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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Mary Ellen Slayter: Good afternoon, everyone! I hope you're all managing to make it through work this afternoon despite the distraction that is: this gorgeous weather, the fact that it's Friday ... and waiting to hear back from graduate and professional schools to see where you're headed in the fall.

Seriously, a bunch of my friends are on pins and needles waiting to hear back from schools, especially law schools. How about you guys?

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Richmond, Va.: I have been out of college for about a year working in the healthcare field, I am interested in attending graduate school to further my education, and career. However my undergraduate GPA is low. What would you recommend me doing to improve my chances of getting into a graduate program?

Mary Ellen Slayter: Work another year or two and build up your professional credentials. My undergrad GPA was not stellar, but they still let me into grad school. Solid work experience, good letters of recommendation, etc, go a long way with admission offices, especially when you show a real sense of focus about what you expect to get out of grad school.

Also, work on your test score. A good GRE can help cancel out weak grades as well.

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Anonymous: I had several interviews- including a second interview- where I took time off, went and they never bothered to write or call. Is this the norm now?

Mary Ellen Slayter: The onus is on you to follow-up after the interview, not the employer. Did you send thank you notes?

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Washington, D.C.: I have what people say is "an excellent work ethic." The thing is I think it gets taken for granted a little too much. I'm always 10-15 minutes early (sometimes on busy days earlier). People now depend on me to be in early, therefore tasking me to unlock the doors in the morning. I don't mind that, if it was just that. But sometimes I stay late or come in on weekends. I want to uphold my good reputation, but I'm tired of balancing the entire office on just my nose. Do I need to be a B-? Thanks!

Mary Ellen Slayter: Not if you ever want to get promoted. But I see what you're saying about the resentment.

If you are overwhelmed by specific tasks--or if you find you're working far more hours than your colleagues--talk to your boss about offloading some of the work. However, if you like to get there early, I'm not sure why you're complaining about people depending on you to unlock the doors. Someone has to do it.

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Rockville, Md.: Hello. I am submitting this early in the hope that you see it and can get to it.

I am taking a test for a job I applied for. The test was arranged by an HR person, not the hiring manager, whom I don't think I will see. If I do well on the test, I'll get an interview with the hiring manager.

My (admittedly fluffy) question is: How should I dress for the test? Do standard interview clothing rules apply, or can I be a little more casual. I only have one charcoal business suit, which I am saving for the real interview. The outfit I am thinking of wearing is a light green dress and matching jacket, with open-toed shoes (the only shoes I have that match). Do I need to wear pantyhose, too?

Or should I go out and find another business suit? Help! I don't want my sartorial deficiencies to cost me this job.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Wear the same suit. Different shirt. That's the whole beauty of suits ...

Treat this test like part of the job interview, which it is. That green dress/open-toed shoes/bare legs outfit screams "date me," not "hire me."

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Washington, D.C.: Hi,

Can you give me some advice on how best to deal with the office gossip monger/backstabber? Lately people who have been friendly to me in the past are suddenly treating me coldly and in a distant way. This raises a red flag to me that something may be amiss. What I suspect is that the office gossip monger may be up to his old tricks again, spreading lies, rumors and innuendos against me behind my back. This person I am on the surface friendly with. But I maintain my distance after I have observed him spread lies and disparage others behind their backs while face to face he seems friendly. If he was like that with others I can only assume he is like that with me behind my back. I don't know what is wrong with this person but he starts awful things behind peple's backs without provocation. I am afraid he has started a smear campaign against me behind my back -- for what reason I have no idea. I can only speculate that he harbors some sort of grudge against me because I don't disparage other people in the office whereas that seems to be his main hobby. Maintaining my distance from this jerk I can do. But what about my relationship with the others in the office? I don't want to lose respect and friendliness of my colleagues just because some jerk has started spreading rumors and lies about me behind my back. But it is hard because I haven't caught him in the act and no one has been kind enough to volunteer info to me saying "X has been saying bad things behind you behind your back."

Thanks

Mary Ellen Slayter: How *do* these people get any work done?

One of the great things about people like this is that eventually everyone learns to disregard what he is saying. It doesn't sound like your office has reached that point, though.

Instead of trying to guess, I would just pull aside one of the people who you've been friendliest with before and say you've noticed they've been cooler towards you and ask if you've offended them somehow. Don't even bring the office gossip into the conversation, unless the other person mentions him.

