Q: My boss recently hired "Kimberly," an inexperienced 23-year-old, as his personal assistant. She can't compose a letter, her grammar is bad and she has terrible phone manners.

But no matter how she screws up, he never yells at her.

Recently, when I filled out a form incorrectly, my boss gave the assignment to Kimberly. After she completely messed up the same form, he told me to fix it and said, "She's not quite ready for that yet."

Because Kimberly lied about her computer skills, she constantly asks the rest of us for help. As far as I can see, she was hired only because she has a big chest and a cheap salary.

My boss regularly makes overnight trips to visit hotels owned by our company. Now he's started taking Kimberly with him. When she began giving orders to hotel employees, they called me and asked, "Who is this kid?"

I wonder if I should look for another job, because I'm totally sick of this situation.

A: Don't pull the plug prematurely. Do you enjoy the work you're doing? Was your manager reasonably sane before Kimberly arrived? Can you easily find a comparable position?

Don't ditch your job if you're otherwise happy there.

If, as you suspect, the overnighters involve more monkey business than hotel business, your manager won't be normal for a while. But if he used to be a good boss, give him a little time to come to his senses.

Meanwhile, maintain a pleasant, friendly relationship with the incompetent cupcake. She has your boss's ear, so you don't want her trashing you.

But don't do her work or cover up her mistakes. If she bungles her job badly enough, your boss may be forced to see her clearly.

Q: I've always dreamed of working for a particular company. I gladly will take any position in any department, even one outside my area of experience. How should I convey this goal in a résumé? Should it be part of the "objective" section?

A: Objective statements are quite brief. So mention your desire to work for this company in the objective, then use your cover letter to describe the reasons for your respect and admiration.

But don't stop there. Explain how you can add value to the business. Interviewers may appreciate your love for their company, but you'll be hired only if you bring useful skills.

Never say, "I'll work anywhere just to get in the door." Instead, identify positions that will showcase your abilities, and construct your résumé with those in mind.

Q: My boss is always trying to sell me on his religion. I have no interest and find his behavior offensive. How do I handle this?

A: That depends on how much risk you're willing to take. The safe approach is to smile and nod until he's through talking, then switch to another topic.

A more daring response is politely to say that you respect his religion but are committed to your own beliefs. If he inquires about those beliefs, state that, for you, religion is a private matter. Then change the subject. Quickly.

Complaining to the human resources department or upper management is the high-risk option. But that risk may be worth taking if you sense discrimination or are being pressured to convert.

- Marie G. McIntyre is an Atlanta-based workplace coach. Her weekly column is syndicated by Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. Send questions at www.yourofficecoach.com.