Marilyn Monroe: Stunning exhibition of rare photos and artefacts marks 50 year anniversary of iconic star's death

Marilyn Monroe: Stunning exhibition of rare photos and artefacts marks 50 year anniversary of iconic star's death - Fifty years have passed since her death, but the image of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe is as enduring as ever.

Her short but stellar life - she died in 1962 at the age of 36 - saw her make 29 films, pose for countless photographers and even sing on stage for the U.S. President. 

Now, her colourful career, from model to movie star, has been charted in a new exhibition revealing rare photographs, portraits, original video and artefacts that once belonged to the star. 

Pin-up: A portrait of Marilyn in a polka dot bikini showing the star as she was in 1951 is one of many photographs on show at a new Marilyn Monroe exhibition

Natural: Marilyn took to her modelling career with ease, wowing studio heads who went on to hire her for their films - the first, a minor role, in 1946

Included in the exhibition are a host of stunning black and white photos of Marilyn, some taken in the earlier part of her career, when she was still a brunette by the name of Norma Jean Baker; others from the latter part, when she was the platinum blonde icon whose image is familiar to us all. 

The photographs, some candid snaps of Marilyn off-duty (though one assumes this eternal pin-up was rarely truly off-duty), others in which she adopts her classic sultry poses for the camera, have never been gathered together in one place for the public to view before now.

The exhibition also features a selection of original dresses and costumes worn by the star, which have been lent to the Getty Images Gallery by collector David Gainsborough Roberts, owner of the largest collection of Marilyn Monroe memorabilia in the world. 

Louise Garczewska, Director, Getty Images Gallery says: We are extremely excited to present our Marilyn exhibition, offering the public unparalleled and rare access to Marilyn's life through the iconic imagery from Getty Images' extensive archival collection. 

'David Gainsborough Roberts has kindly loaned us Marilyn's dresses which the public can see in London for the first time ever, making this exhibition a perfect tribute to one of Hollywood's greats.'

Looking every inch the Hollywood legend she is remembered as today, Marilyn arrives at the premiere of the 1954 Walter Lang film There's No Business like Show Business

In 1954, being photographed by Baron at her home in Palm Springs

Marilyn reading Motion Picture Daily in a portrait by Ed Feingersh, the photographer commissioned to document a week in the life of the actress in 1955, when she was attempting to move away from her dumb blonde image 

A 1955 photoshoot at the Ambassador Hotel in New York City in 1955, when Marilyn was 29 years old

On a bicycle ride with husband Arthur Miller during their brief marriage. They wed in 1956 and divorced in 1961, a year before Marilyn's death

Marilyn studies her script in between takes 

It's 1956, and a 30-year-old Marilyn is carried on the shoulder of American actor Don Murray on the set of director Joshua Logan's film Bus Stop

Sultry: After a decade of modelling, Marilyn perfected the art of seduction for the cameras

Attending a 1956 press conference at London's Savoy Hotel with British actor Laurence Olivier - who called her 'a brilliant comedienne - to promote their film The Prince And The Showgirl

Wearing the dress in the publicity poster for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which Marilyn starred with Jane Russell, right

Costumes worn by Marilyn across her 29 feature films will be on display at the Getty Gallery exhibition

Marilyn runs until 23rd May at the Getty Images Gallery at 46 Eastcastle Street, London, W1W 8DX. Admission free. Visit www.gettyimagesgallery.com for more information. 

A smaller exhibition will also be on display at Getty Images Gallery in Westfield Stratford City at a later date of 23 March to 3 June 2012. ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Should You Look For a New Job?

Should You Look For a New Job? - Career expert Josh Shipp has launched a TV show on the Halogen network called "Jump Shipp" airing every Friday night at 9 p.m. In it, he helps 20-somethings decide whether their current gigs are worth keeping. While most people feel lucky to even have a job in this crappy economy, he swears that there are certain surefire signs that you should start searching for something else. Here they are...

Everyone got a promotion...except you

If a bunch of your co-workers just got promoted and you didn't, you may need to start hunting. But before you do, step up and ask for more responsibility at your current gig. Be straightforward and tell your boss you'd like to advance in the company, and say you want more opportunities outside of what you're currently doing. If your higher-up seems open to it and gives you new things to do, it means you might be able to grow. But if he or she seems hesitant, it shows they may not value you, and you need to start looking.

