Dear J.T. & Dale: My son is 24 years old and hates his job. He’s looking to change careers — his third in the two years since graduating from college. I think he is crazy to leave his current job until he knows what he wants to do next. What would you suggest? — Janice Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I’m a 55-year-old male classified as permanently disabled. However, I can manage my disability and remain active. Before leaving the work force in 2000, I was employed for 35 years. I am considering seeking part-time employment. Can employers disqualify me? — Bob Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. and Dale: For the past three years I tried to make a go of my own photography business in a storefront. I racked up some serious debt. I’m trying to find work to help get us back on our feet financially, while running the business out of our home. At my most recent job, working as a bank teller, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. — Tom Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: Our company is in the process of eliminating employees who cannot perform at its new standards. It keeps changing things daily. I am 46 years old, and I really don’t want to have to start all over again. I do my best, but I don’t always feel I’ve done enough. What should I do? — Elizabeth Read the rest of this entry »

After 20 years of working, the last nine of them with the same major corporation, I wanted to try something new. I went with a smaller firm whose president hired me to build a new division. However, the promised staffing support isn’t coming through, and I’m having a hard time adjusting to the “seat of the pants” decision-making. Any advice would be appreciated. — Robert Read the rest of this entry »

Dale: We get wonderful mail, often with great advice, and we enjoy passing the best of it along.

J.T.: What follows is from Ed Leighton of Phoenix, responding to our discussion of someone dealing with job-interview anxiety: Read the rest of this entry »

JT: Today’s success story comes from Jim Heggie, who’s from northern Washington state. Here’s what he was up against, in his own words:

After 33 years in finance in government and non-profit settings, my organization downsized and I found myself 57 and looking for a job. I had taken early retirement from local government, but had a young family and still wanted to be doing something productive. So, I saw myself as having a double challenge: Read the rest of this entry »

I enjoyed your column about how to handle a termination. However, it only scratches the surface of my “soap opera” termination story. I was fired in retaliation to my being a witness in a sexual harassment investigation. Of course, I was given another reason for my termination. The situation ended up in federal court, where my employer gave up. Now, here’s my problem: Some interviewers want to know the reason given by my employer for my termination. To me, it’s a moot point, since it was a lie. — Don Read the rest of this entry »

I am a nurse working at a nursing home. The new administrator has developed a new policy where the nurses (who have every other weekend off) will be required to sign up for a 24-hour shift to be “on call.” No mention of reimbursement of any kind has been offered. — Megan Read the rest of this entry »

DALE: One of the great opportunities for getting a job offer is after getting turned down.

JT: And let’s start that conversation by passing along a story from Steve Chandler, a terrific writer of motivational and management books. (He’s most popular book is 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself.) The story he offers us is from earlier in his career, and while me mostly pass along recent experiences, we had to include this one because the point it makes is timeless: Read the rest of this entry »