J.T.: Every month, we offer our suggestions for helpful career resources, and this time I’ve been trying an iPhone app from the folks who do the “What Color is Your Parachute?” book. It’s called the “Job-Interview Tool” and covers many of the basics, from preparation to thank-you notes. And it’s FREE.

Dale: I once interviewed the author of “Parachute,” Richard Bolles, and was much impressed. Decades ago, back in the ’60s, he was assigned to help campus ministers who were getting laid off due to a decline in church revenues — now, THAT’S a tough career transition — and his advice to those ministers evolved into the original book.

J.T.: Then you’ll love that the app includes videos of him responding to several common questions, and you can feel his warmth and passion.

Dale: As for my choice, I’ve been spending time with the site for the Pew Research Center (www.pewresearch.org). For a data geek like myself, it’s King Tut’s Tomb. There’s a study on what they call the “re-employed,” those who’d found work after a layoff. I’d seen their headline report that 44 percent of the re-employed felt the new job was better than the old one, compared with just 24 percent who felt it was worse. But, looking inside the data, the pay and benefits were no better. So, why would there be a better attitude? The re-employed didn’t just get a new job, they went from a company laying off people to one hiring, and we all know how that changes morale. Remember “morale?” It’s making a comeback.

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Jeanine “J.T.” Tanner O’Donnell is a professional development specialist and the founder of the consulting firm, JTODonnell.com, and of the blog, CAREEREALISM.com. Dale Dauten resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator with AgreementHouse.com. Please visit them at JTandDale.com, where you can send questions via e-mail, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019.

© 2011 by King Features Syndicate, Inc.