I am looking for a job and need to stay local. I have been given conflicting advice by recruiters — some say it’s better to be honest so that no one’s time is wasted, while others say you never know if a great opportunity would make me reconsider relocating and my circumstances might change so it is better to keep my options open. Which is right?
I agree with both. It is always better to be honest, and you can be honest and still keep your options open. The truth is you don’t know whether you might consider relocating for an extraordinary opportunity, and you don’t know what your circumstances will be in the future. So saying that your preference is to stay local, but you are open to considering a relocation for the right opportunity, is honest and smart.

You write about employees and how to deal with their bad managers, but I’m a manager and I have to tell you the problems are greater for us dealing with employees — most of whom are mediocre, entitled, whiny and litigious. Look at them the wrong way or give them justified negative feedback and all hell breaks loose. Will it hurt my career if I tell my employer that I don’t want to manage people anymore?
Just to clarify — are you thinking of joining the circus or zoo to work with animals? (Although many people describe the workplace as a circus or zoo, mind you.) Yes, managers have as many gripes about their employees as the reverse. But bad bosses are something, culturally, we enjoy talking about, so here’s an open invite to all of the bosses out there who want equal press time. As for your career, many people who are successful as individual contributors in their functional areas get “rewarded” with promotions to managing other people. But managing people is not for everyone, and some do decide to forgo the responsibility (and compensation) that comes with it. So if you are willing to do that, then I’m sure that your employer will find a way to transition you back to an individual-contributor role rather than lose you.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Email your career questions to gotogreg@nypost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande. His “Go to Greg” podcast series is available on iTunes.