Such a Deal

by Paula Santonocito

Although the news tends to be gloom and doom, a few positive things have come out of these tough financial times.

One is a greater sense of camaraderie. People seem a lot more open to sharing their business struggles, and more willing to partner for mutual benefit.

From a purely financial standpoint, there are also some truly amazing deals available in the marketplace--and providers of talent management products and services are among those offering substantial discounts.

Consider these three:

Devon James Associates, a retained recruiting firm based in Bellevue, Wash., has announced it is offering a nine-point process that includes the services of its sister company, InterviewStudio, at a significant discount to help out-of-work executives find employment.

PeopleTek, a leadership coaching and training firm, is likewise offering savings. The first 25 people who register for the company's signature Leadership Journey program will receive a 50 percent discount.

Rita Ashley, author and job search coach for technology executives and managers, is offering employees laid off from Sun, Intel, and Microsoft a free copy of her book, "Job Search Debugged."