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When you're graduating and just starting out in the workforce, it may seem that everyone is getting a job faster than you are or no one is moving back home to live with their parents. Well, it's time for a reality check.

Five true tales!

An employee asked to take on managerial responsibilities ought to be ready to make the case for a promotion after three months of solid performance as a manager.

When you need a random day off of work, what do you do? Do you schedule a vacation day with your boss, or call in with some overblown cover story? And just how long does it take you to come up with that excuse? With one-in-four workers considering sick days equivalent to vacation time, it's no wonder workers are so crafty at calling in sick.

Prospective changes in the employment picture can impact the career decisions you make now. With the help of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, we can predict what the workforce of the future will look like by tracking shifts in the labor market.

Don't plan, don't get motivated, and keep optimism to a minimum. This is a guide for folks who know they don't want to suceed - and for everyone else, a helpful look at what to avoid while trying to realize your dreams.

Warning: Too much cleavage can be hazardous to your career.... and there's science to prove it.

Compensation is more than just base pay. It is a total package that should address your overall well-being - financial, physical, emotional, even spiritual. As companies compete for talent in tight labor markets, many are rolling out better benefits to attract and retain the best workers.

Confused about which medical plan to choose? This mini-guide will explain the basics of your health care insurance options, including the difference between HMOs, PPOs, and indemnity coverage, and give you some smart suggestions for evaluating and selecting a plan that's right for you.

When talking about their career history, many professionals will say they never anticipated doing their current job. As might be expected, some are pleased with how things turned out, many others are not.

Political correctness does not just mean watching what you say. In its best sense, being politically correct means learning about others and respecting the differences that make each of us unique. In the workplace, there are steps you can take to make sure you are not only following the "PC rules," but are also making your life richer.

Employment agencies and executive search firms can supplement your job search efforts. But before you enlist the aid of a recruiter, know what you're getting yourself into.

Rarely would a company go behind a candidate's back to verify employment information, but they can and do double-check background information including pay.

If you're unhappy with your job, it might be time for a career transition. Results from an Experience survey provide insight into making the change.

Generally, it's not the employee who is exempt or nonexempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act, but the job.

You may wish an invitation would say, "Wear your navy sportcoat with your khaki slacks, a white shirt, and that nice print tie." But alas, despite the promise of mass customization, many of us still have to pick out our own clothes.

The rules regarding who is and is not eligible for overtime pay are somewhat complicated. But whether you get overtime or not, if you take time off from work and aren't eligible for paid time off, your employer can dock your pay.

Although more education can translate to higher pay, it's not always so, as in the case of the employee in a job that requires a bachelor's degree but pays less than a different job that requires only an associate's degree.

Your hard work has paid off; you've secured a new challenge and our well on your way in your new career. Congratulations, your journey to career fulfillment is now complete, or is it?

Over its history, the temporary employment industry has evolved from using gopher-type seat-warmers to fill in for vacationing administrative assistants, to placing highly skilled, valued, and courted contractors into managerial positions.

Don't think of them as four beige walls with beige furniture and a beige computer. Think of them as the canvas upon which to paint the oeuvre that is you. Give your cubicle a makeover, complete with photographs of your favorite fictional advice columnist.

It's not your parents' workplace anymore - nor their dress code. Gone are the stuffy three-piece suits and conservative skirt sets of times past, replaced with a canvas of khaki on which a world of individuality is expressed, as if to say, "Trust me: I'm casual."

Sometimes even a big raise doesn't feel like enough. But if you don't know how big is big, how can you be disappointed with 11.5 percent?

A low raise may not be directly related to time off from work, but it could be indirectly related if the time off caused work to slip.

Fantasy baseball? Sign me up. The Kentucky Derby? My money is on the long shot. NBA finals? I've got $10 on the Bulls. When will Abby have her baby? Huh?!?

Take a crash course in on-the-job email etiquette.

The good news: You accepted a terrific job offer. The potential bad news: You must supervise the internal runner-up for your spot.

