There are two very difficult things to deal with as a manger. The first is hiring the right people. The second is firing someone. And as this piece on MSNBC.com so wisely suggests, the rule to live by is to "hire slowly and fire quickly"

What that means in practice is that it's important to put in the initial effort to train someone and give them time to thrive in their new role. But as soon as it becomes clear that the employee isn't working, cut them out quickly instead of putting up with them.

Obviously this is often easier said than done. In a small company where so many people work practically on top of each other, it can be particularly difficult. It can also be tough for a manager who will potentially understand intimately how the laying off could affect the employee's life.

The key is to focus on the needs of business rather than the personal problems of employees. Of course, this can be exceedingly difficult. At the same time, there are lots of qualified people in the job market at the moment, so losing an employee need not be detrimental to your business.

It's a sad fact that many of those in managerial roles are just not suited to being in charge of other people. And even those who do have the managerial knack can be undermined by a lack of training and support from their employer.

So how can a new manager become a smart manager? This piece by Mitch McCrimmon for Suite101.com has some great tips.

McCrimmon writes, "Managers who excel at working smart are enablers, not doers. They help others get work done by being facilitators, catalysts, coaches, influencers and developers of people. Smart managers position their coaching management style as being in the best interest of others rather than giving the impression that they are lazy."

Being a smart manager means putting yourself into a position to resolve problems. You become the focal point of employees who have problems, questions or disputes. You want those employees who report to you to trust you, look to you for leadership, and for help when they need someone to turn to.

If you simply "pass the buck" and don't take charge of those situations, you lose their respect and morale goes down.

The article also explains why there are far more not-smart managers than smart ones. This is because far too many managers are those who know how to impress their own bosses and achieve goals set for them, but lack any real experience managing people.

So be careful as you move up and as you promote people or you can end up paying a hefty price.

Despite the state of the economy, some employers are still hiring. In fact one organization is so keen to recruit that it recently sent out a mass e-mail asking people to consider a career with them.

That organization is the CIA – yup, the place U.S.'s spies come from. Eve Tahmincioglu, looks at this interesting career-change option in her MSNBC.com column.

According to Tahmincioglu, "The CIA was plagued with low morale after failing to prevent the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and then providing crummy intelligence that led to the Iraq War. But the agency has seen a bit of a bounce back in its reputation recently despite a report questioning its interrogation techniques. People seem to be clamoring to join. Last year, the agency received 120,000 job applications online and expects a 40 percent to 50 percent increase this year."

Right now, the agency has openings in over 90 different "occupations" ranging from psychologist to being a software engineer. While this idea probably fills most job-seekers with images of spies in long trench coats and fedoras, most jobs are your standard office gigs. At the same time, even those jobs can require viewing and handling top secret information.

So, if you do decide to check out the jobs available at the CIA, be prepared to not be able to reveal your job, to hide your real, name or to be unable to talk about what you did at work all day - even to your spouse.

Still, it's nice to know that someone out there is hiring, even if your own company is looking to cut more jobs.

It's summer (in the Northern hemisphere, at least), and that means people all over the world are taking holidays. But while it is great to get away for a while, all too soon, the vacation is over and you have to return to work. How do you survive that transition? According to an article at the American Management Association, there are steps you can take to make is a lot easier.

First, when you plan your vacation, also take time to plan your return. Maybe return from your vacation a day or two before you have to return to work. This could help "ease" you into the work schedule and getting back to the grind.

Second, you can start planning your next vacation as soon as you return from this one. It gives you something to work for and something to look forward to. It provides a "light at the end of the tunnel" and may help the return to work seem more bearable.

Third, maybe throw in a call to a co-worker or colleague before you come back. While thinking about work when you are on a vacation isn't much fun, getting the low-down on what's happened while you were gone can sure help. It can also cut off any potential surprises.

Finally, bring something back from your vacation and keep it on your desk. It can help ease stress and bring back pleasant memories when work starts getting to you.

Following these steps may not make your office life easier, but it can ease your transition back from the vacation state-of-mind to one of working. You needn't follow a relaxing vacation with intense stress if you plan accordingly.

Although they are generally discouraged, the fact is that people do fall in love and enter relationships with co-workers. After all, when you spend eight hours a day with people and have little time for outside relationships, the connections get made at work.

So if you do find youself in a workplace relationship, how should you behave? This article by the aptly-named "Love Guru" has some suggestions.

First, it's best to avoid workplace romances from the get-go. They can lead to complications and if one member in the relationship is suddenly promoted, it can really cause problems.

