Get Paid What you deserve

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/power-your-future/getting-paid-want-195836683.html

Remember Where You're Coming From

Your negotiating power will vary depending on your current employment situation. For instance, if are unemployed and applying for work, expect to earn approximately what your old salary was or slightly less, says Don Hurzeler, author of the book: The Way Up: How to Keep Your Career Moving in the Right Direction.

On the other hand, if you are being hired away from an existing position, Hurzeler doesn't suggest settling for less than a 20% salary increase unless you are completely unhappy. "Why would you leave a situation you know for one you don't know unless there is a breakthrough in salary?" he says.

Career lessons

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2728-Career-Growth-and-Change-Career-lessons-from-five-of-Americas-favorite-reality-stars/?SiteId=cbmsnhp42728&sc_extcmp=JS_2728_home1&gt1=23000



1. Chelsea Handler

Career lesson: Challenge yourself

Chelsea Handler got her start in the Oxygen reality series "Girls Behaving Badly" in 2008. Since then, she has managed to build a multimedia empire, going from successful late-night TV show host to comedian to author. Not only was she the host of the 2010 MTV Music Awards -- the first female to host since 1994 -- that same year, she also became a three-time bestselling author. And finally, Handler was able to secure a comedy tour based on her books, as icing on the cake.

Handler reminds everyone that there's no limit to what you can do. Always challenge yourself to take the next step or try something new in your career -- you'll never know until you try.

Is your office full of mean girls? You’re not alone

Think about bullies and you probably think about school: movies like “Heathers,” “Mean Girls” and “Revenge of the Nerds,” or the kid on the playground who told you hair bows were for babies or that baseball was better than band camp.

Unfortunately, though, bullying isn’t just a schoolyard problem and — no matter what our parents told us — bullies don’t always grow out of their mean-spirited ways. In fact, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll face “Mean Girls” at some point in your professional life, too.

According to a new CareerBuilder survey on workplace bullying, 27 percent of workers have felt bullied on the job, a problem that is more commonly reported among women (34 percent) than men (22 percent).

Unlike the obvious teasing and taunts of childhood bullies, though, adult antagonizers are often more subtle and passive aggressive in their tactics. Of workers who have been bullied, the following were cited as the most common forms of harassment:

• My comments were dismissed or not acknowledged – 43 percent
• I was falsely accused of mistakes I didn’t make – 40 percent
• I was harshly criticized – 38 percent
• I was forced into doing work that really wasn’t my job – 38 percent
• Different standards and policies were used for me than other workers – 37 percent
• I was given mean looks – 31 percent
• Others gossiped about me – 27 percent
• My boss yelled at me in front of other co-workers – 24 percent
• Belittling comments were made about my work during meetings – 23 percent
• Someone else stole credit for my work – 21 percent

Another difference in adult bullying? Most people are prepared to stick up for themselves. Nearly half of workers who said they’d been bullied also said they’d confronted the person head on, and 28 percent said they took their concerns to human resources.

If you’re facing a bully at work and have yet to confront the issue, take note: “Bullying is a serious offense that can disrupt the work environment, impact morale and lower productivity,” says Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder. “If you are feeling bullied, keep track of what was said or done and who was present. The more specifics you can provide, the stronger the case you can make for yourself when confronting the bully head on or reporting the bully to a company authority.”

7 tips for handling a mean manager

Michelle Ward has worked for a slew of mean managers in her career. One of the most notable, she says, was a bully. "The better you did your work, the more he'd verbally abuse you," she recalls. The second was when she was an assistant to an executive who made her unpack five boxes -- which she had spent all day packing -- so he could have diet orange soda when he came into the office that night.

But Ward, now a career coach, says that dealing with these types of managers came down to one thing: standing up for herself.

"By standing up for myself and/or not engaging, it allowed me to keep my self-confidence up, regardless. It didn't make it an unemotional situation and it didn't make me enjoy working there, but it felt better for me than taking his [abuse]," she says.

When it comes to managers, there are many personality types to deal with -- demanding,  micromanaging, hands-off or even relaxed. But perhaps the worst kind of manager to deal with is one who is downright evil.