It's all negotiable. Every new job - every performance review, in fact - is an opportunity to negotiate base salary, various kinds of bonuses, benefits, stock options, and other incentives that add to job satisfaction and provide financial security.

Downsized, restructured, displaced, canned, terminated - any way you put it, you're still out of a job and it's still not the easiest subject to talk about in an interview.

You want a career that will make you happy, but you don't know how to find it? Two psychologists offer advice on where to begin.

As employees and businesses increasingly recognize the benefits of telecommuting, the number of professionals working remotely has grown dramatically. By many indications, the practice seems here to stay.

Perhaps when you think of "grammar," you remember diagramming sentences in the third grade. Thankfully, reviewing grammar doesn't have to be an eye-glazing experience.

Do you want your body language in the interview to say, "I just told my boss a lie about where I was going and then changed in my car"?

Do what you love and the money will follow is great in theory, but the truth of the matter is, certain jobs and fields simply pay more.

It can be fun to think of holiday gifts under $1,000 for Yankee swap meets and Secret Santa extravaganzas (voluntary only, please). And never, ever give something practical. Give something that makes you jealous.

Returning to full-time after an absence can mean changes in your compensation plan. Be sure to negotiate for the benefits and perks reserved for full-time employees, while keeping in mind the number of hours you'll be expected to work.

Face-to-face is a great way to hear good news, such as news of a raise. But you've got to get it in writing too.

How much does your company expect of you? If you're expected to do an excellent job, it can be very difficult to exceed expectations. But if your company's median raise is high enough, excellence may well be par for the course.

Changing careers, even for those in their twenties, is a tall task. But if you think you've picked the wrong line of work, it's time to start scoping out other areas that interest you.

Inevitably the people left behind after layoffs take on additional responsibilities. Despite the sensitivity of layoffs, it may be possible to have your job reevaluated once the dust settles.

After two or three years at the same job, you may find that your responsibilities have evolved to the point where you are ready for a position - and a salary - at the next level.

Benefits represent an additional 25 to 67 percent on top of base pay, so if your employer's base pay appears to be lower than what you could get somewhere else, make sure you look at the total compensation package.

When managers create new positions, they sometimes consider moves to be "lateral" that in reality bear additional responsibilities. The key to assessing the value of a job is to look closely at the associated tasks and responsibilities.

Does Google affect your chances of getting hired? You bet it does. Here's why you need to start taking responsibility for your online actions.

Do daycare emergencies flood your office with offspring? The situation becomes tense when colleagues discover that highlighters and flipcharts have been used for art projects, as the temporary visitors threaten to flatten the entire organization like miniature consultants.

The decision to change careers is a difficult one, but a career change can be rewarding if you make honest decisions and take the right steps.

When looking for a company that offers good benefits, decide which benefits are most important to you and check out some of the determinants as well.

Updated laws and legislation protect members of the uniformed services from certain workplace uncertainties, allowing reservists and guardsmen to leave their civilian posts to serve their country without having to worry about job security, delayed compensation, revoked benefits, or other adverse employer reactions.

So it turns out mom really does know a thing or two. All the advice she gave you again and again is coming in handy, even in your professional life. We decided to take a moment to look at mom's advice in a new light.

A wider generation gap has made the office a confusing place to be. Keeping up on what's appropriate behavior and what isn't can be a real challenge, especially for someone who's new to the workplace. So take warning: This isn't a frat house, it's an office.

Did you know that you may be able to negotiate some of your benefits? Even though companies put fixed policies on most benefits, some benefits are negotiable - and sometimes, all you have to do is ask.

It's a close call whether the trading room floor on the day of IPO or Vanity Fair's Academy Awards bash is more thrilling. After the awards you can sip champagne and dance new Latin steps in dresses made of scarves. But at your own IPO, you are clearly a winner.

If you learn to evaluate your performance and skills honestly, you'll be able to determine whether a boss or coworker's criticism is warranted.

