J.T. & Dale: I can’t seem to find a permanent job. My current resume is littered with temp jobs. I left a good job in 2001 to start an Internet business that was a spectacular failure. I have been unable to find a professional job since. I would love to work for a nonprofit doing communications. I really want to move on and stop reminiscing about the good old days in the late ‘90s. – Garrison Dale: Ah, the late ‘90s. Seems like such a simple time. These days, we worry about the president’s troop levels going up or down; back then, it was just the president’s pants.

J.T.: But back to Garrison’s future.

Dale: Yes. He’s attempting a difficult career maneuver: moving into a new career within a new field, while going from temp to full-time. That’s skating onto the ice and opening with a triple axel.

J.T.: He could get down to a double by altering his resume. There’s no need to list temporary work as a separate entity. The reality is we’re all temporary workers. No one stays at a job for more than a few years these days. So, Garrison, there’s no need to point out they are temporary simply because they didn’t offer full-time benefits. You were at each of those jobs full-time and for a nice stretch.

Dale: However, because you have neither communications nor nonprofit experience, you’re going to have to set aside a traditional search and network in, finding someone who’s willing to take a chance on you, or else split the career move in two.

J.T.: If it’s the latter, I’d start by finding a company that will let you do public relation communications for them. Then, once you are on board and settled in, you can volunteer to run the company’s relationships with nonprofits. Throughout time, you’ll have a network of contacts in the nonprofit world. At the same time, you’ll have the added perspective of having been on the private-sector side, recognizing what it’s like to be the corporate donor.

Dale: The end result is that you’ll be doubly valuable and thus doubly likely to get an assignment that’s as permanent as they get.

Dear J.T. & Dale: You recently talked about employers asking potential employees to state salary requirements before being interviewed. My problem is that my salary requirements might change depending on benefits and schedule. Is it OK to give a range? – Flynn Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I am so burnt out working in a corporate environment. Therefore, I was thinking that I could split my time (20 hours a week or a little more) in an office environment to get corporate benefits, but work at home the rest of the time by working as a transcriptionist. To do this, I thought I could take a medical transcriptionist class. I have been looking at work from home advertisements, but I just simply do not trust them. Any input? – Macy Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: The job search process is excruciating. It seems like the recruiting process is not geared toward fitting the best employees to the right jobs, but geared so human resources can reduce skilled, industrious people to mere keystrokes on a tidy little template. – DJ Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I was working for a title company and was laid off. It was a blessing, because the office I was working in was a toxic environment – two manic-depressive women with no life who are bitter and angry. Now that I am out there applying for jobs, I am getting discouraged because I am not getting any offers, just interviews. Are there any suggestions you can give me in regard to helping with the interview process? – Stephanie Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have sent out my resume to places where it sounded like I fit the job like a glove. I redo the resume to fit each specific job, emphasizing experience in that area. Where I live it’s a tight job market; employers receive sometimes as many as 80 to 100 resumes for one clerical job. I rarely get called, and if I do, I don’t get the job. I have changed jobs a lot and relocated, so I figure that might be the reason. – Harriet Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have been a teacher for the past 20 years, and now my wish is for a complete career makeover. I want to become a veterinarian. My plan is to start by working in a vet’s office or pet store. Here is the problem: My advanced degrees are keeping me from finding employment. In fact, I can’t even get interviews. – Sil Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: My situation is a little bit unusual. I am a 59-year-old worker who has taken retirement, but is definitely not ready to retire. I really would like to stay with institutional finance, where I have 30 years experience, instead of going with an hourly retail job like so many of my contemporaries have done. Do I tell prospective employers that I plan to work for the next 10 to 12 years in the cover letter, wait for the interview, or just let that dog sleep? – James Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I am 30 years old and completed a bachelor’s degree in business management last October. My employer provides tuition reimbursement, and I decided to pursue an additional degree so I can meet more qualifications for positions with this employer. However, as positions open, I am continually turned down. I currently do most of the work for my boss, but when interviewed for a similar position, I was turned down because of my lack of supervisory experience. The more I receive these refusals, the more I am beginning to dislike my job and employer. – Melanie Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: Recently, I took a new job that has ended up not being anything like what was described during the interview process. I have been there only five months, but I really want to leave. I was at my previous job for a little less than three years. I don’t want to look like a job-jumper. –Christine Read the rest of this entry »