Q. My company has been using self-appraisals for several years. It’s our only opportunity to vent steam as well as to describe exactly what work we’ve been performing. The problem is I pour my heart out but never get any feedback. I’m beginning to feel as if I’m talking to myself. How seriously do companies take these reports?
A. If your employers take the time to administer self-appraisals, they’re serious about them. Talk to your supervisor and ask the questions you asked me, especially why there is no feedback. But don’t have a chip on your shoulder; just be professional. And one word of caution: I have never heard that self-appraisals include venting. They’re mainly for self-analysis of the work you do and where you want to go next. It might be best to save the venting for discussions in person with your manager.
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Q. What if the person who causes all the problems at work is the CEO and it’s therefore futile to complain to anyone? Is my only option to leave the company?
A. It is.
Q. Recently, I saw a resume that looked something like this: John Doe, CPA, MBA, Ph.D. after the name, right at the top. Should I redesign mine to include my degrees?
A. It looks fine to me and certainly immediately gets across the message that you are highly qualified. But it will only work if the recipient instantly knows what the letters stand for. All nine of them.
Q. I am disabled but able to work part time and still have the safety of my Social Security disability benefits should I falter. But I haven’t had a steady job since 1996, when I lived in another city. I’ve lost track of names and numbers of references and I’m not sure if I had them that they would still be good. The result is I don’t have references and don’t know how to create a resume that will make me look like a good job candidate. I want to work. What should I do?
A. You sound like a wonderful potential employee, someone who is articulate and willing to work hard. Go to your state employment office and ask a counselor for help in finding a job and creating a resume. Most state employment offices have special services for disabled workers. Also, you might want to look into temporary work so you can build up current experience for your resume–and yourself.
Q. I’ve been at home with our daughter since we adopted her five years ago. My wife works full time. Now that our daughter will be starting school, I want to go back to work full time. I previously had been in sales and recently got a part-time sales job, but I had to quit because the babysitter kept canceling. I don’t want to go back into sales. I want to make $30K to $40K a year with benefits. I want a 9-to-5 job so I can be home in the evenings with my wife and daughter. Any advice?
A. I think you would benefit greatly from one-on-one career counseling. Jobs are scarce and unless you focus specifically on one area, one field, one profession, you will flounder around and won’t have much of a chance of getting a job. Find out first what you want to do and then start applying for jobs. My theory is that people who do a good job full time of raising children are qualified to do almost anything well! They probably should be awarded an honorary doctorate degree.
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Carol Kleiman’s column also appears in Sunday and Tuesday’s Business sections. Watch her Career Coach segments on CLTV. Send e-mail to [email protected].