You daydream about being something else

It's not an uncommon situation: All your life, you've wanted to be a veterinarian -- and yet here you are, stuffing envelopes at some random office job. Or waiting tables. Or whatever. And while it's totally understandable to take a temporary 9-to-5 just to make ends meet, you need to give your gig an expiration date. Pick a day in the future when you'll start really trying to make your dream gig happen. In the meantime, ask your boss if you can help with the stuff at your company that's more in your desired path. If you want to be a lawyer but you're currently an administrative assistant, see if you can do some extra work with the legal department at your company. That way, even though you're not actually working at a law firm, you're still getting experience in the field -- and it'll be way easier to make the leap when you're ready.

You seriously dread going to work

Getting upset or fed-up on the job every once in a while is normal. But if you have a case of the Mondays on pretty much every other day of the week, too, then...ding ding ding!...you probably need to make moves. Being unhappy at work causes you to be unproductive, and you'll start churning out work that's not up to par. And that'll make you feel even crappier. So if you've been unhappy for a more than a month or two, start trying to find a workplace environment that you'll enjoy more. ( cosmopolitan.com )

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Japan elects youngest woman mayor

Japan elects youngest woman mayor - Voters in Japan have elected a 36-year-old woman as the country's youngest female mayor, in a nation where older men make up the vast majority of politicians.

Naomi Koshi, a graduate of Harvard law school, beat a male incumbent twice her age to take the honours in Otsu, the capital city of Shiga prefecture.

Shiga's governor is also female, meaning it is the first place in Japan where a region's two top jobs are held by women.

Koshi, who was backed by the centre-left Democratic Party of Japan of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, beat 70-year-old Makoto Mekata by a margin of five-to-four.

Naomi Koshi (C), 36-year-old female lawyer, and her supporters celebrate as she becames the nation's youngest-ever female mayor, at Otsu city mayoral election, in Shiga prefecture, western Japan, on January 22. Koshi was backed by the ruling centre-left Democratic Party of Japan

"I want to work on expanding childcare and other services," the Mainichi Shimbun quoted Koshi as telling cheering supporters late Sunday.

Japan has few women among political and business leaders, making up just 11 percent of lower house members in national parliament and one percent of corporate leaders, according to a government report.

The paucity of women in senior roles is often cited as a reason for the country's relatively poor provision of daycare, itself touted as a contributing factor in Japan's declining birthrate as women put off motherhood in favour of pursuing their careers. ( AFP )

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Russian spy Anna Chapman in from cold, out on web

Russian spy Anna Chapman in from cold, out on web -- Russian spy Anna Chapman is in from the cold and out on the Internet with an official website featuring photos, news and an upbeat message urging Russians to smile and be self-reliant.

The site www.annachapman.ru is the latest venture from Chapman, who has made a media splash since her deportation from the United States in a Cold War-style spy swap last July.

She has posed in slinky lingerie for photographs with the Kremlin as a backdrop, started a weekly TV show, trademarked her name and taken a position with the youth wing of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's ruling party.

Anna Chapman, a former Russian spy now working as an advisor to the president of Moscow-based FundService Bank, looks on before delivering a speech at a congress of the pro-Kremlin Molodaya Gvardiya (Young Guard) movement in Moscow December 22, 2010.

The main page of the redhead's site features a Soviet-style red star and a close-up of Chapman cradling her face in hands adorned with bright red nail polish.

It includes links to the television show she began hosting in January on Russia's REN-TV, "Mysteries of the World," and a charity she has created to help children with sight problems.

Lower down is a series of photographs of Chapman, the first one showing her standing, hips shot, in a curve-hugging green outfit.

Beneath the red star, Chapman's name is in English, but the site as a whole -- as Chapman wrote in a Twitter message posted on Thursday -- is "only in Russian so far."

Chapman was one of 10 Russian agents who were arrested in the United States last summer and deported in exchange for four Russians imprisoned on charges of spying for the West.

The spies received a warm welcome in Russia, where ex-KGB officer Vladimir Putin sang patriotic songs with them and President Dmitry Medvedev bestowed them with state honors.

