ask the readers: what to do when your employer wants you to break the law by Alison Green on August 27, 2012 I’m off for yet another foot appointment, so here’s another ask-the-readers question, this one from a recent grad in a tough situation. She writes: I’m a recent graduate and I took a job as an occupational therapist with a company where I was supposed to be getting paid an hourly wage. During the interview for […] Read the full article →
how to learn what you really want to know in a job interview by Alison Green on August 27, 2012 Last week, I posted a link to my U.S. News column about questions that job-seekers wish they could ask their interviewers, but don’t feel comfortable asking. Since then, my editor there suggested that I do a second version explaining how you can get the information through other means— so there’s now an updated version of […] Read the full article →
can I apply for a job at the place that I quit without notice? by Alison Green on August 27, 2012 A reader writes: I won’t go into the gory details, but I quit a job without notice via email (I know, very unprofessional). The truth is I was offered another position, but had to start right away, and I was embarrassed to face my very kind boss to tell her. In short, bridge burned. A […] Read the full article →
I don’t want a minimum wage job by Alison Green on August 26, 2012 A reader writes: I’m job-searching, and many people have suggested I get a minimum wage job. Some have gone as far as to call me lazy, say I have a bad attitude, etc., because I don’t want to work for minimum wage. I know that, aside from one, most who have suggested it mean well. […] Read the full article →
short answer Saturday: 5 short answers to 5 short questions by Alison Green on August 25, 2012 It’s short answer Saturday — five short answers to five short questions. Here we go… 1. I forgot what I said my salary requirements are I just got an email to interview for a job that I applied to 3 months ago (talk about slow on their part…but yay!). I know the application asked for […] Read the full article →
update from the reader who was getting great feedback but no new responsibilities by Alison Green on August 25, 2012 Remember the reader who was getting great feedback from her manager but was frustrated because she couldn’t convince him to allow her to take on any new responsibilities? Here’s her update. About two weeks after my letter was posted, the head of my department and the next person below her left the company within a […] Read the full article →
how can I write shorter cover letters? by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 A reader writes: I am struggling with cover letters. I think I write thoughtful, well-organized letters. I have revised my layout so that my letters are more concise; however, I often still struggle to keep them within one page. I think it’s part conditioning from having to write 10-15 page papers in college and part […] Read the full article →
have you ever had a great boss? by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 We’ve had a bunch of reports of good bosses this week — from the boss who dealt deftly with a coworker stalker situation, to the boss who jumped on reports of a bullying nurse, to this comment left just an hour ago: This same situation (too much work) happened with my and my coworkers a […] Read the full article →
can I turn down a Skype interview and suggest a phone call instead? by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 A reader writes: I am long-distance job hunting. I’ve been very fortunate to have two interviews with two different companies, both via Skype. Although I did fairly well in both interviews (one resulted in an offer, which I turned down), I found Skype incredibly awkward. The video didn’t align well with the audio, there were […] Read the full article →
update from the reader who was yelled at for calling her coworker by her first name by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 Remember the letter-writer yesterday whose coworker yelled at her for calling her by her first name and insisted that she call her “Senior Staff Nurse Smith”? She was engaging a wide range of bullying with our reader — telling her she looked dowdy, calling her “girl,” and more. Here’s the update: After reading (the column […] Read the full article →