May 14, 2008

BUSINESS MATTERS: Former employers are not out to protect you

By Mildred Culp / Daily News Columnist

Dr. Culp: I made a huge mistake at my last position and was terminated. I haven't had to work since then, but I am now looking for a job in a different field. How do I answer questions about why I was let go without hurting my chances? Does it still hold true that companies can only give the dates you were employed, and not if you were let go, or even if they would rehire you?

Concerned
Dear Concerned: No wonder you are concerned. This is like doing something illegal and having your incarceration be a black mark on your record for life. Although legally companies are only obliged to give out your dates of employment, in reality that doesn't always happen. There are two ways to find out what's being said about you. Asking a potential employer if your references checked is one, but then it's too late for that particular job. The second is to ask someone to call the old company, indicate interest in hiring you and ask the questions you worry about. The answers will be revealing.

Your reason for leaving is that you parted company and immediately reassessed what kind of work you wanted to do. It took a little while, because you're moving into a new field.


Dear Dr. Culp: I've been a legal assistant for a long time and, after being laid off several times and simply not being happy, I'm making a career change. I've always loved the entertainment industry (theater/television/acting/production). I know I could do very well there. I find that when I watch TV, I concentrate on the technical parts. I saw a show where there was some plexiglass in a scene and noticed the film crew in the reflection. One guy was wearing cutoff jeans. I love finding things like that. The problem, however, is that it is an extremely difficult field to get into . . . especially if you're not in your early 20s. Any suggestions?

Unhappy former legal assistant



Dear Unhappy: At least you know what makes you happy. Meet some people who do the kind of work you want to do. Ask questions. They should be able to tell you where to take the courses you need. Go to those organizations and find out the ages of graduates who weren't bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. If you discover that you're trying to do the impossible, consider bridging your legal background with your entertainment interests. Otherwise, go get any job in the industry, open your eyes and find your way.


BLOG TIP: NUMEROLOGY

Asking for advice is difficult for some, easy for others. It's an essential part of the job-seeking process. Once the advice leaves the mouth of the adviser, it's up to you to decide what to do with it. You have several options:

- taking it literally, as gospel, without changing a thing;

- accepting it as a general guideline; or

- discarding it altogether.

Decide which option is best for you and go for it.

One possible source of advice is numerology. It might seem to have nothing to do with your search. But that's not the case, according to Jesse Kalsi, author of "The Power of Home Numbers" (California Publishing, $24.99).

He mentions Sydney, who's happily anticipating her interview at a prestigious law firm. "At the same time," he writes, "she is exceptionally nervous; so she seeks the expertise of a word-renowned numerologist for salary negotiation advice." He comes up with $75,168, which pleases her no end. That's all she needed.

She's thrown off-balance, however, when she has the interview, which lands her dream job for $166,666 per year. Determined to follow the numerologist's advice to the letter (ahem, I mean number), she negotiates, countering at $75,168.


E-mail your job-hunting questions to Dr. Mildred Culp
at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2008 Passage Media.