Dear J.T. & Dale: I’m starting a company but need to keep my current job for the benefits. I have a great relationship with my boss, and I think I should be honest with him about my plans, but my wife thinks I’m crazy. Opinions? — Wallace

Dale: Tell your boss about your new business and he’ll say he’s happy for you … but, without his intending it, his opinion of you will start to shift. You are no longer his beloved employee but, rather, a soon-to-be former employee. Unbidden, suspicions will arise. Will you sneak company time for your outside endeavors? Will you set a precedent and encourage others to seek self-employment? If you succeed, will you steal away co-workers? Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: When I started my working life, I was drawn to small, entrepreneurial companies. Now that I’m older and have a family, I find myself with yet another startup that doesn’t provide benefits, and with an otherwise brilliant owner who just doesn’t make good business decisions. I’m at a point in my life when I would welcome the stability and benefits of a large corporation, but I feel I’ve “typecast” myself. How do I make the leap from a small organization to a larger corporate environment? — Maya

J.T.: Wow — can I relate to this. I did the very same thing early in my career. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: My boss is sleeping with my co-worker. Should I tell HR? — Kendall

J.T.: My first question is, Why do you want to tell HR? Is it simply because there is a “no dating” policy at your company and you don’t like that rules are being broken? Or is there something you stand to gain?

Dale: Let me take a shot at answering. Kendall probably thinks that by telling HR, he’s doing them a favor — he’ll be a “good citizen,” maybe a hero. And who knows, if they fire the boss, he could be the one they turn to and promote. Nice fantasy. BUT, Kendall, here’s an important secret of organizational life: HR doesn’t want to know. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I was laid off from an electronics firm seven months ago due to the downturn. I have been sending resumes to everything from electronics firms to call centers to retail positions. I have gotten a few interviews in electronics, but no offers. One interviewer told me he didn’t want to hire me at $10 an hour, as I would soon leave for a more lucrative job. What do I do? — Rob Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: A co-worker who just got a promotion got drunk one night and confessed that he lied about his education on his resume. Should I tell? — Kim Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have a female boss, who is several years older than I and has a family. Recently, she started hitting on me. I love my job but want no part of her. She was instrumental in advancing my career during the past several years, but never approached me like this until now. What should I do? — David Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: Now that I’ve graduated college, I’ve been told I should find a mentor. First, I don’t know how to find one. Second, I’m not sure what I want to do yet, so I don’t see the point in wasting someone’s time. — Evan Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I have been working in my current job for about eight months and have accomplished very little. Prior to my current position, I spent two years in a lower-level job where I accomplished a lot. I’m preparing for a job search, and I’m not sure which job to highlight in my cover letter. — Megan Read the rest of this entry »