Q: I used your Salary Wizard and other sites to come up with a market value for myself. I found that I'm worth between $42,000 and $45,000 (I'm making $35,000 in base salary). When I approached my employer for a raise, he seemed extremely surprised and thought my numbers were too aggressive, and that my current salary is about right. He is going to do some research of his own and talk to me in a few days. How do I nicely get the point across that they're paying me too little? Am I wrong in my findings? What am I missing here? I'm very confused.Also, considering this, when my boss offers me a l... view article details

Like it or not, money is power. And if you want to be included in powerful circles, you need to look and act the part. But how can you look and act like a millionaire without the millions?Enter Vicky Oliver, whose brand new book 'The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act Like a Millionaire Even If You're Not,' serves as a guide for faking it 'til you make it into the inner sanctum of the rich and influential. And since social standing is often determined by perception, Oliver's book is a treasure trove of helpful tips to help get you rubbing elbows with the bigwigs in a hurry.The one big... view article details

Dear Annette,Someone keeps stealing my lunch from the office kitchen. I think I know who it is, but I'm not sure I want to confront the person. What should I do? Lunchless in Lincoln Dear Lunchless,Your plight reminds me of a balmy spring day several years ago when my dog Dickie and I did an on-site etiquette seminar on an oil rig in the Caspian Sea. As I demonstrated to the energy-efficient crew how to convert the simplest white paper bag into an elegant dining surface, a rare bird-of-prey swooped down and made off with one of Dickie's grilled sardines. I was so startled I nearly dropped the ... view article details

So you have an idiot boss. Now what?Dr. John Hoover is the author of 'How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive Without Killing Your Boss,' and this week he talks to Aaron and Wendy about what to do if---like so many of us have at one point or another---you work for an idiot. But while some people might read the title and assume this one big kvetching session about bad bosses, they're wrong.Hoover knows about Idiot Bosses because---well, he used to be one. That's why he's well-qualified to offer up tips such as NEVER badmouth the boss. Think about it: would you rather be known as the employee... view article details

Pleading ignorance isn't going to save your job if you show up for work inappropriately dressed. It's not a secret code. It's a dress code.Whether informally followed or clearly outlined line by line in an employee manual, trust us. It exists. Keep in mind, however, the corporate culture of your particular business. What might crisply soar through a law office might look a bit stiff in a more eclectically creative environment. Follow these tips to be sure you're a dressed for success, not disaster.Do sparkle The difference between 'sparkle' and 'flash' equates to the considerable mile... view article details

The Midwest continued to be the best place for job-seekers last month, according to data recently released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The states in the center of the country had an average unemployment rate of 7.2 percent in April, better than any other region and significantly lower than the national rate of 8.1 percent.  Driving the Midwest's low jobless numbers was North Dakota's unemployment rate of 3 percent. The western part of North Dakota is experiencing an oil boom that has produced thousands of jobs in the construction, trade and transportation, and professional services... view article details

A federal program designed to help jobless veterans find work is proving very popular with its target audience, according to numbers released this week by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.The VOW to Hire Heroes Act, signed into law in November 2011, calls for the creation of a program that pays for unemployed veterans to receive training in fields where skilled workers are in high demand, as determined by the U.S. Department of Labor. The resulting Veteran Retraining Assistance Program, or VRAP, began accepting applications on May 15.In the six weeks since VRAP launched, the program has... view article details

What do employees REALLY want most?It's a question Dr. Jack Wiley, executive director of the Kenexa High Performance Institute, has spent more than 25 years researching. And on today's episode of Salary Talk, Aaron and Wendy talk to Jack about his new book 'RESPECT: Delivering Results By Giving Employees What They Really Want,' which is being released October 11. Jack has spent more than two decades studying employee engagement surveys from more than 200,000 workers, with input from companies in more than two dozen countries. Whether it's an issue of fair pay, giving employees the recognition ... view article details

Do you know nearly one-fifth of all employees NEVER negotiate their salary when they accept a job? You wouldn't take the first offer from a car dealer or when buying a house, so why would you accept the first offer from your future employer?Jim Hopkinson, author of 'The Salary Tutor: Learn the Secrets of Negotiation No One Ever Taught You,' is this week's guest on Salary Talk, and he's dispensing some great advice on how to prepare for -- and succeed -- in getting hired with an adequate salary that not only pays the bills, but leaves you feeling happy and content in your new position.Starting ... view article details

Question:Pretty far into the process I’ve been asked my salary expectations. I said in the $160’s, and expecting $180k - $200k. Now they’ve adjusted the job title at a lower rate, “Tax Director” instead of “Director of Tax and Treasuries” likely with less responsibilities and less money. What should I do when the CFO asks my salary range?Answer:The key principle here is value first, price second. Until you’re clear about how much value you’ll be producing for the company, it’s hard to figure out compensation. If the title started as one thing one day and then changed, they may actually be limi... view article details