open thread – March 28, 2014

by Alison Green on March 28, 2014

Sam and OliveIt’s the Friday 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.

{ 1,322 comments }

{ 1,322 comments… read them below }

  1. Aunt Vixen*

    Ugh, sitting at my desk on a rainy Friday with a migraine is the worst. There isn’t a ton of work I’m not doing, fortunately, so going home wouldn’t leave much undone or overburden my colleagues – but it also probably wouldn’t solve me anything, and would cost me some leave I’d rather not burn (because I likely won’t be able to make up the hours next week). So instead I’ll sit here and try to keep very still and hope when people do have questions for me they ask them quietly.

    1. ExceptionToTheRule*

      Migraine days are the worst. I’m fortunate enough to have an office & a door and the ability to turn off the lights.

      1. Aunt Vixen*

        At my old job I had this, and an understanding office-mate and other colleagues. :-) I could put a sticky note on the door saying “migraine – please proceed gently”. Now I have to huddle up at my cube with sunglasses and headphones (because people can’t see my earplugs) and a flag on my IM status, in case anyone happens to notice my IM status.

        (And she wears sunglasses, even when she dunt need to. Flash bastard.)

      2. Arbynka*

        I hate migraines. I have thyroid issue – had Grave’s, radioactive iodine treatment and have been jumping between normal, hypo and hyper. When I go hypo, I tend to get tension headaches, which is no fun but with hyper I get full blown migraines and it sucks. Right now I am finally “normal” – after what seemed like forever , the weight is going down, so hooray :)

      3. Canadamber*

        I don’t know what I’ll do when I’m an adult; the migraines can get practically debilitating! >_<; They just huuurt. :$ And Tylenol doesn't work for me and my parents don't keep any different painkillers around the house.

        1. ExceptionToTheRule*

          If they’re true migraines (as opposed to cluster headaches – the two are frequently confused), Tylenol is never going to make a dent.

          If you haven’t seen one, a doctor can start you down the road of migraine management with actual migraine medications, supplements (my neurologist is big on magnesium & vitamin B2), finding your triggers, etc. There are no magic cure-alls, but you should definitely see someone to help you manage and mitigate your symptoms.

          1. Arbynka*

            When my thyroid is whacked, my migraines seem to come randomly but I do have one known trigger – chocolate. My migraine management – and narcolepsy (when I get hypo I get narcoleptic, had actual sleep study done to confirm it) is really a thyroid management. It is amazing how having messed up thyroid can mess up your whole body. And the hair loss, not fun either :( Sorry, this turned into me venting.

        2. Katie (Fellow Migraine Sufferer)*

          You might want to see if your parents will take you to the doctor. There are some very good prescription medications that can either stop the migraine once it’s started, or dailies that stop them from happening at all (if you get them a lot).
          Also, don’t know if anyone has told you this already, but taking painkillers with caffeine in them (or taking them with a caffeinated drink) can be very helpful. The caffeine helps what caused the migraine to begin with.

          1. Maggie*

            I have found extra strength Excedrin to be pretty helpful. I do have to take it as soon as I feel the migraine starting though.

            1. Izzy LeighGal*

              Another vote for Excedrin to treat migraines, along with pounding back a caffeinated beverage (coffee or Coke) if you can stomach it.

            2. KayDay*

              Put me in the Excedrin camp. I get occasional migraines–they’re pretty awful, but admittedly mild compared to how bad some people’s migraines can get and I find Excedrin + a nap works reasonably well. I also usually take a vitamin, but I have no idea if that actually helps.

          2. Arbynka*

            What was helpful to me was Exedrin – it has acetaminophen, caffeine and one other thing, but unfortunately it made my stomach hurt.

            1. Alicia*

              Acetaminophen, caffeine, and codeine likely. Basically a weaker version (less narcotic) of a T3.

              1. Miss Betty*

                It’s acetaminophen, caffeine, and aspirin. (I don’t think medications containing codeine can be sold OTC in the US.) I agree about Excedrin – I don’t get migraines but when I was younger used to get terrible tension headaches that required pretty much the same treatment (darkness and quiet). Extra-strength Excedrin was the only thing that would begin to touch them. I still keep it on hand at work and at home.

        3. Kelly L.*

          I feel your pain. :( I grew up in a household where Tylenol was all there was and my migraines weren’t ever recognized as such or looked at by a doctor.

          If it helps give you hope, my migraines diminished in both frequency and intensity after my teen years. I can’t promise that will happen, but it can, potentially. I also got MUCH better at seeing them coming an hour or two before the pain actually started, so I could throw meds at them preemptively and dodge the worst of it. Excedrin works great for me. That and a cold coffee drink, for whatever reason.

          1. Emily, admin extraordinaire*

            I started getting migraines almost daily when I hit 14, and my doctor said I’d probably outgrow them by the time I got to my early twenties. He was right.

            I still get bad headaches sometimes, but nothing like I used to when I was a teenager. My go-to headache concoction is a couple of ibuprofen and a Dr. Pepper. I have to be careful not to drink caffeine too often otherwise, though, or it loses it’s efficacy.

          1. KayDay*

            My (somewhat curious) experience has been that for me, Advil normally works better–most headaches, aches/pains, lady-pains, etch. BUT, for my migraines (and occasionally other miscellaneous headaches) Tylenol works better. No clue why this is though.

        5. Jubilance*

          Also, take a look at the idea of trigger foods & see if they could be causing/aggravating your migraines. For many migraine sufferers, foods like cheese, chocolate, nuts & wine can cause migraines, and they are often told to avoid them to prevent migraines. This isn’t an exhaustive list but you could start there and see if any foods seem to coincide with your migraine days.

          1. Windchime*

            Yes to this. I cut out sugar and diet coke a few months back and my migraines stopped. Completely. I’m now allowing myself a small amount of both and still haven’t had a headache. But when I go on a sugar binge (as I sometimes do when I’m stressed), I can almost count on having a migraine the next day.

            For me, it’s not the caffeine in the diet Coke that causes the migraines; I think it might be the aspartame. Because I can drink plain iced tea (which has caffeine) and that doesn’t cause a headache.

            Migraines are weird. I take a prescription called sumatriptan when I have a migraine and it works great for me; my son has migraines and it doesn’t help him at all.

        6. samaD*

          nth-ing the reccs for caffeine, & checking out supplements with your doctor :)

          my husband also used to find that a cold cloth on the back of his neck, right at the base of the skull, would help a lot

          1. athek*

            I’m another advocate of a cold washcloth or ice pack. I get one of those with a pain reliever and a short nap and I can usually function for the rest of the day.

        7. littlemoose*

          Taking a Vitamin B2 supplement from GNC has helped reduce the frequency of my migraines. I just take one at night. But yes, see a doc! Triptan medications (Imitrex, Maxalt, etc) and/or an analgesic (Fioricet for me) can help tremendously. I also take another nightly Rx, amitriptyline, that has helped with migraine frequency a lot. There are good options out there!

    2. Persephone Mulberry*

      I also kicked off my day with a borderline migraine. Fortunately I had planned to attend a networking breakfast that I was able to skip while I waited for the meds to kick in, so I didn’t actually miss any work (feeling better and at my desk now!).

      1. Trixie*

        Do those migraine headbands help at all? I saw them in the news recently, and apparently they’re sold by Costco in Canada.

    3. Nina*

      My heart goes out to you. I experienced my first migraine while I was at work and I was in so much pain I thought I would pass out. My coworkers were really sweet; they stayed quiet and kept the lights low until the Aleve kicked in. I actually called my mother for advice, since she’s dealt with cluster headaches for years. After that, a regular headache is a walk in the park.

  2. Ali*

    Wow…first! I feel awesome!

    So I’m feeling a little disappointed today. Two of the jobs that I really wanted that I applied for about three weeks ago have not called back. I am of course continuing to apply and just sent an application before coming here, but it’s a little disheartening that the jobs were right up my alley and no call. One employer told me she’d be getting in touch with candidates in 1-2 weeks, and it’s only been one week since she said that, so I’m hoping maybe next week? Even so, I just hate waiting, especially since lately, it seems like a ton of AAM-ers and other friends of mine are celebrating cool job offers and promotions.

    I’m not really down in the dumps or anything, just a bit bummed.

    2. Jealous Friend*

      I just posted the exact same thing! This week a friend of mine got a job offer only a day after she interviewed and she has interviewed for three more positions since then. I never ever hear back from anyone ever (except internships) which I no longer have the time for

      1. Ali*

        Right? When I was trying to get into sports, a contact told me that I would pretty much have to do an internship. Who can do that when you have a full-time job on top of that? She swore to me that it could be done and she once worked 100 hours a week and had no life to get to where she is now…so if I wanted it I could do it too! Ugh. No thanks. Part of why I gave up on that field.

