Employers should encourage employees to fail, according to new research by Fiona Lee, a professor of business and psychology at U-M. That's because an environment that nurtures employees who try new things is more conducive to innovation and, in turn, long-term success. If employees are constantly scrutinized or are fearful that their mistakes will always be held against them, they are unlikely to experiment with new ideas that can translate into products, services or procedures that will add to the bottom line.

If you're looking for a job with a specific employer, be sure to check the Alumni CareerPort Employer Directory. The directory provides a comprehensive list of employers registered with the Alumni Association and the jobs the employers are currently advertising. Those listings are linked directly to the Alumni Job Board, where you can get more information about the available positions. The directory also includes a brief profile of each employer and its history.

Twenty-five percent of all companies terminated workers who violated company email policies last year, and 20 percent of all companies had email records subpoenaed in lawsuit or regulatory investigations. It's important to know your company's email policy so you can avoid committing a mistake that could get you fired. And since 60 percent of all companies monitor or retain your messages, keep these points in mind:

• Most policies require no or limited personal email use at work—so save the non-work business for your Yahoo! account. Check your policy, because not adhering to it could be grounds for termination.
• Maintain a professional attitude in the email you send, especially when you are representing the company.
• Try the elevator test: Before writing something in an email, consider whether you'd feel comfortable saying it out loud in an elevator with a client, competitor and colleague. If you wouldn't, don't write it.

Even if you're happy with your job, it's important to have a current resume ready in case the unexpected happens or a dream opportunity arises. But be careful not to commit the biggest resume blunders that turn employers off. Here's a list from the Netscape Network:

• Don't fill the page with vague phrases or fluffy mumbo jumbo. What do "communication skills," "team player," and "detail-oriented" really mean? They serve no purpose and don't provide any information about you. Instead, use language that offers specific details that quantify your successes.
• Don't bury important information in your resume—make sure it jumps out to the reader.
• Don't write it in the first or third person—it's not professional.
• Don't leave gaps in employment.
• Don't use unusual fonts, unorthodox layouts or odd font sizes. Stick with the traditional.
• Don't send PDFs, zip files, Web links or mailed/faxed resumes. The standard today is to email it as a Microsoft Word attachment (though if you can check the policy ahead of time, do so).
• Do not lie or give misleading information (be careful about inflated titles!).

BusinessWeek Online published a story this month about the top 10 things every current or prospective employee needs to know about his or her company. The list includes how well you'll be taken care of in retirement, if you'll continue to get stock options, whether there is turmoil at the top level, the company's hidden culture, and more. The article also provides tips on how to find out about these need-to-knows. Read the full story online.

The Alumni CareerPort has almost 350 jobs listed right now. Below are some recently posted positions. If these aren't right for you, search the job board and you may just find your next job.

Senior Mainframe Developer at Synova
This and other positions can be found in the Information Technology category.

Public Relations Manager at Studley
This and other positions can be found in the Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations category.

Research Associate/Analyst at American Institutes for Research
This and other positions can be found in the Government and Policy category.