With the U.S. presidential contest in full swing, I’ve been thinking about our American presidents. Four in particular, whom most people would agree were effective leaders: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Each led from a distinct strength, and I believe that was the key to their effectiveness.Envision the future: This was Thomas Jefferson’s strength. Jefferson was a visionary who could picture a very different United States with the addition of the Louisiana Purchase. People with this strength lead by seeking promising opportunities, taking risk... view article details

If you work with a lot of Gen Xers or older millennials, you’ve probably heard a co-worker pay homage to the 1999 cult classic “Office Space” which continues to provide catharsis for anyone facing workspace woes. But, believe it or not, cubicles weren’t invented as some sort of practical joke. Organizations have tried to adapt their physical workspaces over time to maximize productivity and minimize distractions. And now, with the added foil of remote work opportunities, there’s a balance organizations must seek both in and out of the office. Does the “Open Office” Really Work? According to re... view article details

Do you have a big presentation at work? Are you giving an important speech to hundreds or thousands of people? If so, chances are you spent a considerable time preparing. So why aren't you expending that same level of effort preparing for your job interview?Carole Martin is this week's podcast guest, as she discusses her book 'Boost Your Interview IQ: Proven Techniques That Will Get You the Job.' The book consists of dozens of commonly asked job interview questions, accompanied by three answers from which you can choose the one you think answers the question best. From there, Martin's analysis... view article details

Delta – the second largest commercial airline in the world – is encouraging its internal pool of non-pilot workers, college students at certain universities, and even younger folks to consider taking their talents to the cockpit. By tapping into these various niches, Delta hopes to slowly erase a significant shortage of pilots over time. Baby boomers are already retiring at a staggering rate, and Delta’s 13,000+ pilots are required by federal law to lay down the keys at 65. Some pilots are leaving for other companies – another trend indicative of the war for talent. Delta expects to hire mor... view article details

What Does It Take to Get a Raise Today? Gone are the days of annual reviews and yearly raises. Today’s workforce has to truly think (and work!) outside the box in order to earn their extra 5%. So if you’re looking to increase your income, you’ll need to start laying the groundwork down now in order to ask for a raise later.Here are five ways in which you can ultimately ensure a raise at work.5. Think Like Your Boss While it can be hard to be objective, look at the workplace (and your relationship) from your boss’ perspective.Let’s say that you have a project that’s due in a f... view article details

Negotiate Wisely We know, you don’t like negotiating. But here’s a hint – very few people do. So despite it being about as enjoyable as nails on a chalkboard, it’s also necessary. And it’s too important to screw up.A misstep during the salary negotiation portion of your job interview – or worse, your failure to negotiate at all – could end up costing you thousands. Unfortunately, there are a variety of pitfalls along the way and traps you can inadvertently fall into that could derail your chances of success. That’s why we’ve identified the nine biggest mistakes most people make when n... view article details

Sometimes It's Not Them -- It's You We all have friends (or maybe YOU are the friend and just don’t realize it) who have been job-hunting for what seems like an eternity. They look through the help wanted ads, scour job boards and go on their fair share of interviews, each time thinking they 'nailed it.' But their optimism is soon broken by the hammer blow of rejection, and they’re still unemployed.Which begs the question, why?There are a thousand different potential reasons. Some are valid, others arbitrary. But even though employers will likely never reveal the true reasons behind t... view article details

How to Set Career & Salary Goals You Can Achieve This Year New Year, New Goals Everyone knows the beginning of the year is the time for setting goals. Lose weight! Get in shape! Spend more time with friends and family! It’s also the time to set goals for your career. If you do, there’s a good chance you’ll become rich. Didn’t you hear about that study on goal setting? In his book What They Don’t Teach You At Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack tells of a study conducted with new graduates from the 1979 Harvard MBA program. In that year, the students were asked, "Have you set clear, writ... view article details

Job Search Tips to Hit the Ground Running Hi. I’m job search expert Rick Gillis. I’m new to Salary.com and very proud to be here. I do a number of live presentations annually and for many years have promoted Salary.com as one of the most useful sites to job seekers. That said let’s get to work.While we'll delve deep into job search strategies and insider tips at some point in the future, it never hurts to cover the basics. So whether you're a new jobseeker just setting out on interviews or a grizzled job search veteran who could use a refresher, here are some job search basics that al... view article details

"Soft" Skills & Emotional Intelligence Will Help Get You Hired & Promoted Skills: Hard vs Soft As your career progresses one of your goals is to ensure that your "hard" skills -- tangible, teachable skills and abilities that allow you to perform your job -- are up to snuff. But in your effort to hone your hard skills, don't ignore your "soft" skills. Soft skills, sometimes called "people skills" or "emotional intelligence," are less tangible qualities that determine how you manage your own behavior, as well as interact with and get along with others. While soft skills are more difficult to ... view article details