Job Seekers Success: The Monster 5 for Friday--Careers Edition--March 4

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We say it a lot because it keeps happening: the job market is improving. Today's labor-market report from the U.S. Department of Labor puts the unemployment rate at 8.9 percent--that's the first time we've dropped below 9 percent in almost two years.

Of course, 0.1% isn't a huge gain--and it wasn't greeted by a whole lot of fanfare in financial circles. But it's interesting to note that we're seeing improvement in some industries that have lagged behind the rest of this sluggish recovery, including manufacturing.

Paradoxically, this report may set the actual unemployment rate a bit higher: the report counts people who are actively looking for work--and as things look more hopeful, more people who'd given up the search are coming back. So even if we climb to somewhere above 9 percent in March, I hope we can say that our recovery is continuing.

Here are five of this week's best career-advice articles from the Web:

5. Are you one of the many people who have been unemployed for a long time and are now considering a return to the job market? Read "Breaking Out of Long-Term Unemployment."

4. Coping with a long period of unemployment can pose special challenges for someone writing a resume. Read "Resume Writing After a Long Work Absence."

3. Do you feel your days slipping away from you? Whether you're swamped at the office or looking for a job, getting organized can help. Read "Stay Focused at Work."

2. What's the file name of your resume? It can make a big difference. Read "How to Get an Employer's Attention in 20 Seconds."

1. Have you filed your taxes yet? If you're unemployed, you'll want to read "Tax Tips for Job Hunters."

Do you need job-search advice? What job-seeker topics would you like to see covered? Leave a message for us in the comments section below, or find @monstercareers on Twitter and send a message.

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