Which fields are growing and offer well-paying jobs? STEM careers - those that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics - require special skills and training and professionals are in high demand now and will be in the future.

In the new edition of his book, 150 Best Jobs for Your Skills, Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., says that STEM careers include "work that discovers, collects and analyzes information about the natural world; applies scientific research findings to problems in medicine, the life sciences, human behavior and the natural sciences; imagines and manipulates quantitative data; and applies technology to manufacturing, transportation and other economic activities."

So which STEM jobs are growing fast? Here are the top five:

When the recession began, the question that popped up repeatedly was, "Can I find a job in this economy?" Then, for those with a work history who were fortunate enough to be offered a position, the question often became, "Should I take a job even if it's a step down from my last?"

One of the most challenging aspects of a job search is writing a compelling resume. First you have to look back on all of your experience and figure out how to condense it to one page. Then you have to make sure it's tailored to each job you're applying for, whether that means moving around the order of your work history, education and skills, or reworking your career summary.

One of the most common pieces of job-seeker advice we give on this blog is to personalize application materials as much as possible. This includes the addressing of your cover letter. There may be cases where it's impossible to find a contact associated with the position, but that doesn't mean "To whom it may concern" is the only option. With such easy access to information through social media and sites like LinkedIn, don't give up on cover-letter customization just because the job description doesn't list a contact.

At work, there are some topics of conversation that need to be approached cautiously, if at all. Your definitive list of "reasons why your boss sucks," your religious beliefs and your feelings about "The Real Housewives," for example, are all probably better left off of the conversation menu. Expressing your views on these polarizing topics can lead to some pretty intense discussions.

Whether you work for a large corporation or a small business, you probably feel at least a little intimidated by your company's executive team. After all, they not only call the shots, but they essentially hold your job security and the future of your career in their hands.

One of the best ways to get a foot in the door with a potential employer is to be recommended by someone who already works there. That may be true, but a referral is no guarantee of an interview, let alone a job offer. In fact, a poorly handled referral can leave you worse off than if you were just another unknown job candidate. Here's how to ask for a referral the right way.

Every Monday, I watch Bethenny Frankel juggle her hectic life as a working mom on her Bravo reality show. Though things don't always go perfectly, for the most part, she's pretty good at making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

No one is perfect. In trying to be the best version of ourselves, we must occasionally fail and learn from our mistakes. Part of this learning process involves receiving criticism from others. While it can be difficult to hear criticism from peers, co-workers, a manager or any authority figure, there are often lessons to be learned from their feedback.

Did you know that today, Friday, March 2, is National Employee Appreciation Day? And with so many employees working overtime, doing the work of three people and wondering if they'll get a raise this year, there is no shortage of employees in need of some appreciation. While this day provides a nice opportunity for bosses to honor their hard-working staff, what about the other 364 days of the year?

If you've ever gotten an unsolicited phone call from a telemarketer, you know what it's like to feel that your time is being wasted by someone who wants something from you. It's annoying to have people think you've got nothing better to do than listen to them talk about why you need a new furnace or why you should support a local political candidate. If you need a new furnace or have the inkling to back a certain politico, you'll figure it out on your own. Click.

The social networking site Pinterest seems to be all anyone can talk about these days, including me. This "Virtual Pinboard" allows users to create pinboards on any topic they want and pin things they find interesting onto said boards. Users can browse pinboards created by other users, re-pin their images or follow them to see all of their pins.

The idea of workplace violence is frightening, but it's one of those situations where someone might think, "It won't ever happen to me." Yet a new survey reveals some startling statistics about the prevalence of violence, or intent of violence, in the workplace.

Most of us can recall an embarrassing moment in our lives that was caused by nerves. Whether it was drawing a blank at a crucial time, spilling a drink on a first date or stuttering through a presentation at work, at one point or another, anxiety has gotten the best of all of us.

Tax season is upon us, with less than two months to go until the April 17th deadline.

Last year at this time I was a contract employee, and I remember the hassle of having to go through my taxes. I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I did listen to my mother's sage advice to always "pay yourself first." I hid money away, because I knew I'd have to fork over cash to Uncle Sam since no taxes were taken out of my paycheck.

When applying for a job, there are few faster ways to get your résumé and cover letter thrown out of contention than by making a glaring grammatical error.

These days, human resources departments and hiring managers are flooded with résumés. They have to be narrowed down somehow, and grammatical errors are an easy way to eliminate applicants.

"Retirement" used to mean the end of one chapter in life spent working and the beginning of a new chapter spent with family and friends, traveling or focusing on hobbies. Yet for many of today's mature workers, their picture of retirement looks very different. It no longer means the end of their career; instead, they are either staying longer at their current jobs or getting new jobs once retired. In fact, a new CareerBuilder study found that 57 percent of workers age 60 plus surveyed said they would look for a new job after retiring from their current company.

As spring inches closer, college seniors need to start getting serious about their after-college plans. To really get a leg up, collegians should begin their post-college preparation during their junior year. For those students planning to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation, having a structured find-a-job plan will help them stay on track and meet their career goals.

In today's technology-driven workforce, it's easier than ever to set up a home office and work remotely. There are a lot of reasons people work from home: They move to a new city but remain with the same company; they have children and can't pay for a full week of day care; they are self-employed. Working from home has its benefits: They have more flexibility, they can spend more time with their children, and they more easily avoid common workplace distractions.