Have you been itching to take a vacation? Were you born to be in front of the camera? If this cold weather is giving you a bit of cabin fever and you’re ready for your 15 minutes of fame, you just might be able to take that special trip on us. Our newest Share and Win! contest, SnagAJob.com’s Grand Getaway Giveaway, is a little different than those we’ve held in the past—and by different, we mean way cooler. Here’s the scoop: We want you to film a short video telling us why you deserve to win $1,000 toward the vacation of your dreams. Upload your flick to any video sharing site, send us the link and keep your fingers crossed. We get to choose the finalists, but the public will vote for and choose the grand prize winner. One lucky hourly worker or job seeker will snag the cash and the opportunity to take a dream vacation, courtesy of SnagAJob.com. If you’re chosen as one of our finalists, make sure you tell your friends, family and even strangers out on the street to vote for your video. If that doesn’t work, we suggest bribing them with baked goods—no one can resist a good snickerdoodle. And hey, if you don’t win, at least you’ll have a shot at reality show producers catching a glimpse of you on film and turning you into the next Lauren Conrad—we just hope you give us a shout-out on the red carpet. Read the rest of the rules and find out how to submit your video now! And don’t forget to keep up your job search to earn some extra money for beach towels and travel shampoo.

It’s hard to believe it’s nearly November, and whether you’re a fan of cold weather or not, there is one good thing that comes with the change of the seasons: A brand new wardrobe.

But if you’re still on your job search, or just a little short on cash, there’s a new trend sweeping the nation called “recession chic,” with shoppers on a budget being fondly referred to as “recessionistas.”

High-end expensive fashions are out, while bargain and discount brands are all the rage now. And with the current economic downturn, this trend couldn’t have come at a better time. You don’t have to abandon your style just because your wallet is tight—stores like Kohl’s, Target and TJ Maxx carry clothing, beauty products and jewelry at way cheaper prices than boutiques, and specialty and department stores. To get the scoop on the best places to look for hot clothing and accessories at cool prices, check out The F!, a blog dedicated solely to bargain fashion finds.

If you’re looking for another way to save on your favorite threads, check out retail jobs that offer employee discounts on merchandise.

You’ve always been told to respect your elders, but have you ever asked Gram and Gramps for advice about your unpleasant boss or how to spend your paycheck? You may think your older relatives are spending their days knitting and watching their stories, longing for the days of their youth, but the golden years ain’t what they used to be. Recent studies have found that contrary to popular belief, older Americans are generally happier than their younger counterparts, especially when it comes to their jobs.

We know what you’re thinking: Aren’t your younger years supposed to be the “best time of your life?” Despite that widely held belief, your Great Aunt Edna may be more popular at work than you are. Shocking, huh? Here are some other findings that may surprise you:

• Americans who worked past retirement age were more content in their jobs than younger employees.
• Younger adults were more likely to report financial worries and high levels of stress on the job than older workers.
• Many older employees work simply because they like their jobs, not necessarily because they need the money, which translates to higher job satisfaction rates in this age group.

So the next time you visit your more mature family members, ask them for some tips about how to get the most out of your job search and find a job you love. You may even learn how to crochet a pair of woolen mittens or play a mean game of shuffleboard.

• If you’re one of the many older Americans looking for a job, check out our advice for 55-plus job seekers.

Whether your only son just headed off to college or you’ve got twin girls slinging baby food across the kitchen, you know how difficult it can be to hold a job and balance your life with your kids. Between diapers, toys, clothes and a college fund, parents may be feeling more strapped than ever with the economy the way it is.

Workinmums, an online resource for moms in the workplace, found that because of the current credit crunch, more and more mothers are looking to either go back to work or pick up extra hours to make ends meet. Unfortunately, many parents struggled to find jobs that allowed them to juggle their family life while still earning a steady paycheck.

