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Job searching, like most of life's most rewarding challenges, doesn't come with an instruction book. Even so, in today's job market you need all the advice you can get. CareerBuilder asked various HR professionals to answer some of the most popular questions job seekers ask us.

Are Paper "Thank You" Letters Passé?

Let's face it, getting an interview isn't as easy as it used to be. So how do you thank your interviewer for that awesome chance to show your stuff? Is email too trivial? Are employers too busy for paper letters?

Our experts agree that there is no off-the-shelf thank you that works best with all potential employers. You have to play it by ear. Test the waters and respond accordingly. If the company is somewhat conservative, send the formal written, "Thank you for the interview." But remember, time is still of the essence so fax a copy of the letter, then mail the original. If your interviewer is less conservative, go ahead and send email. Keep it short but keep it formal. You may be accustomed to writing "Hey, Dude," when setting up a lunch date, but this is business. And, by all means, use spell-check!.

Freedom of Information is One Thing But . . .

A lot of job seekers get jittery when asked to sign releases letting potential employers look at information from past employers, credit history, and other facts as part of the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. "I don't have any credit or past work problems," writes one job seeker. "But I'm concerned about what happens to this information once they've finished with it."

First off, if they're checking you out, they're serious about wanting you, so this is a good sign. Fact is, candidates indulging in revisionist history have burned so many companies and recruiting firms that this practice isn't going to go away soon.

Commuting Across the Hall

Once the exclusive province of writers, artists and wiseguys, the advantages ? and practicality ? of working at home has become the rage among many formerly cube-bound workers. Indeed, there's something comforting about working in your furry slippers and avoiding the daily game of road-rage hop-scotch today's commute has become. But how do you get these gigs?

The no-brainer answer is to search for those progressive companies that have established telecommuting programs. Then you're pretty much preaching to the choir come offer time. A couple of ways to accomplish this are to search CareerBuilder using variations on the keyword, "telecommute." You can also visit CareerBuilder's sister site, Sologig.com , where employers search for candidates for contract positions. Here, you could post your qualifications and your desire to work at home and have telecommuting-savvy employers contact you!