"I consider the day of my return to be my second birthday," Chapman says in the message on her site's main page. ( Reuters )

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The Five Office Romance Rules You Need to Know

The Five Office Romance Rules You Need to Know - Can't take your eyes off the attractive woman in the cubicle next to you? Got a thing for your tall, dark, and handsome office buddy?

Welcome to the sometimes wonderful, often awful, world of dating in the workplace. Whether you have a crush on a higher-up or an inkling for a intern, mixing business and pleasure is almost never a good idea. But, let's face it, sometimes inner office hijinks can be irresistible -- so here's how to make sure you make it through a workplace rendezvous unscathed.

Familiarize yourself with the HR policy. Not all companies have the same stance on inner-office romance. Some companies allow it, others discourage it, and a few even have written policies that ban it. After becoming familiar with your own company's policy on inner-office dating, consider whether or not the relationship is worth the potential risks to your career and reputation.

You're not fooling anyone. If you decide to continue with your office fling, be open with your employers and your coworkers. Nothing is worse than dishonesty in these situations, especially because most people are savvy enough to realize what is really going on. Inform human resources and your employer, and casually let your coworkers know the scoop. Of course, torrid details are not necessary, but make sure that you aren't letting deception ruin your otherwise impeccable reputation.

Avoid naughty email exchanges. Save the romantic words for your sweetie until the bell has rung. Emailing via the company computer is a recipe for disaster, especially if that email recounts personal exchanges that would be humiliating if made public.

Try to keep it professional. Don't let your newfound crush change the way you treat each other. Keep it professional as much as possible when at work, and save the cutesy nicknames and special treatment for when you are at home. Additionally, don't devote all your time to one another. Maintaining a rapport with other coworkers is part of being a savvy businessperson, as you never know when you might need those contacts later in life.

Take the high road. If the relationship should end, coming into work will definitely be stressful and emotionally trying for some time. However, you can keep the office as tension-free as possible if you both agree not to gossip about the relationship with other coworkers. Take the high road and try to maintain a respectful and professional demeanor, especially in front of others.

If you can't resist the lure of a cubicle cutie, go ahead and give dating in the workplace a try. But don't say I didn't warn you! ( lifestyle.yahoo.com )

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Getting a Job in the New Administration

Getting a Job in the New Administration. Thousands of positions must be filled; volunteer or work your connections. If Barack Obama inspired you so much that after voting for him you now want to work for him, there are thousands of jobs to be had in the new administration.

There are coveted presidential appointments and a huge array of staff positions. But you have to start the ball rolling right now, especially if you weren't an integral part of the presidential campaign.

You can head over to the newly minted Web site for the Obama transition team and fill out an application for a job right on the site. But like traditional job sites, this strategy probably won't get you very far. Getting a job with the new administration is pretty much like getting any job: It's all about connections.

Samuel Mok landed a job as comptroller for the Treasury Department under President Reagan, and he also went on to work for both Presidents George Bush and George W. Bush.

He had worked in corporate America and then became a foreign service officer prior to applying for the comptroller's job after spotting it in a newspaper ad in the late 1980s.

"It's a highly competitive process," Mok says. "For every position, there are countless numbers of people wanting the job. The more allies you can bring to the table, the better chance you have."

Work those connections

Those allies come from connections you may have established working or volunteering for the Obama campaign, or the ones you make now using some detective work and your existing network of contacts.

Strategies to land a job with the administration are varied depending on where you are in your career trajectory.

If you're just out of college, some experts suggest heading to Washington and volunteering for any position you can get.

"My advice to 20-somethings is to move to Washington, D.C., and work for either the presidential transition or the inauguration," says Michael Gordon, who worked on President Clinton's transition team and now runs Group Gordon, a public relations firm. "You generally have to start off as a volunteer, but if you're persistent and patient, those volunteer jobs turn into paying jobs and then administration jobs."

For midlevel career types, the key is working your contacts, connecting with key local presidential campaign organizers, and clearly linking your experience to your desired position or department.

Find the job you want, says Mok, "and then figure out who you know and work the channels and openly lobby for that job."

Last week, the Obama camp released information about its transition team, including names of key staff members.

