job hunting

Forget Fountain Pens: 5 Gifts New College Grads Can Really Use

The classic graduation gifts are perfect for someone headed for an artist's colony or off on a vacation. But with half of recent college grads unemployed, the best gifts are ones that will help put them on the fast track to a job. Here are five smart options.

Worried About a Money Disaster? Here's Your Plan B

Do you fear something awful is around the corner when it comes to your finances? Given recent years' economic woes, it's not unreasonable. But you can turn your worries to your advantage by planning for the worst before anything goes wrong.

Tweak Your Major, Transform Your Job Prospects

Unemployment among recent college grads is at 9.3% -- but not for every major. The good news is, you can follow your skills and passions and still find a job. The highest-unemployment majors are often related to options that use the same skills, but offer much better odds of a job.

The Three Key Ways LinkedIn Makes Money

Trefis currently has a $30 price estimate for LinkedIn stock -- about a third of the market price. Why the disparity? Take a look at the prospects for the three businesses that bring in the vast majority of LinkedIn's revenue, and the answer becomes clear.

The Best and Worst Job Markets in the U.S.

North Dakota topped Gallup's list of best places to find jobs last year, followed by other states rich in natural resources, such as South Dakota and Alaska. Meanwhile, Nevada, New Jersey and California were the worst states for job hunters.

LinkedIn's IPO Is Another Step in the Social Takeover of the Web

When I first heard of LinkedIn as a tech reporter in the early 2000s, I dismissed it as a Friendster for business. Wrong. Since then, LinkedIn has proved to be a disrupter of the entire recruiting market. And its coming IPO shows just how vital social networking is becoming.

People@Work: These Days, Even Promotions Are Harder to Come By

Fresh data show that the number of promotions given to American workers has dwindled, suggesting that even those with jobs are having a tough time getting ahead. Fewer promotions are "a sign of the lingering impacts of the recession," one expert says.

Job-Seekers Are Getting a Bit More Upbeat

A new survey by job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas found the number of unemployed seeking work similar to what it found in 2009. Now, though, people are more optimistic that they'll land a job. Challenger agrees, but it notes the path is still long and difficult.

These Signs Point to Job Growth in 2011

Many Wall Street pundits are surprisingly bullish about the U.S. economy for 2011, but high unemployment continues to ravage Main Street. Still, with corporate profits booming and the stock market rallying, some indicators say jobs may finally be poised for a comeback, too.

Millions of Unemployed Face a Loss of Benefits

Americans who have been jobless for long periods are keenly awaiting congressional action on the latest extension of benefits. With a midnight deadline looming, some 2 million people face losing their only source of income.