5 Ways to Recession-Proof Your Income

5 Ways to Recession-Proof Your Income

Economic recessions in America may be a fiscal fact of life, but experts say downturns don't have to spell crisis for everyone.

By Kristina Cowan

Have you ever been knee-deep in financial duress, perhaps losing all of your savings and retirement funds as your employer went belly up? No one wants to get stuck in such dire straits, but it's a valid concern, especially when news mounts about indicators of a recession.

The good news is that an economic recession doesn't have to bring despair to all, experts say, if you make smart moves to recession-proof your income.

Here's how to protect your funds in a recession:

1. Control your debt in a recession.

Bryan Beatty, a certified financial planner based in Vienna, Va., says there is bad debt, such as credit cards, and necessary debt, such as a home or a condo. "A credit card is always subject to have a variable rate, and they tend to get worse for you when times are tough, so try to avoid credit card debt," he says. "One thing I tell people with a home or a condo: That's a necessary debt. You have to have a place to live, and you might as well have a debt with tax benefits."

If you have credit card debt, establish a strategy for paying it off. For those with multiple cards, rather than paying them all down evenly, Beatty recommends being most aggressive in paying off the card with the highest interest rate, and then moving to the next card. Once they're all paid off, don't use them again, unless you can pay off the balance during the same month you made the purchase.

2. Save up for rainy days during a recession.

You should have an emergency fund, to be tapped only for necessities. "Once you get your debt in control, put six months to one year of funds into a safe and accessible account. That's really how you recession-proof your household and your family," says Robert Shemin, the Miami-based author of How Come That Idiot's Rich and I'm Not? "If your living expenses are $2,000 a month, then you need $24,000. It takes a while to get that, but you have to start today. If you only have a small cushion, [a recession] will be very stressful." Rainy day funds and recession planning go together.

3. Stop supersizing your lifestyle during a recession.

America is known for extra-large everything, from meals to cars to homes. Why not cut back on excess? "Sell something. I find that happiness isn't contingent on where you live or what car you drive," Shemin urges. If you're making a big purchase, such as a home, consider whether you really need, for example, a house with five bedrooms, says Patrick Astre, author, speaker and financial expert. A bigger house means bigger bills and smaller retirement savings, he says: "I can give you three guarantees; you will get older, you will die, you won't want to work during retirement. But if you don't save money, you will work till you die." Super size your savings and a recession won't hurt as much.

4. Take a side job during a recession.

You can base the job around your skills, interests or hobbies. "Hobbies can be backdrop jobs along the way, and also prepare you for retirement. So I strongly agree that having a second job of interest is an excellent way to diversify yourself," according to Beatty. "Many people can see slowdowns in their industry ... With hobbies, they are more diversified-[people] can move more toward those hobbies they enjoy, and will be well ahead of the curve, and maybe ultimately go on their own entirely. Many businesses start in someone's basement."

5. Stand on different "financial legs."

These "legs" might be the salaries of a husband and wife, investment portfolios, annuities, bonds, pensions, real estate, or a home-based business, says Peter Lengsfeld, senior financial consultant at Presidential Brokerage Inc., based in Colorado. "The trick with respect to the financial legs is you want to make sure they're not all reacting to the same things. For example, Enron was the classic case where someone was working for a company and all their 401K was in company stock. You want to make sure that the financial legs you establish work somewhat independently of one another."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

'Don't Show Us the Money-Show Us Healthcare Benefits,' Workers Say

When choosing jobs, Americans want healthcare benefits more than anything, a recent survey finds.

By Kristina Cowan

U.S. workers are putting money in its place-and it isn't first. According to a survey on what Americans want in a job, health insurance plans rank first, while compensation comes in 10th.

Next up after health insurance plans are job security, an environment with clear policies/procedures, retirement/pension plans, and a flexible, family-friendly workplace, says the survey for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence.

Elizabeth Kellar, executive director for the Washington-based center, says what the survey likely reflects "is that increasingly employers are not offering health-insurance benefits that are very good, or health-insurance benefits at all, so it's much more on people's minds when they're looking for a job."

Experts and employees offer differing opinions about the survey's findings, with some agreeing and others remaining skeptical.

Are Health Insurance Plans All the Rage?

While compensation is important, some experts say nowadays workers have different priorities.

Melanie Holmes, vice president of World of Work Solutions for Manpower in Milwaukee, Wis., says she's not surprised health insurance plans rank first in the survey, given the abundant media coverage of the nation's troubled health-care system.

She also agrees with the emphasis on job security and flexibility. "The perception out there is that the economy is soft. So people might understandably have anxiety about losing their jobs," she explains. "Work-life balance is becoming more important to older workers, and younger kids coming into work want work-life balance and want time for themselves, to give back to the community. It cuts across all age demographics."

Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of Beyond.com, a niche-specific career network, says he thinks money is less important than it used to be, especially for younger workers.

"I believe the kids coming out of college today are a different breed. They're not so set on a huge career track that's going to lead them to financial gain as much as their parents or my parents would have been. So there's good and bad to that," Milgram says. "But the fact is money is playing less of a factor. Quality of life is playing more of a factor these days, and I believe that's terrific. Companies need to realize that fact and start treating employees accordingly."

Ryan Healy, who recently graduated from Penn State University, says he ranks salary approximately fifth in importance. "I put ahead of it company culture, people you'll be interacting with, the amount of personal growth the job allows for, the amount of responsibility you're allowed to take," notes Healy, 23. "And this is assuming it's an adequate salary-you're not going to take a job that doesn't pay your bills."

Last fall Healy left his job as a financial consultant for IBM Global Business Services to work as part of the small team behind BrazenCareerist.com, a new online career center for young professionals.

But Money Does Matter!

Some are more skeptical of the survey's findings.

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, a Massachusetts-based human resources expert, says money still matters a lot, and recruiters tell her money plays a critical part in the hiring process.

"People have to feel like they're being recognized and rewarded, and compensation is a part of that. If people want to say money doesn't really matter, then they're living in a dream," she says.
M
ary Froehlich, a senior property manager at Sydney Associates, a real-estate firm in Brookline, Mass., shares a similar sentiment.

"It's interesting that compensation was number 10, because that's never been my mindset, and I still, even in younger workers, am not finding that," Froehlich says. "In 25 years of managing people, I have never come across that people don't want to make money, and I think that today you need to make money."

Ultimately, the survey raises important points for employers, Kellar says."Even during economic downturns, there is still going to be competition for talent. It's important for employers to be aware of what they need in terms of benefits if they want to compete for the talent," she notes.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Best-Paying Careers for Women

Experts say the best-paying careers for women run the gamut, from concierge doctors to sales engineers.

By Kristina Cowan

Not long ago, women who wanted to work were often relegated to careers in teaching or nursing. Today there are female astronauts, business executives, lawyers, doctors, and politicians. But which fields are most lucrative, and why-besides a fat paycheck-should women consider them? Career experts Susan Wilson Solovic , Dr. Laurence Shatkin and Dr. Warren Farrell weigh in on the best-paying careers for women.

Careers in Medicine
Median salary for female M.D.s: $135,725*
Besides money, why consider this career? If raising a family is part of your plan, there's great potential for flexibility.

Solovic, the CEO of SBTV.com in St. Louis, suggests areas like internal medicine, anesthesiology and dermatology as excellent fields for women who also plan to raise families. "Those medical areas are not quite as taxing and demanding as some of the others," she explains. "For example, if you are a cardiac surgeon you could get called in the middle of the night and be doing surgery for six hours. It's more difficult to manage these calls if you are also a caretaker in your family."

Another possibility is concierge medicine, where doctors charge a yearly fee from a set number of patients while providing enhanced care. "This is good because it's flexible, you can manage your schedule a little bit better," Solovic notes. "One woman doctor I know who is a concierge doctor-she limits her practice now to 200 patients a year because she has small children."

Careers in Information technology
Median salary for female IT consultants: $70,492*
Besides money, why consider this career? IT jobs are plentiful and increasingly friendly to women.

"There's a lot of opportunity in IT for women, either starting their own businesses or working for places, like Google or Yahoo, that are innovative," Solovic says, noting an abundance of IT jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment projections for 2006-2016, "demand for computer-related occupations" will rise in nearly all industries as organizations adopt more complex technologies.

"Technology is still dominated by men, but it's becoming more friendly to women," says Shatkin, a career information expert. "More and more of it is high-tech, where it doesn't have the work conditions that are strenuous, difficult, mechanical. That's proved very attractive [to women]."

Careers in Law
Median salary for female attorneys/lawyers: $69,696*
Besides money, why consider this career? Women interested in making partner have more options, as firms grow more flexible.

Law firms are becoming more flexible to retain talented women attorneys, Solovic says, giving them opportunities to stay on the partner track. "So many of the law firms were losing out. [There was a] huge trend for women exiting and not making partner ... But now the trend is going the other way, where firms are recognizing the diversity of talent is critical for them to compete," she notes.

Careers in Sales engineering
Median salary for female sales engineers: $62,427*
Besides money, why consider this career? Because women tend to be effective communicators, they're well-qualified for these jobs.

Sales engineers work with companies' production, engineering, or research and development departments, or with independent sales firms, to determine how products and services can be designed or modified for customers' needs. These jobs, which require the background of an engineer and the qualities of a sales person, are an excellent fit for women, says Farrell, the California-based author of "Why Men Earn More: The Startling Truth Behind the Pay Gap-and What Women Can Do About It." "Women tend to be better verbally. A lot of men who are scientists or engineers are not very good verbally. Women who select themselves to be engineers are successful," he explains.

