Dru, I have been working for 5 yrs in an admin position so when apply for a job should i look under careers for experienced profession or entry profession? I don’t have a lot of management experience but have experiences in budgeting and accounting.

Dru- I would suggest applying to both. Fortunately when job hunting, there’s no penalty for applying to as many jobs as you want. I’d say apply to those experienced profession jobs and if you don’t hear back, you haven’t lost anything. If you have five years of experience in budgeting and accounting, that would probably get you ahead of a recently graduated CPA if you’re applying for the same position and have the same skill set (from my experience, work experience usually trumps a degree up to a certain extent).

But if you aren’t hearing back, then you may need to go with the entry-level route and work your way up. If you’re applying for both at once, just weigh which position would be the best fit for you.

As a consultant what do you do? I see a lot of consulting companies like Accenture on campus recruiting students, but i’m not sure how i’m a good fit for them. They told me anybody can be a consultant. Do you consult on a specific product or type of management? Do the company train you beforehand on what to say to the clients? what if i consult the wrong thing or give wrong information?

Dru- What do I do as a consultant? I ask myself that every morning as I put on my socks and drive my dead shell of a former self to work.

But what I do daily is advise companies on how to apply for a very specific type of tax credit, which is generally convoluted to calculate. There are hundreds, if not thousands of different types of consultants in a wide variety of industries. Some consultants go into a company and tell them how to be more efficient. The recruiters are right- anyone can be a consultant, for the most part.

Generally these consulting positions require training that your employer will provide you. There’s usually a hierarchy of at least a manager overseeing your work, so don’t worry about giving bad consulting advice at the start- you’ll have someone checking your work. And in the beginning, the manager will be doing the client interaction while you handle the behind-the-scenes type work. After a while, you’ll have picked up on what exactly to say to the client and then you’ll be conducting client interaction on your own.

You consult based on your best decision given the information available. In my field, no one goes to jail on bad consulting advice, unless it is blatantly misrepresented. If anything, the company just pays the amount that was disallowed and the interest on that amount. Don’t worry too much about liability issues if you’re just starting with the company- your manager is more responsible regarding consulting advice rather than an entry-level consultant.

a potential employer out of town invited me to a 2nd round face to face interview, is it appropriate to ask if they’ll arrange the travel/pay for me to get there? if they’re not covering the cost of travel, should I still go to the interview? (I’m not DYING to work for them… am currently already employed at a FT job)

Steph: Have they talked to you about relocation and if they reimburse or subsidize you for moving?  Some companies do, some companies won’t.  I think it’s FAIR to ask (because you don’t know what you don’t know), but be prepared for them to say that they will not pay for you to fly out and from there, you’d have to decide what you’d want to do.

Think about your priorities first: Are you hoping to 1. Get a new job? or 2. Move to a new city?  If you’re just looking for a new job and don’t really care to move out of the city or not, and you really don’t WANT to work for them, you can always thank them for their time but you’re exploring other options.

If you’re dying to get out of town (and this job is just a way to get out of here), then I would fork over the money to go there for the interview…consider it an investment.

If i’m applying for a new job and is still employed at my current job should i put “do not contact my current employer” on the application? i do not want to stir any trouble. thanks, Dru.

Steph: If you are applying for a job while still employed, your resume should say that you are working there from: November 2010 - Present.  The fact that you write “Present” will mean that you still work there and most employers will cue that as not to contact that company.

People job hunt while currently employed all the time and usually, during the first interview, HR (or whoever) will say, “So you’re currently with Company X?” and when you reply “Yes” they’ll either take that as to not contact them or will ask for your permission, which you will reply with “I would prefer this to be discreet.”

I wouldn’t worry about it.  They shouldn’t contact your current employer.

Dru- Whew, glad Stephanie is back to answer that one. But yes, generally they don’t contact your current employer unless they are looking for references, and even then they usually don’t. When I was spoke with people in the HR field, it is generally a sensitive topic as companies calling current employers put the interviewee at risk of losing their current job.

It’s no surprise that sometimes companies hire less-than-qualified applicants given the litigious nature of the hiring process- companies can get sued for a multitude of reasons for not hiring someone despite the applicant not being qualified.

but what if your work day is so slow that it has reached the point where the internet is boring?

Dru- You could probably ask questions on askphivy. Maybe start blogging. My coworker told me government employees sometimes have it so slow that they take a “work jerk”. You can try to do that too.

Steph: Wat the shieet?  Work jerk?  What if you work in a cubicle?  I guess you could do that in the bathroom, but then what if people KNOW what you’re doing?  What if I walked in on you when you did that?  YOUKNOW I would look under the stall to see what shoes you were wearing so I can point you out.

Anyway, I would then read a book on my iPad or read industry magazines.  Technically reading IS part of your work, so it benefits everyone.  If I’m THAT bored, I usually put in my time (my hours) and will clean out my email box.  I TRY to be productive.

what’s your advice is a salary range is requested on the job app? i’m looking for a job and i’m really ok with making less pay as i make commission so i’m already in the 6 figure range which i think could be intimidating to potential employers. what do you guys think?

