Dear Joyce: I just received my second paycheck for my new job. Like the first check, it's $200 more generous than I agreed to accept when I was hired. I didn't closely analyze the first check, but now I'm fairly sure the generosity was a mistake.

Do you think I got a "silent" raise? (Just wishing; I know better.) Should I tell my boss, the payroll department or both? If I say something now, how do I explain keeping quiet about the overpayment on the first check? Or should I just keep the money until they notify me? -- S.W.

Dear S.W.: Immediately write a memo to your manager and copy the payroll department. Say you look forward to the time when your contributions are valued at the higher level, but as a person of integrity, you are reporting that your paychecks appear to exceed the agreed-upon salary when you accepted the position. Include the truth about the first check -- you didn't know what to think and assumed an overpayment would be deducted from the second check, but it wasn't.

If overpayment occurs a third time, write again and speak to the appropriate managers; if the mistake were the other way around and you were shortchanged, you'd stay on the check-writers' radar screen until payment was corrected, right?

Ultimately, the error will be discovered and you'll look less than trustworthy if you haven't come forward. After months, any attempted excuse will sound lame. You won't be believed.

Not everyone agrees that you should do the ethical thing. Opinions aired on a popular online discussion group like www.vault.com generated this comment: "Ethics is a term used by companies to keep their employees guilt-ridden, while they do anything they want. Keep the money, and if they want it back, change jobs... ."

So why not? Why shouldn't you just take the money and run to another job when the error surfaces? You still need references is why not.

Another opinion advised an overpaid employee to assume a mistake had not been made. Instead, when the payroll administrator catches up with you and lowers your pay to the job contract figure, go on the offensive; the writer suggested: "Demand an explanation for why you are being demoted to a lower salary. What have you done to deserve this?"

A creative and amusing twist, but that response insults your manager's intelligence. As advertising guru Charles Brower once said, "Honesty is not only the best policy, it is rare enough today to make you pleasantly conspicuous."

Dear Joyce: You advised keeping job-change plans confidential because peeved bosses have been known to make sabotaging calls. Keeping quiet is easier said than done.

When I recently resigned, I truthfully told my old company CEO that my departure was due to an offer at twice the pay and benefits. When asked for the identity of my new employer, I ducked the question, saying that I'd send an e-mail with my contact information when I was settled in. But I assured the CEO that I wasn't going to work for a competitor.

The CEO was infuriated -- really, really angry -- that I had quit. Two days later he announced my departure in a company-wide meeting and intense questioning about my move ensued.

Two sales reps became vicious, warning me against speaking one word to their clients. Another co-worker claimed to have solved the big mystery, incorrectly naming a specific company as my future employer and calling that firm to verify his wrong guess. Still another co-worker sarcastically asked, "Are you working for the CIA now?" Nearly all of my co-workers, offended that I didn't identify my next employer, made borderline snide remarks for two weeks. The experience was torture at first, but I kept my cool and didn't cave in. I e-mailed my former co-workers after two weeks in my new job, asking how everyone was doing. Friendly replies came back. You were right -- don't tell them where you're going. Wait until you get there. -- K.K.

Dear K.K.: Emotions can go haywire when someone walks away from workplace relationships.

Dear Joyce: I am a college senior on a campus where many recruiters are beginning to set appointments. I know the jobs are hanging on the trees, but I don't want to take the first offer that comes along -- I want the best offer. What are factors most likely to make a student stand out? -- P.H.H.

Dear P.H.H: Some actualities are ageless. Surveys over the years continue to show the same preferences: The biggest pluses are related work experience (such as that gained in internships), followed by leadership in student organizations and membership in related pre-professional organizations.

Volunteer community service (unless job related) is valued but not as highly as the first three factors. Less important still are membership in student social organizations, such as fraternities and sororities (unless you're interviewing with another member), unrelated work experience and hobbies.

E-mail questions for this column to Joyce Lain Kennedy at jlk@sunfeatures.com.

© 2000, Los Angeles Times Syndicate