Think it's entertaining to watch MTV's "Pimp My Ride" turn a beater car into a showpiece? Imagine seeing a 10 x 10-foot cubicle transformed into a vehicle for productivity and advancement! Better yet, try it out for yourself. Here are nine easy and affordable ways to make over your cube and improve your image and outlook at work:

Obtaining PMP certification will give you the project management skills to excel at your company. These skills will make you a more productive and valued contributor to current and future employers.

Everyone enters into a business with good intentions, but conflicts do arise. Covering these bases will help you and your partners create a healthy working relationship.

Cubicles are designed to enhance interaction and help companies maximize space. But because partitioned environments lack privacy, it's critical that cube dwellers develop a healthy respect for their co-workers.

So, would you recognize a generous time off policy if you saw one? If you had to establish a time off policy for your company, what questions would you ask?

What happens when you disagree with your company's policies, or an assignment you've been given? Is there a way to voice your opinion without losing your job?

Leaving may not be the best option, even if your coworkers are getting big raises somewhere else, if you're happy in your current job.

If two identical employees worked for the same employer, one part time and one full time, they might expect to be paid at the same rate. But sometimes full-time employees earn more or are expected to contribute more than part-time colleagues.

It takes creative energy to be lazy, to think constantly about new ways to pout or new people to type chat messages to. ("Clickie-clickie" goes the keyboard on the other side of the cubicle wall, but it's not work at all!)

Signing bonuses, window views, and several weeks' vacation may be flashier benefits, but you shouldn't overlook disability insurance when shopping around for a job. What happens if you flip over your bicycle handlebars or are diagnosed with a serious illness and have to miss work? Will you lose your job? Will you still get paid? The key, we've learned, is to ask.

How Sexy is the Sexiest Man Alive if he turns heads in the other direction when he speaks? How well Supported is the Best Supporting Actress if the person handing her the Oscar can tell she had three martinis in the Bentley?

The scene: Sunday night, tossing and turning in bed, you can't sleep, you stare at the clock dreading the start of the work week. Are you suffering from a case of the Mondays or are you desperately drowning in a job you can't stand anymore? We've got the antidote to help you cope.

This mini-guide will explain the basics of your health care insurance options and give you some smart suggestions for evaluating and selecting a plan that's right for you.

All it takes is a casual lunch here and a happy hour there, and before you know it, you have yourself an office relationship. But beware: Secrecy, intimacy, and risk are generally not recommended tools for career advancement.

The idea of a career spanning 20 or 30 years at one company has all but disappeared. So what does this mean for the generation now entering the workforce? According to Bruce Tulgan, it means a workforce of knowledge workers acting as free agents with employers seen as "clients" and jobs as "projects." And this is a good thing!

There are many reasons to consider relocating for your career - but some make a lot more sense than others. Here are some "right" reasons to plan a move for your career.

One of the most cherished aspects of telecommuting for workers and employers alike is the productivity that comes from maximizing your time and working in a convenient location. Who are the 21 million people who have the luxury of working in their pajamas every day?

Going from employee to manager is like taking a quantum leap.

To some extent, the format of a meeting determines the substance. Meeting organizers who take these responsibilities seriously will have an easier time leading a successful meeting.

Are training programs corporate boot camp? Will you make it through alive? Survivors from the best programs share their experiences from behind the lines.

When an employer uses the term "equivalent," it means they will consider any job-related experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skill, and abilities to perform the functions of the advertised position proficiently.

Startups often let employees take on broad, diverse responsibilities. But how does startup work experience translate to a larger organization?

Sitting at a desk and working on a computer seems like a harmless occupation, but it can be stressful on your body. Physicians and ergonomic experts have some suggestions to keep you feeling well.

Know what you're worth.

It's impossible to know what to expect from your first job. Here is some perspective on your professional debut, as well as some advice for getting the most from your first job.

While there are indicators of strong employment in the US and many industries are projected to grow in the coming years, there is also evidence that some occupations are becoming obsolete.

