Build your earning power through better career decisions. Learn how to develop valuable skills, ask for a raise, earn a promotion, research market pay, evaluate and negotiate job offers, change careers, and make job moves that improve both current income and long-term earning potential.
When an employer asks, “What are your salary expectations?”, first decide whether you know enough about the role to answer. If you do not, ask for the salary range or say you would like to understand the responsibilities and compensation […]
Before quitting your job, review your final paycheck timing, unused PTO policy, bonus or commission eligibility, health insurance end date, retirement-plan vesting, FSA or HSA rules, equity or signing-bonus conditions and any gap before your next paycheck. If you are
To network for a better job, start by getting specific about the role, industry or employers you want to learn about. Reconnect with former coworkers, managers, classmates, clients and other people who already know your work, then ask for information,
To change careers without starting over, identify the skills, knowledge and responsibilities from your current work that transfer to another occupation. Research adjacent roles first, especially jobs that use some of the same capabilities but offer a different industry, function
To increase your earning potential through skills, start with a target role or responsibility rather than a random course. Research which skills employers actually request for that work, how the occupation is growing, what it pays in your market and
To prepare for a performance review, start with the goals, responsibilities and standards that applied during the review period. Gather specific examples of results, problems solved, responsibilities added, positive feedback and areas where you fell short. Turn that evidence into
To research your market salary, first identify the occupation that best matches the work you actually do. Then compare wage data for your location, industry and level of responsibility. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes Occupational Employment and Wage
Changing jobs for a higher salary can make sense when the increase remains meaningful after you compare benefits, bonuses, retirement vesting, commuting or relocation costs and other differences between the two jobs. Also compare the new role’s scope, stability, manager
To evaluate a job offer, compare more than base salary. Review guaranteed pay, bonus or commission terms, health-plan premiums and cost sharing, retirement contributions and vesting, paid time off, work location, commute costs, schedule, job scope, manager, advancement potential and
To improve your chances of getting promoted, first learn what the next role actually requires. Compare those expectations with your current skills and responsibilities, then look for opportunities to demonstrate higher-level work before the title changes. Focus on measurable results,
To ask for a raise, build a case around how your responsibilities, performance or market value have changed. Research wages for your occupation, location and industry using reliable sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, document specific results
To negotiate salary after a job offer, first make sure you understand the role, base pay, bonus or commission, benefits, paid time off, work arrangement and any other important terms. Research wages for the occupation and location using sources such
The most useful soft skills for career growth include clear communication, problem solving, teamwork and stakeholder management, reliability, leadership, negotiation, adaptability and the ability to keep learning. They do not automatically produce a raise or promotion, but they can make
