June 2013

how can I get my quiet, introverted boss to open up?

A reader writes: I wanted to get your perspective on a quiet boss. I have a mildly introverted boss. He communicates with others enough to get the job done, but beyond that it is difficult to even have a casual conversation. He never asks questions to keep a discussion going. I’m not an extremely outgoing […]

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my boss gave me a bonus — from her own personal money

A reader writes: I received a minimal raise (2%) at my last review. Another team in our small company just lost a big client, so getting any raise at all was a positive. But I asked for another $1,500 on the grounds that I’ve been a top performer among my peers (strong margins, returning clients, […]

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5 things you didn’t know could hurt your career

Some of the ways you could damage your career are obvious – poor work performance, shouting at your boss, and stealing from the company are all pretty well-known career-harmers. But there are less obvious things you might be doing that can also damage your career without you realizing it – and they’re worth paying attention […]

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my manager hacked my email, an odd PTO policy, and more

It’s wee answer Wednesday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Did my manager change a rude email after I complained? My old manager sent me a pretty nasty response through email while my current manager was away. I confronted the manager in question to say that I was upset […]

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advice for a first-time job interviewer

A reader writes: I’m a few years out of college and have been at my first desk-job-with-benefits for a year. It’s a very small nonprofit, so the task of interviewing prospective interns has fallen to me. I’m a little awkward and shy and talking on the phone makes me nervous, but with my supervisor’s help […]

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do I have to repay my sign-on bonus?

A reader writes: I am hoping to tap your wisdom surrounding the repayment of a signon bonus that I owe to my previous employer. In November, I landed a new job 3 hours from home — which meant relocation. The job seemed like a breath of fresh air. The work environment as well as the […]

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