It was Merriam-Webster Online's No. 1 word of 2004, and Fortune magazine named it the No. 1 tech trend for 2005. Two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November 2004 found that 8 million people say they have created one and almost one-third of Internet users say they read one. But it's still a mystery: Six-of-ten Internet users say they don't know what "blog" means.

They help us build our houses and feed our families. They deliver our packages and take away our trash, and when we need a ride, they're there to whisk us away. And they're risking their lives to do it.

The Job scenario has never been better than in the recent past. Especially after the lull that followed leaner years, this year is turning out to be really a wish come true for job seekers. With the manufacturing and software engineering industries doing so well, these growth vehicles are back in the news for all the right reasons. But wait a minute - does this mean that it is a cakewalk for every Tom, Dick and Harry to walk out with a job offer? Not quite! This time around, recruiters and employers are taking no chances after having been bitten by a spate of economic slumps and mass layoffs.

Job candidates rarely admit to being fired for poor performance... and they might just be telling the truth. A Harvard University study found that for every dismissal based on failure to perform, there are two dismissals due to personality and communication problems.

How do you know when you have achieved success? The answers depend on who you ask.

Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because we set our goals to high and miss achieving our aspirations. Instead, we fail because we set our dreams too low and we achieve them.

You've received a great job offer from another company, and, when you tell your boss you're leaving, he offers you more money to stay on. While having two employers competing for your services may seem like a win-win situation, proceed with caution -- dealing with a counteroffer can be tricky.

Nearly 40 years after "flower power," body art has seen a resurgence. Men and women flaunt pierced navels at the beach, sterling silver glinting in the sun. Tattoo parlors have popped up in suburban areas in response to the demands of the younger generations, while some Baby Boomers are reviving their flirtations with their inky past.

If your boss is rewarding friends and family while short-changing you, it might be time to circulate your resume.

Salaried jobs and nonexempt jobs are not always the same thing. So even if you are supervising employees, you could be asked to punch in at the beginning and the end of the day.

Having sensitive information about your coworkers can wear a conscience down. Should you hoard the information? Pass it along to the grapevine? Hint to your coworker that it's always a good idea to keep one's resume current? They call it "dirt" for a reason.

What do you do when personalities clash in the office, or when your coworker takes credit for something you did, misses a deadline, or just plain annoys you?

It's a common sight in many companies: the supervisor who stays long after the staff has left and carries home a bulging briefcase each weekend. Managers often avoid taking their full allotment of vacation time because they know the longer they're away from the office, the larger the pile of catch-up work will be when they return. In some cases, the cause may be overwork, but in others it's that these individuals do not properly.

If you have to return a signing bonus because you left the company before a specified time was up, you might still be able to recoup the money.

The author of Dress Casually for Success talks about work wear.

Will the organization be a good place to work? Will the job be interesting? How are opportunities for advancement? Is the salary fair? Does the employer offer good benefits? If you have not already figured out exactly what you want, the following discussion may help you develop a set of criteria for judging job offers, whether you are starting a career, reentering the labor force after a long absence, or planning a career change.

It's the new year--time to turn over a new leaf in your office attitude.

After four (or more) years of college, that diploma is so close you can taste it. And that means a bitter reality: Ready or not, it's time to find a job.

Although email and instant messaging are quickly becoming standard forms of office communication, the telephone still plays an important role in business. Just like a face-to-face meeting, telephone conversations are expected to and should follow certain rules of etiquette to help make the experience pleasant and productive for all those involved.

Find out how you can use volunteerism as a career-planning tool.

Candidates looking to step back and readjust their work-life balance face a challenge communicating that to potential employers.

Our biggest limits are those that are self imposed. Life can be a little more rewarding by setting goals and sticking to them.

You can run the numbers to compare whether you'll be better off with one total compensation package versus another. But you've also got to account your comfort level with the mix of types of pay, and the associated risks.

