CAREERS NOW 06-11-08

Explaining Willingness To Accept Lesser Job

DEAR JOYCE: At 65 I'm unable to get a second interview in an industry I helped expand. My financial requirements are lower than before, and I am willing to take a step or two down in a new job. How do I explain that without looking burned out and too tired to compete? - N.B.

When you're happy to take a step back, you can explain your decision to the interviewer with a version of "I finally examined my unexamined life." This works especially well when you're applying to a "green" company or a nonprofit that allows you to help others.

You can say that you've reflected on what's important to you in life - your priorities, your passions - and while you are now ready to turn over the critical-mission responsibilities to others you would be a phenomenal wingman. Moreover, the depth of your experience provides reserve strength when needed.

If you're not into metaphors, simply say what you told me, adding a confirmation, in words and appearance, of your high level of energy and ongoing engagement in the workplace.

When you continue to meet resistance, try to seal the deal by suggesting that you work at a reduced rate on a trial basis for a month.

Get other ideas on how to handle the "overqualified" issue in an earlier column I've posted on my Web site, sunfeatures.com; click on Columns and scroll down the page to "Good Answers to Hard Questions."

DEAR JOYCE: Getting into a good MBA school is my goal. My problem is that I don't do well in interviews - I freeze up. My brother is great with interviews and he says he's willing to sit in for me on phone interviews. Could I get away with this? - B.B.

Not unless your brother's your identical twin. Most B-school interviews take place in person. But some have been conducted on the phone in the past and admissions specialists suspect that impersonations occasionally took place. Now B-schools are replacing phone interviews with Webcam interviews. And just when you thought you had a good thing going.

DEAR JOYCE: After three weeks on my new job I'm ready to walk! My boss is nice but incompetent and the company policies take advantage of its customers. It took me months to find this job and my family needs the money. Now what? - A.B.C.

Considering today's iffy economy and skinnier job market, I advise you to stick it out for a couple of months until you're sure the new job is a lost cause. Three weeks is a very short time to reject a new job that took you months to land.

Find out from coworkers how they're handling the distress factors but if you learn that you've landed in a "turnaround house" where employees habitually leave quickly, restart your job search. But take pains to learn how to conduct a stealth search because you'll be let go if management discovers your planned exit.

One way of surviving an uncomfortable job for a limited period of time was suggested by a reader: "Just pretend that you're going away to college and that you'll be home by the end of the year." Whatever gets you through your ordeal until your fortunes improve.

DEAR JOYCE: I smoke but put down on my form for company health insurance that I am a non-smoker. I don't want to pay a tobacco-use surcharge on my health insurance. Can I get in trouble at work for that misstatement? - No Initials.

Maybe. Providing false information when signing up for any insurance plan is considered fraud, say lawyers. Falsifying company documents is a serious offense for which you can be fired. But employers are still working out the smoking issue. Some companies are suspending smoking employees for lying on their benefits enrollment forms, while others are backing off a tobacco surcharge policy, explaining that it's beyond their purview.

Until the smoke clears (ouch), if you're worried about a surcharge or suspension, you may want to go back to the HR department and admit that you have continued the tobacco habit and want to correct your benefits form.

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