Some folks live and breathe the family business as it endures through generations. There are plenty of success stories out there, but you may be curious which Brady Bunch is raking in the big bucks. According to Bloomberg, here are the top 10 richest families in the world, and how they got their green. 1) Walton Family Source of Wealth: Walmart Industry: Consumer Retail Net Worth: $151.1 Billion 2) Koch Family Source of Wealth: Koch Industries Industry: Industrial Net Worth: $98.7 Billion 3) Mars Family Source of Wealth: Mars Industry: Confectionery, Pet Care Net Worth: $87.9 Billion 4) Van... view article details
Where do you get your salary data? Why isn't the Salary Wizard dispensing 'accurate' numbers? Should pilots who keep secrets about flying their client's mistresses around get bigger raises?These are just some of the questions you asked us. And we brought in the big guns to get you all the answers.While most of you are already familiar with Aaron and Wendy---the hosts of Salary Talk---this week we bring in Patrick and Mike, two other Salary.com employees, to get all of your questions answered. While Wendy gives a great primer/refresher on properly using the Salary Wizard, Patrick talks about th... view article details
Q. I relocated by choice. When I relocated, I couldn't keep the same position with my company. Now the company has offered me a position comparable to the one I left behind, but at the pay rate I was at before my position changed. What boundaries does my company have to adhere to, and should they calculate a cost-of-living increase? My immediate supervisor told me the cost of living was lower here than where I moved from. But after doing a little research I found that the cost of living is significantly higher where I am now.A. Since this was a voluntary move, the company is under no obligatio... view article details
All of our guests on Salary Talk are winners. But this group of Carnegie Mellon University graduate students truly fits the bill, as they were named one of the grand prize winners of Challenge.gov's Equal Pay App Challenge.David Guarino and Rachel Koch are part of a team of developers who created www.closethewagegap.com, in response to the U.S. Department of Labor's call to action in January. The challenge was developed in conjunction with President Obama's Equal Pay Task Force, with the purpose of highlighting the discrepancy in pay between men and women. Although the Department of Labor has ... view article details
Dear Annette,Everything in my tiny cubicle is beige. Day after day I arrive at my desk and think, 'Well, there go all my ideas.' All this beige is making me blue. Annette, how can I bring my workspace to life?Dingy in DaytonDear Dingy,Three words: accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Nothing stimulates creativity like nice things. You clearly need to give your cubicle a makeover.Besides, everything talks. Every book and every accessory communicates something about your motivation, attitude, and of course, personal style. Why Blah when you can Blossom?Give your office space the same loving to... view article details
Nurses, are you where you want to be in your nursing career? Whether you are a new nurse, mid-career, or approaching retirement, if you are struggling to find your ideal job and are frustrated with the online job search process, this week's podcast guest can help.Lisa Mauri Thomas is the author of 'Landing Your Perfect Nursing Job,' which is hot off the presses after its release today. She talks to Aaron and Wendy about tips, tricks, worksheets, checklists, sample cover letters and resumes that will help nurses understand and strategically get through today's job search process.Not a nurse? Th... view article details
Q: I am the IT manager at the local newspaper. I had no experience and settled for a lower wage than the position should have paid. I now have been here two years and am wondering whether I should ask for the salary your site and others say I am worth. I have a two-year degree in information management, and an A+ certification, and I'm working on my net+. I am the network administrator and implement and troubleshoot all their software systems. It's much more work than they first described. To get me to the average in our area they would need to give me a $20,000 increase.A: Even after two year... view article details
Q. What is the best way to respond, if a prospective employer asks for your salary history and salary expectations in your cover letter? My current salary is in a different industry from the one I am hoping to enter. In addition, I have recently completed graduate school and believe my salary should reflect this achievement. A. I can appreciate why you would be reluctant to state your salary expectations to a potential employer before the job offer. Before you disclose any information, here are three steps you may want to take. First, ask the recruiter for a job description of the position so ... view article details
'There is nothing more important for a person or an organization than full engagement.'That quote from Rudy Karsan, CEO and Chairman of Kenexa (Salary.com's parent company), is the basis for his book We: How to Increase Performance and Profits Through Full Engagement. Full engagement differs from happiness in that it means employers have motivated fully engaged employees to want to go the extra mile to achieve goals. But how often does your company really give serious consideration to how engaged you are?In this podcast, Karsan talks to Aaron and Wendy about the significant implications engage... view article details
When it comes to your career path, sometimes "up" isn't the only direction in which to travel. A sideways or "lateral" move -- defined as a move either within your current company or to a new organization with similar title, pay, and responsibility -- can often pay off in the future. Here are 14 reasons to make a lateral move. Reason #1: You want to enhance your value and be more marketable A lateral move often gives you the opportunity to gain additional skills and knowledge. Reason #2: You'll work with a better boss or supervisor Sometimes making a lateral move is a good way to cement ... view article details