I talk too much in meetings! by Alison Green on April 26, 2013 A reader writes: I am a fairly young professional in a fairly casual office at a fairly small nonprofit. Recently, I received some feedback from my manager that I need to be “cautious of meeting etiquette,” that I should work toward not taking over or dominating the conversation in meetings and not feel as though […] Read the full article →
open thread by Alison Green on April 26, 2013 It’s our April open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything you want to talk about. If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. Read the full article →
fast answer Friday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on April 26, 2013 It’s fast answer Friday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. My comments in an interview might have lost my company a contract I made a huge mistake in an interview a month ago. I have been working part-time in a restaurant while getting my degree. The restaurant is an […] Read the full article →
why do companies make it so hard for employed candidates to interview? by Alison Green on April 25, 2013 A reader writes: If companies would rather hire people who are currently employed, why do they make it so hard to interview around a job? I clearly state that in my cover letter than I’m currently a “Junior Teapot Designer at Hatter & Hare” and email is the best way to reach me, yet I’ve […] Read the full article →
I think I went to a fake job interview by Alison Green on April 25, 2013 A reader writes: I applied for a job on Craigslist online three weeks ago. I was called to come in for an interview and learned it had been posted by a temp agency. So I went in for the interview and I thought it went really well. The recruiter who interviewed me told me that […] Read the full article →
how to ask for your old job back by Alison Green on April 25, 2013 A reader writes: Seven weeks ago, I left a job of five years with a nonprofit for a higher salary and the possibility of advancement at a much larger for-profit company. I liked working for my old employer, but the pay and opportunity were too tempting. My manager understood, and I left on a high […] Read the full article →
terse answer Thursday — 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on April 25, 2013 It’s terse answer Thursday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. My boss is reading my emails I’ve been having trouble at work. I went on FMLA medical leave from September to December, during which time my boss started to receive my email. When I returned to work, she decided […] Read the full article →
my rude and intrusive coworker makes me feel horrible by Alison Green on April 24, 2013 A reader writes: I have a question about how to deal with a coworker. Some background info: I’m a 25-year-old woman, outgoing, and I’m well liked around the office and have been there for 18 months. She’s a 64-year-old woman and some people around the office don’t like her much as a person (good worker […] Read the full article →
why do employers ask for personal references rather than professional ones? by Alison Green on April 24, 2013 A reader writes: I’m applying for a job that requests I send “three references other than previous employers or relatives.” Does this mean that I can’t use anyone I’ve worked with in the past? I’m several years out of school and nearly all of my references are work-related. Should I list friends? Old classmates? I […] Read the full article →
stop annoying people on LinkedIn by Alison Green on April 24, 2013 LinkedIn can be an awesome tool for networking and even finding jobs, but if you’re not careful, you can end up using it in ways that alienate the very people you’re hoping to form connections with. Here are some of the most common annoying behaviors to avoid on the site. Sending connection requests to people who […] Read the full article →