Second, if you do find yourself in a romance you should limit your workday contact. Nothing can kill a relationship faster than spending twenty-four hours a day with each other. Also, limit what you say about your co-worker and your relationships to others in the office.

Third, do not show up and then leave the office at the same time as the person you are in a relationship with. This is especially true if you are trying to keep the relationship a secret.

Fourth, make good use of company activities such as parties and picnics. This is a good time to spend with the one you love without raising eyebrows. Just try not to be overly affectionate in front of everyone else.

The "Love Guru" has numerous tips to get you through it. The tips are particularly relevant for those at companies with rules against such relationships, thus necessitating keeping it secret. So, if you are determined to enter into such a relationship, learn what you need to in order to keep it quiet.

If you base your judgment on what written across the web, most of the working world is miserable most of the time. Considering that we spend more of our lives at work than anywhere else, that means a lot of very unhappy people around the world.

So can you make yourself happy at your job? This article on About.com suggests that you can.

According to the article, the first thing you need to do is choose to be happy at work. This sounds like a ridiculous thing to say, but it's true. You can decide your mood first thing in the morning. If you determine to be happy, odds are likely you will be happy.

The second tip suggested is to find something you love to do and do one of those things every day. It may not be your job, but if you take time for yourself and do something you love, it can make your entire day brighter.

Third, remember that you can choose your own destiny and the path your career takes. Take classes if you have to, but learn something new and do something that will get you where you want to be.

Much of the tips suggested involve taking charge of your own life and your own career. Rather than letting others tell you what to do and how to behave, take charge of things yourself. By doing that, you put the power back in your hands and can move your life in a direction that will make you happier.

We all know from the literally hundreds of websites and blogs out there about the world of work that a large proportion of us hate our employers. Maybe this is something that has been going on as long as there have been bosses and the people who work for them.

But what is it we're so upset about? Why are we so angry? An article at TheSpec.com takes a look at this and tries to analyze it.

The article interviews Bruce Katcher who wrote the book "30 Reasons Employees Hate their Managers: What Your People May Be Thinking and What You Can Do About It." Katcher runs a consulting firm which specializes in job satisfaction surveys. He claims that he has received over 50,000 employee complaints.

The reasons we hate work so much are pretty predictable – which makes it all the more sad that they're still such a problem for so many people.

According to Katcher , "research has found that 46 per cent of employees believe management treats them with disrespect, 63 per cent say that decisions in their company are usually not made at the appropriate level, 52 per cent do not feel free to voice their opinions openly, 43 per cent say their good work goes unrecognized and 53 per cent say their boss doesn't personally motivate them."

Katcher also breaks down reasons why being a good boss is so difficult. Essentially, he argues, most of those in management have not been properly trained to manage and deal with people. Also, since so many employees hate their job and their bosses, they don't have any good role models or mentors to make them any better once they get there.

So, if you feel like your boss mistreats you, you are not alone. In fact, there may be some scientific proof that you are correct in your feelings.

You thought your workplace was bad? Inc.com, the website for Inc. Magazine, has collected some truly horrific workplace stories that might just put your problems into perspective.

The first is one that you would only expect to see in a movie as it recounts how a CEO expensed the purchase of a handgun and a bullet-proof vest after laying off half of the work force and then threw a chair at the accountant who approved the expense.

Then there's the tale of two sales reps who decided they would treat themselves before their big pitch meeting. They bought themselves large Slurpees from a local convenience store which left their mouths and lips cherry red and lime green, eliciting laughter when they walked into their meeting. They didn't get the contract.

How about the two developers who were excited to meet their new clients? They were stunned to walk into the building and discover that everyone in the place was a nudist. The fact that the tower was called "Naked City' should have been the giveaway, but they apparently missed it.

If you are about to head into a significant meeting and have a newborn, you may want to be very careful if you have to change the child. One woman discovered that when she changed her child and grabbed what she thought was her purse, it was, in fact, the old diapers she had just removed. The smell reportedly preceded her entrance.

There are many more stories. All of them are likely to make you cringe, make you laugh, and probably make you feel a little better about your own office.

Why are so many employees disenchanted and disillusioned by their jobs? This article by Claris Fernandez on Bizcovering.com suggests that there are four main areas that cause friction between employees and their bosses.

