Career and negotiation

Pay gaps compound from the first offer, so the career skills that matter most are the ones people feel awkward about: negotiating, asking for a raise, keeping a record of your wins, and making sure your ideas stay attached to your name in a meeting.

This category gives you scripts and preparation, not pep talks. It covers negotiating a new salary, asking for a raise with an evidence file, keeping a brag document, handling interruptions, getting credit for your ideas, proposing flexible work in writing, choosing and preparing references, resigning well, returning after a career break, finding a mentor or sponsor, preparing for an interview, and starting a side income safely.

Where a situation turns into a legal question, such as discrimination, retaliation or an unpaid wage, the guides say so and point you to an employment lawyer or your state labor office. Side income pages point to a tax professional for filing questions. Everything else here you can practice this week.