Q: i gossiped more than once on the job. the last time it was about the owner. and now she paying me back good. my last 5 jobs (legal) were all hostile work environments. all the employees were in on it. i have 3 kids and a mortgage. where to find work now? this is all i have ever done? how to sue? these attorneys are no match for me, heck they wrote the rule books! thanks. Too-ta-loo
A: Too-ta-loo, You haven't told me what kind of work you do, just where. What other professional firms or industries employ similar types of workers? If someone asks why you're leaving legal firms, tell them that you're not advancing. What do you have to offer a new company? The ability to survive difficult personalities. Don't say that these environments are hostile. Don't say that you're job hunting because of three kids. Don't even think about suing. Identify where to transfer your skills and experience. Companies in all industries have legal departments. If you're sick of the legal environment:
The Blank
Q: I ran across your article on advertising in the local paper and found it to be helpful. Could you help us find more information? My wife has worked in computer operations for 27 year and can retire this December. She'd like to continue to work but in a position with less stress. Applications ask for a reason for leaving the current employer. What is the best way to answer? Helpful Hubby
A: Dear Hubby, Helpful you are! You seem to have guessed that "retiring"puts a person in the "older worker" category. Today's market is ambivalent about this age group. On the one hand, it's Boy Scout true blue. On the other, it's decrepit. How can you win?
Be creative. Find a way to stand out. Use a phrase others won't think of. Pique the interest of the employer. Check these out:
-- end of contract;
-- career changing;
-- seeking new opportunity (or responsibilities);
-- changing environments; or
-- downshifting.
Try one. Try another. Give 'em a go. What fits best? What will attract the most (favorable) attention in the industry?
If none of these quite fits, tackle an online thesaurus. The best jobs hunts are creative. Good luck! mlc
**blogTip**
REFERENCES
What are they? Who are they? Speaker Joe Heuer, author of "Business Daffynitions: Humor from the Workplace" (Daffynitions Press, $9.95) defines them as "people who have promised to lie through their teeth in order to make you look good to a prospective employer." What do you do if you're booted out?
Career management specialist Rita Oster of Grayslake, Ill., advises persuading your soon-to-be ex-boss to give you a letter, singing your praises. Why? "You're telling your old boss that he won't have to field future calls about your service there," she explains. Then, make the rounds. Get character endorsements and productivity praises -- from others there.
Will your next employer want to read or hear what people at the last company said? Generally, written references aren't the answer. Keep in mind that just about everyone gets fired these days. Your number just came up.
Before you go to your old boss, recruit someone else to verify your dates of employment and answer the question which can't stay hidden. Coach your reference to say the ordinary, such as a:
(E-mail your job-hunting questions to syndicated columnist Dr. Mildred Culp at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2005 Passage Media.)
