It takes some savvy, some smarts and some plain-old dumb luck to be a good detective. (You remember Scooby Doo, don’t you?) In just one day, I stumbled upon a multitude of job-related resources, and I’m hoping to parlay some of it into higher wages for me – and, hopefully through example, for you as well Dear Reader.

The day started with my local news station. There was a broadcast about the nation’s jobless rate. It talked about how the unemployment rates is steadily declining, but that it has to drop just a little bit more to get consumer confidence and the stock market to respond. Okay.

Then I picked up my neighborhood newspaper. Local newspapers have job ads, but more and more reporters are delving into stories about regional job growth. Nationally, papers and magazines are picking up more on what industries are all about job creation…and those are clues that the economy is in a turnaround. This day, The Detroit Free Press (my big local paper) announced a huge series of articles about how to find a job. The first article talked about what areas are growing – and for my region, the big growth areas are automotive, batteries and healthcare. Good to know.

In the afternoon, I ran into the area Tae Kwon Do academy, which was having an open house. The owner expanded to nearly double the size, and I wanted a look at the place. I’m hoping my 5-year-old son could take classes there. While on the scene, I started chatting up another parent, who told me his Web site was looking terrible and wondering if he should upgrade it.

Next, I was surfing the television for something – anything! – to watch. I was frustrated with my children for refusing for the 413,245 time to go to bed…so I needed some veg time to get back on track. I stumbled upon a television show on the ABC News channel. The host of “The Job Club” focused on how to build your small business and took viewer questions. Those questions ranged from how to publish a book (read: royalties!), how to find a seamstress to produce a pajama line (read: manufacturing bucks!). I was fascinated…and starting to see a pattern emerge.

Every place I looked or visited or watched had a job lead in it. The radio story tells me that retail is going to be hiring soon – consumer confiding rising means more people will be shopping. So I could apply for something at my local Target or similar store. The newspaper ad reminds me that automotive hiring is picking up, so maybe my family’s background in the auto industry could lead me to a company that needs some help; I could look on LinkedIn to find a connection. The new Academy? Well, with all that new space, it might need more staff or even a cleaning woman! (Look, if I’m looking for work, I’m not above doing what it takes to make ends meet.) Finally, that ABC News broadcast has me thinking – again – about writing my Great American Novel.

What is happening around you today? Do you see signs of improvement that you could capitalize on? Do you see people who need help making their business grow? Are you hearing advice that could change the course of your life? It just takes some open eyes to see the potential around you. Let me know what you find!

Careers in nursing are skyrocketing, even with the recession in full swing, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. In fact, with high job losses in other industries, more people than ever before are returning to school for degrees in nursing, which has historically been a high-demand field.

Barbara Michelson of Detroit, Mich., is a part of this shift. When she lost her job at a Detroit auto plant a year ago, she began investigating nursing careers. “I had always thought of becoming a nurse,” Michelson says. “I knew the pay was good and the job secure.”

The more Michelson found out about nursing, the more she was convinced it was the right field for her. Unemployment in nursing was almost nonexistent. Promotion happened quickly, especially for advanced degree-holders. “After 2 years on the job, I could easily be making as much as $80,000 with good benefits,” she says. “I thought, what am I waiting for?”

She then set her sights on finding the right degree program. Between working full-time to provide for her 3 children and caring for her aging mother, Michelson needed a program that would be flexible with her busy schedule. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to stick to the class schedules at a college,” she recalls. “I didn’t think I would be able to pull it off.”

That’s when a friend recommended she visit ClassesandCareers.com, a free online education information resource. In a few minutes, users can fill out a form and be connected live with an education advisor. “I went to the Web site and told them about my goals,” Michelson says. “Not long after, an advisor called me and helped me find a nice, flexible online program. I could do lectures and homework at night from my computer after the kids went to sleep. It was really easy to use.”

Michelson is now more than halfway through her program. In 6 months, she will be ready to enter the nursing field with a bachelor’s degree. “I can’t believe it’s so close,” she says. “I’m really glad I decided to switch careers. This is going to change my family’s life.”

If you are considering making the switch to a career in nursing, visit ClassesandCareers.com to be connected live with an education advisor. After assessing your career goals, he or she will recommend the best degree program for you.