The Sequester, Job Search, and You A recent Gallup poll states 51% of Americans don’t know enough about the sequester to judge if it’s a good or bad thing for the economy or for themselves personally. I tend to take a more negative view. As a layperson, and a veteran resume writer, I hear from many people who feel the effects of the sequester and believe it’s a bad thing, even if those changes have not already taken place. It’s like waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop: You know something bad is about to happen, you just don’t know when.This article spells out in layperson’s ... view article details

We can Google a checklist for anything these days, and workplace diversity is no exception. Diversity checklists from numerous countries show up in the search, reminding us that workplace diversity is of global interest—we are working within a globalized economy and within a multicultural workforce. Organizations that do not have a strong diversity and inclusion culture may invite lower productivity, higher absenteeism, and higher turnover resulting in higher costs to the company, as well as lose-out on valuable diversity of thought and talent. Does your company have its own diversity and... view article details

The Negotiation Process Begins Earlier Than You Think Have you ever felt undervalued or offered a lower salary than you are worth? Were you afraid to ask for a higher salary?If so, you are not alone. Many people avoid salary negotiation out of fear. However, even among those who are willing, it is a common misconception that the process must begin with a job offer. Salary negotiation begins much earlier in the job seeking process. How much earlier? As soon as you submit your resume. While this might be a surprise to some, it’s important to be aware for those who potentially risk under... view article details

There's an App For That Smartphones can easily become a major distraction. With games, social media, and text messages just a touch away, it's easy to fall into a procrastination trap. Fortunately, there are a number of helpful smartphone apps designed to up your efficiency on a daily basis. Rather than distracting you, these clever apps will get you back on track and increase your productivity.6. Slack Messaging programs are often lacking when it comes to collaborating on projects, plus they pose the risk of distracting you with messages from friends and family. Slack, on th... view article details

Broadly, the engineer's job is to apply scientific and mathematical principles to solve problems and/or fill human needs. This can range from planning a bridge to sending a person in space to inventing medical instruments. Since an engineer's solution should be fully functional, economical, and compatible for human use, an engineer's job may also consist of testing for these many critical factors.Engineering is a field broken down into specialty areas, including but not limited to: Aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engine... view article details

Global demand for certified employees across industries is growing. Many companies now require specific certifications regardless of the education level and experience of potential employees. It has become a primary vehicle for screening applicants as it provides employers with measurable evidence that the applicant has the required knowledge base for the position.Take an example of being treated by a medical doctor. Who would you choose? A board certified doctor or one who has a medical degree but is not board certified? What about an elementary teacher for your child? Would you prefer a teac... view article details

Why an Employee's Salary May Be Higher Than Reported by Our Compensation Reports You're an employer who has market-priced your open positions and employees. Perhaps you used our Salary Wizard Professional tool (SWP) to do so and found that you have an overpaid employee on your hands. Before you take any drastic action, there are a few important things to remember when it comes to employee compensation. There are a number of reasons why an employee's current compensation may be higher than the market data in the Salary Wizard. Please remember that being higher than the market numbers shown does... view article details

Bonus programs reflect a company's definition of success, how that definition is measured, and the extent to which that measure is met. Bonuses are similar from company to company. The reason is that most companies subscribe to a pay-for-performance philosophy whereby bonuses are tied to two important measures: how well you are doing with respect to your manager's expectations; and how well your company is doing with respect to its expectations. Individual and group performance goals are hard to set, because they should be neither too ambitious nor too easy to achieve. It is best for employe... view article details

Understand your pay scale better What is a Pay Scale? A pay scale is a system that determines how much an employee in a certain profession is paid as a wage or salary, based on one or more factors such as the employee's level within the employer's organization, the length of time that the employee has been employed, and the difficulty of the specific work performed. A pay scale shows the range of salary an employee should expect at progressing stages in their career. Pay scales help employees to have an appropriate estimation of their future wage level. The... view article details

The New Media Age has introduced many unique job opportunities to the market. People can now get paid for their design ideas on Pinterest, they can develop a steady income stream by promoting products on Instagram or personal blogs, and they can even cash in from buying and selling digital assets known as cryptocurrency. One Internet Age job that sounds particularly fun is getting paid to record yourself doing the things you love. This dream job is a reality for many YouTube stars. YouTube sensations including Felix Kjellberg, Mark Fischbach, Evan Fong, and Daniel Middleton record their reacti... view article details