Bosses are mean to their employees for many reasons. Don Hurzeler, author of "The Way Up: How to Keep Your Career Moving in the Right Direction," says one is reason is that people imitate the behaviors they experienced early on in their own careers. 

"If someone is new in the business, impressionable and sees their boss manage by intimidation and by being a bully, they may think that is the way to be when they become a boss," he says.

Some mean managers may not be confident in their own abilities to manage, he adds.

"To cover up the fact that they have a poor self-image and poor management communicationskills, they become that mean dictator that no one dare question," he says.

Some mean bosses will tell you that they're nasty because they have high standards, but that's just an excuse, says Kathi Elster, president of K Squared Enterprises, an executive coaching firm, and author of "Working With You Is Killing Me" and "Working for You Isn't Working for Me."

"The real reason that a boss feels they can be mean to their employees is because they are unhappy with their own situation at work. Let's face it, being the boss means that you are in a power position and have control over those who report to you, and it can be tempting to take out your own disappointment on those in a weaker position."

It's important to note, however, that there's a difference between a boss who is perceived as mean because he is tough and a boss who is mean because he is a bully, says Treivor Branch, author of "The Drama-Free Workweek" and CEO of The Branch Solution LLC, a workplace issues and conflict resolution consultancy.

"A bully enjoys belittling and berating employees to cover up their own insecurities. The bully may scream, yell or humiliate employees to make them feel incompetent and fails to recognize or reward good work," he says. "A boss who is simply tough has high standards of excellence, but at the same time recognizes and rewards employees for good work."

Doing good work might be hard in a toxic work environment. While some employees may be able to perform effectively under a mean boss, more will crumble under the consistent pressure of trying to meet the demands of mean, unreasonable boss, Branch says. And that makes for less productivity, which is not good in today's work climate.

"Employees perform best in a happy, healthy work environment. Fewer workers taking on greater responsibilities is already a recipe for disaster. Now, add mean or spiteful bosses; employee stress shoots through the roof, thus impacting their ability to effectively complete even mundane tasks," he says. "Bosses who are mean will eventually experience a decrease in employee commitment, a rise in errors and poor work quality, as well as increased interpersonal conflicts and team dysfunction."

If you have an evil boss, here are seven tips from Branch and Hurzeler:

1. Make the distinction.

"Make sure you have not confused 'demanding" with 'mean.' There are lots of demanding bosses out there, who demand you do the job you are paid to do. If you are not qualified to do that job or cannot do the job for some reason, the problem is actually yours. What might sound mean to you is probably just the facts being placed before you. Suspect yourself and do all you can to deliver as required on your job," Hurzeler says. "If you have delivered on time and as promised, and the boss is still mean to you, sit down and talk to the boss. Maybe you have missed the point of his or her ineffective behavior, or maybe you do have room for improvement. The boss will learn of the negative effect that they are having on you and may work to change his or her ways. If you don't bring up your grievances in a clear and constructive way, nothing will ever change."

2. Take a break.

"Working for a mean or bully boss can be one of the top stressors in the workplace and can cause severe stress-related health problems. In view of this, it is essential for employees to take a stress break when they are confronted with a mean or bully boss. Take time off from work for at least a week and be sure to visit your doctor during this time," Branch says.

3. Don't shut down.

"If you fold up under the pressure of a mean boss, the boss is then given the sword to take you out of the game. The mean boss wins and you lose," Hurzeler says. "Bring your best game to work every single day and you will outlast or win over the mean boss. You win.  Mean loses."

4. Document

"Employees should begin to document the mean boss's behavior. Make note of negative actions taken by the boss and how they are impacting employee productivity. Include details such as dates, times, specifics of the mean boss behavior and employees targeted. Include what attempts, if any, were made by you or other employees to address the situation and the outcome of such interventions," Branch says.

5. Constructively confront

"Meet with the mean boss to address your concerns. Keep your emotions intact. Do not scream, yell or become aggressive. Keep your tone calm and even. Be careful not to point the finger or focus on the individual, but rather seek to understand and resolve any concerns the boss may have which lead to the mean behavior. Ask open-ended questions. Ask how you can better support the boss," Branch says.

