how to deal with a micromanaging boss by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 If you work for a micromanager, you’re probably pretty miserable. It’s hard to feel trusted and valued when your work is being constantly scrutinized and your boss is checking up on things that you don’t think they need to check on. But there are often steps you can take to get more breathing room. First, though, […] Read the full article →
fast answer Friday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on August 24, 2012 It’s fast answer Friday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Negotiating for more money as a temp I graduated 2 years ago with a BFA and haven’t been able to find work since. I signed up with a temp agency back in February to keep busy. They give me […] Read the full article →
can I trash-talk another candidate who’s interviewing for the same job as me? by Alison Green on August 23, 2012 A reader writes: Suppose I go to a job interview and it so happens that I know one of the other candidates and his work. Would it be acceptable to comment on it and say in what ways my work is superior to his/theirs? Like, compare pieces of achievements? Noooo. It would come across as really obnoxious […] Read the full article →
how has your parents’ level of achievement influenced you? by Alison Green on August 23, 2012 In the discussion on the previous post (about some young coworkers from disadvantaged communities), some commenters are discussing the advantage that you get from growing up with parents with professional jobs, and the disadvantage that you can be at otherwise — in terms of expectations for your education and career, familiarity with professional norms, and […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: helping young coworkers learn professionalism when their manager doesn’t know it herself by Alison Green on August 23, 2012 Here’s another question that I’m calling on readers to help answer, because I am off to yet another orthopedist appointment to find out why my foot still isn’t fully healed, nearly 10 months after breaking it. A reader writes: I work for an awesome nonprofit that does a lot of good work, including a program that […] Read the full article →
terse answer Thursday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on August 23, 2012 It’s terse answer Thursday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Coworker yelled at me for calling her by her first name I’ve been at my new job for about a month now am really comfortable with everyone bar one member of staff in my department. I’m an administrative assistant […] Read the full article →
update from the reader whose coworker was stalking her by Alison Green on August 22, 2012 Remember the reader back in March who was concerned that her coworker might be stalking her? He was sending her inappropriate texts, making really inappropriate remarks, and then started to show up places where she was (outside of work)? Here’s her update. I brought the issue up to my boss and he actually went as […] Read the full article →
how to cancel a lunch with someone who repeatedly reschedules by Alison Green on August 22, 2012 A reader writes: A couple of weeks ago, I met an executive who I thought was great, and I was interested in learning more about her and possibly forming a mentoring relationship since I am young and just started working after graduating in the spring. I approached her after hearing her speak and asked a couple of questions. Later […] Read the full article →
emails with a reader frustrated with her interviewer by Alison Green on August 22, 2012 I recently had an email exchange with a reader who was disappointed that she didn’t get a third interview that she was expecting with an employer. I think she’s speaking for a lot of job-seekers in her confusion and frustration, so I asked her if she’d let me reprint our exchange here. She agreed — […] Read the full article →
how new grads can impress at work by Alison Green on August 22, 2012 With spring graduations several months behind us, many new grads (well, the lucky ones, at least) are settling into new jobs and learning to navigate office life … and finding it more challenging than they expected. Here are eight tips for impressing when you’re new on the job: 1. First and foremost, have your act […] Read the full article →