1. Attitude problems. According to Fernandez, "The reasons for a person having an attitude problem are so deep-rooted and complex that you don't want to solve any problem that you encounter." Deal with attitude problems quickly and try to avoid them as much as possible.
2. Communication problems. Somewhere along the way to becoming a manager, it seems like most people lose their ability to speak. Management-speak is filled with strange phrases and euphemisms that most employees have no time for, don't understand and resent.
3. Disagreements. Most managers don't take the time to know the various personalities of the people who report to them. They take a one-attitude approach to everyone, and this doesn't always work with everyone and this leads to arguments. Nothing side-tracks a project like arguing.
4. The doers. These are the go-getters in any department or organization. These are the people who get things done. As a manager, you should identify these people as soon as possible.

Of course, the list of issues that employees complain about goes on a lot longer, but these are some key issues to keep in mind. If you keep these straight, maybe you can manage your people better, become productive, have fewer management problems and, crucially, have more happy employees reporting to you.

Even with the economy as bad as it is you may be looking for a new job. Of course, what job do you want? That may be something you've never been able to answer during your entire career so far. So, what jobs are "cooler" than the one you have now? This article by Rachel Zupek, for CNN.com takes a look at some options.

1. Cruise director – imagine a job that requires you to travel to all of the exotic and tropical places around the world and live and work on luxurious cruise ships. If you are the organized type and love to travel, this might be right up your alley.

2. Doll doctor – yes, there are actually people called "doll doctors." These are the people who can sew and repair antique dolls, valuable dolls, and even just the sentimental dolls that are the beloved collectibles of adults and children everywhere. Into fixing things?

3. Foley artist – they wok on movies and they provide those sound effects like the effect of a guy getting punched in the face. Sure, it makes a bit of a sound in real life, but if you mike a piece of meat and hit it, it sure sounds better on film. If you like movies and have a creative streak, this one could be for you.

4. Food critic- how about a job where you get to try out all kinds of restaurants and eat all kinds of foods and then get paid to write about it. If you love food, can describe things pretty well, and give your opinion, then this is the job to consider.

5. Video game tester – yes, there are people who get paid to play video games. You have to be able to test the games to figure out if all of the programming is working. So, all of that time you spent playing video games and were told it was a waste, could actually lead to a great career.

There are five more for you to consider in the article as well. Maybe now is the time to reconsider the path you're on.

It can be tough keeping yourself sane while at work. You are stuck in a cubicle and, in general, the people around you don't want to be there any more than you do. Your boss is probably a pain in your behind and shows you no appreciation or support.

So what do you so? One of the ways to stay sane, according to ejabs.com, is to play the Office Dares game.

The game breaks down the dares into a point system. For example, there are one point dares. These include: running one lap around the office, ignoring the first five people who say hello to you in the morning, leave your zipper open and when someone points it out tell them you prefer it that way. Someone, obviously, will need to keep track of your points.

The three-point dares include the following: babbling incoherently to a co-worker and then asking them if they "got all that," kneeling in front of the water cooler and drinking directly from the nozzle, when someone is counting just start shouting random numbers. There are others as well.

The largest list is of five-point dares which include: moving a co-worker's chair to the elevator when they step out, referring to everyone around you as "Bob" for an hour, in a tense meeting when everyone is talking smacking your forehead and telling everyone to shut up, asking a co-worker if they would like to trade keyboards. The list of five-point dares goes on for a very long time.

So, if you feel truly daring and you and some co-workers are exceptionally bored, you may want to check out the full list. Just be careful, in case you haven't heard, jobs are scarce and the economy is bad right now. . .

One of the key things to consider when you are looking for a job is whether or not you want to spend the entire day working or stay up all night working. There are people who prefer to sleep during the times when the sun is down and there are those who actually prefer to stay awake.

So if you're a night owl working in a day job, you may be in the wrong place. Enter this article on CNN.com by Rachel Zupek with some suggestions for those who roam the night.

The first career field Zupek mentions is the "protective service worker" field. These are people who need to work around the clock to protect other people and their property. Prison guards are also in this field.

In the healthcare field there are also needs for people to work nights. At hospitals and retirement homes qualified healthcare workers need to be able to provide around the clock care.

If you like stress in addition to working all night there are air-traffic controllers. At some of the busier airports they need a full compliment of controllers to make sure the planes take off and land safely even in the dead of night.

Some other jobs you may want to consider include: casino workers, taxi drivers, computer operators, pastry chefs and bakers and lab technicians. All of these careers require round-the-clock people to keep working. So, if sleep is something that just isn't for you, you may want to consider venturing into one of them.

Studies have shown that the majority of people hate their job. When you factor in eight hour days with the average lifespan, that means that an awful lot of people are spending something like 88,200 hours doing something they hate.

