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 have solid years of experience in accounting and after a recent move, have begun interviewing. I have found myself confronted with odd questions, such as, “If you were a vegetable what would you be and why?” (My answer was, “An olive because I could dress up in Christmas colors … or I could wear basic black and hang around with my favorite Italian dishes.”) Another question was, “What kind of car would you be?” (I answered, “A Cadillac Deville — classic, powerful, understated.”) I have no idea what my answers to such questions provide the interviewer. Can you shed any light on the subject? Incidentally, I was not hired. — Regina 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: My first annual performance review was more than seven months late. When we finally sat down, it was a satisfying review, and I received my increase. It’s now almost two months past my second anniversary, and this time my manager said that I was valued and that I would be receiving double the increase I received last time — although, since it’s not in the budget, it would take a while. After a few weeks, when I expressed eagerness to get the raise and to sit down and talk, she said, “There’s nothing left to talk about.” I’ve been able to maintain a professional demeanor (not been angry or demanding), but I’m flummoxed! — Kathleen 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 »