June 8, 2003

Meager raises

In this weak economy it's good to have a job, no doubt about it. Still, if you have a job, it's not likely you're seeing a bigger paycheck these days.

In an income survey of 170 white-collar professionals, half said they received no raise with their last performance review. Of that group, 54 percent said the company's financial state was the reason, and a third blamed the overall sluggish state of affairs.

Of those who did get more money, about one in four said the raise was smaller than they expected.

The lack of income growth has also affected savings levels, with 70 percent of workers saying their 401(k) contributions have either stayed the same or decreased.

Nearly a quarter, 24 percent, said they have ended their 401(k) contributions. Only 2 percent are putting in more these days.

The survey was conducted last month by TrueCareers Inc., a career search site based in Reston, Va.

Drinking and driving

What's the must-have feature car buyers demand? A place for their beverage.

More than half of people in a Yahoo! Autos survey said they wouldn't buy a car without cup holders. Another third said mirrored visors were mandatory for them. Of that group, 35 percent were women and 24 percent were men.

As for snazzy but expensive options, global positioning satellite systems were the top choice. A fifth of the 2,137 people in the poll said they would spend an extra $100 monthly for a GPS navigation system. Eighteen percent said they wanted leather seats and 11 percent said voice-activated controls were important.

The online survey was conducted in mid-May by Harris Interactive.

Job vitality

It's no secret to the jobless how difficult it is to find a new position, with the average U.S. worker's job search now more than four months.

But you can do more during that interim than just mail resumes and fret, according to Management Recruiters International Inc., a Cleveland-based talent-recruitment firm. Their tips:

•Return to school. It's wise to maximize any advantage you can gain over competing job applicants.

•Consider switching industries. This remains one of the tried-and-true methods of landing a new job - align your search with those fields needing workers.

•Accept a temporary position. These can often lead to a permanent position, and it can give you a prime opportunity to demonstrate your skills to the employer.

•Volunteer. You have the time, it keeps you busy, helps your community and can be an important addition to your resume. Plus, it can be a great way to network, MRI noted.

"There are ways to fill in the gaps that could make a prospective employer take notice," said Allen Salikoff, MRI's president and chief executive.

- The Associated Press