But as this article by Louisa Jewell explains, doing job you hate is demonstrably bad for you. According to Jewell, a study by "happiness researchers" Sonja Lubomirsky and Ed Diener indicates that trying to find happiness can help you live longer. Happiness at work can improve self-confidence, warmth, leadership skills, increase the number of friends you have and improve performance ratings. It can also lead to fewer sick days.

Jewell writes, "positive emotions such as joy, hope, optimism, love, appreciation and gratitude, energize us in the workplace and contribute to our overall well-being. To experience positive emotions at work, you really need to put yourself in the right job and in the right work environment." When you are stuck in a job you are not happy with or find unsatisfying you spend much of time thinking about quitting which does not lead to a productive environment.

She also states that the thoughts of leaving a job you hate can lead to bad decisions about future jobs. She states that some people who have come to her to discuss a potential job move are so desperate to leave their current job they don't realize the new job they are considering may actually be worse.

So taking the time to think about what would satisfy you and what you really want to do and then going for those jobs is actually better than leaving at the first opportunity.

Louisa Jewell has more suggestions and ideas as well for those of you looking to find some happiness. Even with a bad economy, which can make you feel trapped in a miserable situation, should not stop you from finding that job that will bring you better health and make your overall situation much happier.

When you break it down to the basic components, work can be a lot like high school. There are groups and cliques and you have to try to fit in to one or all of them. But what happens when you don't seem to fit in anywhere?

Sometimes the thing that separates you is your gender. One of the people interviewed for this Careeerbuilder.com article, Vicky Oliver, author of "Bad Bosses, Crazy Co-workers and Other Office Idiots" relates how she worked at an ad firm where most of the people there were men who had been in the business for a long time.

Her advice? "The trick is to accept that maybe you won't be let in to every single social activity -- I don't recall ever being invited for a beer after work - but hopefully, for the things that really matter, your input as an outsider will be appreciated. You are like a tiny focus group of one."

Other times it may not be the people around you, but your own attitude that is alienating you. Look at the people you don't like or that you perceive do not like you. Is there a pattern there? If there is, maybe you have some kind of prejudice towards one kind of group without even realizing it.

And, when all else fails, sometimes you just have to accept that you will just not be liked by all people all the time. Sometimes if you try too hard to get everyone to like you, you end up being liked by less people than had you just accepted things as they were.

The writer of the article also gives tips of things you can do to at least make yourself liked a little bit more than you might be now. By recognizing these patterns and making changes, you might be able to make that lunch time or your hours in the cubicle, at least a little more bearable and less lonely.

Whether we want to admit it or not, most of us have a preference when it come to whether we'd prefer a male of female boss. Why is that? This piece at CNN.com takes a look.

Author Anthony Balderrama suggests that many of the so-called differences are issues of perception. Many women who manage to get to the top of the corporate ladder have overcome the same obstacles as men, but where a man is seen as "determined" or "ambitious", a woman is often seen as "ruthless".

So is there really a difference between having a male or female boss?

According to those interviewed in the article women often get to the top via more "creative" ways than men. That can play a part into what kind of boss you like to work for. Do you like working for a more artistic-type or someone more driven and career-oriented?

Other experts say that there really is no fundamental difference between males or females when it comes to managers. There are different personalities for everyone and that doesn't pertain to one gender or another. In short, we can expect the "good, the bad and the ugly" in everyone, no matter what sex.

So really, the gender of your boss may not have anything to do with how well you get along with them. If you find yourself bristling over having a women boss or a male boss, maybe you just need to relax. Take the time to find out what kind of person you are and what kind of person they are and then make the determination.

With the job market going down the tubes, professionals across the board are looking for things to do with their time. Those who once enjoyed six-figure salaries are now volunteering their time to help those in need. One example are lawyers, a profession traditionally thought of as being particularly "money-hungry."

CNN.com looks at one such example of legal largesse, following the story of David Dineen, who had been earning well over a hundred thousand dollars a year working for a prestigious law firm in Massachusetts. But when the economy went belly-up, his boss didn't fire him. Instead, he gave David the chance to work for the Greater Boston Legal Services.

Throughout the United States volunteer organizations or organizations designed to help the less fortunate have been struggling to find qualified people to work for them. Now, with so many in trouble and looking for work, any work, they are finding more people than they know what to do with. Dineen took a huge pay-cut, but he now continues to practice the career he went to school for while also helping people who really need it.

It seems that this trend his particularly prominent in the legal field. The United States has led most countries in producing lawyers. Law firms began hiring those graduates during the boom times, and apparently grossly overestimated their future needs. With the economic slowdown many of these professionals are suddenly without a job.

