Forbes magazine online has posted a comprehensive report on employment, including articles on job security, job interview mistakes, using an agency to find a job, how to spend your severance -- even how to start your own business.

Also, for employers, an article on how to conduct massive layoffs.

See it all here.

Last week, I appeared on "First News with Bob Steel" to talk about tips for résumés. You can listen to that segment and see my notes here. This morning, I was on "Today's THV This Morning" to talk about job hunting using the Internet.

Here's video of the segment, and below are my notes, including links I cited in the report, along with some other stuff I didn't have time to go into.

1) In what ways can you use the Internet to find your next job?

First, there's lots of job search sites, free places where you can search for job openings or post your résumé for employers to find you. Good examples of those are sites like Careerbuilder.com and even ArkansasBusiness.com/jobs.

You can also use the Internet to conduct research. Whether you've already gotten an interview with an employer or are just starting out, the Internet is a great place to learn about a particular job field or a possible employer. When you do get an interview, you want to be prepared and know as much about the employer or the job is possible, and the Internet lets you do that homework.

2) What about sites like Facebook? What's the value of social networking sites when on the job hunt?

Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn are great for online networking, which leads to connections that can eventually lead to jobs. This is because you're keeping in touch with friends who might easily pass on job leads and news that can be helpful down the line.

LinkedIn is particularly interesting because it's geared toward more professional uses. There you can form and join groups of professionals in similar careers, and you can see how your friends are connected to other people who might help you find a job. You can also take part in virtual introductions to get to know possible job contacts. And you can easily post your résumé and job information so that it's always in circulation.

3) What other job tools are available online?

There are several sites online that help you in all aspects of the job hunt.

CareerPath is part of Careerbuilder, and it offers free career assessment tests to help you learn what careers might be best for you.

Emurse.com and VisualCV.com are sites that help you write and share your résumé easily, which has grown in importance as more people use the Web. Not only to they help you write a résumé, they also allow you to create your own résumé Web site to which you can refer employers and contacts.

And there lots of jobs and career advice blogs. One I like is Brazeen Careerist by Penelope Trunk. She offers all kinds of tips and hints on all aspects of careers.

4) Well, what tips would you offer to people job hunting in the Internet age?

First, change your e-mail address. Having an address like suprkutechik@hotmail.com or imsmarterthanyou@aol.com makes you look immature and cocky. Use your full name to look distinguished and professional.

And in this day and age of e-mail, it's important to create a résumé file that e-mails well. Write it and save it in a format that works across all platforms (Mac vs. PC, Word vs. whatever). A simple, text file, or a simple Word doc, is best.

And keep it clean on the Internet. Employers will Google you, so manage your online reputation carefully.

More

More tips and hints, as well as links to other resources, at ArkansasBusiness.com/theLadder's 'Careers" tag.

Bob Steel invited me onto KARN Newsradio 920's "First News" program this morning to talk about the do's and don'ts of résumé writing. (Click here to listen to the segment.)

As job losses pile up (economists forecast 350,000 lost jobs nationwide for November) more folks are looking for work, and a well-written, targeted résumé is a must to getting an interview.

Below some common mistakes people make on their résumés and how to avoid them. After that, some general tips. And at the end, links to more résumé-writing resources online.

Common mistakes

1) Being Off-target

One résumé does not fit all. Each must be tailored to the specific job for which you are applying.

Start with the objective statement. This is "headline" of the resume that will grab the employer's attention. It must be tailored to the specific job you're seeking, noting how you are a perfect fit for that job for various reasons.

Some good examples:

• A position teaching English as a second language where a special ability to motivate and communicate effectively with students would be needed.
• Divemaster in an organization where an extensive knowledge of Carribean sea life and a record of leaving customers feeling they have had a once-in-a lifetime experience is needed.

It's important to know who is reading the résumé and what they're looking for. When writing a résumé, think about the prospective employer's needs for the position for which you are applying. Think of the "help wanted" ad as the question, and your résumé as the answer.

Next, share your relevant work history, education, training and accomplishments. And highlight the skills and accomplishments that are most relevant to the particular position for which you are applying.

Again, think of the job posting as a question, and then present yourself as the answer to that question.

(This requires research and learning about the type of job you're applying for and the company itself. So learn as much as you can about both and use that knowledge when writing your résumé.)

2) Leaving yourself off your résumé.

You list a lot titles/accomplishments, but you don't describe your role in those achievements. Employers want to know what you can do for them. Tell readers what improvements you made for your employers. How well did you do did those things? Explain the value you contributed to your employer. Describe how you were an asset to your organization.

Example:

Instead of this

May 2005-January 2007 - Regional sales manager. Oversaw 20-person sales team and routinely exceed budgeted goals.

Do this

May 2005-January 2007 - Regional sales manager.
- Identified new sales markets and developed sales teams for each, leaving to an 18 percent growth in category sales for 2006.
- Also led efforts to integrate online sales, train sales force and open new revenue streams.

3) TMI

The goal of a résumé is to get a face-to-face interview. So think of the résumé as an advertisement, something that will stir interest in the reader and make them want to know more. And that means, in part, to keep it brief and avoid TMI, or Too Much Information. Two pages is good, but one page is better.

So don't think you have to write a comprehensive job history. It's not necessary to list every job you've ever had, or even every degree you've ever received. And avoid lengthy narratives. Keep it short, simple, punchy, straight to the point. Avoid too much information. Pique interest. Make them want to interview you to learn more.

Studies show an employer spends no more than about 30 seconds with a résumé before making a cut. So write briefly and clearly, and design it making consistent use of headline fonts, bullet points, etc.