    3. Persephone Mulberry*

      I feel you. I’m not searching very hard right now, so when I find something I’m really excited about and then never hear back, it’s doubly disappointing.

    4. John*

      Ali, you’d be amazed at how slow some of these employers can be. As Alison often reminds her readers, other priorities come up. It’s always surprising because during the interviews the hiring managers often stress the need to get the new person in ASAP.

      For my last job, they had promised to call me in for a second round of interviews. That never happened and weeks went by and I moved on. Imagine my surprise when, first thing one morning, my phone rang with an offer. That was great, except it was so far out of my mind — plus, just the day before I came to the conclusion that mentally I NEEDED to get back into a work setting — that I just said yes without negotiating the salary at all. But it all worked out because the experience there set me up for the great job I have today.

      So keep the faith.

      1. Eden*

        I just got an email informing me that a company I applied to at the beginning of JANUARY has decided not to hire for the position after all. While I think it’s good form to let people know, the pace over there must be positively glacial.

    5. Audiophile*

      I’ve been there Ali. I had a friend get a job offer in December and they wanted her so quickly that she started before the new year. Meanwhile, I’ve been applying like crazy and had no interviews this month.

      I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.

    6. Ash (the other one!)*

      Same here. I found out this week that a girl who was a couple years below me in grad school just got a position at a place I applied and never heard back from. It’s made me regret a lot of choices I’ve made in my career thus far…

      It also is making me depressed looking through linked in and realizing that my peers all have more impressive titles than I do. Petty, yes, but it makes me feel awful.

      1. Orange Banana*

        I do this all the time too! Its probably not very good for my mental health – but I’m constantly checking LinkedIN or Facebook to see what my high-school peers are up to, and always feel inferior because I haven’t even really started my career yet (I’ve been trying for 2 years with no luck)
        I always wonder what could/should I have done differently so that I could be well into my career now (at almost 30yo) instead of a sitting duck in a pond full of (apparently) more qualified candidates…..

        1. Nadia*

          I couldn’t have said it better myself for my own situation. While my peers are out doing great things, I’m sitting here writing cover letters that don’t lead to any prospects.
          Woulda, shoulda, coulda, is something that always crosses my mind as much as I want to look on the bright side instead of the negatives.

          The best of luck to you!

    7. Virginian*

      Same here, but it’s only been a week for me. I applied to an project coordinator position with one of the cyber security firms but haven’t heard anything yet.

    8. Mints*

      Ugh me too. I was bummed when I saw a job that I was really excited about applying to, and I just banged out the cover letter because it was such a match. And then…crickets.
      You’re definitely not the only one.

      1. Ali*

        Awww thanks guys! I am currently employed, so I’m not desperate for a new position per se, but I am also eager for a change from what I’m doing now and want to work in an office again rather than working remotely. (And OMG if one more person tells me how lucky I am to be doing so and that “there’s a lot to be said for it,” I think I could scream cause I’m just that sick of it!) In a way, I’m hoping for some improvements in my current situation b/c it’s so daunting to be searching and be one of hundreds of applicants for a job. I will admit that even though I know I want something new, I’m also kind of afraid to leave my job. Between being there almost four years and my family going on and on about how good I have it, I know it’s gonna be a tough change whenever something comes up.

        1. Sunflower*

          I hate when people tell you how lucky you are because of your job. No one has any idea what someone else’s work situation is. I travel a lot and stay in fancy hotels and people think it’s great but I’d prefer a job that paid closer to market value and I could afford to go on these trips myself! People always overestimate how great working from home is too. It’s hard to be stuck in your house or apt every day, all day

          1. Ali*

            And not to mention my shift schedule. I work sometimes until 1 a.m or 2 a.m. (I did know I was in a 24/7 type business before going in) and it really sucks. But people say “Oh well you jut have to deal with it; that’s work.” Never mind that one of the girls on my team NEVER has to put in these late night hours like several of us do. She can work her eight-hour *day* shift and leave the second the clock hits the end of her hours. Must be nice.

            1. Kelly*

              My condolences to you. It sucks working in that type of environment where one or two people get out of the less desirable shifts, late night in most cases, because of seniority, family circumstances, or other factors.

        2. Mints*

          My “you’re so lucky” is that I don’t have much work “at least you’re not busy!”
          Meanwhile I’m job hunting for jobs that have a normal workload. Because as much as I lone the AAM community, I don’t want to be on here (or tumblr or facebook) quite so much

        3. VictoriaHR*

          The grass is always greener. In theory I’d love to work from home, but I know for a fact that I’d get too distracted by tv, etc., or I’d fall asleep, so I don’t dare.

    9. Nadia*

      I’m in the same boat, so I know how you feel! The waiting game really sucks. I’ve been waiting to hear from a job for about a week and a half ago, and still nothing. Considering I felt I was qualified for the job, the job description was exactly up the alley I want to be, AND my resume was personally sent to the hiring manager by someone in the company I’d met, … I feel really bummed.

      But trying to take Alison’s advice … Move on as soon as you send in your application! (although it’s a lot easier said than done for me)

    10. Laura*

      Today I got a call for a job I applied to in mid January. Some of these places take forever!

      I’m also in the position of having no luck in the job search, and all of my friends seem to be getting new jobs or otherwise doing well career wise, so it makes me sad

  3. Sunflower*

    I’m struggling with including company information in a cover letter. I’m applying to mostly larger corporations and it feels very fake when I talk about why I’m interested in the company. I’m interested because they are well-established large companies where I feel I can grow my career. But I never really know what to say about why they’re great. I spend a couple minutes browsing their website and recent news but I mostly end up talking about how I feel my goals are in line with their mission or about their philanthropic missions. It just sounds so fake to me and I’m looking for ways to make it sound more natural

    1. Betsy*

      When I was in the same position, I wrote my cover letters to talk about how I was looking for a company where I could grow a career, not just have a job. Not all of the reasons we like companies are related to the day to day work, and that’s okay! There’s a lot of value in an employee who wants to keep moving up internally, instead of taking their knowledge and skill and going somewhere else with it after a few years.

    2. Persephone Mulberry*

      Personally, I think if you’re not feeling it, don’t say it. Because you’re right, it will come across as fake, or insincere/shallow/cliche’d. Stick with what does excite you about the job – because you’re already a rock star at X, or because you’ll really be challenged doing Y, or whatever.

      1. Dan*

        Yes. I’m an extremely strong candidate within my niche (or so I think I am at least) and it’s really, really easy to write interesting cover letters. I feel it, it’s part of me, and makes for at the very least a decent story. When I talk about passion, I can show things that occurred over the last 15 years that play into why I want to do what I do.

        Outside my niche, I’m grasping at straws, and it’s hard to write cover letters that draw people’s attention. IOW, it’s not “me”, and it reads like it. Why am I applying? Because I don’t have a job. Why your company? Because you’re hiring. I’m just not as a compelling candidate outside my niche, and I’ve come to accept it.

        Thankfully, I like my niche and I’m good at it. The only thing that worries me is it’s a small niche and contingent on government funding.

        1. Elizabeth West*

          Why am I applying? Because I don’t have a job. Why your company? Because you’re hiring.

          This made me laugh; oh, how many times I wanted to say that when I was looking!

          1. Laura*

            I want to say that all the time! To the “why did you apply to this job?” my honest answer is really “you’re hiring, I’m in need of a job, I am qualified and capable of doing this job, and you don’t seem to suck that hard. “

          2. Candy Floss*

            From The Wedding Singer where Adam Sandler goes to apply for a job at a bank:

            Mr. Simms: Do you have any experience?
            Robbie: No, sir, I have no experience but I’m a big fan of money. I like it, I use it, I have a little. I keep it in a jar on top of my refrigerator. I’d like to put more in that jar. That’s where you come in.

    3. John*

      How about something along the lines of “Company X is a vibrant, growing company where I see long-range opportunities to apply my skills and experience to help Company advance its growth agenda while building a rewarding career.”

      1. Dan*

        That sounds like something people used to put in an objective statement, and we’ve gotten rid of objective statements.

        While the statement may be true, it doesn’t say anything unique about the candidate, the company, the role, or whatever. IOW, it’s not a differentiating statement that is going to stand out to a manager.

        1. TheSnarkyB*

          Actually, I don’t think it sounds like an objective at all. Also, remember that this is just one sentence of a larger cover letter. You could use that last part to segue into elaborating on yourself/skills/etc.

