WSJ.com: Careers

How to Fix a Career in the Dumps

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:30:17 EDT

A recent book offers advice to people whose careers are in the doldrums.

Job Sites Get Personal

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:33:31 EDT

Finding a job in a recession is tough, let alone one that suits your background and interests. Several sites now offer to identify ideal career opportunities for job hunters for free.

Companies Target 'Feel-Good' Benefits

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:02:37 EDT

High-profile perks are being cut in the downturn, and any benefit perceived as a frill might be in jeopardy.

Tips for Becoming a Fitness Instructor

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:47:33 EDT

Reinvent Mailbag: Columnist Alexandra Levit answers readers' questions about becoming a fitness instructor at age 56, choosing a new career without spending a fortune and breaking into the luxury sector.

Fast Times for Jobless Runners

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:33:31 EDT

Laid-off workers are pursuing fitness goals like never before. Marathons, triathlons and road races are filling up in record time—and times are getting faster.

Men Suffer Brunt of Job Losses in Recession

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

It’s not hard to see why. Two male-dominated industries—construction and manufacturing—account for about half of the some 6 million jobs lost since the recession started in December 2007.

Tips for When the New Boss Is the Old Boss

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

Some recently laid-off employees are tapping an unexpected source for work: their former employer. But navigating the transition can be tricky.

Jobless Execs Foot Outplacement Bill

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

Unemployed executives say boutique outplacement companies are giving them an edge in their job search. But the advice and contacts come at a high price, more of which is being borne by the client.

Companies, Workers Tangle Over Law

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:33:28 EDT

Severe U.S. job cuts have exposed weaknesses in a federal law meant to cushion the blow of mass layoffs.

Dial Down Emotions

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:47:35 EDT

When it comes to displaying feelings at work, you have to be careful. There's passionate -- and there's emotionally unstable.

Navigating New Job Hunting Rules

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

For many Americans looking for work, the first stop is an online job board. Now job seekers are finding that prospective employers increasingly are looking elsewhere to find new hires—the companies’ own Web sites.

Minimum-Wage Increase Comes at a Bad Time

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 05:18:32 EDT

The federal minimum wage goes up this month just as job losses are sending new alarms about the economy, giving traction to fears that higher wages will hurt job creation.

When an Employer Won't Provide References

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:47:33 EDT

Career Q&A: A reader asks what to do when a company won't give out references.

Only the Employed Need Apply

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

Many employers are bypassing the jobless to target those still working, reasoning that these survivors are the top performers.

Even Teachers Feel Pinch of Downturn

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:34:39 EDT

Education jobs -- once considered recession proof -- grew steadily in recent years, but the number of teaching jobs has declined in four of the last six months.

Rising Job Losses Damp Recovery Hopes

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:52:26 EDT

Job losses accelerated last month and the unemployment rate rose to 9.5%, casting doubt on the U.S. economy's ability to rebound soon.

LPL Lures the Frustrated Off Wall Street

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 06:55:53 EDT

Wall Street's reputation couldn't be much worse, and that's very good for business at brokerages eager to snag defectors from bigger firms.

Job-Test Ruling Cheers Employers

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:57:23 EDT

The Supreme Court's landmark discrimination ruling may create uncertainty about when and what kinds of tests employers can give applicants for jobs or promotions.

A Well-Traveled Life Leads to Kabul

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

Jonathan Bartolozzi spent his childhood in Italy, Britain and Brazil—and now calls Afghanistan home, where he runs a relief effort.

Manufacturing Stabilizes; Labor Is Still Weak

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:54:15 EDT

Declines in U.S. manufacturing activity slowed last month, which may point to growth in the second half of the year. But separate reports showed the labor market remains weak, an obstacle to recovery.

Gannett to Cut Over 1,000 Jobs

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:28:58 EDT

Gannett will cut between 1,000 and 2,000 jobs out of its 41,500-person work force in response to continuing newspaper revenue declines.

Touching Me, Touching You---at Work

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:23:55 EDT

Some people are “touchers.” Others are “touchees.” But most of us are confused about the rules of physical contact at the office.

Appearances Matter

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:04:53 EDT

First impressions are important because people secretly doubt you have what it takes to be successful.

Small Firms Lure Big-Company Exiles

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:52:40 EDT

As major corporations lay off employees, small businesses are benefiting from an unexpected windfall: Displaced talent that is now knocking at the door.

Shift Revives Dispute Over Overtime Pay

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:25:12 EDT

A push to extend overtime pay and minimum-wage protections to home-care workers is dividing the industry between workers demanding better pay and employers who insist that mandates would drive up costs.

