Unfair yes, but firms must pay to attract new talent

First interview with job applicant with speech impediment may have been more of a case of nerves, so a second chance is deserved. (istockphoto)

Q. I am an attorney who has been working at the same small firm for over two years. I am at about a third-year associate level. In January, I received a significant raise. We just hired another associate, to begin next week. He graduated law school two years after I did and has not had a full-time job since graduation. He will be starting at the equivalent of a first-year (or, to be generous, a 1 1/2-year) associate. I inadvertently saw his offer letter and saw that his salary will be the same as mine. This strikes me as patently unfair: Not only have I been at this company longer, but I have far more experience and expertise than this new associate. I don't think this shows much awareness of how compensation should work or much appreciation for me and my experience and contributions here. What advice can you give me? What should I do?

A. Welcome to the real world! I am sorry to say that this happens all the time, in all industries and occupations. Companies are forced to pay the going rate for new talent or they will not attract the kind of talent they want and need.

Your company understands this, has done the appropriate homework to find out what the market rate is for starting attorneys in your size law firm, and has made the appropriate offer.

I know this seems very unfair and possibly disrespectful to you, but it is not intended to be. Your law firm is simply trying to stay in the game and make sure its starting salaries are commensurate with those of other firms their size in the area. The firm wants to attract the best talent it can for its size.

A. Invite him back for a second interview and see if the impediment presents itself as strongly as it did the first time. If it does, I think this is a legitimate concern.

If, on the other hand, it was mainly first-time nerves and it didn't bother you nearly as much the second time, arrange for a few others to meet with him to determine if they could work with him and whether they think he is the best person for the job. In addition, consider whether he would have to present in front of prospective clients or whether this is really a backroom position.

This might help you make the ultimate decision.

Unpaid internship offers good way to learn trade
Q. I am graduating from a small college in Massachusetts next month with school loans up to my eyeballs and no job prospects in sight. The only real offer I've gotten is to intern (no stipend) for a Boston newspaper read mostly by college kids and young adults. My major is graphic design. It would be a great opportunity and I think I would learn a lot but I hate to work and not get paid when I owe so much for school loans. Suggestions?

A. If you can swing it financially, even for two to three months, I would do it. I can't think of a better way to learn your trade, put theory into practice, get current references, and acquire a whole new network than to participate in an internship, even an unpaid one.

Another great possibility, albeit a long shot, is that the paper finds you so indispensable that they hire you as full-time staff.

I would try to negotiate with them, before you accept the internship, that there will be times that you might need to go to an interview, job fair, or other job-related activity and get their approval on this. You will need to have some flexibility so that you can continue to conduct your job search while you are working on your internship.

Nothing beats being able to say that "you are interning at a newspaper" when the interviewer asks you what you have been doing since graduation. It is very powerful.

A. Try very hard to come up with a few people who a prospective employer can speak to about your performance. References are a very important part of the job search process.

If you have been out of the workforce for a while, and have no references from previous companies, try to think of any volunteer work that you have done.

Perhaps you participated in a task force for your town, arranged for church suppers, volunteered for school activities, organized a holiday event, or worked on a political campaign.

Try to identify anyone who could speak about your performance while conducting those volunteer services.

Readers, take note. As long as you plan to continue to stay in the workforce, you will need to provide perspective employers with references who can speak about your performance.

Try to stay in touch (e-mails, holiday greetings, annual lunches) with previous bosses and colleagues. You just never know when you will need them.

A. Here is where a few sessions with a career counselor would be extremely helpful. You lack focus. You are trying to find something part time that will be interesting for you to do.

I would let the part-time component go and try to focus on the type of work that you might enjoy doing. Today, there are several types of instruments and aptitude tests that you can take that might help in making a decision.

In addition, a good career counselor will talk with you in depth about what you like to do, what you are good at doing and would like to do more of, what types of volunteer jobs you have held in the last 10 years, what you liked about your old job, what the results from the testing are indicating, etc.

You can assist your career counselor by bringing to your meetings jobs that you have seen that excited you. There was something about the job description that made you go "Wow!" Now the career counselor has some good data to make some appropriate recommendations to you about the types of jobs that you should look for.

Some of the job recommendations might require additional training, a certificate or a degree. Those types of jobs might be for later in your life when you have time to go back to school. Others might be more manageable for your current situation.

Once you have a better idea of the type(s) of work that you would like to do, you will have an easier time finding good job fits for you. If you see part-time work that is a good fit for you, great.

However, don't be afraid to try and negotiate a part-time schedule with the company.

There are some jobs that are simply full time and really cannot be done on a part-time basis, but there are others that can be adjusted in some way. Today, more and more companies are realizing that many employees are looking for flexible work schedules and are more willing to accommodate these requests.

Finding a really good career counselor is an important step. Ask around because a good referral is the best way to go.

Ask other parents at the kids' sports activities, at the hair salon, at church activities, the neighbors, etc.

If you are unable to find a good referral, you can always go to these two websites to help identify a career counselor: Career Counselors Consortium at careercounselorsne.org and the Association of Career Professionals Inc., at acpinternational.org/experts.html. Be sure you interview your perspective counselor like you would a physician.

You need to feel a chemistry between the two of you, almost the same way you want to feel a chemistry with someone you are dating.

If it's not there, try someone else. Ask the counselor for three job seekers who you could talk to about the counselor's services.

Call the references and really listen to what they have to say. It is really important that this partnership be right. Don't settle for anything less.

Joan Cirillo is the executive director of Operation A.B.L.E., a nonprofit that provides employment and training opportunities to mature workers 45 and older.

E-mail questions to jobdoc@globe.com or mail to Job Doc, Boston Globe, Box 55819, Boston, 02205-5819.