February 2009

job changed on first day of employment

February 28, 2009

A reader writes:

I submitted my resume in response for an ad to be a Risk Management Training Specialist for an insurance company who performs safety, health and risk management training. I went through a three-step interview for the position of Risk Management Training Specialist. I was offered and accepted the Risk Management Training Specialist position, and gave notice to my other employer.

However, on my first day at the office during new employee orientation the job description that my boss (who interviewed me) presented me with was a job description for a Training and Development Specialist. The new job description was a trainer who presents, develops and markets to clients leadership and human resource training, and has nothing to do with risk management or safety.

Is this job description switching common? Are there legal ramifications?

Um, have you pointed this out to your manager?

To answer your direct questions — which are so not the point — no, it’s not common. It’s legal; employers can reassign you at any time. You can decline to be reassigned, of course, although that might mean you’re out of a job, unless you have a contract. However, that’s not really the point here. This sounds like a mistake, not a deliberate attempt to trick you into working in a different job against your will.

The proper way to handle this was on day one, by immediately saying, “I think there’s been a miscommunication. The job I was hired for and accepted is Risk Management Training Specialist.”

They could have been hiring for both, gotten things mixed up, and if it’s a large company, not noticed that they had put the wrong new hire in the job. You likely could have had this fixed instantly by speaking up.

But if you didn’t and you’re now days or even weeks in, it’s much, much weirder. Have you been doing the other job, the one you weren’t hired for and perhaps know nothing about? In any case, you can still speak up by saying, “I should have said this on day one, but I was hired as a Risk Management Training Specialist. Can you tell me how I ended up as a Training and Development Specialist?”

Moral: When something happens that seems wrong or confusing to you, the answer is not to stay quiet and wonder if it’s legal. The answer is to speak up and ask about it.

{ 5 comments }

Posted in advice about your boss

job candidates who plagiarize

February 27, 2009

Here is some advice.

If you’re applying for a job, and the application process includes a written exercise, do not plagiarize your written exercise from materials you find online.

And then, when the person reviewing your exercise points out to you that entire paragraphs are word-for-word the same as what can be found online, do not try to assure her that it’s somehow just coincidence.

I had a candidate do this today. It’s the second time I’ve caught someone in this, and I have to wonder how many more I haven’t caught.

Plagiarism = not a good idea. Not only is it, you know, wrong, but if you cheat your way into a job, how do you plan on keeping that job? The hiring process is designed to identify candidates who will excel in the position — if you misrepresent your skills, you’re likely to end up in a job that you aren’t a good fit for and might get fired from.

So why do people do this? I suspect it’s some combination of cockiness and laziness — the belief that their own work would be just as good, but they just aren’t inclined to put in the time to do it themselves.

I kind of wish we could print their names publicly, like the hiring equivalent of a sex offenders list.

{ 17 comments }

Posted in jerks, job searching

accepted offer, then backed out, now wants back in

February 25, 2009

A reader writes:

I applied for two jobs. I accepted the first job and then declined the offer and accepted the other. The one I accepted was closer to home and every other Monday I would have off. Unfortunately, the other job did not offer this.

Now I feel as though I should have taken the other job because I am not happy. I have to deal with a person who has a serious attitude. At first I thought it was me, but people were telling me that this has been going on before I got here, and it seems unfair to me to come into a situation like this. The staff tells me to hang in there — she is looking for another job, but this has been going on before I got here and I have only been here for one month.

I am ready to call the other company and see if the job is still available and see if they would take me back. The job is not what I anticipated. What should I do?

Seriously? The other employer isn’t going to re-extend their offer to you. Let’s review: You accepted an offer from the first company and then later reneged because you thought you had a better offer. When you accepted that first offer, the company cut loose their other applicants and started putting time and money into preparing for you. When you then decided to back out, you did what’s called “screwing them over.” I can pretty much guarantee that you’re blacklisted with them at this point.

Of course they won’t accept you back. And why should they, when you’ve shown you’ll walk away at the slightest hint of a better offer, before you’ve even started?

What if this company had made you an offer, you had quit your job in preparation, and then they called you back and told you that they’d changed their mind because they found a candidate they liked better? (And yes, I know that occasionally some unprofessional company does this. It’s just as jerky when the employer does it. It’s jerky regardless.)

Frankly, my advice is to stick it out where you are. Not only should you not try appealing to the first company, but you shouldn’t start looking for other jobs either, since you’re only one month into your current position. Otherwise instead of having one black mark against you in your industry, you’ll have two — one for reneging on a job acceptance and one for quitting just a few months in.

I’m sorry to sound harsh, but your letter reeks of self-entitlement and a lack of understanding of the commitment you make when you accept a job. Eventually that kind of behavior will harm you professionally, if it hasn’t already. Cut it out.

{ 21 comments }

Posted in job offers

should you switch jobs in a bad economy?

February 23, 2009

You hate your job. The work is boring, your boss annoys you, you share an office with someone who insists on taking all her calls on speakerphone, and you’re pretty sure the guy down the hall uses your photo as his screensaver.

Or maybe you like your job all right but you saw a higher-paying opening at another company that you’d be perfect for.

But in such a bad economy, should you think twice about switching jobs?

Head on over to my post at U.S. News & World Report today, where I answer this question. Please leave your own thoughts over there too.Link

{ 1 comment }

Posted in job searching

should you add IQ or Myers Briggs to your resume?

February 23, 2009

A reader writes:

Applicants always want their resume to stand out. Well, I know that a few of the companies I have worked for know of the Myers-Briggs Personality Type test. Although it is not seen as “professional” (yet), I have seen it posted in many settings and have even seen workshops on this stuff.

Would this be a good thing to add to a resume to make it stand out?

By that same token, would an IQ score be something to add? I mean, it is a test of problem solving and reasoning, which are valuable skills in the workplace.

No! Do not under any circumstances put your IQ on your resume. You will look pompous (assuming it’s high), weird, and … just strange. If you are smart, count on it to come across on its own in your materials, your achievements, and your interview.

Don’t put your Myers-Briggs type either, unless you’re in a field where it’s widely considered useful currency. I don’t know what those fields are or if there even are any, but if one exists and you’re in it, presumably you’ll know. But otherwise, you risk appearing a little cheesy to some (although probably not all) resume readers. I suppose you can mention it in your cover letter if it’s somehow highly relevant to the needs of the job, but leave it off the resume. (But I bet someone will disagree with me on this, and I’m looking forward to reading their reasoning in the comments.)

Resumes are for listing your accomplishments; they’re not for personal traits. Listing that you’re an “ESTJ” does give me some information about you, but it doesn’t tell me what you’ve achieved and experienced, which is what I’m looking for when I look at your resume.

Anyone want to argue the opposite?

{ Comments on this entry are closed }

Posted in job searching

interviewer wants reference from current employer

February 20, 2009

A reader writes:

I am in the midst of applying for a new job. I have interviewed three times with a prospective employer and have been told that I am one of the final candidates for the position.

The HR rep contacted me and asked if they can contact my current manager/supervisor for a reference. I explained that I would prefer they not contact my manager, since it may jeopardize my standing with my current employer. They keep insisting that they speak with my current manager, but I am afraid that if they do, my current employer may let me go in layoffs or attempt to force me out of the job somehow (i.e., re-assign, transfer, etc).

Am I obligated to provide the reference to the prospective employer? I feel that their insistence is unprofessional and inappropriate. What if they contact my employer and end up not offering me the job? Or what if I don’t accept the job offer? What is the best way to handle this without losing either job?

You certainly aren’t obligated to provide your current employer as a reference. However, if the company you’re interviewing with is insisting on it, be aware that refusing may take you out of consideration as a result.

However, this is pretty unusual. Most companies understand why candidates don’t want their current employer contacted, and it’s odd that this one is insisting. Usually, the current employer is either skipped or is contacted only after they’ve decided to make an offer — which they make contingent on a good reference from your current employer.

In the rare instance where a company absolutely insists on contacting your current boss before making an offer, these are your options:

1. Take the risk and allow it. Warn your boss ahead of time. Some people in this situation tell their boss they’re applying for a part-time or volunteer position, although I think that’s risky.

2. If you’ve had a previous boss at your current job who has now moved on, ask the company if they’d contact her instead.

3. Hold firm with this company. Tell them you are not able to jeopardize your current employment without a firm offer in hand from them, but that you’d be happy to supply many other references and to allow them to contact your current company once you have an offer (which can be contingent on that reference check, assuming you know the reference will be fine). You might even throw in a mention that it’s highly unusual for a company to insist on contacting a candidate’s current employer at this stage; maybe you’re dealing with someone clueless. You can also throw in, “In this economy, it’s not a risk I can take.” If they don’t understand that, consider that a pretty substantial red flag about this new company.

Personally, I’d do #3. What do others think?

{ 35 comments }

Posted in bad interviewer behavior, references

boss threatening to contact prospective employer

February 19, 2009

A reader writes:

I have been working at the job from hell (people always burp, cuss, yell at each other, etc.) since mid-November. Even though the job is outside of my educational training, I took it because of the poor economy and it’s the only job I could get. Since I knew I wouldn’t be there long-term and that other employers would laugh and question my sanity for taking a job at this company, I decided to leave it off my resume.

One day I read my personal e-mail from work and discovered that an employer that I applied to was interested in me coming for an interview, so I set up the appointment using my work computer. Well, my employer discovered that and I overheard her saying that she is going to contact this employer to let them know that they discovered me applying for jobs at work. I overheard this clear as day.

My conversations with the new employer were going well up to this point and I believe that my current employer did contact my potential employer. My current employer has no idea about labor law or illegal actions or anything. I haven’t heard anything from the new employer, and it has been a week since our last positive contact with each other. How do I handle this ? I have already decided to leave my current job, but what can I do to make sure that the potential employer is still considering my application favorably?

You may not be able to. The fact is, you were probably in the wrong to be using work time and your employer’s computer to set up an interview for another job. Is this pretty common? Sure. Does that make it okay if you get caught? Not really. If you want to job search, you should do it on your own time.

Now, is your boss in the wrong for contacting the other employer? Yes, if she really did. (It doesn’t sound like you know that she really did; she could been have been blowing off steam when she said that.) But if she actually did contact the other employer about this, she’ll look a little crazy to them. It’s overkill. If she has a problem with what you were doing, she should deal with you directly. Hell, she can fire you for it if she wants. But trying to sabotage your chances with the other job crosses a line (and a lawyer might even tell you that it’s potentially risky legally, but I’m not a lawyer).

But here’s another side of this: You took a job because it was all you could get, you don’t plan to stay there long, you believe it’s beneath you, your email makes it sound virtually impossible that your feelings aren’t coming out in your attitude at work, and you’re spending your work time looking for other jobs. You’re not really acting in good faith.

You may think it doesn’t matter because you plan to leave this job off your resume and you’re just there for the paycheck– but the world just isn’t as large as we sometimes think. What if you’re applying for your dream job and the hiring manager turns out to be friends with your current manager? What do you think she’s going to say about you?

It sounds trite, but while you’re stuck there, do the best you can do with it. You just don’t know where that might lead you (or what obstacles you might be creating for yourself otherwise).

{ 2 comments }

Posted in advice about your boss

asking boss for a loan

February 19, 2009

A reader writes:

I started working for my new employer on September 15, 2008. I was pregnant and I had to go on maternity leave on January 1, 2009. The company did not pay me while I was on maternity leave. I have financial problems and could not pay rent. The owner switched off my electricity and I decided to go back to work. I started working again in mid-February, with my baby one month old. I would like to ask my boss if the company can help me with a loan to sort out my financial crisis. Is it right to ask this of a boss?

