business and economy

Netbooks, smartbooks, laptops -- students and parents are bombarded with choices these days.

COVER LETTER: "Yup! I was the girl behind the candy counter, boxing and selling those wonderful chocolates that everyone adores so much."

Can we get free samples?

It's true that employers seek professionals who are passionate about their work. This candidate did a nice job of demonstrating her joy for her job, but her overly casual tone could turn off some hiring managers.

Millions of low-income families rely on check-cashing companies, money orders and payday loans to handle basic financial needs -- costly services that can undermine tight household budgets -- even as evidence shows many are receptive to buying on layaway and even contributing to retirement savings plans.

You're reading this column because you want to get hired, right? Of course right -- so listen up! Hiring authorities have spoken and they agree ... networking is the most valuable tool in the job seeker's arsenal.

The least effective process for finding a job: Job fairs.

Is Swiss banking secrecy as holey as its cheese?

That question comes to mind after the Swiss government agreed to facilitate a settlement under which UBS will turn over the names of about 4,450 accounts held in the Swiss bank by American residents to the Internal Revenue Service.

America is recalibrating. What might have been taken for granted two years ago seems altogether suspect now: Your home will retain its value. Your retirement savings will appreciate. You'll get a small raise next year. Your nearest bank and your neighborhood car dealership will continue to exist.

Frustrated by a rash of skeptical reports about YouTube's business model, Google Inc. set aside its usual reluctance to discuss the popular video site's financials last month and offered up a juicy hint to Wall Street.

Facebook was born in 2004 as a way for college students to connect with friends. But what does the social media giant want to be when it grows up?

Similar to how Microsoft, Google and Apple have inserted themselves into users' everyday lives, Facebook also seeks that type of influence by providing a social layer to every online activity.

In today's economy, one has to work so hard to land an interview that sometimes researching a company and preparing for an interview becomes secondary. It would be a shame to work hard to get an interview at an "A list" company, and then blow it by not preparing to sell yourself when you get there!

Is the term "jobless recovery" an oxymoron?

That was the question some readers had in response to my recent column on the subject.