Q: I am a seasoned information technology management professional who went back to school to change my career to interior design. When I interviewed with one small design firm, I knew the office had serious problems. The designer I met with had stacks and stacks of papers all over the office, including the reception area. When I met with the owner, he talked about his 20 years as a fabulous designer with great clients. He never asked me questions. He told me he starts people at $8 an hour, which was too low, so I negotiated it up to $12. I wanted to get started in the field, so despite the warning signs about this being a bad place to work, I took the job.

Immediately, the owner showed his abusive side. He was never clear with directions; he gave me instructions, and when things didn't work, he denied he had given me that information. He accepted jobs from clients knowing the deadlines could not be met then blamed me for things being late. I also discovered he treated vendors with the same disrespect. He yelled at me when no one was around, so I started avoiding being alone with him. The final episode was when he had me order 78 pieces of furniture for an important client without allowing enough time for delivery; when I succeeded in getting things done despite his sabotage, he screamed at me because two of the 78 pieces arrived damaged. After six months of verbal and emotional abuse, I quit. He asked me to return, but I couldn't do that to myself. I did offer to train a new person, which he accepted. I ask myself why I took this job against my intuition and why I did not quit sooner.

A: You already have tolerated six months of abuse; don't continue beating yourself now that you are out of there. People often ignore their intuitions when desires take precedence. You were desperate to get your first design job, so you took the first one offered. Many older career changers would have done the same thing. Forgive and congratulate yourself for accomplishing as much as you did in such a frightful environment. You also should be proud that you successfully negotiated to get higher wages with a very difficult business owner. Let go of the bad part of the job, and hold on to the experience you gained. When you start interviewing again, ask questions that will net you the information you need to make educated decisions. Be assured you will not ignore your intuition again.

Job Seeker Wants To Leave Attempted Suicide Behind

Q: I attempted suicide by taking an overdose of prescription pills. I realized it was a stupid thing to do, so I called 911, asked for an ambulance, and was treated in the hospital. I was placed in a psychiatric unit for several days and then released. I have been fine ever since, and I have no criminal record. When I apply to jobs, do they have access to this information? I worry about people finding out.

A: All medical records are confidential. If you live in a small town where the people seem to know everyone's business, it's possible that information could leak through gossip, but then you could have a potential lawsuit against them. Let's hope you will be able to resume your life without experiencing such negative behavior from others. Still, you may want to move, change your surroundings, and seek counseling so as not to fall into depression again.

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 [email protected], or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. 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.