By Carol Kleiman
Chicago Tribune
QUESTION: I was terminated from my position of 15 years by my new supervisor. I'm not having any luck in finding another job and I think it's because lots of people with my qualifications who haven't been fired are out there. Is there anything I can say in the job interview to get past the termination and focus on the 15 years of good service and excellent reviews? And what do I do for a reference?
ANSWER: First of all, NEVER say you were terminated or fired. Instead, say you left because you were seeking new challenges. And that's all you should say about the matter. Meanwhile, make contact with the supervisors who gave you those good ratings and use them as references.
QUESTION: My friend has a supervisor who makes disparaging remarks about her. They are bad enough to make her cry and my friend wants to tell someone in authority about it -- including the rumor that the supervisor is having an affair with a top official at the company. I tell her not to because she will be labeled a troublemaker. I told her to hang in until she can find a new job.
ANSWER: I think she has nothing to lose by complaining to the proper authorities and keeping a track record of the disparaging remarks. However, the rumors about her supervisor should not be part of her complaint. They will only damage her credibility. And yes, your advice about starting to look for another job is on target.
QUESTION: I left my full-time job to take a few months off to recover from an
illness and to really think about what career I might want to pursue. I worked for a month in a veterinary hospital thinking it might be the field I wanted. But it wasn't. I know hiring officers are very concerned about every single job you've had, and I wonder if I have to include this brief tenure. On the other hand, I also know that recruiters like
to know that the person they're considering is not lazy and has worked
continuously. What should I do?
ANSWER: It seems to me you are proceeding very wisely and very cautiously in your effort to find a job in a new field. Don't sweat the temporary job: If any of skills you picked up in that one month apply to a job you want, then include it in your resume. Otherwise, bring it up in your job interview to show that you keep busy even during your job hunt.
QUESTION: Is it OK for me to ask my boss to dinner at my home? Do you think it
would help humanize him?
ANSWER: Yes. And, yes.
© 2003, Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
