10 Job-Satisfaction Factors

Considering leaving a job? Weigh these factors before making your decision.

by Gina Cappiello, www.123Movers.com

If you can't decide whether to stick with a so-so job or make a jump to another employer, consider these 10 job benefits before making a decision. You may find that your current job isn't as bad as you originally thought:

Pay: Compare what you're being paid now with what other people across the country are being paid in the same role. You could already be making more than the average person doing the same job.

Coworkers: Having a great crew around you for eight (or more) hours a day can make any job more tolerable. Are you willing to sacrifice your partners in crime for another gig with an uncertain work climate?

Location: Is your office located in a great little neighborhood or in a drab office park? Consider your office's physical location before moving elsewhere for work.

Commute Consider the cost of getting to work now against commuting to work elsewhere. Would you be saving or losing time or money in the long run? Also, decide whether moving for a new job (or closer to your current job) would make your life easier.

Dress code: Don't take your dress code for granted. A new job may mean a change in your daily attire. Are you willing to give up your jeans for three-piece suits (or vice versa)?

Benefits: Employers' benefit packages vary widely. Consider the health benefits, 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement, and vacation time you'd have to sacrifice in order to jump to a new job.

The economy: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate has been holding steady at 9.7 percent in recent months. This can make finding a new job (and keeping it) difficult. If you're already in a safe spot, you may want to stick around to avoid unemployment troubles.

Superiors: A good boss is hard to find. If you're happy with how your boss treats you, you may want to stay where you are--you might not be as lucky at your next job!

Growth: Does your job foster growth or stifle it? A good employer encourages employees to learn, will let you grow with the company, and truly promotes from within.

On-the-job experiene: If you're gaining experience and know-how in your industry just by going to work every day, you might not want to give that up. If you do decide to move to a new job, make sure you have a plan for how you'll consider to develop in your career.

The next time you're considering leaving a job, look to this list--so you can make an informed decision.

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7 Great Jobs for Working with Your Hands

by Carol Tice, PayScale.com

Does your knee bounce when you're stuck at a desk? Do you need to be able to move around? For people who aren't cut out for cubicle life, there are plenty of great gigs that let you work with your hands.

And working with your hands doesn't mean you'll get a small paycheck. If you're interested in a hands-on job, here are seven lucrative options in a range of industries:

Mechanical engineer ($72,884)
Do you enjoy tinkering with malfunctioning machinery? You could turn that knack into a well-paid career developing or repairing everything from steam turbines to internal combustion engines. With electronics increasingly part of machines, from electric generators to air-conditioners, this field has even better-paying opportunities for specialists who can combine mechanical skills with an aptitude for electronics, says John Gaal, a vice president at the Association for Career and Technical Education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS) most, but not all, mechanical engineers have four-year degrees.

Elevator mechanic ($62,204)
Most of the work with elevators is on the repair side right now, as building owners keep older elevators running to avoid making new purchases, according to Gaal. But look for installation work to pick up when the economy improves. Most workers enter the field through a four-year apprenticeship program.

Power-plant operator ($61,014)
Though there aren't a lot of new electric power plants being built, the BLS reports that many workers are nearing retirement age, so the job outlook is still good. Workers repair and operate boilers, turbines, generators, and other plant equipment. Some enter the field straight out of high school, according to the BLS, but most applicants have a two-year vocational degree. Several years of on-the-job training are required to become fully qualified.

Pipefitter ($57,277)
Usually better paid than plumbers, pipefitters wrestle with high-pressure pipe systems such as those used in large buildings' heating and cooling systems. Apprenticeship is the most common route into the job, says Gaal.

Sheet-metal worker ($52,829)
Gaal says there's work for sheet-metal workers because of the need for metalwork in clean-energy power-generation machines such as wind turbines. Federal stimulus funding is keeping these projects going straight through the economic downturn. Job descriptions in fields including sheet-metal work, carpentry, electrical work, and plumbing are being redefined as new products and techniques are developed to meet demand for more energy efficient buildings.

"Trades in green building are where the higher-paying jobs are now, and where the work is," Gaal says.

Wind-turbine technician ($48,990)
Speaking of the green revolution, there are many opportunities in manufacturing, installing, and maintaining clean-energy devices such as towering wind turbines. Two-year vocational degrees in the field are being offered by a growing number of institutions.

