Reading graphic emails not part of job

Johnny C. Taylor Jr., a human-resources expert, tackles your questions as part of a series for USA TODAY. Taylor is president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest HR professional society.

(Questions submitted by readers and Taylor’s answers have been edited for length and clarity.)

Question: I work for several corporate-level officers in my company. The president was recently ousted for having a relationship with a lowlevel employee. Since his departure, I have been tasked with reviewing his incoming emails. These include email communications with several sex workers. Some are vulgar and include graphic visuals. I want to quit. What are my options? – M.

Johnny C. Taylor: I appreciate that this is a very uncomfortable situation. The good news is that the president no longer is with your organization. The bad news is that you are being exposed to how unacceptable his conduct was.

It is appropriate for an employer to ask an employee to monitor the emails of departed staff, including executives. But it is equally appropriate – indeed, strongly encouraged – for you to contact HR and let them know what you are seeing and that you don’t want to monitor his emails anymore.

While you have the right to quit, I hope you will let your employer know that you are understandably uncomfortable. Give them the opportunity to do the right thing and relieve you from the assignment. Because your company ousted the president, I am hopeful it will do what is right for you.

Q: I’ve been a working professional for eight-plus years now, and I’m currently applying for jobs. However, I’ve noticed that some job descriptions and qualifications seem extremely specific. While I’m confident in my abilities, should I be applying to jobs where I don’t meet all qualifications? Or am I wasting my time? Do companies typically expect candidates to meet all qualifications? – Anonymous

Taylor: No, you are not wasting your time. As hockey legend Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” So, I would encourage you to apply to jobs that may not look like an exact fit to your skills and abilities. Companies write job descriptions to match the needs of the position. How stringent they are about meeting the exact requirements often depends on the type of organization.

Government entities such as cities and states, along with public universities, have firmer hiring practices and tend to hire based on a strict match. Or, if they don’t find the right candidate, they often will repost the position with different requirements.

If an industry is highly regulated, the job description requirements also will be stricter to match the nature of the role. On the other hand, a private company or smaller organization has more flexibility to consider candidates who stray somewhat from the confines of the job description.

Tailor your application and resume to the specific job you are applying for. Highlight experiences and accomplishments that most closely relate to the requirements. And, by doing research on the company and position, you can better prepare your resume and interview around areas where your skills may not quite match up.

Another idea is to activate your professional network to discover contacts within a company where you would like to work. Find someone who can help you understand how your background, competencies and skill set relate to roles within the organization. For example, did you go to college with someone who is employed somewhere you applied? Are you active in community or professional associations, and could your contacts there help you make connections?

Being bolder in your search will pay off. Good luck!