I have recently acknowledged that my aimlessness has kept me trapped in retail and unable to find better for myself. My goal from several months ago - to find a double-digit hourly position by the anniversary of my graduation from college - is far from accomplished. I am not giving myself another year to mess up, but I'm having some trouble discerning where I should go.
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posted by Ashen
on Apr 27, 2013 -
16 answers
What I thought was my dream full-time job has turned into a nightmare after only three months. Help me leave ASAP.
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posted by Anima Mundi
on Apr 23, 2013 -
8 answers
I sent my resume for a job that I am very qualified for but just received a message that my expectations are above the scope. They did not provide a range, just a requirement to include expected salary in the cover letter. I stated my salary and said that it is negotiable. I have plenty of wiggle room, I am in a new market that is a bit lower than others I've been in (I did lower it from past compensation, but not enough apparently). What can I say to convey I still want to be considered & am willing to take up to $15k less without sounding desperate? I am worth every penny that I asked for, and that is not just my opinion. I am very very good at what I do but again, I realize it is a new, different market so I am ok with lower...
posted by Snackpants
on Apr 22, 2013 -
8 answers
I am, at 55 years old, capable of retiring comfortably. I intend to do this as soon as possible. The question is how do I quit my job?
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posted by lordrunningclam
on Apr 18, 2013 -
24 answers
I landed a big promotion. I don't think it's been a good fit. How do I develop an exit strategy?
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posted by bombastic
on Apr 15, 2013 -
5 answers
Before iGoogle disappears, I need to replace my 'Days Since' counter widget. Can you help me find one?
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posted by Gordafarin
on Apr 12, 2013 -
3 answers
I'm looking for a nice, inexpensive task lamp to put on my desk at work. It should have adjustable brightness (low/high is fine) so that I can have either a little or a lot of light, as required. Free-standing, not clamp-on. $30 or less would be ideal. Help?
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posted by Scientist
on Apr 9, 2013 -
8 answers
I want to withdraw from consideration for a new full-time position at the company I'm temping at. How do I initiate that conversation? If the leader at this company asks why I want to stay on as a temp instead of taking a full-time position what do I say that will not burn bridges when the actual answer is "You're a bad boss and you should feel bad"?
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posted by under_petticoat_rule
on Apr 9, 2013 -
13 answers
As you can see from my past posting my husband lost his job last month. In the meantime the jobs he's qualified for are probably not in our area (CT). Chances are after talking to recruiters in his specialty, he will have to take a job in another part of the country - probably south/southwest.
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posted by lasamana
on Mar 27, 2013 -
31 answers
Have you, or do you know anyone who has, purposefully not taken a job at the end of a contract, in order to build skills in other areas, and been ok with a gap in work history?
Snowflake details: I'm currently working on a contract for a large company, and I'm reaching the end-date for my contract. The current job itself is not my dream job, and is not very fulfilling, but it's paid the bills and the company looks good on a resume. I now have been offered another contract position, year-long, at a different large company in the area.
However, I would be doing work that would be even
less fulfilling, I'm afraid to the point of being mind-numbing. But the pay is good. Should I take the year-long contract for the money? Thinking about the job itself is enough to give me that anxious sick feeling.
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posted by lockstitch
on Mar 24, 2013 -
6 answers
In short: I need to track a couple of hundred tasks over 10-15 projects (in any of 7 areas) on the go at any one time. In a month, when I am asked, I currently have only a vague notion which project took up the most time.
Currently using Things for Mac and iphone, but am open to moving if it is for a better solution (i integrated time tracking with no loss of functionality). Am ok with paying for it.
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posted by Brockles
on Mar 18, 2013 -
6 answers
I work 50+ hours a week in a job that I love. My schedule changes daily; some days are normal 9-6, but others are 2am to "whenever." How do I get healthy sleep while coping with this schedule?
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posted by none of these will bring disaster
on Mar 5, 2013 -
24 answers
I'm posting this on behalf of my mom, who is self-conscious about her neck. She has a pretty youthful looking face, and is going for a neck lift(?) this summer, but really wants work clothes that hide the neck in the meantime.
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posted by tatiana131
on Mar 2, 2013 -
9 answers
I have a very exciting interview Wednesday and realized that my footwear is completely not up to the task, because I normally select workaday shoes that I can walk miles in and don't care if they are destroyed. I need a work-fabulous (i.e., no open toed) celebratory pair of heels for a special occasion.