Careers in Financial services and investment counselors
Median salary for women in financial services: $53,890*
Besides money, why consider this field? Building relationships is key to many jobs-something women come by naturally.

Solovic says the financial-services sector offers "one of the most lucrative opportunities out there for women right now, but a very small percentage of women are tackling it and succeeding. But those who do are extremely successful at it." She says women have natural characteristics well-suited to these jobs, like educating, communicating, and developing relationships.

*Salary data from PayScale.com.

Related Links:
Degrees to Advance Careers in Medicine
Degrees to Advance Careers in Information technology
Degrees to Advance Careers in Law

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Can Job Hopping Hurt Your Career?

More employees are changing jobs every few years, a career trend some say is detrimental to workers and employers. But, others believe frequent job changes are a natural way of navigating today's workplace.

By Kristina Cowan

Edward Muzio's grandfather worked in the same company his whole life. His mother labored in the same industry until she retired, though for different employers. But between the two of them, Edward and his brother have worked in six different career fields during 30 combined years.

Muzio, president and CEO of Group Harmonics, Inc., in Albuquerque, N.M., says accelerated movement-often called job hopping-is becoming the norm.

"Not long ago we all said that the average person changes jobs about seven times in his or her lifetime; now we say it's probably more than 10 jobs over at least five different careers," he explains.

It's a generational trend, experts say. Generations X and Y are more comfortable switching jobs every few years than their predecessors were, and as they scale the ranks of the job market, such changes are increasingly accepted and understood. But some call it a lack of commitment that's damaging to workers and employers.

Is Job Hopping Now the Norm?

Some experts say frequent job changes don't mean death to your career-they're just part of work-life.
"I don't think you can be judgmental [and say it's] good or bad-it just is, it's a fact of life in today's workplace. It's fruitless to impose a judgment on it. If people don't move with change they get left in the dust," explains Sally Haver, senior vice president of business development at The Ayers Group in New York.

Rich Gee, an executive career coach based in Stamford, Conn., agrees, and suggests finding a new term for job hopping.

"It's just the nature of the beast of employment: Expect people to leave after two to three years, and be happy if they stick around longer," Gee says.

Brooks Savage, CEO of The Executive Staffing Group in Raleigh, N.C., sees it differently.
"When you don't have someone stay in a post two to three years, how do you learn? To get a degree out of college at least takes four years," he says, noting neither he nor his clients are interested in resumes of anyone who makes a habit of job hopping. He'll ask candidates about any jobs where they spent less than five years.

Savage questions the commitment of individuals who don't stick around long, and says the U.S. job market could change dramatically if commitment levels don't increase.

Job Hopping Pros & Cons

Ultimately, it's important to plan carefully when evaluating a job change and not switch too often, experts say, citing pros and cons:

• Job Hopping Pro: Pay increases. "The way you make a large jump in your payscale is when you leave a company and go to another one. It's proven time and time again," Gee says.
• Job Hopping Pro: Networking. Gee says different jobs expose you to new networks of people, which can be a real asset.
• Job Hopping Pro: Learning new skills. New work environments sometimes teach workers new skills and how to function more quickly, says Kathy Jeffery, vice president of human resources at WhittmanHart Consulting in Chicago.
• Job Hopping Con: Landing in a worse situation. "You might jump into a new job that's worse than your old job," Gee explains.
• Job Hopping Con: Moving too soon. "If you're really leaving places rather quickly you may not be extracting the full value from what that particular workplace has to offer you," notes Haver, of The Ayers Group.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Continuing Education: A Lifelong Pursuit That Pays

Benefits abound for workers pursuing continuing education in certain fields, such as healthcare, business and education, experts say. Teaching continuing education and nursing continuing education seem to be the most popular today, along with continuing medical education. But the pursuit should be a lifelong occupation for everyone, no matter what their vocation.

By Kristina Cowan

If you want job security, try investing in 'employment insurance.'

That's the term Greg Schulz uses to describe continuing education. "Continuing education is almost like employment insurance...If something unexpected happens, you are insured and protected. It teaches you something new, but also serves as insurance in a fast-paced and changing world-the more skills you can develop, the better prepared you are to have a successful career," explains Schulz, dean of instruction and student services at California's North Orange County Community College District.

Schulz and others say continuing education pays off in fields such as healthcare, business and education, bringing new career opportunities and often bigger paychecks. They point to continuing education as an unending pursuit for all workers, regardless of their occupation.

Master's Degree in Business Administration

Shawn Graham, associate director with the MBA Career Management Center at The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, says a master's in business administration is beneficial for workers looking to advance their business careers-or for career-changers. It's important, he notes, to have work experience before getting an MBA.

"Early in your career you have to excel in something-so being a specialist is important; that's finance or marketing or operations. But that shifts throughout the career, and that's why continuing education is important, because management and leadership become more important later in the career, and that's why the MBA program comes in play," Graham explains.

Jon Bender, managing partner with PrincetonOne, a New Jersey-based recruiting firm, says earnings of new MBA graduates may increase significantly when they change jobs. According to a 2007 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a nonprofit group that owns the GMAT, graduates of full-time MBA programs who received job offers expected to earn an average of 63 percent more than before they got their degrees.

Master's Degree in Education - Teaching Continuing Education

Master's degrees also benefit education professionals, experts say.

Julie Rains, a career expert and writer for Wise Bread, a personal-finance blog, says a master's degree in education can boost pay and support advancement beyond the classroom, to positions such as principal.

PayScale salary data shows the median salary for K-12 teachers with a master of arts in education is $44,995; for teachers with a bachelor of arts in education it's $35,860.

Nursing Continuing Education

Nursing continuing education also pays off, Rains says. For example, nurses with bachelor's degrees usually earn more and are more likely to become managers than those with less education.

Some nurses get associate's degrees and then work in a clinical setting while earning a bachelor's degree and higher, Rains explains, "which allows them to take on managerial accountabilities and earn higher pay at the same time that they are keeping their clinical skills current."

PayScale salary data shows registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing earn a median salary of $53,375; those with an associate of science in nursing make $50,562 a year.

Continuing Education - A Lifelong Endeavor for Everyone

Ultimately, experts agree, all workers should continue their education.

Bender says advanced education is especially helpful when changing jobs. "I can tell you story after story about seasoned professionals who never got their degrees and find themselves out of work, and they have a really hard time finding new employment. Their past employer didn't care [that they didn't have a degree], but it mattered going forward," he explains.

Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco, a staffing company, says continuing education will become increasingly important.

"The message for any U.S. worker is that continued learning is a lifelong journey. ... I think it's going to become more true in terms of globalization, speed and expectation of employers," Kenny says.

Related Continuing Education Links:
Online Nursing Continuing Education
Online Teaching Nursing Continuing Education
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down.

1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008).  This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye out for other job opportunities as a safeguard. Have an updated resume ready to go. Forgoing lavish shopping sprees is likely a good idea, too. Put any extra cash into your savings account so you have a cushion to fall back on.

2. Network, network, network.  If you suspect layoffs are on the horizon, start connecting with your network. Let people know you are looking for a new job and send them an updated resume. Additionally, don't stop meeting new people. Research professional organizations and find out when and where they meet. If you haven't already, sign up for an online professional social network like Linkedin. And, ask friends for other networking ideas.

3. Stay positive. Getting laid off stinks, but whether you're anticipating a layoff or have already become a victim, you can't let it completely steal your joy. Be careful not to depress or annoy your friends and contacts with sob stories. You will be more productive and attractive to employers with a positive attitude.

4. Don't burn bridges. Often, people who get laid off score big by becoming a contractor or consultant for the same employer. The upside is that consultants usually make more money than full-time employees. Also, contracting puts money in your pocket while you continue to look for salaried work. Even if your employer can't rehire you in another capacity, someone there may happily give you a lead elsewhere - if you stay in good graces.

5. Follow a dream, keep learning. A layoff can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. If it happens to you, it may give you the final push you need to start a business venture long deferred. Is your dream to go back to school? Getting another degree or certification may give you a serious advantage in landing a new gig.

6. Take care of yourself. Being laid off, or anticipating it, can be one of the most stressful periods in life. You will be no good to your current or prospective employer if you don't take care of your main asset: you! Continue working out, or get started, to manage stress levels. Don't forget to eat a healthy diet, too.

7. Be flexible. Finding a new job takes time - often more than we'd like. Be patient in your job search but also be flexible enough to broaden your interests so you don't limit your options in an already tight job market.

Avoid a Layoff Before It Comes
The best way to avoid a layoff is to prepare long before there's a threat. Here are some quick tips:

• Be a problem solver, not a problem causer.
• Look like a winner: dress to impress and project confidence.
• Keep smiling and have a good attitude.
• Work hard and help others along the way.
• Keep your skills fresh. Stay current with training - even if you have to pay for it yourself.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

'Don't Show Us the Money-Show Us Healthcare Benefits,' Workers Say

'Don't Show Us the Money-Show Us Healthcare Benefits,' Workers Say

When choosing jobs, Americans want healthcare benefits more than anything, a recent survey finds.

By Kristina Cowan

U.S. workers are putting money in its place-and it isn't first. According to a survey on what Americans want in a job, health insurance plans rank first, while compensation comes in 10th.

Next up after health insurance plans are job security, an environment with clear policies/procedures, retirement/pension plans, and a flexible, family-friendly workplace, says the survey for the Center for State and Local Government Excellence.

