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Temp work can increase exposure
to array of fields

By Joan Cirillo, Globe Correspondent, 7/27/03

Need advice about managing your career or your workplace? The Job Doc can help. E-mail queries to jobdoc@globe.com, or send letters to Job Doc, c/o the Boston Globe, P.O. Box 2378, MA.

I graduated in 2002 with a BA in art history and worked for almost a year as an administrative assistant at a small arts organization. I loved working there, but unfortunately I was not earning enough to support myself and left in April because I was offered a stable position at a well-known publishing company. This turned out to be a grave mistake because I was miserable at this new job and had to quit after one month. Now I am unemployed and looking for an administrative position in a different field. I have registered with employment agencies to find temporary or permanent work, but have been told that this is a very slow time and not to expect much. I am also having some difficulty because my experience has been limited to the arts. Do you have any advice as to good ways to build up my resume and what more I could be doing during my job search?

The good news is that things are beginning to pick up. One temporary employment agency that focuses on hiring administrative assistants and customer service reps that I spoke with said, ''We've never been busier.'' A good indicator that the economy is improving is when temporary employment agencies are doing lots of hiring. If it's been a few weeks since you have checked in with the temporary agencies, I would start to call around again. I like the idea of your working at temporary agencies right now. I can't think of a better way for you to get some very good exposure to many different industries.

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In addition, have a professional career counselor look at your resume just to be sure that you are highlighting the skills that are very marketable today. If there is a software application that the counselor thinks you should have, try to take a class and learn it. The standards are: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. It is also a big plus if you have Microsoft Outlook as well.

Don't forget to keep practicing your typing skills. Like anything else, if you don't practice everyday, you will not be as fast as when you are using that skill all the time. As you probably know, you will have to take a typing test and a software application test at any temporary agency that you apply to.

One great way to keep your skills fresh and help out at the same time is to do some community service one or two days a week. You would be ''golden'' at a nonprofit organization where there are never enough pairs of hands to do all the administrative work that needs to be done. The nonprofit industry is one of the largest industries in Boston and you should definitely look for job opportunities there as well. One of the best nonprofit job banks in Boston is compiled by the Executive Service Corps and is called Opportunity Nocs. You can find it at www.opnocsne.org.

Job searching from overseas

I'm a recent grad from a well-known college in Boston and am currently looking for a job. The only problem is, I'm in Hong Kong. Is there a way to keep my job search active in the States when I'm not in the States?

Yes, that is the beauty of the Internet. You can continue to search for appropriate jobs electronically no matter where you are. If you are traveling without a laptop and proper Internet connections, there are cyber cafes all over the world today. You can spend a few hours searching the Web and enjoying a coffee. If you have your laptop, all the better. Most hotels have Internet connections or a business center. You can send a cover letter and resume electronically from your hotel. Do state specifically when you are returning to Boston. If you are returning shortly, the employer might note that and call you in when you return. As soon as you return, call the employers that had jobs that you were particularly interested in. Ask if those jobs are still open and whether you can still apply for them. Explain that you have been out of the country but you saw the particular job opportunity electronically and got very excited. If you have international phone service, call the ''hot jobs'' from Hong Kong and try to ascertain: 1) Did they receive your materials? and 2) Whether you can set up an interview for when you return.

Don't stay too long in Hong Kong if you plan and need to work by a certain timeline. The whole job search process is taking much longer these days. You will add much to your stress level if you return with only a month's supply of money left and no job leads.

Current salary not meeting needs

I believe that I am underpaid for my position and I am considering looking for a new job. I do have some objective as well as anecdotal evidence for this. Available surveys and word of mouth put my salary at the bottom end of just about every scale. While I do like my job, and I have gotten positive feedback on my performance, I am just making enough to cover my expenses (including a substantial student loan debt.) I can't afford to save much, if anything, which hinders my personal goals of starting a family and owning a home. I also believe that given the present structure and operation of my employer, the prospects for a significant increase and/or advancement are minimal.

