Recently I saw a brief TV segment designed to help viewers save money.
The secret? Negotiate for discounts when you buy retail. Ask the service person, “Is there a coupon I could use to save money?”
Often the answer will be a “yes.” Of course, there’s a catch. You have to get to the store on […]

The Wall Street Journal ran an article about the new style of telecommuting. Companies can install spyware on their employees’ computers. They randomly take screen shots. They count keystrokes.
The very idea sends chills down my spine. I’ve always been the kind of worker who works in spurts. I take lots of breaks. I take detours. […]

Recently I talked to “Julie,” a smart professional who realizes she is under-utilized in her job. Because she recently made a major career change, she’s at least three years away from a serious job search because she needs to build up her experience base in her new field.
Julie needs money. She complains bitterly about […]

OK, these days you often need only a virtual resume. But for those special times when only a paper resume will do, here’s a really good set of guidelines.
There’s just one rule I’d question. Many experts say the one-page resume is outdated. As long as you have good, solid, result-oriened content, you can certainly […]

“At a recent potluck dinner,” Gloria said,”my friend Brian brought a six-pack of his special cider. We had more beverages than we needed. At the end of the evening, Brian went into the refrigerator and grabbed his untouched cider. He took it home.
“Our hostess, Nancy, was furious. She wrote Brian a strong email, claiming he […]

I have to admit I’m enjoying the debate on women and pantyhose: should an employer require women to wear them.
Some time ago Wall Street Journal pointed out some pitfalls of a dress code. Men can get into a lot of trouble when they tell women how to dress.
What I don’t understand: Why don’t women rebel […]

…starting your own online e-business.
It’s not for everyone. If you are a totally outgoing person, you may go nuts sitting in front of a computer screen all day. You may need a face to face office and human contact.
On the plus side, you skip all the messy office politics. No more dressing up. No parking. […]

Marci Alboher writes in her blog about the book Sway — why we respond to irrational impulses.
Interviewing the authors, she uncovered an important reality: first impressions count.
One described a lawyer who worked hard to impress everyone as a hard worker: first in, last out, few breaks, no personal calls. As time went on, […]

You’re interviewing for a job and the interviewer wants to pick your brain. You sense they want your expertise without paying for it.
“Real” consultants run into this challenge all the time. Most of us learn to charge for “diagnostic” or “test-drive” challenges.
When interviewing, you may feel more constrained, especially if you need or really want […]

In today’s Wall Street Journal, Sarah Needleman writes about companies who mis-handle employee firings. It’s hard to say which is more cruel: getting a phone message, getting invited to a meeting to be told the company will be dissolved or simply ordered out on five minutes notice.
But you can’t control how a company chooses to […]