Career Track Live

The Washington area is a magnet for smart, ambitious young workers. Post columnist Mary Ellen Slayter writes a regular column for these professionals who are establishing their careers locally, and offers advice online as well.

The transcript follows below.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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New Orleans, Louisiana: I'm trying to get an entry-level job in Washington, D.C. but live in New Orleans. My resume and cover letters have yet to generate any response and I wonder if my location is a factor. Do you have any suggestions?

Mary Ellen Slayter: Go ahead and move here. Half the state of Louisiana relocates here after graduating from college. You'll find a job. And Abita beer, if you know where to look.

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Bethesda, Md.: The person who had this job before me is being very evasive and cold to me regarding training me. I understand why: on my first day, I was very short with her because nothing was making sense and I was panicking over the fact I felt I was never going to learn the job. Well, we all know what they say about first impressions. Now, she is being very dismissive and mean to me and I cannot get her to train me and I don't know what to do: ask my boss to talk to her, be upfront and frank about her attitude, apologize and beg? I'm not saying I don't see her point, but to carry a grudge this long is counterproductive!

Mary Ellen Slayter: Start with the apology. It shouldn't require begging, but you do need to make it clear that you were just panicked. Most likely, she interpreted your shortness as being dismissive of her. Going to your boss about this will just compound the problem, and it will make you look childish.

When you say she is carrying the grudge, how long do you mean? A week? A month? A year?

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Laurel, Md.: I know you aren't a labor lawyer, but does this sound right to you:

My wife started a job exactly two weeks ago.

By the end of the first week on the job, it was painfully obvious to my wife that she couldn't maintain the 40 hour work weeks and the full-time night classes she has 5 nights a week.

She formally turned in her resignation by the end of week one. Her bosses agreed and empathized with her. However, she needs to remain on the job until they find someone new. Fine, no porblem.

During all of this, they failed to giver her the w-4 forms on timely matter. They gave it to her just yesterday, in fact. Everyday, since coming to work for them, my wife asked repeatedly about filling out the paperwork.

Today, her bosses said that they won't pay her at all until they find a replacement. This doesn't sound legal to me.

Do you know where we can go to for legal advice?

Mary Ellen Slayter: No, this does not sound legal. Your wife should not work there another day unless she is on the payroll. She needs to be very clear to her boss, and someone over him or her, that she isn't going to work there without pay.

Lastly, she should call the local employment office. They should be able to direct her to the appropriate resources, if this doesn't work.

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Washington, D.C.: My contract with a client does not end until the end of this month. I have been contacting by a few recruiting firms for contact positions. They are all sound interested but I can't do anything until then. What should I tell these recruiting firms in order to keep them interesting in informing of any position available.

Mary Ellen Slayter: The truth: You're interested, but you're tied up with other professional obligations right now. They'll understand.

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Tyson's Corner, Va.: In general, how long should someone temp at a company without being offered the chance to interview for a permanent position, before getting the hint and moving on?

Mary Ellen Slayter: You should not wait for "an offer" to interview for a permanent job. You should be actively scouting around for job leads within the company, and applying for specific positions. Make sure your supervisor at the client company knows you want a permanent job; otherwise, why wouldn't they just assume temping was your proference?

If you ARE applying for jobs, and getting the brush off, I'd leave after a couple of months. You might have had the misfortune of wandering into one of the companies that relies on "perma-temps."

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Anywhere, U.S.A.: I have been noticing in chats that when someone leaves a job, it is stressed greatly to not burn bridges. But what do you do when it's the BOSS that burns the bridge? Without getting into too many details, I left a job a while ago and my boss just went psycho. She took it personally, and was petty and snarky to the end. I think she just felt very betrayed that I had left and would not let it go. I believe I took the higher ground the whole way through, but she was barely speaking to me even on my last day. What do I do about THAT for any future job searches? And for what it's worth, it's a small company, so there was no "HR" department to refer to or talk to about it.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Not much we can do about crazy people, I suppose. Do you have a colleague from that job that can serve as a reference? It sounds like this woman is worse than useless.

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Virginia: About your Sunday column on same-sex benefits, companies with a heavy retired military presence should be avoided.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Perhaps. But we might want to be careful with that stereotype. It's better to look at the office itself, I think.

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RE: Louisiana: Contact your representatives office!; They may be looking or know of someone who is since election day is right around the corner. For what it's worth, I also tried from out of state and will be moving in a few weeks!; It is possible with an out of state address, but you do have to be persistant. I would say it took over one hundred resumes or on-line app's before I got this job (and I got it because I have connections, right place a the right time).

Mary Ellen Slayter: Interesting suggestion!

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Bethesda, Md.: My girlfriend has a PhD in a scientific field and a great-looking cover letter. She's been quite active networking and sending out resumes for the past year, but no one is hiring. When President Bush was asked in the debate Wednesday what he'd say to someone who was having trouble finding a job, he told them to "get more education".

Short of getting an IT degree and moving to Calcutta, what would you recommend to her?

Mary Ellen Slayter: Oh, by "education," the president meant these new super-duper PhDs. They're like regular PhDs, only fortified with extra employment-strengthening properties. You know, like fortified cereal.

