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

Synchronicity! We all know the resume is your calling card, and its job is to get you noticed. Since February is associated with perfect matches, use some of that synchronicity to get you noticed despite the tight job market. Focus on improving your interactions with everyone you meet during your job search to make you irresistible to hiring managers. Concentrate your efforts on key opportunities to make the most of this short month and land that big interview, ending your affair with the job search for good!Whether you are applying by posting your resume, sending emails, or dropping ... view article details

According to recent statistics put out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 9.5% of all Americans are unemployed and looking for jobs. Add those who are looking for promotions or are simply exploring change, and it's probable that the jobs you apply for will be highly sought after.How do you gain a competitive edge and stand out among other applicants? Follow these 14 tips:1. Customize your resume for every job Your resume must clearly outline how your skills, experience, and accomplishments will fit the needs of that particular employer. When faced with hundreds -- s... view article details

Think back to your biggest accomplishment. The thing you're most proud of which you still brag about to this day. Maybe you lost 100 lbs, climbed Mt. Everest or successfully finished that marathon. Whatever your goal was, chances are it was difficult and you were emotionally invested, which made the success that much sweeter.Mark Murphy, author of 'Hard Goals: The Secret to Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be,' is this week's guest on Salary Talk, and tells Aaron and Wendy that many people---and companies---have it all wrong when it comes to goal-setting.While SMART (Specific, M... view article details

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

In a study by the American Society for Training and Development, more than 750 U.S organizations provided data about their expenditures on training programs as a percentage of payroll and on a per-employee basis. Here's how they compare by industry on several key factors.Business sector Commitment to learningServices (hotels; professional, business, and personal services; educational, legal, social, and consumer services)High percentage spent on training and a significant increase in the use of new learning technologies, including computer-based training, the Internet, and teleconferencing.IT ... view article details

Q: Hello Jack,I just completed an exploratory (group) interview and mini-individual interview with an HR Manager at a prestigious non-profit organization that services Developmentally Disabled individuals nationwide. I have 12 years in the field of Disabilities, starting out as a case manager and working myself up to two supervisory positions within the last five years with a year gap in between as I was pursuing my Masters in Social Work. I'll be  getting my MSW by 2013. I cant help thinking that I made a huge mistake in writing a salary range of $48k-$50k on my application. When I sat with h... view article details

Dear Heather,I hope this mail finds you well. This is Aya from Cairo, Egypt. I need your advice according a great confusion that I'm facing those days.I quit my job. It's really interesting, however, I couldn't stand the management team and the pressure that they're putting on me just to get some results without considering my rights and they were dealing with my rights as exceptions.I feel lost, I don't know what should I do, I don't know which career I should choose, which life I should join and decide it to be my lifestyle.I know that I need to work on myself and that makes me confused beca... view article details

Dear Annette,My husband just gave me a beautiful large diamond ring for my birthday. I want to wear it at work, but people in my office tend not to wear expensive jewelry even though many of them could well afford to. Is it tacky to wear my ring in the office? If it is, where else can I go to get some use from my ring? All That GlittersDear All That Glitters,'A kiss on the hand may be quite continental / but diamonds are a girl's best friend.' Truer words were never sung.As a small child in a small European republic near water where everyone speaks three languages and grows flowers, I once won... view article details

Even though most states found themselves creating massive cuts in the last year, the budget gap is still too much for some to handle, leading them to decrease spending further. States such as Indiana and California have already announced a dramatic decrease in education budgets for the next year. Both states, especially California, had a hard year in 2009 trying to fill the debt gap. While California inflicted dramatic tuition increases that led to student protests and media scrutiny to make up for the budget, Indiana cut programs and limited faculty travel as a way of spending less, promisin... view article details