Knowing this information gives you an inside view of who will be running the show. Now you can figure out if you have any connections with these individuals by using sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook. You can try to contact them directly or contact one of their friends, or friends of friends.

Another key is figuring out what Obama will be concentrating on when he takes over the White House, says Kathryn Troutman, president of The Resume Place Inc. and author of the "Federal Resume Guidebook."

"Typically, presidents write a whole plan on what they plan to do, their big ideas, and that's included in the president's agenda that's published on the White House Web site," she says. (Take a look at President Bush's agenda to get a feel for how this works.)

Troutman estimates that an Obama agenda will show up on the Web site within the first 90 days.

So where do you find what jobs are available?

The jobs may pop up on basic job listing sites, but there are specific portals with the bulk of these federal positions.

One of the best sources, Troutman says, is USAJOBS. "These are not presidential appointee positions, they are federal civil service positions, but all of the people who hold competitive service positions perform services in support of the president's agenda," she says.

Troutman expects there will be numerous financial jobs within the government given the recent call for more regulations of the financial sector. So that means federal agencies will be hiring for various positions, including inspectors, auditors, accountants or compliance officers.

Health care jobs will also be in abundance, she predicts, in everything from Medicare to Veterans Affairs.

Another source for federal jobs, according to Matt Eventoff, communications strategist with PPS Associates/Princeton Public Speaking in New Jersey, is something called the "Plum Book" released at the change of each administration. Although this has not been updated for the new president, you can see past ones here.

The Plum Book includes job descriptions and even pay scales for different positions.

Since the party running the White House has changed, Eventoff expects that there will be lots of turnover in a host of government jobs.

Revamp that resume

Don't expect Obama to make the job selections himself, Eventoff adds, aside from the highest-level posts.

The ones making the decisions for the thousands of other positions will be the president's transition team. There will also be advisory committees named for particular federal agencies and departments, Eventoff says. If you can find someone who knows someone in these groups, you'll have an advantage over the thousands of other applicants that will surely be vying for the jobs. If you have contacts who know any of the early Obama appointees, now is a good time to send them your resume.

Speaking of resumes, it's time to revamp yours if you've only worked in the private sector.

"The average federal resume is three to four pages, while a private sector resume is two or less," says resume expert Troutman. "You have to put in more details in a federal resume to demonstrate you have specific qualifications for the job."

Resumes for federal jobs, she says, have to clearly spell out specialized experience at a salary level that was equal to what the federal job will be paying.

Once your resume is sent and your contacts are milked, patience will indeed be a virtue as you try and secure a job with the new president, says Gordon.

During the Clinton years, he says, about 3,000 administrative appointments had to be filled. The process took months to complete.

"If you have any relevant policy experience, or political experience, or a particular skill set the administration can draw on, that will give you a leg up," Gordon says.

The first thing you have to ask yourself is if you're committed to the new commander in chief's legacy, says Mok, because government work consists of long hours for not great pay.

"There are two reasons worth serving," he continues. "You want to understand how the American government works, and you want to help Obama be successful." ( msn.com )

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Six Common Job Search Mistakes

Six Common Job Search Mistakes: Can You Recover?. In 20 years of career consulting, Karen Masullo has seen more job search mistakes than she can remember. There is one mistake, however, that she still chuckles about today:

"My most memorable experience with a résumé mistake was a young woman who insisted she did not need my help with the development, review or editing of her résumé," Masullo recalls. "She was angry she had been downsized and this refusal to accept help was part of her loss process."

After about two months, when her résumé hadn't generated any response, the woman finally contacted Masullo for help.

"It was easy to see why her résumé had been a flop," Masullo says. "She had been a shift supervisor a number of times. However, when you leave the 'f' out of 'shift'..."

Masullo's client is one in a sea of millions who make mistakes in their job searches every day. After all, no one is perfect. Even still, it's a cringe-worthy realization when you recognize that you've flubbed any part of the job-seeking process. Thankfully, experts say you can bounce back from most slip-ups, as long as you act quickly and sincerely.

"When you do make a mistake, don't panic and don't stick your head in the sand," says Steve Davies, founder of PerfectJob Software. "It might be a lost cause, but if you do nothing, it's definitely a lost cause. Some managers will give you high marks if you can recover gracefully from a mistake, because we all make them."

