ANXIOUS, UPSET, ALTOGETHER

Published online on Sunday, May. 31, 2009

UNCERTAINTY

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, There’s a lot going on at my company, and I don’t know what to do. For two months, I’ve heard that we might be merging with another department, which means that I’d have more work in my consulting role here. But we’ve also been told that the recession is cutting into the budget, that all of us might not make it to the new department.

The uncertainty and anxiety are really getting to me. Should I go job hunting? Fried

A: Dear Fried, Of course you are. You might stay there. You might not. You might be in the same building. You might not. You might panic. You might not.

It’s clear that the people above you aren’t absolutely certain about what they’re doing. That makes you feel out of control. Join the party. Most of the country feels that way.

It never hurts to job hunt. People are still finding good jobs and getting information that will help them do their current jobs more effectively. Job hunting can help you test your value on the market, even if you don’t get hired.

However, feeling fried won’t take you far. Launch a campaign to make yourself feel better. Then think about job hunting. mlc

CHANGE

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I’m an executive in a 24/7 operation. Because we’re short-staffed, I’ve been asked to take on new responsibilities that will involve working at night and, sometimes, well into the wee hours of the morning. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place, because I love my job, but I never thought that at age 45 I’d be asked to pull near all-nighters. How should I handle this situation? Upset

A: Dear Upset, It’s no surprise you are. College days are long gone, huh?

You haven’t mentioned that your salary has been increased because of these responsibilities or whether that would make any difference. You also haven’t mentioned whether you were really “asked” or “told” to take them on. Can you make a convincing case to your boss to cover other responsibilities that are being ignored because of the company’s leanness?

Look for a way to make your case financial. Show him how you can make or save money doing the other things. Put it on paper. Meanwhile, prepare for the possibility that he won’t be convinced. mlc

**blogTip**

KEEPING IT TOGETHER

Everyone knows that it’s difficult to keep yourself together when job hunting. Linda Konstan (www.linkedin.com/in/lindakonstan) braved a snowy Big Apple in the early stages of her career. To accompany her suit, she wore boots that closed with Velcro.

“I sat through an hour’s interview with my legs crossed,” she says. “When it was over, I uncrossed my legs. The Velcro had caught on my hose and now there was a mess of nylon caught leaving me unable to stand up. The interviewer got down on his knees with scissors to cut the nylon apart. His secretary walked in.”

A little unusual, yes. A lesson came tumbling down from the universe: “Test out your clothing standing, sitting, etc. (before departure),” she comments.

She subsequently moved up to vice presidencies before opening her own firm. “And I rarely wear hose,” she remarks. “Certainly not Velcro.”

You might as well do what one flight attendant instructed before landing. “He indicated that people should check their seat for anything -- especially money or expensive jewelry -- left onboard,” says Aaron Nurick (bentley.edu). “He also said that passengers would be checked as they left to make sure their shoes matched their outfits.”

Humor yourself. Be your own flight attendant.

(Dr. Mildred Culp welcomes your questions at workwise@comcast.net. Copyright 2009 Passage Media.)