I know there's still plenty to mope about. The stock market is coming off a down week, Chrysler and GM are pulling the plug on hundreds of dealerships, and the number of initial jobless claims shot back up last week. But hey, it's Monday, the start of a brand new week! And there are some hopeful signs out there. Here are three bits of good news to add a bit o' zip to your job search.

Lesser Experienced Professionals in Greater Demand. Do you have less than five years experience in health care, IT, or sales? It may be a good time to send your resume because these industries have reported an increase in demand for relatively new candidates, according to Beyond.com. Why? It all comes down to controlling costs. "Many companies are focused on hiring front-line workers who can make the most impact on their business with the least amount of financial risk." says Rich Milgram, Beyond.com's CEO.

Better Days Near for Executive Hiring? Job growth for executives is expected to pick up in the second half of the year, according to the recent 2009 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report by ExecuNet. The report, based on a survey of more than 5,000 executives and search consultants, expects demand for directors, vice presidents, and C-level officers to bottom out at the end of the second quarter, then begin rising.

GE to Add 350 Jobs at New Plant in Upstate N.Y. General Electric has announced plans to open a $100 million state-of-the-art, heavy-duty battery manufacturing plant just north of Albany, N.Y., by mid-2011, bringing 350 new manufacturing jobs to the region. The plant is expected to be the core of the firm's new battery business.

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