One of the most important goals of your performance review is to help you develop professionally. At the same time, the company will set goals for you to help it achieve its objectives. So at both an individual and corporate level, performance reviews are about future excellence as much as past accomplishment.If you help set your own goals, the chance of your meeting them will be higher. Think carefully about what you can realistically do to achieve your targets.Your action plan for professional development should provide answers to the following questions.What areas of your performance do you... view article details

Leadership Versus Management Do you know the difference between leadership and management? In Western economies, the lines between the two have become blurred. In her book, The Seven Keys of Charisma (1997), Joanna Kozubska says: “There are times when a leader needs good, systematic management skills and times when a manager must inspire people. We have to be able to do both.” This has significant implications for the way that leaders and managers should be developed. Originally, the difference between management and leadership arose based on the perception that management was about imple... view article details

Q. I have been running a small startup company for almost four years. Four of us are consulting to the company in various executive roles. I'm the founder and president, handling a wide range of duties, but mostly in business development. I have the skill set and experience of most directors of business development or higher positions. My role has also exposed me to areas in which business development professionals are not typically involved.In considering other employment opportunities, how do I know which executive level I qualify for given my diverse background? Will companies discount my s... view article details

Top 15 Jobs Most Likely to Be Fired during COVID-19 With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in all states of the United States, the number of unemployed people has climbed in recent weeks. So far, about 22 million citizens have applied for unemployment relief for the first time. Behind this number, 22 million unemployment stories and many people's lives that have been impacted. So, what are the top 15 jobs most likely to be laid off? 1. Restaurant Staff Affected by the spread of the new coronavirus, the US catering industry has suffered heavy losses. Recen... 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

The Top 9 Hottest Jobs during the Pandemic Affected by the outbreak of COVID-19, businesses of all shapes and sizes are finding it difficult to operate smoothly. Many employees find themselves out of work due to social distancing and others have transitioned to a work-from-home model and are relying on technology and the internet to collaborate with colleagues and get things done. Not surprising, internet-related hot jobs are in suddenly in great demand during coronavirus outbreak. If you are looking for a new job and have the skills and knowledge needed, the time is right f... view article details

Q: I am putting in my resume for a manager's position that has just opened up in the store where I am a sales associate. I have been in retail for about five years and with this company for about six months. I have a degree in textiles, apparel and merchandising and a minor in business administration. The manager who is leaving speaks very highly of me. The median salary for my area is about $36,000. Should I ask for less because I have no management experience? Or should I ask for a range of $32,000 to $36,000 and see what they offer?A: If the median salary is $36,000, that means the candidat... view article details

So you don't like sales? Well, you'd better start.Grant Cardone, the author of 'Sell or Be Sold: How to Get Your Way in Business and Life,' is this week's guest on Salary Talk and he sells sales -- and with good reason. Even those who don't think they are salesmen in their current jobs actually do sell, says Cardone. Every time you ask for a raise, go for a promotion or pitch a new idea to your boss, you're selling yourself. Sales is nothing more than getting someone to see your side, and that's an essential component of career success.Cardone, who is also a TV and radio host, has some great e... view article details

Performance review season is upon us and many employees feel like the process doesn't matter or has little impact on their professional development or compensation. However, performance reviews are critical in demonstrating your accomplishments to your employer.To see what employees and employers think about the performance review process, Salary.com conducted a survey of over 2,000 employees and 330 HR professionals. The results of the study illustrate that the majority of employees don't understand how important the performance review is to their ongoing success and professional development.... view article details

Q. I am a temporary employee for a large firm. Before I interviewed for the job, the agency representative asked me what salary I wanted. The hourly wage I quoted was too low and does not reflect my years of experience. Later I was told that neither the agency nor the employer was able to find anyone to perform this job (the person I replaced is on a job-related disability leave). This is a professional position. The basic salary is below the Salary Wizard median. In addition, several other people at this department will be taking extended absences. What is the appropriate avenue for requestin... view article details