6. Report the boss

"Make your human resources department aware of the situation, especially if the situation escalates following your discussion with the boss. Be sure to present your documentation. In addition, you may want to contact an attorney as some of the boss's actions may violate laws regarding hostile work environments and may be eligible for legal action," Branch says.

7. Plan your exit

"The negative impact of working with a mean boss is too great. If you are in a situation where you work for a mean or spiteful boss, plan your exit. Update your résumé and begin circulating it internally and externally," Branch says. "Work your network to learn about unadvertised opportunities in other areas of the company or at another company. No employee should have to work in a mentally, emotionally and, in some instances, physically debilitating environment."

How to Ask for a Raise

By Madeline Vann, MPH Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

Is it time for a step-up in your salary? Even if that rightful raise is long overdue, actually asking for it can be the hardest part. So before you schedule a meeting with your manager, you’ll want to do some research and carefully plan your approach.

Here’s your first step: According to standard career counseling guidelines, it’s important to research the salaries of people who do your job at other organizations. Making this comparison could give you leverage when asking for a salary increase.

RELATED: The Job That Got Away: 10 of Life's Biggest Regrets
So does that mean you should suggest to your boss that you’d be making a better salary somewhere else? Not necessarily, says researcher Hannah Riley Bowles, PhD, an associate professor at the Kennedy School for Business at Harvard University — especially if you’re a woman.

“My research suggests that this type of argument — that you could get a better salary elsewhere — can backfire on women,” says Bowles. On the flipside, she notes: “If a woman is perceived as someone who cares about her organizational relationships, she can likely avoid some of the negative costs of asking for higher pay.”
Factor in a tough economy, and there’s even more need for more strategizing before you talk to the boss.

RELATED: Navigating Life's Most Stressful Events
9 Musts When Prepping for the ‘Big Talk’
Consider these tips to make your argument:

• Put yourself in your boss’s shoes. When you ask for a raise, remember: It shouldn’t only about be about themoney and the reasons you want a pay upgrade. Your boss will want to hear how a raise will motivate you to bring even more to your organization
• 
  
• Get input from a mentor. Your best strategy, says Bowles, is to be able to say, honestly, that someone who is well respected within the organization recommended you ask for a pay increase. “It self-presents you as somebody who has close, positive relationships within the firm. This is not a unilateral threat to go elsewhere,” she says. In addition to backing your request, a mentor could provide other career counseling advice, such as tips for improving your portfolio, or the type of problems that keep your boss up at night — problems that you could help with.
• 
  
• Spotlight your strengths. In addition to highlighting your professional skills, Bowles recommends positioning the negotiation as an asset. Say something like “I hope you’ll see my negotiating as a strength I bring to the job.” Try to signal that you are team-oriented, even when asking for more pay.
• 
  
• Print out your proof. “Bring a manila folder with copies of your resume and letters of reference,” says New York City mediation and relationships expert Laurie Puhn, JD. “It’s a good idea to wait to ask until you have three substantial pieces of evidence that prove your added value to the company. If one of those three things is a current project, then wait for near-completion or a point at which it is clear that your role in the project makes a large, positive difference.”
• Consider the when and the where. Be strategic about the time you choose for your meeting. Says Bowles, “Some people get their raises on the golf course. In other places it’s over coffee or a very standardized thing when you come up for a quarterly review.” Try to find a time when your boss is most likely to be relaxed and able to concentrate on your argument. If your boss has to get approval for any pay increase, you should schedule the initial meeting early in the week, says Puhn. Ask for at least 30 minutes.

RELATED: How to Make Work More Rewarding

• Probe into pay. It’s important to know what other people with your same expertise are making. The challenge for women, says Bowles, is to step outside of their usual network to find out what men (who are often paid more) are making. That’s the comparison point to shoot for.
• 
  
• Lean on your network. A network of professionals can be valuable: If you want honest feedback about what you are asking for or what your boss is offering, share it with a few people in your network.
• 
  
• Be open-minded. Budgets are tight all around, so you should consider some alternative requests for 
• professional advancement if your boss can’t or won’t support a pay increase.“You could ask for a match to your 401K or a paid maternity or paternity leave,” suggests Puhn. Consider asking for your boss’s support to join a specific team within the organization, work on a prized project, choose specific colleagues for your departmental team, or get some additional training in your field or in leadership and management — all of which could strengthen your request for a raise later on. Other possibilities are more flexible scheduling or telecommuting, if your tasks allow these.
• 
  
• Keep calm. Asking for a raise is stressful, but if you are well prepared, you should be able to take a deep breath and get back to your argument and your evidence. If it becomes clear that money is a sticking point, acknowledge that and bring up the other career advancements you have considered. You can also ask for time to consider your boss’s counter-offer before you respond.