Although opportunities are available, I am in a competitive marketplace, and with the current state of the economy I would prefer to keep my job until I am offered another position. My concerns are these: 1) Obviously the question will arise as to why I am looking for a new job, so how do I broach the money issue at an interview? I am concerned as to how it might sound to a future employer to say that I am leaving my present position to make more money. 2) If I am offered another opportunity, what can I do to avoid burning bridges with my employer?

It is very understandable to any employer that you are looking for another position because your current one does not pay enough to meet your current financial needs. Explain that you were very happy at the other job, but that you have not only rent and the standard expenses, but you also have a student loan to pay off. I assure you that the employer will find it very understandable.

However, it is question number two that I need to address. You have not given your current company a chance to respond to your need for more money. You have not given the company a chance to retain a valuable employee, and that is a loss for the company and for you. You are happy there and it sounds like they are happy with you. You say that you have received some positive feedback on performance and that is always a good sign.

You do not mention how long you have been at the company but it sounds like you have been there long enough to have a performance review. If you have been there at least three months, you might ask your boss if she or he has time to meet with you to discuss your performance. Explain that you want to be sure that you are doing the things that the boss wants you to focus on.

Prepare for the meeting. Think about any accomplishments that you have achieved to date. For example, have you met any tough deadlines that no one thought you could meet?

Be prepared to lead the meeting. Explain, again, that you wanted to meet to discuss your performance. If the boss says that she or he is pleased with your performance, ask when you might be eligible for a salary increase. Explain that you are very happy there and really enjoy the work but that your salary is barely meeting your expenses. If you are comfortable, you might even ask what an average salary increase would be at your level. Now you have the data that you need to make a good decision whether to look for another job or stay at the company.

If the boss identifies areas to improve in your performance, then you have some time to correct your performance so that you will be eligible for a good salary raise when it comes up.

If the boss says that she or he is very pleased with your performance but there is a salary freeze on indefinitely, it is also helpful in making the decision whether or not to start a job search.

In other words, you now have more data to make a good, thoughtful decision. If you leave your current company because of the salary issue, your boss will not be surprised. You have explained that your current salary is not sufficient to meet your needs. As in every aspect of our lives, good communication is key.

Boss's behavior causes discomfort

I am a single woman in my mid-20s with a steady boyfriend. My boss, a university professor in his mid-50s, keeps hitting on me. He tells dirty jokes and at least once a week he invites me out for drinks. (I always turn him down.) It seems as if he is stepping up his attentions. What can I do? I know for a fact that if I ''make waves'' my career at this institution will be over. The other women in the department tell me to grin and bear it and hope for a transfer, but I don't know how much longer I can stand this. What do you advise?

No one should or needs to work in that kind of work environment anymore.

Sexual harassment is not tolerated by any responsible employer today, and there are steps that you can take to stop this behavior.

First, the next time that he makes an overture toward you, make it very clear in your body language, demeanor, and choice of words that you are not interested in going out with him socially. Practice in front of the mirror or with a friend so that it comes out professionally, but emphatically, that you are not interested and to please not ask you again. Document and date the conversation.

Do the same thing the next time that he tells a dirty joke. You might say, ''Professor, please stop telling me those kinds of jokes. I do not find them funny. In fact, they are very offensive to me. I do not want to hear another one.'' Document and date the conversation. Hopefully, that will put an end to this type of behavior.

If he hasn't gotten the message yet, the next time he asks you out or tells a dirty joke, restate your message, but this time, add that you will have to bring this behavior to human resources' attention if it does not stop. Document and date this dialogue as well.

If it happens another time, I would go directly to human resources. (If there is no human resources department, then see a supervisor.)

Both human resources and management should be prepared to handle sexual harassment incidents. They know to take these situations very seriously. They will investigate. Bring your documentation. That will be very helpful in telling the story. You should see some adjustments in the professor's behavior immediately. There should be no repercussions. Your supervisor should monitor the situation for several months after the incident is resolved.

If you have any more overtures from the professor, don't hesitate to go back to human resources or your supervisor. He should understand that repeat overtures will cost him his tenure, reputation, and his future employability. No company can afford to ignore these kinds of accusations. It becomes very costly financially.

The last question is a composite based on questions to the Job Docs.

Joan Cirillo is the executive director of Operation A.B.L.E., a nonprofit that provides employment and training opportunities to adults.

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