Q. I’m a new manager and wonder how to deal with a brown noser. His attempts to ingratiate himself increasingly irritate me and he pipes up to support me in matters that have nothing to do with him. I’m uncomfortable with being sucked up to. Do you think I’m too touchy?
A. No, I don’t. I think you’re very smart to know exactly what’s going on. But I don’t advise confronting him. Just ignore it and he’ll get tired of trying.
Q. I’m concerned that if I list the years of employment on my resume, it’s an easy way for a potential employer to determine my age. What should I do?
A. Leave out the dates.
Q. Do you know of any legitimate work-at-home opportunities out there? Are they all scams?
A. Too many are indeed scams. A good rule is if somebody asks you for money before assigning you at-home work, run the other way.
Q. You have often commented on racial discrimination, and if you substitute the word “handicap” for “race,” you have my problem. I’ve been in one job for 25 years and all the people I started with, at the same level, are now supervisors. Of course, I’m not. What do you think of my situation?
A. By its very nature all discrimination is unfair, and I’m sorry you seem to have had so much of it. But complaining to me about it isn’t going to do you any good. You are protected by anti-discrimination laws, so talk to a lawyer to see if you have a case.
Q. I love the city I live in but I can’t find work here as a meeting planner and I’m exploring other options in other states. Do you think I should use headhunters?
A. By all means, find headhunters in your field and send them your resume. But remember, headhunters do not find you jobs. They only find job candidates for the employers who pay them to do so. What you might want to do to start is to access the government’s job bank at www.ajb.dni.us. It lists jobs by title and geographical location.
Q. I am a nurse and wrote an article for my professional association.
I sent it to our hospital administration for preapproval, but I was told several people had read it and said they didn’t like it because it was too depressing, would discourage people from becoming nurses and did not reflect the hospital’s opinions or the image they wish to project.
They didn’t say I couldn’t publish it, they just say I have to leave out my place of employment. My peers agree with what I’m saying, which makes me want to submit it. What do you think?
A. As a journalist I hate censorship of any kind, as you might suspect, but if the hospital doesn’t want you to say where you work, you can’t do that – unless you’re ready to leave or to face discipline. You were very wise to try to get their permission in advance.
My advice is to be very careful: You still could lose your job over this because even if you don’t say where you work, if your name is on the article, it won’t be too hard to find out who your employer is.
Carol Kleiman is the author of “Winning the Job Game: The New Rules for Finding and Keeping the Job You Want” (Wiley, $16.95). Send e-mail to ckleimantribune.com.
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