Choose a temp service basked on a referral from another business professional you trust, if possible. If you can’t get a referral, then you have to do your own due diligence. Generally speaking, the internal workings of a temporary placement firm vary from place to place. Unless you are working with a franchise, the only way to find out how the firm works is to ask. Therefore, contact some local temporary help companies and ask them such question as:

• How long have you been doing business in the local market?
• Do you belong to any national associations?
• What kind of testing do your temps go through?
• What kind of reference checking do you do?
• What’s your firm’s area of specialization?

Be honest with the company. If you have called other temp services or have had a bad experience in the past, let them know. Also, take into consideration the specialist you speak with. Does the person seem knowledgeable and caring, or is the person just trying to sell you on the idea of working with them? Remember, the person needs to be listening twice as much as they talk. True professionals are interested in getting a feel for your credibility, as you are theirs. Since the goal is to create a long-term relationship, you want to feel comfortable with your main point of contact.

Dear Jean,

My boss only has enough work for me to keep me busy from about 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., but my hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  So I just sit there for half of the day.  I have asked for more work, but she says there isn’t anything else for me to do.

Reply:

How boring!  You are doing the right thing by asking what to do, but go ahead and start looking for another job.  Sooner or later your boss or your boss’s boss will realize that there is not enough work to keep you or anyone else busy in that job.  Once that fact is realized, your job will be in jeopardy.

If you really love the people you work for, maybe you can work for them in the mornings.  That way you can find yourself another job in the afternoon.  However, if you are a whiz kid and you are doing eight hours of work in two, find yourself another job.  You’re too bright for this one.

Dear Jean:

I have a personal pet peeve – speakerphones.  I can’t stand to listen to someone who is receiving my call on a speakerphone.  It usually cuts off most of the first word and some of the last word, and the echoes hurt my ears.  What is a tactful way to ask someone not to use the speakerphone with me?

Reply:

When I want to be tactful, I might say, “Will you please pick up the receiver?  I’m having trouble hearing you.”  When I am in an ornery mood, I might say, “Better pick up the receiver – I’m getting ready to say something you might consider confidential!”

Dear Jean,

I’m in line for a position that is not only a better job, it also pays more.  There is one problem.  I will have to do some traveling – too much, really.  Could I try to stipulate “no travel” when my boss offers me the new job?  How would you handle this, Jean?

Reply:

In most cases, there are legitimate reasons for specific requirements on job descriptions.  When travel is required, it is because the business to be conducted requires you to be in the city where the transaction will take place.  To request “no travel” on a position which requires travel is like requesting, “no keyboarding” on a position which requires computer savvy.

Dear Jean,

The other day, I was out in my car and I received a phone call from a long-winded jerk I never wanted to talk with in the first place.  My new admin had given him my phone number.  I can’t believe she gave this clown my cell!  Shouldn’t she automatically know not to give out my private numbers?

Reply:

It’s not her fault – it’s yours. Nope, she shouldn’t automatically know how you want your calls handled.  There is a likely chance that her previous boss had different preferences where the phone is concerned.  I suggest you have an informal meeting to discuss the procedures you prefer.  Explain exactly how you want her to respond to your callers.

While you are on the topic, it would be a good time to talk about other preferences, for instance, what kind of calls you consider important and how you want her to handle solicitation calls.  I have also found it extremely helpful to provide the names of my close friends and family members.

What I am suggesting is a “win-win” situation.  As a result of having this information, she will be more efficient in handling your callers, and you will not have to deal with this frustration again.

Dear Jean,

One of my co-workers always wants me to lie when certain people call her on the phone.  Is this right?  Should I continue to lie?

Reply:

You don’t have to lie for anyone, and if the “certain people” you spoke of in your question happen to be supervisors, you could be in serious trouble.  Before another day goes by, meet with her in private and explain your feelings.  Avoid judging her behavior.  Just say something such as, “When I mislead your callers, I feel uncomfortable, and I’m not willing to put myself in that position any longer.”  This will reduce your stress and make it clear to your co-worker that lying for her crosses your value system and you won’t continue to do it.

Dear Jean,

My boss was hospitalized recently.  Should I go visit?

Reply:

That depends.  I use the Platinum Rule in this situation.  “Do unto others as they want to be done unto.”  That means just because you would like visitors at your hospital bed does not mean your boss wants visitors.  Many people aren’t up to entertaining in their bedclothes.  Check with a family member and ask if your boss is receiving nonfamily visitors.  Usually, a steady stream of clever cards and get-well wishes is enough.  Flowers couldn’t hurt.

Dear Jean,

I have a problem with my boss.  I am coming in to work on time every day; I am working as hard as I can; I am trying to let him see that I take pride in my job, yet I feel that he is showing zero respect for me.  What should I do to get some of that respect?

Reply:

Does he treat everyone with disrespect, or is it just you?

If he treats only you this way, there is probably some miscommunication going on here.  His picture of what he wants you to do may not be your picture of what you’ve been doing.  Make an appointment to discuss your job with him.  Don’t tell him ahead of time what you want to speak to him about.  If he point-blank asks you, tell the truth.  Tell him that the subject you want to discuss is personal.

When you are in front of him, tell him that you would like to feel successful in your job and you don’t.  Ask him specifically what he wants you to do to please him and be of more value.

I must point out, however, that some bosses just aren’t the accepting type.  Some don’t give any strokes at all unless you mess up.  Another problem is that some bosses refuse to be specific.   If that is the case and you can’t deal with ambiguity, better take your skills elsewhere.

Dear Jean,

I work in a small management consulting firm where there are six consultants.  Rarely are we ever in town at the same time, but when we are, we seem to gather in the break room early in the morning.  The topic is always politics.  My partners are moderate to conservative and I’m more liberal.  They seem to really have fun with this and I don’t.  Sometimes their opinions make me so angry I can’t work for the rest of the day.  What do I do?

Reply:

You might remind your five conservative colleagues that you are an “endangered species” and that they would do well to allow at least one weed to flourish and blossom in their formal little garden.

But what concerns me most is that a political discussion with colleagues upsets you to the point that you can’t work for the rest of the day. This level of anger borders on rage and not only is it seeping out at work it’s spilling over in other areas of your life.

Why don’t you get to the break room early and start the conversation about something business related?  If that doesn’t work and you’re not able to come to grips with your anger, leave.  If you chose to stay in the room – - respond — don’t react.

Rage is not an appropriate response to spirited conversation. Lighten up.  Anger clogs the pipes.

Coaching Tip:  In business and in life, it’s impossible to avoid teasing and aggressive behavior.  Whenever you are in a situation where there is aggravated conversation taking place, relax the muscles between your eyes and purposefully take a few deep breaths.  Your “open” face will make you look calmer and you will in fact, be calmer.

Dear Jean,

Do you have any tips for requesting a raise?  We found out through a survey that what we are paid is way below the average for our occupation.  As an individual, is there anything we can do?

Reply:

Am I right in assuming that your use of the word “we” really means “I”?  A raise is an individual issue.  Please leave the “we” out of any negotiation you may have with your boss.  If your work was done by you, then you are the person to earn the raise.  With the exception of cost-of-living raises, a raise is something you receive because of merit.  It is something you earn.  What have you done to earn a raise?  Write down your accomplishments and share them with your boss.  You and your boss may have totally different opinions of the word accomplishment.  This will be a great time to find out.  Grab a pen and a piece of paper and start your list.

One more thing:  Survey results can be very misleading.  Perhaps you should do some more research before you decide that you are underpaid based on one source.  Many of these surveys only apply in certain regions or to specific job types that may not be the same as yours even if the title is the same.