4) Poorly designed

A poorly designed résumé keeps employers from quickly and easily assessing whether they want to go further with you. Keep it simple and clean -- don't use a lot of underlines, bullets, weird formatting and graphics. But whatever you do, keep it consistent so that it makes sense.

And in this day and age of e-mail, it's important to create a résumé file that e-mails well. Write it and save it in a format that works across all platforms (Mac vs. PC, Word vs. whatever). A simple, text file, or a simple Word doc, is best.

5) Bad grammar and misspellings

Yep. This gets 'em every time. Using bad grammar and misspelling words leaves a bad impression and in many cases will eliminate you from the next round of consideration. Be sure to carefully edit your résumé. Have a friend read over it for you, as well.

Other Tips

From Arkansas Next magazine:

Change your e-mail address. Having an address like suprkutechik@hotmail.com or imsmarterthanyou@aol.com makes you look immature and cocky. Use your full name to look distinguished and professional.

Don't get personal. In the United States it is inappropriate to include your age, race, marital status, sexual preference or religious denomination on a résumé.

Be honest. Fudging on a résumé is completely unethical. Have confidence in your qualifications!

Keep it clean. Proofread! Nothing suggests carelessness to an employer more than errors. Ask your parents and teachers to look over your résumé to find any mistakes.

Organize. A sloppy, unorganized résumé will end up trashed.

Don't be cheap. Use high-quality résumé paper. It shows attention to detail.

Roll film...ACTION! Use strong action words and key terms in your descriptions. Instead of "made phone calls at the office," say "contacted clients and managed information." You can find lists of great terms by searching the Web for "résumé action words."

More Tips

Write a resume that gets results: An in-depth tutorial from Rockportinstitute.com (http://www.rockportinstitute.com/resume_02.html)
ArkansasBusiness.com/jobs - Selling yourself on paper
How to spiff up your resume: From the New York Times' "Shifting Careers" blog

Arkansasbusiness.com/theladder's "careers" tag

The New York Times' Shifting Careers blog points out how social networking sites -- LinkedIn, Facebook -- can be helpful when searching for a new job. And this economy, a lot of people might soon be doing just that.

Some advice to get you started:

LinkedIn has taken hold as the standard for most professionals, but also consider spending time on sites catering to your own industry or profession. Keep up with the trade press in your field to figure out where your peers are congregating online. Specialized communities exist for just about any industry or interest group — like NurseLinkup.com (for nursing professionals), Model Mayhem (for models and photographers), Mediabistro.com (for media professionals) or Lawyrs.net (for lawyers). Have a look at this excellent list of other niche social networking sites.

Though online social networking sites are newish, the same rules of old-fashioned in-person networking apply. Build your reputation as a giver, rather than as someone who is always asking for favors. If people in your network, for example, ask for help or introductions, check in periodically and respond when appropriate. If you’ve shown that you are a giver, people will rally to help you when you have a need to tap your network.

Many more tips for using social networking sites on the job hunt here.

You know how ugly it could get, give all the online, out-in-the-open social networking going on these days. You write something on a blog or social network, someone comments, maybe takes the discussion to an ugly place, and you feel compelled to respond.

So what can you do? Shifting Careers shares a case study on how one woman used her blog and blog comments to set the record straight and help her online reputation.

It all started with a post that Eve wrote for MSNBC.com about social networking overload (something I’ve been experiencing and meaning to write about for some time myself). Shortly after she wrote her post, another blogger, Mark Story, wrote a post calling Eve’s reporting “sloppy journalism,” arguing with her premise (”There is no such thing as ‘information overload’ if you do not allow it to exist.”), and throwing in a remark about the difficulty of pronouncing her surname.

Eve was furious and wanted to make sure that her online reputation wasn’t harmed by this post.

More here.

Are employees personal finances the boss' business? Should an employer consider how you handle your money? The Shifting Career blog thinks yes:

Why? It all boils down to productivity.

According to E. Thomas Garman, a professor emeritus of Virginia Tech University and leading expert in the field of workplace financial education, “Employees with money problems are like sharks swimming around the workplace taking bites out of the bottom line.” In other words, when employees are consumed with their financial problems at home, they aren’t taking care of business at work.

There are substantial costs to employers when financial stresses get in the way of on-the-job productivity. In a speech, Mr. Garman, now president of the nonprofit Personal Finance Employee Education Foundation, provides a list of personal finance mistakes and suggests that when an excessive number of these arise, they lead to serious problems that can impact output at work.

Much more here.

Branding isn't just for marketing products and services, as we've noted before. It's also about selling yourself to coworkers and, more importantly, potential employers.

The Shifting Careers blog has more ideas on how to develop yourself as a brand. Be an expert, promote a special heritage, invent a new process, even own an attribute that says who your are:

Let’s say your old boss is gone and the new head honcho is not aware of all your glorious achievements. Or you have an important job interview coming up. Look for an attribute that is credible for you and that someone else doesn’t own. Maybe your strength is accountability or your relentless drive in closing a sale. Use that attribute as your organizing idea in your elevator speech and résumé. Make it your mantra. Use examples and stories to connect the attribute to you.

Much more here.

In these tough times, some of us might feel the need to cash out on our 401(k)s, particularly when changing jobs or, heaven forbid, having been laid off.

Personal finance blogger Nina Smith writes on the Shifting Careers blog today why cashing out isn't such a good idea, and what to do if you really need some money. There's other options out there.

You’ll pay ordinary income tax on the withdrawal and a 10 percent I.R.S. penalty. Do you really want to give up decades of tax-free compounding. Instead, you should only consider these choices:

1. Leave it with your former employer
2. Roll it into the plan at your new employer (if the plan allows it)
3. Roll it into an I.R.A.