Elizabeth Kellar, executive director for the Washington-based center, says what the survey likely reflects "is that increasingly employers are not offering health-insurance benefits that are very good, or health-insurance benefits at all, so it's much more on people's minds when they're looking for a job."

Experts and employees offer differing opinions about the survey's findings, with some agreeing and others remaining skeptical.

Are Health Insurance Plans All the Rage?

While compensation is important, some experts say nowadays workers have different priorities.

Melanie Holmes, vice president of World of Work Solutions for Manpower in Milwaukee, Wis., says she's not surprised health insurance plans rank first in the survey, given the abundant media coverage of the nation's troubled health-care system.

She also agrees with the emphasis on job security and flexibility. "The perception out there is that the economy is soft. So people might understandably have anxiety about losing their jobs," she explains. "Work-life balance is becoming more important to older workers, and younger kids coming into work want work-life balance and want time for themselves, to give back to the community. It cuts across all age demographics."

Rich Milgram, founder and CEO of Beyond.com, a niche-specific career network, says he thinks money is less important than it used to be, especially for younger workers.

"I believe the kids coming out of college today are a different breed. They're not so set on a huge career track that's going to lead them to financial gain as much as their parents or my parents would have been. So there's good and bad to that," Milgram says. "But the fact is money is playing less of a factor. Quality of life is playing more of a factor these days, and I believe that's terrific. Companies need to realize that fact and start treating employees accordingly."

Ryan Healy, who recently graduated from Penn State University, says he ranks salary approximately fifth in importance. "I put ahead of it company culture, people you'll be interacting with, the amount of personal growth the job allows for, the amount of responsibility you're allowed to take," notes Healy, 23. "And this is assuming it's an adequate salary-you're not going to take a job that doesn't pay your bills."

Last fall Healy left his job as a financial consultant for IBM Global Business Services to work as part of the small team behind BrazenCareerist.com, a new online career center for young professionals.

But Money Does Matter!

Some are more skeptical of the survey's findings.

Roberta Chinsky Matuson, a Massachusetts-based human resources expert, says money still matters a lot, and recruiters tell her money plays a critical part in the hiring process.

"People have to feel like they're being recognized and rewarded, and compensation is a part of that. If people want to say money doesn't really matter, then they're living in a dream," she says.
M
ary Froehlich, a senior property manager at Sydney Associates, a real-estate firm in Brookline, Mass., shares a similar sentiment.

"It's interesting that compensation was number 10, because that's never been my mindset, and I still, even in younger workers, am not finding that," Froehlich says. "In 25 years of managing people, I have never come across that people don't want to make money, and I think that today you need to make money."

Ultimately, the survey raises important points for employers, Kellar says."Even during economic downturns, there is still going to be competition for talent. It's important for employers to be aware of what they need in terms of benefits if they want to compete for the talent," she notes.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Best-Paying Careers for Women

Experts say the best-paying careers for women run the gamut, from concierge doctors to sales engineers.

By Kristina Cowan

Not long ago, women who wanted to work were often relegated to careers in teaching or nursing. Today there are female astronauts, business executives, lawyers, doctors, and politicians. But which fields are most lucrative, and why-besides a fat paycheck-should women consider them? Career experts Susan Wilson Solovic , Dr. Laurence Shatkin and Dr. Warren Farrell weigh in on the best-paying careers for women.

Careers in Medicine
Median salary for female M.D.s: $135,725*
Besides money, why consider this career? If raising a family is part of your plan, there's great potential for flexibility.

Solovic, the CEO of SBTV.com in St. Louis, suggests areas like internal medicine, anesthesiology and dermatology as excellent fields for women who also plan to raise families. "Those medical areas are not quite as taxing and demanding as some of the others," she explains. "For example, if you are a cardiac surgeon you could get called in the middle of the night and be doing surgery for six hours. It's more difficult to manage these calls if you are also a caretaker in your family."

Another possibility is concierge medicine, where doctors charge a yearly fee from a set number of patients while providing enhanced care. "This is good because it's flexible, you can manage your schedule a little bit better," Solovic notes. "One woman doctor I know who is a concierge doctor-she limits her practice now to 200 patients a year because she has small children."

Careers in Information technology
Median salary for female IT consultants: $70,492*
Besides money, why consider this career? IT jobs are plentiful and increasingly friendly to women.

"There's a lot of opportunity in IT for women, either starting their own businesses or working for places, like Google or Yahoo, that are innovative," Solovic says, noting an abundance of IT jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment projections for 2006-2016, "demand for computer-related occupations" will rise in nearly all industries as organizations adopt more complex technologies.

"Technology is still dominated by men, but it's becoming more friendly to women," says Shatkin, a career information expert. "More and more of it is high-tech, where it doesn't have the work conditions that are strenuous, difficult, mechanical. That's proved very attractive [to women]."

Careers in Law
Median salary for female attorneys/lawyers: $69,696*
Besides money, why consider this career? Women interested in making partner have more options, as firms grow more flexible.

Law firms are becoming more flexible to retain talented women attorneys, Solovic says, giving them opportunities to stay on the partner track. "So many of the law firms were losing out. [There was a] huge trend for women exiting and not making partner ... But now the trend is going the other way, where firms are recognizing the diversity of talent is critical for them to compete," she notes.

Careers in Sales engineering
Median salary for female sales engineers: $62,427*
Besides money, why consider this career? Because women tend to be effective communicators, they're well-qualified for these jobs.

Sales engineers work with companies' production, engineering, or research and development departments, or with independent sales firms, to determine how products and services can be designed or modified for customers' needs. These jobs, which require the background of an engineer and the qualities of a sales person, are an excellent fit for women, says Farrell, the California-based author of "Why Men Earn More: The Startling Truth Behind the Pay Gap-and What Women Can Do About It." "Women tend to be better verbally. A lot of men who are scientists or engineers are not very good verbally. Women who select themselves to be engineers are successful," he explains.

Careers in Financial services and investment counselors
Median salary for women in financial services: $53,890*
Besides money, why consider this field? Building relationships is key to many jobs-something women come by naturally.

Solovic says the financial-services sector offers "one of the most lucrative opportunities out there for women right now, but a very small percentage of women are tackling it and succeeding. But those who do are extremely successful at it." She says women have natural characteristics well-suited to these jobs, like educating, communicating, and developing relationships.

*Salary data from PayScale.com.

Related Links:
Degrees to Advance Careers in Medicine
Degrees to Advance Careers in Information technology
Degrees to Advance Careers in Law

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Can Job Hopping Hurt Your Career?

More employees are changing jobs every few years, a career trend some say is detrimental to workers and employers. But, others believe frequent job changes are a natural way of navigating today's workplace.

By Kristina Cowan

Edward Muzio's grandfather worked in the same company his whole life. His mother labored in the same industry until she retired, though for different employers. But between the two of them, Edward and his brother have worked in six different career fields during 30 combined years.

Muzio, president and CEO of Group Harmonics, Inc., in Albuquerque, N.M., says accelerated movement-often called job hopping-is becoming the norm.

"Not long ago we all said that the average person changes jobs about seven times in his or her lifetime; now we say it's probably more than 10 jobs over at least five different careers," he explains.

It's a generational trend, experts say. Generations X and Y are more comfortable switching jobs every few years than their predecessors were, and as they scale the ranks of the job market, such changes are increasingly accepted and understood. But some call it a lack of commitment that's damaging to workers and employers.

Is Job Hopping Now the Norm?

Some experts say frequent job changes don't mean death to your career-they're just part of work-life.
"I don't think you can be judgmental [and say it's] good or bad-it just is, it's a fact of life in today's workplace. It's fruitless to impose a judgment on it. If people don't move with change they get left in the dust," explains Sally Haver, senior vice president of business development at The Ayers Group in New York.

Rich Gee, an executive career coach based in Stamford, Conn., agrees, and suggests finding a new term for job hopping.

"It's just the nature of the beast of employment: Expect people to leave after two to three years, and be happy if they stick around longer," Gee says.

Brooks Savage, CEO of The Executive Staffing Group in Raleigh, N.C., sees it differently.
"When you don't have someone stay in a post two to three years, how do you learn? To get a degree out of college at least takes four years," he says, noting neither he nor his clients are interested in resumes of anyone who makes a habit of job hopping. He'll ask candidates about any jobs where they spent less than five years.

Savage questions the commitment of individuals who don't stick around long, and says the U.S. job market could change dramatically if commitment levels don't increase.

Job Hopping Pros & Cons

Ultimately, it's important to plan carefully when evaluating a job change and not switch too often, experts say, citing pros and cons:

• Job Hopping Pro: Pay increases. "The way you make a large jump in your payscale is when you leave a company and go to another one. It's proven time and time again," Gee says.
• Job Hopping Pro: Networking. Gee says different jobs expose you to new networks of people, which can be a real asset.
• Job Hopping Pro: Learning new skills. New work environments sometimes teach workers new skills and how to function more quickly, says Kathy Jeffery, vice president of human resources at WhittmanHart Consulting in Chicago.
• Job Hopping Con: Landing in a worse situation. "You might jump into a new job that's worse than your old job," Gee explains.
• Job Hopping Con: Moving too soon. "If you're really leaving places rather quickly you may not be extracting the full value from what that particular workplace has to offer you," notes Haver, of The Ayers Group.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Continuing Education: A Lifelong Pursuit That Pays

Benefits abound for workers pursuing continuing education in certain fields, such as healthcare, business and education, experts say. Teaching continuing education and nursing continuing education seem to be the most popular today, along with continuing medical education. But the pursuit should be a lifelong occupation for everyone, no matter what their vocation.

By Kristina Cowan

If you want job security, try investing in 'employment insurance.'

That's the term Greg Schulz uses to describe continuing education. "Continuing education is almost like employment insurance...If something unexpected happens, you are insured and protected. It teaches you something new, but also serves as insurance in a fast-paced and changing world-the more skills you can develop, the better prepared you are to have a successful career," explains Schulz, dean of instruction and student services at California's North Orange County Community College District.

Schulz and others say continuing education pays off in fields such as healthcare, business and education, bringing new career opportunities and often bigger paychecks. They point to continuing education as an unending pursuit for all workers, regardless of their occupation.

Master's Degree in Business Administration

Shawn Graham, associate director with the MBA Career Management Center at The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, says a master's in business administration is beneficial for workers looking to advance their business careers-or for career-changers. It's important, he notes, to have work experience before getting an MBA.

"Early in your career you have to excel in something-so being a specialist is important; that's finance or marketing or operations. But that shifts throughout the career, and that's why continuing education is important, because management and leadership become more important later in the career, and that's why the MBA program comes in play," Graham explains.

Jon Bender, managing partner with PrincetonOne, a New Jersey-based recruiting firm, says earnings of new MBA graduates may increase significantly when they change jobs. According to a 2007 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a nonprofit group that owns the GMAT, graduates of full-time MBA programs who received job offers expected to earn an average of 63 percent more than before they got their degrees.

Master's Degree in Education - Teaching Continuing Education

Master's degrees also benefit education professionals, experts say.

Julie Rains, a career expert and writer for Wise Bread, a personal-finance blog, says a master's degree in education can boost pay and support advancement beyond the classroom, to positions such as principal.

PayScale salary data shows the median salary for K-12 teachers with a master of arts in education is $44,995; for teachers with a bachelor of arts in education it's $35,860.

Nursing Continuing Education

Nursing continuing education also pays off, Rains says. For example, nurses with bachelor's degrees usually earn more and are more likely to become managers than those with less education.

Some nurses get associate's degrees and then work in a clinical setting while earning a bachelor's degree and higher, Rains explains, "which allows them to take on managerial accountabilities and earn higher pay at the same time that they are keeping their clinical skills current."

PayScale salary data shows registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing earn a median salary of $53,375; those with an associate of science in nursing make $50,562 a year.

Continuing Education - A Lifelong Endeavor for Everyone

Ultimately, experts agree, all workers should continue their education.

Bender says advanced education is especially helpful when changing jobs. "I can tell you story after story about seasoned professionals who never got their degrees and find themselves out of work, and they have a really hard time finding new employment. Their past employer didn't care [that they didn't have a degree], but it mattered going forward," he explains.

Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco, a staffing company, says continuing education will become increasingly important.

"The message for any U.S. worker is that continued learning is a lifelong journey. ... I think it's going to become more true in terms of globalization, speed and expectation of employers," Kenny says.

Related Continuing Education Links:
Online Nursing Continuing Education
Online Teaching Nursing Continuing Education
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down.

1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008).  This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye out for other job opportunities as a safeguard. Have an updated resume ready to go. Forgoing lavish shopping sprees is likely a good idea, too. Put any extra cash into your savings account so you have a cushion to fall back on.

2. Network, network, network.  If you suspect layoffs are on the horizon, start connecting with your network. Let people know you are looking for a new job and send them an updated resume. Additionally, don't stop meeting new people. Research professional organizations and find out when and where they meet. If you haven't already, sign up for an online professional social network like Linkedin. And, ask friends for other networking ideas.

3. Stay positive. Getting laid off stinks, but whether you're anticipating a layoff or have already become a victim, you can't let it completely steal your joy. Be careful not to depress or annoy your friends and contacts with sob stories. You will be more productive and attractive to employers with a positive attitude.

4. Don't burn bridges. Often, people who get laid off score big by becoming a contractor or consultant for the same employer. The upside is that consultants usually make more money than full-time employees. Also, contracting puts money in your pocket while you continue to look for salaried work. Even if your employer can't rehire you in another capacity, someone there may happily give you a lead elsewhere - if you stay in good graces.

5. Follow a dream, keep learning. A layoff can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. If it happens to you, it may give you the final push you need to start a business venture long deferred. Is your dream to go back to school? Getting another degree or certification may give you a serious advantage in landing a new gig.

6. Take care of yourself. Being laid off, or anticipating it, can be one of the most stressful periods in life. You will be no good to your current or prospective employer if you don't take care of your main asset: you! Continue working out, or get started, to manage stress levels. Don't forget to eat a healthy diet, too.

7. Be flexible. Finding a new job takes time - often more than we'd like. Be patient in your job search but also be flexible enough to broaden your interests so you don't limit your options in an already tight job market.

Avoid a Layoff Before It Comes
The best way to avoid a layoff is to prepare long before there's a threat. Here are some quick tips:

• Be a problem solver, not a problem causer.
• Look like a winner: dress to impress and project confidence.
• Keep smiling and have a good attitude.
• Work hard and help others along the way.
• Keep your skills fresh. Stay current with training - even if you have to pay for it yourself.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

Best-Paying Careers for Women

Best-Paying Careers for Women

Experts say the best-paying careers for women run the gamut, from concierge doctors to sales engineers.

By Kristina Cowan

Not long ago, women who wanted to work were often relegated to careers in teaching or nursing. Today there are female astronauts, business executives, lawyers, doctors, and politicians. But which fields are most lucrative, and why-besides a fat paycheck-should women consider them? Career experts Susan Wilson Solovic , Dr. Laurence Shatkin and Dr. Warren Farrell weigh in on the best-paying careers for women.

Careers in Medicine
Median salary for female M.D.s: $135,725*
Besides money, why consider this career? If raising a family is part of your plan, there's great potential for flexibility.

Solovic, the CEO of SBTV.com in St. Louis, suggests areas like internal medicine, anesthesiology and dermatology as excellent fields for women who also plan to raise families. "Those medical areas are not quite as taxing and demanding as some of the others," she explains. "For example, if you are a cardiac surgeon you could get called in the middle of the night and be doing surgery for six hours. It's more difficult to manage these calls if you are also a caretaker in your family."

Another possibility is concierge medicine, where doctors charge a yearly fee from a set number of patients while providing enhanced care. "This is good because it's flexible, you can manage your schedule a little bit better," Solovic notes. "One woman doctor I know who is a concierge doctor-she limits her practice now to 200 patients a year because she has small children."

Careers in Information technology
Median salary for female IT consultants: $70,492*
Besides money, why consider this career? IT jobs are plentiful and increasingly friendly to women.

"There's a lot of opportunity in IT for women, either starting their own businesses or working for places, like Google or Yahoo, that are innovative," Solovic says, noting an abundance of IT jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment projections for 2006-2016, "demand for computer-related occupations" will rise in nearly all industries as organizations adopt more complex technologies.

"Technology is still dominated by men, but it's becoming more friendly to women," says Shatkin, a career information expert. "More and more of it is high-tech, where it doesn't have the work conditions that are strenuous, difficult, mechanical. That's proved very attractive [to women]."

Careers in Law
Median salary for female attorneys/lawyers: $69,696*
Besides money, why consider this career? Women interested in making partner have more options, as firms grow more flexible.

Law firms are becoming more flexible to retain talented women attorneys, Solovic says, giving them opportunities to stay on the partner track. "So many of the law firms were losing out. [There was a] huge trend for women exiting and not making partner ... But now the trend is going the other way, where firms are recognizing the diversity of talent is critical for them to compete," she notes.

Careers in Sales engineering
Median salary for female sales engineers: $62,427*
Besides money, why consider this career? Because women tend to be effective communicators, they're well-qualified for these jobs.

Sales engineers work with companies' production, engineering, or research and development departments, or with independent sales firms, to determine how products and services can be designed or modified for customers' needs. These jobs, which require the background of an engineer and the qualities of a sales person, are an excellent fit for women, says Farrell, the California-based author of "Why Men Earn More: The Startling Truth Behind the Pay Gap-and What Women Can Do About It." "Women tend to be better verbally. A lot of men who are scientists or engineers are not very good verbally. Women who select themselves to be engineers are successful," he explains.

Careers in Financial services and investment counselors
Median salary for women in financial services: $53,890*
Besides money, why consider this field? Building relationships is key to many jobs-something women come by naturally.

Solovic says the financial-services sector offers "one of the most lucrative opportunities out there for women right now, but a very small percentage of women are tackling it and succeeding. But those who do are extremely successful at it." She says women have natural characteristics well-suited to these jobs, like educating, communicating, and developing relationships.

*Salary data from PayScale.com.

Related Links:
Degrees to Advance Careers in Medicine
Degrees to Advance Careers in Information technology
Degrees to Advance Careers in Law

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Can Job Hopping Hurt Your Career?

More employees are changing jobs every few years, a career trend some say is detrimental to workers and employers. But, others believe frequent job changes are a natural way of navigating today's workplace.

By Kristina Cowan

Edward Muzio's grandfather worked in the same company his whole life. His mother labored in the same industry until she retired, though for different employers. But between the two of them, Edward and his brother have worked in six different career fields during 30 combined years.

Muzio, president and CEO of Group Harmonics, Inc., in Albuquerque, N.M., says accelerated movement-often called job hopping-is becoming the norm.

"Not long ago we all said that the average person changes jobs about seven times in his or her lifetime; now we say it's probably more than 10 jobs over at least five different careers," he explains.