"Wind energy is big, especially if you're in California," says Amit Singh, director of operations at the national temporary-labor placement chain Labor Finders.

Auto painting ($47,666)
Add a little specialized skill to the painting trade, and you get a job that can be creative and fun, especially if you like cars, says Singh. For many people, this occupation has been elevated to a well-respected art form in recent years thanks to reality show "Pimp My Ride." Vocational training gets workers into the field, and that's usually followed by two years of work experience leading to certification by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence.

Business writer Carol Tice is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur, The Seattle Times and other major publications.

Source: All salary data is from PayScale.com. The salaries listed are median, annual salaries for full-time workers with five to eight years of experience and include any bonuses, commissions or profit sharing.

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8 Mistakes to Avoid in Your First "Real" Job

What not to do when entering the professional workforce, for new grads (and everyone else)

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs

You've graduated from college and landed a job in a tough economy. Congratulations! But now the real work begins.

To make your first job a stepping stone and not a dead end, try to avoid these pitfalls:

1. Being impatient
You want to start making a meaningful contribution on your very first day--but there's a fine line between taking the initiative and appearing presumptuous.

"The first thing I would suggest is not to go in guns a-blazing and insist on making your mark right away," says Alexandra Levit, the author of "They Don't Teach Corporate in College." "Pay attention to how things are done, how other people bring up ideas."

Once you have a feel for how the business works, give your boss some ideas for improvement and ask for feedback.

2. Being too patient
Just as you shouldn't arrive at your first department meeting with a list of suggested changes, neither should you spend your first month sitting in your cubicle and waiting for your new coworkers to introduce themselves.

Instead, get to know your coworkers and their jobs. "Don't get a bad attitude because people aren't paying attention to you," Levit says.

3. Using technology inappropriately
Whether it's OK to text during a business meeting or post to Facebook from your desk will depend on the company culture.

Levit advises paying attention to what everyone else is doing. Do colleagues use email or instant messages? Is it OK to use your laptop during a meeting? Or to listen to your iPod while you work? "Every workplace is different," she says.

4. Making a bad first impression
From your dress to your handshake, people will form opinions of you early on. "Be very mindful of how you act when you meet people for the first time," Levit says.

Make a special effort to remember people's names and something about them. Don't take two-hour lunch breaks, even if you don't have much work to do yet. And watch your colleagues for signs that it's quitting time. "You should never be the first one out the door or the last one," Levit says.

5. Not discussing your goals with your boss
You should find out what your boss is hoping you'll accomplish in your first 90 days. "Touch base with your manager on a regular basis," says Peter Jacobs, a career consultant and coach. "Make sure everybody is still on the same page."

6. Not understanding your boss
Your boss may not like to communicate the same way you do--and it's important for you to match your boss's preferences. Jacobs says you should ask yourself, "How does the person like to receive information? How often?"

7. Going it alone
Your boss is a great resource, but to build a strong career you'll need advice from more than one source. "Look for people who might be good mentors and sounding boards as you progress and develop," Jacobs says.

8. Not appreciating it
Your job may not be "the be-all and end-all of career stardom," Levit says, but you can view it as an opportunity to gain new skills, learn about the business world, and make valuable networking contacts.

"You might as well enjoy the time to take care of yourself and learn as much as possible, because you won't have that time forever," she adds.

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Best-Paying Jobs For Women

Women's earnings are stalled at around 80% of men's, but more women are seeking out jobs that pay them the most.

by Jenna Goudreau, Forbes.com

What happens when women make up half of the workforce and are more likely than ever before to be important breadwinners in their families? It becomes increasingly crucial for women to earn top dollar for their labor.

To rank the 10 best-paying jobs for women, we tabulated the median weekly earnings of female full-time wage and salary workers in 2009, as provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Men are still earning more across industries--about 20 percent more than women per week--but women are quickly closing the gap. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a slim majority (51 percent) of workers in high-paying management and professional jobs are female.

