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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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Person Upset About Friend's Poor PerformanceQ: I used a friend to do a real estate deal for me. She is very bright, sharp and a true businesswoman. Something, though, distracted her from doing a good job, and I was left to do many of the tasks myself that she should have done. I've been feeling more and more upset about it because I have held in my disappointment. How do I complain to her without damaging our relationship? A: Hiring friends can be a costly decision, and many who do so experience disappointment. Unsatisfactory services upset everyone, but when a friend doesn't perform, the friendship often fails, as well. The deal is done, and the result was positive, even if you had to do more than you wanted to. Complaining to your friend now serves no purpose other than to criticize, hurt, anger or alienate her. If you value your friendship, be thankful for that and the positive result, and let go. If repressing your anger still upsets you after some time has gone by, talk to a counselor about it. Before you decide to hire a friend again, you both should come to an agreement on service, performance and communication expectations. If you can't talk as openly to the friend as you would to any business professional, then perhaps hiring that person is a bad idea on every level. Talking about possible issues before they happen can help, but there are no guarantees, other than those required by law, that ensure you will have a positive outcome. This is why some people refuse to hire friends for any business service.
'Dumbing Down' Résumé Is a Short-Lived Lie Q: I have been a stay-at-home mom for seven years, but prior to that, I had a good job in a highly skilled field.
A: Dumbing down skills on a résumé is living a lie. Your work experience and skills are facts that belong on your résumé. Lying may get you fired when the truth comes out, and it will come out eventually through everyday conversations with co-workers and bosses. You have been away from a field for seven years, so in your cover letters, you need to explain how you have maintained your skills and updated your education in the field. You probably come across as conflicted by stating that you want to work but don't want a high-level job. Employers won't know what to do with you if they hire you. You want to be in your field, but you don't want to use your high-level skills. That means a company can't advance you because you don't want a career. Before you send any more cover letters, talk to former co-workers in the field to see what the demands are today. You also say you don't want a minimum-wage job, but taking a job that does not lead to a career may be the answer to achieving the work life/home life balance you desire. 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 with all your workplace questions. 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 2010 CREATORS.COM
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