        2. Ask a Manager* Post author

          Hey, come on. Joey, I agree with you that John’s proposed language isn’t a good answer here*, but I want to repeat my request to rein in snark toward others.

          * John, the issue is that it’s very vague, could be said to any company you’re applying for, and sounds very jargony — you probably don’t really talk like that!

    4. ClaireS*

      I would give up on trying to make up something about how you like their mission (unless you really do). Focus on what you said about why your applying. “I am interested in joining a stable company with a prove track record of success,” or “I am looking to begin (or move) my career with a company that I can see myself working for long term with plenty of professional development and growth opportunities.”

      That last one may make people worry you want to climb too quickly but it’s one option.

      What do others think?

      1. Dan*

        It doesn’t “pop”. I’ve had to accept that I can’t write “popping” cover letters for every job that I’ve applied to. Some I can, some I can’t.

      2. Joey*

        I wouldn’t . The problem with those statements is they’re way too generic and more about what they can do for you. They would much rather hear what you can do for them in a position that’s currently vacant.

    5. Dan*

      Well, are you certain that large corporations are the best place to grow your career?

      I’ve been doing similar work at the last two jobs. The first was a smaller company, the second quite larger. The small company, while it had little room for “title” growth, had plenty of room for position growth. I’m glad I started my career there, I accomplished a lot and it positioned me well for my current job.

      Current job is a much larger company. While there is more “structure” and presumably more “official” rungs to climb, the rungs are competitive with little turnover. So it’s not something I’m sure I can count on.

      Also, smaller companies might be easier to get into. They don’t have the “brand” recognition, and therefore don’t draw the same number of applicants that the larger companies do. Put differently, ex-job hired plenty of people current job would never dream of hiring.

    6. Joey*

      It’s far better to talk about why you’re interested in a specific job at that company. Its great that you’re interested in a company but stressing that isn’t real helpful in terms of whether or not you’d be good for a specific job. Its fine to pick one or two things about the company in general, but it’s better if they relate to the job your applying to. Like talking about a product or initiative in an area that you will touch. Or talking about your work philosophy or values( which mirrors theirs.)

      1. Dan*

        I agree. I see a lot of people talking about “companies” here as if they are a specific thing that you will go and work for every day.

        In reality, companies are an abstraction. Sure, they’re the name on your paycheck. But what you go and work with and for every day are your job duties, your coworkers, and your manager. All of that needs to be chosen carefully.

        Case in point: I work at a non-profit that provides professional services to the federal government. We provide services in a range of specialties and disciplines. I do *not* want just any job within this company. I want a job in my division, and even then, specific jobs that are aligned with my background, skills, and interest. My division itself makes up about 10% of the company — IOW, 90% of the jobs here I wouldn’t want right off the bat.

      2. Sunflower*

        This makes the most sense to me. I see that it’s important to follow the company and the industry trends but I work in event planning and the majority of the roles are supporting the business- it would be impossible to follow every industry that every company I’m applying to is in. Think I’ll find one product or one thing they pride themselves on, relate my experience to it and then focus the rest of the letter on the actual position

    7. C average*

      Honestly, I’d say Google the company and read news about it rather than just visit the corporate website. And try to develop as much familiarity with their product or service as you can. If you can speak to any kind of history with the company, that’s good, too. So then when you get the question, you can say something like, “I’d say it’s a combination of personal connection, admiration of your business decisions in the past, and appreciation for the kind of work you’re doing now. I’ve been interested in Acme Chocolate Teapots since I had my first nibble of chocolate teapot back in college at Overachiever U. It remains my favorite dessert. Beyond my personal appreciation for your products, though, I’ve always admired what you stand for as a company. Back in 1992, when you had to deal with the chocolate mite infestation in your factory, you were transparent and proactive in dealing with the situation. I admire a company that does the right thing in a tough situation like that. I want to work with people who demonstrate that kind of integrity. Finally, I’d love to be a part of the ongoing work you’re doing to grow your artisanal teapot business in underserved regions. It’s important work that’s changing the industry. I’d love to be a part of that kind of effort.”

      Show that when you’re reading the business page–and of course you read the business page!–and you see the name “Acme,” your stop to read it because you’re always interested in what’s going on with Acme.

      I work for a ginormous corporation, and that’s what we look for.

      1. C average*

        . . . and yeah, I know that would feel contrived if you’re just looking for a job. I don’t know about other big corporations, but at mine we’re not really looking for people who just want a job. We want people with a strong interest in working HERE. It can be a challenging workplace, and it helps to have a genuine passion for our brand. The vast majority of us actually do.

      2. Elizabeth West*

        I wish I’d done that when applying to one place; I would have discovered that they were being federally investigated. I didn’t get an offer anyway, but I sat around for a couple of weeks worried about what to say if I did (I would have said no).

    8. VictoriaHR*

      Why not, “I’m interested in XYZ Co. because it’s an established large company where I can grow my career” ?? What’s wrong with that?

  4. TL*

    I don’t have anything exciting but I keep on passing up open threads where I’m right near the top. So I wanted to comment today.
    But I’m happy with my job and I’m enjoying working long hours and getting to know my new city and I really love my coworkers!

    1. J.B.*

      That’s great! I wanted to just minorly vent about office politics. No details, just cause. I’m happy to respond to your up thread post and to see that things are good where you are!

  5. CN*

    Hey everyone! I actually sent this in as a submission to Alison but it looks like she’s busy, so in the mean time I thought I’d post it here. I’m wondering if anyone can offer advice for my friend who is homeless. Here’s the situation —

    Until 1993, this man was an athlete, coach, and was later operating his own commercial sign/painting business. In 1993, he decided to do a walk across America to raise awareness for the homeless. He started in San Diego hoping to get to D.C., but in Texas, he had an accident; he was run over by an 18-wheeler truck.

    He was in a coma for a long time and came out almost completely paralyzed with extensive brain injury. He spent essentially a decade rehabilitating, and actually recovered to the point that he has basically all his faculties back, relearned how to read/write, etc. (he was even able to bench 400 lbs at one point! That’s AFTER being completely paralyzed).

    From then, he lived on disability for awhile and worked briefly at a construction company from 2005-07. But ANOTHER car accident in 2007 ended that job for him. Since then, he hasn’t been able to find employment. He’s been supporting himself by asking for donations with signs everyday in the city while trying to find work.

    I ran through his history with him, and these are the issues I’m most concerned about for his job prospects:

    –1. The gap since 2007, obviously…I’m not really sure how to tell him to address this? The accident is an acceptable explanation, but not for all those years, right? I asked if he’s done anything else since then (volunteering, training, etc.), but we couldn’t really think of anything. He was homeless a lot of that time and sold handmade art on the street to help support himself. That’s all we could come up with.

    –2. He does have work experience, but mostly from 1980-1993, with just some volunteer work from 1993-99 during his recovery. Obviously this is because of the accident. The only formal work since then is the construction from 2005-07. I know that resumes shouldn’t usually go back that far, but obviously his situation is complicated. How far back should he go?

    –3. This is the biggest issue — unfortunately, he has some felonies. These are from the ’90s. I do not know the specifics, but I am fairly sure that these were NOT workplace-related, and also that he has been completely straight since then — his record is clean since the 1990’s. I know it was 20 years ago…but realistically I also know that most, if not all, employers will probably strike him as soon as they see that.

    I’m not really sure what to do here. The gaps are one thing, but the felonies just throw an additional wrench in. He has only 2 years of college in graphic advertising. He also struggles a bit with short-term memory from the brain injury and is not so good with technology, so that cuts out some fields. Of course, he isn’t looking for anything fancy or white collar. Something in construction, maybe; he was also looking at a doorman job ad at a hospital. I’m just concerned that those 3 issues make this very difficult and I’m not sure how to approach this.

    Thanks everyone. Any help is super appreciated. :)

    1. CN*

      By the way, we DO live in a state where it is illegal to discriminate against people with criminal convictions unless that conviction is directly related to the job. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it really makes a lot of practical difference, especially not in situation’s like his. :/

      I’ve already looked up a few organizations that are supposed to help people with criminal records find jobs, but if anyone has any other ideas, that’d be great too.

      1. Crazy Cat Lady*

        What about applying for smaller companies? I’ve worked for companies that don’t even ask about criminal records or do background checks (beyond checking references).

      2. Crazy Cat Lady*

        What about applying for smaller companies? I’ve worked for companies that don’t even ask about criminal records or do background checks (beyond checking references). (This posted below but was supposed to be a response to you!)

      3. fposte*

        What kind of disability support/vocational rehab is available in your area? What about something geared to mainstreaming the homeless?

