my former boss told a background checker that she didn’t know me by Alison Green on December 16, 2010 A reader writes: I applied for a job and they did a background check and called my ex-boss. She told them she doesn’t know/remember me. I worked there for four months, four years ago, but I worked with her directly and there is no way she wouldn’t remember me. Plus, I went and talked to her beforehand […] Read the full article →
things that don’t belong on your resume #174 by Alison Green on December 15, 2010 Another in our series of things that don’t belong on your resume: information about where your kids attend college and what they’re majoring in. I don’t even know what to say about this. But it seems clear that I might have to start traveling around the country in one of those vans outfitted with a […] Read the full article →
am I being exploited as a volunteer? by Alison Green on December 14, 2010 A reader writes: I moved to a new city back in August to be with my fiance. I knew I was taking a chance moving to a new city with few contacts in a down economy; however, I am a very resourceful and driven person and cannot abide sitting around and doing nothing. In September, […] Read the full article →
short answer Saturday: five short answers to five short questions by Alison Green on December 11, 2010 It’s short-answer Saturday! Here are five short answers to five short questions. boss vs. manager vs. supervisor What is the difference between a boss, a manager, and a supervisor? At a previous job I was told “A will be your boss, and B will be your supervisor.” People at my current job use them interchangeably. […] Read the full article →
8 ways companies can throw holiday parties employees will want to attend by Alison Green on December 10, 2010 Every year around this time, I hear from people complaining about various ways their companies are mishandling the holiday party, so here are eight rules for throwing a better company party. 1. Hold it during work hours, especially if attendance is any way obligatory. Seriously. People will be much more enthusiastic about attending. 2. After […] Read the full article →
knee-high boots and business casual attire by Alison Green on December 8, 2010 A reader writes: I know you answer mostly work behavioral questions, but I have a question regarding attire. I work at a hospital (not as a health provider) that requires business casual attire. Now that the weather’s getting really chilly, I want to wear boots, knee high boots in particular. I’m not talking about patent […] Read the full article →
this is how salary negotiation should work by Alison Green on December 7, 2010 The always awesome Jamie just posted this comment in response to an earlier post on job candidates disclosing their salary history: This was absolutely the worst part of the process for me – because I hate salary negotiation. I hate it because I’m terrible at it – so at least I’m self-aware. In an ideal […] Read the full article →
my coworker is angry that I complained about her many personal calls by Alison Green on December 6, 2010 A reader writes: I sit directly behind a co-worker in my office who spends a good part of the day on personal phone calls. How does she get away with this? She slinks down in her desk, holds her cell phone close to her face so her indiscretions are not easily seen — or — […] Read the full article →
short answer Sunday: six short answers to short questions by Alison Green on December 5, 2010 It’s time for short answer Sunday — six short answers to six short questions. Here we go: I have recently completed interviews for a couple different companies where the group of interviewees are rotated between 5-7 different interviewers for 30-45-minute interview sessions. Many of the questions that are asked either exactly the same or similar. […] Read the full article →
don’t call to “schedule an interview” by Alison Green on December 4, 2010 A reader writes: Somewhere out there, somebody is telling kids that they should be “proactive” and call a company to “schedule an interview” as soon as they apply. I’m beseeching you to do a public service announcement to tell them to STOP. There is no way this is a good idea, and I am getting […] Read the full article →