Still, this is a lesson that could be applied to just about any professional career. There may be work similar for accountants and technology people. Just because you may not be making the huge salaries you were before doesn't mean you have to give up or can't use your time to help your community.

If you are looking around your current career and things are looking grim, maybe it's time to take a look at the industry you are in. Are you working for a mortgage broker? Is the industry you are working in crumbling with the rest of the economy?

If you are, it may be time to step back and take another look at things, which is just what Jessica Dickler discusses in this article for CNN.

Dickler writes about a man named James Donato, who had spent much of his adult life working in the mortgage industry as a recruiter for a temp agency. He soon found himself in trouble in industries that were not growing. He did some research and found that the healthcare industry, despite the recession, is actually growing. As such, he shifted gears and now became a recruiter for nurses and is thriving.

According to a Dan King, who works for Career Planning and Management Inc. and quoted in the article, "Honing in on his skills and targeting a particular industry was one of the best things he could have done for himself."

Take stock of your skills. What are you particularly good at? Then take the time to do some research on what industries are still doing well. Can those skills be applied to any of those areas? If the answer is yes, you may need to seriously think about changing careers despite the fear and angst that often goes along with that.

So, don't let the news of the job markets get you down. There is a way to make yourself "recession-proof" if you are willing to make a change.

Here's a thought. Could the economy and how it affects your job actually be killing you?. Some experts suggest that your job and the environment of your workplace is more important to your health than your diet.

According to William Gallo, from the Yale School of Public health, "we spend 8, 10, 12 hours a day at work. That may be more important than whether you're on the Zone Diet ." Losing a job can be particularly devastating to your mental health as it tends to cut social ties you have built up while working at an office.

However, just because you haven't lost your job doesn't mean the ill health cannot affect you. Another study, conducted in Finland, showed municipal workers who had not lost their jobs, but had friends and knew those around them who had were more likely to die sooner. At the same time, more studies show that the "pecking order" that you find yourself in at work can also affect your health. The lower you feel, the lower your health.

The other interesting things about the studies is that they have been conducted all around the world. Even in countries where the perception is that the cost of living is high, still showed that jobs and your position at them, can affect your health and even bring about death sooner than normal.

So, if you are going into work and feeling sick, it may be the job itself that's making you sick. Despite the economy, it might be time to make a change. Your very life may depend on it.

Do your co-workers drive you crazy? Well, one of the things you may want to do is take a look at yourself before you run around accusing them of things. An article by Beverly West, "Top 10 Annoying Habits at Work, could help you re-assess your entire situation and realize that the cause of some of your problems could be you.

Are you always unprepared? Are you the guy who shows up to the client meeting unable to answer questions? Are you always scrambling for your papers before the big meeting?

Are you a control freak and unable to work in a team? Do you want to take over every aspect of a project?

Or, are you the opposite and unable to handle even the most basic task on your own? Do you feel you need manager approval for every little thing you do?

Are you the type who wakes up late every day and runs into work without showering? Do you, in fact, smell?

When you're sick do you insist on coming to work and coughing and sneezing on your co-workers?

Do you talk loud enough on the phone that co-workers four cubicles down can hear everything you say?

If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above or the others that West writes about, the problems at work may be coming from you and not those around you. In fact, the people who seem to bug you may just be reflecting their annoyance at you right back into your face.

If you have looked at peoples' resumes recently, many seem to be made up of a new kind alphabet soup. You see acronyms all over the place such as "CMP," or "PMP" or "CTC." What do they all mean?

Well, those are certifications and to some employers, they're the difference between getting a job or not. Rachel Zupek, writing at CNN.com, explains.

What is important about these is that they set you apart from the crowd. They show a potential employer that not only do you have experience, but you have been continuing to learn and train and develop. The acronym after your name shows that you have a level of expertise that most employers will find irresistible.

According to Zupek, "Certifications show employers your dedication and commitment to your profession. They show you're credible and knowledgeable about current trends and best practices in your field. In addition, designations polish all skill sets -- not just the hard skills you might need in a position."

Maybe you already went to college and have a degree or certification. These days, however, it is common for managers to expect their employees to continue to learn and grow. As such, they will look to see if you have added certifications since college and developed in your career as you have gone along.

As for which certification are out there, Zupek has an entire list. Such designations are: certified florist, search engine marketing, certified plant maintenance manager, accredited jeweler professional, and more. Depending on what your career is there is likely many to choose from. Doing so can ensure employment no matter the economic climate.