prepare properly, you can make your next performance review your best.  To help, the experts at Salary.com have created a list of tips to ensure a better performance review.1. Track your contributionsKeep a journal at your desk that you can update daily or weekly with your key accomplishments, positive feedback you have received and comments about areas where you can improve.2. Compile your greatest achievementsEach month, review your journal entries and track your progress against your g... 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

The teens and 20s are always a tricky time for young adults trying to launch careers, move into their own households, figure out their finances, and generally establish themselves as grown-ups. And when an economic crisis hits in the middle of the process, it can have significant and long-lasting impacts.The financial slump known as the Great Recession is no different. Recent economic troubles have left young people reaching some milestones of adulthood at slower rates, according to an analysis released last month by Pew Research. At the same time, however, the economic climate seems to have h... 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