It's easy to become discouraged if you are looking for a job in the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression. But tens of thousands of workers will be hired in Maryland this year in fields expected to grow, including government, health care, education and information technology. Here are some thoughts, strategic and tactical, on how to land a new job:
* Government may be a good place to start. People tend to skip the largest employer of them all - the U.S. government - because the process seems bureaucratic. But the government is always hiring, and many of the jobs, ranging from administrative assistants to transportation specialists to pharmacists, offer security and good benefits. Take a look at www.usajobs.gov.
* Begin a new career by getting an education in a high-demand field such as health care or information technology. Community colleges are offering relatively inexpensive courses leading to certification or degrees that will set the stage for winning a good job. Then professional education can be continued part time.
