Raises aren’t just about money, they’re about feeling valued by your employer at the place where you likely spend eight hours, five days a week. It’s important. Not sure how to get a raise? Read on.

First of all, know what you’re worth. Know exactly how much people where you live in your field with your experience level are making. That’s what you should be making as well. Look to websites like Payscale, Glassdoor, and Salary.com for some answers. Lots of people are underpaid, but women suffer this fate the most. Most women are less likely to ask for a raise and they’re paid 30 percent less than men on average.

Not sure how to get a raise? Know when to ask for it. Yes, timing is important on a host of levels. For starters, most companies give annual raises either at your start date or after your year in review. Make sure you start asking for a raise long before the decision has been made. Take the economy into account as well.

“It used to be the norm to expect an automatic annual raise, but after the economy took a nosedive, that has become less and less common,” says Alison Green, a former nonprofit chief of staff and author of the Ask a Manager blog, reported on Forbes. “Now you have to ask for more money.”

What’s Your Boss’s Personality?

Have a read on your boss’s personality so you can know when to ask for a raise and how. For example, what part of the day is your manager the most busy? Would they prefer that you be direct? Are they likely to negotiate or is the first number their best offer? Mold your message to their personality type.

Have a list of your accomplishments nearby. Remember that although they may value you as an employee, they’re not in your head so they probably don’t know all the positive things that you’ve been doing. Make sure that you emphasize how your responsibilities have increased so your pay should as well.

Don’t be afraid to ask for other perks that might make your experience at work even more enjoyable than a raise like more vacation, a flexible work schedule, or bonus pay. If you get rejected, ask how you can get a raise in the future and pay attention to the response. If they have no answer to your question, that’s a sign of a bad manager.

Related on EcoSalon:

7 Reasons Why Women Lack Confidence and What To Do About it

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11 Surprising Habits of Debt-Free Women

Image: Vitaly Kalanuik

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Has your cubicle got you comatose? Here are some warning signs that it’s time to launch your conscious career.

Most of us spend more time with our colleagues and bosses than our partners, kids and friends. If that’s not motivation to make sure your job is a good fit, what is? The job you choose can determine how physically and mentally healthy you are, your standard of living, your future prospects and whether you look back at your life at the brink of death and feel like you did your best. Consider these 10 signs that it’s time to quit, and you might just set yourself onto a much more fulfilling path.

Just about any task is better than doing your job.

When you’re at work, you’ll do just about anything to avoid performing the tasks that are assigned to you. You play around on Facebook, browse the internet and organize your vacation photos. In fact, you’re happy to perform menial tasks like taking out the trash and running errands for the boss – anything that will keep you away from your job for another five minutes. In other words, your work is utterly joyless for you.

You’ve got unsolvable issues with management.

There’s almost always going to be a certain amount of friction between workers and management; that’s just the way of the world. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try to diffuse it, conflicts with your higher-ups can jeopardize your career well into the future. First, make sure that it isn’t all your Facebooking, those lunchtime cocktails or any other performance or behavior issues that are causing the problem. Then, talk to your boss’ boss. If that doesn’t work, think about moving on. Sometimes, it’s just not a good fit.

Your company is on a downward spiral.

There have been layoffs left and right, and the company has been reorganized and consolidated so many times it’s hardly recognizable. Things are so tight, they’ve asked white-collar workers to start delivering packages and vacuuming their own cubicles. This ship is probably going down, and even if the company manages to hang on, your position could be eliminated at any time. Don’t be caught by surprise. Start researching new jobs right now.

Your skills aren’t valued.

You feel like you’ve got a lot to offer, and your company just isn’t using you to your full potential. Not only are you rarely challenged, but you’re marginalized. Maybe you’re not being included in important meetings, or you’ve been passed over for a promotion. If your job doesn’t let you flex, you won’t be able to build more skills and grow professionally.

You’re stuck in a dead end.