        I think it’s going to be tough work on the open market, so a program that funnels or an employer with a stated goal of hiring the disabled or homeless is the best place to start, if you can find one. I get that his rehab regained him a great deal, but it sounds like he’s still dealing with impairments that would make him eligible for such programs, so I think they’d be worth checking out.

        1. CN*

          You’re right — so far I was only looking into support programs for people with criminal backgrounds, but disability/vocational support is a good thought too.

          Well, okay, for the record, this IS NYC. So I know that there are supposed to be a lot of programs/organizations out there (and I’ve looked up a few already) — I just have no way of knowing how helpful they really are.

          If anyone can vouch for specific programs/organizations that’d be wonderful. From what I’ve seen, he’s already been to a few public assistance-esque programs and the employment advice they’ve given has ranged from mediocre to…seriously questionable, haha!

          2. AnAmy*

            Google ACCES-VR. They’re the state agency in NY that provides voc/rehab support to adults. It sounds like his disabilities are probably well documented and meet their eligibility criteria, so it’s very likely he could get assistance with training or job placement.

          3. Office Mercenary*

            Maybe the Doe Fund could help? I’m not sure if he’d be eligible; their target population is generally homeless individuals who have recently been released from prison, but if he’s homeless and has a criminal record they might be able to work with him. The Doe Fund is a non-profit that owns a few businesses ranging from garbage pickup to printing to catering, all staffed by their clients, who also get counseling and other services. That way they have some work history and references when they apply to new jobs.

        2. Elizabeth West*

          That was going to be my question too, especially since you said he did have short-term memory problems relating to the injury.

          Based on my experience (I can only speak for my state, but it may be similar), they have two choices: go back to school, or set you up with a job developer who helps you find an employer who can/will accommodate you. In his case, I would probably go with the job developer, since he isn’t great with technology and school will almost certainly require it. Plus, if he’s homeless, he needs immediate assistance.

      4. Lore*

        What about service organizations for the homeless? I know of the Doe Fund in NYC–but even if you’re not there, you might be able to talk to one of their resource people, or get some ideas about companies open to hiring formerly homeless people. I would think that many, many people who’ve had experience with being homeless have similar issues with resumes. This also might be a case where thinking local will help–are there positions at a hospital where he’s been treated, where he might know someone who could talk to a hiring manager on his behalf? Or anyone from his former construction job who might vouch for him?

        1. CN*

          I just looked up The Doe Fund and it looks promising. I’ll definitely pass it on to him, thank you.

          If anyone else knows any similar reputable organizations, please say so!

          1. Lore*

            I know someone who used to work as a program administrator for the Doe Fund, and he thought it was a great organization. Anecdotal, but one data point is better than none…

            1. Office Mercenary*

              I used to volunteer for them. I don’t know much about the larger operations, just that I really liked the people in my GED class.

        2. TheSnarkyB*

          Definitely look into Doe Fund.
          I mean, if you’re in NYC, you should Absolutely be looking at social services organizations. It’s just way too much of an uphill battle otherwise.
          But can I ask- why isn’t he still on disability? He should be eligible for social security and at least not have to worry about the most basic expenses until something else comes along work-wise…

          1. CN*

            I’m not sure. The way he said it, he WAS being helped by disability for a number of years after each accident, but it “ran out”? Or after a certain point he no longer qualified for it anymore? I’m not sure…I don’t know that much about this kind of stuff so I’d have to ask him in more detail.

    2. cecilhungry*

      Oh gosh. That’s really tough. I would second Crazy Cat Lady’s recommendation to look into smaller companies. I used to work for a local magazine that needed delivery people. It was a part-time job without much money, but it would show that he was out and doing something (obviously a delivery person might not be the best job for him unless he can drive, but I was thinking something along those lines that people won’t necessarily be doing b/g checks for, and that might just help him get some job-related activity on his resume).

      1. CN*

        @cecilhungry & Crazy Cat Lady — I didn’t realize that smaller companies might have different/more lax practices. At this point, he’s basically been applying anywhere he could, but I’ll look into targeting smaller companies specifically.

        1. fposte*

          Also, think about whether there are good things in his history that could be drawn on for connections. Felonies mean that schools are out, but are there alums of the school, or any of his former athletes, who remember him fondly?

          1. CN*

            Unfortunately I don’t think so. It’s been quite awhile since he’s been in school (it was like in the ’80s). According to him, most of his friends and family have passed away or are no longer in contact. I can definitely try asking again though to see if we can come up with anything.

    3. C average*

      Are there any social services organizations in your area that specialize in helping people like your friend? Maybe a nonprofit that helps with job training and placement for the homeless? (Apologies if there’s nothing like this in your area. I’m in an area that has many such resources. I don’t know how successful they are.)

      It’s good of you to want to help him.

    4. CN*

      Related question — at what point should he talk about the gaps? Obviously there are 2 blaring gaps — the large one from the 1990’s/early 2000’s, and the one since 2007 — both of which are explained by car accidents.

      But when should he bring it up? Is the cover letter an appropriate place to mention that aspect of his story and explain that he is trying to pick himself back up? Or wait until the interview stage?

      1. cecilhungry*

        I would put it in the cover letter, or he may never get to an interview. IMHO this is exactly what cover letters are for.

    5. Jamie*

      If he’s looking for something in manufacturing there are temp agencies dedicated to factory labor. All of our labor goes through a temp agency first and then if people are reliable, etc. they have first shot for openings.

      In many manufacturing places the criminal record may be less of an issue than in other places or higher level white collar jobs. Also, the temp agency we use actually partners with a halfway house for recovering addicts and others trying to get on their feet.

      It’s a foot in the door and absolutely can lead to direct hire – this isn’t just us, it’s standard in our industry in this area.

      I know we talk all the time about temping not being the option it used to be, but that’s for white collar temps. The temp labor market is booming.

      I would check into whatever vocational services he’s entitled to given being on disability.

    6. Puddin*

      Is he a vet? LOTS of help available through local VA and non-profits.

      If not, this sounds weird, but auto/motorcycle/boat dealerships might be the kind of small business where he can get in and maybe even move up. It is an industry where situations like this are somewhat understood and less important than in most industries. Sales would be 100% commission so there is some risk there, but service advising if he has an ability to use a computer to enter customer requests/orders pays well. Also look at parts counter work, running parts, receiving that sort of thing.

      If he is interested in construction, keep in mind there is a lot of competition for labor work there and that drives wages down.

      And in my experience, most criminal background checks only go back 10 years. (IANAF but I know people who know about these things.)

    7. The Real Ash*

      As far as the felonies go, is there any way to get in touch with free legal aid services in the area? They could look into getting one/some/all the charges set aside (aka “expunged”, agencies use different terminology) so that he has a clean record. Or at least get the “worst” one taken care of.

        1. Not So NewReader*

          She can check to see if the conviction was sealed for any reason. Actually,he would have to check. If it is sealed, he should make sure he knows what type of seal it and who can/cannot view it.
          For example: Sealed as far as police records but open as far as the general public. OR he may have youthful offender status which means the thing is sealed up tight.
          Check with each court involved to get an accurate picture.

        2. The Real Ash*

          I work in law enforcement, so I know firsthand that felonies can be expunged from someone’s record. Please don’t pass on misinformation.

    8. Lillie Lane*

      Just another suggestion — I know a bunch of farmers (veg, fruit, livestock), and most would not care about past history, as long as the person is reliable and hard-working.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        Ditto for nurseries (plants/landscaping)- a lot of these places do not worry about this stuff. You can tell them upfront the whole truth and they will still hire him if they have something suitable.

    10. AJ in Memphis*

      I would tell him to try either the local workforce investment networks’s training programs, apprenticeships and/or the programs offered to ex-felons by the goodwill and Salvation Army. Apprenticeships are a little harder to get but they pay well and will normally take a person with multiple convictions.

    11. CN*

      Thanks for all the help everyone. I appreciate it, and will definitely be looking into all the suggestions here! I knew it was smart to go to the AAM community. :)

  6. CanadianWriter*

    My mother is giving me terrible advice about calling places constantly and “showing initiative” to get a job. I already have a job, its just seasonal so I have two months of unemployment before it starts up again. Would you hire me for two months if I called you constantly? No. End rant about parents.

    1. Bryan*

      My mom used to do this to me too. She told me to lie. I asked her how she would feel if she was running a business and someone told her they would be there for a while but then quit after two months knowing they were going to quit the entire time. That tripped her up and while she admitted she would be mad she told me to do it anyways.

      1. CanadianWriter*

        I’ve tried to explain this to her. I would be tricking businesses twice a year (fall and spring employment gaps) and I’d make a name for myself pretty fast.