First, I’m sorry to hear about your situation.

Do you have any other options besides asking your boss? Family, friends, others you could ask for help? In general, I don’t think it’s a good idea to ask your employer for a loan or pay advance, especially when you’re new to the company.

Of course, if you’re truly desperate, you’re desperate, and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do — but I would exhaust all other options first (including looking into public assistance programs and bank loans, if you’re eligible).

But I’ll be honest: I’ve never been in this situation (on either side) and I might be wrong about this. What do other people think?

I wish you the best of luck, and I hope things turn around for you soon.

{ 10 comments }

Posted in advice about your boss

boss makes schedule without checking with employee

February 18, 2009

A reader writes:

Since I have worked at the company where my stepfather and stepbrother also work, my boss has written me in for shifts without asking me if I am available. Occasionally he asks a family member rather than me, but lately he has not even been doing that. I’m 17 and have been working there for over a year now. I am wondering if it’s actually allowed as I can’t even back out when I have other commitments as the boss claims he “needs” me to come in.

You need to sit down with your boss and get clear on how scheduling is supposed to work. There are some businesses where the boss simply makes a schedule from week to week, and employees are expected to be available for the shifts they’re scheduled for. You need to find out if your company is one of those.

If it is, ask him what you’re supposed to do if you’re scheduled for a shift you can’t work. Will he let you find someone else to cover your shift? Will he let you tell him in advance when you can and can’t be scheduled for the upcoming schedule period?

First, get clear on this so you understand what the expectations are (and can decide if they’re conditions you want to work under). Next, tell him that you understand the temptation to ask your relatives about your availability but that it causes problems because they don’t always know your schedule like you do. Ask him to talk with you directly, like he would with any other employee.

You’re 17, so you might not be sure quite how to open this conversation or how it should go. It should sound something like this:

You: Joe, do you have a few minutes to talk to me about our scheduling?

Boss: Sure, what’s up?

You: I’ve noticed you’ve been scheduling me for shifts at times when I’m not always available, and I wanted to get clear on how this works. Can I tell you in advance about times when I won’t be available? Or do you need me to plan to always be available during certain slots? What’s the best way for me to handle this?

Boss: I generally assume you’re available any time except Saturdays. It’s hard for me to accommodate everyone’s preferences, so I’ve ended up just doing the schedule and expecting people to follow it. (This is the worst case scenario response, but he may say something far more accommodating.)

You: Okay, I understand. Is there any flexibility, if there’s an occasional outside commitment that I really need to keep?

Boss: Well, you can check with me ahead of time, but make sure you check before Mondays, because that’s when I do the schedule, and I don’t like to change it after that.

You: Thanks, I appreciate it. Also, by the way, I know sometimes you’ve asked my stepfather or stepbrother about my schedule, but they often don’t really know for sure — so would you talk with me directly, so we can avoid them accidentally giving you bad information?

Basically, be straightforward, and don’t be demanding. And if you don’t like his answers, you can politely ask if there are alternatives (keeping in mind that there may not be). Your goal is to get clear on what you should expect, and then from there you can decide if this works for you or not. Good luck!

{ 3 comments }

Posted in advice about your boss

managing women from a douchebag’s perspective

February 16, 2009

I’m not in the habit of leaving angry comments on other people’s blogs, but Brazen Careerist today features a post called “Managing Women: From A Guy’s Perspective,” and I couldn’t help myself.

From what I can tell, it was written by a 14-year-old boy. It includes gems like:

  • All women love chivalry!
  • Male bosses should compliment their women employees on their appearance!
  • Women are so catty!

Are there differences between men and women? Sure, and it’s possible to talk about those differences in an intelligent, nuanced way. This article isn’t either of those things.

{ 20 comments }

Posted in bad advice

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