"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: There's been great news a new solar-energy plant is slated to be built in a nearby town. I would like to be part of the history as an employee there. I'm about to finish an MBA, but I already have an MA, and I also have a CDL (Commercial Driver's License) and can drive big trucks. How can I get an entry-level job with them? — G.K.

J.T.: I love that you mentioned "great news" and you want to be part of history — that's just the mind-set the people creating this plant want in an employee. Plus, even though you are well-educated, you don't see that as a ticket to the top. You're ready to do whatever it takes to succeed with the company. Bravo!

I recently worked with a member of our CareerHMO.com program for four months as she looked for a job in a new city.

She finally landed her dream job – so imagine her surprise when her new boss eventually told her one of her references were very critical of her. When she asked which one, she was floored. She thought this particular person would be her BEST reference, not her WORST. It then got her thinking... she had used this reference for several jobs she had interviewed for and not gotten. Could this reference have caused her to lose out on all those jobs?

FACT: You need to choose and work with references very carefully – or risk losing the job offer!

Thank you for your interest in this FREE e-book. Please use the green box below to receive your copy. If you cannot see the sign-up area, please e-mail our staff at help@careerealism.com.

Once again available (for FREE) to CAREEREALISM readers is my e-book, Your ‘Right Fit' Job: Guide to Finding Work You Love.

The guide (below) is like having me coach you through your job search process. You will follow the same step-by-step process I use with people who get the jobs they really want.

Fortunately, one’s career and life success is not based solely on obtaining a college degree. Just look at the rise of Bill Gates of Microsoft, Michael Dell of Dell, and in more recent days, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook. These high profile and successful businessmen chose to pursue business over completing a college education. That decision hardly stopped them from succeeding.

But, just because these individuals have succeeded in leading prosperous careers for themselves without first obtaining a college degree, can you do the same?

Many candidates fear employers will pass on their resume for other candidates with a college education. Certainly, there are employers that require their employees to have a college education and degree to qualify for the job, but there are also employers who could care less about your education or degree obtained. The fact that one earned his stripes from an Ivy League institution does not place him in higher favor at many organizations. Some employers are more interested in a candidate’s character and professional experiences to determine qualification and the best placement for the job.

With the increase in university tuition fees and simultaneously the rise in the number of unemployed individuals, taking time out of work to go back to study either at college or university full-time is becoming less of a viable option for most people. The opportunity of being able to be a full-time student for three or four years, without the security of full-, or even part-time, employment isn’t open to most people – but what if you are still interested in continuing your education?

Previously, the doorways to education were limited: if you wanted to undertake courses in ICT, management, business or other "vocational" subjects, you would’ve had to attend college or university on a regular basis.

However, since the development of distance learning organizations, the opportunity to expand your educational horizons while still holding down a full-time job has become available for many people. If you have been considered returning to education – or even just "topping up" the skills you have – alongside looking at local evening and part-time courses, you should consider distance learning.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I recently went through a series of interviews and thought I had the job till I got a voice mail stating while I was wonderful, the department had decided to go with someone they'd "worked with previously." She also said that perhaps I was a little overqualified. OK, I'm out of college less than a year — how could I be overqualified? During the interviews, I did stress I like to work hard and feel a sense of accomplishment. Did I overdo it? — Michelle

Dale: "Overqualified" is nothing but a weak, generic excuse. I'm so frustrated by hiring managers relying on such a lame excuse that here's a new formula: Anyone who rejects an employee for being overqualified is under-qualified to be a manager. Great bosses hire the best people they can find, and are good enough managers to know that they can keep them engaged and involved and, as the economy improves, help them move up.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I'm now in my 50s and intend to rejoin the work force following the conclusion of my military commitment. Any suggestions for civilianizing a military career in logistics? Thank you from all of us still pursuing excellence in all we do! (That's Air Force lingo.) — Terry

Dale: We're all grateful for the service of our military personnel, and thus it's painful to note the unemployment rate for returning veterans is well above that of the general population. Why would that be true? In this economy of too few jobs and too much overwork, no one has time to train anyone, so the ideal new hire is someone who has done the exact job in a similar organization. This means it will be up to you to explain to corporate managers how you'll jump in and start helping. The Department of Defense has recognized this problem and has training programs (for an example, visit TurboTAP.org), some of which include counseling.

"JT & Dale Talk Jobs" is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I work as a transcriptionist for a large group of doctors. Three years ago they had us work from home and paid us by how much we typed rather than by the hour. We doubled our production, and they lowered our pay. Then they started sending work overseas and laid off some of us. When they discovered the work was terrible and had to be edited, they called us back. But it's now to the point where we work very long hours to make little more than we did three years ago. If jobs were a dime a dozen, I'd have left long ago. — Gina

Dale: You're part of a sizable segment of the work force in the New Economy: I hate my job, and I sure hope I don't lose it. But there's a hard, cold financial logic to outsourcing, and that won't change soon.

It’s time to dump the old line: “Please accept this application in response to... ”

If you’re still starting your cover letters with this overused one-liner, then I implore you to stop what you’re doing, delete the line, and spend a few minutes reading this article to discover seven new examples of how you can catch the hiring manager’s attention with an attention-grabbing opening line.

Entice them with the job title and some of your standout accomplishments

The question that is plaguing out-of-work job seekers is, "Should I take any job for the sake of having a job?"

The answer, in simple terms, is you should do everything you can to avoid it.

The most important thing for your career is to move forward. You may ask, “Am I not suppose to take a job unless it is my dream job?” The answer again is no. You can have several jobs until you are working in your ideal career but the key is with each successive job, you are getting closer and closer to your dream job.