DEAR JOYCE: I was intrigued by your reader's question about how to survive a toxic boss when you can't quit your job.

At 72, I'm still working full-time and have never had a bad boss. The boss is the boss; as an employee, I made the adjustment. As an example, my first job was with a small firm that had a stand-alone office building. My hours were 9-5. The first day, when I got there at 8:30, the lights were on, machines ready and coffee made. The only person on site was the boss/owner. The second day, when I went in at 8:00, the lights were on, machines ready and coffee made.

The third day, when I arrived at 7:30, the building was locked and dark. At 7:45, the boss came down the sidewalk, looked at me and said, "I will get you a key."

A few months later, a rush job came in on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. The boss asked for volunteers to work the weekend; none of the senior people offered, so I did.

At the end of the year, the boss created a new position of vice president and gave it to me. Moral: In many cases, the problem is the employee. -- Dr. Douglas Lonnstrom, Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y.

Well said. Thanks for illustrating the eternal value of showing initiative and commitment.

DEAR JOYCE: So far, so good, as for retaining my job. I'm 37, have a good professional record and am relatively happy but would very much like to boost my income. Out of the blue, a recruiter called me and said he'd like to "market" me to clients. I will, of course, look into the recruiter's reputation more closely, but in general, is he really doing me a favor?" -- P.P.

It sounds like you're dealing with a contingency recruiter, a professional whose fee is paid by the client when a sale is made. If so, you should not be charged a fee, sale or no sale. Here are several factors to consider.

-- Is staying under the radar important to you? If so, it's never a sure thing that your willingness to say goodbye won't leak to your boss and spark disastrous results. Especially in this economy.

Ask for details about the recruiter's marketing plan. Will he (a) cold-call employers without revealing your identity until an interview is set, (b) present you to his entire existing client base, and/or (c) add your name to a fee-splitting recruiter network where hundreds of other recruiters will have access to your resume? Remember, the more people who know of your availability, the harder it is to keep a lid on your risk. Continued...