Staying Productive During a Career Change

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:53:50 EDT

Reinvent Mailbag: Columnist Alexandra Levit answers readers' questions about ways to be productive during a career change, starting fresh in a recession and tips for finding scholarships.

Unemployed Hit the Road to Find Jobs

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:36:11 EDT

As unemployment soars, some Americans are giving up normal family life for a paycheck -- an echo of the itinerants who roamed the country for work during the Great Depression.

Michigan Expects Surge in Welfare Applications

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:47:20 EDT

A strict welfare system has kept Michigan's caseloads down despite the state's 14.1% unemployment rate, but exhaustion of jobless benefits could soon change that.

When Granny Is Your Nanny

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

When grandparents take care of children, family tensions can rise, writes Sue Shellenbarger.

Financials Post Sign of Times: CEO Wanted

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:17:31 EDT

The strain of the credit crisis, curbs on executive compensation and the specter of government scrutiny are making it harder for financial firms to lure chief executives.

The Boundaries of Unemployment

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:04:31 EDT

The U.S. system is a complex patchwork of programs guided by Washington but administered principally by the states.

Jack Welch MBA Coming to Web

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:15:41 EDT

Former General Electric chief Jack Welch is putting his name and money behind a little-known educational entrepreneur.

Push for Time Off Gains in Many States

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:17:33 EDT

New and strengthened Democratic majorities in many state legislatures are pushing for businesses to grant employees more time off for personal or family reasons.

Firms Shift Underused Workers

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:17:33 EDT

When firms consolidate operations during a downturn, employees gain skills as they are forced to be more versatile.

To Blog or Not to Blog

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:34:19 EDT

Can blogging help further your reinvention efforts?

Cuts Are Here to Stay, Companies Say

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:17:33 EDT

Many companies that have cut jobs, pay and benefits in the recession may not be quick to restore them.

Look Before You Leap at a New Job

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:48:52 EDT

Here are five tips for job seekers to consider before taking the first job they are offered.

New Ph.D.s Look Abroad for Jobs

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:11:51 EDT

The scramble for faculty jobs is prompting graduate students and newly minted Ph.D.s to look overseas.

Relief for School Loans

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:31:37 EDT

Starting July 1, some college graduates will be able to get lower loan payments under the federal government's new Income Based Repayment Plan.

Helping Moms to Let Dads Be Dads

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:12:53 EDT

Research shows how kids benefit from having a positive, involved father, but negative "gatekeeping" by mothers can be an obstacle.

Advice for Senior Job-Hunters

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:46:45 EDT

Career Q&A: A 55-year-old job-hunter has answered 400 job ads but landed no job. What's a better approach?

The Therapeutic Powers of Work

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:24:54 EDT

“Listening to Prozac” author Peter D. Kramer discusses how work has the power to help us work out our personal problems.

New Weekly Jobless Claims Increase

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:58:45 EDT

The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits rose slightly last week, suggesting that while job losses have moderated since January, a rapid turnaround in labor-market conditions is unlikely.

In Finance, Recent Signs of Hiring

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:46:32 EDT

Wall Street firms are slowly beginning to hire again, offering a bright spot amid continued job losses in financial services.

Re-Entering the Work Force

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:02:51 EDT

Starting any new job is hard, and coming back to work after a long layoff can be even harder. Here's how to make a successful re-entry.

A Builder of Castles Made of Trash

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:45:50 EDT

How architect Michael Reynolds came to found Earthship Biotecture, which designs and builds sustainable homes world-wide.

Overcoming Career Setbacks

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:31:49 EDT

When misfortune and adversity follow periods of personal achievement, learn to deal with rejection and ignore the naysayers in order to get back on track.

Nursing Shortage Eases With Recession

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:29:12 EDT

The nation's deep recession is helping to alleviate the decade-long nursing shortage, as workers who had left the field in better times are returning in droves.

Rethinking Their Ambitions

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:37:17 EDT

Many of the newly minted M.B.A.s graduating into a bleak economy are rethinking ambitions, trading dreams of high-paying careers in hard-hit fields like investment banking for positions in less-battered sectors.

Raising Kids to Thrive Amid Career Chaos

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:34:04 EDT

The recession is driving home a bitter truth: The path to a secure career is increasingly hard to find. Here's what parents should do to equip their children for this.

Avoiding Work-from-Home Scams

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:44:37 EDT

Reinvent Mailbag: Columnist Alexandra Levit answers reader questions about work-from-home scams and listing many short-term jobs on your resume.

Is Beauty in the Eyes of the Beholder?

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:29:12 EDT

A Cambridge Judge Business School Ph.D. candidate is wrapping up research showing how consumers in many parts of the world respond well to non-traditional models.