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posted by *s
on Feb 28, 2013 -
20 answers
I'm a UI/UX designer who is flat broke and unemployed. I'm independently interviewing for 2 positions at the moment and have 3-4 other positions that I have or am about to interview for through a recruiter. Some are temporary, some are temp-to-perm, and some are permanent. Some are also more interesting to me than others, including one that I'm most interested in which I've been waiting to hear back from for the past week or so. However, the temporary positions (2-4 weeks) have more immediate needs and are more likely to lay something on the table in the next few days if they end up giving me an offer.
My question is: If I get a call that says "We'd like to offer you the position", how do I respond without an immediate yes and still be in consideration?
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posted by gregoryg
on Feb 26, 2013 -
6 answers
Before I start, I'd like to point out that I'm not spoiled or lazy. I've been dealing with the very real problems of depression and anxiety for most of my life, and for the past five years I've been working from home.
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posted by Cybria
on Feb 26, 2013 -
9 answers
I'm working for a start-up and I don't think it's going to succeed. Am I right, and if so, how can I salvage something useful from this situation?
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posted by Encipher
on Feb 22, 2013 -
15 answers
I am 27 years old, and now considering whether I should join the Air Force on an intelligence track in order to improve my chances of getting a job at State, or just improving my career options in general. Is this a wise decision?
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posted by masterisosceles
on Feb 18, 2013 -
9 answers
I am considering moving to Asheville and hear a lot about how hard it is to make a living there and how over saturated it is already with entrepreneurs. I am in my mid 50's and have been a successful private chef who is now teaching cooking in various small schools and in private homes. I am not thrilled with the northeast weather and thought of Asheville as a relocation spot. Having just visited there it seemed there is a lot of food buzz going on- I know it's a "foodie" town and think I might be able to succeed there.
I am concerned about the rising cost of buying a house in the area and that I could find enough work there. Any input?
posted by privatechef
on Feb 6, 2013 -
16 answers
I'm caught up in the gossip, but not the main character of the story. Should I go out of my way to tell my coworkers that I also deplore my "friend's" actions?
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posted by abirdinthehand
on Feb 2, 2013 -
7 answers
I hope this will be my
last job-related question for quite a while. I want to give two weeks' notice today or tomorrow at
this job and I'm not sure how to go about it.
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posted by trillian
on Jan 31, 2013 -
7 answers
My weekend is overbooked to the tune of family vs. work. Help me figure out how to tell my very difficult boss about this the right way.
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posted by chatelaine
on Jan 29, 2013 -
12 answers
Recently in a social situation I was asked my thoughts on a budgeting item and I gave it along with a solution that I had given thought to and was planning on presenting to the budget chair. (We work in different departments but run things past each other on occasion). One of the people at the gathering was a woman with political ambitions for our small town. A few days later she wrote a letter to the editor that gave my exact idea. What would you do? On the plus side it was very well received, OTH it was mine. I realize I should have said nothing and it was my mistake. I figure people that were there would know it wasn't hers and hopefully someone will point that out. Can I address it or should I leave it?
posted by lasamana
on Jan 28, 2013 -
12 answers
I'm wondering, after breakfast, and a shower, and a commute, and coffee - what is next?
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posted by Lownotes
on Jan 24, 2013 -
23 answers
Hey all. Posting my questions to this community has been very helpful. I'm thankful so far for the advice I've been getting.
This question has to do with something I've been struggling with my whole adulthood. I was diagnosed with clinical depression in my teens, and since then it's really limited a lot of what I can do. It didn't help much that I married a very overbearing person when I was 19 who basically took over my life for me. I left him two years ago and I've been recovering from my depression thanks to medication and a lot of self help techniques. I've started exercising and eating right, and I've lost weight, which I'm happy about. My next goal is to become self sufficient. My work ethic needs help though because I have a lot of trouble getting things done. I believe it stems from all those years I spent in deep depression and not being able to take care of myself. I procrastinate out of being overwhelmed and fearful of outcomes. I wouldn't call it laziness. It's just tough for me to learn a new way of living. Any advice on how to deal with this and improve my work ethic? I believe it's due time I start getting out of my own way.
Thank you MeFi community. :)
posted by Cybria
on Jan 24, 2013 -
12 answers
In my organization, we're not great at job titles. Mostly they aren't really needed. But for what I do it would be helpful, when contacting people both within and without the organization, to have a title to use that both speaks to what I do and gives folks an idea that I'm someone who is authorized to [get information/make changes to accounts and procedures/make decisions/spend money/whatever].