Money and Manners: Are You Offensive?

I recently found myself sitting around a pool listening to a complete stranger brag about how he has too much money and too little time to spend it. This conversation went against a rule I was taught as a child: you don’t talk about money and you certainly don’t boast about your own wealth.



Oddly enough, no one else at the table seemed uncomfortable, so I began to wonder if perhaps my thinking is a bit old fashioned. We live in a much more casual society today than the one I was raised in. Perhaps in 2010 it’s okay to discuss topics that were once taboo. I decided to give etiquette expert Peter Post of The Emily Post Institute a call for his opinion.

It turns out my instincts were correct. “Talking about wealth is really crass, especially when it’s done in a one-upmanship sort of way,” Post says. And it’s even more distasteful to discuss money during a recession like the one we are experiencing now, he says.

Avoiding any talk of money, of course, can be difficult. The key is to handle these discussions in an appropriate manner. Here are five sensitive topics and how Post recommends you handle them:

1. Your Salary


The rule. Everyone knows you should never divulge your income unless you’re speaking with a headhunter or spouse. The same guidelines apply to your bonus. And under no circumstances should you ever brag about your compensation package, even if you don’t mention an exact number.

Sometimes, however, you may be put in the uncomfortable position of someone asking you how much you earn. The only appropriate response is “I make enough to get by”, says Post.

2. Real Estate


The rule. Real estate can be tricky. How much money a home trade hands for is recorded in the public record. Still, Post recommends you don’t show off to your neighbors and tell them how much you got for your four bedroom Colonial or how much you spent on your new Tudor. If a neighbor wants to know, he can go down to the local county clerk’s office or look it up online.

If you’re asked how much you got for your home, you should keep the answer vague and just say it went for either below or above your asking price, says Post.

3. Cars


The rule. You never start a conversation by talking about the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan you just purchased. And you certainly don’t mention its sticker price — even if you feel you negotiated a great deal. But if you do own, say, a Ferrari, it’s okay to drive it around town and even to your kid’s school, says Post. The key is to never discuss an automobile’s value, he says.

If asked what you drive, you should simply name the car that sits in your driveway and leave it at that.

4. Public versus Private School


The rule. It’s no secret that private elementary and high schools cost a small fortune. They can also serve as a status symbol for the parents writing the checks. Post, however, feels it’s wrong to name drop your child’s prep school with strangers or to try and impress friends who send their kids to the local public program.
If asked where your kids go to school, you should mention the private school’s name but then follow up with something you like about the curriculum.

5. Your Investment Portfolio


The rule. Your investment portfolio is like your income, you should not divulge its value. Similarly, you should stay away from gloating about money you made during a particular trading session or quarter. You can, however, discuss your investment strategy or even a stock you recently purchased, says Post. Just don’t tell your friends how many shares you bought.

If asked how much your portfolio gained or lost last year, it’s better to deflect the question or answer using a percentage rather than a dollar figure.

In closing, try to remember that bragging about money and wealth is offensive, and even worse, it’s boring, says Post. Better to ask your friends and acquaintances about themselves instead of trying to impress others.