Jobless Professionals Yearn to Do Good

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:52:44 EDT

The recession is proving a boon for volunteer programs and social-enterprise groups, which are swamped with applicants with business backgrounds.

Processing Software Into a Suite Job

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:10:15 EDT

How Sam Schillace became the engineering director for Gmail and other products at Google.

From Techie to Bike-Store Owner

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:12:02 EDT

How a subcontractor building computer networks for big companies became a bike shop and coffee bar owner.

Wholesale Inventories Decline 1.4%

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:04:50 EDT

U.S. wholesalers reduced their inventories in April more than expected as middlemen try bringing supply in line with falling sales.

Industry Pushes to Extend Home-Buyer Tax Credit

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:13:08 EDT

A business group is making a push for Congress to boost and extend a home-buyer tax credit, amid worries that rising mortgage rates may damp a recovery.

More Firms Cut Pay to Save Jobs

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:29:24 EDT

Pay cuts, rather than layoffs, have emerged as an alternative way for many companies to reduce labor costs as demand slumps during the recession.

Keep Raising the Bar in Your Career

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:31:50 EDT

It's easy to rest on your accomplishments, perhaps even feeling there's not much left to learn. But in this economy, you can't afford to sit back.

Job Front Remains Grim

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:00:18 EDT

Eighteen months into the recession, U.S. workers are still rapidly losing jobs, and they may have to wait years before seeing a recovery in the labor market.

How to Flee an Ailing Industry

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:03:49 EDT

With unemployment hitting a new 25-year high, many workers in the worst-hit industries are looking for safer sectors. Here's how to make a switch.

Slower Job Losses Lift Hopes

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 07:09:13 EDT

The slowing pace of U.S. job losses last month added to hopes that the recession is drawing to a close. But the jobless rate reached its highest level in 26 years.

Staying Motivated When the Perks Disappear

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:58:56 EDT

Work Therapy columnist Kayleen Schaefer offers advice on how to keep your chin up when the office pleasantries go out the window.

Acing a Phone Interview

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:54:54 EDT

The phone interview, usually the first step before an in-person interview, is now being used to weed out job seekers by asking the tough questions reserved for finalists.

No Gloom, Doom at Car-Dealer School

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:47:02 EDT

Despite the auto industry's dire state, graduates from a unique auto retailing program have all landed jobs. Playing in their favor is a desire by dealerships to recruit young workers better versed in online media.

What Won't You Do for a Job?

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:54:54 EDT

As the downturn persists, U.S. employers flooded with résumés are looking for upgraded talent -- making job hunters jump through unusual hoops to find it.

Bleak U.S. Job Picture Brightens a Bit

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:18:45 EDT

The U.S. job market isn't deteriorating as much as earlier this year, but companies continue to cut workers at a rapid clip.

From Ordering Steak, to Serving It

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:20:32 EDT

Some former Wall Street employees are struggling to translate specialized skills to other fields, and find themselves forced to accept low-wage work.

Fine-Tuning Your Résumé

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:03:52 EDT

After a layoff, trying to get your résumé into as many hands as possible without a strategic plan is a mistake. Here's how to get the most out of your résumé.

A Business in the Bud

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:27:05 EDT

How Lynn Jawitz made the change from her career as a financial consultant to a florist.

Bringing Your Passion to Work

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:10:23 EDT

Bringing a side interest to work is one way to find more time to do what you love without putting your life on hold and your financial health at risk.

Teens Can Still Find Summer Jobs

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:33:23 EDT

Opportunities remain for young workers with creativity and the will to pound the pavement, experts say.

Ditching the Job Fair to Vent

Thu, 28 May 2009 08:50:55 EDT

New community groups across the U.S. are helping the laid-off cope with the recession and get their careers back on track.

Job Seekers Play Down Their Credentials

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:58:56 EDT

Experienced professionals have taken to dumbing down their resumes, in an effort to get a foot in the door in an overcrowded market where experience seems to be a liability.

What I Learned From the SATs

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:24:36 EDT

Sue Shellenbarger reflects on the terrifying experience of retaking the SAT after 40 years.

Becoming a Professional Blogger

Tue, 26 May 2009 16:00:11 EDT

Mark Frauenfelder, founder of boingboing.net, discusses how he earns a six-figure salary doing something he loves.

Ready to Be the Boss?

Tue, 26 May 2009 09:50:23 EDT

Becoming an entrepreneur requires a special mindset. Take the right steps before striking out on your own to make sure self-employment is a good fit.

With Jobs Scarce, Age Becomes an Issue

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:48:50 EDT

More young workers are at risk of layoffs as employers grow wary of letting older employees go because of age-discrimination lawsuits.