    2. Kelly L.*

      We’ve got to start that “Pounding the Pavement” coffeehouse that we discussed a while back. :D

    3. Poohbear McGriddles*

      Makes me think of a recent story on the Onion:

      Report: 95% Of Grandfathers Got Job By Walking Right Up And Just Asking

        1. Elysian*

          I was reading quick and my eyes combined words and came up with “Grumption.”

          I want to make “grumption” a thing now that my mind decided its a word. I think the definition would be – “When your elders give you horrible advice about how they got jobs in the good old days.” Used in a sentence: “My dad spent an hour talking about how I would have a job already if I only had grumption.”

          4. AmyNYC*

            Kind of like the Amy Poehler & Tina Fey/Hillary Clinton & Sarah Palin skit.
            “Yeah, you know, Sarah, looking back, if I could
            change one thing, I should have WANTED it more.”

    4. Adiposehysteria*

      I have seen so many posts on this site involving horrible advice by parents.

      Employers could get hundreds of responses to an open position and don’t want to hear from you. As far as they are concerned, you aren’t showing initiative, you are being annoying. Just don’t do it.

      People following this kind of advice is why so many employers are going through sites like Craig’s List now with anonymous postings. They don’t want 300 people calling them to show initiative. The problem is that those kinds of postings give you no way to see if a job is legit or a scam or to do any research in to a company before you apply.

      1. Heather*

        Exactly!

        While I was going through my job search, I was interested in several jobs posted on Craigslist so I always emailed the poster just asking for a company email address to send my information to. All the ones I responded to seemed legit (none of the make $2000/hr BS, because, well duh!) but I never heard anything back from any of them. I always had to tell myself that if an employer couldn’t understand that I didn’t want to risk giving my personal information out to scammers, that I didn’t want to work for them anyway. It was still always frustrating that I couldn’t even get to the point of applying with any of them though!

        1. Adiposehysteria*

          I’ve completely stopped looking on Craig’s List at this point since about 80% of the jobs on there are scams. I don’t want to join a pyramid scheme, mystery shopping or whatever other garbage these people are trying to con me in to.

          If anyone is reading this who is listing jobs there, please put what business you are from. Yes, I know it is annoying to get calls, but it makes it so much easier for strong candidates to apply.

          1. Phyllis*

            Hey!! Don’t dis mystery shopping! I used to do it a lot, and while you won’t rich, it’s a nice little bit of pocket money. One I used to do was for a grocery chain (that I shopped at anyway) that I could do 4 times a month for $15.00 a visit. (No minimum purchase required as long as I bought something.) I just figured that was $60.00 a month off my grocery bill. :-)

    5. StaminaTea*

      Yeah my parents have given me that advice too. That’s how my dad got his first job at the gas station, you know! Except it was the 1960s.

      1. louise*

        and, you know, a GAS STATION. Which is probably not part of your hopes and dreams (or your parents’ hopes and dreams for you, but they don’t realize what they want for you is actually Hard To Find.)

        1. StaminaTea*

          AFTER I got my masters, my mom told me I’d make a great security guard. Not a cop or a detective; a security guard. I love my parents, but yeah, their dreams for me are strange.

    7. Katrina*

      I’m really hoping that when it comes time for my future children to start applying for jobs I’ll get to tell them how easy they have it. “Back in my day, you’d apply to ten jobs and hear back from zero!”

      1. CanadianWriter*

        “Back in my day, we applied to 100s of jobs, and tried to pay with groceries with our tears.” (me at 60).

    8. Audiophile*

      My mother gave me the same advice as we. “Call places. Don’t just wait for jobs to be posted.” I did that once, and was promptly told, if it’s not on their website, there isn’t an opening.

      Of course the other day when I mentioned reaching out to small media agencies, I was told ‘I’ve been saying that for years’. Um no, totally different.

    9. VictoriaHR*

      My dad told me to go door-to-door to ask if they were hiring for professional entry-level writer positions. Yeah, not so much.

      Have you checked with a temp agency? Many of them have manufacturing jobs that would at least bring some cash in until your regular gig starts back up.

      1. chewbecca*

        I work front desk, and I hate it when people just walk up to me and ask if we’re hiring. Half the time I don’t know anyway, and we do almost all of our hiring through staffing agencies. Without fail, they’re usually younger people in their late teens or early 20s or in their 40s or 50s.

        I always tell them the agencies we use most often, but I really wish I could tell them people don’t really hire that way any more. I felt really bad for the woman last week who I think started crying while waiting for an elevator.

        1. Anonathon*

          Happened to me too when I worked front desk. We were on a major city street, and people would periodically walk in and ask to fill out a job application. We had maybe 30 employees and often no open positions, so conventional paper applications didn’t exist. In most cases, the person was clearly approaching every business on the street without looking at the sign or considering the size. (In sum: this method is not a good use of one’s time, generally.)

          1. Phyllis*

            Part of this (approaching front desk and asking if you were hiring) might have been people fulfilling requirements for unemployment. The only time I’ve ever drawn UE (in the late eighties) part of the condition of keeping your benefits was that you had to be looking for work, and you had to list (I think) four places that you had approached. Most offices knew this and didn’t turn a hair. Asked, answered, and you went on your way.

        2. Elizabeth West*

          Exjob took walk-in apps, because we were in manufacturing and you never knew when you might need to hire extra crew. But honestly, some of the people who came in dressed like schlubs, chewing gum (AND STICKING IT UNDER THE DESK), bringing their bf/gf along, etc.!

    10. kf*

      I am struggling with parents who said, get a college degree of any kind and you will be guaranteed a job. Nope, it doesn’t work that way today!

      1. De Minimis*

        I don’t know if it ever worked that way. It sure didn’t for me, and I graduated nearly 20 years ago. Maybe for my grandparents’ generation, when it was still pretty unusual to go to college.

    11. Persephone Mulberry*

      So, if I understand correctly – your mom thinks you should get a different job for the two months when you’re off-season, and you don’t want to? I’d just point out that you really enjoy your seasonal job and that you’ve budgeted to cover the gap financially (assuming this is true) and leave it at that.

    12. Naomi*

      I have a job with a similar schedule–if you want to pick up work during your off season, you could try freelancing or temping. It gives you something to do, and since you already have a regular job you don’t need to worry if you don’t make much money at first.

  7. Random Reader*

    A quick rant about being 25 and single- it sucks not having an automatic roommate. And whenever you mention going anywhere to your mom, she immediately asks, “Are there any potentials? Don’t you want to be in a relationship? Can’t your married friends set you up with someone?” Grrrrrrrr. That is all.

    1. CN*

      I feel you. It’s really silly how romantic relationships are (superficially) idolized and held up on a pedestal in our culture.

    2. CanadianWriter*

      And once you find someone its going to be: so when are you getting married? When are you going to give me a grandchild? Your eggs are dying up!!! HIDE ME.

      1. Slow Down!*

        In the receiving line at my wedding we got the “so when are you going to have a baby” question. Slow down, I’ve only been married two minutes!

        2. Cath in Canada*

          The correct answer to “so when are you having a baby?” is “you – you know that’s not actually compulsory, right?” (in a tone that suggests that you think they don’t actually know this). Works every time, when people ask that question of me and anyone else within earshot of me.

          1. AdAgencyChick*

            Brilliant. I need to use this one. (Although I suspect it would not work on one particular member of my family, who has told me many times that a woman can’t possibly be fulfilled without a child.)

            I also like “Well, if you give us five minutes and your broom closet, we can get started on that right away…”

            1. Ruffingit*

              If a woman can’t be fulfilled without a child, then bring on the unfulfillment, I will be happy to be unfulfilled until I die and am placed in the custom made lack of fulfillment coffin.

              I do not get this idea of children being the only fulfillment a woman can have in life. SICK theory, that one.

              1. Dwight K Shrute*

                Totally agree. Recently turned 30 and never hear the end of this. I’m perfectly happy without kids and my ovaries haven’t imploded because of it.

      2. Aimee*

        And once you do have a baby, it’s “so when are you having another one?” (Seriously, my OB/GYN actually said that to me as she handed my first born to the nurses to clean him up post-birth. She was totally kidding, and I joked back, but I got that question from so many people who were serious practically right after he was born).

        And when you have your second it’s, “do you want more?” (people actually didn’t even wait until the second was born to ask me that). And I hear that after the third it’s, “aren’t you done yet?”

        You can’t win.

      1. AVP*

        Eek, you guys! You are so young! You have plenty of time before you need to settle down! Move to New York or LA where no one gets married until we’re 32 and then you’ll feel really young and free!

        1. Sharm*

          No kidding! I’m 30 and almost none of my friends are married. Most of them aren’t even dating anyone.

