What can employers ask you about in a job interview? How do you start over when switching to a new career?

Those are among the questions answered this week by Terri Carpenter, a local job-search expert who responds to readers' online questions at www.sacbee.com/ask. Here's a sample of her recent advice:

I'm 58 and a female truck driver with 30 years of experience. I haven't worked since 2006 due to a workers' comp injury. I'm fully recovered and for the last two years have taken care of parents suffering with Alzheimer's.

You are not required to disclose information about your workers' comp injury, nor is an employer allowed to ask about a previous injury or claim.

The explanation of your employment gap should be that you needed to take time off for personal reasons (i.e. taking care of parents).

For more details on acceptable/unacceptable questions that employers can ask of job applicants, see the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing's Publication 161, "Pre-Employment Inquiry Guidelines." To obtain a copy, call the department at (800) 884-1684 or go online to: www.dfeh.ca.gov.

I retired from AT&T after working 30 years in management. Now I'd like to apply for a security guard job. How does one find a local school to earn a "guard's card"? Is there a security company that both trains and hires?

There are at least six training programs in the area, including one at Sacramento City College. You can see a complete list of providers of security guard training at www.CareerGPS.com, which provides job-related data in the five-county area. It lets you compare all the training providers, with specifics about their programs, contact information, etc.

Currently, CareerGPS shows security guards in Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Yolo and Sutter counties earn a median of $10.76 an hour. It also states there are an estimated 273 job openings a year for security guards in this region.

I worked in accounting for several years, then changed to IT (information technology) and worked as an IT tech for a year in 2008. Since then, I've stayed home with my kids and obtained an online IT degree. I'm now having a hard time finding a job: only one interview in more than six months. I've also contacted temp agencies with no success. What can I do?

I suggest visiting a One Stop Career Center to have someone look at your résumé. You may need to change the format to reflect your experience and skills – without calling attention to your last employment date in 2008. There are free résumé and interview workshops offered at the 11 One Stop career centers in the Sacramento region.

For more information and a calendar of free events, go to www.sacramentoworks.org or call (916) 263-3800.

Additionally, it might be helpful to connect with programs like ProNet in Placer County or the Sacramento Professional Network, which are networking and support groups for those going through a career transition. These programs have had great success in helping professionals obtain employment.

For information about ProNet, call the California Employers Association at (916) 396-9298. In Sacramento County, contact the Sacramento Professional Network at www.sacpronet.com.

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Call The Bee's Claudia Buck, (916) 321-1968.

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