August 2012

a couple of things…

Two miscellaneous things: 1. I think the technical problems with the comments should now be fixed. If you continue to get a “you are commenting too fast” message, please let me know. 2. Forbes is putting together its list of the best career websites. If you think Ask a Manager belongs on the list, it […]

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coworker asked me not to eat lunch at my desk

A reader writes: My question is about eating in the office. I work in a small office that has a very relaxed environment. The office has an open area with four desks, and there are three private offices with doors to them. Many of us work while we eat lunch. Today a coworker asked me […]

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10 reasons your resume isn’t getting you interviews

If you’re sending out lots of resumes without getting many calls for interviews, it’s time to conclude that your resume isn’t doing its job. If you’re like most people, you’re making at least a few of these mistakes – which will put your resume promptly in the “no” pile. 1. It’s generic. If your resume reads just […]

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your employer sucks and isn’t going to change

Three letters, one answer. 1. Abusive, lying boss I have been with my current employer for 11 years, working as a practice manager for a dentist. Everything has been fantastic until the last year. The dentist hired a friend of hers to be a receptionist, and gradually I became the enemy. In the last 6 […]

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at what point in my job search should I resign my current job?

A reader writes: I am a graduate student and have a part-time position where my masters is mostly covered and I receive an additional stipend. Yes, it’s pretty nice. However, I can’t stand the job! It is so repetitious and because of that is just boring. I am going into a higher education program, so […]

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wearing coveralls to a job interview

A reader writes: My question is about job advice my husband received from his technical school’s career adviser. He is studying to become certified as an aircraft maintenance mechanic. However, this school attracts a lot of students who don’t care much, are not known for continuing to seek certification after graduation, and are mostly lazy. […]

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reader advice on managing interns

Good advice from a reader on managing interns: I’m an avid and regular reader. I work for a small tech-startup (18 full-time employees). At the beginning of the summer, while considering our short term business goals, we decided to aggressively expand our normal intern program (3-5 interns) to 27 interns. I supervise 21 of them. […]

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is this hiring manager too strict?

First, an announcement:  There’s been some wonkiness with the commenting system this week (comments appearing out of order on one post, people getting system messages that they are “commenting too fast” (?!), and other weirdness. I’m working on it — and by that, I really mean the wonderful Laura Moore is working on it. Thanks for […]

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coworker is receiving personal mail at the office

A reader writes: I’m the office manager for a national multifamily mortgage lender, and one of our loan originators has a side business. He is using our office address for his side business instead of his own home address or another off-site address. I’ve addressed this with HR and been told by his supervisor that […]

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