Do employers look for extracurricular activities on a resume? Do they help you get a job?

They don’t hurt, but they don’t mean too much on a resume. Where they can make a difference is in the job interview.

I am a divorced mother of two and worked part time until I realized my marriage was in trouble and that I needed a full-time job. I have excellent experience, but finding a job with a decent salary and flexibility is difficult. Why is flexibility so hard to find?

The workplace, unfortunately, has been designed for men with at-home wives. And then, there are the rest of us. Perhaps after you prove your worth in a new job you’ll be able to negotiate flexible hours. And you didn’t even mention benefits, which also are very hard to find.

My sister lost her job in a warehouse after 23 years – with no severance package. She has warehouse skills and nothing else. She is willing to learn. What can she do?

She should look into temporary work. Many of the agencies handle warehouse assignments. That way, she can get recent references and improve her resume. Several of the temp agencies also offer classes in computer skills, if you want to learn them. She should want to learn them.

I started a new job less than two months ago and it hasn’t turned out to be nearly what I was told it would be – and it doesn’t look as if things will change. Meanwhile, I have another job offer and want to accept it. Do I have to give two weeks’ notice? I won’t even list this job on my resume and don’t need a reference.

It’s important to give two weeks’ notice to show you are a professional and responsible both to your present employer and to your new one. And don’t be surprised if your present employer tells you to leave immediately.

Carol Kleiman is the workplace columnist for the Chicago Tribune.