jobsearch

The best route to a secure job still runs through the classroom, and droves of middle-aged Americans are following it. The proof is in the lending: The fastest growth in the student loan business is among people in their 40s. But are they making a good investment, or a bad bet?

Years ago, the fellow who was running the IRS at the time told Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine that he figured millions of taxpayers overpaid their taxes every year by overlooking just one of the money-savers listed here.

Recovering financially after long-term unemployment isn't easy, but it's fairly straightforward: Pay off debts, rebuild savings, and adjust to your new income. Recovering emotionally is far more complicated -- it means retraining your brain and consciously shifting your perspective.

Rhonda, a 57-year-old Californian, was laid off in September after 37 years with a medical laboratory company. Now she needs to dust off those rusty job hunting skills, and figure out her financial next steps too. DailyFinance's Laura Rowley brought in a couple of experts to guide her.

Job searching is a job in itself, so let us help. Tell us your story for a chance to win professional resume help and a new laptop. Prizes will be decided by popular vote and AOL Jobs Editors, so be sure your story is honest and true to you.

Nicholas, 60, is a paralegal who has been jobless for more than a year, and is worried about the possibility of losing his home in rural Pennsylvania. If he depletes his savings and cashes out of a life insurance policy, he can pay off his mortgage. But is that the smartest move?

If you lost your job, how long could you continue to pay your mortgage? For two out of three homeowners, the answer is: Not as long as the average time it takes to find a new employer. If you're one of them, we have expert advice on building up a safety net that will help you stay ahead of the falling economy.

Kelly, 51, a mother of five who lives in the Midwest, wants to get back into the workforce after a 20-year absence -- a challenging prospect in today's weak hiring environment. But with the right focus and preparation, she can still transition from stay-at-home mom back to paid employee.

At Mo'joe Cafe in Berkeley, CA, customers huddle over their laptops and lattes, searching for jobs or working remotely as contractors. But business overall -- meaning mainly the "morning rush" -- is slow, and has been since the economic downturn. Could coffee sales be an index of economic health?

When it comes to finding your next employer, online job boards are out and social recruiting is in, says Robert McGovern, CEO of JobFox.com, a free website that enables job seekers to tap into private hiring networks. We chat with McGovern about the new era of online job hunting.