Here are several gaffes you might encounter in your job search and how (or if) you can recover from them:

Blunder No. 1: Arriving late to the interview -- or missing it altogether

Traffic is bad, the subway is slow, your cab driver got lost, your flight was delayed -- there are many reasons why you might be late to an interview, most of which the hiring manager will understand if you give him a heads up. Libby Kopp, a recruiting manager for Salo, a financial recruitment company, says she's even had someone miss an interview entirely. "She went for the interview at the right time, just a day late," Kopp says. "The hiring manager was not in the office, so she interviewed instead with the HR manager ... Luckily, she did end up getting the job."

How to recover: If you're going to be late for a legitimate reason, call, offer to reschedule and apologize. Though running late isn't a good thing, most hiring managers will note your consideration in calling. If you simply ran out of time, however, or didn't take the time beforehand to find out where you were going, don't expect employers to be as forgiving.

Blunder No. 2: Acting rude to other employees

Tracy Cashman, partner at staffing firm Winter, Wyman, remembers one professional who was late to an interview due to bad traffic. He was stressed out when he arrived and as a result, he was short with the firm's receptionist. "The feedback to me from the client was that they liked his experience and thought his skills would be a good match for the position, but that they weren't going to hire him because based on his interaction with the receptionist, they were concerned about his ability to 'get along in the organization,'" Cashman says.

How to recover: If someone catches you in a bad mood on the day of your interview, your best bet is to write a letter of apology and explain the situation. "[The candidate] and I crafted a letter to the hiring manager explaining the situation that morning, apologizing for any unintended behavior and asking for a second chance," Cashman says. "They ended up bringing him back and he got the job. The moral to the story is that everyone at a company is involved in the hiring process and is often asked for feedback. It's important to make sure you make the right first impression with everyone you see."

Blunder No. 3: Calling someone by wrong name

After researching a company for days and memorizing the entire staff's names and job titles, you find yourself face-to-face with the president of the organization and call him by the wrong name.

How to recover: There are a few ways to bounce back from this one. First and foremost, sincerely apologize (just once -- don't expound) and address him correctly. Bonnie Russell suggests using humor by saying something like, "I can't believe I just did that, Mr. So-and-So. Especially because you have no idea how long I practiced saying it in the mirror!" "This all but eliminates the gaffe because you've just confessed to thinking the person was important enough to prep for," says Russell, founder of 1^st-Pick.com, a media relations Web site that focuses on crisis management and disaster recovery. (Plus, it makes the victim of your blunder feel more important than he might be.)

Blunder No. 4: There's an error in your résumé or cover letter

It's the easiest mistake to make and the hardest to catch. Whether it's a transposed letter, a missing word or an extra period, typos in a résumé are easy to miss. Julie Cohen, a career coach, remembers one client who was applying for a position in public policy. She realized (after the fact) that instead of "public policy," she had written "pubic policy" in her cover letter. Oops.

How to recover: Typos are definitely not something you want to make a habit of, but your chances aren't blown if you one finds its way into your résumé. One thing you have going for you is that many employers have online application tracking systems, which automatically discard "bad" (read error-filled) applications. In this case, your chances of being able to resubmit an error-free application are good and no one will be the wiser. If you can't reapply under the radar, however, your best bet is to repackage another version as an update, with a short note acknowledging your mistake and explaining that, in your excitement, you hit send too soon, says Laurie Kahn, founder and president of Media Staffing Network. Admitting your mistake will prove that you paid enough attention to see the mistake, you want to correct it and you will probably never let it happen again, she says.

Blunder No. 5: Referencing a potential employer's competitor

Rachel Weingarten, president of GTK Marketing Group, was pitching a new marketingchief marketing officer] pointedly corrected my error," Weingarten says. strategy to a nonprofit group, which she repeatedly called by its competitor's name. (The same competitor with which the group was in a dead heat for new business.) "After I sat down, their [

How to recover: If you call a company by its competitor in an interview, you should not only apologize, but also use it to your advantage. In Weingarten's situation, she says, "I quickly countered by saying that if I had made this mistake after weeks and months of research and interaction with them, they were doing something seriously wrong with their marketing and branding since they still hadn't distinguished themselves from their competitor." She vowed to change that fact and landed the account.

