Queries for Carrie

	Summertime and the living is easy June 2006

Query: I’m working for my roommate’s dad this summer. He’s a contractor. Not that I’m a business major, but I figure that the company’s not doing too well. I don’t know if my boss is drinking because the business is in trouble, or if the business is in trouble because of my boss drinking. But I do know there are a lot of empties rolling around in the tool van everyday. Do I tell my friend? Do I tell the boss that I know? What’s my next step?

—Baffled on Buffalo

Carrie: Your next step is to find another job ASAP. Power tools and alcohol just don’t mix. Ever. No matter how many years someone’s been enjoying the two in close proximity, it’s not safe. If there haven’t been any accidents thus far, then the probability curve is only more likely to come crashing down on you.
If you want to save face, look for something in one of your primary fields of study. Then when you give notice of your departure, you can explain that you have an opportunity to explore a hands-on version of your textbooks. This is an acceptable explanation for leaving any short-term employment, most especially on resumes and in H.R. offices—so don’t worry that there will be a black mark against you on that score.
Your roommate’s family probably is aware of the problem: don’t imagine that you’d be startling anyone by sharing the awful truth. Do be clear with your roommate if s/he brings up the topic, but otherwise maintain discretion.

Query: I’m going to be an artist when I grow up, but my mom says I have to start working early so that I’ll have a way to support that art. What’s a good job for someone like me? I don’t want to spend a million hours baby-sitting for the rest of my life. But I don’t have any other work experience.

—Potter on Philadelphia

Carrie: Congratulations. It’s good to know what you want to do with yourself, and which of your talents you most desire to develop. It’s even better to earn money doing what matters to you. To that end, do some research on the internet to find ceramicists working locally. Read up on what they do and what their areas of specialization within the craft are. Then call them and ask if you could interview with them for an intern position. Explain that you’re more interested in learning their business than you are in making money. You’ll quickly find yourself with a number of appointments to talk with people in your field about how to turn your passion into your livelihood.

It’s even possible that one or more of these artists could use some part-time help paid at the low-end of the wage scale. Your mom’s to be commended for seeing that aspiring artists need to have good business training if they’re going to succeed in their vocational work. You may still have to babysit to earn all the money you want, but you’ll have something to look forward to that feeds your soul and improves your mind. Have a good summer.

Query: I’ve got a cool job for the summer. But I’m supposed to spend a week at the ocean with a friend, only two weeks after the job starts. How do I tell them that I’ll be away that close to starting? We’ve been planning the beach trip for months.

—Curious on Cole

Carrie: Is it a cool job because you’re being mentored by someone knowledg-eable in a field of long-time interest to you? Or is it a cool job because you’ll be learning to help make a difference in the world in ways that will make everyone more safe/comfortable/informed? Or is it a cool job because you’ve got a great discount on very hip clothing?

If it’s one of the first two, you may want to re-think your commitment to vacation-ing. Gaining usable experience in the workplace is one of the most valuable ways you can spend your summers. Hanging out with friends is nice and good for the soul; but it doesn’t take the place of finding out what you like about what matters to you, or saving the world one doorbell at a time.

Ask other newish employees what the procedure for getting time off is in your workplace. Use tact in approaching the decision-maker when you bring up your summer plans. Many businesses understand that their summer help have other commitments beyond their working hours and apply a flexible leave policy. Use a deferential tone, rather than a defensive one, when asking for time-off from a job you’ve yet to start. Most bosses are reasonable people, and you may have no trouble getting your request fulfilled.