Hi everyone! I’m a college student and I’m thinking about getting a job as a waiter in a cafe. But my parents are against it, my dad says that kind of job will ruin my resume, like no decent company...

I wish many young people would have that drive to work and earn their own money. You are still a student. There have been thousands and thousands of... college students who have waited tables. Do they know all the networking you could be doing while waiting tables? All the people you will meet? You could even find a better job by waiting on a CEO and them seeing you being that hardworking person and may offer you a job. Do they also know all the skills that are needed when waiting on people? You have to pay attention to detail, be attentive, patient, remember to comeback to them several times to check on them, be empathetic, be a team player, role model, the list goes on and on… if anything, it tells your future employer that you are willing to do anything and don’t consider yourself someone who needs to start at the top. You are a hard working individual. As a mom myself, I am proud of you. Tell them you respect their opinion and you love them. But you hope they also respect your decision and if you make a mistake, it’s yours to learn from.  more

I’ve been working as an economist in the department for three years and was hoping I’d be promoted to head of the department. But no, they told me they’re hiring some random outsider for the position,...

Jim, it’s great that you love your job enough to continue to grow in it. Sometimes other people see something different in us. You may think you are... a very motivated person but they may be seeing something different. Are you motivated in the things they need or motivated in general? It could be an opportunity for you to meet with them and ask where they think you need more growth or help as you’d like to continue to grow in the company. Do they know you would like to continue to grow with them? Good luck! more

Every Christmas, our office does Secret Santa. This year, I got a bouquet of little roses… but the red ones were made out of lingerie. I’m honestly shocked. Is this some kind of joke from my coworkers...

You are entitled to your feelings. If you are feeling uncomfortable, I think there should be rules for your work’s Secret Santa and HR needs to be... told.  more

Hello! I worked as an economist in a small bank for 3.5 years. Now I’m moving to the same job in a big bank, and I’ll earn $50 more per month. I think it’s a better and more promising option. But my...

Jina, congratulations on landing a new job! After 3.5 years in a bank it’s not always easy to take that step to change. Even if it’s for $50 more a... month, you saw there is better opportunity for growth in this other bank which is much bigger. You can tell you family that you appreciate there concern but if you made a mistake, it will be a lesson for you but they need to let you make these decisions as every single decision in life only helps you grow whether good or bad. But you are hoping this is good. All you ask for is their support. And if it’s a bad decision, you can always apply somewhere else. It’s not the end of the world.  more

I work from home and take my 2.5-year-old to my mother-in-law for half the day (she lives just down the street). That was the plan from the beginning and both she and my husband agreed to it. Now my...

Dear Berta, I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Why is it that when we become mothers society says we need to give up on what we want to... do but fathers don’t. Your husband also became a father and he continues with his work just like before. But now who cares for your son, is YOUR problem, why? If you were both in agreement for someone to take care of him, in this case your mother in law, then he should be okay with paying for a babysitter to watch over him at home while you continue to work. You are both a team and this is not only on you but on both of you as he is your and his son. He can continue to work and so should you. You are both a team and he should support you on this. Please sit down and talk. Hope he is able to see it that way.  more

Hey! I was seeing a guy from work and we even lived together for a year. But we broke up. Honestly, I’m fine, we work on different floors. So the only time we might run into each other is in the...

Tell them you appreciate what they are doing for you, you truly are grateful. And if you need anything, you’d be sure to let them know but that you... are worried that they may be placing all this attention on you when there may be someone else in the office with a true need. You can ask, how about we look for someone that may need this? And truly do look for someone. Now the attention is off you while they look for someone else, who truly may need it. What they are doing is nice, not everyone has coworkers that take care of each other and you don’t want to stump that by being rude. Hope that helps.  more