More jobs were lost in September than were lost in August, as the Labor Department revised the August decline to 201,000 jobs from the 216,000 it initially reported. In addition, last month the average workweek edged down by one-tenth of an hour, to 33 hours, meaning that those who do work are not getting as many hours.

For those who are unemployed, the job market looks worse now than at any point in the recession. The number of people who have been jobless for more than six months increased in September by 450,000, reaching a whopping 5.4 million.

When you add in those workers whose hours have been reduced, and others who have become so discouraged they have stopped looking, the unemployment rate jumps to 17 percent. That is the highest level since the government began tracking “underemployment” in 1994 and is a massive number by anyone’s standards.

Can anyone say “jobless recovery”?

Jacksonville, Florida was the only other city on the list to have more job postings than job seekers. Baltimore came in third with an even ratio of postings to seekers.

With President Obama’s big stimulus package that’s increasing the size of government, it’s not surprising that Washington made it to the top of the heap. Former tech powerhouses like San Francisco and Seattle now have three unemployed people for every job listing – not a favorable ratio if you’re pounding the pavement looking for work.

Here’s the list of the top 10 cities to look for a job along with their corresponding ratio of job postings to unemployed:

1. Washington, DC (6:1)
2. Jacksonville, FL (3:1)
3. Baltimore, MD (1:1)
4. Salt Lake City, UT (1:2)
5. New York, NY (1:2)
6. San Jose, CA (1:2)
7. Hartford, CT (1:2)
8. Oklahoma City, OK (1:3)
9. Austin, TX (1:3)
10. Boston, MA (1:3)

So who’s at the bottom of the list? Not surprisingly, Detroit. With a cratering local economy made worse by the Big 3 carmakers downsizing, Detroit has a whopping 18 unemployed people for every job posting. Good luck finding a job in the motor city.

Here’s the ten worst cities to find a job:

41. Buffalo, NY (1:6)
42. Orlando, FL (1:6)
43. Sacramento, CA (1:6)
44. Rochester, NY (1:6)
45. Chicago, IL (1:7)
46. Portland, OR (1:7)
47. Los Angeles, CA (1:8)
48. Riverside, CA (1:9)
49. Miami, FL (1:10)
50. Detroit, MI (1:18)

Trina Thompson is suing her New York City college because she’s been out of work since receiving her information technology degree in April. The 27-year-old recently filed a $70,000 lawsuit against Monroe College in the Bronx.

Thompson says Monroe’s Office of Career Advancement has not given her job leads and career advice. The college, in turn, says her lawsuit is without merit and that it helps its graduates locate jobs.

What do you think – should your college be at fault if you can’t find work?

• Don’t wear jewellery. Unless you’re Snoop Dogg (and if you are, you wouldn’t be attending a job interview), leave the bling at home!
• Make sure your hair is neat. The castaway look is out – so keep it looking tidy.
• Clean nails. You don’t want dirt under your nails when you go to shake hands with your interviewer. Also, keep them clipped and don’t bite them!
• Just a splash of aftershave. You don’t want to spray it on with a crop-duster and overpower them! A couple of splashes on your neck – oh and one for Big Ben. As Alfie says, “You never know where the day may take you.”
• Empty your pockets. There’s no need for jingling coins or bulges.
• Turn your phone off! Or at the very least, put it on silent.

Follow these tips and you won’t go far wrong. Above all else, make sure that your personality and individual talent gets you noticed. With these pointers you can walk the walk – but it’s you that has to talk the talk!

How to dress really depends on the position you’re applying for. It depends on whether or not you’re comfortable wearing a full suit/tie ensemble. However one rule applies to nearly every situation: always dress better than you think you need to.

First impressions in a job interview

Dressing better than you think you probably need to dress is the safest option because as the old saying goes, “You don’t get a second chance at a first impression!”. You will probably regret it if you dress too casually, so err on the side of dressiness.

Fashion tips for a job interview

Here is a quick list of fashion tips to make sure that the preparation for your job interview goes smoothly.

1. A plain white shirt. Nothing says professional better than a simple and stylish white shirt.
2. Black shoes. Simple, elegant shoes can say more about a man than anything else. Make sure they’re well polished.
3. Plain black socks. No one wants to see you rocking neon green socks at an interview! Leave them at home.
4. A black belt. No, you don’t need to be good at karate! A nice black belt to match your shoes will do just fine. Bonus points for a belt with a stylish (but not overly elaborate) buckle.
5. A plain suit. For the first interview I’d keep it simple and stick to a plain suit with no patterns or pinstripes. Exude confidence and professionalism.

And now for the pièce de résistance:

6. A pink – yes, I did say PINK – tie. You need something to make you stand out from the crowd. Something to make the interviewer remember you. You can’t be wacky and outgoing because you need to look professional and competent. I have a hot pink tie which never ceases to become a conversation starter during, and after, my interviews. Real men can wear pink – if they choose to!

Follow these tips and you’ll be walking into your next interview with style and confidence.

The successful applicant will report back on their adventures via weekly blogs, photo diary, video updates and ongoing media interviews. Sounds rough, doesn’t it?

As if living above the Great Barrier Reef wasn’t cool enough, the successful candidate will also be paid a fat salary package and will receive return airfares from the nearest capital city, rent-free accommodation and transport on Hamilton Island, travel insurance for the contract period, computer, internet, digital video and stills cameras access, plus travel to a number of the other Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. The six-month contract starts on July 1st 2009.

In May, officials will select 10 finalists to travel to Hamilton Island for an interview process, which will include sailing, snorkelling and psychological testing. An eleventh finalist will be chosen by the public, from a pool of 50 of the best applicants, whose videos will be posted online.

All interested candidates are required to create a 60 second or less video application in English explaining why they are the best person for the job. Interested in applying? You’ll find an application form and a place to upload your video at www.islandreefjob.com.