7 Ways To Increase Your Salary Now

In business, it’s all about the Benjamins, right? Certainly, we’re all aware that securing salary increases are essential to career progression, but many of us don’t know how to make it happen. Whether you’re negotiating a new job offer or re-negotiating your salary at a current job, my experts have great ideas about how to earn what you’re worth — ASAP. Because no matter how much you love your job, you’ll struggle to be satisfied if you’re not being paid your market value.
Wait Until You’re Wanted
Particularly after an interview, you need to know they want you before they’ll fight for you (in the form of more money). “Employers don’t like to go back and forth about money any more than an applicant wants to. If they have decided to hire you and you are firm in your statement, you will [most likely] receive the higher salary,” says Monique Tatum, CEO of Beautiful Planning Marketing Group & PR.
Search Salary Info Online
“The internet has changed [negotiating] in that it is way easier to find what comparable salaries are,” says career coach Jack Chapman, author of the recently updated Negotiating Your Salary: How To Make $1000 a Minute. His favorites sites? Salary.com, PayScale.com, Glassdoor.com and Indeed.com. “Once you have that info, you’re able to have a better conversation with your boss. You can make an argument with some facts behind it other than your own individual value,” says Chapman.
Ask For More Time, Then More Money
A day or two will help you figure out what you think of a job offer or re-negotiation number — and what your next move should be. “Ask for at least 24 to 48 hours. Silence is golden when you just let it hang there awhile following an initial offer. Don’t rush to fill the quiet void!” says Meg Montford, career coach and CEO of Abilities Enhanced, a career coaching service.
Lay Out Your Value
If you’ve been at your company for awhile, schedule a meeting separate from your annual review, which can be a hectic time for managers, to discuss your successes and how your salary should reflect that. “Having a solid list of accomplishments showing what you’ve made saved or achieved for the organization helps keep you focused on facts not emotion,” says Carolyn Thompson, author of Ten Secrets To Getting Promoted.
Get Another Offer
This is an oldie but a goodie, says Mary Greenwood, author of How To Interview Like A Pro. Just like with dating, looking desirable to others can make the one you’re with want you more.
Never Let Negotiations End With a “No”
You’ve gotten a job offer or salary increase number that’s lower than what you want, but you hear “the money just isn’t there.” Time to start searching for another opportunity? Not so fast. “Say ‘I don’t know if I can accept it but is there some other way, like time off, or performance bonuses or something else that could make the package worthwhile?’” suggests Chapman. You might even offer to add a few responsibilities in order to increase your worth to the company, or ask about forgoing health insurance if you can buy it elsewhere for less.
Know When To Say When
“Know when it’s no longer in your best interest to keep negotiating and then move on to the next opportunity,” says Montford. If you feel like your company is consistently getting the better end of the deal, they probably are. Eventually, you’ll want to go where you’re valued.

5 secrets to climbing the ladder faster

CEOs and other top execs share tips for getting where you want to be

Sometimes getting from where you are to where you'd like to be careerwise can seem like a daunting task. While time and experience help, other actions can speed the process along. Here, executives in a variety of fields share their tips on how to move up the ladder a bit faster.

Accumulate knowledge

"Knowledge is power," says Linda Matzigkeit, senior vice president of strategic planning and human resources for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "You need to read about your industry, know what people are doing and keep your edge on innovation."

Anthony Leone, founder of Energy Kitchen, a restaurantfranchise based in New York City, agrees. "Learn as much as you possibly can in your chosen field. Become such an asset to your company that the owners tell themselves, 'We cannot live without this person.'" He further suggests asking your boss what skills would most benefit the company, then going out and learning them "to the point that they just roll off your tongue, like your phone number."

Know how to ask questions

Armed with a solid understanding of their field, workers who gain attention are ones who know how to ask appropriate questions.

"Asking good questions is an art," says Elizabeth Sobol,managing director of IMG Artists, North America, which offers management services to performing artists. "I will be much more impressed if you ask me good ones than if you talk over me, trying to show me how much you know."

Employees should not worry that asking questions is a sign of ineptitude. "Do not be afraid to admit that you do not understand something," says Robert Stack, president and CEO of Community Options Inc., a national nonprofit organization that develops homes and employment for people with disabilities. "There is nothing wrong with not knowing; it is not asking or pretending to understand that always seems to have negative ramifications."

Think outside yourself

People who move up quickly are often ones who are good at examining the needs and goals of the company as a whole, not just in their own particular niche. Matzigkeit says that because her field (health care) is very specialized, it is easy to get deep in your own area. "In order to advance and truly identify ways you can have continued impact in an organization, you need to get connected to the big picture. Only then can you develop your skills, broaden your exposure and find ways to apply your transferable skills."