You haven’t gotten very far in your company, but the growth has stopped, and it doesn’t look like things will be getting better any time soon. There are no opportunities to move up, and no opportunities for higher pay. Unless you can come to grips with the fact that you might remain stagnant for the rest of your career, you should explore options that can take you higher.

You dread going to work.

It’s Sunday night and your stomach is a ball of lead. The absolute last thing you want to do tomorrow morning is get up and go to work. Maybe your anxiety is so bad, you have a hard time enjoying your weekends because you just can’t stop thinking about Monday morning. When you hate your job this much, you’re not doing yourself or your employers any favors by staying on.

You’re simply bored.

Maybe work is not so bad, but you can’t muster much enthusiasm about it. You definitely don’t feel passionate about what you do – it’s just work. This is reality for a lot of people, and in a poor economy, it’s probably not enough reason on its own to quit your job. But take this opportunity to imagine what kind of job would make you truly happy. What would you rather be doing right at this moment? Running a food truck, starting a dog grooming business or growing exotic orchids could certainly be a viable business. Your dream might be more achievable than you think.

You can’t pay your bills.

On the other hand, some people quit well-paying jobs with the hopes of following their dreams only to find that surviving on their new pay is practically impossible. If you truly love what you’re doing, make it work. That might mean downsizing your lifestyle so that you don’t require as much money to pay the bills. But if you’re working to exhaustion every day and still stressing about your paltry paychecks, it’s probably not worth it.

It’s affecting your health.

Speaking of stress, it can really do some cruel and horrifying things to your body and your mind, putting you at increased risk for heart attacks, respiratory disorders and hormonal imbalances. It can cause tension headaches, nerve pain, irritability, joint pain, ulcers and depression. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice your well-being for your job. If you lie in bed every morning wishing you could call in sick yet again, perhaps this gig is not for you.

It’s affecting your personal life.

You’d love to go out for drinks with friends, catch up with that cute guy that always flirts with you at the gym or attend your daughter’s dance recital, but you can’t. You’ve got to go to work. Some people aren’t bothered by 80-hour work weeks, and everybody has to decide for themselves what level of personal sacrifice they find acceptable. But being miserable because your job is keeping you from enjoying your life? Not okay.

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Photo: Rachael Voorhees, Ana Patricia Alameida, EpSos.de, whatmegsaid

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And so it goes for women determined to prove that in the historic struggle for equality and a lighter laundry load, the second sex has come out on top, resulting in unprecedented role reversals – giving women an edge in educating, managing and thriving. Are females simply better designed to rule a postindustrial society?

That’s the question posed in a recent article in The Atlantic called “The End of Men”, which maps out the makings of a powerful society of fierce, hard hat toting Amazons taking over as the dominant sex “with shocking speed.” It’s no wonder, we are told, that the ratio of couples requesting girl babies at sperm banks is 2 to 1, a sign that we are looking to daughters as the future. Is China listening?

The piece tells us to look at the job numbers: In early 2010, women were the majority of the workforce for the first time in US history; there will be three women for every two men earning a college degree this year; and most managers are now women. In studying various entities like corporations, governments and professions such as medicine and the law, it seems to follow that those promoting women are the savvy, progressive and prolific. They are investing in the future and the future is brains, creativity and empathy over good old boy networking and brawn.

As Atlantic author, Hanna Rosin, puts it: “Feminism has pushed women to do things once considered against their nature – first enter the workforce as singles, then continue to work while married, then work even with small children at home. Many professions that started out as the province of men are now filled mostly with women – secretary and teacher come to mind. Yet, I’m not aware of any that have gone the opposite way. Nursing schools have tried hard to recruit men in the past few years with minimal success. Teaching schools, eager to recruit male role models, are having a similarly hard time. The range of acceptable masculine roles has changed comparatively little, and has perhaps even narrowed as men shied away from some careers women have entered.”