This top-10 list is equal parts a lesson in the importance of math and science skills, a showcase for the obvious (top picks include doctors and lawyers), a reinterpretation of "women's work," and an attempt to forecast the high-paying jobs of the future. Highlights of the list include:

Number 1: Chief executive
Chief executive is the the top-paying job for women. Female chief executives made a median salary of $1,553 per week, or about $81,000, in 2009. However, their total numbers are still low, and they aren't earning as much as men. Women comprise just a quarter of all chief executives and earn 75 percent as much as their male peers. But younger women may be moving into business more than previous generations. In 2007, women received 44 percent of all MBAs. according to the U.S. Department of Education, while in 1997 they earned 39 percent--a 75 percent increase in the last 10 years.

"Chief executives will remain well paid in years to come, and it's a position you can work your way into," says Al Lee, director of quantitative analysis for PayScale, an online provider of employee compensation data. "Becoming a CEO might be easier than becoming a doctor. You can be a CEO at age 35, when a doctor is just getting done with training."

Number 2: Pharmacist
As with last year, a career in pharmacy was a top contender. Pharmacist placed second on our list--above lawyers (number 3) and physicians and surgeons (number 6). Female pharmacists earned a median of $1,475 per week and about $76,500 per year. Women now hold almost half of pharmacist positions and are flocking to the field--with good reason. The BLS expects the field to expand faster than most, with pharmacist positions projected to increase 17 percent by 2018.

Confused by why physicians and surgeons rank lower than pharmacists? Lee believes it's because the category is so large. It includes neurosurgeons as well as interns and residents, who make drastically less. Furthermore, there is a broad array of specialties. Women often choose the lower-paying specialties like family practice and pediatrics, he says, which brings down the pay average.

Number 7: Computer programmer
Computer programmer, a new addition to the list, came in at number 7. Women constitute only 21 percent of the field but earn close to what men earn. Female computer programmers earn a median salary of $62,000 a year, and those in the top 10 percent of the field make a median salary of $111,000. Some other upsides of the job: Most programmers work standard 40-hour weeks, and telecommuting is becoming more common. Plus, employers typically require only a bachelor's degree, and this is particularly appealing to women who want high earnings without the educational investment required by fields like medicine or law.

Number 10: Occupational therapist
A surprising new entrant, occupational therapist, came in at number 10. This is the only profession on the list dominated by women, who hold 82 percent of all positions. It's also the only field in which women earn the same as men. Occupational therapists typically have a master's degree or higher and earn $1,155 a week, or a median salary of $60,000 per year. They help patients recover or improve basic motor skills so they can perform daily tasks like dressing, cooking, and eating. And it's an in-demand job--employment is expected to grow 26 percent by 2018, with another 26,000 positions created.

The bottom of the list
The lowest-paying jobs for women were concentrated in the service industry. Launders and dry cleaners ($362 per week), food servers ($363 per week), child-care workers ($364 per week), and maids ($371 per week) were not only the lowest-paying jobs; they were predominantly filled by women.

PayScale's Lee says technical and in-demand fields are women's best bet for earning good money. "There are lots of women out there who could be in these fields, but if women decide to teach math instead of going into computer programming, they've left money on the table."

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Be the One Who Gets the Promotion

Tips for people who want to put their careers on fast-forward

by Susan Adams, Forbes.com

Donald Asher has spent his career helping people get ahead. The author of 10 books, including "Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't, and Why," Asher, 52, travels the globe talking to colleges, universities, and MBA programs about career development. He also works as a career coach for executives who make at least $200,000 a year. Asher's specialty: employees who want to put themselves on the fast track, which means a promotion every 18 months.

After 30 years counseling clients on how to get promoted, Asher has formed a few contrarian ideas. "Most people think that a promotion is a reward," he observes. Not so, he maintains. "People get promoted because their bosses believe they will succeed in the next assignment." The tricks to moving up fast, says Asher: skill set and timing.

Prepare your replacement
It also helps to nurture skilled lieutenants who can take over your job when you move up the ladder. Companies have an institutional bias toward hiring from the outside, because promoting from within produces two staffing changes, he points out. If you've trained the perfect candidate to step into your position, then your bosses will be more likely to pick you for a promotion.

This may seem counterintuitive, but Asher counsels workers not to make themselves indispensable in their current jobs. If your bosses can't do without you, how will they move you into another job?

Keep your ears open
Good timing is also essential. For instance, if you know that your company is getting ready to open an office in Las Vegas, you might wrap up the project you're working on in time to put yourself forward as the prime candidate to head that new outpost.