          I do happen to be dating someone seriously, but even I am like, “Marriage? Now? But I still have so much to do!”

    4. Sunflower*

      I feel ya. 2 years ago all my friends were single and now there are like 4 of us. My mom is also always gabbing in my ear ‘Why don’t you date so and so, blah blah has to have some friends for you’. And it’s not like I haven’t let my friends know I’m open to being set up because I am and I have! And my therapist is begging me to try online dating- it’s awesome for people that do it but I attempted it once and decided I wasn’t ready for it yet. Hang in there!

    5. Stephanie*

      A lot of my friends are getting married (or are in long-term relationships) and I get a lot of “We need to find you someone!”

      *sigh*

      2. Laura*

        Pretty much all my friends are in long term relationships. Though none will be getting married any time soon, here it’s outside the norm if you’re married under 30. When I get the “We need to find you someone”, I always answer with “Well who do you have in mind? What are you waiting for?” Because I actually wouldn’t mind being set up a blind date, and when they say that they never actually mean it or put in any effort to find me someone :) I am also a lesbian, and women I just happen to meet, through my language class, or the writing group I’m in, or work or wherever are mostly going to be straight, just statistically, so it might be nice to have some one else put in the effort to find women who like women for me :)

        My mom is similar – any time I go anywhere with anyone she asks if there’s any potential girlfriends for me there

    6. Lily in NYC*

      Just do what I do and tell her that you’ve started seeing the hobo that lives in a box in front of your place. And then go on and on about how grateful he is for a hot shower and free meal that he will do anything in return. I do this to my nosy cousins and it shuts them up fast (thank god my mom doesn’t care about my love life).

    7. thenoiseinspace*

      I feel very lucky to have escaped this completely. I’m 26, and my mother doesn’t do this at all. She went to grad school, got married at her own pace, and had me at 32 (late for back then), so she’s always made sure I know I can do things in my own time. My friends are the same as well – everyone’s focusing on grad school or their career. In fact, I don’t have a single close friend who’s in a relationship at all at the moment.

    8. StaminaTea*

      I’m 29, unmarried, and childfree. Every time I go to Target the cash register prints me coupons for either cat food or baby formula. I’m also catless, but clearly Target needs me to get it together and choose either cats or children. Clearly I’m on the cusp of spinsterhood.

      1. Sunflower*

        I only get 3 kinds of Facebook ads- Weight Loss, How to Make a Man Fall in Love with You, and Dating sites. Yay for target marketing!

        1. shaky bacon*

          I’m married and I still get the How to Make a Man Fall in Love with You and Dating sites ads :/

        2. cecilhungry*

          I’m in a relationship and literally ALL I get are engagement ring ads! Look, I’ll get engaged when I’m good and ready!

          1. Aunt Vixen*

            My wedding is in two months. The planning, it is well in progress. I’ve got ads for wedding planning services coming out of my ears.

            1. BeenThere*

              I fight back and tell and mark all those ads as offensive. Works surprisingly well I finally started get more engineering related ads than well at your age society expects you to be doing this ads.

            2. LV*

              When I was engaged, Gmail would show me ads for divorce lawyers!

              (Three years later, husband and I are still going strong. I haven’t taken Gmail up on its offer yet.)

          2. Anonathon*

            As soon as I got engaged, I got baby-related ads. Maybe Facebook was telling me to cut to the chase?

        4. Stephanie*

          I get the weight loss ads too! Do they just assume all women around a certain age are trying to lose weight? Or is there some kind of creepy photo scanning going on?

          2. Kelly L.*

            The former. In my case, I really am overweight and I got another huge influx of them when I Liked a couple of plus size clothing stores. It was like playing Whack-a-Mole for a while.

        5. VictoriaHR*

          I lied about my birthday to Facebook because no one needs to know my exact birthday, tyvm, and now I get all the “companies need women 40 and up to try their products!” Not 40 yet. /sigh

        6. Rev.*

          “How to Make a Man Fall in Love With You!”

          Sunflower, thank you. That’s the title of my next blog!

          (Caveat: Following this advice will make a man fall HARD. If you decide to change your mind about the man you’ve worked this magic on, you will need a billy club and a pit bull to chase him away, and, even then, you may need the services of Vito “Knuckles” Patino to convince the poor slob that you’re Not The One.)

          1. Sunflower*

            Seriously I have clicked on these articles out of pure intrigue and the things they recommend would probably work on a 12 year old. Maybe. Big Maybe.

            1. Ruffingit*

              I’ve read those articles too and I always cringe because they truly are stupid. News flash, you don’t have to MAKE a man fall in love with you. If you have to make him do anything, you’re with the wrong person. Just saying.

      2. Jillociraptor*

        You’ve defied Target’s segmentation strategy! How are they supposed to lazily market things to you when you don’t fall neatly into one of two acceptable categories of late-20s woman? The modern woman: the downfall of capitalism.

        (I’m 27 and permanently coupled but not married, and also pet-free. Target always gives me coupons for frozen family size dinners. Who knows!)

        1. Katrina*

          Here’s to being 27 and permanently coupled! We’ll get married when we want to, MOM, sheesh.

          2. Jen in RO*

            My mom has given up on trying to convince me to married, now we’re on phase 2: when are you having kids? Well, how does ‘never’ sound?

          3. Arbynka*

            Ha, with me, so many people are so surprised to find out that I am married (15 years now) with kids. It’s like “no way”. I decided to take it as a compliment.

        2. Kelly L.*

          The targeted coupon that I remember best: Godiva ice cream bars, when I’d bought feminine hygiene products.

        3. StaminaTea*

          Nice! For a long time, Pandora was giving me ads for pediatric hospitals. I DON’T HAVE KIDS, Pandora. At the same time, I’m kinda happy that I get inappropriate ads – clearly Big Data doesn’t really know who I am, and thus my life is more private…

          1. Wren*

            I had a miscarriage about 6 years ago, but had already ended up on some “knocked up” mailing lists. I got junk mail for several years reminding me exactly what stage my child should have been at. It was HELL.

            1. Karowen*

              I’m seriously having issues trying to find words to convey how ridiculously awful that is.

            2. Ruffingit*

              Oh man, I am so sorry. I know someone who did two rounds of IVF and both failed unfortunately. A little while after the second failure, she received a couple of boxes of formula in the mail. That kind of thing is awful and I’m sorry you had to endure it. :(

          2. Trillian*

            I figure that as long as I’m still getting bananas, belly-fat, and “Doctors hate this Mom” ads, blocking trackers and purging cookies is working. Even profiling me as a tinfoil hatter is going to miss my demographic.

        4. Blue Anne*

          Apparently Target have actually managed to figure it out when customers were pregnant, sometimes before they’d told their families. There was a story going around a while back about an irate father who complained at Target about the discount coupons they’d sent his daughter for things like diapers, then called back to say “Errr… well… she just told us she’s pregnant, actually.”

          Just a lil creepy.

          1. StaminaTea*

            Yeah, I read that article! Target is champion of Big Data. It was fascinating. It’s also why I’m surprised they get me and my life so wrong!

          2. Karowen*

            The part I love is that, now that everyone knows they do that, they’ve started going out of their way to also include coupons for things you wouldn’t want to make it seem more random. Like, they know you’re expecting so they’ll send you a mailer that has a coupon for diapers right next to the coupon for wine and you assume that everyone else on the block got the same mailer so you go shop there instead of feeling creeped out and watched.

            1. Ruffingit*

              I don’t know. Once you see the prices of diapers even with the coupons, it probably does make you want to drink up.

      4. Ruffingit*

        That is hilarious, I love it! I’m childfree as well, though I am married and I’m grateful every day that I’m at an age now where people don’t ask me when I’m going to have kids or tell me I’ll change my mind. That crap was rampant in my 20s. Now that I am careening wildly toward 40, people are less likely to ask. But, I do get the coupons at stores for diapers so…yeah. Apparently the self-scanning machine believes I too need to add to the world’s population of ankle biters.

    9. Noelle*

      If it makes you feel any better, I was single until I was 27. And not just, not-in-a-relationship-at-the-moment single, but I-have-never-had-a-relationship-ever single. It does suck, but don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it.

      1. Emily, admin extraordinaire*

        33 and still there. I live in a place and culture where marrying young is the norm, too. Gets really old sometimes.

        But whenever I’m feeling really down about being single, I think of all the men I’m glad I’m not married to– including my brothers-in-law and my friend’s husbands. Dodged a bullet there! :)

        1. Noelle*

          Yeah, I would always wonder why *I* hadn’t found someone yet, and then I’d think about who my friends/family ended up with and didn’t really feel that bad any more. As my grandmother used to say (after her husband died when she was still young and people kept trying to get her to date), the only thing worse than being alone is wishing you were.

