wee answer Wednesday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on March 14, 2012 It’s wee answer Wednesday — seven short answers to seven short questions. We’ve got a know-it-all business partner, a boss who won’t let employees ask customers how they are, and more. Here we go… 1. Manager won’t let us say “how are you?” to customers I work at Boston Market. As a human, it’s natural […] Read the full article →
receiving calls from a coworker’s stalker by Alison Green on March 14, 2012 Since we recently had a letter about stalking issues at work, I thought this one, describing a different side of the situation, was timely. A reader writes: I am one of two receptionists at a small company. About a month ago, I received a call from a woman, asking for one of my coworkers. When […] Read the full article →
what not to say when you ask for a raise by Alison Green on March 14, 2012 If you’re thinking about asking for a raise, make sure that you prepare a compelling argument in advance, one that’s based on your contributions to your company – not on your coworkers’ salaries, your own financial needs, or other arguments likely to sink your request. Here are eight things that you should never say when […] Read the full article →
how to reject job applicants when the position hasn’t been filled yet by Alison Green on March 13, 2012 A reader writes: I have a question about replying to job applicants who I have no intention of interviewing. Every time we post a job online, we get dozens of applications, and of course, only a few of them are people I want to call in for an interview. What’s the protocol for replying to […] Read the full article →
is my manager taking advantage of our friendship? by Alison Green on March 13, 2012 A reader writes: I accepted a new job five months ago with someone I had worked with previously — he was not my direct manager but he was more senior than me. We got along well then, so when I accepted this position, I thought it’d be great that he was going to be my direct supervisor. In fact, […] Read the full article →
job interviewing when you have a speech impediment by Alison Green on March 12, 2012 A reader writes: I have a speech impediment (stuttering) that comes out mainly when I am nervous (i.e., job interviews). It seems like no matter how much I practice, I always stutter or use the word “um” (which I really try not to do). This has become very frustrating to me because I know I […] Read the full article →
why job rejection isn’t always about you by Alison Green on March 12, 2012 If you’re not getting rejections in this job market, you’re either not applying for very many jobs or you have some incredible luck. Even really great candidates get rejected, often multiple times. But how can you keep from getting discouraged when you’re not getting interviews or job offers? After all, the tendency when you get […] Read the full article →
bad ways to respond to a rejection email by Alison Green on March 11, 2012 When you get a job rejection email, do not send a reply offering up your IQ as an argument for reconsidering the decision. This is not compelling. Read the full article →
my coworker is a registered sex offender by Alison Green on March 10, 2012 A reader writes: I inadvertently found out while doing a search of local registered sex offenders in my area that a very friendly and polite older gentlemen who recently began to work at my company is a registered sex offender for possession of child pornography. He admitted his guilt, is on probation, and lost his […] Read the full article →
fast answer Friday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on March 9, 2012 It’s fast answer Friday — seven short answers to seven short questions. We’ve got gossipy secretaries, a boss in another time zone, and more. Here we go… 1. Should I ask for another interview to refresh this slow-moving company’s memory of me? I was interviewed for a position on February 24 and was just informed […] Read the full article →