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Many Interests Can Lead to Many Careers
Q: Many fields have interested me, so much so that I could never pick just one. I would be considered a job hopper according to my passions, but my resume has suffered because of it. I know many people work in the same or similar fields throughout …Read more.
How to Know When College Is Worth it
Q: I was never a great student, but I don't want a minimum-wage job for the rest of my life, either. I don't have one thing I really want to do, and I don't know about everything I can do. I graduate high school this summer, and right now, I'm …Read more.
She Blurted Out Complaints -- Now She Must Make Amends
Q: I knew I shouldn't have done it when I did it, but I couldn't help myself. Now what do I do? I work for a company that is poorly managed. If the company changed its thinking and the way it operates, it could make so much more money and also make …Read more.
Boss Can Address Employee's New Facial Piercing, Policy or No Policy
Q: Recently, a co-worker showed up with her upper lip/lower cheek pierced. It makes me sick to look at it, as it is a very noticeable hole with an earring in it. What's worse is that she continually pulls on it and twirls it, maybe unconsciously, …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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