The Boston Marathon bombing drew attention to the antisocial personality, beginning with the bombing, an act of violence, and the emotionless face of the younger suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. You might encounter it more commonly at work in theft, lying, sexual harassment and stalking.

Job hunting doesn’t have to be pure drudgery. Go against the pack to open doors with less resistance. Look inside yourself for direction and, when you network, use smart methods.

Dear Dr. Culp, I find interviews embarrassing. I have to sit and talk about myself as if I were interested, when I’m really more interested in finding out about the job.

Gina Beckman relates tales of people who presented themselves as lost causes to employers. One woman thought, apparently, that the company might celebrate Bring-Your-Daughter/Son-To-Work-Day; so she brought her baby.

Craig Ahlstrom needed a potential construction manager for a Texas manufacturer of steel utility poles. The founder and president of the executive recruiting firm Perfect World Search Inc. in Morton, Ill., he searched both his personal database and LinkedIn.

Dear Dr. Culp, I’ve been offered a promotion, which I haven’t yet accepted, because I don’t know how to convince my employer to allow me to telecommute. How do I do this?

TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS

Some people overstep the boundaries of good business practice when they communicate by telephone and email. After surveying 427 subjects from 48 virtual teams in 16 industries, a consuling specialist advises leaders to be careful about using the most effective technology.

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, My resume is one page long and contains all of my work history. The graphics are eye-catching, but interviewers seems to be saying things I think they’re saying to everyone they interview. How can I inspire them to think about what I’ve done and how to use my experience?

“Hiring for police work is very different from hiring in other career paths,” reports RJ, a police officer using a pen name (rescuehumor.com). “In the end, though, it does all boil down to whether you’ve prepared yourself for your career choice.”

Expanding abroad strengthens businesses. While an extensive public relations campaign may open doors, it probably succeeds most when selling online.

Q: Because I’ve been working in a large organization for a long time, I’d like to spend a year or two in a small business to get ready. How can I best approach employers?

Mark Kaye seems to think a lot of job seekers do themselves a disservice. Some apparently wear hand-me-downs. He doesn’t recommend an interview suit your father (or mother) might have worn.

An aspiring software developer was interviewing by telephone with Jerry Masin, then president of an IT career school. The man was discussing his portfolio in excruciating detail. Almost overwhelmed by this highly skilled person, Masin whisked him off the telephone.

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, The job I finally found more than a year ago isn’t worth having. I grabbed the first thing that came up and have regretted it since almost the first day.