Blunder No. 6: Spilling or spitting on the interviewer

It might sound strange, but it's easy to get overexcited or passionate in an interview. As a result, you might spit in the interviewer's face or spill your coffee across the table.

How to recover: While this situation is uncomfortable, it's not deadly, says Amy Kopelan, co-creator of thegurunation.com, a career guidance Web site. She suggests sending a thank-you note the following day, accompanied by a gift certificate to a dry cleaner.

The most important thing is not to let your mistake ruin your composure. If you can bounce back through candor, self-deprecating humor and sincerity, many hiring managers will note your ability to recognize your mistakes and recover from them, versus the gaffe itself. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Six Common Job Search Mistakes

Damage Control for Your Job Search

Damage Control for Your Job Search. Whether you're a first-time job seeker or a seasoned pro, you're bound to encounter a few bumps in the road to job search success. In fact, very few people are able to say their job hunt was flawless. Many make mistakes such as flaking out on opportunities to network or forgetting the name of an interviewer. Others are passionate about finding a new job, but lack experience or fall into job scams.

With so much competition in today's shrinking job market, job seekers can't afford to let these dilemmas stall their progress in the job hunt.

"Things don't always go as planned in the job search. People may encounter all kinds of worst-case scenarios throughout the process. The key to maintaining your momentum in the job hunt is to know how to handle problems and recover from your mistakes," says Molly Fletcher, a top female sports agent, author of "Your Dream Job Game Plan" (JIST © 2009), and president of client representation at Career Sports and Entertainment.

In her book, Fletcher identifies several problematic job search dilemmas and offers the following advice for overcoming them:

Problem No. 1:

You say something stupid

Most job seekers -- even those at the top of the game -- can certainly remember a time where they really put their foot in their mouth during the job search. If this happens, immediately address the slip. After acknowledging the mistake, offer an apology or explanation or try to spin the error with a clever comment.

It's best to address the situation as soon as you realize your mistake. This limits the time an interviewer has to develop a tainted impression of you. If you do not get the opportunity to try and redeem your error, follow up as quickly as possible with a phone call or e-mail to the interviewer.

Problem No. 2:

The interviewer says you're not qualified for the job

Imagine falling in love with an employer, only to hear an interviewer utter the dreaded phrase: "I'm sorry, but we're looking for someone with more experience." Rather than shut down completely, respond to this obstacle by offering reasons why it's a benefit to hire someone like you. For example, you may be able to present a case that you can be molded into the type of employee the hiring manager is looking for and that you don't possess bad habits that a more experienced candidate might.

Problem No. 3:

You realize you don't like the company

Realizing that an employer is not the right fit for you does not mean that you've hit a dead end or wasted your time. You still want to prove your value to the interviewer, who may be so impressed with you that he or she connects you to more appropriate opportunities. Even though you are not interested in moving forward with the employer, send a handwritten note to the interviewer to thank him or her for their time and interest in you.

Problem No. 4:

Your contact intimidates you

Networking -- already a challenging situation for many -- can be even more uncomfortable when the person you are supposed to reach out to is intimidating. To overcome your fears, do extensive research about the referral and his or her company. This way, you will be armed with plenty of information to keep the conversation flowing. Another helpful tactic is to act as though the contact is already an old, familiar friend.

Problem No. 5:

A prior problem comes back to haunt you

Perhaps in pursuing a job with a particular employer, you learn that there is someone who already works there with whom you have unresolved issues. To determine your next steps, you'll need to assess how often you'll interact with this individual. If he or she is someone you'll work with or see often on the job, it's best to approach that person directly and work toward developing a positive resolution.

Should you need to address the problem with the decision maker, be honest and sincere without placing blame or tarnishing the reputation of the person with whom you have conflict. However, keep in mind that if an interviewer or hiring manager is aware of a problem between you and a current employee, they are much less likely to bring you into the organization.

If the individual you've had past problems with is someone you will rarely see or interact with on the job, it's probably not necessary to take any steps to address the issue.

