Q. When I ask to take vacation time, my supervisor wants to know what I need the time for. She doesn’t ask anyone else that question and also publicly makes fun of me when I hesitate to respond. Once, when I asked permission to take a vacation day and she answered, “maybe,” I took the time off anyway. She hasn’t let me hear the end of it. What is the best way for me to deal with her?
A. You have to keep a record with dates and times of her unprofessional behavior, including the public ridicule–and then discuss it with her manager. I think you have nothing to lose by going over her head because it’s obvious she’s trying to create booby traps to get rid of you.
Q. I’m being interviewed by a company for a sales job, and the hiring officer has been very nice to me. Since it’s nice to send thank you gifts to clients, could the same be true for a sales manager looking for a gracious new salesperson?
A. It’s a different situation. Be very careful about what you do because there are some risks: It might look like a bribe. Just send a thank you note.
Q. My work is OK but not challenging. Advancement is impossible. My manager says he cannot recommend me for promotion because I ask too many questions, constantly try to find new ways to do things and am not a good follower. I can’t leave my job because there are few in my field and because I’m a mature worker. What do you suggest?
A. You know you can leave, if you really want to. However, if you do stay, it might be a good idea for you to do something in your spare time that really interests you. And by the way, I think your manager’s criticisms of you are wonderful compliments.
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Q. I can’t understand why you think volunteer work helps you find a job. I’ve not found my volunteer work to be at all helpful in my job search–and I have been an active volunteer for 15 years while raising my children. So why do you suggest that women who choose to stay home to raise their kids have active leadership roles in volunteer positions as a ticket to returning to the workforce?
A. I never said volunteer work guarantees you a job. Nothing does. While I think many employers acknowledge that skills acquired doing volunteer work are real skills, the basic thrust is that you make contacts, especially with members of the board of directors. They hire people. They have influence. It’s called networking.
Q. Is there anything wrong with asking one of your customers to be a reference for you? I work at a customer’s site; consequently, this person is the most qualified to discuss my abilities with a prospective employer. What do you think?
A. I agree the client would make the perfect reference. But first you have to check it out with your manager. In other words, don’t job hunt with the help of a customer of your company, behind your employer’s back.
Q. I opened a letter to my boss by mistake. It was a job application for the position held by a colleague of mine. The letter implies they have discussed the job. I sealed it and passed it along to my boss, where it belongs, but wonder if I should tell my colleague about it.
A. No.
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Carol Kleiman’s columns also appear in Monday and Thursday’s Business sections. Hear her on WBBM Newsradio 780 at 6:21 p.m. and 10:22 p.m. Mondays and at 11:20 a.m. Saturdays. Watch her “Career Coach” segments on CLTV. Send e-mail to [email protected].