business and economy

As the economy continues to heal from the Great Recession, job security is more important than ever to most workers. Employees can preserve job security by making sure they are irreplaceable to their companies, says Laurence Shatkin in his new book, "150 Best Jobs for a Secure Future."

Once again, people receiving federal unemployment benefits will start losing them unless Congress can agree on some way to extend them past the end of this month.

Considering it's an election year, I'd like to offer some advice about sharing your political views with hiring managers: Don't.

Employers generally regard politics as a touchy, if not taboo, topic in the office. Offering even the slightest of partisan statements in application materials or during a job interview can make you seem unprofessional. You may even offend the other person.

If you want to sell a car, television or power tool to a man, drop an attractive woman into the ad. It's the oldest trick in advertising's toolbox.

Tips for long-term unemployed

Workplace experts say that being unemployed need not be a crippling liability during job interviews, but applicants should come prepared with convincing answers. To get hired, use the interview wisely.

Craig Guerdat used to be a technical writer but hasn't been able to land a full-time job in his field for more than two years. He suspects one reason he's been passed over again and again is that employers don't want to hire someone who doesn't have a job.

At first, the California woman, who had fallen behind on her condo payments, thought the letter was a scam. "You could sell your home, owe nothing more on your mortgage and get $20,000," it proclaimed in large type.

"I almost ripped it up," she said.

The conventional wisdom for both male and female employees when it comes to shedding tears in front of co-workers in the workplace is: Don't do it.

Things can go wrong and difficult issues can come up at work, but most workplace consultants agree that crying is not the best way to deal with job-related stress.

Three months ago, many bank customers were fuming. They didn't like big bank bailouts, and they didn't like the $5 debit card fees that Bank of America and other institutions were rolling out.

In response to November's call for a nationwide "Bank Transfer Day," about 610,000 consumers switched from a big bank to a credit union or smaller community bank, according to a recent research survey. Overall, an estimated 5.6 million U.S. consumers switched banks during October-December 2011. Their reasons:

Bank Transfer Day: 11 percent

Too many fees: 26 percent