During November and December 2014, holiday consumer sales are expected to top $602.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. This is a 3.9 percent increase over last year. But do more holiday sales mean more holiday jobs?

After a long and difficult hunt, you’ve finally received an employment offer. Congratulations! Any job offer represents a very important decision for both you and the employer. When you receive an offer, there are many factors to consider in your decision-making process. While there are hundreds of questions you can ask a potential employer, two of the most important categories to cover are: compensation and benefits.

For many employers, the issue of employee retention does not become top of mind until the unthinkable happens: a highly valued and trusted employee resigns. Sadly, by the time this takes place, your ability to keep the employee long-term is minimal. That’s why I encourage all of my clients to take some time each month to think about and invest in employee retention. The following are techniques I have seen employers use effectively to increase employee satisfaction and retention: