Q: I'm a 50-year-old female professional who has been out of work since July. I never was out of work before this, and I have been a hardworking career professional in management and training in the retail and restaurant industries. Like many others, I've been seeking a job in my field actively. I can't be idle any longer, and I am willing to start at any level just to have a job, knowing I can work my way up. My problem is that everywhere I go and ask to speak to a manager, I'm told to go to the company's Web site to apply. What happened to personal contact? I would think that in these tough economic times, companies would want someone who is showing initiative by pounding the pavement to get a job instead of someone who is sitting behind a computer in a sweatsuit and hoping someone will post the perfect job. I have read everything I can on ideas for new things to try during job searches, but I have come up empty. What will help?

A: It sounds as if you need to conduct two separate but simultaneous job searches: a search for a managerial position in your field and a search for a minimum-wage position to hold you over. Because different parts of the country, as well as different fields, have been hit harder than others, decide whether you are willing and able to move to get a job in your field. For a temporary minimum-wage job, you will have to abide by the rules of the various store chains. Applying online can be positive; you can apply to as many retail stores as you want in a short amount of time, which saves you time and gas money. For a minimum-wage job, consider only nearby locations because you won't benefit from taking a job for which you spend more on travel than you make. Once you have applied online to all the possibilities, consider stopping by small privately owned places, which may not have Web sites. Talking to small-boutique and small-restaurant owners should offer some interesting networking opportunities because they may know people to introduce you to. Also, don't undervalue networking with small-business owners, as you never know with whom you will click.

Start a Job Search When Physical and Mental Exhaustion Are Inevitable

Q: After being unemployed, I found a job in my field. I was excited at first, but it slowly has worn off. The hours are long, and the work is stressful. I would like to start a job search, but will it look bad if I have only been here a year?

A: Many people leave jobs after a year. The red flag is raised when the résumé shows a series of jobs lasting a year or less. First, determine whether you are in a community where industry professionals know the management at other companies. Professionals from similar industries often know one another through trade shows, conferences and networking events. You may think your applications will be confidential, but ethical or not, people have lost jobs when bosses discovered their employees were looking to switch to companies run by their competitors. If, however, you are suffering from mental and physical exhaustion, then you must start a job search to maintain your well-being. Keep in mind that what you are experiencing may be the same at the competing companies.

Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC.