Dear J.T. & Dale: I quit my job in 2003 to stay home with our first child. Our son recently started school, and since then I have been looking for a job. I thought that it would be easy considering my experience in operations and project management, but it has been anything but. The problem is that we recently moved cross-country for my wife’s career. I do not have a network of contacts here, and I am not a social butterfly. — Cal Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I worked for five months for a manufacturing firm as an executive assistant. It was a temp-to-hire position through a recruitment agency. After three months, my supervisor told me that they were interested in hiring me. I did not tell them I was expecting a baby. I knew they noticed my belly getting big, but when my supervisor asked, “Are you expecting?” I just smiled. I did not formally tell them till two months before my due date. They said I was welcome to come back. Prior to my leave, I taught my replacement everything. I even worked the day before I delivered the baby. Then, four weeks later, I called my agency. They told me that the company’s human-resources representative had said that the temporary person they had hired was working out well, and that they did not need my services. I was shocked. Is this unfair labor practice? — Greta Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I’m a vice president at company that is slowly dying. I need to redo my resume. When I look at executive resume writing sites, every service claims to be the best and wants anywhere from $500 to $1,000 to write a resume that gets attention. So how does one pick the best one? — Ken Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: For nine months I have been job searching. Since I have been called back in for multiple interviews, hiring managers see something that they like. However, when I have asked the hiring managers for feedback, the answers range from, “I can’t release that information” to “Everything was great, we just felt that this wasn’t the right fit for you.” Any advice for me? — Gavin Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: What is your opinion about using the “resume blasting” services that claim to send your resume directly to thousands of recruiters?— Jay Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I am attaching a copy of my resume. I have fully and honestly listed all employment, all successes and all the technical alphabet soup that applies to my work, education and training. I send out a lot of resumes, and I follow up, but I haven’t been getting results. — Sidelined Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I am a 23-year-old guy who needs a decent job. I have completed my associate’s degree in computer technology at a tech college and have taken computer classes at a local junior college. How do I find jobs that pay a decent wage? (I am currently working part time at Target. I live in town of about 650,000 people, so a lot of BIG corporations are not located here.) — Jake Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I recently quit my job as an human-resources generalist with an aerospace company. I really liked the job and my co-workers, with the exception of my boss. As much as I tried, I could not work with the manager’s style, and I quit. I have had one interview, and when I told the interviewer that the environment was not right for me, she asked why. I felt like a deer in headlights and gave an answer I knew was not right. What do you advise? — C.P. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have about 25 years of solid work experience. The problem I am having is all of the companies I worked for have declared bankruptcy or been bought. The company names, locations and people have changed. I address these “buyouts” in my resume but I never realized that when a verification is attempted, the past “employers” simply might decline to verify. Suggestions? — Gregory Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: When filling out a job application and you’re currently employed, what is the proper response to the question: May we contact your present employer? — Paula Read the rest of this entry »