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New Graduate Wants To Take Chances at All the Wrong Times
Q: I will be finishing my bachelor's degree this spring. I have lived all of my life in the city where I am attending school, and I would like to get a job in another city that I have wanted to move to. I only know a couple of people there, so I …Read more.
Preparing Oneself in a Tight Market for the Future
Q: I keep reading that this is the time to go back to school because of our tight economic situation. An article stated that even if a person doesn't know what to do, it's a good time to go to school. What do you think of that advice?
A: I disagree …Read more.
Overly Nervous Employee Scares the Employee Under Him
Q: I work for a brokerage house that seems to be doing well. I am not yet a broker. I work under someone who is a broker but not in management. He is afraid of everything we do when the compliance officer comes into the room. We are supposed to scan …Read more.
Noncompete Agreement Cannot Take Away Person's Ability To Make a Living
Q: I worked as a medical biller for six years. Without warning, I was let go and told my accounts would be taken over by a team leader. When I started the job, I signed an agreement stating that I would not go to work for any of the company's …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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