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posted by attercoppe
on Jan 23, 2013 -
8 answers
I work alone, in an office isolated from other people with zero opportunity for social interaction. I could, if I wanted to, arrive at 8.30am, stare at a screen til 12.30pm, break from 12.30pm-1.30pm, then stare at a screen from 1.30-5.15pm.In silence. Alone. I really, really don’t want to. Help me come up with things I can do every hour to ‘break’ for a few minutes before getting back into the next hour-long block of work.
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posted by t0astie
on Jan 23, 2013 -
21 answers
I'm looking for full-time work that's more or less within standard business hours. The problem is that I see my therapist weekly and my psychiatrist monthly. I could decrease the therapy sessions, but i'd still be missing work regularly. How do I bring this up with potential employers, and at what point in the proceedings? Or should I refrain from mentioning it? I'm in toronto if that's relevant. My doctors are only available in regular business hours.
posted by windykites
on Jan 9, 2013 -
16 answers
I need to know how much to charge a non-profit organization to set up and maintain a DB, having never done it before....and I need to give an amount before
tonight! :-/
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posted by la petite marie
on Jan 9, 2013 -
7 answers
After posting here several times about my job search and post-MBA malaise, I have been offered an Account Manager position. This wasn't what I wanted to do entirely, but I want to be great at it, so I can move into a position I would want in a year or so. How do I be awesome at my job?
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posted by hrj
on Dec 19, 2012 -
9 answers
I've always had communications-related jobs, but they never seem to be the right fit. I'm a great writer (although I have a love/hate relationship with writing), but I also helping enjoy helping people and interacting with people, etc., and writing is a pretty solitary job. (Well, PR isn't, but that's one area I want to stay away from, as well as fundraising). Have any other writer-types who are like me found a solution? (Oh, and I don't want to take on grad-school loans right now.)
posted by trillian
on Dec 14, 2012 -
15 answers
Thirty something professional leaves it all behind to try to work at Disney World. Am I taking crazy pills?!?
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posted by phytage
on Dec 11, 2012 -
25 answers
I am female and I work mainly outside as a gardener. I want to get two pairs of work boots, one for warm weather and one for cold weather. Can you give me recommendations for one or both of those pairs of boots?
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posted by sciencegeek
on Dec 10, 2012 -
13 answers
I'm thinking of moving from a contract with a staffing agency to an independent contract. What are the benefits or drawbacks I might have to deal with? I know taxes are different and I'm planning to invest in some software to help with quarterly taxes. I'll be in the same position at the same company, but I'll be representing myself and a staffing company won't get a cut.
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posted by lockstitch
on Nov 26, 2012 -
5 answers
You have your own business (or like me, help manage one). You have an initial consult fee which is lower than your hourly rate but still a high number ($250). When you receive cold calls, how do you broach the number without clients freaking out. We do not to any free consultations. Examples inside.
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posted by Danithegirl
on Oct 29, 2012 -
20 answers
Due to major recent changes in my field, I am now being listed as supervisor of most of the people I work with (including my actual supervisors), and this is due to my credentials. This is not information that is solely internal (since I am not actually everyone's supervisor) but actually is information sent to the third party funding sources, which I think raises a major ethical issue. Should I be allowing this to happen? What should I do about it?
posted by queenba
on Oct 28, 2012 -
21 answers
I do NOT want to come in to work today. My shift begins in 3 hours and I'm seriously considering just not showing up. One week working there and I already want to quit - HELP!
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posted by HiphopAnonymous
on Oct 21, 2012 -
39 answers
Do you work for a small company (less than 10 employees)? Can you tell me what it's like? I've just accepted a job for a small, 7 person company and I am feeling a bit nervous about it.
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posted by thereemix
on Oct 20, 2012 -
17 answers
Hi -- looking to retire soon but am planning to continue working. Interested in a job that is more physically active -- most likely part time and in the AM. I searched for similar questions in the archives --
this one comes very close. Working in a bar or at UPS probably not for me -- hoping to find something that keeps me moving -- perhaps walking 2-3 miles per day. Any suggestions? Thanks!
posted by gilast
on Oct 15, 2012 -
23 answers
I have been sexually harassed at work on two separate occasions, I need help deciding what to do about it and understanding my own feelings.
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posted by abirdinthehand
on Oct 7, 2012 -
46 answers
What career path is primarily 9-5, makes $60,000+ a year, and involves a high amount of contact with other people?
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posted by Autumn
on Sep 30, 2012 -
35 answers