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Alexandria, Va.: I made a contact at an organization I'd like
to work at who gave me their HR person's
info. I've read it's best to ask for an
informational interview rather than asking
about job openings -- is this true? And
what would be the best way to go about
setting one up?

Thanks

Mary Ellen Slayter: Honestly, I don't get the "informational interview" thing--at least not as a cold call. How many professionals, including HR people, really have time to do this? Just e-mail the person, tell them who you are, and say you're interested in opportunities at the company.

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RE: Dressing for test: You might meet the hiring manager anyway or people from the department you would be working for. I suggest borrowing a suit or buying a new one -- you can even find low cost suits at Target these days.

Besides, if you don't get this job -- then presumably you'll be interviewing somewhere else -- and most places have at least a 2 interview process.

If you do get the job -- you have another outfit for your working wardrobe.

Mary Ellen Slayter: You're right, of course, that they are likely to run into the hiring manager during this test. However, I still don't think they need to buy a second suit.

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Old Town, Va.: I was recently turned down for a job I
interviewed for -- disappointing. I've seen
examples of thank you letters to send
after a rejection, to reiterate your interest
and to see if there are any other
openings -- is this actually a good idea?
Do you know of occasions where such a
letter has lead to a new offer?

Mary Ellen Slayter: Oh, this absolutely is a good idea. And it works, especially if the reason you were turned down was a lack of experience, for instance.

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Washington, D.C.: At my recent performance review, I found out that my boss is unhappy with a certain aspect of my work. Although I've been working with him for over a year, he never said anything about this issue (which, IMO, could easily have been corrected with a bit of communication on his part and a bit of effort on mine -- if I'd known about it). I have a meeting with him this afternoon (at my initiative) to discuss the issue. Would it be appropriate to ask him -- politely -- why he didn't say something before? I've always taken constructive criticism well, but really detest finding out something is wrong during my review, instead of at a previous time when I could have easily made appropriate adjustments to my work. The review was conducted by HR, by the way -- not by my boss.

Mary Ellen Slayter: I agree with you that he should have told you earlier. And I also agree with you--in theory--that you should be able to tell him that when you discuss the issue. However, in reality, it will sound like you trying to deflect responsbility for problems with your work back on him, which is a very bad idea while you're trying to turn the situation around.

Once you do get up to speed, however, and all is going well, then you can tell him, I think. And you'll be able to do it without a hint of defensiveness in your voice.

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Washington, D.C. -- grad school: You're friends are still waiting for law school? But the seat deposits are due now (or in the next week or two)! I heard from all but one of my schools and I'm proud to say that I got into more than half (after a total crash and burn the last time I applied a couple years ago).

Now I have to work for 3 1/2 more months when I've already mentally moved on.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Lots of schools are holding off on sending out letters until mid-April. Maybe they like torturing people.

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Washington, D.C.: Any words of wisdom for keeping your spirits up during a jobs search? While I currently have an internship, I am having such a frustrating experience finding a job and I am starting to think I'll never get something long term.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Does it help to know that we all thought that when we were in your position?

Just keep trying. It doesn't happen overnight, but something will come your way.

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Washington, D.C.: Should I tell my boss that I am planning to leave before I have a bird in the hand? I am also a friend and we are very short-staffed, so I feel more obliged to give ample notice than I would in a right-sized office.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Only if the relationship is so solid that you won't be in a bad position if the new job doesn't work out and you have to stay. It's a very awkward position to be in.

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Washington, D.C.: As a follow-up to the low GPA, grad. school hopeful -- your standardized test score will be key. (I was in the same position) My advice, swallow hard and spend the big bucks on a test prep course. The test can balance out the GPA.

Then, on your application, state that since you've been working you've matured and that your high test score is more indicitive of your potential.

Also -- don't forget about evening grad. school programs. Some of these are less competetive than daytime, full-time programs.

Mary Ellen Slayter: I agree with you, with one caveat: Preparing for the test does not have to mean spending big bucks on a test prep course. You can get a lot of mileage out of practice books, at a fraction of the cost.

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Arlington, Va.: RE: Washington, D.C.'s performance review ...

A great bit of advice I got is to be proactive about seeking feedback from managers/peers/etc. Don't just wait for it to come at your review.

Mary Ellen Slayter: Yes!

And on that note, I'm going to be proactive about saying goodbye. Have a good weekend!

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