Business

About a month ago, Alethea Immoor came home from work to find her cat, Cosi, was ailing. The 7-year-old, 30-pound tabby had an abscess on his chin that had burst, resulting in a bloody trail on the floor and pools of blood on the couch in her Middle Island apartment.

About two years after successful treatment for breast cancer, Sue Rubin was feeling a need for a new life plan. Lasting side effects from the treatment made her unable to continue her career in technical sales. And her inability to work at all carried with it a drop in self- esteem.

Neil Carfagna's children have a surefire way to pull his chains. Every now and then, such as at his recent surprise birthday party, they play a recording of "Hail to the Chief."

Second of two articles on career change

As she was growing up in Setauket, Kelly McGinniss' views of her career options were definite, but limited. She was interested in the business or legal arenas and ended up opting for a career as a paralegal.

Just as employers are figuring out the role of blogs, their value and downside, along come wikis. Actually, wikis have been around for quite some time, but experts say it's just now that mainstream employers are starting to tap into the power of such Web sites - where users can add and edit content at will - as a means of collecting employee knowledge and enhancing productivity.

Six years ago, Erica Chase was working for what she saw as "the most unfriendly company on Long Island." The business, a pharmaceutical company, did not allow children on the premises - not even in cars in the parking lot as spouses picked up employees after work.

Dog groomer, teacher, 911 operator, recruiter, real estate assistant, marketing assistant and now title closer. Those are just a few of the jobs a friend of mine has considered and/or pursued in the eight years I've known her.

Best Web site for job hunters over 50.

For some time Jonathan Watkins had been trying to meet his goals of setting up better policies and structure for his business, Wright Music Inc. in Port Washington. But it was only when he set aside the goals and focused on the obstacle holding him back that the logjam broke.