Stories by: Katherine Spencer Lee

If you're not ready to find a new job, try reviving the one that went stale. You'll gain a clearer sense of what inspires you to do your best work, as well as the conditions that drain you

The rise of online networking sites has made it easier to connect with colleagues and learn about job openings. It's also part of a much larger trend in which more information about you may be available to anyone who's interested -- including hiring managers, who often perform Internet searches on job candidates.

Facing a potential onslaught of baby boomer retirements and a smaller pool of Generation X employees to replace them, IT managers who want to create or sustain a Best Place to Work environment will need the additional help of another group of professionals: Generation Y. Also known as Millennials, this group consists of nearly 80 million individuals born roughly between 1979 and 1999. They are the workforce of the future.

If you've been looking for a job for a while, there's a good chance you re frustrated with your inability to find one. The longer you're on the hunt, the less likely it seems that you'll ever be employed, especially given today's uncertain economic climate.

Like every generation, Gen Y is subject to its share of myths and stereotypes as it enters the IT workforce. Sometimes painted as privileged, technology-obsessed individuals who avoid face-to-face interaction, Millennial workers actually have many basic needs in common with their more experienced colleagues, including recognition, constructive feedback and a healthy relationship with one's boss. That said, there are some real differences in the communication styles of different generations.

"Web 2.0" is a phrase that's been around for a few years, but it still has some uncertainty around it. Is it just marketing hype, or does it represent a substantial change in the way companies approach Web technology? More to the point, what does it mean for your career?

A common misconception about managing your time at work is that it's mostly a matter of cutting out the obvious. But what if you've already reduced your leisurely lunches to quick snacks, stopped responding to personal e-mails at work and dropped out of your fantasy football league, but you still go home most nights wondering where the time went?

It's been a good year for IT workers. Computerworld's annual salary survey shows IT pay is on the upswing, and, equally encouraging, salaries are expected to continue to climb in 2008. The just-released Robert Half Technology 2008 Salary Guide indicates that the average base salary for all IT roles will rise 5.3 percent next year.

Emulating today's IT innovators and leaders isn't just for those who have a deep-seated desire to shape companies and industries. It's also a rewarding strategy for anyone who wants to get more out of his career.

Firmware is software or a set of instructions programmed on a hardware device, providing the necessary instructions for how the device communicates with other computer hardware. Because almost every type of computer-connected hardware requires this specialized coding, the industries in which there are opportunities for firmware engineers run the gambit from the aerospace firms to cable companies and electronic game manufacturers.

Those looking to break into the IT industry -- whether they are recent college graduates or entry-level professionals, or are transitioning from another profession -- often have the same initial question: Where do I start?