Q: My partner and I want to relocate in March from a large Midwestern metropolis to southwestern Florida. We have a tight budget and a specific time frame because of our apartment lease ending, so we plan on flying there once in mid-January to find housing. My partner will have his seasonal layoff ahead, and we feel sure he will be able to get a job after we move. He also will be able to collect unemployment for a period because of the layoff. I am a marketable administrative assistant, though I know I will not be able to match the salary I make now. I've posted my résumé on a major online job site, but flying to Florida for interviews before the move is not financially possible. We also have no connections in Florida but feel it is "Florida or bust." What else should I do for job hunting, given that I cannot go back and forth for interviews?

Q: Only a small percentage of people obtain jobs by simply posting résumés online, and because you will be on a tight budget, you can't afford to wait to be chosen. Research the type of companies near where you want to live. Many may be private; you will not be able to obtain financial information from those, but you can call them to get the names of their owners, presidents and office managers. If it's Florida or bust, prepare a cover letter and résumé, and do a mass mailing or e-mail blast to companies. Tell about being able to interview during your visit in January and that your move is definite. Because you are on a tight budget and schedule, give the specific dates of your trip. You may want to follow up with phone calls, especially because most phone companies have free long-distance plans. You and your partner will need to ask yourselves whether you both can afford to live on his salary if you don't get a job or if you make one-fourth the amount of your current salary.

Salary Increase Not Worth Having To Solve Company Problems

Q: I took a job (against my better judgment) because it was a step up from my old one and was a 30 percent salary increase for me. After nine months, I resigned because of the many internal organizational problems created by my predecessor. I want to be honest, yet respectful of my former employer, so what should I say when asked about my short time there?

A: Change your attitude about having taken the job against your better judgment. Many people would jump at a 30 percent salary increase, not ask enough questions about the job or the company, and ignore warning signs of possible problems. In fact, many individuals enjoy being hired to clean up organizational messes. Perhaps it just isn't your specialty, and that is what you can explain in interviews. Nine months was enough time to see all the issues that needed to be dealt with, but you want to focus on improving a company that simply wants to grow. Giving that type of explanation will help weed out being offered a job at a company in distress. When you hear salary ranges for potential positions, keep in mind that few people get paid high salaries for doing simple jobs.

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.