Rising unemployment, eager job candidates, and not-always-above-board business practices sometimes conflict with each other causing confusion and hesitation on the part of job-seekers looking to accept new job positions.

Accounting Professor Sherry K. Mills was named as one of 46 state winners of the 2002 Professor of the Year awards granted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. This award recognizes her dedication to teaching, commitment to students and creative approach to higher education. Key to Professor Mills' teaching style at New Mexico State University (NSMU) is her belief that accounting is the language of business.

This year's Salary Survey from CareerBank.com gives an interesting perspective on career decisions and the job market following quite a demanding year for the industry. In addition to questions solely based on salary, we asked respondents about their career histories, the job market and future trends. A number of notable reactions emerged in the shadow of an unstable economy and an evolving industry -the demise of Andersen alone was enough to drastically change the careers of thousands in the industry. What else did we find?Raises are not as common and not as large this year.

On average, starting salaries for accounting and finance professionals should remain little changed from 2002, according to the just-released 2003 Salary Guide from Robert Half Finance & Accounting and Accountemps. With continued economic uncertainty, demand will remain strong for accounting professionals who can implement cost containment and cash-flow improvement initiatives, research shows. The 2003 Salary Guide is based on an analysis of the thousands of job orders managed by the company's U.S.

Working a room can uncover hidden job opportunities at the executive level, as long as professionals avoid some common networking errors. Paul McDonald, executive director of Robert Half Management Resources, points out that networking mistakes are easy to make, especially for those who are out of practice."Failing to keep an active network can hinder your employment prospects if you suddenly find yourself in the job market with no contacts or references," McDonald said.

By, Acsys, Inc.How many times have you received a resume from a potential employee and said to yourself, "This person is a perfect fit!" Sounds too good to be true? Probably because it is. According to Edward Adler, resume detective, and author of the book "The Complete Reference Checking Handbook", as many as one-third of all resume writers exaggerate their accomplishments, while up to 10 percent "seriously misrepresent" their background or work histories. In some fields, like sales, the numbers are even higher.

By, www.creativegroup.comWith today's competitive labor market, it's essential for firms to retain their valuable creative and marketing professionals. And it's equally important to motivate and inspire them to produce innovative materials. The following management tips can help you keep creative ideas flowing - and keep your valued professionals on board long-term.The Power of PraiseWhen employees do an exceptional job, tell them so. A creative professional's work is often evaluated subjectively, and compliments can provide much needed encouragement.

By, Keith Rosen The most brilliant thinkers, innovators and explorers of our time emphasized questions more than answers, a characteristic of all highly evolved individuals. Note the root of the word question, Quest; the act of seeking or pursuing something. This desire to search and journey beyond what is already known and seek that which would enhance the quality of our lives or broaden our wisdom is what has enabled humanity to continually evolve over time.

For the 17th year, Working Mother magazine has once again published its 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers list. All members of the Big Four accounting firms were included in this year's list.