(Mary Ellen Slayter offers online discussion about issues affecting young workers. Sheila Curran, coauthor of Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads, joined her for a recent chat.)

Q. I am receiving a master’s in interior design. I am having difficulty finding paid internships or entry-level interior design jobs in D.C. How do you recommend that I go about my search? My school does very little in terms of career services.

Sheila Curran: Paid internships in creative fields are hard to come by. Your best bet is to start with alumni. Often schools have a database of alums who are willing to help. If not, go to your alumni office and ask them to suggest people with whom you can network. You probably won’t be allowed to ask the alums outright for a paid internship, but you can tell them what you’re trying to do and ask whom they would suggest you talk to. Find out, also, which associations local interior designers belong to. Association meetings are a great way to build connections.

Q. Like many young professionals, I often feel compelled to stay late. I regularly stay until 9 at night and every so often come in on Sundays. I am not in a high-paying field, so I feel like my colleagues and I are staying late to make the company more money, and we’re getting paid the same as we would if we worked 40-hour weeks. Yes, there are opportunities for advancement, but the hours just get worse. Do you see an end in sight for people working harder and longer hours while they get paid the same salary as they would have working 9 to 5?

Sheila Curran: Working long hours is, unfortunately, expected of most professionals. And if everyone else in your office is putting in face time, you probably won’t be recognized for your dedication. You’ll feel better if you work long hours to learn new skills — even if this isn’t noticed by your bosses. But if you resent the time you spend at work and its lack of impact on pay, it’s best to look for something else. No one will care as much about your career and advancement as you do.