Dear Ella,

For six months I was a temporary worker with a state agency. After six months with no sign of the job becoming permanent, I looked for another job. About two weeks after looking, I was interviewed for a permanent job in another state agency and offered the position. Desperately needing the insurance and guarantee of a permanent job, I took it. Now my supervisor at the temp position is calling me and asking me to come back and apply for the position I was in.

I want the position, but do not want to upset my current supervisor or look like a job hopper. What would you suggest? I like the job I am in now, but my skills are better suited to the other job. Please give me any advice you may have.

Dear From Here to There And Back Again,

Your former boss wants you to apply for the position; this means that he is not offering you a position, only the opportunity to apply for one. Not much of a commitment to consider seriously.

Tell your former boss that you can apply for the position but cannot inform, nor leave, your current employer unless you have a offer letter in hand that guarantees you the job he's talking about. Also, say that you will count on him to drive the process for you and to offer a recommendation without contacting your current employer for references.

If your former boss can't allow you to apply unless you return to temp status under his charge, than you have no alternative but to take a pass.

You've moved on physically, but not emotionally. This dual existence you're trying to manage is, no doubt, affecting the work you're doing in your new job and probably keeping you from making the complete transition you need to make in order to succeed elsewhere.

Dear Ella,

I was just wondering if there is a way I can find out if my current employer has been giving me bad references.

I have been at the same company for three years and have been actively seeking new employment elsewhere for two. In that time, I haven't gotten any offers. I think the reason is that my work has been bad-mouthing me to prospective employers who are calling to check references.

Dear I Love You, But,

You've had prospective employers calling your employer for two years checking your references and your boss hasn't spoken to you about this or replaced you with someone whom he doesn't have to worry about training and then losing? You must be pretty good at what you do or have a skill set that's all but impossible to find.

As long as your company knows you are out shopping for other jobs, your boss isn't going to give you any important assignments or consider you for promotion. You're sabotaging yourself professionally with your behavior, and you need to stop doing that immediately.

As I see it, you've got three choices in reframing your search for a better job:

Choose outside references such as former employers, colleagues, educators, etc.
Speak with your boss and human-resources representative directly about what you need and want out of your current company in order to stay put.
Give notice that you are leaving and request a letter of recommendation be part of your exit agreement.

Clean up your act before your performance is cancelled altogether.

Private Career Coaching Workshop With Ella Kallish