Raise on Shine

If you can find a job (or have one), you can get a salary increase

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The bad news is that, although job losses in April shrunk to their lowest level in six month according to the U. S Department of Labor, the economy is still shedding jobs.The good news is that for people who are employed or who are able to find jobs, salaries are increasing.

While many people think they are more likely to be hired if they ask for a low salary, nothing could be further from the truth. Companies are not looking for "bargain basement" employees. Employers hire people based on what they offer the company. If an individual can help their business survive and prosper in a difficult economy, employers are willing to pay that person what they are worth.

How to find (and keep) a job

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Once upon a time, talent, skills, and a strong work ethic were the keys to holding on to a good job. And if you wanted a new one, you spent some time polishing your résumé. Now, as everyone knows, all bets are off. To help you stay afloat―and, yes, even prosper―in the current career scene, we asked the executives who do the hiring and firing, along with human-resource specialists, career counselors, and economists, to answer your most pressing questions about how the working world works today.

Do you deserve a raise, my friend?

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Is it time to ask for raise... even during a recession? Five ways to determine if you deserve a raise during tough economic times.

I'm the boss . . . for now

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Dear Cubicle Coach:While my supervisor has been on maternity leave, I've stepped up and become the leader of the department. There are no positions between mine and hers, and I know I'll be bored out of my mind when she returns. Is it reasonable to ask for a new title, or at least a raise?

Is cosmetic surgery the answer to career woes?

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Can cosmetic surgery get you that raise you're looking for?

Maybe, says a study coming out of the University of Texas.

Men and women "with below-average looks" suffer "a pay penalty," while those with better-than-average looks receive "a pay premium," according to a University of Texas study. After considering other variables, such as education and experience, the study found someone with below-average looks earned 9 percent less, and a better-than-average looking person earned 5 percent more than an individual with average looks.