Dear Jewish Fairy Godmother:

My daughter’s a good kid. She graduated college two months ago after
majoring in fine at. Yes, I know, not a likely major for a well-paying
job. She’s worked at galleries and has fantasies about becoming the
director of a museum until she is recognized as a brilliant painter. I
love her and have always tried to support her dreams, not squelch
them. But she’s moved back in to my home, and I’m not seeing any
evidence that she’s seriously looking for a job, or thinking about
moving out any time in the foreseeable future. I’ve always had high-
level managerial positions in major national corporations. It wouldn’t
take more than a flick of my finger to life the phone and get her an
entry job in my company. I don’t want to railroad her into a future that
contradicts her heart. But I also don’t want her to settle in too
comfortably or long. What are reasonable guidelines to impose on her
job search?

Home Base

 
Dear Home Base:

A parent who can provide a job for a child, especially in a tight
economy, is a blessing. It’s also a curse, because the kid knows
there’s a safety net if no other work can be found, and that can slow
down or hobble a work search, especially when the parent is providing
a warm nest, good food, and emotional support rather than stress. So
you need to use the safety net as a motivator as well as a security
blanket. Translation: give your daughter a deadline to get a job in a
field that speaks to her heart and soul. But make it clear that if she
does not accomplish this by a reasonable deadline, say three more
months, that she will have to: move out?; start paying a hefty rent?;
accept a job at your company. The default job offer need not be
draconian, but it should be sufficiently boring and mind-numbing that
she feels motivated to look. Think filing in the accounting department.
You should also set aside family time to review her resume, coach her
about how to conduct a job search (including networking and
informational interviews), and teach how to present herself in
interviews. People who haven’t gotten a professional job before often
need practice. If you’re in management, tell her very clearly what you
think makes a good hire, and then help her become one. But above all,
don’t let her fail. If she’s a good kid, help her become a good adult.