Asher tells the story of a woman who worked in the human resources department of a major company. She thought her career was looking up when she received a critical assignment to help the company move its headquarters. But in the middle of the headquarters relocation, she learned that her employer was opening its first-ever office in Asia. That would have been the ideal chance for her to shift into a high-profile overseas assignment. But she was too burdened by the headquarters move to throw her hat into the ring for the Asian job.

Company intelligence is worth its weight in gold, says Asher. If the HR professional had known about the Asian plans, she might have been able to delegate or even pass the headquarters assignment off to a colleague. Asher advises going even further. He suggests the HR manager could have scheduled a vacation to the region and started language courses.

Use "Trojan horse" compliments
Asher counsels clients they should never go over their direct supervisors' heads, unless they do it by paying their boss a compliment. "Praise is a Trojan horse for information," he says. As an underling, you can send a message about yourself to senior bosses, in the form of kudos for your supervisor. Example: You and your boss return from a trade show in Chicago and you write a quick, enthusiastic note to the top brass saying how much you learned at the show, mentioning that your boss did great and you accomplished your goals and more.

Accept all promotions
If you're offered a promotion within your company, always take it, advises Asher. If you don't, you will run afoul of the unwritten rule that if you turn down a promotion offer, you will not get another.

And be willing to relocate. "You have to move to get promoted," Asher insists. People working in nice places like San Francisco, New York, or Seattle don't want to leave, he notes. "But if someone says, 'we want you to go to Lower Dusty Nowhere,' and you say, 'I'll pass,' you're really passing up on everything forever." Later in your career, you can be picky about location. "There's a difference between age 28 and 38," says Asher. "If you don't move in the early years, you're losing the opportunity to break out of the pack."

Find a mentor
Another tip from Asher: Attach yourself to a superstar who can give you plum assignments and help you surge ahead. The quintessential example of this is a president in his first term. Obama's cabinet can count on thriving careers in the private sector. George Stephanopoulos rose from obscure congressional staffer to Clinton press secretary to chief political correspondent for ABC News.

Learn new things
It also pays to learn new skills, says Asher, particularly at a time when your economy is in transition. Asher describes an HR professional who saw the recession coming and trained herself in downsizing. As her company laid off workers, she was promoted to help run its downsizing effort.

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6 Careers That End Early

Some people strike it rich, others are forced to retire early in these careers with short life spans.

by Fleur Bradley, Investopedia.com

Are you dreaming of retiring young? Not all careers are designed to last until the golden age of 65--some people get rich and bow out early, while others are forced to pack it in while they're under forty. Whether by choice or not, here are six careers that end young.

1. Investment Banking
Government bailouts, frowned-upon employee bonuses--the financial industry doesn't exactly have the best public image, but the earnings are still substantial. The risk of failure is great, but so are the rewards if you make the right move at the right time: investment bankers make an average of $73,000 a year--a respectable number, but remember that the earning potential has a high ceiling.

Take 31-year-old Fabrice Pierre Tourre (dubbed Fabulous Fab), who saw the housing bust coming and hedged against it. Though questions are now being raised about the legality and morality of these actions, right now he could retire at 31 off his prediction that the housing bubble was about to bust.

2. Acting
You may have heard how top-earning actress Angelina Jolie makes $27 million a year, and that Jennifer Aniston comes in at second place at $25 million--according to Forbes. These paychecks sound great, but Hollywood is a tough employer. Those high earnings are the exception to the rule, and careers can flunk overnight.

Actresses are at particular risk of forced early retirement, since the industry likes its female talent under 40 and wrinkle-free. Still, if you make it big like Ms. Jolie and Ms. Aniston, you'll be able to retire comfortably in your Malibu mansion and let the younger crowd take over while you take in the California sun.

3. Military
The training is brutal; the hours, long; and the deployments, wrenching. But a career in the military can be a great way to ensure an early retirement. Say you joined at 18--you can draw a (modest) retirement when you've served 20 years, at the age of 38.

Medical and education benefits add to the perks. Many military careerists go on to well-paying jobs working for contractors, or continue to build their retirement payout by working as government employees. When you add job security and tax perks, those combat boots start to look pretty tempting.