As important as it is for job seekers to know how to recover from mistakes such as these, it's even more important that job seekers learn from them. While it's certainly common to misstep in the job search, the people who achieve success are the ones who don't commit the same error more than once. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Damage Control for Your Job Search

Should You Launch a Job Search in Today's Economy?

Should You Launch a Job Search in Today's Economy?. For many people, finding a new job tops their list of New Year's resolutions. But deciding whether to remain with your current employer or brave the job-search waters can be especially difficult during a downturn. Conventional wisdom says it's better to stay put during uncertain times if you're a tenured staff member.

While your length of service by no means guarantees your job security, accepting a new position with a different firm can make you more vulnerable to a layoff. But you may be eager to try something new or feel that your skills make you marketable despite the economy. How do you determine the best course of action? The following guidelines can help.

You might want to stay at your job if:

You need more experience. If you're an entry-level professional, and your position seems secure, it's probably better to stay with your current firm so you can continue to build your skills and experience. In an uncertain economy, companies are especially particular about hiring professionals with the exact qualifications required. Once the economic climate improves, you'll be more marketable -- and more likely to find opportunities -- with additional skills.

You want a bigger challenge. If you feel underutilized at your current firm, your first inclination may be to jump ship. But a volatile economy can actually provide the opportunity for you to take on more responsibility. As your company attempts to do more with less, volunteer to take on new projects or help with existing ones. By doing so, you can add value to your organization, expand your skill set and position yourself for advancement.

Your 'complaints' are minor. Perhaps you've had small quibbles with a coworker, or your boss isn't the best communicator. As long as these types of concerns aren't preventing you from effectively doing your job -- or making your life at the company unbearable -- they probably aren't serious enough to justify moving on in a challenging employment environment.

You might want to start a job search if:

You're miserable. It's normal to experience ups and downs in enthusiasm for your job. But if you consistently dread going to the office and can't wait to leave at the end of the day, both your health and the quality of your work can suffer. If you're miserable in your job, you're not helping your company or your own career, so you might consider finding a new position.

Your industry or company is in a slump. Some areas of business suffer more than others during a downturn. If your industry or company is sinking, you may want to make a move to a more stable sector or organization. Before doing so, however, make sure the downturn is not temporary. If long-term prospects are still bright, riding out the storm can position you as a leader once the climate improves.

If you decide it's time to pursue a new opportunity, there are some actions you can take to jump-start your job search. First and foremost is getting in touch with those in your professional network. Having a base of contacts that can clue you in to job leads and provide referrals for prospective employers is invaluable when more people are searching for fewer positions. Use social and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn to connect with those who might be able to assist you.

It's also essential to evaluate your skills and experience against market demand, which you can do by looking at job postings in your field. What qualifications do employers seek for the roles you are targeting? If you don't have all the necessary skills for the positions you hope to land, can you develop them? You may want to sign up for classes or seminars to get the training you need.

Also consider registering with a staffing firm to broaden your search. Representatives from the service will look for full-time or temporary positions for you, effectively doubling your job search efforts. These professionals have access to positions that are not advertised due to their deep networks within the local business community. In addition, you can often access free training opportunities and receive resume and interviewing advice when working with a staffing firm. ( msn.com )

READ MORE - Should You Launch a Job Search in Today's Economy?

How to Identify Your Transferable Skills

How to Identify Your Transferable Skills. This "finding a career" thing is tricky business. You go to college and major in one thing -- but find yourself in a job opposite from what you spent four years studying. Or, you land a job that's exactly in line with your college major -- but discover it's not what you had in mind. Or even still, you score a gig doing what you love and are content for many years -- until you get bored and want to make a switch.

So what happens to the experience you've gained from your current job and those before it? What about the hours, years and dollars spent studying this vocation in school? Do you really have to start at square one if you decide to drastically switch careers?

Not at all. Your experience turns into transferable skills; you just have to learn to recognize and sell them to employers.

Need help? Here's everything you need to know about identifying, applying and marketing your transferable skills.

What are transferable skills?

Transferable skills are talents you've acquired that can help an employer but that aren't immediately relevant to the job you seek, says Kevin Donlin, résumé writer and creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Experiences like volunteer work, hobbies, sports, previous jobs, college coursework or even life happenings can lead you to find these skills.

