U.S. unemployment dropped to a near-three-year low of 8.3 percent in January on an unexpected hiring surge by the country's private employers, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The good news wasn't shared by all midlife workers, though. Despite the overall downward trend, the jobless rate for workers 45 and older rose slightly, to 6.6 percent in January, from 6.3 percent in November and December, according to the labor bureau. However, the unemployment rate for workers 55 and older dipped to 5.9 percent, the lowest since February 2009.

There was a time when the toughest question you might encounter during a job interview was "What's your biggest flaw?"

These days, companies such as Google, Amazon and Trader Joe's include questions in job interviews that are tricky, challenging or just plain off the wall.

In an age of online job applications, many people think that mid-life job changers don't have to submit a cover letter with a resume because harried human-resources staff won't have time to read it.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Done right, a cover letter can hook an HR staffer or hiring manager from the opening sentence, especially the letter articulates why you're qualified for the job, what you can do for the company's bottom line or who you already know there who could vouch for your awesomeness.

Hanna Phan (left) did everything career experts tell you to do when you're job hunting, including setting up her profile on job boards, scouring online job listings and interviewing with recruiters. Nothing worked.

That's when Phan, a presentation design specialist, decided to take her job search down a more unconventional path. She scrapped her traditional resume in favor of an interactive one that she created using software from SlideRocket, one of the companies where she wanted to work.

With the job market more competitive than ever, job hunters are forced to become more savvy. In fact, 77 percent of job seekers now use mobile job search apps to land new gigs, according to a recent Mashable.com survey.

Luckily, there are tons of great on-the-go tools available that not only give you an edge, but also guide you through every step of the employment search process.

Last week's announcement that the unemployment rate dipped to 8.5 percent was welcome news, but this may be even better: Bloomberg News reports that companies are hiring increasing numbers of new workers as executives rush to prepare for greater demand as the economy recovers.

The employers adding staff in droves range from Boeing, which is hiring 100 new union machinists each week in anticipation of boosting its output of aircraft by 60 percent over the next two years, to yogurt maker Chobani, which is hiring 300 workers to staff a new plant in Idaho, according to Bloomberg's Thomas Black.

On your first job interview in years, you wouldn't wear a suit that went out of style during the Clinton administration.

But when it comes to resumes, people don't think twice about presenting themselves to prospective employers in a format that screams "outdated."

The economy got a booster shot Friday: U.S. unemployment in December dipped slightly to 8.5 percent, the lowest it's been since February 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The December jobless rate for people 45 and older remained steady at 6.3 percent, the lowest it's been in three years.

If you're looking to switch jobs, professional and trade groups offer fresh opportunities and could give you a chance to use the expertise you've gained in your first career.

Lynne Thomas Gordon, a registered health information administrator, spent 30 years in the health-care industry, managing departments at hospitals and outpatient centers. Through the years, she was an active volunteer with professional associations such as the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Last September, Gordon made a career switch -- to CEO of AHIMA.

The old saying that the only constant is change aptly describes the American workplace in 2012.

You may be in the same position at the same place you've worked for years. But the economy, technology and demographics are transforming how you get your job done.