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.

Did you turn your clock back this past weekend, embracing the opportunity for an extra hour of sleep? If so, you are not alone.

After countless mass downsizings, there are many people who are beyond busy -- and squeezing more hours from the workday by increasing their waking hours. While skipping a full night’s sleep might increase your available hours to, ostensibly, make you more productive in the short term, you might be damaging your productivity - and your health - in the long term.

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!

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:

Even in a tough, highly competitive economy, there's a lot you can do to further your career. Whether you want to move up in the ranks at your current job or seek out your passion and find the success you've always dreamed of having by starting your own business, sometimes all you need is a little motivation to get you on the right path. These lectures from experts in a wide range of fields will do just that, offering guidance on everything from the true meaning of success to improving productivity to help you kick your career into high gear.

A recent study by the employment services firm Manpower found that 84% of workers are planning to look for a new job this year. How about you? Are you in this majority?

Do you remember when the résumé debates were over the weight and color of paper? If the answer is "yes", your résumé might need more than a polish. It might need an overhaul. A lot has changed since you were last on the job market. For example, about 80% of employers, both small and large, are using an applicant tracking system (ATS). This means your résumé will probably be “read” first by computer software and not a human. Consider the technology:

The last blog post was about analyzing your pride experiences to get a better sense of your natural talents and abilities, the things you do you do better than most people, and your work values and preferences. The hope for this set of blog posts is that they will collectively provide you with various ways to gain insight about yourself and your ideal career. Once your talents, work values, etc. are identified, the overarching goal is to work in a career where you can leverage them in order to feel greater engagement and fulfillment from work.

Are you able to name your natural talents and abilities, the things you do you do better than most people? Do you leverage those in your career? If you are like many, the answer is “no” and “I don’t know.”

It seems logical that you would want your career to leverage your natural talents and abilities. It is simple, right? If you have great communication skills and are extroverted, you might enjoy customer service (and would likely feel unfulfilled working alone or only interacting with a computer). If you are very calm under pressure and like an adrenaline rush, you may thrive in a face-paced profession (one in which others would quickly burnout).