More here.

"If you are fortunate enough to have individuals of all ages in the workplace, you are aware that difficulties sometimes arise between people of different generations," said Dr. Linda Pledger, who will lead the seminar with UALR alums Michelle Phillips and Anna Olson. "This workshop will give attendees the secrets of recruiting, managing, and retaining employees from all four workforce generations - Millennials (born 1978-1991), Generation X (born 1965-1977), Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964), and Schwarzkopfs (born before 1946)."

Don't let others tell your story. You should take the lead in telling that story, according to this piece from Minyanville. It's not blowing your own horn or making stuff up about your performance, it's making sure your boss and your peers know what you're contributing to the company:

If you stand on the sidelines, outside the political fray, their assumption will be that (a) you’re not paying attention, (b) you don’t care enough to get involved or, worst of all, (c) you’re part of the conspiracy they always assume is afoot to sabotage their careers.

You’re the owner and operator of your own story. Make sure it's buttoned up, complete and leaves your power audience feeling confident and comfortable. Sing the praises of everybody but yourself - and make sure it is all portrayed in the context of the strategy your corporate royalty is standing on. Never let it be said of you on the golf course, “I just don’t know about (your name here). I don’t a strong sense that (your name here) is fully on board.”

More here.

The Shifting Careers blog talks about "ways to shed years from your résumé when you’re over 40 and fear that your age might be an obstacle to getting noticed or hired." Includes video.

Here's a neat little tool the Shifting Careers blog talks about here: VisualCV, an online resume system with social networking components:

It takes only a few moments to set up a résumé, and making alternate versions with variations is a snap. It even makes the process kind of fun. Plus, it’s free. (The site promises no advertising and says it will generate income by offering services to individual and corporate users.) And for the naysayers who don’t want photos and images on their CV, one click allows you to generate an all-text pdf version of your résumé.

If you’re not sold yet, here’s more of why I’m so keen on this site. Your résumé lives on a URL that you can easily link to, share with others and even hide completely if you are not ready to be open about a job search. But I predict that lots of career-minded people will use VisualCV.com the way they use LinkedIn — not only when they are actively looking for a job, but also when they want to scout opportunities for their current employer or their own company.

What else is cool about VisualCV? You can embed photos and video. Nice. 

More here.

The New York Times' Shifting Careers blog stumbles upon a unique idea for networking. Say goodbye to boring mixers at the chamber, and hello to hiking the great outdoors:

Last year, my boyfriend and I accidentally hit on a great way to network. We wanted to get more exercise, and we wanted to know San Francisco better (we currently live in the Bay Area). So we started planning urban hikes — a half day of walking, with oddball points of interest and promising food stops. To make the hikes more interesting, we invited a few friends.

Not only have the outings turned out to be a fun way to burn calories and learn city secrets, but they’ve also helped us keep in touch with people from different parts of our lives and introduce them to each other. Often, our hikes feel more like peripatetic cocktail parties than excuses to exercise.

Tips for setting up your own networking hike here.

The Digerati Life has come along with another "recession-proof" your career articles, but we think many of the tips contained therein make sense no matter the economic environment.

In short, these are good habits to get into, and they can pay off big-time when tough times set in.

Among them:

#1 Position yourself well before a recession hits. The best time to act is before, not during a downturn. If you’re just starting out or looking for a line of work to get into, consider a recession proof career.

#2 Focus on the job you have. Are you already employed? Then one of the best things to do during a recession is to concentrate on your current job and do your best to shine.

#3 Raise your opportunity cost as high as you are able, at your company. Make it tough for your boss to carry on without you.

#4 Keep your eye on your company. Watch your boss. Understand how your company is operating to get a feel for its health. If they start cutting hours at your job, get ready for other changes.

#5 Create a game plan with priorities and contingencies. Have you thought of what you would do in case you get laid off?

#6 Cut costs and control your budget now. Be frugal! Enough said.

Six more tips here. 

The New York Times' Shifting Careers blog points us to a pair of articles on the art of persuasion, which the blog says is "crucial to succeeding in today’s team-oriented, less hierarchical work environments."

Here, a New Scientist piece notes that "persuasion is both notoriously difficult to pull off and almost impossible to resist when done well." Andp, we learn "why being skilled at persuading others is so important in work environments that increasingly rely on teams of peers to get things accomplished."

More here. 

Lesley Nalley of Accountemps in Little Rock sits down with "Today's THV This Morning"'s Allyson Courtney to talk about what recent college grads and other job seekers need to do with starting the job search.

Some good general tips at the video below, and more tips on The Ladder here.

Also: Start your job search on our free jobs board here at ArkansasBusiness.com/Jobs.

The Shifting Careers blog has tips on how to deal with the crush of information overload we now face everyday, thanks in large part to the Web:

We are all having to abandon, a bit at a time, the idea of getting through our e-mail queue. [Here I’d add, “And the queue for any other tool that sends incoming missives.”] We have to instead say, I’m going to start at the top of my day with the most important stuff and work my way down. And I’m going to accept at the end of the day that I’m not going to be done. For people who need a sense of completeness, that is a painful shift.

More here. 

As anyone with employees or children knows, "hearing" and "listening" are two completely different things. And "listening" vs. "hearing" is extremely important in the workplace.

Some people truly struggle with how to listen. And listening can be a key to workplace success. The Shifting Careers blog has tips on how we can improve the skill of listening, which is often taken for granted:

1. Maintain good eye contact.

2. Sit or stand still without fidgeting. If you feel as if you may be losing concentration, shift around on your feet or in your seat, but try to do that while staying focused.

