where’s the travel reimbursement I was promised for interviewing? by Alison Green on September 12, 2013 A reader writes: About a month ago, I was invited to a second round interview with a company in London. I asked them beforehand if they could reimburse my train fare, and they said they would certainly do so. We didn’t talk about how the reimbursement would be handled. I just assumed, perhaps naively, they’d […] Read the full article →
employer asked me to interview at 6:45 a.m. on a Saturday by Alison Green on September 12, 2013 A reader writes: I’ve managed to pass a skills test and move on to have a real interview at a good, career-building type of job. Yay! But the interview is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. on a Saturday. This strikes everyone I’ve talked to as really bizarre. I don’t enjoy the interview time but I’ve confirmed […] Read the full article →
W.T.F. by Alison Green on September 12, 2013 I’m currently hyperventilating over this Wall St. Journal article: Should You Bring Mom and Dad to Your Job Interview? An excerpt: “Some firms have begun embracing parental involvement and using it to attract and hold onto talent and boost employee morale … Some Northwestern Mutual managers call or send notes to parents when interns achieve their sales goals […] Read the full article →
getting paid for my notice period, coworker sent me an adult photo, and more by Alison Green on September 12, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. How can I ensure I get paid for my notice period? I’m considering another opportunity and may be handing my notice in by the end of the week. I was planning on giving 2 weeks notice. However, I could be moving to a […] Read the full article →
how to correct a colleague’s annoying writing habits by Alison Green on September 11, 2013 A reader writes: I am writing about a habit of my colleague that really gets on my nerves. When my colleague is speaking, he is prone to prefacing pretty standard words or phrases with expressions like “what I like to call” or “as I like to say.” Although I find this frankly silly when he […] Read the full article →
How to build a great professional reputation (and get raises, job offers, and admiration) by Alison Green on September 11, 2013 Having a great professional reputation can be its own reward: It’s fulfilling to have people think highly of you. But beyond that, a great reputation can give you tangible pay-offs, in the form of job offers, higher salaries, better project assignments, and the security of knowing that you’ll have somewhere to go when you’re ready […] Read the full article →
where are you now? by Alison Green on September 11, 2013 One of my favorite things about Ask a Manager is hearing back from readers whose questions I answered about how their situations turned out. So if you’ve had your question answered here in the past, please email me an update and let us know how your situation turned out. Leave no juicy detail out! And if […] Read the full article →
meetings scheduled at 10 p.m., when to call references, and more by Alison Green on September 11, 2013 It’s seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. I’ve been ordered to draft an email praising myself I recently started a position (it’s been a little over a month) as a facilities coordinator on contract for 3 months and was thrown into the deep end of it all! That’s fine; I […] Read the full article →
managing a mentally disabled worker who wants to do more, when you can’t invest in long-term training by Alison Green on September 10, 2013 A reader writes: I am writing to you about a problem my boss has with one of my coworkers. (I’m his PA, and since he’s not that good at hands-on people management, I try to advise him as much as possible on difficult matters, but now we’re at a loss.) I’ll call the coworker John. […] Read the full article →
can I bring a baby to a networking coffee? by Alison Green on September 10, 2013 A reader writes: I can’t tell if the answer to this question is obviously “no” or if there is some leeway here. I am about to go out on maternity leave. I will have almost four months out of the office, and while I intend to spend time with the new baby, I’d also like […] Read the full article →