Dear J.T. & Dale: I am a manager who regularly reads your column for insight into what employees and potential new hires are thinking. I have worked hard to build the trust of my team, but now I’ve been instructed to lay off four of them. Our HR department has given me some guidelines for doing the deed that are cold and impersonal. I’d love some advice from you guys on how I can go a bit further and minimize the negative impact on the self-esteem of my departing employees. — Carly Read the rest of this entry »

Dale: Time for our monthly suggestion of useful career resources, and this time we want to feature those angels of information, librarians.

J.T.: A recent statement from the American Library Association called them the “nation’s new career counselors.” Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: For the past 12 years I have been running a manufacturing facility. The company is closing its local operations, and I have been looking for a new position. I’ve just received an offer from a company that makes hospital supplies, at a 30 percent increase in pay. The issue is that this would be a management position on a rotating-shift basis, which I’m not sure I could get accustomed to. It goes against my principles to start at a new company, knowing that I might not stay. Any thoughts? — Nic Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I received my bachelor’s degree in accounting last summer. However, because of medical issues, I have not started working. I have not bounced back physically, and therefore, I need part-time work. I would like to be upfront with employers, especially because my frequent doctor’s appointments require flexibility, but I also worry about scaring off employers. When should I bring it up? — Elisabeth Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: When I decided to go back to professional work, I had to deal with the standard request for the date of my graduation from high school. I certainly don’t see the job relevance. This practice automatically provides the employer with the age of the applicant, who can then use whatever excuse is handy not to interview/hire the applicant. Why is it legal to ask for information that is not supposed to be considered in hiring? — John Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I worked for a company where the CEO was friends with most of the newer management. They’d meet at bars for cocktails and to socialize. The people not “in the loop” didn’t stand much of a chance. I was put in a new department and given a manager who ignored us. When I went in to see her after six months, she went nuts, screaming she was stressed. The next day I was terminated, and it was not up for discussion. Even though the economy is down, I have been actively looking for a job and feel confident I will succeed. My suggestion to upper-management people: Leave your friends and cocktails out of the mix. — Kristi Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: After 12 years of taking care of my own work, the bosses decided that I needed a leader. In all those years, I never had any problems — now I am yelled at and written up on a daily basis. Can you give me some words of wisdom? — Amanda Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I took the past three years off to spend time with my children. Now that the kids are of an age where they would rather NOT spend time with me, I’m ready to get back to work. I know my resume screams “She’s been sitting on her butt for three years.” Should my cover letter explain my situation, or would that throw me in the “no” pile even faster? Help! — Gail Read the rest of this entry »