It's a generational trend, experts say. Generations X and Y are more comfortable switching jobs every few years than their predecessors were, and as they scale the ranks of the job market, such changes are increasingly accepted and understood. But some call it a lack of commitment that's damaging to workers and employers.

Is Job Hopping Now the Norm?

Some experts say frequent job changes don't mean death to your career-they're just part of work-life.
"I don't think you can be judgmental [and say it's] good or bad-it just is, it's a fact of life in today's workplace. It's fruitless to impose a judgment on it. If people don't move with change they get left in the dust," explains Sally Haver, senior vice president of business development at The Ayers Group in New York.

Rich Gee, an executive career coach based in Stamford, Conn., agrees, and suggests finding a new term for job hopping.

"It's just the nature of the beast of employment: Expect people to leave after two to three years, and be happy if they stick around longer," Gee says.

Brooks Savage, CEO of The Executive Staffing Group in Raleigh, N.C., sees it differently.
"When you don't have someone stay in a post two to three years, how do you learn? To get a degree out of college at least takes four years," he says, noting neither he nor his clients are interested in resumes of anyone who makes a habit of job hopping. He'll ask candidates about any jobs where they spent less than five years.

Savage questions the commitment of individuals who don't stick around long, and says the U.S. job market could change dramatically if commitment levels don't increase.

Job Hopping Pros & Cons

Ultimately, it's important to plan carefully when evaluating a job change and not switch too often, experts say, citing pros and cons:

• Job Hopping Pro: Pay increases. "The way you make a large jump in your payscale is when you leave a company and go to another one. It's proven time and time again," Gee says.
• Job Hopping Pro: Networking. Gee says different jobs expose you to new networks of people, which can be a real asset.
• Job Hopping Pro: Learning new skills. New work environments sometimes teach workers new skills and how to function more quickly, says Kathy Jeffery, vice president of human resources at WhittmanHart Consulting in Chicago.
• Job Hopping Con: Landing in a worse situation. "You might jump into a new job that's worse than your old job," Gee explains.
• Job Hopping Con: Moving too soon. "If you're really leaving places rather quickly you may not be extracting the full value from what that particular workplace has to offer you," notes Haver, of The Ayers Group.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Continuing Education: A Lifelong Pursuit That Pays

Benefits abound for workers pursuing continuing education in certain fields, such as healthcare, business and education, experts say. Teaching continuing education and nursing continuing education seem to be the most popular today, along with continuing medical education. But the pursuit should be a lifelong occupation for everyone, no matter what their vocation.

By Kristina Cowan

If you want job security, try investing in 'employment insurance.'

That's the term Greg Schulz uses to describe continuing education. "Continuing education is almost like employment insurance...If something unexpected happens, you are insured and protected. It teaches you something new, but also serves as insurance in a fast-paced and changing world-the more skills you can develop, the better prepared you are to have a successful career," explains Schulz, dean of instruction and student services at California's North Orange County Community College District.

Schulz and others say continuing education pays off in fields such as healthcare, business and education, bringing new career opportunities and often bigger paychecks. They point to continuing education as an unending pursuit for all workers, regardless of their occupation.

Master's Degree in Business Administration

Shawn Graham, associate director with the MBA Career Management Center at The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, says a master's in business administration is beneficial for workers looking to advance their business careers-or for career-changers. It's important, he notes, to have work experience before getting an MBA.

"Early in your career you have to excel in something-so being a specialist is important; that's finance or marketing or operations. But that shifts throughout the career, and that's why continuing education is important, because management and leadership become more important later in the career, and that's why the MBA program comes in play," Graham explains.

Jon Bender, managing partner with PrincetonOne, a New Jersey-based recruiting firm, says earnings of new MBA graduates may increase significantly when they change jobs. According to a 2007 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a nonprofit group that owns the GMAT, graduates of full-time MBA programs who received job offers expected to earn an average of 63 percent more than before they got their degrees.

Master's Degree in Education - Teaching Continuing Education

Master's degrees also benefit education professionals, experts say.

Julie Rains, a career expert and writer for Wise Bread, a personal-finance blog, says a master's degree in education can boost pay and support advancement beyond the classroom, to positions such as principal.

PayScale salary data shows the median salary for K-12 teachers with a master of arts in education is $44,995; for teachers with a bachelor of arts in education it's $35,860.

Nursing Continuing Education

Nursing continuing education also pays off, Rains says. For example, nurses with bachelor's degrees usually earn more and are more likely to become managers than those with less education.

Some nurses get associate's degrees and then work in a clinical setting while earning a bachelor's degree and higher, Rains explains, "which allows them to take on managerial accountabilities and earn higher pay at the same time that they are keeping their clinical skills current."

PayScale salary data shows registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing earn a median salary of $53,375; those with an associate of science in nursing make $50,562 a year.

Continuing Education - A Lifelong Endeavor for Everyone

Ultimately, experts agree, all workers should continue their education.

Bender says advanced education is especially helpful when changing jobs. "I can tell you story after story about seasoned professionals who never got their degrees and find themselves out of work, and they have a really hard time finding new employment. Their past employer didn't care [that they didn't have a degree], but it mattered going forward," he explains.

Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco, a staffing company, says continuing education will become increasingly important.

"The message for any U.S. worker is that continued learning is a lifelong journey. ... I think it's going to become more true in terms of globalization, speed and expectation of employers," Kenny says.

Related Continuing Education Links:
Online Nursing Continuing Education
Online Teaching Nursing Continuing Education
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down.

1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008).  This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye out for other job opportunities as a safeguard. Have an updated resume ready to go. Forgoing lavish shopping sprees is likely a good idea, too. Put any extra cash into your savings account so you have a cushion to fall back on.

2. Network, network, network.  If you suspect layoffs are on the horizon, start connecting with your network. Let people know you are looking for a new job and send them an updated resume. Additionally, don't stop meeting new people. Research professional organizations and find out when and where they meet. If you haven't already, sign up for an online professional social network like Linkedin. And, ask friends for other networking ideas.

3. Stay positive. Getting laid off stinks, but whether you're anticipating a layoff or have already become a victim, you can't let it completely steal your joy. Be careful not to depress or annoy your friends and contacts with sob stories. You will be more productive and attractive to employers with a positive attitude.

4. Don't burn bridges. Often, people who get laid off score big by becoming a contractor or consultant for the same employer. The upside is that consultants usually make more money than full-time employees. Also, contracting puts money in your pocket while you continue to look for salaried work. Even if your employer can't rehire you in another capacity, someone there may happily give you a lead elsewhere - if you stay in good graces.

5. Follow a dream, keep learning. A layoff can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. If it happens to you, it may give you the final push you need to start a business venture long deferred. Is your dream to go back to school? Getting another degree or certification may give you a serious advantage in landing a new gig.

6. Take care of yourself. Being laid off, or anticipating it, can be one of the most stressful periods in life. You will be no good to your current or prospective employer if you don't take care of your main asset: you! Continue working out, or get started, to manage stress levels. Don't forget to eat a healthy diet, too.

7. Be flexible. Finding a new job takes time - often more than we'd like. Be patient in your job search but also be flexible enough to broaden your interests so you don't limit your options in an already tight job market.

Avoid a Layoff Before It Comes
The best way to avoid a layoff is to prepare long before there's a threat. Here are some quick tips:

• Be a problem solver, not a problem causer.
• Look like a winner: dress to impress and project confidence.
• Keep smiling and have a good attitude.
• Work hard and help others along the way.
• Keep your skills fresh. Stay current with training - even if you have to pay for it yourself.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

Can Job Hopping Hurt Your Career?

Can Job Hopping Hurt Your Career?

More employees are changing jobs every few years, a career trend some say is detrimental to workers and employers. But, others believe frequent job changes are a natural way of navigating today's workplace.

By Kristina Cowan

Edward Muzio's grandfather worked in the same company his whole life. His mother labored in the same industry until she retired, though for different employers. But between the two of them, Edward and his brother have worked in six different career fields during 30 combined years.

Muzio, president and CEO of Group Harmonics, Inc., in Albuquerque, N.M., says accelerated movement-often called job hopping-is becoming the norm.

"Not long ago we all said that the average person changes jobs about seven times in his or her lifetime; now we say it's probably more than 10 jobs over at least five different careers," he explains.

It's a generational trend, experts say. Generations X and Y are more comfortable switching jobs every few years than their predecessors were, and as they scale the ranks of the job market, such changes are increasingly accepted and understood. But some call it a lack of commitment that's damaging to workers and employers.

Is Job Hopping Now the Norm?

Some experts say frequent job changes don't mean death to your career-they're just part of work-life.
"I don't think you can be judgmental [and say it's] good or bad-it just is, it's a fact of life in today's workplace. It's fruitless to impose a judgment on it. If people don't move with change they get left in the dust," explains Sally Haver, senior vice president of business development at The Ayers Group in New York.

Rich Gee, an executive career coach based in Stamford, Conn., agrees, and suggests finding a new term for job hopping.

"It's just the nature of the beast of employment: Expect people to leave after two to three years, and be happy if they stick around longer," Gee says.

Brooks Savage, CEO of The Executive Staffing Group in Raleigh, N.C., sees it differently.
"When you don't have someone stay in a post two to three years, how do you learn? To get a degree out of college at least takes four years," he says, noting neither he nor his clients are interested in resumes of anyone who makes a habit of job hopping. He'll ask candidates about any jobs where they spent less than five years.

