It's no secret that the U.S. economy is hemorrhaging jobs. As Newsweek recently pointed out, 63,000 U.S. jobs were lost in February after 17,000 jobs were lost in January.

But the magazine also stated that it was possible to switch jobs -- even careers -- but it will take some time and persistence. Here are the tips the mag offered job seekers:

Follow the money. Even in a bad job market, some industries and professions are struggling to attract enough talent...What are they? The Labor Department reports that more than three out of every 10 new jobs will be in health care, social assistance (elder care or child care) and public and private educational services. It also is predicting solid demand for workers in fields like communications, information technology, accounting, and leisure and hospitality.

Use a system. She (Five O'Clock Club founder Kate Wendleton) tells jobseekers to put more time into researching and targeting specific companies and jobs, even if they’re not advertising any openings. Put at least 15 hours a week into it if you have a job; 35 or more if you don’t. Call everyone you know who might be connected to your target and request informational interviews. Ask about job leads, and call back every six weeks to check in. Even if you’re interviewing for your dream job, keep pushing the process elsewhere. At best, multiple offers will help you negotiate a better deal. At worst, having many possibilities in the works will help cushion the rejections. Let interviewers know that you’re talking to others. Expect to take six months or more to find a good job.

Update your approach. The best new résumés have titles, like "Patricia Jones, Support Administrator With Law Firm Experience." Customize the résumé to the job. And an old trend is back again: highlight your résumé with action words and accomplishments instead of job titles and dates. And update your skills and expertise for the field you’re pursuing: for one kind of job, that might mean taking a Web-programming course; for another, it might mean studying regulatory trade journals.

I would also add starting a blog in the desired field. The blog is a good marketing tool and shows off your writing skills. This can be started for free on blogspot or the many free tools out there.

Make money in the meantime. Even as good benefits-rich jobs are harder to find and tougher to land, there are more ways to earn extra money on the side...You don’t have to be a greeter at Wal-Mart; you can sell items on eBay, take a part-time lower-paying job or consult in the field you already know. It will pay a few bills, keep you busy and might even help you meet the future employer of your dreams.

I am so grateful I do not have the stress of finding a job in this economy. Actually, in my old job I survived three rounds of layoffs at around the time of 9/11. It actually paid to be one of the youngest and lowest paid employees there!

But I remember the tears and stress of co-workers who left us. They are fine now -- and even scored better jobs -- so it can be done. Good luck to those of you who are looking now.  

As I was scanning the interwebs this evening, I came across a link to a blog I read from time to time, Deus Ex Malcontent. The blogger, Chez, is a gifted writer, his topics are broad and while I admit to not being a frequent visitor, when linked over there I generally spend quite a while sifting through the information. He's not for everyone. But today, he fired from his job at CNN for essentially being a Blogger

As a recently fired employee still left with the smart sting of a well-crafted HR document that can essentially nail you for anything, I'll admit to some bias in my immediate sympathy for Chez and his situation. In a nutshell, the author, a producer on American Morning,  was a fired for breaking this rule:

a single line in the CNN employee handbook which states that any writing done for a "non-CNN outlet" must be run through the network's standards and practices department.

In what I am hoping is NOT becoming a third-week-of-January-or-so tradition, I find myself back at home with my daughter, and not out in the workplace making pretty (or not so pretty, like this joke) pictures for corporate America. Here's a personal lesson learned: when you have nothing to do at work, not a project, revision, etc., despite outright begging for additional work to the point your co-worker voices his annoyance at being asked if he "needs anything" once a day, do NOT take the time to, say, work on personal stuff. DO call in "sick" for three days in a row because your dog sprained his neck, spend hours sending personal forwards you find hilarious or simply stare listlessly at your screen for hours on end, every so slightly bumping the  mouse every few moments to make sure the screen saver doesn't pop on. Employees like that are "keepers".

So yeah, I'm a little bitter.

You read my mind, MPG! I don't have a book manuscript, but I have been weepy lately about my career, which I attribute to caring for a young baby and being sleep-deprived and depressed. But you are right: We are all high-achieving moms here and I am certain that we -- and our spouses! -- have felt this way. Thank you for posting this, MPG. It feels good to know I am not alone. -Elisa

I like to write diary posts that I think will have, if not an appeal to everyone at MT, at least some interest to the reading population. So lately I haven’t posted because since the holidays I feel like I’ve been caught in a web of self-pity that, really, no one wants to hear about.  (And if you stop reading here, I won’t blame you! But there is more.)