    10. Diet Coke Addict*

      Those of us on the other side get it as well in different ways. I’m 25 and married, and I constantly get “Aren’t you bored? Don’t you wish you could go out and party? Don’t you miss dating around!” and “Getting married young is like leaving a party at 9:30!” and “What, were you pregnant?”

      So basically it sucks for everyone, and everyone should just step off on everyone else’s choices, and things will be so much more comfortable!

      1. Elysian*

        YUP! I’ve gotten many an incredulous “Why would you DO that?!?” You just can’t win with people. I agree, everyone should just step away from other people’s choices (unless they’re asked).

      2. VintageLydia USA*

        Oh man. I met my husband at 18 and we married at 23 (we are 28 now.) So so often I see web discussions saying people like me are universally stupid. I just nope out of those sites, though. I just feel like I got lucky. I certainly wasn’t rushing to find a man to marry that young. I’m not judging (general) you for not being married. My having kids isn’t judging you for not having them. I don’t care about the status of your relationship or your loins so please stop talking about mine.

        1. Ruffingit*

          So many people make the mistake of thinking that people who do something different are making a judgment on their choice. So my choosing not to have kids is saying that having them is bad. UH…no, actually all it’s saying is that having them is bad FOR ME. You can have 10 if you want to.

          People think my choice to do something different is an indictment of their choice and they must defend their choice. My feeling on that is don’t defend your choice, live it and let others live theirs.

      3. Camellia*

        My daughter and her husband have been together since they were 15, got married when they were 20, and will be celebrating their 10th anniversary soon. And they have two beautiful kids aged 5 years and 2 years.

        And when I show pictures of my grandkids I find myself explaining, No, they’ve been married ten years and the oldest grandkid is only five!

        Sheesh!!

    11. lavendertea*

      My mom got married very young and always felt she sacrificed her education/career for it, so she was the exact opposite until recently–“Focus on school, go to college, get a degree, get a job, work for a while, and THEN MAYBE you can start thinking about dating.” Then she suddenly realized her children were in their 20s and hadn’t really dated very much at all, and she’s like, “It’s too bad you two have no social skills because you spent all of high school reading books!” PICK A SIDE, LADY!

      1. Random*

        “It’s too bad you two have no social skills because you spent all of high school reading books!”

        Haha that’s hilarious!!

      2. Kelly L.*

        I blame this kind of upbringing for the fact that, while I have dated pretty extensively, I always feel kind of guilty about it. Like, when I first tell my family about a new boyfriend, I feel like I’m admitting to misbehavior. And I think part of the reason I’ve never had kids was that 110% of the messaging growing up was “DON’T GET PREGNANT!” I still feel often like I’m “too young” to have kids. I’m 36! Lol!

        1. VintageLydia USA*

          A friend of mine is dealing with the same thing. Right now she’s child free but there is a lot of anxiety and emotion to unpack there. I hate it when parents insert their own issues on their kids but I guess that’s sort of inevitable.

        2. Elysian*

          I got the Don’t get pregnant! message hard, too, growing up. When my friends announce their pregnancies to me a part of me still thinks “Oh no! What are you going to do?? How will you tell your parents?!??” Then I remember that I’m 28.

          1. Kelly L.*

            Me too! And somehow my younger siblings got over it, because they have kids, but I guess I either just got the lion’s share of the worrying as the eldest, or else I’m just more anxious by nature!

          2. Stephanie*

            HA. I’m 27 and it feels almost odd now to hear friends talk about getting pregnant without freaking out. A part of me totally is still like “OMG, what are you going to do?!”

          3. Sunflower*

            HA Same! My mother said if I got pregnant, don’t bother coming home.

            It’s definitely weird to see people getting pregnant on purpose though.

          5. LV*

            That reminds me of a joke by Aziz Ansari about the show “16 and Pregnant” – he said something like, “That show could be ’36 and Pregnant’ and I would think, Oh no, those poor kids, they’re ruining their lives!”

        3. lavendertea*

          I got the “DON’T GET PREGNANT” a lot too, which was HILARIOUS in HS because I never dated. I think I put that to rest though, because once when my dad was saying it for the umpteenth time I said, “If I got pregnant, you would never even know.” THAT caught him off guard!

        4. TwentyKittens*

          True story – my very first thought after discovering I was pregnant was “Oh s$%*, my dad’s gonna kill me!” I was 35, married, careered, and owned a house.

          And my dad had been dead for 8 years.

    12. Dan*

      I’m 34 and getting divorced, wife and I got together when I as 29. I live alone, and LIKE IT. The nice thing about getting divorced is people don’t say “oh you should get out and date” ;)

      I like living my life for myself and only myself. Am I open to dating again? Sure, but for the moment, I really like doing my own thing without having to answer/be responsible to somebody.

      1. Anonicorn*

        Living alone is the absolute best. I almost didn’t marry my husband because of the whole cohabitation thing, and for a while I seriously considered suggesting a duplex arrangement. “Your house is over here, and mine is next to it, and you can come stay at my house once or twice a month when I’m lonely.”

    13. the_scientist*

      WORST. When I turned 21 my mom cornered me and was like “your eggs are in your prime so you should find someone ASAP”. Honestly, it’s too bad we were at home and not in a moving vehicle, because at least if it was a car I could have jumped out and done a tuck and roll to get away. I’m now 26 (i.e. the same age my mom was when she got married) and have already received three wedding invitations for this summer. So I guess it’s just…that time. I’d also say I average 1 new engagement announcement a month amongst my facebook friends.

      I have noticed a difference between my peers that went on to graduate/professional school and those that didn’t. Now that I’ve been out of undergrad for 3/4 years, the ones that didn’t do additional schooling have put down roots and are starting to buy houses, get engaged/married. My peers who have done more school are still so unstable, life-wise- renting, living on tight budgets, moving every 2-4 years or so (I include myself in this category).

      I always anticipated being permanently single/chronically unlucky in love for some reason, but I’ve been with my (really awesome) boyfriend for a little over a year, so my mom’s relaxed on the dating front. Of course, she’s now dropping hints about grandchildren so you really just cannot win. Hilariously, despite having zero information about my age or relationship status on facebook the most frequent ads I get are for engagement rings.

      1. The RO-Cat*

        On FB ads: I installed FB Purity some time ago (add-on for Firefox) and that solved the ad headache (and other things that bothered me on FB).

        1. Me too*

          And Adblock Plus and Ghostery for Firefox. I now have to go to someone else’s computer to see what an advertisement looks like.

      2. Midge*

        Yeah, the nagging doesn’t stop when you start dating someone. The other day I was telling my mom about a male coworker who seemed to be flirting with me a bit. And her response was that my boyfriend should propose, and that would take care of that problem. It’s just ridiculous.

      3. Stef*

        My boyfriend and I are being weirdly pressured by his grandma! We graduated from college a year ago and a week later she was ranting about how selfish young people are these days, not getting married and having kids the moment they finish college. Four years ago, she wanted him to break up with me so that he didn’t have children in his late teens/early twenties like his older brother. There is no winning with some people.

    14. Puddin*

      OH man, I hate hearing this kind of thing. I would feel so diminished. Like I am not enough on my own, being my own person.
      I am sooooo glad I never got this from my mom. She never bugged me about kids either. She is not perfect and I think she is a little touched, but at least there was never any pressure in these arenas!

      1. Ali*

        I am 28 and have never had a relationship either. At work I am pretty much alone in this boat as pretty much everyone else on my team is in a serious relationship, engaged or married. There is only ONE other single person on my team. He’s a good guy and we have good conversations, but I am hesitant to have a relationship with someone from work and being that I work from home, it’s not like I’ve ever met the guy in person. We could be completely incompatible anyway.

        I cry every Valentine’s Day pretty much to see everyone else getting flowers, cards and presents while I’m left with nothing. This past V-Day, I was working and had to order pizza. How romantic.

        1. The Real Ash*

          Don’t cry on V-Day. It’s just a marketing gimmick. I know that it’s difficult to be single on that day (it was my first single V-Day in ten years this year), but you can’t let that crap get you down. Next year, if you’re still single, get on Meetup and find a Singles Awareness Party to attend. Those things are great!

          1. BeenThere*

            My husband and I have always boycotted V-day. Our rule is that no one is allowed to spend any money, so we usually spend the night in with a home cooked meal.. if we aren’t working. One year when we were both at the same company failover testing was scheduled on v-day I volunteered along with the other woman on team who had the same sentiments about v-day as did my husband. We both couldn’t care less about the day and were able to use it as a bargaining chip later to have better days off.