Savage questions the commitment of individuals who don't stick around long, and says the U.S. job market could change dramatically if commitment levels don't increase.

Job Hopping Pros & Cons

Ultimately, it's important to plan carefully when evaluating a job change and not switch too often, experts say, citing pros and cons:

• Job Hopping Pro: Pay increases. "The way you make a large jump in your payscale is when you leave a company and go to another one. It's proven time and time again," Gee says.
• Job Hopping Pro: Networking. Gee says different jobs expose you to new networks of people, which can be a real asset.
• Job Hopping Pro: Learning new skills. New work environments sometimes teach workers new skills and how to function more quickly, says Kathy Jeffery, vice president of human resources at WhittmanHart Consulting in Chicago.
• Job Hopping Con: Landing in a worse situation. "You might jump into a new job that's worse than your old job," Gee explains.
• Job Hopping Con: Moving too soon. "If you're really leaving places rather quickly you may not be extracting the full value from what that particular workplace has to offer you," notes Haver, of The Ayers Group.

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

Continuing Education: A Lifelong Pursuit That Pays

Benefits abound for workers pursuing continuing education in certain fields, such as healthcare, business and education, experts say. Teaching continuing education and nursing continuing education seem to be the most popular today, along with continuing medical education. But the pursuit should be a lifelong occupation for everyone, no matter what their vocation.

By Kristina Cowan

If you want job security, try investing in 'employment insurance.'

That's the term Greg Schulz uses to describe continuing education. "Continuing education is almost like employment insurance...If something unexpected happens, you are insured and protected. It teaches you something new, but also serves as insurance in a fast-paced and changing world-the more skills you can develop, the better prepared you are to have a successful career," explains Schulz, dean of instruction and student services at California's North Orange County Community College District.

Schulz and others say continuing education pays off in fields such as healthcare, business and education, bringing new career opportunities and often bigger paychecks. They point to continuing education as an unending pursuit for all workers, regardless of their occupation.

Master's Degree in Business Administration

Shawn Graham, associate director with the MBA Career Management Center at The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, says a master's in business administration is beneficial for workers looking to advance their business careers-or for career-changers. It's important, he notes, to have work experience before getting an MBA.

"Early in your career you have to excel in something-so being a specialist is important; that's finance or marketing or operations. But that shifts throughout the career, and that's why continuing education is important, because management and leadership become more important later in the career, and that's why the MBA program comes in play," Graham explains.

Jon Bender, managing partner with PrincetonOne, a New Jersey-based recruiting firm, says earnings of new MBA graduates may increase significantly when they change jobs. According to a 2007 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a nonprofit group that owns the GMAT, graduates of full-time MBA programs who received job offers expected to earn an average of 63 percent more than before they got their degrees.

Master's Degree in Education - Teaching Continuing Education

Master's degrees also benefit education professionals, experts say.

Julie Rains, a career expert and writer for Wise Bread, a personal-finance blog, says a master's degree in education can boost pay and support advancement beyond the classroom, to positions such as principal.

PayScale salary data shows the median salary for K-12 teachers with a master of arts in education is $44,995; for teachers with a bachelor of arts in education it's $35,860.

Nursing Continuing Education

Nursing continuing education also pays off, Rains says. For example, nurses with bachelor's degrees usually earn more and are more likely to become managers than those with less education.

Some nurses get associate's degrees and then work in a clinical setting while earning a bachelor's degree and higher, Rains explains, "which allows them to take on managerial accountabilities and earn higher pay at the same time that they are keeping their clinical skills current."

PayScale salary data shows registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing earn a median salary of $53,375; those with an associate of science in nursing make $50,562 a year.

Continuing Education - A Lifelong Endeavor for Everyone

Ultimately, experts agree, all workers should continue their education.

Bender says advanced education is especially helpful when changing jobs. "I can tell you story after story about seasoned professionals who never got their degrees and find themselves out of work, and they have a really hard time finding new employment. Their past employer didn't care [that they didn't have a degree], but it mattered going forward," he explains.

Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco, a staffing company, says continuing education will become increasingly important.

"The message for any U.S. worker is that continued learning is a lifelong journey. ... I think it's going to become more true in terms of globalization, speed and expectation of employers," Kenny says.

Related Continuing Education Links:
Online Nursing Continuing Education
Online Teaching Nursing Continuing Education
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down.

1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008).  This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye out for other job opportunities as a safeguard. Have an updated resume ready to go. Forgoing lavish shopping sprees is likely a good idea, too. Put any extra cash into your savings account so you have a cushion to fall back on.

2. Network, network, network.  If you suspect layoffs are on the horizon, start connecting with your network. Let people know you are looking for a new job and send them an updated resume. Additionally, don't stop meeting new people. Research professional organizations and find out when and where they meet. If you haven't already, sign up for an online professional social network like Linkedin. And, ask friends for other networking ideas.

3. Stay positive. Getting laid off stinks, but whether you're anticipating a layoff or have already become a victim, you can't let it completely steal your joy. Be careful not to depress or annoy your friends and contacts with sob stories. You will be more productive and attractive to employers with a positive attitude.

4. Don't burn bridges. Often, people who get laid off score big by becoming a contractor or consultant for the same employer. The upside is that consultants usually make more money than full-time employees. Also, contracting puts money in your pocket while you continue to look for salaried work. Even if your employer can't rehire you in another capacity, someone there may happily give you a lead elsewhere - if you stay in good graces.

5. Follow a dream, keep learning. A layoff can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. If it happens to you, it may give you the final push you need to start a business venture long deferred. Is your dream to go back to school? Getting another degree or certification may give you a serious advantage in landing a new gig.

6. Take care of yourself. Being laid off, or anticipating it, can be one of the most stressful periods in life. You will be no good to your current or prospective employer if you don't take care of your main asset: you! Continue working out, or get started, to manage stress levels. Don't forget to eat a healthy diet, too.

7. Be flexible. Finding a new job takes time - often more than we'd like. Be patient in your job search but also be flexible enough to broaden your interests so you don't limit your options in an already tight job market.

Avoid a Layoff Before It Comes
The best way to avoid a layoff is to prepare long before there's a threat. Here are some quick tips:

• Be a problem solver, not a problem causer.
• Look like a winner: dress to impress and project confidence.
• Keep smiling and have a good attitude.
• Work hard and help others along the way.
• Keep your skills fresh. Stay current with training - even if you have to pay for it yourself.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

Continuing Education: A Lifelong Pursuit That Pays

Continuing Education: A Lifelong Pursuit That Pays

Benefits abound for workers pursuing continuing education in certain fields, such as healthcare, business and education, experts say. Teaching continuing education and nursing continuing education seem to be the most popular today, along with continuing medical education. But the pursuit should be a lifelong occupation for everyone, no matter what their vocation.

By Kristina Cowan

If you want job security, try investing in 'employment insurance.'

That's the term Greg Schulz uses to describe continuing education. "Continuing education is almost like employment insurance...If something unexpected happens, you are insured and protected. It teaches you something new, but also serves as insurance in a fast-paced and changing world-the more skills you can develop, the better prepared you are to have a successful career," explains Schulz, dean of instruction and student services at California's North Orange County Community College District.

Schulz and others say continuing education pays off in fields such as healthcare, business and education, bringing new career opportunities and often bigger paychecks. They point to continuing education as an unending pursuit for all workers, regardless of their occupation.

Master's Degree in Business Administration

Shawn Graham, associate director with the MBA Career Management Center at The University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School, says a master's in business administration is beneficial for workers looking to advance their business careers-or for career-changers. It's important, he notes, to have work experience before getting an MBA.

"Early in your career you have to excel in something-so being a specialist is important; that's finance or marketing or operations. But that shifts throughout the career, and that's why continuing education is important, because management and leadership become more important later in the career, and that's why the MBA program comes in play," Graham explains.

Jon Bender, managing partner with PrincetonOne, a New Jersey-based recruiting firm, says earnings of new MBA graduates may increase significantly when they change jobs. According to a 2007 survey by the Graduate Management Admission Council, a nonprofit group that owns the GMAT, graduates of full-time MBA programs who received job offers expected to earn an average of 63 percent more than before they got their degrees.

Master's Degree in Education - Teaching Continuing Education

Master's degrees also benefit education professionals, experts say.

Julie Rains, a career expert and writer for Wise Bread, a personal-finance blog, says a master's degree in education can boost pay and support advancement beyond the classroom, to positions such as principal.

PayScale salary data shows the median salary for K-12 teachers with a master of arts in education is $44,995; for teachers with a bachelor of arts in education it's $35,860.

Nursing Continuing Education

Nursing continuing education also pays off, Rains says. For example, nurses with bachelor's degrees usually earn more and are more likely to become managers than those with less education.

Some nurses get associate's degrees and then work in a clinical setting while earning a bachelor's degree and higher, Rains explains, "which allows them to take on managerial accountabilities and earn higher pay at the same time that they are keeping their clinical skills current."

PayScale salary data shows registered nurses with a bachelor of science in nursing earn a median salary of $53,375; those with an associate of science in nursing make $50,562 a year.

Continuing Education - A Lifelong Endeavor for Everyone

Ultimately, experts agree, all workers should continue their education.

Bender says advanced education is especially helpful when changing jobs. "I can tell you story after story about seasoned professionals who never got their degrees and find themselves out of work, and they have a really hard time finding new employment. Their past employer didn't care [that they didn't have a degree], but it mattered going forward," he explains.

Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco, a staffing company, says continuing education will become increasingly important.