3. Try nodding your head or leaning in toward the speaker, both of which indicate to the speaker that you are listening, and also help you to stay engaged.

Three more tips here. 

New media blogger Steve Rubel today points to three new digital careers he thinks are worth watching. In his opinion, these emerging digital jobs will become increasingly important in the years ahead.

They are "Chief Customer Experience Officer," "Digital Storytellers" and "Super Crunchers."

What, might you ask, is a "super cruncher"? Steve explains:

Here's another book recommendation for your summer reading list (sorry, I read a lot so my clients don't have to). It's called Super Crunchers. In the book, the authors explain through case studies how companies that are able to mine through mountains of data and make it work for them usually win. Another great book on this topic is Moneyball, which I have written about before.

The digital space is the most addressable media and marketing platform ever. However, most marketers are not "quants" and data is largely under utilized by many companies.

Data mining and visualization tools reduce risk, make business more efficient and measurable. Great rewards will come to those who know how to dig into data and make sense of it all and can parse that into insights that help companies optimize the dollars they put online. Be that guy or gal.

More on the other careers here.

The New York Times' Shifting Careers blog talks about how to combat work stress by using Buddhist principals -- nonattachment -- and some physical exercises:

Ms. Edwards’s suggestion for the stress-inducing mother (or boss, partner, crowded subway, or vibrating Blackberry) was to remind ourselves that outside stimulation is not the problem. Rather, it is the stories we tell ourselves about these things and the way we respond to them that causes the stress. She urged finding ways to change our relationships to the things that cause us stress by trying techniques like the Buddhist concept of nonattachment where you enter a state of no judgments and no expectations. (Mastering nonattachment would probably take longer than the two hours we had, but everyone appeared eager to try it out. Ms. Edwards suggested practicing with lower-stakes stressors like the person on line in front of you at the post office.)

We also covered some physical techniques, like pausing during long stretches at our computers and applying some pressure to a point near the elbow.

More on managing stress here.

Looking for a new career? Yahoo! points to 10 careers you might not have considered, including what they make and what it takes to join that field.

Among them: 

1. Nursing Informatics:

Healthcare may be the fastest growing industry, but it also suffers from a horrendous lack of computerization. While your fast food order is now entirely automated, most hospitals still do their record-keeping on paper. That's where nursing informatics professionals come in. Nearly 100,000 Americans die each year from preventable medical errors, which digital record-keeping could help to eliminate. Nursing informatics specialists, with training in both nursing and health information technology, bridge the gap between IT and patient care--an essential part of healthcare in the future. That's why many of them make over $100,000 a year.

2. Experience Designer:

What do Starbucks and Apple Stores have in common? They both rely on creating an inviting customer experience. And the more businesses realize the value of a good experience to a customer, the more in-demand experience designers will be. These professionals, with training in retail management or merchandising, do everything from selecting colors and fabrics to determining the scents or sounds of a room, to create the ultimate shopping experience. For their skills, experience designers average around $60,000 a year.

...

6. Carbon Management Consultant:

It sounds like a glorified name for a coal miner, but these business professionals--usually MBAs in an engineering or project management specialty--are an integral part of helping businesses to reduce their carbon footprint, which everyone's concerned with these days, thanks to climate change and tough legislation. These specialists might earn between $60,000-$100,000--or more while making the world a safer place.

7. International Logistics Manager:

Technology keeps making the global village smaller, meaning that more and more companies are operating internationally. International logistics managers, who generally earn degrees in logistics or supply chain management, ensure that materials and products are transported safely, on time, and within budget. Global trade is projected to increase by roughly 9 percent in the coming years. With average salaries that exceed $60,000 a year, these professionals are well paid for their international experience.

More here. And you can search for Arkansas jobs at our own free jobs board, ArkansasBusiness.com/Jobs. 

The Wall Street Journal reports how some "crafty" entrepreneurs are turning hobbies into full-time businesses:

“The explosion of the crafting movement is a reaction to technology, and, perhaps, a desire to reconnect to each other,” says Meg Mateo Ilasco, author of Craft Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business. Ms. Mateo Ilasco left architecture school to run her custom wedding-invitation business after receiving an overwhelming response to an ad she placed in an issue of Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. What’s more, DIY-minded people now realize that they can make and profit from better versions of mass produced items the marketplace, she says.

More here. 

How does one conduct a job hunt when one's job is to travel Monday-Friday? Shifting Careers talks to three experts to get advice.

Among the tips:

Schedule one day per month to work from your home office. Ideally, you want to schedule the same day each month so that you can plan meetings, networking lunches, interviews, etc. when you know you will be local. Given the remote nature of consulting, taking time periodically to take care of administrative activities at the home office is standard and accepted practice. So you shouldn’t raise any eyebrows by taking such time to be local.

More here. 

We can't all have a personal chef whipping up free food at work like that folks at Google. But we can eat healthier and better while at the office by taking a few key foods with us, according to Shifting Careers:

Top 10 all-around picks, in no specific order, to stash at your desk or in your office fridge

1. Raw, unsalted nuts (almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, pecans)

2. Kashi TLC granola bars, Gnu Flavor & Fiber bars, Lara bars (or check out youbars.com and create your own)

3. Low-Fat Laughing Cow Cheese, Coach Farm Goat Cheese or organic part-skim string cheese

4. Fage 0% Greek Yogurt or Stoneyfield Farms Low-Fat Organic Yogurt

5. Wasa, Finn Crisp, Kavli or Dr. Kracker wholegrain crackers

More here, along with other posts about how to eat smarter at the office. 

