Career Coach: Job searches, how to quit and bugs in the office
Q: I appreciate all of your advice. I have sort of a philosophical question for you. I've worked at my current job for 10 years (first job out of college) and have built a career here. I'm well-respected and comfortable, make a very good salary, and have co-workers and supervisors that would make most people jealous. Here's my issue... I don't want to live in Washington anymore. My husband and I are from the same part of the country (about 3 hours from Washington), and both of our families live there. Our parents are getting older and beginning to need help. We have one baby, and would like to raise her where we were raised. My job will let me telework for a year from my hometown, but after that I'd need to either find something else or start commuting 2-3 days a week down to DC. (There's a slight possibility that they'd let me continue teleworking after the year, but I can't count on that.) Husband and I have been discussing timeframes for moving, and even though it's over six months away, I'm feeling anxious about it. I'm very cautious in general, and I'm afraid of giving up all that I've built. I'm also the breadwinner, so I'm scared I won't be able to find anything in my preferred location. And how can I go to another job when my current one is so great? I feel like nothing else will compare. Please help!! I don't want my job to rule my life!
A: Thanks for your question and nice comments. I can totally understand your thoughts about this. This is definitely a tough issue. If your firm is willing to let you telework for the first year, that is a really good sign of how much they value you and are willing to give you some options. While it may be anxiety-provoking to make the move, you have a great set up for doing it. You have a job already set up for the first year which is far more than most folks have when they move. I think once you make the move you can start to look at the area to see what other back-up options you have for other jobs. But, obviously if your work is first-rate (which it sounds like it must be for them to let you telework), then you may be able to keep teleworking. I have known some individuals who have been able to do keep teleworking for years. But, I understand as the breadwinner you are worried about counting on that. I would make the move, telework, continue to learn your area and look for back-up options. The timing will never be ideal, but it is better to make the move while you have a company's support and your families' health is not life-threatening, then to wait until you don't have the support or something urgent happens. Best of luck!
Q: If asked to give a deposition or submit to an interview with government investigators about work that has been done for a client, do you recommend using your company's lawyers or getting your own for, at the very least, a consultation? I worry that the company's lawyers will be looking out for the company and the higher-ups, which will affect their advice to me.
A: You could have this conversation with the company lawyers to make your decision about this. They are there for you and often protect not just the company, but you as well. But, it depends on what others in your firm feel about the firm's lawyers. They may have a perspective like you mentioned and that is why you feel that they are not there to protect you. If that is the case, then yes, getting your own lawyer makes sense. It is probably a good idea anyway since it will give you more peace of mind and you won't wonder about this. Since this may be a stressful situation anyway, it is better to have some peace of mind.
Q: My relative is 29 and has been a campus minister for 2 years. Before that he was a junior high school teacher for 2 years. He would like to transition into a corporate job. He is a strong writer and communicator. Do you have any recommendations on how to get a position within a company with a background like his?
A: You did not say what his degree is actually in -- what field of study. This would make a difference. Having a background in teaching and ministry with strong communication skills would make him a natural for a business job, but he may need the business background. Is he willing (or has the time) to go back to school for a MBA or a Masters in a business area? There are lots of options for those who want to still work full time (doing online degrees or blended part-time formats). But, if he can't enroll back in school or already has a relevant degree, he might consider the field of training or public relations. Both require strong communication skills. His experience in teaching and ministry make him a natural for training jobs. He might want to join American Society for Training and Development (www.astd.org) as well a Society for Human Resource Management (www.shrm.org) to start networking with those organizations. Good luck to him!
Q: How do you gracefully (if possible) quit a new job, without completely burning bridges? The new job I started three weeks ago is turning out to be a bad fit in every possible way, to the point where I don't want to go to bed at night because that means I have to go to work. I wake up sick to my stomach. The only possibility for transferring departments or to a different position would be after 2 years of enduring the current position. I'm in a fortunate position where my husband and I can survive on his salary, so luckily that isn't an issue, but how do I leave gracefully?
A: Is there anyone at the firm you can talk to? A human resource professional? Another work colleague in your department or another department? If you are that unhappy, then it would be good to see if you can transition to another department within the company, unless you are also unhappy with the firm in general. In that case, it would be critical to start looking.
But, first, it would help to talk with someone in the firm if you feel close to someone (like an HR person) who might be able to help you transition to another part of the company. Based on that conversation you can also talk about transitioning out of the firm (if that is what you decide).
I do think that once you decide to leave the firm, you just need to let your boss know that it was not a good fit. If there is anyway to help your boss figure out who can cover your job (is there someone else you can recommend your job to?). If you can do this, it makes it much easier for your boss and also lessens the "burning of the bridges".
Q: Ew, a bug!I have to listen to this all day long from a coworker every time she sees a bug. Any type of bug. Little drama queen literally jumps up from her chair and starts screaming. Other than ear plugs and blinders, how can I address this?
A: First, why are there so many bugs at your workplace? That would worry me unless the nature of the job makes that likely. It seems your colleague has a real fear of bugs (which some people definitely have). Since this seems to be recurring, have you ever talked with your coworker about this fear? Maybe just having a one-on-one conversation (calmly) after an event or "bug spotting" might be worth while. It might give you some insights and it may help your colleague to feel listened to. That might curb her tendency to keep jumping up and down in the future. You could also ask what you can do to help when she sees these bugs. Is she looking for help in removing them? While you may not feel like you should have to do anything and she is the one with the problem, it seems like her "screaming" bothers you. So, taking the time to understand the issue might help you in the long run.
Q: When you submit a resume to a company's application website, when should you follow-up with the organization to know that your application was received? Should you email or call? I'm not sure how long to wait to do this, and if I do and I haven't heard back from the organization after a week or so, should I assume my resume didn't make the cut?
A: I would email or phone them within a week to make sure they received my resume and then ask if they need any additional information. You could also ask them about the timing of the process (when will they be making decisions, etc). Then, I would wait and check back in about 2 weeks (unless they told you it was going to be much longer). There is nothing wrong with staying on "their radar" by checking in every few weeks.