For managers looking to advance, Randy Murphy, president and CEO of the restaurant franchiseMama Fu's Asian House, suggests wandering around. "Have a presence in your store, and always know what is going on with your guests, employees and overall operations." He also notes that ambitious employees should always be looking for their own replacement. "Develop and train those under you so the team overall does better and so that you have a quality replacement to free you up for promotion to the next level."

Give it your all

Of course, one of the best ways to gain notice is to be a solid performer. "If you execute flawlessly, you will have a solid reputation, which will allow you to network into the right circles," says Brian Curin, president of the footwear chain Flip Flop Shops.

"Go beyond the job description," Stack adds. If you feel you are a person who is supposed to help people with disabilities find jobs, Stark suggests you work extra hours and get creative. "If you are supposed to help with fundraising, go out of your way to ask someone you do not know for support. Always be a little early, and always ask you manager what you can do that means a little extra."

Let your passion shine through

Doing all of these things, from learning as much as possible about a field to regularly giving 100 percent, can involve a great deal of time and effort. Some employees will look at these challenges as obstacles to overcome in order to get ahead. Others will view them with enthusiasm because they truly have a passion for their field. Guess who usually moves up faster?

Sobol says that she is impressed by people "who are fascinated by our business and are clearly always trying to learn and understand more about it. It is not hard to glean who is doing it out of genuine interest and who is not, so don't try to fake  it."

For those who lack that passion, maybe it's time to consider looking for a new ladder to climb. The rungs might not seem so hard to navigate when the journey upward is enjoyable.

Operations Manager

An operations manager is responsible for multiple areas within a company, depending on the field and industry. Duties often include data entry, managing accounts payable and receivable, or payroll oversight. However, operations managers can also be responsible for managing an organization's human resources department, creating and managing budgets, and creating forecasts for the company.

The person who takes on this position should have strong management skills and be a big-picture thinker. The operations manager sees the company as a whole, because that person is responsible for the oversight of many facets of the organization. This person does not usually work in one area of the company. Tasks typically change each day, and a variety of them are expected to be completed within a normal day's business hours. Because of this, an operations manager should be focused and goal-oriented and have a keen eye for detail.

Operations managers can be found in nearly every industry, including health care, government and technology. The national average income for an operations manager is $61,688. The health care industry typically pays the most, with an average annual salary of $113,600. Construction and architecture industries usually pay an average annual salary of $73,004. The travel and hospitality industries each offer an average annual salary of $50,802 for operations managers. Many people in this career have a degree in business administration, human resources or even operations management.

Research shows that operations managers' incomes increase with their level of education. For example, the national average for an operations manager with a two-year degree is $55,648. That average increases to $77,062 with a master's degree. There are many certifications available that can increase a candidate's value, including the following: Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) by APICS; Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) by APICS; CIAC-Certified Operations Manager (CCOM) by CIAC; Six Sigma green, black or master black belt certification; Lean certification and Production-Planning & Manufacturing certification by SAP; and Logistics Execution & Warehouse Management certification by SAP.

Experience is important in this field, but education is even more essential. An operations manager will make approximately $54,270 with two to five years of experience, and $69,580 with 21-plus years' experience. The career path for an operations manager can start with the following positions: assistant manager, warehouse supervisor, office manager, production supervisor, operations supervisor or warehouse manager. Once people have served in a combination of any of these roles, they have a good chance of being promoted to an operations manager. Once experience is gained in this field, likely advanced titles can include general manager, director of operations, operations consultant, senior operations manager, vice president of operations, or plant manager.

The role of the operations manager is key to many businesses across many industries. For those with a drive for success and an interest in expanding their education, the career path of an operations manager is a valued one.

Degrees That Are Good Investments

Get a degree that will give you a great return on your educational investment - with growth opportunity, job satisfaction, and financial reward.

By Yahoo! Education Staff

If you bought a stock or made an investment, you would expect a certain rate of return on your money. Right?

A degree is no different. When you invest in your education, you want to be paid back for your time and money with a good job - and a good paycheck.

Will your degree keep on giving?

Read on to discover six degrees that keep on giving - in terms of mid-career salary gains - long after you've gotten that diploma.

