J.T.: It’s time to report on new career resources. And I’m pleased to have persuaded Dale to talk about a generous offer of his, giving away two versions of a charming and helpful job-search book.

Dale: Inspired by many of the people who write to us, I decided to write a fictionalized account of a tough job search called, “It’s a Wonderful Job.” The title was inspired by the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and like the film, the book has a good man who is beaten down by circumstances that he contemplates suicide. As in the film, an angel intervenes. In the case of my book, the angel guides the hero through a renewed job search. The reason I haven’t mentioned it before is when I sent the book manuscript to my agent and editor, they insisted it wasn’t commercial – it was about someone unemployed and unemployed people don’t buy books. Convinced that the book could help a lot of people, especially those out of work, I decided that I’d give it away in two versions, an e-book and audio book. Both are free at www.dauten.com.

J.T.: And well worth the time, whether you’re unemployed or just rethinking a career. And speaking of difficult job searches, we often get questions about looking for work with the handicap of a criminal record. Go to www .wikihow.com and type in: “How to get a job with a criminal record.” You’ll find ideas and resources, ranging from a list of jobs that are closed to those with criminal records to self-employment options.