Stanford Names Business School Dean

Tue, 26 May 2009 18:32:02 EDT

Stanford University's Graduate School of Business tapped economist Garth Saloner to take over as dean.

Law Firms Embrace Business School 101

Wed, 20 May 2009 09:06:32 EDT

At many law firms, top attorneys are being trained like business people, using executive education courses to strengthen management and business skills.

Extreme Child-Care Maneuvers

Wed, 20 May 2009 13:27:40 EDT

The complex dance of dual-earner couples is escalating to new extremes as husbands and wives swap roles and bend schedules to squeeze in time for work and family.

Presenting Entrepreneurship on a Resume

Fri, 22 May 2009 12:34:40 EDT

Reinvent Mailbag: Columnist Alexandra Levit answers reader questions about how to go from business owner to corporate employee, breaking into sportscasting and how to develop a creative career.

A Web Presence From Scratch

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:58:56 EDT

With unemployment at a 23-year high, job seekers should expand the way they search. Here's how to build up a social-networking presence from scratch.

A Shorter Path to a J.D./M.B.A.

Wed, 20 May 2009 10:36:41 EDT

Joint law and business degrees have usually taken four years to earn. Now a handful of schools are offering fast-tracked, condensed programs.

How to Manage Office Bullies

Mon, 18 May 2009 14:50:25 EDT

If you've been saddled with a work relationship that's making you miserable, here are some tips on how can you transform the situation.

Mastering the Art of Executive Interviewing

Fri, 15 May 2009 11:55:46 EDT

Tierney Remick, a senior client partner for executive-search firm Korn/Ferry International, on why the right preparation can make the difference between landing on your feet and hitting the street.

Bartending: Nice Work if You Can Mix It

Fri, 15 May 2009 07:31:54 EDT

As the economy sputters, bartenders are going back to school to become "masters" of mixology.

The Inventor of the Klingon Language

Thu, 14 May 2009 14:54:46 EDT

How the director of live captioning became the linguist who invented the Klingon language.

One Household, Two Pink Slips

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:11:22 EDT

Couples who face double unemployment also have a double shot of support in finding a new job.

Bright Spots on the Job Front

Tue, 12 May 2009 11:46:42 EDT

The jobless rate rose last month, but economists say the pain isn't evenly spread throughout the nation and in some industries, jobs were added.

Care and Feeding of Network Contacts

Thu, 14 May 2009 04:38:38 EDT

How Dipchand Nishar, vice president of products at LinkedIn, maximizes his networking opportunities online.

Career Women, Remade

Tue, 12 May 2009 11:01:06 EDT

If you're a mid-career woman who wants to make a change, where should you begin? Columnist Alexandra Levit on how you can reinvent yourself.

Start-Up Boards Spar over Cash Plans

Tue, 12 May 2009 17:04:32 EDT

Many start-ups are finding themselves locked in boardroom dramas as they navigate the tricky tightrope between how much to cut and how much to grow.

Many Companies Hire as They Fire

Thu, 14 May 2009 23:57:11 EDT

As layoffs mount, many of the same employers, such as Boeing, IBM and Yahoo also are hiring -- in other business units, in other places, or for other skills.

Negotiating the Freelance Economy

Fri, 08 May 2009 23:42:11 EDT

Contract and freelance work are on the rise as companies avoid expenses associated with hiring permanent or temp staff.

Pace of Job Losses Eases

Sun, 10 May 2009 18:20:52 EDT

The U.S. unemployment rate in April hit 8.9%, its highest in a quarter century. But the pace of job losses slowed.

From Wall Street to Green Mountain

Wed, 13 May 2009 18:03:51 EDT

How a former Goldman Sachs distressed-assets trader returned to his roots as a chief responsibility officer at Green Mountain Coffee.

Brokers Abandon Wall Street

Fri, 08 May 2009 09:24:34 EDT

The number of brokers leaving Wall Street is rising as a result of slumping markets, widespread job cuts and shrinking paychecks.

Holding College Chiefs to Their Words

Wed, 06 May 2009 22:30:11 EDT

The Journal had the presidents of 10 colleges and universities answer an essay question from their own school's application, a task that tortures high-school seniors every year.

Should Over-50 Job Hunters Join Facebook?

Tue, 05 May 2009 23:01:16 EDT

A reader asks if it makes sense for older professionals to use networking sites when searching for a new position.

Giving Internships a Post-College Try

Tue, 05 May 2009 09:40:42 EDT

With jobs scarce, recent college graduates are looking to make the most of post-grad internships -- with hopes of landing full-time positions.

Job Under the Microscope

Tue, 05 May 2009 09:51:57 EDT

How Fred C. Tenover turned an early love of science into a successful microbiology career at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.