Is your boss or supervisor setting you up to be fired? Here's what to do when the manager is out to get you.

Cara has worked for the software company for over eight years. She has a four year degree, two certifications, and is very knowledgeable about her craft. She makes more than $60,000 per year, is well-respected by her co-workers, and is a model employee.

With a career profile and inner-office relationships like hers, Cara should be pretty happy at work, but her on-the-job excellence and undeniable potential are both overshadowed by the anxiety she feels each day before she goes to work.

"I cry on the expressway at least once a week while I'm on my way to work," the young programmer admitted while talking with me over coffee one Saturday. "I think my boss is out to get me."

I almost labeled Cara's fear irrational and her delivery melodramatic until she shared what it's like to work for Angela K., her boss at the software company.

"I know my stuff, but according to Angela, I can't seem to do anything right. I'm always being handed a written warning about something ridiculous... I think she's trying to get rid of me, and in this economy-- that scares me to death." The written warnings aren't all she's up against. Angela has been increasing Cara's work load for months, forcing her to work twenty hours of overtime or more to stay current.

Cara's last performance review was tainted by the various meritless written warnings issued by Angela. One of those warnings was for missing multiple deadlines, a problem that is likely to have arisen from the overwhelming amount of work she's being asked to do in a short amount of time. Cara describes the warnings as a paper trail that will likely be the undoing of her employment at the company.

What to Do When the Boss is After You
So what happens to employees who are being pushed out of their jobs by manic managers? Is there any recourse for people like Cara who clearly are being targeted by their supervisors? Here's the advice I gave to the perplexed programmer.

Step 1. Determine if the manager's complaints have any merit. Cara has a job to do, but so does Angela. If you're in Cara's position, ask yourself if there's any possibility that you might be over-reacting to your manager's behavior. This step is first and most important because if your performance really isn't up to par, you won't have a leg to stand on when you attempt to dispute the boss' behavior. If you know your performance is up to par, move to step two.

Step 2. Talk to your manager. I acknowledge that in extreme situations, the prospect of carrying out this step could be very frightening. However, you will look like a mature, professional, concerned employee if you simply ask your manager to give you some constructive feedback on what you'll need to do to avoid further problems. If the manager's behavior is truly unwarranted, he or she won't have a good answer for you. However, if your manager offers reasonable feedback, work hard to improve. If you're trying to improve, but the manager still appears to be targeting you, move to the next step.

Step 3. Go to Human Resources. Some managers are wise enough to know when an employee is developing a case in his own favor-- which means that the manager may simply back off after realizing that his behavior could come back to bite him. But when a manager is continuing to press the non-existent envelope, and when it becomes obvious that the boss is harassing an employee, it becomes appropriate to involve HR.

If this is the case for you, go to your Human Resources department and explain that your manager is creating a hostile work environment, and that you believe he or she is attempting to terminate you without merit. If necessary, type and sign a statement, and request that the HR employee place it in your file. This request is within your rights as an employee. When this meeting is over, HR will review the manager's conduct with his or her superior.

Step 4. Consider a job change. If steps one, two, and three are unsuccessful, it may become necessary for you to change departments or companies. Don't rule this out. Your peace of mind is more important than your loyalty to your current company.

Cara's situation is not uncommon. If you share her plight, remember that you're not powerless. You have rights, resources, and options. Good luck to you.

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What's it like to write for Demand Studios?
How much money can you make?
Is it worth your time?
This review will answer those questions and many more.

There are tons of opportunities to write for money while working at home right here on the internet. And with the growing number of websites geared at freelance writing, it may be difficult to decide between "employers."

While I'm certainly no expert, I do have experience with several of these websites, so I've decided to write a few reviews. (See my review of Suite101 & Examiner.com)...

Here's my first-hand review of what it's like to write for Demand Studios:

The application process...
Demand Studios' application process is actually quite easy. You provide a resume, two writing samples, and a brief bio using their online application. After a day or two, you receive an acceptance or rejection letter via e-mail.

The model...
Demand Studios has a variety of contracts with content websites across the web. They have an enormous database of popular topics that range from financial advice, to vehicle repair tips, to home improvement articles, to job descriptions. The writers at Demand select topics that interest them and produce the content for either a flat fee or on a revenue-share basis. When the piece is finish, the writers upload their pieces to the Demand database for editing. Once the piece is accepted by Demand, the writer is cleared to receive pay for his or her work.