"The message for any U.S. worker is that continued learning is a lifelong journey. ... I think it's going to become more true in terms of globalization, speed and expectation of employers," Kenny says.

Related Continuing Education Links:
Online Nursing Continuing Education
Online Teaching Nursing Continuing Education
Online Master's Degree in Business Administration

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down.

1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008).  This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye out for other job opportunities as a safeguard. Have an updated resume ready to go. Forgoing lavish shopping sprees is likely a good idea, too. Put any extra cash into your savings account so you have a cushion to fall back on.

2. Network, network, network.  If you suspect layoffs are on the horizon, start connecting with your network. Let people know you are looking for a new job and send them an updated resume. Additionally, don't stop meeting new people. Research professional organizations and find out when and where they meet. If you haven't already, sign up for an online professional social network like Linkedin. And, ask friends for other networking ideas.

3. Stay positive. Getting laid off stinks, but whether you're anticipating a layoff or have already become a victim, you can't let it completely steal your joy. Be careful not to depress or annoy your friends and contacts with sob stories. You will be more productive and attractive to employers with a positive attitude.

4. Don't burn bridges. Often, people who get laid off score big by becoming a contractor or consultant for the same employer. The upside is that consultants usually make more money than full-time employees. Also, contracting puts money in your pocket while you continue to look for salaried work. Even if your employer can't rehire you in another capacity, someone there may happily give you a lead elsewhere - if you stay in good graces.

5. Follow a dream, keep learning. A layoff can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. If it happens to you, it may give you the final push you need to start a business venture long deferred. Is your dream to go back to school? Getting another degree or certification may give you a serious advantage in landing a new gig.

6. Take care of yourself. Being laid off, or anticipating it, can be one of the most stressful periods in life. You will be no good to your current or prospective employer if you don't take care of your main asset: you! Continue working out, or get started, to manage stress levels. Don't forget to eat a healthy diet, too.

7. Be flexible. Finding a new job takes time - often more than we'd like. Be patient in your job search but also be flexible enough to broaden your interests so you don't limit your options in an already tight job market.

Avoid a Layoff Before It Comes
The best way to avoid a layoff is to prepare long before there's a threat. Here are some quick tips:

• Be a problem solver, not a problem causer.
• Look like a winner: dress to impress and project confidence.
• Keep smiling and have a good attitude.
• Work hard and help others along the way.
• Keep your skills fresh. Stay current with training - even if you have to pay for it yourself.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

7 Ways to Survive a Layoff

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down.

1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008).  This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye out for other job opportunities as a safeguard. Have an updated resume ready to go. Forgoing lavish shopping sprees is likely a good idea, too. Put any extra cash into your savings account so you have a cushion to fall back on.

2. Network, network, network.  If you suspect layoffs are on the horizon, start connecting with your network. Let people know you are looking for a new job and send them an updated resume. Additionally, don't stop meeting new people. Research professional organizations and find out when and where they meet. If you haven't already, sign up for an online professional social network like Linkedin. And, ask friends for other networking ideas.

3. Stay positive. Getting laid off stinks, but whether you're anticipating a layoff or have already become a victim, you can't let it completely steal your joy. Be careful not to depress or annoy your friends and contacts with sob stories. You will be more productive and attractive to employers with a positive attitude.

4. Don't burn bridges. Often, people who get laid off score big by becoming a contractor or consultant for the same employer. The upside is that consultants usually make more money than full-time employees. Also, contracting puts money in your pocket while you continue to look for salaried work. Even if your employer can't rehire you in another capacity, someone there may happily give you a lead elsewhere - if you stay in good graces.

5. Follow a dream, keep learning. A layoff can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. If it happens to you, it may give you the final push you need to start a business venture long deferred. Is your dream to go back to school? Getting another degree or certification may give you a serious advantage in landing a new gig.

6. Take care of yourself. Being laid off, or anticipating it, can be one of the most stressful periods in life. You will be no good to your current or prospective employer if you don't take care of your main asset: you! Continue working out, or get started, to manage stress levels. Don't forget to eat a healthy diet, too.

7. Be flexible. Finding a new job takes time - often more than we'd like. Be patient in your job search but also be flexible enough to broaden your interests so you don't limit your options in an already tight job market.

Avoid a Layoff Before It Comes
The best way to avoid a layoff is to prepare long before there's a threat. Here are some quick tips:

• Be a problem solver, not a problem causer.
• Look like a winner: dress to impress and project confidence.
• Keep smiling and have a good attitude.
• Work hard and help others along the way.
• Keep your skills fresh. Stay current with training - even if you have to pay for it yourself.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

How to Keep a Hot Office Romance from Burning Your Career

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

When Renee first met Brad through a coworker, she wasn't attracted to him. In fact, she wasn't really interested in seeing him again. But then he took a job in the same company, a few floors down. She's not sure whether it was his charming office persona or the respect he demanded as a supervisor, but the sparks started to fly and an office romance was born.

They exchanged lengthy emails at work, and she stopped by his office frequently. But when the office romance went sour, so did her job. Even before the breakup was official, Brad started dating another coworker. The rumors and uncomfortable encounters with the new couple made Renee's job nearly unbearable.

"It was so awkward," says Renee. "And the stress of the whole situation started to affect my work."

Eventually, Renee had no option but to leave and find another job. This is just one example of why office romance is not a good choice for some people.

Unfortunately, Renee's experience isn't uncommon. "When you're in an office environment and you're working on something you're passionate about, you might be more attracted to someone than you would in real life," says career expert and author Nicole Williams.

And although some office romances do end up happily after, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you're bound to get burned. According to Williams, from the first flush of love to the potentially messy breakup, an office romance can be distracting, which can directly affect your career and salary potential.

"It's hard to concentrate on the big meeting or proposal when you've got the love of your life over your shoulder," says Williams. "And, if you end up angry and hating each other, it has the potential to really damage your career."

But with half of the employees in CareerBuilder's 2006 Office Romance survey admitting to an office romance, abstinence may not be the answer. Stephanie Losee and Helaine Olen, authors of Office Mate: The Employee Handbook for Finding - and Managing - Romance on the Job, both met their spouses in the workplace. The office, which they describe as the "village of the 21st century," can be a promising place to find a mate, they say. In fact, an office romance can enhance your career (and your life) if handled carefully.

Their best piece of advice for avoiding conflict down the road is to have a conversation about the end of the relationship at the beginning.

"We suggest people enter into a breakup agreement the equivalent of a pre-nup," says Olen. "You talk about the breakup and how it could end and lay down certain ground rules in terms of behavior."

Williams agrees. "It's almost like you have to expedite the situation more quickly than you would with someone outside the office," she says. "You have to decide as a couple that there's something bigger than you to protect and respect each other enough to not damage your careers."

So what constitutes good office romance behavior? It starts with a clear separation of your work and personal life.

"You met this person at work, but you don't conduct your relationship at work," says Losee.

This means no personal visits to each other's cubicles, no emails on work time, no fighting at work, and no instant messaging. Even if it's not love notes you're exchanging, your behavior won't always be perceived as innocent. "Perception is reality," says Williams. "And if people perceive that you're flirting instead of working, it can really hurt you."

Williams does caution against hiding your office romance, however. "It's never really hidden," she says. "Everyone loves to talk about the thing that's seemingly taboo. So, if you don't bring it out into the open, people are going to talk about it and make it much worse than it actually is." There are always office romance signs.

Once the office romance is common knowledge, Olen suggests indulging your coworkers with only the most basic information about your relationship. If you keep discussions about your office romance to a minimum, there will be less opportunity for gossip during and after the relationship. "Conduct yourself with grace and dignity," says Losee, "and others will take their cue from you and do the same."

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

6 Top-Paying Green Jobs

By Kristina Cowan

As nations across the globe look for ways to prevent global warming, they're spurring a 'green' revolution-and focusing on everything from environmentally friendly house additions to how to make business environmentally friendly. The movement's swelling popularity is also fueling growth of new industries and some top-paying green jobs.

Green Job 1: Venture Capitalist

VCs invest early in companies with potential to revolutionize an industry or create a new one, says a report by the Cleantech Group and Environmental Entrepreneurs. VCs work with the companies to help them grow, and sell their stake within a few years, hoping to make a handsome profit.

According to the Cleantech Group, in the third quarter of 2007, North American VCs invested close to $1.3 billion in clean technologies, a 50 percent increase over the second quarter of 2007 and a 36 percent increase over the third quarter of 2006.

"Probably the highest-paying jobs in the green arena are venture capitalists themselves. You can make probably $300,000-$400,000 as a venture capitalist in green," says Richard Stuebi, senior energy fellow at The Cleveland Foundation.

Green Job 2: Chief Executive Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $120,674

Skilled and savvy leaders are in high demand for green companies, and they can command sizable salaries, especially at outfits supported by venture capital, experts say.

"Most of this stuff is startups backed by venture capital firms. You have young people who see an opportunity and bring the idea to the investment community and they want what I call 'adult supervision'-someone who has done it before. So the demand for CEOs in this industry will continue," says Charley Polachi, a partner at Polachi, a Massachusetts-based executive search firm.

Green Job 3: Chief Technology Officer

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $102,280

As green technologies gallop apace, CTOs are highly sought after, and often hard to find, according to experts.

"You don't have a deep talent pool necessarily to dip into, so you have to pull talent from other industries that have some correlation to the technology or the process the company is going through. A lot of times you see the leaders or executives in startup energy companies coming from outside of energy," says Tim Conti, partner and energy and materials practice leader at ON Search Partners in Cleveland.

