Q: I work full time as a building inspector and am a junior in college. I want to move into management but am still weighing whether to concentrate on finance or operations management. Most of my jobs have had data analysis and report writing. I haven't managed people, but people come to me for technical knowledge. How can I make the transition from technician to professional manager? One possibility is to contact larger firms with construction management departments for down the road. Betwixt and Between

A: Dear Betwixt, You CAN do this! Reinvent and repackage. Get a consulting gig to showcase your coordination skills and ability to settle in quickly with new people. Not enough experience? Find something -- anything -- in your community to showcase your underused skills. Work is work, paid or not. Rely less upon your technical expertise; highlight skills lying dormant. Fill your thoughts and words about people and communicating. If you have to do some ridiculously simple work to demonstrate these skills, go ahead and do it!

Which degree? Companies like individuals with solid financial skills, but finance people aren't well-known for interpersonal acumen. Do you want to crunch numbers into your 60s? If not, what about operations management with a finance minor? In either case, grab as many courses as you can related to HR, organizational development and communication. Align yourself with one or two professors who are sympathetic. mlc

HATCHET JOB

Q: I was told to provide a list of unpaid expenses (several thousand dollars) at my termination meeting, then strong-armed into signing an untrue statement about training, missed deadlines and a sick day. No signature, no reimbursement. Should I write a statement about the circumstances and go to the corporate office to get this put into my file? Would this be beneficial particularly toward any statement from HR to a prospective employer? Axed

A: Dear Axed, You certainly were. The more you write, the more you risk. What about a two-sentence statement about the duress under which you signed? This might help you close the book on the entire mess, including your pain at obvious mistreatment.

How much HR will say about you beyond confirming your dates of employment? Speak with someone sympathetic there before you hand 'em your letter. If, yes, it will help, get a friend to call up later to ferret out the official scoop on you.

If you decide the trouble isn't worth it, go to your favorite contemplative spot. Close your eyes. Think about putting this entire experience in a box. Next, imagine closing the box, tying string around it and throwing it out a window. mlc

**blogTip**

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Do you think quickly on your feet? Did you win the trivia contest in high school? Did you make nationals for debate? Have you applied to law school? Yes, yes, yes and yes? If yeses outweigh no's, you may think you should get a law degree. After all, Denny Crain makes the profession look sooooooo attractive.

Think about those luxuries. You know, that big house, the Mercedes, those flights to Europe, China and South America, vacations in Mexico, Armani suits. J.D.-toting Deborah Schneider, co-author of "Should You Really Be a Lawyer?" (Decision Books, $21.95), speaks and consults on legal careers (http://www.shouldyoureally.com/). Inform your decision, she advises.

Don't take your next step before you: