Dear Annette,Our company subsidizes memberships to a gym in our building. Everybody goes here, and I often find myself working out next to senior people in the company. How do I handle this? Out of BreathDear Out of Breath,I'm sure you realize you can glisten with perspiration and good manners at the same time. I myself do not exercise - I have People to do that for me - but nobody knows better than I do that sweat can be fabulous. It can also make the most casual situations more complicated than they appear. When working out with colleagues, you want to show you're a team player who appreciat... view article details

Dear Annette,When placing photographs on one's desk, do you recommend a certain number of photographs or an ideal size and type of frame? My goal is to create more of a 'work' atmosphere than a 'home' atmosphere. FramedDear Framed,I have always thought my desk was an ideal place for photographs. Delightful sterling silver frames add a touch of whimsy to my work area and demonstrate once again that there will always be a place for engraving in the modern office. Since I use my computer very little, I like to put photos on my keyboard and monitor as well.It's so handy when friends ask who that f... view article details

Before negotiating an executive salary with a current or new employer, take some time to reflect on where your pay falls given the market data, the opportunities you face, and your current compensation.How little is too little?If you are making too little, assess yourself and your performance as honestly as possible. If you discover that your data is accurate, but you're underpaid - and that there are good reasons why you are underpaid - determine how to remedy it and create a plan with your current employer, or figure out what to do differently in your next post.Perhaps it's that someone else... view article details

I've been trying to wrap my brain around the value (or not) of the new Facebook Jobs app. I've been reviewing some white papers written for recruiters and I'm just not sure...yet. Question #1Don't job seekers already have hundreds, if not thousands, of places to seek out jobs? Besides the name boards (Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, SimplyHired, Dice, Vault, LinkUp, etc.), company boards, government boards, trades, local and community job boards -- do we really need more places to post and/or locate jobs?The only platform with absolute, proven value right now per the recruiting community is Li... view article details

In the midst of a financial crisis, we often think of going back to school as a sound investment in our future. Not only can a college education help safeguard our employment, it can also significantly boost earning power by as much as 75 percent. Indeed, in a report from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Census Bureau, individuals with a bachelor’s degree can expect to earn $2.1 million over their adult working lives, while those with only a high school diploma can expect to earn $1.2 million.But, like any investment, going back to school involves a financial commitment. And, a recession, combin... view article details

Start with Confidence  Doing research on how to buy a home is itself an investment - in time. On the one hand are the shelves of books on the subject - helpful, yet sometimes tedious in their detail. On the other hand are specialty Web sites with short, sharp home-buying tips that sacrifice depth and introduce pop-up invitations to apply for mortgages, credit reports, or real estate listings. Even the most hardened researcher can have a tough time telling the forest from the trees. If you are gearing up to buy a house, you may need at least one self-help guide, if only as an anti-jargon dictio... view article details

Which statement best describes how you make a decision?The best decisions are the result of thorough research, where several alternatives are considered, and the pros and cons of each are weighed carefully before reaching a fact-based decision.The best decisions are the result of input from a group—two heads are better than one, and three heads are better than two.The best decisions are the ones I make unilaterally. Just kidding—sort of.The best decisions are the result of brainstorming possibilities and choosing the one that everyone is most excited about.If you are familiar with personality ... view article details

Good news for this year’s crop of college graduates! Job Outlook 2008, an annual survey of college recruiters, reports that employers plan to hire 16 percent more new college graduates than they did last year. Reasons for this expanded recruitment effort include an increased demand for many employers’ products and services and a high number of current employees who are retiring or near retirement age. According to the Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Salary Survey says that the overall average starting salary offer to new college graduates, despite a less-than-robust eco... view article details

Q: Hello, you don't know me, but I saw your profile on Salary.com. You look so happy in your picture and I would love to see myself so accomplished in the near future! Do you have any advice for a hard working creative woman like me? I've been designing and managing at the same stable, but unfulfilling job for the past 8 years. I need a kick in the a** to make a move to senior management ELSEWHERE, but I have little time with a toddler underfoot? Please help!Heather: What a compliment! Thank you. But make no mistake, that photo was cropped to exclude unfinished laundry, a carry-in dinner and t... view article details

Recycled. Upcycled. Eco-friendly. Sustainable. Organic. Everywhere you look signs, labels, and headlines make it clear that the country is going green. But how – if at all – does that translate into jobs?An estimated 3.4 million of U.S. jobs qualified as 'green' in 2011, according to a recent report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, up nearly 5 percent over 2010. In the private sector, environmentally friendly jobs grew at an even faster rater: more than 7 percent, from 2.3 million to 2.5 million. Employment across all industries and categories, meanwhile, grew by just slightly more... view article details