Steph: So your CURRENT salary is 6 figures because you make commission, but is the job you are applying for also the same (salary + commission) or just salary?  If it’s the same setup as your current job (salary + commission), I would note that you are looking to make “$XXX,XXX - $XXX,XXXX (including commission).”  

If the job is ONLY salary, then I would check glassceiling.com to see what the average pay for that position (and company) is.  That way, you’ll know what you should be expecting.  If this job is asking you for your desired salary is, that doesn’t mean you put what you are making NOW if the jobs are not equivalent.  You can always explain via interview that you understand you make more now with commission, but you are realistic if that option is not available with the job you are applying for.

so, FML: I’m either over qualified yet under qualified for every job I apply for. WHAT TO DO!!?!?!?!

Dru- Apply if you’re underqualified anyway- sometimes, those “requirements” are more suggestions and they’ll train you. If you’re not getting callbacks from those and you need to jump into a steady paycheck, just take the one you’re overqualified for as an inbetween until you can get a better job. It’s like being in a relationship- you’re more appealing once you’re already in one.

Steph: Yeah the Catch 22 of needing experience to get a job but can’t gain experience until you have a job.

Like DRU said, apply for the positions you feel you are underqualified for - things like years of experience (e.g. they want 5 years, you have 3) have a little more leeway.  But if it’s like a degree or masters and you don’t have it, then I’d go ahead and pass it.  

I would also talk (in your cover letter and resume) about the SKILLS you’ve learned and how they’re transferable to the position you’re applying for.  Often times, it’s not doing the same job over and over again, but what you’ve learned from your previous job and how you can then apply it to this potential new job.

how do u make a slow work day go by faster?

Dru- Drink coffee, energy drinks. That should speed up your productivity. If you’ve finished all your work, surf the web. Wait, wait, is this my boss? This is one of those trick questions, isn’t it?

Steph: Ask Phivy and FB.  Haha.

I often times will email friends/family that I haven’t in awhile or usually fall into a rabbit hole of the internet…YOUKNOW, when you’re like, “Wait, how did I get up on this page?  What TIME is it?!”

why would an HR recruiter schedule you for a phone interview and then not only not call you, but also not send an email? what would you do if this happened to you? wait for a response or send an email/phone call (since there is a number) to follow up? does this happen frequently, or did the person have a change of heart?

Dru- I don’t think it’s a change of heart. Something might have come up, or else they’re just a bad recruiter. Standing up your prospect with no apology is just bad form.

In any case, I would have sent an e-mail the next day (or the day of) and been along the lines of, “Hi X, Just following up to see if perhaps there was a scheduling miscommunication regarding yesterday’s call. Perhaps I had given you the wrong number, but I didn’t receive any calls during the time we had scheduled yesterday”. Or something to that effect- it gives them some leeway because maybe they had the wrong number, or you were supposed to call them. If you’re lookin’ for a job, you have to reach out to others.

I have a relationship going with boss! Boss has a girlfriend lately he expects me to clean his mess around his house even his girl friends mess. He will be ugly to me about it but won’t tell her anything. I’m tired of it all should I approach it or just let it go. Note I also want to end things.

Dru- WHAT. As a “mistress”, he’s making you do chores? wtf. End. It.

Steph: Seriously, wat.  

1. You’re dating your BOSS.  Your employer.
2. He has a girlfriend.
3. He makes you clean up after him…like literally.
4. He makes you clean up after his GIRLFRIEND.
5. He is “ugly” to you.
6. He won’t tell his gf about you (obviously)
7. You want to end things.

So do end it.  Find a new job.  Get away from this toxic environment.  At what point in your life did you think you deserve a scumbag like this guy?  YOU DESERVE BETTER.

My dream career was to live and work in a foreign country. I did get a chance to study abroad/intern while i was in college, and realized it wasn’t really for me. Fast forward 5 years and I’m working in home city and slighty bored with it. I want to start looking for a job in a diff. country and i’m sure i will get a job. But, my life is here, my fiance is not willing to move. there’s that part of me that feels ive given up my dream. what should i do?

Dru- Maybe you can compromise. Work abroad for a year or two and then come back. Don’t like it like you did in college? Then you move back. Things can be different if you’re interning in college and when you’re actually working a career overseas (and perhaps a different country). I have friends who have done a year working overseas when their significant others couldn’t move with them and it worked out just fine. And don’t forget, the older you get, the harder it will be to be as mobile as you are now.

Just don’t be like Saito in Inception (it makes me laugh because I quote this line all the time)- Don’t you want to take a leap of faith? Or become an old man, filled with regret, waiting to die alone. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

say if you had a job opportunity at a well known company in a different state from your spouse (who hasn’t been at his current job for more than 2 years), would you move there knowing you two would be living apart for an x amount of time until he either found a new job or go to school? how long would you consider, if you consider? i want us to stay in one spot (since we’re married), but husband says that i will regret passing up this opportunity just to stay in the same, less desirable location.