It sounds like your girlfriend is doing everything right. I hope she gets a break soon.

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Manassas, Va.: Did you ever apply for a federal government position while you were a government contractor? If so, what was your experience?

Mary Ellen Slayter: I was never a government contractor, just a temp.

Chatters, any advice?

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RE: New Orleans: By all means, MOVE if you really want a job here. I work in the human resources field in a law firm and we even hardly consider law school graduates from another state. There are so many qualified applicants already living here so for an entry-level job, your chances of finding a job here are practically nil.

Mary Ellen Slayter: yeah, that's what I am thinking, too. Besides, this is one of the few times in your life you really can just pack up and move somewhere.

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Washington, D.C.: Re: Temping...I was in a similar situation (but with a better result as I am now a full time employee with the org).....I started temping in a position, it turns out that the position I was temping in was open. The position was in my ideal field, I could not have been more pleased with the work environment, etc. After a week of temping, I walked into the hiring directors office and asked her if she would not mind taking a few minutes to talk to me about open positions. I expressed how excited I was to be there and that I was very interested in the position. I then asked what the next steps I needed to take to apply for the position. Being a temp, and showing interest in the position gives you a HUGE advantage in the interview process.

Mary Ellen Slayter: In many organizations, it certainly does. Often, the company will use temps as an extended tryout for a job. It's a lot less risky for them.

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RE: Manassas/Contractor Question: Not only did I apply for Federal jobs as a contractor, but I also seeked out contacts at the place I was working (we were on-site contractors). I let this one Federal employee know I was looking for a position, and he helped me. For the most part, I think Federal employees assume (if that's the correct word) that contractors will be looking for Federal work, and if have a track record of quality work, they'll help you.

Mary Ellen Slayter: I like optimism. It cancels out the overcast weather.

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Falls Church, Va.: Hi Mary Ellen!;
I started my current job right out of college, 4 years ago. As time has gone by, I've become a lot more respected by my peers and feel very good about being able to stand tall with my more experienced coworkers.
My concern is with my new job that will start next month. I'm taking a pay cut and starting at the bottom rung since I'm beginning a whole new career. What should I do to insure that I don't step on any toes? I want to earn the respect of my coworkers but I'm a lot less quiet and shy than I was when I began my first job.
Thanks!;

Mary Ellen Slayter: You don't need to be quiet or shy again. Aim for friendly, confident and humble.

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Washington, D.C.: I work for MMC. Any bright side other than I get to update my resume?

Mary Ellen Slayter: MMC?

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Alexandria, Va.: I know the standard notice to give if you are leaving a job is 2 weeks. How does that change if you are a temporary worker? My personal feeling is that less notice should be required if a company is not willing to give you the job security or the benefits of being a full time employee.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Depends on what kind of agreement you have with the client. Did you agree to come in for a month or two, while someone was on maternity leave? Or is it day-to-day?

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Fairfax, Va.: Does anyone know of, or have a good experience with a temp agency that specializes in IT? A friend is working with Manpower, but after 6 months, all they send him out on are filing positions. Should he be looking elsewhere?

Mary Ellen Slayter: Hmmm. Part of the problem is that there are more IT workers than IT jobs still.

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Re: Temping: When I was temping, I remember being told NEVER approach a client company about an open job. After all, you work for the temp agency. That's who is paying you, not the company where you're assigned. If you want a permanent job, you're supposed to talk to somebody at the temp agency. Has this changed since I was temping, about 10-15 years ago?

Mary Ellen Slayter: Maybe a particular temp agency has a rule about it. Check with them. However, the temp agency I worked at would have gotten a fat recruiting fee if I had taken a full-time job at one of the client companies, so they were all for it.

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RE: MMC: Marsh & McClellan. The NY Attorney General has decided to file suit against the insurance broker for doing what insurance brokers do.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Ah. I edited a story about that last night. Crazy stuff. I think it's not just going to be Marsh & McClellan that gets in trouble by the time Spitzer's done.

If you haven't done anything wrong, I don't see why you would quit your job. I doubt these suits are going to put any of the brokers out of business, but they may change some industry practices.

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Susquehanna Township, Penn.: It can be easy to go from a goverment contractor. I had two contractor jobs. One producing a handbook and the other being a consultant. I was able to use this and other experience to get a DoD position. I heard about the position I finally obtained feom usajobs website.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Another contractor-turned-federal-employee!

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Woodbridge, Virginia: I'm a 26 year old female with an associates degree in Liberal Arts. I'm currently working as a pre school teacher getting paid 9.00 an hour. I love my job, however, the money that I'm currently getting is not enough to survive. Since I'm married with two young children it is very hard to cont. my education. My question is how can I move on to a better job with better pay and benefits. please help!;

Mary Ellen Slayter: In a nutshell: 2 more years of college.

Yes, it will be hard, but there's really no way around it that I can see. Obviously you will need the support of your spouse and other family members. Hopefully, they will see this as you see it: a long-term investment in your potential and your financial contribution to the family.

If you stick with education, you will certainly not find yourself the only mommy in the class.

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Mary Ellen Slayter: That's all for today! Thanks for all your comments and question. See you next week.

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