want me to review your resume? by Alison Green on August 13, 2013 I get a lot of requests to give people feedback on their resumes, but because it’s time-consuming to do it well, I usually turn them down unless they’re friends or family. But for a short time, I’m re-opening the resume review offer that I’ve run a couple of times before. When I’ve offered this in […] Read the full article →
my coworker won’t stop discussing his drinking, my manager loaned me his car, and more by Alison Green on August 13, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. I was promoted, but my replacement isn’t doing well and I’m getting drawn back in to my old work I have recently been promoted, and my company has hired a new junior member of staff to take over my previous role. However, despite […] Read the full article →
should you apologize when an employee you recommended for the job gets fired? by Alison Green on August 12, 2013 A reader writes: I’m asking this question for a coworker of mine. We both work as legal assistants for a large law firm. Last fall, the firm hired an employee whom she’d referred for the same position. This employee was just fired last week (after 9 months with the firm). Apparently, the people she worked […] Read the full article →
why are employers so rude and inconsiderate to job hunters? by Alison Green on August 12, 2013 A reader writes: I’ve been job hunting for about 18 months and my issue is people. I can’t handle all of the broken promises. I’ve had people make offers of help and then disappear. I’ve had interview offers rescinded (mostly involving scheduling conflicts until I find that the job has been filled). I’ve been told […] Read the full article →
what you should do before every interview by Alison Green on August 12, 2013 When you get a job interview, how you prepare ahead of time can be the difference between doing well and crashing and burning. Here are eight key steps to take before every interview to maximize your chances of performing well and landing the job. 1. At least one day before your interview, drive to the […] Read the full article →
my coworker flipped out, did my smile hurt my interview chances, and more by Alison Green on August 12, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Company wants me to submit a photo with my job application I know you’ve discouraged readers from submitting their photos in a job application. But what happens if a prospective employer asks you to submit a photo in addition to a resume and […] Read the full article →
who should pay at a networking coffee or lunch? by Alison Green on August 11, 2013 A reader writes: After spending my 20s building my career in part by networking, I have now achieved sufficient professional success that I am being “networked with.” Over the past few months, I’ve had several young early-career professionals ask me politely if they can take me for coffee and pick my brain about how I […] Read the full article →
a bomb scare made me late to an interview, agenda for meeting with a new boss, and more by Alison Green on August 10, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. A bomb scare made me late to an interview I had an interview on Wednesday for a job that is very promising for me. I left with what should have been time to spare, but the traffic and construction was pretty terrible, to […] Read the full article →
my employer encourages everyone to get drunk at company events by Alison Green on August 9, 2013 A reader writes: I have an odd situation at my new job. I recently started working at a small company in a major metropolitan area. My company sponsors happy hours during work hours (typically they start at 3:30/4PM in the kitchen in our office and can go until 10 or 11 at night) where lots […] Read the full article →
stop telling me you’re a great writer by Alison Green on August 9, 2013 It’s Flashback Friday! Here’s an old post from March 2009 that we’re making new again, rather than leaving it to wilt in the archives. It’s not a great idea — nor is it necessary — to brag about your writing skills in your cover letter or on your resume, via subjective assessments of yourself like […] Read the full article →