In probing the trend of a generation of males who lag behind, especially during a recession that is leaving them unemployed and in failed marriages, Rosin points to the observations of Jessica Grose, who wrote in Slate about Omega Males and the Women Who Hate Them: “Men are still tragically unable to retool. The image of the American woman has gone through several upheavals since the 1950s, but the masculine ideal seems fixed in cultural aspic.”

While the numbers might prove women have a greater propensity for reinvention and growth of all kinds, they don’t signal that men are becoming obsolete, which is yet another damning myth that goes further to divide rather than unite the species. Sure, the ones from Mars still rule countries and make decisions to go to war, to pad the pockets of corporations, to rape both sexes, and to make weapons widely available to the wrong people.

But it doesn’t mean there aren’t good men out there. It doesn’t mean we don’t love our husbands and our sons, our brothers and first cousins. Meantime, it is widely argued that there are plenty of women who emulate bad male behavior, and they are just as damaging as the macho, gun slinging hunters. Perhaps the point isn’t that we don’t need men, but that we don’t need men who have the wrong image of what it means to be a dude, nor women who take on the same stereotypes (i.e power brokers in DC or brutal p.e. teachers).

Whether omega or alpha, the key seems to be balance and sensitivity when it comes to advancing in postindustrial society, knowing when to let down your guard in order to grow. Anyone who has experienced couples therapy knows that a spouse who opens up and shares is a good communicator; that the spouse or partner who listens well is a good student; that the spouse or partner who lets down defenses and explores new approaches is the one most likely to evolve.

The same analogy applies to work and relationships. Stagnant, uptight, defensive, vague, competitive, suspicious are traits clung to by those needing to play it safe. Men have been taught that playing it safe is the best way to go to come out of any situation unscathed. But that seems to be the rub, the so-called aspic that binds them. If anything, men need to emulate good female behavior which seems to come instinctively. Is a good man hard to find? Not if he is under the influence of a good man and a good woman.

Images: Alex E. Proimos; Zazzle; NYU Local

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More alpha men and women seem to be answering the call of the wild, signing on as leader of the pack for several hours each day. For herders able to command six-to-ten furry friends at a time in a neighborhood park or at the beach, dog walking can rake in as much as $200 a day (minus the truck fuel). Scooping poop just got a lot more enticing!

But you should know it isn’t all fun and games, warns Emy Sakai, 29, owner and founder of The Urban Paw dog walking service in San Francisco. The consummate animal lover has been pet sitting and dog walking since the age of 12, starting her career working part time while working in office settings and then branching off to launch her own service, which she likens to running a daycare program.

“The dog walker is like the teacher on a preschool field trip who has to keep a very close eye on the kids or they might wander off or eat something that is poisonous,” she finds. “I use treats and positive reinforcement and know what they are doing at all times.”

Sakai walks some seven different breeds at a time at Fort Funston, a wild and breezy stretch of headlands, sands and dunes. It has become the new happy hour spot for unleashed thirsty beasts and their guides, and where she has seen a lot of newbies come and go. It’s easy to talk the talk but can you walk the walk?

“You have to walk the dogs rain or shine, get dirty and not be grossed out by a lot of things,” she shares. “You have to have thick skin. It’s not just hanging out with cute, fuzzy animals. Being the pack leader shouldn’t be viewed as a glamorous or good transitional job.”

Okay, so it’s not as cushy as being a personal assistant to Carrie Bradshaw or being the intern who erases the chalkboard on the Glen Beck set. You may not be after glamor. You may not be a cat person. But perhaps flicking a Frisbee or waving a ball wand is your idea of a fling.

Here are seven signs that dog walking is the career for you:

1. You form attachments easily, even with drooling mutts who won’t pick up their poop. (“It’s sad when clients leave and I don’t get to say goodbye or have one last walk,” shares Sakai. “They’re like our second kids.”)

2. You are seeking part time work with flexibility so you can play with your human kids or finish that novel. An indoor retail job would be impossible, and besides, they won’t let you wear your gnarly, muddy boots at Saks.

