Need business cards? Hot trends you should know about before buying You might survive without your smart phone. You could possibly even sacrifice your laptop if you had to. But the one business tool you can't do without is decidedly low tech, and has been around since the 17th century. You just can't do business without your business cards.

The scary waste of 'vampire power' Vampires may be hot right now in the entertainment world, but "vampire power" - the slow, invisible energy drain caused by leaving electric devices plugged in - simply sucks.

How to go from survive to thrive at work With a wide-spread recession and high jobless rates, it would be no surprise to find that many employed Americans are in "survivor mode" - doing what they can to make the most of the jobs and resources they have at hand.

How lawyers can help women fighting breast cancer When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, many of her most important questions can't be answered by a doctor. What if my insurance won't cover a new treatment? Do I risk losing my benefits if I am not working full time? Will my boss let me take time off for treatment?

Choosing a career in the new economy Whether heading into the work force for the first time or perhaps being shuffled around by the economy, employees and future employees are evaluating and re-evaluating their career paths.

As Hispanic population grows business opportunities multiply The estimated Hispanic population of the United States is nearly 105 million people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Latinos account for half the U.S. population growth since 2000 and that number is expected to continue to increase, making it one of the fastest growing market segments. Hispanics need assistance with tax preparation services and a specialized service business is now open to franchisees nationwide.

Tips for juggling the class room, family room and conference room As the slowed economy has fueled a very competitive job market, more and more adults are making the decision to go back to school to build upon their skills and obtain the knowledge required to strengthen their career prospects.

Designing design careers in a recession The negative impact of the recession on the design industry is undeniable. Yet, there may be a silver lining, say industry experts, who assert that a recession may spark innovation, discourage waste, and encourage the use of less-expensive and more durable materials and gadgets - possibly made of common utensils and accessories.

Plumbing the depths of a top 50 in-demand job Plumbing is among the top 50 occupations for job stability, median wage and anticipated demand, according to careervoyages.com, a Web site jointly maintained by the departments of Labor and Education.

Chicago: Your convention connection Chicago is a major player in the convention destination arena. In every successful convention city - in this case Chicago - self storage options are an important part of the amenities offered.

Are you getting paid to shop? Ordering office supplies, classroom materials and doing some everyday shopping online gives you good deals with coupons and discounts. But you can go one step further and get cash back on your purchases as well.

Tips for getting better customer service during the holidays Crowded stores, long lines, low inventory and cranky shoppers rushing to find that perfect holiday gift can often lead to a "perfect storm" of bad service. That's why many retailers are ensuring that they have service quality systems in place to avoid the typical holiday mishaps between shoppers and service staff.

Business travelers can save big with the right strategies Corporate America is cutting costs like never before. The complimentary lunches and corporate bonuses are long gone as companies look to find savings wherever possible. But for many frequent business travelers, the savings associated with, say, a conference call instead of an in-person meeting are outweighed by the lack of face time between the two parties.

Tips to make job hunting easier Job hunting has gone from searching the classifieds to roaming online job boards and career search engines. But before you sit down in front of your computer, ask yourself some important questions and then be prepared to go social.

You can find money to pay for college In a competitive job market, earning a degree can be the biggest single step one can take to enhance career value and earning potential. As many bask in the glow of making plans to increase their career potential, the prospect of paying for college is a sobering reality.

Beat economy-induced stress with massage therapists' secrets Whatever its source, prolonged stress can have serious health consequences. Take these tips from massage professionals to help relieve your stress.

Too young to retire: A new career track for baby boomers It seems the aspirations of baby boomers are changing from ones of retirement, to those of entrepreneurship. Over the past decade, Americans age 55 to 64 have seen the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity, especially since the traditional business model and large corporations no longer provide the job security they used to.

Financial tips for job seekers Losing your job is tough. But in the midst of a recession, rebounding and finding new employment is even harder. Building a resume and making connections to find a new job are a priority, but the first issue most people should address is money.

Protect your family from PC-related injury Fall likely means you'll be putting in more hours at the office in front of a desktop, and your kids will deal with mountains of homework by firing up their laptops. That extra computer time could add up to some painful injuries for computer users of all ages. Here are some tips for healthful computer use.

Pro bono legal work makes a difference For one week at the end of October, law schools, law firms, bar associations and other legal groups from New York to New Orleans and Boston to Seattle will recognize work done by lawyers on behalf of the poor and underserved through the first national pro bono celebration.

Laid off? What do you do now? When you first entered the workforce, you probably didn't anticipate the economy turning so sour. In fact, you've spent many years diligently promoting yourself up the career ladder and establishing a nice set of skills - only to find out your company can't afford to keep you around any longer. Now you can take those skills you've refined over the years and re-evaluate where you are in life.

Keeping America's information safe offers a secure career From shopping to working to banking, Americans are doing it all online. Consumers need their private information to be safe, but at the same time, they want the speed and convenience of instant transactions, all without giving it a second thought. Information security specialists are in the shadows, ensuring consumer and business data security worldwide.

When do entrepreneurs look to buy a small business? Who says there's an age limit on the question "What do I want to be?" According to a recent study, a large number of small business owners weren't bit by the entrepreneurship bug until they graduated from college or started down a completely different career path. When do entrepreneurs look to buy a small business?

Creative ways for your business to show personality No matter what your business, if you expect to make an impact, you've got to create and maintain a business personality. With communications changing at the speed of light, now is the time to get creative and go beyond just a logo on stationary.

Think pink on the job and raise awareness of breast cancer One out of every eight will receive a breast cancer diagnosis during her lifetime, according to the National Cancer Institute. Every woman diagnosed is someone's mother, aunt, best friend, neighbor or coworker. Every day is a great day to step up and fight this deadly, yet treatable, disease, but an especially good time is during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

Prepare for your next professional challenge with an MBA In today's economy, an Executive MBA degree can be a major advantage for job seekers and professionals looking to advance within their organizations, and often employers will provide a stipend for continuing education.

A career that helps pet owners answer questions when a pet passes Few things stir raw human emotions as much as the loss of a cherished pet or livestock that may represent a family's livelihood. For many, healing just won't happen until they understand the "why." When an animal dies, it's the veterinary pathologist who helps families answer the "why" ... and find some sense of closure after their loss.