Dru- That would be really tough, but I would go if we had set a deadline. #1 is that you’re married, so you know the two of you are going to be in this for the long run. If it’s what’s best for the relationship and you are okay with going, then go ahead. Have a plan to see each other on weekends or plans to skype every night or whatnot. Make definite plans to be able to communicate with each other from different cities.

How long would you want to stay in the new location? One year? Two years? Indefinitely? Will the husband be actively looking for a job in your city immediately? If he can’t find a job, will he move there anyway after X amount of time? Or will you move back? There are a lot of factors in play to discuss here, including cost of living and whatnot. Sharing rent is one thing, paying rent in two separate cities is another. Long term careerwise is also important.

Your husband has made it a little bit easier in being supportive of you moving, but he should also respect your desire to stay if that’s ultimately what you want. It’s really weighing the benefits of moving (good careerwise, perhaps more exciting city) versus not moving (cost of living, being apart from spouse/family/friends) and figuring out which ones are more important.

Steph: Ryan and I actually may be going through this very soon (well, after we get married, so next year).  I’m pretty set on moving out of SoCal for a few years before we have children, and so as soon as we get married, I’m hoping to either look for a new job or transfer to our other locations within the same company.  But just because I move doesn’t mean Ryan’s going to immediately find a new job.  So we’ve decided this: he will start looking for a new job in the same city as soon as we’ve decided to move.  If he can’t find one by the time I start, I’ll move there and live on my own for no more than 6 months.  After 6 months, even if Ryan can’t find a job, he’s moving to where I am regardless.  He’ll look for a job locally then (it actually might be easier).

Our agreement is that we want to make sure that it’s set for an definite amount of time, no matter what.  Even though your husband has been with his job for less than 2 years, after 18 months, it’s okay to start looking for a new job, especially if his spouse (you) are moving.  Most companies completely understand that couples need to be together and live together, so if he moves to be and support you, it won’t reflect badly on him.

There are options but I think the key thing is it to really set a timeline.

Hey Steph & Tramanh! I currently have a part-time job (my first and only) on campus, but I’m graduating this summer and need to find a “real world job” for the fall. I’m planning to go job hunting, but I’m not sure if it’s going to hurt my chances of receiving a position if I tell them that I can only start mid-August rather than asap since I made a commitment to stay in my current job until I graduate. Any advice?

Steph: Usually when companies look for a new employee, they’d like to have them start within 2-3 weeks, but some companies are flexible.  I would recommend you let potential employers know when you start interviewing, because that will inevitably be their first or second question.  Let them know you still have a part-time job you’re hoping to finish up on in August and would love to start as soon as that’s complete.  If they’re looking for someone ASAP and you can’t get out of your part-time job, that’s unfortunate, but there are definitely companies that you can let them know and they’ll work around it.  Especially when working with a newly graduated student, they understand that sometimes you have to finish some outstanding credit, internship or part-time job.

Hi Stephanie, I’m the one who asked the question about the phone interview, and I just wanted to let you know that I got a second on-site interview!! Thank you so much for all the advice! It really helped and I just have to say you are so awesome!

Steph: Say whhaaaaat?  Congratulations on your second interview!!

It makes me happy that our advice actually helped someone…though I give all the compliments to you (as I did very little.)  Great job!

Let me know how the 2nd interview goes!!

http://www.askphivy.com/post/22344791791/i-have-a-phone-interview-for-a-potential-job-and-ive

i really liked one of my co-workers. and he was allways very flirty. i dont even now how to describe it but let me just tell you that i thought that he liked me too. i went to an businesstrip for about 3 weeks now and now i hear in the office that he is like the same with the new intern too. there aremrumours about them. i dont know why but i really feel betrayed. i am hurt, even if i know that my feelings now are really childish. what should i do now? i mean, i really dont now how to act.

Steph: Sorry girl, that sucks, but you guys had no relationship.  A flirty banter can often insinuate feelings but it doesn’t mean that he was your boyfriend or that he was off the market and that you called dibs.  It just means he was flirting with you and you were flirting with him, still as coworkers, still as colleagues.

You don’t KNOW if he was being polite/flirty/had feelings.  I know we hope for the best and assume he likes you the same way you liked him.   Maybe there are rumors about him and your intern, but at the same time, did you two ever go out?  Did you go get drinks, coffee, or have one-on-one lunches?  Did you express romantic interests in one another?  If you just had small talk by the water cooler and flirted a little by the desk, that doesn’t warrant your feelings of betrayal.

But I can’t tell you how you should feel because if we could control the way we felt, they wouldn’t be feelings at all.  Instead, I am going to tell you that you should let this one lie as is.  1. You shouldn’t be flirting with anyone in your company and 2. You shouldn’t think that he was “yours” to claim to begin with.  You don’t know if he’s married, has a girlfriend, or what his situation is.  

Be professional, do your job, and do it well.  He shouldn’t impact the way you act or do your job at all.  Be pleasant towards him, because as soon as you look like you’ve been affected by him and his intern’s flirting, it will look very petty on your end.  Don’t be THAT girl.