roductivity Nightmare or Communications Dream?No longer just a tool of the idle masses exchanging rumors and recipes, instant messaging (IM) applications have encroached into the working world, where professionals swap industry information, gossip, and expertise in the blink of an eye. Instead of traipsing down the hall, making an abrupt phone call, or waiting for an e-mailed response, employees can communicate with one another via online text, 'pinging' each other questions and requests, speeding up reaction rate and increasing productivity. According to a recent Jupiter Media Metrix report, ... view article details

As your own agent, you've done you annual salary research and know what you’re worth at your next job. You know what combination of compensation elements will make a prospective position your dream job. Now it's time to negotiate to your total compensation package and secure your dream deal. Let's get this done. Your Dream Deal What’s in a dream deal? It’s that combination of statistics and characteristics that, taken together, make up your dream job. Learn the typical range of base compensation for your dream position in your industry, in your area. Find your fabulousness factor: where your ... view article details

Survey Reveals Top Employee Time Wasters at Work A Facebook status update here, a Tweet there and finding that perfect dinner recipe on Pinterest. These days, most jobs require a computer, and workplace distractions are plentiful. But how much time do employees waste visiting personal websites that aren't work-related? And on a more philosophical note, what should we consider to be time wasters at work? We surveyed more than 3,200 people from February to March 2012 to find out the biggest time wasters at work. In this era of constant connectivity, we are slaves to our laptops, smartphones, and... 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

You've Gotta Want It! Has your gym lock been repurposed for use as a paperweight? While it might be quite effective at holding down all those 'must read' memos, it looked better dangling from your gym locker. Remember? The gym? You first wandered in months ago. Hopeful. Resolved. You made promises. Signed papers. And bought a lock.Sure, it’s tough to fit in fitness. Especially in the dead of winter with crowded gyms full of people clinging to their New Year's resolutions and temperatures that make working out outside more than a little icy. Not to mention the fact that your job may re... view article details

Whether you are just starting your professional life or are a seasoned pro looking to make a savvy career move, whether you are between jobs or simply feeling the need to move on, the quality of your job hunt will determine your level of success.If you're a serious job hunter, you've probably read plenty of books and articles on job seeking steps that will give you the leading edge.But do you know what actions might put the kibosh on your quest? This article explores 14 job hunting mistakes to avoid. 1. Relying on the job classifieds, want ads, or online job postings The majority of j... view article details

There are times when negotiating your salary can be a multi-layered and complicated process. I’ve seen jobseekers juggling three or more offers, playing companies off of each other, stalling for time, and getting counter-offers to counter-offers like a circus performer spinning plates. Other deals can get complex quickly when you start to weigh the choice between a sure-thing salary, potential bonuses, and long-shot/high-upside stock options. And then there are the situations that have nearly everything in play: compensation, bonuses, equity, job title, relocation costs, vacation time, start d... view article details

Working Hard or Hardly Working? A Facebook status update here, a Tweet there and maybe you find that perfect dinner recipe on Pinterest. In this day and age most jobs require a computer, most computers have the Internet and distractions to workers are plentiful. But how much time do employees waste on visiting personal websites that aren't work-related during the day? And on a more philosophical note, should that really be considered a 'waste' of time?We surveyed more than 3,200 people from February to March 2012 to find out.Blame It on the Internet As you can probably imagin... view article details

Compensation SurveysPaying people fairly is good for business. Underpay, and employees will eventually look for a better offer. Overpay, and the payroll budget and profitability will suffer. That's why companies use market data to research the value of their jobs. But what is 'market data' anyway?To determine the prevailing rate for a job, companies can 'benchmark' jobs against compensation surveys that are detailed and specific to the companies' industries and regions. A good compensation survey uses standard, proven methods of data gathering and statistical analysis to determine how much com... view article details