Put Up With Irritating Boss
Q: I have been working at a job for about four months now and we have a new boss. He used to do the same job I do. I can’t work with him and I’m ready to seek employment elsewhere. How do I go about getting a new job? What could I tell another company about why I want to leave this current job?
A: Although this new boss irritates you, try to understand that because he used to do your job, he probably has definite ideas on how things should be done. Because it’s better to have a job when interviewing for another, it’s in your best interest to tolerate this boss no matter how crazy you think he is. In the meantime, update your resume and read the want ads for jobs that seem similar, but a step up from your present job. You should also network and send resumes to companies that interest you.
EMPLOYMENT AT WILL MAKES SENSE IN MOST STATES
Q: I worked for almost 10 years with a company that had gone through three changes in ownership. I started as an hourly clerk and worked my way up to an office manager earning a salary in the mid30s. When the company was sold a fourth time, the new owners picked the brains of all the middle managers and then let them go.
When it came to my turn, every night the new owner took home several months of invoices from the past year hoping to “find something” on me. He eventually found two mistakes in a year’s worth of billing and fired me immediately, giving me one month’s severance pay. He said the reason was for “lack of communication.”
Florida is an “employment at will” state, and I would like to know where to start to try to change that. I now have a new job but I would like to prevent this from happening to me or anyone else who does not deserve such treatment.
A: It is nice to want to help others, but your time might be best spent on other issues. Most states follow “employment at will,” which means that a company can fire an employee for any reason and without warning as long as it is not discriminatory in nature. The law makes sense and the converse is that an employee can quit at any time, with or without reason. SHORT JOB STINT DOESN’T COUNT ON RESUME
Q: After 2 months on the job, I was fired without warning or explanation. I know honesty is the best policy, but do I have to put this job on my resume? I did not learn anything in that time that I didn’t already know.
A: Do not put this short stint on your resume. Just consider it a bad match and continue your job search. But before you accept another job, ask the interviewer enough questions so there are no surprises for you and for the employer.
EMPLOYEE CHOOSES WRONG JOB AMONG SEVERAL OFFERS
Q: I was fired after one month on the job for defending myself every time my boss humiliated me. I tried staying quiet because I desperately needed to work, but finally couldn’t take it anymore. After sticking up for myself, I told the vice president, who told me my manager was not a “people” person. That was an understatement. During the month, I was subjected to his temper tantrums: throwing paper or computer disks, then storming off. I left a decent job for this company and also turned down other offers. I called several attorneys, but they told me I don’t have a case. Any advice?
A: You have many things in your favor. Since you were offered several jobs during your job search, you should be confident about your resume and ability to interview. But you may need to work on your ability to interview the interviewer, so you can better assess the nature of the job and your potential boss. Ask questions when you interview: Is this a new position? If not, is the current employee still there? How long has the boss been in the position? How would you describe the work atmosphere of the company and of the department? Ask questions until you collect all the information you need to make a good decision.