DEAR JOYCE: The thing about applying for a federal job is that there aren't any in my career field in my small city. Relocating doesn't appeal to me. Neither does the required paperwork. But the relative security of federal jobs does appeal to me. Ideas? -- R.W.K.
The federal job market is a microcosm of the private job market, with about 80 percent of federal jobs located outside the nation's capital. I understand your reluctance to pull up stakes and move, but remember that a relocation could prove to be temporary until there's an opening in your home area. As the man said, "When you want to build airplanes, you go where they build airplanes."
On the topic of job diversity, here's a great tip: Don't miss the free online guide "Where the Jobs Are 2009: Mission-Critical Opportunities for America" (wherethejobsare.org). Published annually by the Partnership for Public Service, this excellent report notes the number of jobs that will be filled by each federal agency in each job category for 2010-2012.
I agree that the paperwork necessary to apply for and land federal civil service employment is almost as frustrating as wrestling with a tax code. Bite the bullet: Read the books. Especially those by Kathryn Troutman (resume-place.com) and Dennis V. Damp (bookhavenpress.com).
DEAR JOYCE: My son is in his second year of community college. A friend now at a four-year college called him about an internship opening where she works. It would start after Thanksgiving and pay minimum wage. He's struggling to maintain a decent GPA. I think he should wait until next summer. Do you agree? -- H.L.
Yes, if his grades are shaky, wait for the summer break. By contrast, good students can make out like bandits nabbing off-season internships. That's because fewer students compete for school-year internships than for summer internships, allowing more chances to be noticed by managers. Whatever the timing, internships have become key learning-working experiences. Why should you be concerned?
For life after graduation, your son's likely to need all the workplace credentials he can get. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that workers in the 25 to 34 age group have seen the most dramatic rise in unemployment during the past year compared with other age groups -- from 5.7 percent in July 2008 to 10 percent in July 2009.
DEAR JOYCE: After my manager saw me sending tweets to friends a few times this past week, she told me to end it or there would be consequences. I work in an office with a dozen other people and at least half tweet, but, so far as I know, they haven't been warned. Considering the fact that we often have to stay late without extra pay, I believe a great deal of leeway should be granted to employees who do small personal things at work. Have other readers complained about being told Twittering on the job is not allowed? -- K.N.
Not yet. But I did read an article ("Employers feel jitters as Twitter gets bigger") in the San Diego Union Tribune. It describes growing concerns about Twitter use in the workplace.
The time-loss issue is hardly new; it echoes the classic prohibitions against engaging in personal tasks of any kind --talking on the telephone, sending or reading e-mail, shopping or tracking news online, looking for a new job, playing online games, peeking at porn and so forth.
Employers worry that tweeting will spill the beans on proprietary information, violate company message control, engender security concerns and more. Companies are beginning to establish formal Twitter personnel policies.
What can you do about the Twitter scolding? Will a negotiating session with your manager adjust the time compensation for hours worked off-the-clock? How easily can you be replaced?
Two numbers of interest: Studies say that 40.5 percent of tweets fall into the "pointless babble" category, and that 5 percent of Twitter users account for 75 percent of all tweeting activity.