Despite the fact that the Great Recession is already being referred to in the past tense, unemployment and underemployment are still high. Many Americans know, firsthand, the challenges of long-term unemployment and underemployment and the increased pressure to do more with less at work. As these work-related stresses continue, we all should be looking for ways to stave off the risks for depression, anxiety, and cynicism. One possibility for combating the negative effects of a difficult job market is by volunteering to help those less fortunate. Volunteering not only helps and motivates those you serve, but has the same positive effect on you, the volunteer.

Last week I had an interesting conversation with an acquaintance. She is very close to retirement age and is sincerely hoping to be offered an early-retirement buyout the next time her company downsizes. Her problem – if you can call it a problem in this difficult employment reality – is that she is in a critical role, has a unique skill set, and is a consistently reliable performer. Her employer needs her. This is a very enviable problem to have – to be bulletproof in your job.

Do you remember a time, not too long ago, when all résumés ended with the obligatory line “references available upon request”? In today’s reality, where information about individuals is available with a mouse click, the phrase almost seems naive and contrived.

We can either thank or condemn (or both) the internet for giving us access to unfiltered opinions about individuals’ performance as more people and professions are being rated and ranked on these open sites. Welcome to the reputation economy!

If you are currently living in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summertime. The thermometer is higher along with your kids' energy level and number of reruns on television.

Another signal of summertime - a greater number of people taking vacations from work.

Over the past few months, my husband and I have had several family members and friends at our lake house who were doing just that -- taking a vacation from their jobs. (We continue to be honored that they spend their precious few vacations days with us.)

As you check off the necessities on your interview preparation list - conservative business attire, research on the company, breath mints, turning your phone on silent, etc. - you should also think about the nontraditional issues that may arise during your interview. Nontraditional elements in an interview? Yes. Lately, companies are turning the conversation to taboo topics to see if you have what it takes to work under pressure. The restrictive economy means more than just less jobs, it means filling the rare empty spaces with candidates that are capable of handling the other stressors that the down economy brings. Competition is fierce in today's market, and interviewers want to be certain that their ideal candidates bring a bit of diplomatic spunk to the table.

Getting out there and networking face-to-face with business contacts and potential clients may be old-fashioned, but it's still one of the most effective ways to make a memorable impression and generate business. The way to build on that success is maximizing the chance that these contacts will in fact get in touch with you. And that essential action depends on yet another old-school business stalwart - the business card.

It’s June. Retailer nickname this season “Dads and Grads” based on all of the gifts that will be purchased for Fathers’ Day and graduation parties.

Will you be attending a graduation party? If so, how are you honoring your newly graduated loved ones?

As you buy some mortar board-shaped balloons, Class of 2011 streamers, and cakes with your loved one’s photo reproduced in butter cream frosting, consider this: your graduate, along with the entire Class of 2011, has given you, me, and all of us a tremendous gift - insight into today’s labor market.

They graduate and we receive the gift. Brilliant.

Is there ever a perfect time for you to ask for a salary increase – especially in this economy? No, probably not. "Perfect" timing depends on your specific work situation, when your answers to the following five questions all point in the direction that favors your case for an increase. Be sure to answer each question honestly:

LinkedIn is sometimes referred to as Facebook for grown-ups. That may be true, as LinkedIn is a much more respectable site on which you can network, share information, and build relationships that can grow and support your career. Check out these tips to find out how you can use LinkedIn to make a change in your life and career.

General Advice - Pay attention to your manners, be a real person, and follow these tips to do well on LinkedIn:

1. Be polite: Remember your manners when interacting with others on LinkedIn.
2. Stay active: Update routinely-you don’t want it to look like no one’s home.
3. Keep an eye on your competition: Check out the public profile for companies to see who they are hiring and more.