When Forbes named Portland, Maine the most livable city in America this year, it didn’t surprise my wife and I or any of Portland’s other 64,000 denizens. With a low cost of living, great culture and dining (we were also named Bon Appetite’s “foodiest small town”), and easy access to the ocean and mountains, Portland freaking rocks.

The only big thing Portland lacks for well-educated, ambitious twentysomethings? An abundance of career options.

Finding a job is tough anywhere in this economy, but it’s always been tough here. Especially for college grads who want a professional career. It’s not as hard to get a retail or service gig here in town, but higher-paying jobs are few and far between. [...]

For today’s information workers, offices don’t make sense. Why commute in rush-hour traffic to sit in a cube and write, research, and make phone calls: all things you could do anywhere? For many workers, ending—or at least reducing—daily treks to the office may be as simple as asking their employer. Especially in challenging economic times when employers can’t always offer raises, companies may actually see telecommuting as an affordable way to keep employees happy. If you have ever considered telecommuting but don’t know how to approach your manager about working from home, here’s a look at things to consider before requesting a telecommuting arrangement and a way to propose working remotely to your manager in the best possible way. [...]

Today, I become a truly full-time blogger. I have been preparing for this day for eight months (and dreaming of it for several years). Now that it has arrived, I am both excited and petrified, but I am confident that anything without risk is not worth doing. [...]

Will attending an elite college like Harvard or Stanford result in a higher salary? (On average, yes). How much more do engineering majors bring home than English majors? (As much as $21,800 to start).

Most important: How much can you expect to earn with your bachelor’s degree? (A new report at PayScale.com may have the answer). [...]

It’s been the mantra of entrepreneurs for generations: “You can’t get rich on a salary.” Is it true? With scant exceptions, even top-paid execs, doctors, and lawyers make less than $1 million a year. And you can certainly grow rich earning six figures a year if you play your cards right. But what about the rest of us? If we aren’t interested in following one of a handful of professional tracks that lead to big paychecks, there are two options: Accept our income level and spend and invest wisely to protect the little money we earn or become an entrepreneur. The way I see it, we can become financially comfortable on a salary, but not rich. [...]

To all the recent graduates out there: Congratulations. You have worked hard, and your accomplishments are well-deserved. Now, welcome to the jungle of reality. And this year, it really is a jungle out there. If you don’t have a job lined up yet, don’t despair. Here are a few ways to put your job search into high gear and make the most of your time before you officially enter the working world. [...]

If you have ever aspired to run your own business (or an existing corporation), you may already be interested in applying the traits, philosophies, and leadership styles of successful CEOs to your career.

But even if you have no interest in becoming a business leader (or ever working in business, for that matter), learning to think about your own life, finances, and career the way a CEO thinks about running a business can be rewarding…and help you reach your own goals faster. [...]

To land your dream gig in today’s cutthroat job market, you’ll need a resume that blows hiring managers out of their chairs. To help, I scoured the Web for nine tips that will help you rock rewriting your resume. [...]

Has your employer recently reduced your hours at your hourly or part-time job? You’re not alone. In this recession, reduced hours are affecting young workers more than any other age group. If your boss cuts your hours, it’s not an easy time to pick up and find new work. There are, however, a few steps you can take to try to win some hours back. [...]

The media spotlight often shines on the unemployed, but many Americans under 30 face an equally frustrating problem—they have educations and skills but work in jobs below their earning potential. If this is you, the right combination of perseverance, optimism, and creativity can help you stick it out and eventually land the job you want. [...]