my boss asks us to pick up his lunch for him by Alison Green on January 31, 2011 A reader writes: I am a 27-year-old woman working for a well-known national company. My store manager tends to only hire women, and part of the reason I think is this: He frequently (several times a week) asks one of us to go get lunch for him. He never offers to buy us lunch. All […] Read the full article →
better answers to “what are your weaknesses” by Alison Green on January 31, 2011 If you’ve ever answered “What are your weaknesses?” with anything remotely like “I work too hard,” “I’m a perfectionist,” or “I take my work home with me,” I am here to tell you that these answers are not doing you any favors … because they’re transparent BS that make you look disingenuous. Since every career […] Read the full article →
short answer Saturday: another job search edition by Alison Green on January 29, 2011 We did a job search edition of short answer Saturday last week, but the questions keep piling up so here’s another one. Should I offer to work for free so a company can try me out? I am currently job hunting and a few days ago stumbled upon a position that was the perfect fit […] Read the full article →
what should a resignation letter say? by Alison Green on January 27, 2011 A reader writes: What is the proper form for a good resignation letter? I’ve written them before and it’s easy when it’s a simple reason for leaving – but it’s a little complicated this time. I used to love my job (and still love parts of it) but it’s morphed into something that’s not nearly […] Read the full article →
should I warn my employer about a slacker kiss-ass? by Alison Green on January 26, 2011 A reader writes: Our organization is currently in financial crisis, and therefore, we have laid off about two-thirds of our staff, keeping on those positions that are vital to keeping the company afloat for however long that may be. As a result, my position as HR rep has also been cut. It works out for […] Read the full article →
Connect on Facebook by Alison Green on January 26, 2011 Ask a Manager has a Facebook page now — connect to it here: Ask a Manager Read the full article →
how to manage a hard worker who’s dropping balls by Alison Green on January 25, 2011 A reader writes: I manage a girl who is a very hard worker. She goes the extra mile, never complains, stays late and always volunteers to help…but lately I have noticed she is getting lax on things like returning important emails in a timely manner or getting things done that I asked her to do. […] Read the full article →
Social media CAN get you a job … or, I hired a blog reader by Alison Green on January 24, 2011 Here’s a story I’ve been wanting to tell for a while — and it has a moral too, about how social media can help you get a job! First, lest I send anyone in the wrong direction, let’s be clear on some of the ways that social media probably won’t get you a job: Creating […] Read the full article →
the roots of Ask a Manager… by Alison Green on January 24, 2011 Just came across this and thought you guys might find it interesting. In January 2007 — before Ask a Manager existed — I was feeling antsy about the many ways in which I was seeing job candidates torpedoing their own chances. Itching for an outlet to rant about it, I wrote this article for The […] Read the full article →
the 10 interview questions you’re most likely to be asked by Alison Green on January 24, 2011 The absolute best thing you can do to prepare for a job interview is to practice and practice your answers to the questions you’re most likely to be asked. Saying your answers out loud over and over – or even writing them down, which for a lot of people will ingrain them more deeply in […] Read the full article →