On average, workers 55-64 years old spend two weeks longer in the job search than younger job hunters, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Older applicants should emphasize real-work experience, update their online presence, be honest and interesting and stay realistic, writes Chris Carosa.

Job applicants should use action verbs to describe past achievements to show results, collaboration, leadership and effectiveness, writes Stan Silverman, founder and CEO of Silverman Leadership. "The key to landing your next job is to differentiate yourself, demonstrate that you are an effective leader, possess both technical and power skills and develop a reputation for achieving results within your field," says Silverman.

LinkedIn is adding more ways for customers, businesses and community members to connect with new audiences through its added features. The employment-oriented social media's new features include Invite to Follow, Stream with LinkedIn Live and new options for posting as a page or member.

Competitive pay is an important part of attracting talent, but potential employees will also consider everything from career advancement opportunities to a company's reputation when making a decision, according to Aaron Schuh of Business Development Resources. Companies must work to live up to value statements while striving to establish a positive company culture.

Companies' sustainability efforts can help attract and keep talent and improve employee well-being and productivity, but make sure the efforts are authentic, says Nick Deligiannis, a managing director of Hays. "Any organization that overstates their green credentials leaves themselves vulnerable to accusations of so-called greenwashing, which will have a huge impact on their employer brand and ability to attract top talent," he says.

Women now hold more payroll jobs than men, according to the December jobs report, which shows growth in female-dominated industries, such as health care and education. The challenge now is that these jobs are not usually comparable -- in terms of salary and job quality -- as those jobs typically held by men, such as manufacturing, Claire Cain Miller writes.

Anyone who sits in a busy Starbucks long enough can see each location generates a lot of waste. Starbucks is hoping to change that by outlining new sustainability goals aimed at making the coffee giant "resource positive" in areas including carbon emissions, waste and water.