when an interviewer asks what your dream job is by Alison Green on October 7, 2012 A reader writes: It’s been over two years since I graduated from college with an Interior Design degree. Despite my best efforts, I still haven’t been able to find a full-time job. I’m sure there a million possibilities as to why, but at this point I am tired of trying to figure it out. So […] Read the full article →
short answer Saturday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on October 6, 2012 It’s short answer Saturday! Here we go… 1. Can we tell an employee how to sit at his desk? There is a male coworker in my office who, when he is sitting at his desk and talking to other employees, has a tendency to lean back in his chair and extend his legs, especially when […] Read the full article →
asking your company to pay for a car service when you have a broken leg by Alison Green on October 5, 2012 We have a question involving a broken leg! This is a good time to mention that I myself am still not fully recovered from my broken foot from 11 months ago. Meanwhile, my doctor, knowing that I am impatient to be fully healed, keeps reminding me that my particular injury “ends careers.” He means for football players, […] Read the full article →
job-hopping is killing your career by Alison Green on October 5, 2012 39% of recruiters and hiring managers say that a history of job-hopping is the single biggest obstacle for job-seekers. This will come as no surprise to most people, but might be a surprise to some 20somethings who have been told that job-hopping is the new normal and nothing to worry about. That’s always been BS, […] Read the full article →
recruiter sent me to the wrong address, then asked me to lie about it by Alison Green on October 5, 2012 A reader writes: I’ve recently started a job search; I’m a C-level executive assistant. I’m in NYC so it’s easiest to use a recruiter — I’m using three different agencies and they are all well-known and respected (meaning, not a shady recruiter like we hear about so often). One of the agencies sent me to […] Read the full article →
my coworker is a disgusting gum chewer by Alison Green on October 5, 2012 A reader writes: I work in a small office of six women. My coworker whose office/desk is within earshot of mine chews gum throughout the day. I can hear the gum sloshing in her mouth and the tiny pops that she makes with it. My desk is in the reception area so I don’t have […] Read the full article →
terse answer Thursday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on October 4, 2012 It’s terse answer Thursday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. My peers earn more than twice what I do Last December, I moved to New York and was told that the recession had caused salaries to be cut in half. I networked and people told me how hard it […] Read the full article →
I don’t want to sit in an office all day by Alison Green on October 4, 2012 A reader writes: I did everything right. I went to a very well regarded, top-ranking university where I excelled in a major field I love, history. When I graduated, I spun my experiences analyzing 19th century French literature into “marketable” skills and landed a job at a top tech company known for quirky hiring practices […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: has career coaching ever helped you? by Alison Green on October 4, 2012 A reader writes: I have been trying to find a different job/career for about 2 years, and specifically trying to relocate back to my hometown area. My education and background are not really in a thriving industry, and at the small company I work at, I do several different jobs, which means in my job […] Read the full article →
can we make staff retreats more useful? by Alison Green on October 4, 2012 A reader writes: I wonder if you have any tips on organizing good, effective “away days” or staff retreats. My department has an “away day” every year — a work-related one, not a day out paintballing or what have you. Typically we have a theme relating to some key aspect of what the department does, […] Read the full article →