Green Job 4: Vice Presidents of Research and Development; Manufacturing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $125,202 (R&D); $80,158 (manufacturing)

Positions shepherding advancements in green technology and taking them to market are crucial, experts say.

"Like any industry with ongoing technology developments, the critical piece for companies to make something more standard is that you have to be able to take a technology out of a lab and put it into high-volume manufacturing capacity," Conti says. "VPs of research and development and manufacturing are critical to these companies. What you can do in a lab you can't necessarily do in a high-volume manufacturing environment."

Green Job 5: Vice President of Government Affairs

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,816

As the U.S. government offers more funding for green initiatives, positions that interface between a company and Uncle Sam are increasingly important, Conti explains.

"It [the government] can provide a deep-pocketed source of capital for your company. You have to provide your business plan and continue to hit milestones, but folks that have those relationships with government, that can drive funding to their company, can be very valuable," he says. "You are seeing some companies with a VP of government [affairs] or VP of regulatory affairs trying to drive grants to their companies from the government."

Green Job 6: Vice Presidents of Sales; Marketing

Annual median salary, 5-9 years of experience: $96,541 (sales); $103,371 (marketing)

Keeping people apprised of initiatives, products and services is key to keeping green industries blooming.

According to Lawrence Comras, founder of Greenhome.com, an online green department store, "There's a ton of green products out there. There are tons of jobs in sales, and sales [are] well-paying, often highly professional jobs."

Kristina Cowan is the senior writer for PayScale.com. She has over 10 years of journalism experience, specializing in education and workforce issues. Email Kristina Cowan.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

6 Simple Ways to Significantly Increase Your Pay

By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com

Not only can you increase your pay, you may even be able to double it. To secure a pay increase, follow these six tips to get on the fast track to a super-sized paycheck.

1. Say Bye-Bye. You will keep pace with inflation with 4 percent annual raises, but you certainly won't get ahead. Changing companies is one of the fastest ways to get a pay increase. Often new hires start at a salary that it took their peers years to obtain. With a fresh start you can negotiate a higher salary with a new company that has not pigeonholed you into a particular salary range. Having an offer in hand can also give you leverage at your current company to get a significant raise or promotion.

2. Start a business. Take charge of your earning potential by starting a business. This way you determine your compensation and pay increases over time.  But patience, determination - and a good business plan - are key. Young businesses typically require time and energy to reap big rewards. Investment banker, Chris Norman agrees. Several years ago, he and a partner left their jobs and opened a boutique investment banking firm in Atlanta. "One of the most difficult challenges is creating brand presence and making the transition to doing everything yourself," he says. But, there are significant pros. "You have tax advantages that you never were able to take advantage of as an employee. We have some highs and lows, but we've definitely been able to generate more than twice our previous income," he says.

3. Start packing. Some cities pay higher - much higher - for the same profession based on supply and demand and cost of living. PayScale.com shows a software developer with five years experience in Miami can boost his salary 69 percent by moving to San Francisco, and an experienced dental hygienist in Memphis, Tenn., earns 77 percent more in Chicago. Be sure to run a cost of living comparison to ensure higher housing, taxes, and other cost adjustments won't eat up a pay increase in your targeted city. For instance, a physical therapist making $65,000/year in Chicago would need to earn $87,658/year in Los Angeles to maintain the same standard of living. Real estate in Los Angeles is 103 percent more expensive.

4. Boost your knowledge. Achieving a substantial pay increase sometimes means changing careers or earning an advanced degree in your current field. If you've hit the glass ceiling in your profession, going back to school for a degree with higher earning potential or getting additional training may be the answer. For instance Payscale.com shows a copywriter who majored in English averaging $41,065 could command an average salary of $79,718 in business after earning an MBA. Kailei Richardson says earning her MBA helped her double her salary after working as a consultant for a major firm. "If you look at pure salary, I made a 47 percent increase in salary. However, if you look at my first year salary factoring in signing bonus, I had an 86 percent increase, but including relocation it was a 106 percent increase," says Richardson who now works as a marketing manager in Dallas.

5. Consult a career coach. Many high achievers have that je ne c'est quoi. One way to increase your pay is to learn the secrets of their success. A career coach can assess career pitfalls and help propel professionals to executive ranks. Books such as Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz or Moral Mazes by Robert Jackall also offer smart insights to the nuances of corporate success. Often people don't realize that while performance is important to success, personality and knowing how to navigate the system are probably equally important, if not more so.

6. Go solo. If you are experienced in your field and have good contacts, going the independent contractor route can be highly lucrative. Industries such as IT, law, business, and medicine are just a few that pay big to contractors. "Contracting afforded me the opportunity to see a return based on expertise and hours worked.  As a salaried employee [at my old company], my yearly assessment didn't factor in current market rates," says Wayne Nelson, a web applications developer in Atlanta, who switched companies and his status from full time to contractor this year. He says he doubled his salary in one move. He notes that being proficient in JavaScript, .NET, and the major database systems increase marketability in web development.

There is a downside: Independent contractors often foot their own bill for health insurance, must manage their own employment taxes, and have unpaid vacations. They also lose out on the perks of 401K matching. However, Nelson says he found retirement strategies and a health insurance plan that greatly offset the compensation loss from a full-time benefits package.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

2008 Horoscopes - Salary Negotiation By Sign

By Shanon Lyon, Special to PayScale.com

We'd all like more money, but how you approach a salary negotiation depends largely on your personality and work style. These 2008 horoscopes provide a bit of insight on how to approach your next salary negotiation.

Career Horoscope for Capricorn
December 23 - January 20

As a Capricorn, you work hard for your money. And, since you're ambitious and patient, in most cases, you'll likely get what's due to you without having to ask. If you fear you're being passed over, approach your salary discussions in your usual practical, no-nonsense way.

Career Horoscope for Aquarius
January 21 - February 19

You're original and inventive, but you prefer to fly solo. Unfortunately, your lone wolf approach could cost you a promotion or a raise. Before entering a salary discussion, make sure you've demonstrated your ability to work well with others. And let your boss lead the negotiation. Suppress your impulse to throw out the first number.

Career Horoscope for Pisces
February 20 - March 20

Trust your intuition this year. If you think you deserve a little more cash in your pocket, you probably do. But, as a quiet fish who's in danger of getting stepped on, you'll have to speak up. Know exactly what you want before you ask, then ask with confidence. If your employer doesn't meet your needs, consider looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Career Horoscope for Aries
March 21 - April 20

You're cool and confident, but you can also be impulsive and impatient. The salary negotiation tactic that will serve you best is a well-made plan. Know exactly what you plan to say and make sure you schedule a meeting for the discussion. Don't approach your boss at the end of a meeting or in the hallway. You're a great champion for a cause, so, with a plan in place, you should have no problem making a convincing case.

Career Horoscope for Taurus
April 21 - May 21

You're not one to stir the pot, but, you won't get a raise unless you ask. Realize that "no" is the worst that can happen. Use your natural business sense to approach the discussion in a straightforward, business-like way. And if your request is denied (or your raise isn't as high as you'd hoped), don't let your occasional hot temper flare. Ask for suggestions on how to improve and get to where you want to be.

Career Horoscope for Gemini
May 22 - June 21

You love to talk, and your eloquence and charm can come in handy when it comes to money. Make the conversation less about you and your needs and more about what you have done and will continue to do for the company and your boss. And, as hard as it might be, let your boss do most of the talking. You'll get more information this way and be better able to negotiate. Silence can be a very effective strategy.

Career Horoscope for Cancer
June 22 - July 22

Though you're outwardly thick-skinned, on the inside, you're a sensitive person who takes negative feedback to heart. Your cautious and non-confrontational ways could keep you from approaching your boss about a raise, but, remember that business is business. Keep your emotions out of it, and you'll be able to handle the discussion with grace and ease.

Career Horoscope for Leo
July 23 -August 21

As the king of the zodiac, you're self confident and self-controlled. You know what you want and how to get it, which sets you up for a successful salary discussion. It's in your nature to shoot for your stars, but make sure you do your homework first. Find out if there's a salary scale for your position and then assess what others in similar positions are making. Aim high, but be realistic.

Career Horoscope for Virgo
August 22 - September 23

Don't let your worrying ways get the best of you when asking for a raise. Before approaching your boss, write down all your accomplishments and contributions (better yet, keep track of them throughout the year). You're often reluctant to take credit for a job well done, so ask for some peer input as well. Review your list several times before discussing your salary with your boss.   

Career Horoscope for Libra
September 24 - October 23

As a Libran, your sense of justice and fair play is remarkable, but your reluctance to ruffle feathers could prevent you from making more money, even if you deserve it. Be assertive and ask for what you want. If you get what you think you're worth, great. If not, perhaps you don't belong there anyway.

Career Horoscope for Scorpio
October 24 - November 22

Because you dislike (and can easily detect) superficial flattery, you prefer to see the fruits of your labor in the form of cold, hard cash. Your straightforwardness will fare you well, just don't get impatient. Temper your typical bluntness with diplomacy and keep a lid on your emotions when you discuss your salary with your boss.

Career Horoscope for Sagittarius
November 23 - December 22

You're adept at social situations, so use this to your advantage when negotiating a raise. As a natural born traveler, you're also a perfect candidate for alternate forms of compensation. Be flexible and willing to consider other options. Perhaps an extra week of vacation would be more valuable than money?

Shanon Lyon is a freelance writer and editor with more than 8 years of experience in a variety of media and industries.