Dear J.T. & Dale: I currently have a bachelor’s degree in music performance, and am thinking of getting a degree in music education — either a second bachelor’s or a master’s — then applying for a teaching job at the high-school level. My concern is a master’s might be seen as “overqualified.” With the bachelor’s, I fear it would raise questions as to why I did not get the teaching degree from the start. — Michael Read the rest of this entry »

As we begin the new year, we want to take a look back at 2010 and pull together the suggestions our readers told us were most helpful. So, here’s our best advice, along with our wish 2011 will be your best career year yet. — J.T. & Dale Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I am currently in a position I hate, working for an employer I dislike. I want to look for a new job while I have a job, but I have a challenge: My company uses some sort of service that notifies them as soon as someone posts a resume on a big job site using the company name. So how do I go about looking for a job when my current job will be in immediate jeopardy? — Bo Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I have been unemployed for the past year. Now, my husband is also unemployed. Needless to say, we’re looking as hard as we can in our respective fields and you know how brutal it is out there. Our families are concerned and try to give us suggestions when they find them. My mother recently mentioned she heard of companies allowing employees to work without pay for a trial period, say four weeks, so they can still draw unemployment. She suggested I try it. I mulled the idea over, but I find it neither prudent nor ethical. Is that even legal? — Cheryl Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I have an MBA in operations management, along with a strong technical education in logistics and transportation with the Army. However, I only have five years experience with a company, and 10 years concurrent experience with the Army Reserve. The first problem is most employers see the Army as “guns and tanks,” and not managerial or business operations. I feel I have to constantly overcome an appearance of too much education and not enough functional experience. Also, as I’m currently laid off, I want to approach potential interviews having made constructive use of my time while unemployed. I feel like I might unbalance the education versus experience equation even more if I take additional courses. — Will Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I graduated last summer with an AA degree in web design from a technical school. After several months of job searching, I became very frustrated with the fact companies want a bachelor’s degree, even though I have the same knowledge, or even more, when it comes to websites. What can I do? — Paul Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I recently graduated from a masters program at a prestigious university only to find my job prospects dismal. The years between my undergrad and graduate programs gave me useful tools, and much of my graduate studies are directly relevant to my career. Yet, entry-level positions go to candidates fresh out of their undergraduate programs, while my applications to higher-level jobs produce only a yawning silence. — Gabriel Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I took a job as a sales assistant a few months ago. Yesterday, I was laid off because they are restructuring. Do I note that information on my resume or cover letter? What do I say? How do I explain it if I make it to interviews? — Nellie Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: I graduated from college six years ago. Since then, I’ve had seven jobs in three industries. My family is disgusted with me. My parents think they wasted their money on my college education. I have three older siblings who all have solid careers. They think I am ruining my credibility and I need to suck it up and stay in my next job for five or more years. The idea of being in the same job that long scares me. How do you find a job you’ll actually want to stick with? — Carol Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: Since I fulfilled my academic dream (got a degree in anthropology and studied in Kenya), I’ve done archaeology work, been a mural painter and was an intern for an arts organization. The internship turned out to be a flop, though I loved the other interns and the project we worked on. I felt so used. In this current economic time when volunteering for your dream position is a new fad, I’ve been doing it all my adult life. I’m 29 and, geez, I need to be able to support myself and my son. Is it crazy for me to think all my hard work of studying, networking and volunteering should result in some sort of decent job? — Emma Read the rest of this entry »