January 2013

are you being lazy in your job search?

If you’re searching for jobs and not getting interviews, or getting interviews but no offers, you might be tempted to blame it on the bad job market. And the market is often the culprit – but in many cases, the problem is the way you’re approaching your search. Here are some signs that you’re being […]

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how to avoid alcohol at dinner interviews

A reader writes: A friend of mine just came back from a campus visit. At dinner after the presentation, she was asked to choose the wine. She doesn’t partake for religious reasons, so she was rather stumped for a moment before explaining the situation. I’m in a similar boat, in that I don’t drink. (Not […]

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short answer Sunday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions

It’s short answer Sunday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go. 1. Company is banning vacation time for five months My friend has been working for a beauty supply chain for 10 years. The store had a black-out period where nobody could request time off for November and December of last […]

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short answer Saturday — 6 short answers to 6 short questions

It’s short answer Saturday — six short answers to six short questions. Here we go… 1. Following up on a promise for connections About a month back, right before the holidays, I met with a high-level manager from my previous employer. He’s the direct boss of a former colleague that I keep in touch with, […]

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male coworker won’t stop staring at me

A reader writes: I have a coworker (a man) who stares at me (a woman) from across the room in office meetings, regardless of where we’re sitting in the room. Sometimes, he even turns around to look at me (for instance, acting like he is tying his shoe but then staring at me while turned). […]

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fast answer Friday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions

It’s fast answer Friday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers are all set against our new manager My old manager left last month. His replacement starts in a week. So my department has been basically without a manager for a month. In that month, all the bad […]

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how to address screwing up in your past

A reader writes: How do you address screwing up when you don’t have a good explanation? In my case, it’s a low undergrad GPA, although I think this question could also apply to work performance issues, past criminal record and many professional issues. I am applying for an alternative teacher certification and I am required […]

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my coworker watches porn in our shared office

This one is gross; stop reading right now if you’re squeamish. A reader writes: I share an open office space with 2 guys. When I came back from FMLA in September, I discovered that one had picked up a new habit: watching porn while I was working 5 feet away from him. Long story short, he […]

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