4. Sports
If you've ever watched a football quarterback take a brutal hit, or watched a baseball player hit that perfect home run, you know the skill to take the heat on the field is rare. Athletes can be paid millions for their talent, like the Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning's rumored $50 million long-term deal, once his current contract expires.

These kinds of paychecks require great commitment, however, and end when the athlete's body no longer performs at optimum--which is most certainly a few decades before the standard retirement age of 65.

5. Modeling
Their beauty is dazzling, but it also fades faster than any other job attribute. To gain success, models often start working during their teens, and are considered at the peak of their careers before they're even legally allowed to drink. Pay can be high for those in couture or with a famous supermodel image, like top-earning Gisele Bundchen, who--according to Forbes--makes $25 million a year.

To earn these types of salaries, models have to snag endorsement deals or branch out into television, like Heidi Klum, number two on the list of top-earning models. Many older models go on to work in fashion or design, or find lucrative endorsement deals, like Cindy Crawford and Christie Brinkley.

6. Dancing
Being a ballet dancer sounds so romantic, but to dance professionally does mean to be young. Often said to be harder than any sport, dancing requires that you be in top physical condition (and keep your weight down), practice, travel and generally be devoted to your profession beyond your average career. To be successful, dancers must start training at a young age, with first professional auditions at the age of 17.

Pay is generally low, with top-earning performers making just over $15 an hour. Dancers often stop performing by their late 30s; some go on to work as choreographers or teachers.

The end of the employment road?
Although these careers have short runs, many who retire from these jobs go on to branch out as consultants or teachers or to do contract work. Some, like famous actors, top athletes, and investment bankers, just strike it rich and can spend their young years spending their fortune--giving us doing the 9-to-5 something to dream about.

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How to Ask Tough Questions at Work

by Caroline M.L. Potter, Yahoo! HotJobs

Sometimes getting what you want (or need) is as simple as asking. But when it comes to work matters, asking isn't always that simple. More than courage, career strategist Cynthia Shapiro believes that you must first build trust at the office--with your boss--before you make any of these requests. "You cannot ask for a raise, a promotion, a better desk or shift, or sometimes even help, without a solid foundation in place. The way you build that foundation is by putting your boss's priorities ahead of your own. Finding out what is most important to him or her and embracing those things are paramount to your success."

Asking for a raise
If you want a raise, you'll likely have to ask for it. But Shapiro advises that you be mindful of exactly why you're asking. "People will ask for a raise because of something that's happened in their personal life. Wrong! Or they'll ask for a raise because they 'deserve it'--also wrong! You need to prove you're worth more to the company."

Shapiro, the author of the bestseller "Corporate Confidential: 50 Secrets Your Company Doesn't Want You to Know," suggests doing homework before you ask. Build your case by justifying the added expense of an increase in payroll. Take note of your accomplishments, your increased workload, and when you've increased revenues or cut expenses. Make sure your request is within salary parameters for your region and your level of expertise.

Then, Shapiro says, "Pick your timing. Wait until the company is feeling flush--when it just got a big new contract or client, or when you just did something wonderful that the company recognized you for."

When you do ask, be direct and stay on your message. Shapiro adds, "You are asking for a raise because you are worth more to the company, not because you want one or generally feel you deserve one."

Asking for a promotion
Asking for a promotion is similar to asking for a raise--but unlike a raise, which you have to ask for, promotions should rarely be directly asked for! Assuming that you've built trust with your boss (that is, the gatekeeper to your success), he or she will view you as an ally, according to Shapiro. And, she says, "Only allies move up. Make it known to your boss that you may be interested in other opportunities that come up."

And even if you have a lot to do, make it look easy: "No one will recommend you for advancement if it looks like you can't handle the work you currently have," Shapiro explains. Volunteering for new duties can also send a signal that you're ready to move to the next level.

Asking for a layoff
If you've heeded Shapiro's advice and established a healthy, respectful bond with your boss, you can probably ask for a layoff and get it. However, she says, "This is the only request that does not require a solid foundation with your gatekeeper. If you really hate your job and have a problem with your boss, you can ask for a layoff, and the boss will most likely give it to you just to get rid of you."

If this is the situation you're in, she recommends, "Let your boss know, confidentially, that you've enjoyed working for the company and the department, but due to a variety of circumstances, you would like to be considered for a layoff if one were to occur."