With all that content out there, it can difficult to keep up. Web Worker Daily even wonders whether we've already outgrown the RSS reader.

So how do we efficiently and productivity keep up with all the information flowing online? Two new products pose a solution.

First, there's Friendfeed, which aims to aggregate all your pals' various Internet content across various platforms. In one place, you can see your buddy's latest Flickr photos, videos, Twitter tweets, Del.icio.us links, Wordpress blog entries and more.

Next is Alltop, which Shifting Careers is trying out as a way to stay on top of various blogs in specific categories. Blogs on Alltop are organized by categories, so you can theoretically scan the "journalism" page and get all the latest news and notes on the field from the various blog feeds that include on that page.

How Alltop selects what blogs go in what category is an interesting question. To me, it smacks of Yahoo!'s early attempt at search, by manually categorizing thousands of Web sites one at a time. How scalable will Alltop be?  

Forbes magazine once again has its list of the "best places for business and careers" in the country, and six Arkansas cities make the grade (we're still making our way through the list):

Fayetteville MSA at No. 17

Little Rock at No. 32

Fort Smith at No. 97

Among smaller metros, Jonesboro places No. 46, Hot Springs is at No. 93 and Pine Bluff is No. 130.

The rankings are based on several factors, including cost of doing business, educational attainment, job growth and population.

We've talked about mentors before, but this is a little different.

Shifting Careers talks about cultivating a "personal board of directors" to help you make The Big Decisions, career and otherwise:

Lately, a lot of people have been using the term “personal board of directors” to refer to the cadre of intimates they rely on when making big decisions — from whether to start a company to how to dress for a first television appearance. It’s not a new concept.

Shifting Careers talks to a career coach about what you need to do to put one these boards together and how you can rely on them.

When applying for a job, how do you decide who to cite as a reference? Are some people better than others for specific jobs? What general guidelines should one follow?

The New York Times' Shifting Careers blog has some hints:

So, here they are, my must-have qualities for the perfect reference:

• People who you are certain think highly of you.
• People who will take the request seriously and be prepared and thoughtful in their answers, even if you don’t have time to brief them beforehand (though building in time for a thorough briefing is a wise idea).
• People who understand the context in which the reference is being given.
• People who will know, intuitively, how to present any of your potential weaknesses as strengths.
• People who express themselves well — either verbally or in writing, depending on which type of reference they will be giving.

More here.

Factoid of the weeks: Products in aerospace are Arkansas' No. 1 export. Arkansas is ranked No. 11 in the country in aerospace exports. And that U.S. Navy missile that shot down the spy satellite this week? Made in Camden.

So the aerospace industry is one of the state's crown jewels, and Arkansas economic developers are working to make sure it stays nice and shiny. To that end, they've targeted the industry as one to pay careful attention to. Aerospace is going to need to fill 5,000 new jobs in Arkansas in the next 10 years, and state government wants to cultivate workers who are educated and ready to fill those posts.

We checked out the Arkansas Aerospace Summit for ArkansasBusiness.com today. Gov. Mike Beebe, U.S. Rep. Vic Synder and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor (appearing via Webcast from northwest Arkansas), all made appearances.

Representatives from the state's aerospace industry were there too, all gathered at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Bailey Center, to start planning ways to grow aerospace in Arkansas.

We've got coverage here, including video of remarks from Beebe and Bob East, a member of the Little Rock Airport Commission.

But the big point to takeaway here: Careers in aerospace will be among Arkansas' hot jobs over the next decade. Part of economic developers' efforts to attract workers is this new Web site, ArkansasAerospace.com, which seeks to promote the industry and connect employers here with new Arkansas workers.

The Shifting Careers blog has a novel idea: if you're sick, stay home.

You don't have to prove anything, and you certainly don't have to make others sick:

Since people are most contagious in the first two or three days of a cold, you will help your whole organization by not getting your colleagues sick.

Rest up.

Feeling Sick? Stay Home [Shifting Careers @ New York Times] 

The Shifting Careers blog has the second in a series on finding a new job. It points to a couple of good guides on exploring new careers and learning how to persue them.

Among the resources:

Rush out and buy the smart, funny and surprisingly comprehensive new book, “What’s That Job and How the Hell Do I Get it?”

Rush out and buy the smart, funny and surprisingly comprehensive new book, “What’s That Job and How the Hell Do I Get it?” (to be released on March 11, but available by preorder from Amazon.) The author, David J. Rosen, covers a wide range of jobs — from alternative medicine practitioner to wardrobe stylist and quite a lot in between — and for each he gives a detailed look at how people break into the field, what it would feel like to do the job and what types of people are best suited to the work.

Much more.

What would it be like to ... ? (Part 2) [Shifting Careers @ New York Times] 

Guest blogger Gretchen Rubin appears at Shifting Careers today and wonders whether being happy at work really matters:

Sure, it matters to you whether you’re happy at work.

But does it matter to the bottom line? Should your boss care if you’re happy? Or if you’re the boss, should you care if your employees are happy? Absolutely.

Now, it’s true that happy people may perform better because the qualities that tend to make a person happier (like extroversion, stability and energy) also improve a person’s performance. Also, because people generally like happier people more than they like less-happy people, managers may rate employees more highly just because they like them, even if less-happy people perform just as well.

Nevertheless, chicken-and-egg problem aside, it’s clear and supported by research that happy people do better at work – on several fronts.

Glad that's settled. Much more on happiness and the workplace here. 

Happiness at Work: Does It Matter? [Shifting Careers @ New York Times] 

It ain't easy, is it? Coming back to the office after a good, long, relaxing vacation. It's a shock to the system that almost makes you second-guess even leaving the office in the first place. All those calls to return, e-mail to wade through, projects to catch up on ...

