Different thinking in the interim

Q. In a recent column, you suggested that finding an interim job would prove helpful temporarily if a person has been out of work for a month or two.
As an unemployed social worker unsure if I will continue on in my profession, I would like to know how to phrase my answer during an interim job interview when asked, "Why should we hire you since you might quit when you find what you are looking for?" I cannot guarantee that interim employer I will remain at the job for a year; therefore, why would I be hired?
A. One of the problems with looking for interim work is that the worker is still thinking about the "real" career while going after the interim job. As difficult as it is, you have to forget you have any other career in mind for the time you're in the interim job search. If you can't do this, you won't be convincing.
Forgetting about your "real" career temporarily means thinking about what the interim employer will need in his or her employee, matching those needs to your skills and experience, and presenting that information -- and only that information -- on your r & eacute;sum & eacute;.
For example, a person with 10 years' experience as a social worker who is now applying to work at the dry-cleaning counter would first ask herself, "What's needed at the dry cleaner's counter?"
The answer is probably customer-service skills, patience, some physical stamina, cash-register skills, good paperwork, trustworthiness and a willingness to fill in on multiple shifts. If the social worker has most of these skills, she creates a new, skills-based r & eacute;sum & eacute; that highlights them prominently. Any customer-service positions in her past get pulled to the top of the r & eacute;sum & eacute;, and the social-work experience gets one line at the bottom: "Other Experience: Social worker, 10 years, Smith County."
Of course, if she doesn't have very many of the needed skills, she must either choose a different interim job or pick up some of the skills.
Interview answer
Once you have revised your r & eacute;sum & eacute; using these steps, you will have begun to think like the employer. In the interview, if he or she asks how long you plan to keep the job, answer (mostly) honestly: "I don't know, myself. I chose your store because it's got a good reputation, and I think I could fit in well here. I've always liked bringing my clothes to you. But I know how long I stay depends on what you need. I'd like to give it a try."
The truth is, you don't know how long you'll stay. If the job needs to be part-time so you can look for permanent work or go to school, say so. But tell the owner you'd like to stay on even after you get your next job, for the security and the extra income. This is probably closer to the truth than you think -- it's very common for people to hang onto part-time jobs, sometimes for years.
Will employers hire someone who might not stay? They do it every day. Trust the boss to make the right decision, but make sure he or she knows how hard you're willing to work and that you really do want this job.
Q. I was laid off last month and had planned to take my time finding another job. Between my severance and my unemployment checks, I can go for almost a year.
The problem is that I got a call this week from an old co-worker who now manages a department like the one I left. He is offering me a job doing something similar to my last work, but at about 70 percent of my old wages. He has already made it clear that he is offering me the most his budget will allow.
Should I take the job, or let it go and follow my original plan?
A. You don't mention wanting to switch careers, so assuming this is the kind of work you would be looking for anyway, I say take it. Jobs are just a bit too scarce these days to take an offer lightly.
Even when it was easier to find work, I often heard clients regret letting early offers go while waiting for something better.
The fact is, it's nearly always better to earn a small, steady income than to wait for a larger income that might not materialize. And besides, you'll be stepping into a situation where you are wanted -- who could ask for more than that?
XAmy Lindgren, the owner of a career-consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn., can be reached at alindgren@pioneerpress.com.