SnagAJob.com thinks all you mothers out there should give yourselves a big pat on that back. Whether you’re employed or not, we know that being a parent is the most difficult job there is. We also want to help all you moms out there who are looking for a job with some flexibility by providing you with some resources to check out during your job search:

• Part-time jobs are great for anyone with kids because you can usually work out a schedule that suits your family’s needs more easily than full-time employment.
•  Seasonal jobs give workers the extra cash they need for gifts and other holiday expenses. You may even be able to score an employee discount, which will help lower your shopping bill as well.
• Make sure you maintain a healthy balance between your work and family life.

Remember to use those valuable mommy skills to sell yourself during job interviews, such as your organizational skills or your ability to multi-task. Also, keep an eye out for companies who offer free or discounted childcare.

If you’re having a hard time finding seasonal employment for the chilly months ahead, don’t throw in the towel just yet. Everyone knows that the holidays are a great time to find part-time jobs and make some extra bucks for gifts and cheese logs, so make sure you include the retail, restaurant and hospitality circuit in your job search.

But if you feel like you just haven’t found your calling yet, we may be able to help you out. If you can’t reach the top shelf without a step ladder or annoy your coworkers with your incessant need to hammer, you may be perfect for a position recently posted by old Saint Nick himself.

Okay, we confess–it’s not a real job. But you could win some cash to fund your holiday shopping spree if you submit the most creative application to Kringle Enterprises, a pretend workshop stationed in the heart of the North Pole. Ten lucky winners will receive a $100 gift card just by filling out the application and providing us with some entertaining reading.

However, 100 smackers isn’t enough to get you through the entire holiday season, so check out our seasonal jobs section to find a position with a more steady paycheck.

If you think your chipped nail polish or slightly wrinkled shirt won’t matter all that much when it comes to meeting with employers, you’re terribly mistaken. In fact, hiring managers may even be judging you based on how hip your hairstyle is.

Obviously your skills and talents play a huge role in whether or not you’ll impress the right people and land the job you want, but your appearance holds a significant amount of weight in hiring decisions, too. Think about it: You’re an employer interviewing for a position—any position at all—and you met with two candidates with the same qualifications. One applicant shows up in sneakers and a T-shirt and the other looks polished in a collared shirt and dress pants. Which one would you hire? It’s a no-brainer.

Even if you have years of experience and would be perfect for a job, the coffee stain on your shirt conveys that you’re unorganized and sloppy. And wearing street clothes to an interview gives off the impression that you don’t care enough about the job to put forth any effort. Even an updated haircut shows employers that you’re in-the-know and innovative.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look like a million bucks. Invest in classic pieces that never go out of style, like a black pencil skirt, a string of pearls or a navy blazer. Remember, when you look good, you feel good. And when it comes to interviews, a strong sense of self-confidence is worth way more than a fancy pair of shoes or leather briefcase. Take the time to give your image an update—even if your job doesn’t require you to dress up—and make sure your look still represents who you are, both personally and professionally.

• Check out more job interview tips here, and start your job search now.

It’s hard to believe it’s already the middle of October, and as the leaves start to change, it’s hard to ignore that the holidays are right around the bend. If you haven’t already secured seasonal employment for yourself, now is the time to start your search for holiday jobs. Otherwise you’ll forever be known as “The Re-gifter” among friends and family, which isn’t the best nickname to have.

If you’re stumped as to where to start looking, we’re here to help. Here are some employers who are already gearing up for the holiday hiring season and could be waiting for your application. Consider it our gift to you:

• Circuit City jobs: Get Mom that mp3 player she’s been wanting so she can jam out while she Jazzercises, and pick up a GPS for Dad, since he refuses to ask for directions—all with your employee discount.

• Wal-Mart jobs: Put customers in the holiday spirit by helping them find everything from Thanksgiving dishware to mistletoe. Customer service jobs also give you valuable experience working with people, and that’s a perk even your paycheck can’t buy.

• Ritz Camera jobs: Who doesn’t take tons of photos during the holidays? With all your friends and family finally in one place, you won’t want to miss an opportunity to capture every moment. Gift yourself this year using your employee discount, and use your on-the-job technical training to take fabulous pics at home.

Remember, it’s best to beat the holiday rush and snag a seasonal job as early as possible. So what are you waiting for? Start your job search ASAP.

As some of you might remember, SnagAJob.com embarked on a Campaign to Hire America at the beginning of this year, with a lofty goal to get 400,000 job seekers hired before the year’s end. And despite the widespread fear that jobs are going the way of the dinosaurs, we’ve actually got some pretty awesome news to report.

As of now, we’ve placed over 404,000 people into jobs, surpassing our original goal–and the year’s not even over yet. What’s more, that number is going up even as you read this blog, so we’re going to have to raise our standards.

We know there are still job seekers out there on a quest for the right job, and we want to invite all of you to join our campaign to put people into jobs they love. Impacting this many people’s lives feels good, but we want to feel even better. That’s why we’ve decided to shoot for an even half a million–that’s right, our new goal is to find jobs for 500,000 people. So tell your friends, family and even people you meet out on the street to start their job search with SnagAJob.com. Just think of how many lives we could change if every SnagAJob.com user helps one person find the employment they need to pay for school, feed their family or put gas in their car.

• Need an extra boost? Read our job advice for helpful tips.

Thanks to all you job seekers who sent in stories of your toughest jobs. We’ve got to give credit where credit is due—everyone who submitted an entry has some seriously hard jobs, and you deserve a big ol’ pat on the back. But there can only be one winner, and that winner is Tyler Barnes. Tyler is a wild land firefighter from Arizona who braves extreme heat to keep people’s out of harm’s way. We like to think of him as a modern day superhero—and we’re sure he wouldn’t mind it if you called him that, too.

Here’s Tyler’s winning story:

“My job is one of the hardest and most dangerous jobs out there: I am a wild land firefighter. I fight forest fires in 102 degree weather carrying a 45-pound backpack up mountains. We hike for hours to get to a fire, carrying tools such as chainsaws, axes and rakes. At least four wild land firefighters die each year fighting fires that cover 1,000 acres or more. When we fight large fires, like those in California and Arizona, we are away from our families for weeks. We sustain injuries like burns from falling embers, cuts and bruises, and twisted ankles, but we have to continue to hike and dig line because there are no hospitals or doctors out in the woods. I also have a disability that makes the job very difficult for me: I am half deaf, which makes it hard to hear when multiple things are going on at once. I believe I have the hardest job out of everyone I know.”

Sounds like it could be the start of an upcoming summer blockbuster, don’t you think? Just make sure you leave us a supporting role, Tyler.

Congratulations to our winner, who will walk away from this contest $300 richer! And if you didn’t hit the jackpot this time around, make sure you enter our newest Share and Win! contest just in time for Halloween by sharing you scariest on-the-job moment.

• Now is the best time to start your job search for seasonal jobs.

If you think the whole “going green” thing is just a trend, think again. With everything from tiny electric cars to eco-friendly dog food, America is on a kick to make the environment a better place to live. And now the government is joining in on the fun: The United States economy is expected to produce over four million green jobs in the next 30 years.

But that’s not all. The hope is that almost half of our electricity will come from alternate fuels, like wind, solar and hydro power. Whether you’re an eco-geek or not, this is a great move for both our planet and our job market. Not only will we cut down on waste and lower prices on things like gas and utilities bills, but the unemployment line will shrink as well.

Here a few more ways creating green jobs will help out more than just our economy:

1. Kermit the Frog can stop his whining–soon, it will be easy being green.
2. Maybe leprechauns won’t get such a bad rep anymore. And with more jobs, we humans won’t need to gank their gold just to full up our gas tanks.
3. Children all over the world will be confused by the meaning of “going green” and finally start eating their Brussels sprouts.

While we’re on the subject, remember to do your part at work by recycling, encouraging the boss to use energy-efficient light bulbs or carpooling to and from the office with coworkers.

• Start your hourly job search now.