Q. A former colleague of mine recently was called by a headhunter looking for someone else to fill my shoes. I continue to do my job, but I feel extremely uneasy about this job search. Should I approach my manager and ask what’s going on or just hang in there and wait for the ax?
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A. I don’t think it’s a good idea to discuss this with your manager who had to authorize the search in the first place–you might be digging your own grave. Perhaps the company is just looking around and may not make a change at all. But you might want to start looking around at what’s available in your field.
Q. My boss makes it clear that if you leave at 4:30 p.m. due to family concerns you’re not committed to the job, even though the people who do so–let’s call them moms–don’t take lunch or any breaks during the day in order to get all their work done. Because I want to spend time with my daughter and can’t socialize with my colleagues after work, I’m not considered a team player. I’m under constant stress from my employer because I value my family. My organization says it wants to retain good employees like me, so why is it driving me away?
A. You work for a Neanderthal organization. Hang on to your values and self-esteem–and get out of there when it’s convenient for you.
Q. I never in a million years thought I would be in the place I am now, but I’ve been out of work for quite a while and I do get discouraged, almost on a daily basis. Every day that passes I lose a small piece of my self-esteem. What can I do about feeling this way?
A. It’s not your fault: People are being fired by the thousands, even if it’s called being laid off. Don’t let your difficulty in finding a new job destroy your confidence. The reason is that with so much competition for jobs in the current labor market, it takes much longer to find one. Keep networking.
Q. The current demand by prospective employers for salary histories is one of the most frustrating job application devices implemented in recent times. It’s none of their business and there isn’t necessarily any relevance between the salary for one job and the next. It’s a perplexing dilemma. What do you advise?
A. The dilemma would easily be solved if all job applicants absolutely refused to discuss salary until the job interview. If you comply with the request, you can’t win.
Q. I’m 54 and was laid off after working for a company for 12 years. I’m having a hard time getting interviews and I think it’s because of my age. What can I do?
A. Make sure there is no indication of your age on your resume. And list only the most recent experience that applies to the job you want. And as I have said many times before, age discrimination is illegal.
Q. Why, after being interviewed sometimes for as long as two hours, does no one let job candidates know they weren’t chosen for the position? It’s unprofessional and so unfair to job seekers who are desperate to know the outcome. Whatever happened to common courtesy?
A. Although I do know of some employers who take the time to let you know someone else got the job, most simply either don’t have time to do so or don’t care. Often, if they don’t want to hire you, they just don’t want to spend any more time on you. So, don’t take it personally.
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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].