Degree #1 - Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration

Are you a natural leader? A degree in business administration can hone your communication, decision-making, and problem-solving skills and prepare you as a manager and team-builder. It can also open the doors to a variety of fields and opportunities - many of which pay quite well. From marketing to health care to public relations, employers need people with a good foundation in business administration to fill all kinds of positions.

[Find schools that offer Business Administration degree programs]

How it Keeps Giving: According to PayScale's 2010-2011 College Salary Report, the average starting salary for people with business degrees is $41,100. Mid-career salaries for people with business degrees average at $70,600. If you earned the average mid-salary career, you might be making almost $30,000 more per year than your starting salary. Not a bad return on your educational investment.

Related Careers & Salaries:
Public Relations Specialist: $51,000 
Corporate Finance Analyst: $73,150
Elementary or Secondary School Administrator: $83,000
Human Resource Manager: $96,000
Marketing Manager: $105,000

[Search for Business schools now]

Degree #2 - Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Administration

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, few industries in the world are expanding as quickly as health care. Want a degree that will prepare you for this fast-growing field? With a degree in health care administration, you'll be able to use your honest desire to help others to provide patients with a positive health care experience - and make a good living doing it.

[Find schools that offer Health Care Administration degree programs]

How it Keeps Giving: According to PayScale, the average starting salary for people with health care administration degrees is $37,700, and mid-career salaries average at $60,800. That's an extra $23,100 per year (on average) you could take to the bank in your mid-career years.

Related Careers & Salaries:
Medical Office Assistant: $28,300
Health Information Technician: $30,610
Health Benefits Specialist: $53,860
Assistant Hospital Manager: $80,240

[Search for Health Care Administration schools now]

Degree #3 - Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies

Intrigued by the legal world but not interested in going through law school? A degree in paralegal studiescan let you enjoy the satisfaction of being part of the legal system without the three years of law school training. According to the Department of Labor, paralegals are gaining new responsibilities in legal offices and now perform many of the same tasks as lawyers.

[Find schools that offer Paralegal degree programs]

How it Keeps Giving: According to PayScale, the average starting salary for people with paralegal studies degrees is $35,100, and mid-career salaries average $51,300.

Related Careers & Salaries:
Paralegal for Employment Services: $50,050
Paralegal for Insurance Carriers: $52,200
Paralegal for the Federal Executive Branch: $58,540

[Search for Paralegal schools now]

Degree #4 - Bachelor's Degree in Finance

Are you fascinated by the world of securities, investing, or personal finance? A degree in finance can prepare you for a number of jobs from stockbroker to auditor to financial advisor. Jobs in finance can be both personally satisfying - helping people plan for retirement, for example - and financially rewarding.

[Find schools that offer Finance degree programs]

How it Keeps Giving: According to the PayScale report, the average starting salary for people with finance degrees is $47,500 per year, and mid-career salaries average at a sizable $91,500 per year. It doesn't take a finance degree to figure out that those are pretty good returns.

Related Careers & Salaries:
Mortgage Sales Associate: $40,150
Loan Officer: $54,700
Auditor: $59,430
Stock Broker: $68,680
Financial Advisor: $69,050

[Search for Finance schools now]

Degree #5 - Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is listed as number 9 on CNN Money's top 100 "Best Jobs In America." Why? If you earned a degree in accounting, you might become one of the CPAs needed in every sector of the economy - from government to private business to non-profit organizations - to make sense of the current economic turmoil and help businesses run smoothly.

[Find schools that offer Accounting degree programs]

How it Keeps Giving: According to PayScale, the average starting salary for people with accounting degrees is $44,600, and mid-career salaries average at $77,500. That means if you made the average salary, for every year you work mid-career you may be able to bring home another $33,100 on top of your starting salary. That's almost like having another breadwinner in your family.

Related Careers & Salaries:
Bookkeeper: $32,510
Staff Accountant: $59,430
Financial Analyst: $73,150

[Search for Accounting schools now]

Degree #6 - Bachelor's Degree in Marketing

Are you the kind of person who loves persuading and motivating people? Are you in touch with what consumers want? A degree in marketing can prepare you for a fun and satisfying career in marketing or advertising creating campaigns and energizing the public.

[Find schools that offer Marketing degree programs]

How it Keeps Giving: According to the 2010-2011 PayScale report, the average starting salary for people with marketing degrees is $38,600, and mid-career salaries average at $77,300. You can do the math: the average mid-career salary is $38,700 more per year than the average starting salary.

Related Careers & Salaries*:
Marketing Coordinator: $32,261 - $44,819*
Meeting and Convention Planner: $44,260 
Marketing Specialist: $35,426 - $51,999*
Marketing Account Manager: $80,220

[Search for Marketing schools now]

Unless otherwise noted, all average salary information is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008.

*Average salary information from PayScale.com, "Salary Snapshot for Marketing Specialist Jobs"

What Would You Change About Your Job?

See how the right degree can help you make the career change you're craving.

By Yahoo! Education Staff

If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be?

• The bad pay?
• The tedium of every boring day?
• The part where you slave away for no perks, promotions, or raises?

If you want to make a change in your career, we can help.

Keep reading to see your career options if you want to change what you make, what you do, and how much you get praised (and paid) to do it.

Do you want to make more money?

If a better paycheck is what you're after, know that some careers just make more than others. Want to upgrade to a career that pays? Consider these options…

• Paralegal. Start a great-paying career in law without going to law school by earning a two-yearassociate's degree in paralegal studies or a one-year certificate. As a paralegal, you'll help lawyers prepare for corporate meetings, hearings, and trials. The average annual salary for paralegals is $46,120, though the top 10 percent can average more than $73,450 a year.

[Click here to find Paralegal schools and training programs]

• Accountant. Accountants make their living by managing money - both for individuals and companies. Sound like your type of job? Most accountants need at least bachelor's degree in a subject like accounting or finance. The average annual salary of accountants is $59,430. The top 10 percent can average more than $102,380 a year. Now that's a pretty paycheck.

[Start training for a better-paying career. Find Paralegal and Accounting schools now!]

Do you want to jump-start a new career fast?

If the one thing you hate about your job is - well...your job - odds are you can't wait to get out. You'll want to look into jobs that require a short stint of training. A good place to look is health care. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the country.

• Medical Assistant. With as little as one year of training in a certificate program, you could land a new career as a medical assistant. You may schedule appointments, take medical histories, and even record patient's vital signs. Medical assistants have an average annual salary of $28,300. The top ten percent can average more than $39,570 per year.

[Find quick Medical Assistant career training programs]

• Medical Biller and Coder. Medical billing and coding is another fast-growing field you can get into quickly. As a medical biller and coder, you may work in hospitals or doctor's offices, assigning codes to each diagnosis and procedure to ensure doctors are reimbursed for their services. A certificate should take you about a year to earn. The average annual salary for medical billers and coders is $30,610. The highest 10 percent can average more than $50,060 per year.

[Find a Medical Billing and Coding school near you now]

Do you want to get promoted?

Tired of getting passed over for promotions? Your education (or lack of higher education) may be what's keeping you low on the totem pole. While it's true that you can get a job with an associate's degree, there are some instances where a higher degree is necessary.

Here are a few ideas for additional training that might help you secure that next promotion:

• Master's of Business Administration. If you want a promotion, earning an MBA may be one of the smartest moves you make. That's because MBA degree programs teach you critical thinking skills to help you identify business opportunities and offer solutions to corporate and organizational problems. With an MBA (on top of a bachelor's), you can qualify for a wide range of management level jobs. The average starting salary for MBA grads is $78,820 per year.

[Find MBA schools and degree programs now]

• Health Care Administration. As a health care administrator and manager you'll help plan, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health care at your facility. Consider earning your bachelor's or master's degree in health care administration to get in on this booming field. The average annual salary for health care administrators is $80,240. The highest 10 percent can average more than $137,800 per year.

[Search for Health Care Administration schools now]

• Computer and Information Systems. If you're technically savvy and ready to move into management, studying computer and information systems might be the way to go. You'll need at least a bachelor's degree for a management position, though some employers prefer a graduate degree. Computer and information systems managers have an average annual salary of $112,210.

[Find IT and Information Systems schools and degree programs now]

Starting salary for MBA grads comes from a 2010 study by the Graduate Management Admission Council. All other salary information is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008.