Careers 2009

Are you interested in new opportunities, skills, personal growth and networking? Believe it or not, returning to the classroom may be the right path to follow to achieve these goals, with many people taking that step. "More adults are returning to school and getting post baccalaureate degrees than ever before," said Donald Asher, career and education speaker and author of "Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice" ($20, Ten Speed Press) and "Who Gets Promoted, Who Doesn't and Why: 10 Things You'd Better Do If You Want to Get Ahead" ($15, Ten Speed Press).

Some individuals may consider themselves lucky just to have a stable source of income, even if it's from a job without growth potential. But despite the economy, there are numerous opportunities to be found in the job market depending on when and where a seeker is looking. "Searching for a job is less stressful when the person is in a stable financial situation," said Roxanne Ravenel, a job search coach and founder of The Savvy Jobseeker.

Want to stand out in a sea of applicants? You're going to need a powerful resume -- one that sets you apart from other candidates in the blink of an eye. "You never get a second chance at a first impression. Your resume is the first impression hiring managers will have of you. You want to put your best foot forward," said Scott Vest, vice president of human resources and training for Nexeo, a Utah-based staffing and consulting firm.

If you're looking for a new job, networking is vital to the success of your search. You could have the perfect references and a resume to envy, but without a personal connection, you're just one face in a nation full of 12.5 million fellow job-seekers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In such a crowded market, you must be proactive in your strategies. Many available jobs are not listed on the Internet, but accessed by word-of-mouth referrals within an industry. It may be the only way to find the best openings out there.

Everyone has difficult days on the job. Yet if you find yourself constantly miserable at work, it might be time to consider a change. But be warned: experts say in today's economy, switching careers can be a challenge. "If you want to change careers, the current economic climate means you'll need to be more prepared this year than ever before," said Tag Goulet, who co-founded the career guide web site FabJob.com with her sister Catherine Goulet.

Life is so unfair. In today's economy you actually have work to look for work, taking valuable couch time to counterfeit diplomas, or invent accomplishments like winning the Nobel Prize for Barbecue. It's just not enough to be a conniver and a kiss-up. These days, you also have to be a brand.

Q: I was laid off from my past two jobs -- the first because of an acquisition and the second because of a downsizing. I was at the second job for a little more than three months. Should I include it on my resume? I learned so much in that job. I worked on an NFL licensing agreement and loved the project. My boss said the employer would be happy to give me a good reference. If I include it, should I refer to it as a temporary job?

When one door closes, another opens -- it is an adage worth remembering in stressful economic times. As unemployment rises and savings shrink, an open door and security become more attractive than a hefty paycheck that could be gone tomorrow. The good news: Plenty of recession-proof jobs -- work that needs to be done regardless of the economic climate -- are still out there and will continue to be available, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Monday morning comes and you find you just can't face the work week. So instead you hit snooze -- again -- and pull the covers up over your head to block out the morning sun. Have you ever found yourself doing this? Maybe you aren't in the right job. Perhaps you wonder why some people just seem to be naturals at their jobs; how can one person sit behind a desk in a solitary office all day long while another is happiest with the rush of action and the unexpected.

Despite childhood aspirations, most of us didn't grow up to become astronauts and ballerinas. And that's actually a wonderful thing, because the working world offers so much more than we can dream of, even as adults. The Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-09, which details hundreds of career possibilities in 288 broad categories, acknowledges that it represents just 89 percent of all jobs in the economy.

The employment news is grim. Companies are announcing mass layoffs. Your job could be next. It's a scary way to live for millions of Americans. Chicago-based employment attorney Laurel Bellows says there are things you can do to either prevent or postpone your firing -- or to increase your benefits package above what the company may be offering in its standard severance deal.

Skip the clunky jewelry, flip flops, nose rings, heavy perfume and strong aftershave lotion -- if you want a job, that is. They're part of a long list of no-nos experts say will cut your interview extremely short. "In the first ten seconds of meeting a candidate, the interviewer makes a mental decision on whether you look right for the job," said veteran career counselor Robin Ryan, best-selling author of "60 Seconds & You're Hired!" ($13, Penguin). Ryan, one of the nation's top career coaches, believes that too many people "have lost touch with what is appropriate business dress." If your personal presentation is inappropriate, "you've lost that position without saying a word."

You're under the microscope while you're on a job interview. Recruiters and interviewers are reading you every second. So to make the best impression -- and keep that excellent impression when you get the job -- follow these vital etiquette tips:

Don't let downsizing get you down. It's natural to feel depressed, angry, confused and even embarrassed. But the sooner you work through your feelings, the sooner you'll be back on top at a new job -- possibly a new career. Keep in mind that almost everyone will be fired or laid off at some point in their career, with the recent mass layoffs a sad sign of the current economic climate. But those that are able to regain their self-confidence and put the situation in perspective will come out ahead.

If you're out of a job, you have two choices: Lie on the couch and watch television or turn your free time into a campaign to uplift yourself and increase your employability sooner. An era of hardship can motivate you take steps that lead to greater success. Here are the top 10 tactics for turning your unemployment era into a plan for improved hireability:

College graduates are finding entry into the job market challenging. According to National Association of Colleges & Employers, employers are expected to hire 22% fewer grads this year than in 2008. Here are some tips for those entering the workforce:

Numerous online resources are available to help job seekers find work. According to PC Magazine, these are the top 20 job-hunting and career-networking sites on the Internet:

According to a recent Beyond.com online poll, job seekers tend to post their resumes on multiple job sites, favoring niche sites that match their career needs.