The Shifting Careers blog has some advice on how to ease your way back into the office:

1. Take your calendar and to-do list out and add anything you scribbled down on little pieces of paper, in travel journals or your digital organizer while traveling. Look at your calendar and to-do list before you shift into work mode and review the upcoming week so that there aren’t any surprises.

2. Remove all out-of-office messages. I can’t tell you how often I call someone and get a message saying they are out of the office until a certain date and that certain date is a good week before the date I’m calling. ...

3. Listen to phone messages and create a call list. If you’re like me, you’ve probably checked in a few times while you were away, so you already have a sense of what’s important.

4. Separate snail mail into piles. Find anything with a deadline on it and put it in the priority pile. ... Put aside nonessential reading for the first weekend. ...

5. Tackle e-mail. There are two types when it comes to e-mail: those who feel more relaxed if they check it while on vacation and those who can only get away if they fully check out. ...

Much more here.

Tips on Post-vacation Re-entry [Shifting Careers @ New York Times] 

Should small businesses blog? There are certainly upsides -- obtaining news business, staying in touch with clients, positioning yourself as an expert on a certain field -- but there's also the downsides:

But as I know from first-hand experience, blogging is hard, and not every entrepreneur or small business is suited to it. For blogs to attract a regular readership and to be picked up by search engines, they need to be updated often and promoted. That means that the person doing the blogging for the company has to have a certain amount of time as well as commitment to the project and, of course, writing ability.

As Guy Kawasaki, the entrepreneur/venture capitalist/blogger, put it when I interviewed him for the article, “If you’re blogging and no one is reading you, are you really even blogging?” I see Mr. Kawaski’s point, and when I had just my personal blog before starting the Shifting Careers blog here at The Times, I grappled with that very issue.

More here.

Should Small Businesses Blog? [Shifting Careers @ New York Times] 

All those new industry announcements last year paid off. According to Forbes magazine, Little Rock is ranked the 15th best city in the country for jobs.

Here's a quick look at the list:

1. Salt Lake Cit, Utah

2. Witchita, Kan.

3. Austin, Texas

4. Atlanta, Ga.

15. Little Rock, AR

Best Cities for Jobs 2008 [Forbes]

As the economy slows, tech workers might need to think about ways to "recession-proof" their careers. These tips apply to other workers too.

5 Ways to Recession Proof Your Career [Web Worker Daily]

The running joke around this office is that if an employee comes to work in a suit and tie, he's got a job interview somewhere else during the day.

But it raises a legitimate question: How does one discreetly interview without raising flags at the current job? College Journal helps here.

Interviewing for jobs without raising flags [College Journal] 

The Arkansas Young Professionals Network is making final preparations for its second Professional Summit, which takes place this weekend at The Peabody Hotel in Little Rock.

You can read about last year's event here. The weekend-long summit begins Friday.

Attendees have a chance to hear from some of the state's top business leaders, who'll talk about their careers and share tips on a host of topics, which last year included leadership, networking and time management.

You can sign up to register here. Among the speakers:

Bruce Burrow, Partner with MBC Holdings of Jonesboro
Dr. Fitz Hill, President of Arkansas Baptist College
Dr. Joel Anderson, Chancellor of UALR
Elizabeth Bowles, President of Aristotle.net
Rush Harding, Chief Executive Officer of Crews & Associates
Jeff Hathaway, President of The Hathaway Group

And by the way: if you're like us and prefer to network with the aid of a martini, you're in luck. The Peabody Hotel's Martini Mondays began yesterday. Check it out weekly from 4-7 p.m. in the lobby.

This week Sync, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's new free weekly aimed hip young'uns, takes a look at networking. A Sync reporter who read The Ladder called me last week for some comments, and I was happy to share. You can read her story here. 

Of course, you only have so much room in print, and some of the things we talked about got little mention. So I've decided to round up some of the notes I consulted for the interview - cribbed mostly from posts that have already appeared on The Ladder - and post them below for anyone who wants to know more.

But my main point to Sync was that while networking is often seen as finding ways to get people to help you, it more often should be able what you can do to help other people. Doing good deeds for others can create an honest, durable connection with peers. And that goodwill can come back to you in your hour of need.

So for those people who are uncomfortable with the networking stereotype of a bunch of schmoozers in a room, drinking bad cocktails, exchanging business cards and looking to manipulate others for personal gain, think about it instead as everyday opportunities to make friends who have common interests and to use your unique skills to help others in their job tasks and careers. It's a fresh outlook that will allow you to open a host of new career possibilities.

And now, some random notes on networking, and links:

Why Do It

- To get a job if you don't have one

- To get better at your current job by being informed, learning from others and knowing people who can help you "get things done" for work

- To keep your name out there if you lose your current job or want to make a change

When You Do It

- Now. You don't network only when you in need a job. The best networking is done when you feel good about yourself, your job and what you can offer. It's during these times that you are at your best at building relationships. Later, when the time comes, you can reap the goodwill you've sown

Where Do You Do It

- Networking events

- At work

- In your neighborhood

- At parties

- Online

- Anywhere

How Do You Do It

- Think of networking in terms of what you can do for people, not what they can do for you. Offer your skills and services to people you can help. That creates a connection. And one day, that connection will pay off for you. Networking is NOT making people do something for you, or manipulation

- Be nice. You don't have to be funny, clever or the life of the party. People appreciate people who are nice, genuine, honest

- Ask questions. If you're not sure how to break the ice, simply ask questions. People love to talk about themselves. Open-ended questions can reveal a lot about people

- Go to events. Maybe make a goal to go to X number a month, per quarter. Or maybe go to lunch with someone new each week (the "never eat alone" philosophy)

- Get involved with professional associations, nonprofits or other groups. Put yourself out there

- Even introverts can find ways to network. 

- Seek out key people. Find those people who know other people, and make connections with them

- Go online. Facebook in particular is a great place to network. You can easily keep up with people and share information. And certain Facebook tools allow you to, say, poll lots of people on certain issues. A good Facebook circle of friends can provide a good testing ground for new ideas and work methods, particularly among specific Facebook  networks

- But you can't rely solely on the Internet. You have to get out of the office, too

And here's a great "networking formula" from Skip Rutherford, the dean of the Clinton School of Public Service. You might have to read it a few times, but it makes great sense.

And finally, much more on networking from The Ladder. 

Anyone else have networking tips? Please share in comments.

This week, the state Department of Health and Human Services has a great trio of positions open for those medical and legal professionals among us.

First, DHHS has no less than five attorney positions open. The positions are in the office of the department's chief legal counsel, Lisa McGee, and pay between $38,597.00 and $42,500.00 per year.

Also on the books, an opening for a speech pathologist. The job, which pays between $29,982.00 and $38,572.00 per year, requires all manner of certifications and degrees, including a license as a speech pathologist from the State Board of Examiners in
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

And finally, the department is also looking for a developmental disabilities specialist. That full-time post pays about 29,982.00 per year.

You can see more on DHHS here. Even more job postings, along with articles, tips and relocation info, at Arkansasjobs.net/jobs.

As with any skill, interviewing becomes easier with practice. Start by thinking about the questions you'll be asked and writing down the answers. Next, rehearse them out loud. If possible, have a family member or friend conduct mock interviews with you, says Sally Chopping, a public speaking and presentation coach in Pittsburgh. "Anyone will be nervous if they haven't done their homework," says Ms. Chopping.

Focus on coming up with good answers to the questions you fear the most, such as why you haven't worked lately and why you left your last position. Short and simple explanations work best, Ms. Ryan says.

Realize that being laid off could be a nonissue to an interviewer. "People are laid off and lose jobs all the time," she says. "Employers don't pay much attention to it anymore."

More tips here.

How Can I Quell Jitters During Job Interviews? [College Journal]

The Brazen Careerist blog this week helps you decide what's going on and what to do, with five situations when you shouldn't change careers. Here's the first three:

1. You hate your boss. This is not a problem with your career. ...

2. You want more prestige. Get a therapist - you’re having a confidence crisis, not a career crisis. ...

3. You want to meet new people. Try going to a bar, or Club Med. Is the problem that you are not able to make friends in your industry? ...

See more here.

Five situations when you shouldn’t change careers [Brazen Careerist]

50 Bulls**t Jobs [Stanleybing.com]

1 – Personal Finance Advisor
2 – Software Engineer
3 – Environmental Engineer
4 – Pharmacist

The selections were based on salary, demand and job satisfaction. More on each here.

The Best Careers for the Next Five [Career Intensity]

According to new research, parents--at least those committed to family life--actually perform better in the office. Researchers from Clark University and the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C., interviewed 347 managers and executives, mostly from large public companies, about their family lives. Then they talked to the participants' colleagues, subordinates and bosses about their work performance.

Those who were committed to family life achieved significantly better reviews. The reason: Parents learn to multitask, handle stress and negotiate, says Marian N. Ruderman, research director at the Center for Creative Leadership, and one of the study's authors.

More on how parents manage at the office here.

Do Parents Make Better Managers? [Forbes]

First: Here's what you'll need to create a broad resume.

Second: Here's what to put on your resume to explain, say, a run of back luck, like several jobs lost of downsizing and cutbacks.

Just One Job? Three Tips For Creating a Broad Resume [College Journal]
How to Explain Multiple Job Losses on a Resume [College Journal]

While it is the '00s, egos can be fragile, and shifting roles can cause upheaval in a relationship:

But the potential for psychological fallout is real. Money is a cold arbiter of power, and when a wife starts making more, both spouses may feel that the husband has somehow been demoted.

The article notes that the trend has grown as baby boomers, now faced with an empty nest, begin second careers. But what's the feeling among their kids in their own relationships?

Guys, how do you feel about your wife making more money than you? Ladies, how do you feel about bringing home the bacon? Has it changed your relationship? Or is this situation viewed differently by this next generation of workers?

Reversal of fortune: She makes more than he [CNN Money]

Where to Turn For Career Guidance [College Journal]

The cold, hard, truth is that you’ve got to look after yourself.
You can’t assume that anyone is really looking out for your best interests (in spite of what they may say.)
There may be a human resources department in your firm, managers, coaches and a mentoring system. But don’t get fooled. Your career is up to you and you alone.
No one will tell you what experience you should be obtaining, let alone help you get it.
If you want a specific experience, ask for it.

That's a taste. More here.

David Maister’s Perspective on Careers [Career Intensity]

Here's one of the most important things to know about interviewing: By the time you're invited to meet company representatives, the employer usually believes you're qualified to do the job. Now, the company wants to know if you'll fit in and work well in its environment.

In other words, the interviewer is hoping to learn you're someone who should be invited to the party, says Mike Lorelli, chief executive officer of Latex International, a Shelton, Conn., mattress-foam company. "At this point, cultural fit is more important than talking a long time about your degree," he cautions.

So how do you conduct yourself during the interview? Take your cues from interviewers: respond in ways they can relate to. Be comfortable with yourself during interviews, and do what's natural to you. Try to get some important points across. And note that everyone likes to talk about themselves and their interests, so look for opportunities to converse with the interview on those topics.

More advice here. And click here for how to better tout your accomplishments on a resume.

Succeeding in Interviews Often Means Being Liked [CollegeJournal]
Stress Accomplishments To Beef Up Your Resume [CollegeJournal]

With the passing of each holiday season comes a round of January and February resignations. It’s that time of year when fed-up employees are most tempted to take their bonuses and head for the exits. That's especially true on Wall Street, where Goldman Sachs (nyse: GS - news - people ) set an all-time record of $11 billion for bonuses. Obviously not everyone will be able to quit with that much of a cushion, but even a slightly padded paycheck can ease a career transition.

Before you take the money and run, there are a few things to consider during the post-holiday bonus resignation season.

How to know when to pack it in, and how to find that next job, here.

How To Bail With Your Bonus [Forbes]

... approximately 140 executives age 40 or younger ... are chief executive officers of publicly traded companies around the world, according to data compiled by Capital IQ. Of these, nearly 100 are located within the U.S., while another 40 or so lead companies headquartered in other countries.

The article notes that working is tech seems to be the quickest way to the top. That would hold true in Arkansas, where Scott Ford of Alltel Corp. (NYSE: AT) is the state's youngest CEO at 43. Jeffrey Gardner of Windstream Corp. (NYSE: WIN) is the second-youngest at 46.

The oldest? That would be Robert M. Powell, the 72-year-old who is also chairman of USA Truck Inc. (Nasdaq: USAK).

The New Boss—Younger Than the Old Boss [BusinessWeek]
Allison, Gardner Join Ranks of Arkansas CEOs [Arkansasbusiness.com]
Arkansas CEO Profiles [Arkansasbusiness.com]

That's right. MSN Money columnist Liz Pulliam Weston provides a helpful guide to those annual boosts you should give to all sorts of service providers who regularly help you through the year.

Those folks could include:

Newspaper deliverers
Parking or garage attendants
Trash collectors
Any regular delivery person (for food, laundry, overnight packages, whatever)
Hairdresser or barber
Manicurist
Facialist
Personal trainer
Massage therapist
Regular after-hours baby-sitter (not your nanny or day care worker)
House cleaner (unless he or she is full time, then see below)
The lawn-care crew
Pool cleaner
Pet groomer
Nannies
Full-time housekeepers
Home-care attendants
Caretakers

Many of us might not be at that point in our careers where we have a personal assistant or a regular housekeeper, but some of us certainly do make use of baby-sitters, lawn-care crews and barbers. So keep those folks in mind over the next couple of weeks.

For more on what to tip, click here.

The fine art of holiday tipping [MSN Money]

If you want to succeed, don't expect your boss to manage you. Instead, you must learn to manage your boss. Success doesn't always come from doing your job well. More often, it comes from making your manager look good.

"To move up in a company, you have to manage your boss," says Penelope Trunk, a former company owner who writes about careers. Ms. Trunk, author of "Brazen Careerist: New Rules for Success" to be published in May by Warner Books, says many bosses are poor managers who struggle to organize their own workloads. They often are so overwhelmed they can't delegate or help subordinates organize their work.

"So you need to find out what's important to your boss," says Ms. Trunk. "If you can help with it, you will be a huge asset."

More on supervisor management here.

When a Job Comes Without Directions [CollegeJournal]

CareerBuilder and CNN point out 10 jobs that let you dress down. The list covers everything from "rock critic" to "restaurant manager" to "graphic designer." The usual tech jobs are also represented. For you people who choose your careers based solely on what the dress requirements are, this list is for you.

10 jobs that let you dress down [CareerBuilder @ CNN]

Do's and Don'ts for Emailing Cover Letters and Resumes [College Journal]

Dollar bills, ya'll

Companies are setting budgets and conducting performance reviews, which means now's the time to get and there and -- maybe, just maybe -- ask for that raise.

Forbes magazine offers tips on how to get in front of your boss and increase your chances of getting what you want. One key strategy: be proactive. Show up prepared and ready to make your case:

Don't sit by and let your boss do all the work. Come to the review armed with information that demonstrates what an integral employee you are to the company. "Employees that are proactive are most likely to get a good score," says Mark Murphy, CEO of Leadership IQ, a leadership, research and training firm in Washington, D.C.

Don't be taken off guard. Ask when you're scheduled for a performance review and what you need to be prepared for that meeting. Bring a detailed list of what you accomplished throughout the year. That's invaluable when writing a self-evaluation. And yes, every employee should do one of those, even if your firm doesn't have a formal process. That's the chance for you to refresh your boss' memory on what you accomplished throughout the year.

More tips on makin' that bank here.

Plus: CNN Money has more on "salary secrets," including a survey you can take to determine whether you should ask for more money.

Do You Deserve A Raise? [Forbes]

The office might be far from the playground, but it’s not off limits to bullies. From a screaming boss to snubbing colleagues, bullies can create a “war zone” in the workplace.

In a recent study, bullied employees likened their experiences to a battle, water torture, a nightmare or a noxious substance. Understanding the seriousness of workplace bullying and what it feels like to get bullied could help managers put the brakes on the behavior, shown to afflict 25 to 30 percent of employees sometime during their careers.

“Many Americans are familiar with sexual and racial harassment, but not generalized workplace bullying,” said study team member Sarah Tracy of Arizona State University. Bullying can lead to higher company costs including increased employee illness, use of sick days, and medical costs, ultimately affecting productivity, she added.

Work life is just like elementary school, but on a larger scale. How do you deal with bullies? More advice here.

Study: Office Bullies Create Workplace 'Warzone' [Live Science]