Ella Tackles Leadership, Privacy Questions
Dear Ella,
I've been offered a package to leave my company. The money is very good but would require I stay on and finish a project. This project will take three months; however, I have an offer on the table from another company right now. Should I stay on and then look for work once I get my severance package, or should I take this new job now? I'm 46 years old and the vice president of marketing for a major retailer.
Dear Should I Take This New Job?
Unless this severance package will support you for about eight months (average length of a job search in this market at your level and age), I would take the new offer. The market is slow in many industry sectors, but it's even slower in retail and at your level -- there are fewer jobs at the top.
It can be very stressful to be out of work and may force us -- out of financial necessity -- to accept a position not in our best long-term interest. Remember that it's easier to get a job when you have a job; right now you come from a position of strength.
Dear Ella,
I took a job to be closer to a man on whom I have a crush. Yesterday we bumped into each other for the first time in the elevator, and he seemed surprised and uncomfortable to see me.
Today my supervisor told me that they're cutting staff and unfortunately they have to let me go with two weeks' severance pay. I'm furious because I believe that this man had a hand in my firing! I want to speak to human resources about this but am unsure -- what should I do?
Dear What Should I Do?
You may be good at your job, but your motivation was and still is to establish a personal relationship with a man who obviously has no interest in you. If you speak to human resources about your suspicions, you will only embarrass yourself further. Admit to yourself that you went off the deep end on this one and bow out as gracefully as you can. Let's lament only lost love, not its illusion, and SNAP OUT OF IT!
Dear Ella,
I took a position in marketing at an advertising company in South Florida as a researcher. Last week, while reviewing a client survey we conducted on 150 of their employees about corporate ethics, I came across a submission that told of a theft by a supervisor that was witnessed but not reported. The survey is anonymous but goes into detail about the crime and even mentions the supervisor's name. I'm not sure what to do with this information -- should I speak to my boss or the client about it? Not sure.
Dear Not Sure,
You're boss. Your client is not your client; it's the firm's client. This submission is not only confidential; it contains information that could potentially harm another and cause embarrassment and legal problems for your firm if you broke ranks and inappropriate actions were taken. When you're the boss -- you can lead.
Dear Ella,
I'm 17 and am supposed to start college in September. I'm home-schooled and am very bright. I have a terrific opportunity to model in Europe for a famous agency, but my parents want me to stay at home and complete my college degree first. I have decided to major in art history and feel my work in Europe would feed that major -- wouldn't it?
Dear Europe Or Bust,
You will never have an easier opportunity to obtain a college degree than right now, while living with your parents and having them pay for and encourage it. One can't model forever and, at some point, you will have to work at something else -- will it be easy to go back to school then when everyone else your age is already settled into a career?
If this agency wants you abroad, they'll want you here, too. This summer's three months before college allows you the perfect opportunity to try modeling closer to home -- if by the end of the summer you and your parents see that you have been able to make a good living at it, they may then be open to a readdress of the issue. Good luck.
Dear Ella,
I was promoted at the beginning of this year and now must work closely with three other women who hold the same position. One of these co-workers is very dismissive and controlling in meetings -- talks over me in a condescending fashion. I am a reserved person and prefer to let my work speak for itself.
What frustrates me most is our new director seems to have taken this woman under his wing and praises her work constantly. Although my work is better than hers, she seems to get all the attention. Any suggestions on how I can get the tables turned?
Dear How Do I Get The Tables Turned,
Manage them! All of them! Understand that they were there first and you must work yourself, overtime, into their turf (so to speak). If your work is truly better, it will be noticed by this new director who, like you, must get the lay of the land, too -- be the bridge between the four of you. Diplomacy is always the promotable trait.
Dear Ella,
I've sent more than 46 resumes out to companies in the past three months, and all I keep getting in the mail are rejection letters -- what's up with that?!
Dear What's Up With That?!
Well, first of all -- you're not thinking. You must be desperate for a job. If that's the case, take a part-time position somewhere, anywhere, doing anything, to pay your overhead while you carefully research your best career options.
You need to take a step back. Ask yourself the following questions: Who am I, what can I do and who can I do it for -- who would pay me a salary to contribute what I know? Make a list of no more than six companies; research them on the Web and then scale that list down to a manageable three. Find out whom at that company you would most probably report into and mail your resume to that person (copy human resources). PLEASE! Reread my columns on how to write, market and follow up on a resume.
All rights reserved by Ella Kallish.
Written by Ella Kallish.
For more information on Ella Kallish, go to www.ellakallish.com.
Ella Kallish is also available for corporate and group seminars.
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