Nothing in your performance review should come as a surprise, but if you take charge of your review and prepare thoroughly, you may be even more pleasantly surprised with the results.

Have you ever gotten a verbal promise from an employer, then later on wished you had gotten it in writing? Be careful when saying yes to offers that involve future pay increases that aren't in writing.

It's easy to cop an attitude in this job market. You're in demand. And it looks like nurses will be in demand for the long term. Your job search might lead to one, two, three or more job offers. Should you grab the job you think you want and blow off the others?

Like strategy games? You job search is like a chess match. If you want to win, think it out, don't just don't wing it!

Leaving a job can be a nerve-wracking experience, but if you follow some basic rules of workplace etiquette, giving notice doesn't have to be an overwhelming task.

In any disaster, there are opportunities...and rewards for the ready.

Could you be falling further behind every year? Typical raises vary with the economy, but on average have been about 4.1 percent per year. If you regularly get less than that, you could be falling behind in your earning power.

It's 6 a.m. and you are about to throw the alarm clock out the window. It's too cold out, you're tired, you had one glass of wine too many last night, you've really got to clean your house, and, most importantly, you haven't had some real bonding time with your couch lately.

It's one of the simplest things you can do. Your mother mother told you to always say it. By expressing it -- or not -- you can change a person's mood and perception of you in an instant. Who knew two words could be so powerful?

If you don't say something directly to your coworker, she will not only continue to treat you as if you were one of her People, but she will also encourage everyone else to do the same. You can't have that. You have Things to Do.

Pay and proficiency usually go hand in hand. For the first few years at a new level, employees typically earn less than the median. Then, as skills and proficiency improve, pay typically follows.

Increased "information theft" has forced many companies to add non-compete agreements to their regular contracts, restricting employees' future career plans, as well as their spare time activities while on staff. Do you know what you're signing up for?

You arrive at a new job and notice that every coworker has a nickname, first name, last name; sometimes an honorific, a hyphen here or there, an accent and a diacritical mark. If only their parents, like mine, had understood the brand equity inherent in the one-word name.

You need a reverse mentor: someone to escort you proudly into the new economy with dash, panache, and elan, even if they've never heard those words. You provide the insights of years of work experience, and your mentor provides a year's subscription to fabulousness.

With the workplace becoming the most likely place for Americans to meet romantic partners, what exactly are the rules about fraternizing with officemates? While policies vary company-to-company, here are some guidelines.

The author of "Virtual Faith: The Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Gen X," talks about the importance of pluralism, pop culture, and generation-sensitive mentors.

You're filled with visionary ideas about everything from streamlining your company's file system to expanding into international markets. Whatever your status within the company, you should learn how much space you have to share ideas before you inadvertently overstep your bounds.

The fact that sports has its own daily section in every major newspaper tells you something about its significance in our society, and it's an ideal icebreaker in many business settings, especially when peers are unaware of any other common ground.

As traditionally "corporate" cultures become more horizontal and intimate, soft skills are becoming essential to the success of businesses. Employees must be able to work as part of a team, find and communicate solutions, and be effective managers.

If you're looking for the perfect job, you might as well stop right now: there's no such thing.

Congratulations! You got your diploma, aced the interview and landed a job offer... now what?

Lured by convenience and seemingly easy money, more and more people are falling prey to job scams. Particularly vulnerable are people who want or need to work from home and those who are looking supplement their income. Those who fall victim can suffer serious consequences including debt collection and criminal charges.

When you walk into the breakroom, do the lively conversations stop? Do the groups quickly disband as everyone scrambles to head back to their offices? Do you think to yourself, "Was everybody's break really over or were they just trying to avoid me?"

If your boss checks the "equity adjustment" box rather than the "promotion" box on the HR form you get with your raise, it could mean your raise is bigger than it would have been.

Your baby face has never been such a liability. Young professionals with "fresh energy and new perspective" are being tapped for management positions, but age-related skepticism is a challenge for these new managers.

It's time to carefully evaluate your job offer and we can help.