The US government is recruiting aggressively for many different kinds of jobs for recent grads. Do you think this is a good place to start your career, or is there a stigma?
Um, I love my country — and I love the government agencies who enforce volumes of regulations, because they are just doing their job to make the workplace better, and I love the tax man, because our country needs the revenue to pay for things. Is that clear? (No snarky response here.) The US government is our nation’s largest employer, and there are many fine career opportunities one can pursue from the State Department to NASA and everything in between. And, in fact, the government is having difficulty attracting recent grads, so they’ve revved up their recruitment efforts. There’s no stigma working for the government. If the US government wants you — and you’re interested — go for it.
I got caught by a colleague doing something I shouldn’t have been doing, and we haven’t said anything to each other, but he knows that I know he knows what I did. If he spills the beans, it could cost me my job. Should I say something to him?
Well, I have no idea what the heck you’re talking about, so how should I know? Sometimes people think what they’ve done could cost them their jobs when it’s really a minor infraction barely worth mentioning. If you got caught stealing, then you should be fired at the very least. If you got caught kissing the boss’ daughter at the company picnic — and you’re both consenting adults — well, that might be stupid or true love, but I’m not sure it would get you fired. I wouldn’t say anything to your colleague, because you might compound your problem by giving the impression you’re trying to intimidate the person. Bottom line, if you committed a fireable offense, admit it, and throw yourself on the mercy of the company — or at least do everyone else and the company a favor, and resign.