2008

didn’t give full two weeks notice

A reader writes: I quit my first job out of college after staying at a company for a year because I found a new opportunity. However, I did not give a full two weeks notice. I told my manager the day he came back from a vacation and by that time, I had to start […]

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9 ways to start your new job right

How you handle your first few weeks on a job can set the tone for your entire stay at the new company. Here are nine ways to set yourself up right: 1. You might be overwhelmed by all the new information: Don’t freak out about it. I have a theory that you can only retain […]

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check in on new people

Do you check in on new employees? Do you ask them how they’re doing, what they might need, how you can help them, how things are going in general? Not once, not just on their first day, but multiple times, throughout their first weeks? You should. A semi-new colleague told me today that he’d never […]

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unfair raise practices?

A reader writes: I changed jobs 2 years ago. When I made the switch, it was an increase in responsibilities (middle management), but my salary did not increase. The reputation and stability of the company and the new job was very interesting to me. Last year (year 1), I received an above average raise – […]

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horrified at feedback from boss

A reader writes: I was recently passed over for a promotion in favor of a lesser qualified coworker. I thought I was doing the right thing by soliciting feedback from my manager but her feedback was confusing and vague. She told me that I am “insensitive” and when I asked for examples she cited examples […]

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why I don’t like “employee of the month” programs

A reader writes: What are your thoughts on Employee Recognition programs? Examples: Employee of the Month, Year, etc. We rely on feedback from peers/managers to “nominate” employees for Employee of the Month and lately have been getting very little participation in said program. The prize shouldn’t matter since the person “winning” doesn’t nominate himself! The […]

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quitting after only six months

A reader writes: First I would just like to say I am a frequent visitor of your blog and have gleaned a lot of helpful information from it, so thank you. Secondly, I was wondering if you could provide some insight about the appropriate amount of time to stay at a job you dislike. I’ve […]

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pre-planned vacation when job hunting

A reader writes: I was laid off without warning two weeks ago. Luckily, I have some interviews lined up. Trouble is, I was planning on going to a wedding around the July 4th holiday. The wedding is on the 6th, and it’s out of state, so I’d need the 7th off to travel. Is there […]

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how to follow up after an interview

One of the most common questions I get asked is whether, when, and how to follow up after a job interview. Following up in some way is nearly essential — yes, you can get a job without it, but if you’re in competition with other top candidates, following up to reiterate your interest when the […]

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