Leave out the real reasons you want to leave, so you can ensure that your exit occurs on good terms. If you know layoffs are definitely looming, Shapiro says, "You should always let the organization know that you'd volunteer. It will help them make the right decision and may save someone's job."

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Spring-Cleaning for Your Career

Simple maintenance and upkeep tasks help prepare you for change and career advancement.

by Helen Coster, Forbes.com

You've sent your sweaters to summer storage, stashed away your snow boots, and vacuumed up five months' worth of dust under your bed. Your career needs a spring-cleaning, too. Whether you're actively looking for a new job or just willing to jump if the right opportunity comes along, use this season as an occasion to make yourself a better job candidate.

Take stock of your current situation.
Tackle the most intimidating chore first, by designating time to take stock of where you are professionally. Many of us get so caught up in our day-to-day duties that we lose sight of whether we're on the right path to begin with. Do you enjoy going to work every day? Are you stimulated by what you do? Are you making enough to live the way you want and save for the future? Are you pursuing your professional dreams? If not, take steps. "The most effective thing you can do to get to your next job is get a sense of where you should be going," says Win Sheffield, a career coach with the Five O'Clock Club, a career coaching organization. "Many people discount this question, because they assume they're at the whim of the market."

You don't need to figure out your life's purpose or have a laser-focused vision of the future before you can make a move, Sheffield says. "While that kind of focus is great, it's not in most of us." Instead, he recommends, have an open mind about different careers that might satisfy you. Start by developing a sense of what naturally interests you now. What do you read about in your spare time? What are your hobbies? Consider careers that could develop out of those passions. To get the most out of your current job, take on added responsibilities that will challenge you. In mastering new skills, you may discover new things that excite you and give you ideas about what you want to do next.

Clean up your resume.
Next, dust off your resume. Sheffield says that employers look at a resume for an average of 10 seconds, and that people who have worked for less than 10 years should keep theirs to one page. If you've been working longer than that, consider two pages. Replace hackneyed expressions like "strong team player" and "possess organizational skills" with strong, active verbs that demonstrate results.

"An employer hires you to solve his problems," Sheffield says. "The single best indicator that you're right for the job is an example of where you've solved other people's problems."

Whenever possible, use numbers to document your performance. Instead of saying, "Managed a team of three," say, "Managed a team of three employees who interacted with clients and had a 100 percent client-retention rate over two years." Include keywords related to your skills and background, since many big companies use computers to screen resumes for phrases, like "analyst" or "financial modeling." Have a friend double-check your resume for spelling and grammatical errors, and always be honest.

Polish your online presence.
Update your LinkedIn profile. Add links to any websites that showcase your work. Write a summary of your career, including as many keywords as possible. Enlist colleagues to write recommendations. Increase your volume of connections by reaching out to former colleagues. Send a brief personal note with each invitation to link. Flesh out the "Experience" section to include a description of every job you've had.

Sharpen your skills.
Brush up on the latest skills in your profession. Work on your public speaking with an organization like Toastmasters International. Ask your office information-technology guru for a lesson in Excel or PowerPoint. Sign up for a continuing education class. If you have an area of expertise that you can share with others, gain visibility by starting a blog about it.

Strengthen your connections.
Network both inside and outside your organization. The best time to network is when you're not actively searching for a job. "When you're gainfully employed, you're in a position of strength when you meet new people," Sheffield says. "They're not worried that you're going to ask them for a job." Join an alumni organization, and network internally by meeting colleagues for lunch or coffee at least once a week.

De-clutter your calendar.
Clean up your schedule by considering all the things that compete for your time, and decide what to keep and what to discard. If you volunteer with three nonprofit organizations, select the most meaningful one, focus on it and stop giving your divided attention to all three. Focus on the things that are important to you, and ditch the extraneous.

Give yourself a chance to shine.
Lastly, update your "bragalogue," a short, pithy story that incorporates a few bits of information about who you are and what you've done. Think of a few positive things you can say about your work, and be prepared to share them during fly-by encounters with your boss. If you don't already have one, create a journal in which you keep track of your achievements. Every time you accomplish something, add an entry, noting what you did and why it was important. When possible, show how that achievement helped your company. The list will help you make your case for an internal promotion. Or if you've stopped being excited about your accomplishments, that may indicate that it's time for something new.

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