December 2013

secrets of a hiring manager

As a holiday gift, this week I’m offering you 40% off my e-book, How to Get a Job: Secrets of a Hiring Manager. Put in this discount code and you’ll get a massive discount: holiday2013 Written from my perspective as a long-time hiring manager, this e-book gives you step-by-step guidance through every stage of your job […]

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should an extramarital affair disqualify someone from a promotion?

A reader writes: I was recently in a meeting to discuss internal candidates for a prominent and sensitive position with supervisory responsibilities. When going over candidates, one participant stated they had questions about Candidate A’s judgment, given that Candidate A was currently engaged in an extramarital affair with someone else in the office. Both the […]

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how to attain project management nirvana

If you’ve ever had the frustrating experience of finding a project you’re overseeing hasn’t turned out quite the way you’d hoped – or if you’re new to managing projects and wondering where to begin – try following these five steps to successful project nirvana. 1. Get clear on the desired outcome before work begins. It […]

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I was written up for foul language when I wasn’t even working, interviewing with a cold, and more

It’s five short answers to five short questions. Here we go… 1. I was written up for foul language when I wasn’t even working Recently two coworkers and I went to a local fast food place for lunch. Someone overheard our private conversation and complained to corporate about our “foul language.” (They identified us because […]

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7 things to know about job searching during the holidays

If you’re looking for a job and wondering if it makes sense to continue your search during the holidays … it does. Here are seven tips for job searching this holiday season. 1. Don’t believe people who say that no one hires in December. While it’s true that some searches slow down or get put on […]

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is it rude to stop going on office coffee runs?

A reader writes: is it rude to stop going on office coffee runs for the entire office? I work in a small office (15 people). There is a coffee shop directly across the street from our office. As a caffeine addict, I usually make a coffee run at least once a day during business hours. […]

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I was hired as a change agent but my manager doesn’t support me, disclosing grad school plans, and more

It’s five short answers to five short questions. Here we go… 1. I was hired as a change agent, but now my manager is backtracking I was recently hired as a change agent designed to bring a new skill set into a well-established department. My manager identified several areas for performance improvements during the interview […]

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