The pay...
Articles in the "flat-fee" category at Demand Studios will be worth anywhere from $5.00 to $15.00 each. Articles in the revenue-share category pay writers on an ongoing pay-per-click commission basis. Writers can hold up to 10 "flat fee" articles and 15 "revenue-share" articles in their personal queue at one time.

Maximum earnings???...
The more relevant question is "How much can you handle?" If you can write ten pieces in one day, you could potentially earn $150 per day or more writing for Demand Studios. If you're accepted, you'll be compensated for your work each week using PayPal.

The time investment...
Let's face it. Time is money. --And Demand Studios is well worth the time investment. I can turn out a $5.00 article in 20 minutes. ($5.00 articles are usually short pieces). That amounts to $15.00 an hour, which is pretty decent for part-time work.

Do I recommend it?
YES! If you're not writing for Demand Studios, apply today. It'll be well worth your time.

Good luck to you.

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If you're thinking of getting an M.B.A. or a Master of Fill-in-the-blank in the name of career advancement, consider this...


Career changers and job seekers across the nation are enrolling in graduate school with hopes of becoming more competitive in today's market. If you're thinking of following in their footsteps, keep the following very important things in mind...

1. Companies want experience and education.
If you're not able to deliver the element of experience desired by most companies, you may end up in the entry-level career mill all over again. Ask yourself if two or three years of work experience will be more valuable to you than two more years of college. Decide if your resume will be stronger after graduate school- and determine whether or not you're willing to make the experience trade-off that could come with going back to school.

2. Graduate school will cost between $20,000 and $50,000 or more.
While it may be tempting to retreat to the halls of your local campus library for two or three years, you'll have to think about whether or not your choice of degree will command the salary you desire. Will the new job you want help you to afford the student loan payments of $300 to $500 per month that will start rolling in six months after you earn your degree? Bottom line: does the math make sense?

3. Do you need a Master's degree to get where you'd like to go?
Have you researched your career path enough to be totally certain that the amount of work and the dollar investment involved in going to graduate school will be worth it? Have you interviewed any of the people in your desired field to see how they got there? Have you reviewed 35 to 50 online job ads to guarantee that you'll need the degree you're going after? Do your homework before going to grad school. You may be glad you did.

4. Are you going to graduate school because you don't know what else to do?
While this question may seem silly, it addresses a common misstep. Make sure that the valuable time and money you invest into graduate school is invested with a purpose and not due to lack of direction.

After you've considered these things, if graduate school is still a good option for you, then go for it! And good luck.

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"People from their generation didn't change companies, let alone careers... but this ain't my grandpa's workforce."

My maternal and paternal grandfathers both retired from General Motors. They both worked for more than thirty years at the same company doing the same kinds of jobs. They were both fortunate enough to own a home and a rental property. They both bought brand new cars every five years, both had four children and wives at home, and both retired with sizable pensions.

I suppose that it's those things that make it hard for them to understand why people don't "settle in" at their jobs anymore. People from their generation didn't change companies, let alone careers... but this ain't my grandpa's workforce.

The fact is that most people change careers multiple times throughout their lives. And it's more accepted now than ever. Why? Well, we now understand how crazy it is to expect a person to choose a career in their freshman year of college and stick with it until retirement. We know that there are tons of career options out there, many of which have overlapping skill categories that tickle our interests while we're in the workforce.

We're no longer shocked when we hear of a teacher returning to college to become a lawyer, because we value happiness as much as we do career stability. We know that a happy "career-life" can translate to happiness in other areas of life.

If you're looking for reasons to change careers, try these on for size:

1. Work-life balance...
2. More money...
3. More time for family...
4. Less stress...
5. Career advancement opportunities...
6. To fulfill a dream...
7. To use under-utilized skills...
8. Escape a dying industry...
9. Change of pace/ scenery...
10. For the sheer excitement of doing something new...

These ten items are commonly-cited reasons for switching careers. Can you think of any others? Have you changed careers yourself? Leave a comment and share your story.

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