Worries about a partner's finding a job are a major reason why colleges lose faculty and professional-staff recruits. Some institutions have hired people to focus largely on nonfaculty job searches. (Finding faculty jobs for spouses or partners is a more complex negotiation with the university.) But as the economy continues to dip into uncharted waters, those in dual-career services are already mindful that job opportunities are tougher to come by, and both job consultants and job-seekers need to try harder than ever before. About 15 years ago, fewer than a handful of dual-career directors existed on campuses, by most estimates. But more colleges now recognize the importance of the position because one of the top reasons faculty candidates turn down job offers is because their spouses or partners can't find work. In the last year and a half, institutions such as Yale and West Virginia Universities have started dual-career programs. Consultants' services are free to the job seeker, whose status differs depending on the college. Institutions largely offer dual-career services to the partners of newly hired tenure-track faculty, although staff and administrators can sometimes be eligible as well. Some colleges, like Cornell University, focus on the partners of those being recruited for tenured or tenure-track faculty jobs and high-level professional staff positions, as well as the partners of those who currently hold such positions. But no matter who is looking for work, dual-career specialists do not promise jobs. They do, however, provide vigorous assistance with job searches and are particularly helpful in ferreting out jobs for partners to apply for. Dual-career directors extend their reach beyond the campus, too. When new companies come to town, directors make it a point to meet with officials to gather work-force intelligence. And every gathering is viewed as a networking opportunity in which a job lead--one that would be a perfect fit for a job seeker--could surface. Dual-career specialists also give practical advice about this tight job market, and what clients will need to do on their own to crack it, such as accepting temporary of contract work, considering commuting and/or telecommuting, and counseling patience, generally allocating a month of search time for every $10,000 in salary.