Q. “Hi, Cathy. I just took a job that represents a big step up in my field. As part of the package, I was promised a 10% bonus after 6 months. But it’s been nine months, I haven’t seen a dime and my boss changes the subject when I bring it up.”
A. Believe it or […]

Last week I attended a talk by Laura Leist, author of Organizing Chaos (isn’t that a cool name for a company?). Three principles seem to make special sense for organizing self as well as space.
(1) Learn to let go of what you don’t need.
This one is hard! When moving to Seattle, I have to admit […]

A reader asked me to settle an argument with her spouse. “I want my kids to have the very best college education,” she writes, “although we’ll have to dip into savings and forget about building retirement funds. My husband disagrees. He says they’ll do just fine at a state university.”
First, a big disclaimer: I am […]

Columnist Michelle Singletary writes about a Katrina survivor learning to “survive the job market.” Latanya Howard relocated to Maryland, has received considerable training and support by still can’t find a job.
Howard seeks a job as a cashier or receptionist, while nearly all my readers seek professional level careers. Still, some factors influence every job campaign […]

Recently I was invited to apply for a special program connected with an organization. Good visibility, I thought, so I said, “Okay.”
Then they said, “We need a conventional resume.”
I wanted to say, “You must be kidding.”
I haven’t put together a conventional resume since 1981, when I began writing academic resumes. And […]