verbally abusive boss by Alison Green on September 11, 2008 A reader writes: I recently left a large internet company to join a well established, yet small creative agency. The company’s philosophy of listening and constantly learning really connected with me and the team was very passionate about doing good work for a great set of clients. The issue here is the level of verbal […] Read the full article →
bad job vs. possibly unstable new company by Alison Green on September 10, 2008 A reader writes: I took a job that I am not well suited for, but have done just satisfactorily elsewhere in the past. But personality conflict with my manager and my resistance to working hours that would eliminate any work / life balance ended up leading to my demotion. I’m concerned that I’ve been irreparably […] Read the full article →
reality-based management by Alison Green on September 8, 2008 If I had a management theory, I’d call it “reality-based management.” Reality-based management means that you commit to seeing and dealing with reality, as opposed to living in some hazier alternative. Period. That’s it. The rest stems naturally from there. For instance: Reality-based management means that when an employee comes to you with frustrations or […] Read the full article →
new manager doesn’t trust us by Alison Green on September 7, 2008 A reader writes: I’ve been confronted with a situation at work that violates what I would consider a level of professional trust, but my direct management doesn’t seem to agree, and now I’m left wondering if I’m the one who’s wrong. Let me explain… My organization puts on a yearly conference, nominally for us, but […] Read the full article →
listing volunteer work on a resume by Alison Green on September 7, 2008 A reader writes: I am currently doing freelance consulting to make a little extra money (and I mean little) and keep my resume active while I am job hunting. I also do extensive volunteering, but some of that volunteering has turned into more substantive program development and outreach that I am proud of, and I […] Read the full article →
no, you really do have weaknesses by Alison Green on September 5, 2008 Apparently there is a new superhuman breed walking among us, utterly free of weaknesses. In interviews, I always try to get candidates to speak honestly about their downsides. I do this because I’m trying to have an honest conversation about their fit for the job — and about the job’s fit for them. I do […] Read the full article →
6 reasons you failed the phone interview by Alison Green on September 2, 2008 Last week, I wrote about reasons your resume might end up in my trash. This week, let’s assume you’ve made it past the initial resume screening and now are at the phone interview stage. Here are some ways to quickly fail the phone interview: 1. Not displaying a grasp of what the job is all […] Read the full article →
how to find out if your prospective manager sucks or not by Alison Green on August 30, 2008 In the comment section of my recent post on managers who won’t manage, a reader asked: What can you ask in job interviews to find out if your prospective manager is someone who can’t or won’t manage? Such a good question, and possibly one of the most important things you can ask in an interview. […] Read the full article →
will attitude affect references? by Alison Green on August 30, 2008 A reader writes: Since I graduated University six years ago, I have worked for a large health care organization in several different roles. Shortly after I started the job that I am currently in, I experienced several major upheavals in my life during a very short time frame. I am not using these events as […] Read the full article →
when your manager won’t manage by Alison Green on August 29, 2008 A reader writes: I work in a cultural/academic/non-profit institution, and am part of a professional community small enough that I don’t wish to identify it, lest one of my colleagues identify *me*. I should say that I love what I do for a living. It’s a calling, I spent a lot of time in graduate […] Read the full article →