Any skill is transferable; the trick is showing employers how it applies and is useful to them.

Identify transferable skills

With so much experience -- in work and otherwise -- the thought of sifting through it to recognize your applicable skills might sound scary. But, it's not as hard as you think.

Asking yourself questions like, "What are my three favorite accomplishments?" or "What activities make me the happiest?" will help you find your transferable skills easily, says Dawn Clare, a career and life coach.

"Evaluate your whole life, not just professional experiences," she says. "The point is to determine skill strengths. Use a framework of school, job, personal and organizational activities to determine your relevant accomplishments."

Start with the job you seek and identify the three most important abilities you'll need to do that job well, Donlin says. Then look over your experience and describe what you've done before in terms of what you want to do next. The best way to do this is through customized résumés and cover letters.

Apply transferable skills to your résumé

We've told you before and we'll tell you again: You have to create a résumé and cover letter specific to each job you apply for.

"Many times résumés fall short because one résumé applying for a variety of positions loses HR interest and job opportunities," says Jamie Yasko-Mangum, a self-image and training consultant and owner of Successful Style & Image Inc.

Organize your résumé by skill area or accomplishments rather than chronologically or functionally. Categorize all applicable skills, highlights and experiences and group them in categories such as "professional highlights," "skills summary" and "professional experience" and place them at the top of your résumé, Yasko-Mangum says.

"This will not pigeonhole you into a closed career option," she says, but will "showcase all your abilities for many career options."

For example, Andrew Best had six years of experience in customer service, but wanted to transition into sales. Donlin, the professional résumé writer, helped Best rework his résumé by including a profile at the top that showcased his transferable skills.

"We talked about the sales-related things Andrew did in customer service, like convincing customers to try new services, which we described in sales language like up-selling and cross-selling," Donlin says. "We talked about how he had ranked at or near the top for training and productivity, because sales are a competitive sport."

Shel Horowitz, marketing consultant and founder of FrugalMarketing.com, remembers Carol, who had been out of the work force for 10 years as a homemaker. With an extensive volunteer history that Horowitz emphasized in her résumé, Carol landed a job as a director of a human service agency -- a position she held for 12 years.

"I stressed her administrative, fundraising and public contact skills," Horowitz says. He put a summary of her background in volunteering at the top of the résumé, followed by specific experiences to showcase her skills.

Sell your skills to an employer

Most marketable skills can be grouped into broad categories and broken down further based on the job you're applying for. For example, communication is a general skill area, which can be broken down into such skills as speaking effectively, writing concisely or negotiation.

"You must do all the thinking for the person reading your résumé," Donlin says. "Never expect anyone to figure out your relevant skills or how valuable they are."

To add credibility, Donlin suggests adding a quote to your résumé from past managers or clients to emphasize your transferable skills. For example, John, a client of Donlin's, made the transition from retail management to real-estate sales. His résumé included a quote from a real-estate agent praising John's character and sales skills, both of which are necessary in real estate.

"A third party endorsement of you is many times more credible and interesting than anything you could say about yourself," Donlin says.

Examples of applicable skills

Still need help selling your skills? Here are three examples of career transitions and how our experts suggest you could apply your transferable skills.

Server to entry-level marketing

Transferable skills: Communication, client retention, sales and marketing, multitasking.

How to sell it: "During peak periods, I had to prioritize and handle multiple orders, market menu items, answer questions quickly, communicate clearly, up sell additional selections and ensure repeat business. My daily tip totals provided highly efficient feedback, as they were based on personal productivity and customer satisfaction."

Nanny to human resources specialist

Transferable skills: Human relations, teaching, development, time management, patience.

How to sell it: "As a former caregiver to five children, I learned to identify with each child and learn his/her individual strengths, weaknesses and interests. I've also learned the importance of good time management, which would be an essential skill in the human resource department."

College student to software engineering

Transferable skills: Computer science degree, team player, work ethic, trainable.

How to sell it: "I have a strong background in computer science, with both a degree and extensive training in the field. An accomplished team player, I've worked with a database management group at XYZ University, created an online multimedia store and used CGI scripts written in C+++ to track customer satisfaction." ( msn.com )

READ MORE - How to Identify Your Transferable Skills