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Admirable Effort to Support Neighborhood Business
Q: I am a small business owner who depends on and am grateful for every customer I have. A small cupcake shop opened down the street, and I like to support local businesses, so on my way to get coffee, I thought I would stop in and buy a couple of …Read more.
Defending Oneself Is Always Worth the Effort
Q: A former supervisor falsely accused me of things in order to fire me, so I resigned before she had the chance. She had no proof of any of the accusations, and she did not report anything to the authorities. That was five years ago, and I have had …Read more.
Dressing Appropriately Shows More Than Style
Q: I started a new job after being unemployed for some time. While I was unemployed, I gained weight and can no longer fit in my work clothes. I can't afford to buy new things right now. I need to catch up on my bills. I did buy new jeans and a pair …Read more.
Partner Moves Funds Into Own Account, Leaving Other Partner With Bills
Q: I am going through the biggest fight in my life right now. My husband moved our personal and business money into offshore accounts in his own name before I realized he was having an affair and I filed for divorce. He is colluding with a banker …Read more.
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Applicant With Master's Offered So-Called 'Internship' Instead of a JobQ: I applied for a job in an art gallery. The ad asked for knowledge of art, clerical skills, the ability to multi-task, and other vague requirements. I am 31, and I have a master's degree and great work experience. I received an e-mail saying I didn't meet the qualifications but asking whether I wanted an unpaid internship in the gallery. I respectfully replied that I was not interested. This is a for-profit art gallery, not a nonprofit organization. Do the people there think a man my age and with my experience would work for nothing? I am not against volunteering, but not for a business. What is it with internships? A: Internships are not the same as volunteer work. Some pay; some do not. They are short-term, usually equal to a quarter in the college year, and for the purpose of offering a person professional experience in a field so that person can go out afterward and get a paid position. In a tight job market, many companies, not just nonprofits, get free or cheaply paid help by offering internships to those who want to gain that experience. Sometimes interns are given solid work experience; sometimes they are used as errand runners or for other menial tasks. There was a time when having a bachelor's or graduate degree meant an automatic approval into a job. Now companies can be very specific about the types of degrees they want. If your master's degree is in fine art and your work experience was at similar art galleries, then clearly your rejection letter was a standard rejection letter that the gallery owners felt would not cause a legal quagmire.
Manager Gets Praise but Doesn't Feel Valued Q: I am a manager at a large corporation. I don't want to be petty, but when the company wouldn't give me a notebook computer for when I travel, I bought my own. I also couldn't get the company to upgrade my desktop so I could view webcasts as required by my job. I also have noticed that my office is smaller than others and can't even fit a chair for visitors. I can't even get approval for trade journal subscriptions. One would think I am being sent a message, but my annual reviews are extremely positive, and my supervisor likes and respects me. I am a team player and don't complain or throw tantrums, but how do I overcome this "we'll see" response? I am not asking for things that other employees don't have. A: With your positive reviews, it is odd that co-workers are given more than you if you need those items to do your job. Being direct does not mean you are a complainer. Direct communication is delivered with a matter-of-fact attitude that is not threatening but questioning. Tell your supervisor you will not supply any more of the items you think you need but will wait for the company to determine what's necessary to engage in the work. Then drop the subject, and borrow what you need from co-workers. Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.
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