Even as the world turns toward the holidays, and everyone you know is spreading cheer and otherwise tis-ing the season, you can bet what’s right around the corner—the annual film and T.V. award extravaganza known as the Golden Globes. As traditional, the nods were handed out in the in the early morning hours at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Most nominations were expected. There’s no surprise that Heath Ledger earned a posthumous nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Joker in ”Batman Returns.” But the battle for best is shaping up between “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and “Frost/Nixon.” “Button” and “Frost” garnered 5 nomination each, including Best Feature for Drama, Best Director and Best Screenplay, just to name a few.

One pleasant surprise was when James Franco got a nod for Best Supporting Actor. However, he was not noticed for his performance in “Milk,” which some insiders predicted. Instead, he earned the nomination for his depiction for the sweet pothead in “Pineapple Express.” Tom Cruise also garnered Best Supporting Actor nomination for the sleazy, filthy-mouthed executive in “Tropic Thunder.”

With the Golden Globes lighting up Beverly Hills in January the spotlight turns to entertainment related jobs in sound, lighting and camera operation. In a weakened economy, the right training can get you far – all the way to Hollywood if you like. While the Hollywood elite are picking up their golden statues, you can be picking up a new trade. Learn more today!

It’s official. The US is in a long-term recession. Technically it began last December, but the big numbers have been rolling in just recently. Employers shed over 250,000 jobs in November, according to a pair of private reports released this month. This trend isn’t likely to reverse anytime soon as more evidence that the recession may still be deepening continues to come in.

Based on data from nearly 400,000 companies, the report showed large, medium and small companies all shed jobs almost equally from all sectors of the economy.
Cash-strapped Americans, faced uncomfortable realities about their jobs as businesses laid off workers, cut wages and reduced hours.

If You’re Next, Be Smart
If you are getting ready for a job search during a recession, here are some tips.

1. Boost your work skills
“Don’t give an employer a reason to pass you over because you don’t know the basics,” states Diane Morgan, director of career services at London Business School. There are quick certification courses at career colleges and community colleges that allow you to brush up on basic office skills like Microsoft Office or effective communication. “Since these are skills you can learn from an online course or a library book, there are no excuses for not having them.”

Online courses or classes at career colleges can be done at times that are convenient for you, so no matter how little time you have to invest, you can make it work. At the same time, many of the courses are affordable and reasonably priced.

2. Look closer at job data to find a new direction
Focus on industries and job sectors that are experiencing worker shortages or still experiencing job growth. You may be surprised to find that you have comparable skills to the kind of employee these sectors pursue.

For example, by looking at the Bureau of Labor website, you can see that health care, education, government, hospitality, and computer categories have all gained jobs this year.

3. Spread out with social networking
It may sound strange, but there can be mountains of opportunities with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks. You just have to start getting serious about it, instead of just being a more casual participant.

Networking is easy and many like Linkedin.com and Ryze.com are being set up specifically for professional pursuits. If you don’t feel you have the time to start all over again on a professional network, you can still use your personal network of friends. It’s easy to contact them in an instant to ask for quick favors. You can simply ask for help in getting an introduction at their company or maybe something better. Just don’t be shy about asking.

4. You can earn part-time
Getting your foot in the door at a new job may be easier if you aim for part-time work,” advises Katy Piotrowski, career counselor and author of “The Career Coward’s Guides.” “Work to find multiple part-time positions lower on the ladder and you’ll benefit from more job security. If one of your jobs evaporates, you have the others to fall back on.” Of course, one of the detracting factors here is that many part-time jobs feature only basic health benefits, if they feature any at all.

5. You are your brand
Sell your strengths, whatever they may be. Identify them and put together the best possible personal brand based on you. You can do this with a professional-looking résumé, compelling cover letters, and diligent communication with human resources offices.

If you get some interest, be prepared. This can’t be stressed enough. An interview isn’t something to be improvised. You should be prepared, professional and do the work for the interviewer. Don’t make them guess or imagine how you could fit in. Tell them how your skills are relevant to the department’s long-term strategy and especially the company’s bottom line.

6. Keep unrealistic expectations at bay
Get real about the time it will take to find a new job. In a job market during a recession, expect it to take at least three months to find a job that pays $40,000. Add one month for every $10,000 more you want in salary.

If you thought that pirates were only on TV or part of a Disney ride, you’d be wrong. In recent weeks there has been a story developing about pirates and how they have taken several ships and its crew hostage off the coast of Somali. The pirates have asked for over $2 million in ransom with the Saudi Arabia government and others for hijacking container ships that carry crude oil, among other goods.

Once thought of a dying breed, captains and shipmates still take to the open sea to transport goods to ports around the globe. In addition to transporting goods by ships, more people are taking to the high sea for vacations. Cruises have become a popular way to spend time with family and friends, covering most of the vacation costs in a single package. New ships are needed for business, pleasure and for the military – and that means we need people who can build them.

With the right training, you can get the skills you need to stay afloat in this struggling economy. Through welding training and other technical schools , students can gain relevant skills in ship building.

When the leaves turn from green to yellow, you can bet on a couple of things that are just around the corner: football and season premiers of your favorite T.V. shows. One, in particular, is gaining some recognition, “Pushing Daisies”. The show is a breath of fresh air that has a touch of Tim Burton and his dark comedy style.

The premise of the show is based on Ned, a pie baker, who can touch dead people to bring them back to life and touch them a second time to make them dead again. The pie baker works with a private investigator to solve crimes.
My favorite part is the unique pies that make their way into the show. They are almost a supporting character, lying in the background with the viewers just wanting to take a bit. The most unique pie that has graced the show was an apple-Gruyère pie. The pie is made with tart red apples and has Gruyère cheese baked into the crust.

If baking pies and dark comedy shows pique your interest, then “Pushing Daisies” is a show just for you. Learning how to bake these unique pies might take some time or schooling. Culinary schools offer the training you need to learn about the delicate process of making pies, unique or not.