Q: I was recently promoted and now one of my direct reports is almost twice as old as I am. She asked me my age recently in conversation and I gracefully avoided answering. Is it wrong to tell her how young I am? How do I avoid this becoming a greater issue? A:  Sounds like you need her to become a bit of an ally instead of a of a foe. Can she offer something to you because of her wisdom or experience? Can she empathize, possibly, with the predicament that you’re in with this promotion or is she angry that...

In a time when the prevailing thought is that anyone with a job should just shut up and be glad they have one, it’s become increasingly hard for us quarter-lifers to talk about our work woes.  Some Liminas women feel guilty for even having work-related discontent {as if it were THEIR fault their boss is single, angry with the world, and taking it out on them with excessively long days in the office} or, perhaps more commonly, many Liminas women underestimate just how unhappy they really are. New research is finding that those who work long hours {11 or more...

Q: I’m about to go on maternity leave and I know I don’t want to come back to my job once my leave is over. Is it terrible of me not to tell my boss? A:  While I hear that you are a feeling person, it doesn’t mean that you have to disclose your plans for post maternity leave. You never know what might happen, so while you do think you have a plan, it’s best to have your job waiting for you. We never know what’s going to happen in life so there’s no harm -  and you’ve been legally...

Q: Some of my coworkers continue to make offensive jokes. I have tried to politely hint that it bothers me, but they keep up with this behavior. The joking is sort of like the office bonding and I fear that if I’m too vocal about my disapproval, I’ll be alienated from my peers. What should I do? A:  I get it. This kind of group behavior is annoying and immature, and it happens. You’re right to be careful with this if you want to play with this crowd…but do you?  Just curious if this is the only group available. Are there...

Q: I’m trying to follow my dream career path but as I’m met with more failures (and debt!)  I’m becoming discouraged. When do I draw the line on my dream? When do I have to call it quits? A: Woah! Don’t go there – no one wants to give up on their dreams! I am concerned though when I hear you saying you’re going into debt.  It may be that a reality check is needed and then a little strategy session to know how you can keep moving forward while not breaking the bank and keeping funds coming in. It’s our dreams...

Q: What should you do when you’ve sent an email to a coworker or supervisor and then realize you should NOT have sent it? A: This is a two step process. First, send an email to show that you’re attempting to make this right: This should be a short apology to the effect that you sent this in  the heat of the moment and wish that you could take this back; also state that you would like to set up a time to meet to clarify the issue or situation with a face to face conversation. This must be a very professional, but...

Don’t you wish you could know if a job is right for you BEFORE you spend your time fighting to get it?  We know we do.  That’s why we started the “A Day in the Life” series—we thought, what’s better than getting the job of your dreams? Knowing it is TRULY the job of your dreams. We think there’s a disconnect between the information we Liminas women actually want to know about a job and the information that is available to us on career sites.   Imagine the “A Day in the Life” series as your best friend giving you the...

Q: I’m having a hard time getting motivated to leave my job. I know it’s not the right fit for me and it’s time to get going, but I just don’t seem to do anything about it. How can I up my motivation? Daisy:   Hmmm. What’s holding you back? In order to get moving anywhere in our lives we have to be unsatisfied enough with where we are, and have enough of a compelling vision to help us know what we’re moving towards. It sounds like you aren’t thrilled with where you are, but you may not know enough...

Q: A few years ago I went to the company holiday party and saw a co-worker get totally smashed. I don’t think anyone saw her the same way again. How would you suggest someone make up for an embarrassing episode at the holiday party? A:  Major oops. The most prudent thing to do is to talk with your boss as soon as possible after the event.  Be apologetic and contrite, explaining that you realize your mistake in acting inappropriately. Because this sort of thing often happens as a result of too much alcohol, you could explain that you didn’t have...