Dear Annette,I am a cubicle dweller, as are most of my coworkers. Even though we try to keep our voices down, we can't help overhearing one another's personal calls. Should we just pretend we don't? What if it's about a subject, such as a medical problem, where one of us could offer help and information? Hear and NowDear Hear and Now,You've hit on one of the ways in which reality is far more convenient than television. On a television show, an inquisitive half-sibling, soon-to-be-ex-spouse, or henchperson has to listen at the keyhole of a thick wooden door or tap a telephone in order to hear t... view article details

They call them the salt of the Earth; the people who spend their lives learning a specific labor, directly benefitting the public with effective service. There are all kinds of skilled laborers, many of whom choose to work at The Jim Beam Company – makers of the best-selling bourbon in the world. Meet Kevin Boone, Process Control Sr. Maintenance Supervisor at the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Kentucky. He works in one of the three principal Beam factories in the state, just twenty minutes outside Louisville. The history of the Beam brand dates back to 1795, when the first generation of the ... view article details

Q:  What should I do when a prospective employer asks for salary requirements or salary history in the resume or cover letter?A:  Defer and delay. Never be the first to say a number.Employers will go to great lengths to try to get candidates to disclose their salary requirements first. As the buyer of a service - your time - they are trying to bring down the price they will pay by talking about numbers prematurely and by getting you to give up information first. This puts them at a significant advantage in the subsequent negotiation.Every employer with a job opening has a budgeted range for th... view article details

Awkward But Necessary It may be one of the hardest conversations you’ll have to have with your boss.Asking for a recommendation can certainly be stressful, awkward, and a bit unpleasant. After all, you never know what your boss’ reaction might be to the news that you’re essentially looking to leave the company. But if you’re in the market for a new job, you’ll inevitably need a referral from your current jefe.Here’s how to ask your boss for a recommendation.4. Be Realistic If you’ve been showing up to work day in and day out and being a model employee, asking for a recommenda... view article details

Job postings range from regurgitated job descriptions to carefully crafted sales pitches. At some level all job postings are designed to give you enough information to qualify yourself in or out of applying. And, if well done, the compelling copy and clarion call-to-action spurs you to 'Apply!' 'Submit!' 'Enter, enter, enter!'Before you take the plunge So, you're ready to apply online. Before you dive in, dizzy with anticipation of landing your dream job, consider: What do these common job posting phrases really mean?"We have an immediate ... view article details

Steer Clear of These Careers on the Verge of Extinction The Future Looks Grim For Some Occupations Remember those men who went door-to-door selling vacuums, encyclopedias and other wares? Today, they are thing of movies and memories. The simple fact of the matter is some careers are fleeting, and aren't good bets for the future. Whether made obsolete by innovation or invention, it's important to take what information we currently have an apply it to the future when making decisions that will have lasting impacts. With that in mind, here are six jobs and careers about to go the way of the do... view article details

Epidemic Outbreak – Will I Lose My Job or Get a Decrease in Salary? Over the past decade, the economy has continued to develop, and employment growth has been strong. The unemployment rate in the United States was close to a record-breaking low before the outbreak of the pneumonia. The Washington Post conducted an interview with more than 20 businesses and their workers, in which many Americans express how they have lost their jobs this week due to the new coronavirus pandemic. The pneumonia is hitting the U.S economy and bringing many industries to a standstill, wh... view article details

More than 70 percent of America’s workers are still living paycheck to paycheck according to a recent American Payroll Association poll. And current tough economic times have everyone wondering what they can do to stretch their paycheck a bit further. We’ve compiled a list of what we feel are ten of the best ideas to help stretch your paycheck. With a little extra effort, you can yield some big savings.1. Stop buying bottled water Americans spend a staggering amount on bottled water - $15 billion last year. Name brands in small bottles can cost more than $10 per gallon while tap wate... view article details

Once upon a time good employees updated their job skills and advanced to the next career level with the regularity of Mario questing for Princess Peach.But then technology proliferated, and the well-read encyclopedia salesman, savvy VCR repairman and worldly travel agent either faded away or morphed into updated versions of their former selves.Are you prepared for an evolving work environment or, worse, job extinction? Don't be the Cro Magnon who creates trendy CD artwork in an MP3 world.Check out these jobs on the brink and remember,clever and creative are transferable skills -- if you're ada... view article details

Getting an Employer to Pick Up Moving Costs Is Hard, But Not Impossible For most people my age, short or long-term relocation has become the norm. It has also become the norm for people my age to be in debt with school loans and the cost of living expenses growing every year. So even though each move brings the excitement of new experiences, relocating is more financially and emotionally costly than ever. This is why it is vital to negotiate with your employer for the best possible relocation package. Having moved from Ithaca, New York to London, UK and back to Chicago, I thought moving wou... view article details