What can ants teach us about our own corporate ladder?
Jeremy Hobson May 2, 2013
A new study out of Switzerland finds carpenter ant colonies have some startling similarities with the structure of our own corporate ladder.
The most common job in the U.S.
Sarah Gardner Apr 1, 2013
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has calculated the most and least common jobs in the country.
This loan costs 5% of your salary... for the next decade
Ilya Marritz Mar 14, 2013
Young go-getters can get funding to pursue their dream careers through a startup called Pave. The catch? Prospects agree to fork over about five percent of their income for the following 10 years.
How your friends affect your job prospects
Stacey Vanek Smith Feb 18, 2013
A new book charts the connection between your career and the friends you keep.
The economics of 'having it all'
Diane Lim Rogers Jul 13, 2012
Some women feel the pressure to have both a successful career and home life. But one mom applies her economist smarts to prove that having it all may actually be unsatisfying.
The price of staying en pointe
Stacey Vanek Smith May 24, 2012
It's not just blood, sweat and tears that makes a prima ballerina. It takes a lot of money to take center stage too.
Young women value high-paying careers more than men
David Brancaccio Apr 20, 2012
A new Pew Research study finds that priorities for young women have changed. Women aged 18-34 now surpass young men in the importance they place on having a high-paying career.
A career poised for take-off
Chris Farrell Feb 24, 2012
I have been out of college for just over a year now and am waiting to be hired by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as an air traffic controller (a 2 to 3 year process, on average). I was lucky with scholarships and waivers and have about $20,000 in student loans (all federally subsidized) and am currently on a standard payment plan for a 10-year repayment period. I have enough saved up in CDs, money market accounts, savings and mutual funds that could pay off all of the loans but only leave me with about $5,000 left over to deal with any "unplanned" expenses (I have no credit card debt and a full-time job with a major airline). Is it smart to get rid of all of my debt immediately but be left with little to fall back on? Should I pay off half of the loan and repay the rest over time? Michael, Minneapolis, MN
Weighing the price of a graduate degree
Chris Farrell Feb 7, 2012
It is time for potential graduate students to hear back from schools. I was accepted to two top-rate, out-of-state schools and will likely get into an unranked in-state school. I compared the cost of out-of-state schools to the in-state school; the difference (over the 10-year repayment period) exceeds $55,000! All graduates have to pass a standardized national exam to be licensed, and all graduates in my field are employed. Is the difference in quality and reputation worth the extra debt? Will my starting salary be affected, and how important is that over the course of my career? Jordan, Raleigh, NC
A law degree and student loans
Chris Farrell Dec 28, 2011
I have both private and federal student loans from undergrad and law school... I was wondering if you have any advice as to how best to manage this debt? I'm 28 and single so my financial obligations are otherwise relatively minimal for now, but due to my debt-to-income ratio, I've been unable to really lay away much in the way of personal savings in the 3+ years I've been out of school, let alone start saving for retirement. I'd really appreciate any advice you might be able to give to someone in my situation. Thank you! Kira, New York, NY
