Very few of us are safe from the pain of the current economic crisis. A Friday report from the U.S. Department of Labor showed that the total number of unemployed reached more than 11 million in December. That’s nearly 50 percent more than a year ago.

On Friday, Chicago-based Boeing Company announced plans to cut about 4,500 jobs beginning in February. And it seems more and more, daily conversations are infused with those kinds of facts about the latest round of pink slips. 

Joining us to help with some tips are two employment experts. John Challenger is the CEO of the outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. And Arlene Hirsch is a career counselor based in Chicago, and the author of four best-selling career books. 

Chicagojobs.org is a great job search resource.

Music Button: Steve Reich, “I sure hope Gabriel likes my music when the day is done”, from the CD Daniel Variations, (Nonesuch records)