3. You’re an alpha personality (a.k.a. control freak) who feels powerless in your current position. Why won’t someone, anyone, listen to you? Why are you constantly interrupted by stupid humans? Dogs know their place.

4. When you run on the beach you feel like a lonely loser and envy the dog walkers you spot throwing balls and sticks and connecting with their four legged friends. You like throwing sticks. You want friends.

5. You are looking for way out of that booth at Starbucks and perusing your laptop for listings for desk jobs. Your tush is spreading like nobody’s business, but the bills are not getting paid. You need exercise and money. Who doesn’t?

6. While you are a master at multi-tasking, you have never had the right job to employ your skills. As a dog walker you can shout loudly (calling out each name so everyone around you can hear), run, scoop, praise, play, feed, defend and reward, all while socializing and commiserating with other walkers.

7. No matter how hard you try, you cannot get rid of that gas guzzling SUV but realize you can use it for a good cause, namely the outings with your Fidos. Better yet, your clients all live within walking distance and you can pick them up on foot and hit parks a few blocks away!

Images: revolution cycle, NinaZed

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Green jobs are energizing us in almost all fields – from gentle dry cleaning to sustainable urban farming, city planning and specialized recycling. And when you can’t locate the right opening, Go Green, Live Rich author David Bach strongly recommends the entrepreneurial path: “Pause in whatever you’re doing today and ask yourself whether there’s a smarter, better, greener way to do it. You might just come up with a million-dollar idea.”

Not all green job seekers equate success with great wealth. In fact, many purists eschew the notion that a revitalized economy means red bullish consumerism – three cars in every garage and fully booked far-off resorts. No, you can surely locate or create the kind of pro-active eco career that meets your ethical standards – ones that pay back in a way you deem responsible. Here are a few to consider:

Farming

Fictional Oliver Douglas of Green Acres sitcom fame had the right idea when he abandoned the urban jungle for the urban garden. Fifty years later, trained geologist Catherine Gockley found her own plot, and according to Uprooted, she will soon be able to support herself completely on the land and bees she has cultivated at her Fire Mountain farm and Apiary.

Today, the country has two million farmers whose average age is 55. Food guru Michael Pollan emphasizes that there is a growing demand for new age farmers and small-scale, local and organic methods to replace the widespread, petroleum-based industry. Being adept as a small businessperson is an advantage. Related jobs in this field include food producing, cheese making, farmers markets and communal farms and markets.

Tips on how to get started: Catherine Gockley, Owner of fire Mountain Farm and Apiary

Recycling

Specialized companies are needed to meet new laws and regulations for recycling and repurposing construction waste, clothing, plastic storage and many other materials that could be useful. There are more than one million recycling jobs around, including scrap metal recycling as our need for steel increases (most steel comes from U.S. recycling). Recycled steel makes up some 35 percent of total steel output and saves up to 75 percent of the energy required for producing virgin steel. This is a growth industry worldwide. Pacific Steel and Recycling is an employee-owned corporation with 38 branch offices in the Northwest. It is developing green technology for industrial salvaging, including the Shredder, a machine that is 99 percent accurate at separating out materials reducing the need for mining for additional virgin metals and saving energy and other natural resources.

Tips on joining the industry: Pacific Steel and Recycling Blog; Careerbuilder Job Posts

Wind Turbine Fabricating

China is a huge producer of steel as well as one of the biggest markets for wind turbines, and the need in the U.S. continues to grow as well. The fastest-growing source of alternative energy, wind employs some 300,000 workers worldwide, including 50,000 Americans. Since turbines are mostly metal by weight, fabricating is a good way to redirect autoworkers and other manufacturers in hurting industries. However, the U.S. government needs to get on board to protect this important industry. Wind energy advocates are now pushing for a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in the U.S. Senate energy bill, noting that wind power installations are dropping from 2008 and 2009 levels because there has not been enough government support.

For tips on jobs and to see the kinds of positions available, visit the American Wind Energy Association Job Board.

Images: Lara604, New Bedford 360

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