The Bachelor Links

Ask the Experts: Contact firms, offices to seek out internships

From recent college grads to long-term unemployed, many people are still looking for work. On the sacbee.com website, local career expert Terri Carpenter offers tips, resources and free advice to job hunters. To post your questions or see her answers to others, go to www.sacbee.com/ask . Here's a sampling of her recent advice:

As a recent college graduate with a bachelor's in political science, I have been struggling to find any job or volunteer opportunities related to my major. I have been out of school since mid-December and need advice on where to look for job openings of any kind. I have been to job fairs and career seminars, but they haven't helped.

A great resource to check out is the American Political Science Association, which provides a jobs section and a list of careers for individuals with political science degrees. The list might prove helpful in locating organizations that focus on hiring political science graduates.

Three industries that hire individuals with your educational background have a strong presence here in Sacramento: public affairs agencies, the state Legislature and lobbying firms. I would make a list of companies and legislative offices and contact them about paid or unpaid internships.

For a complete list of legislative offices, go to: www.legislature.ca.gov . For Sacramento-based lobbyist and public policy firms, use Google or the Yellow Pages to inquire about internship opportunities.

I was terminated from my job recently. When applying online at various companies, I am sometimes asked if I have ever been fired. Obviously, I do not want to lie, but is there a better way to answer this question without shooting myself in the foot?

There are many reasons for being terminated from a job. Without knowing the details of your situation, I can suggest a few responses that might be appropriate. For example, you could state that the job ended and your services were no longer needed or you could state that your position was eliminated. You will also need to be able to explain your employment termination in an interview.

Career expert Joyce Laine Kennedy has a great list of 12 responses you can use: "Best Answers to Why Were You Fired?" You can find it on www.about.com (search under "Why Were You Fired").

I have been unemployed since 2009, when the company where I worked for 19 years left the state. I am over 50 and need some additional training but cannot afford to go back to school. Where can I get training in a new field? I would like to work for the state but find the website very confusing to apply for jobs. I have been to a One Stop Career Center but found it lacking in wanting to help me. What do you suggest? I feel I have no value in the workforce.