            1. athek*

              When I used to get a tax refund, I used to do my taxes on v-day…. at least I got money out of the deal.

        2. lavendertea*

          honestly, being single on v-day has always been more fun to me, because I use it as an excuse to be even more self-indulgent than usual. it makes me much more anxious to have to plan a holiday with a s/o and worry about both of us enjoying it, having wildly dissimilar expectations, etc.

        3. LMW*

          I sympathize. I’m totally having one of those weeks where I’m very aware that everyone else is married and I’m alone. Even my little sister is engaged. Kids I used to babysit are married. My last close single friend is having a wedding shower this weekend.
          Sometimes it just sucks (just like I’m sure sometimes the other side sucks).

          1. CarrotNotKarat*

            I’m in a similar situation. One thing my pastor said in a sermon a few years back really stuck with me and has made me appreciate being single: “It’s been to be single and wish you were married than to be married and want to be single.”

            1. Not So NewReader*

              Wise man. Feeling alone while IN a relationship is sometimes worse than being alone.

        4. Sunflower*

          I’ve also never been in a committed, ‘real’ relationship and oddly enough this year was the first year I’ve ever been truly alone and not remotely interested in anyone when valentines day came around. It was the best one I’ve had! Every year Ive been sort of seeing someone and it’s always kind of disappointing when they don’t get you anything and you were secretly hoping for something.

          Also, if it’s your cup of tea, valentines day is the best day of the year to hit the bars and look for guys because if there isn’t a woman standing next to them, 95% chance they’re single

        5. Stephanie*

          I’m 27 and haven’t been in a committed, “real” relationship. I guess I should feel worse about it? Society has me believe this. As evidenced by all these other comments, you’re not alone. You might just be a late bloomer.

        6. Natalie*

          Gurl! This last Valentine’s Day was my first as a single lady in 11 years (2 LTRs back to back) and I was working late on a Friday. But since all of my coworkers are coupled and seem to think Valentine’s calls for a day off, I kicked off my shoes, turned my music up loud, and drank a little wine out of our work wine stash. It was awesome, a++ would do again.

      2. Mallory*

        Ha! This is how I hope my kids will think of me and how I’m very graciously not nagging them about their love lives (when they’re old enough for that to be an issue): not perfect, maybe a little touched, but at least not a nagger. :-)

    15. TL*

      My parents don’t do this – I’m generally their only single child and my other siblings seem to draw their attention away from me.

      But the one time my dad starting harping in on me, I looked him dead in the eye and said, “Just ’cause I’m single doesn’t mean I’m not getting any.”

      Nobody who was present for that – him, my uncle, my mom, and my youngest brother – has ever asked me about my love life again. Score!

    16. GoodGirl*

      Do you live in the South by any chance? Your mom sounds exactly like my good friend’s mother – even since my graduated from college, her mom has been obsessed with finding her someone. My friend is now in her early 30s and I think the mom is starting to lose hope. :(

      My mom is the opposite – she doesn’t want me to marry my significant other, even though we’re happy and in a functional relationship and well into our 30s.

      1. Tinker*

        Yeah, I know what you mean — my mom’s from the South, and although she’s pretty good relative to some I know of, she spent a chunk of the last holiday season pushing the notion that I needed to find a husband.

        This got especially fun when she then moved on to make sure I understood she meant “husband” instead of “partner” and started speaking of me in ways that asserted the assumption that I was resentful of men in the style of the old “man-hater lesbian” tropes.

        I get that this is, like, straight from the playbook of 1960s Texas small town, particularly if one forgets that I’m 33 and not 19, but that sure doesn’t keep it from being frustrating as all heck sometimes.

      2. Random Reader*

        Actually in the Midwest. I think part of it is all her friends are becoming grandparents. She’s also been knitting a lot of baby sweaters, even though I’m single. I do have to say, when and if it ever happens that I get married and have kids, that kid is going to be showered in lots of knitted grandma sweaters and hats :)

      3. Mallory*

        I’m from the south, and when I wasn’t married by the time I was 23, my grandma came to me and said, “Well, ‘Mallory’, some people just aren’t meant to be married, and I guess you’re one of them.” I felt really triumphant in that moment, because up until then, she had been insisting that I would marry the first man who asked me (because all women want to be married so badly — not because I’m particularly desperate). It was sa-weet to hear her admit that I wasn’t the marrying kind. (I got married at 26, though).

    17. chewbecca*

      I got this from my grandma a lot. I’d mention I was doing something and she’d ask with whom. God forbid it’d be a guy because I’d have to say something along the lines of “my FRIEND Wakeen”, of course that never deterred her.

    18. Katie the Fed*

      I see there’s been a lot of follow-up on this but I’d like to say that I LOVED being single in my 20s. So much so that I just stopped making an effort to date at all. I got so used to being independent.

      When I finally decided at 32 “ok, I want to date” I found my guy via online dating, and that was that. We’d both enjoyed being single for a while, were both at that place in our lives, and we worked really well together. I don’t think I’d be as happy if I’d been married in my 20s – I had to go out and do my own thing.

      Now, the hard part of that is living together after having each lived independently for over a decade. There have been quite a few moments of having to remind myself not to throttle him and that I’m actually quite fond of him because it’s a BIG adjustment.

      1. Sunflower*

        I’m 25 and feel the same way about dating now as you did in your 20s. I just got a taste of being independent and I love doing stuff on my own! Your 20s are about learning and even though things are rocky sometimes, I secretly kind of love having no idea where my life is going or really what I’m doing.

      2. Mallory*

        We got married going on 18 years ago at 26 (me) and 32 (him). Sometimes I think we both miss having our own separate spaces. I mean, the kids each have their very own, private rooms — they’re in more luxury than we are when it comes to personal space! We talked about, when we are able to do any home remodeling, making two master baths so we each have one of our very own to hole up in.

    19. Dang*

      I’m almost 30 and single. 24-28 I was in a relationship, most of it live-in. So I avoided what you’re going through now, but NOW it’s ridiculous because most of my friends are mostly recently married and “omg so are you talking to anyone?” It’s really not even on my radar because of how devastating the breakup was, and how I need to find a job and get the rest of Life in order. I’m not a ‘catch’ right now, most people I’d want to date would be very hung ho about dating an unemployed chick living at home!

      Just remember we all follow our OWN timelines. It’ll happen when it’s meant to happen and the annoying pity from friends/family is based on their own feelings, not yours!

    20. Gene*

      When I got married the first time, I was 27 and wife was 33, her first too. After she died at 45 (not unexpected, when she was young, doctors told her she wouldn’t live to be 30) I was 39. Got married to wife #2 when when we were both 41 – her first.

      Tell your mom to stuff it and enjoy your time living alone.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        Sing it from the mountain tops, Gene.

        Folks whose parents are saying “hurry up- get married, have kids” should just tune out those comments.

        I met my husband just after I turned 18. He died just before my 46th birthday. I honestly believe that there are many aspects of life to be experienced and marriage is just one aspect.
        No one is less than or more than because of their martial/kid status.
        The truth is sometimes we lose our spouses, kids grow up and leave the nest and then we are faced with the question “what am I going to do with my life?”

        You can face this question now. Or you can face it later.

        Put the time in, figure out who you are, what you want out of life and where you want to be in years to come. That is the really important stuff right there.

        These prompts to get married/have a family belong in the same file as the parents’ job hunting advice. You know, that circular file next to your desk…..

        Aside to Gene: Congrats on your marriage! Many happy years to you both!

        1. Gene*

          Thanks! Coming up on 17 years now. Yes, we’re old.

          This morning in physical therapy, the girl (just graduated university in January) shadowing my therapist said something about “Old guys like you.” I laughed…

      2. RJ*

        I got married at age 41 to my 40 year old husband – first marriage for both of us, and for him, his first real committed relationship. My best friend got married when she was 44, in what was really her first relationship ever. She dated a little bit off and on but had never been romantically involved with anyone. I always say that we avoided the missteps of a failed first marriage by staying single while we were still discovering ourselves.

    21. Jubilance*

      Wow that sucks :-( My mom’s advice was always “don’t even think about getting married until you’re 30” and she never gave me any pressure to be in a relationship, which I’ve been thankful for. At 25 you have plenty of time!

      1. Stephanie*

        Luckily, that was my mom as well! She saw both her sisters get married and divorced before 30, so she’s like “Just work on your own timeline. Better you get married at 33 and get an established idea of yourself versus rushing to get married by 26.”

    22. Stephanie*

      Just say “I’d go put myself out there, but I’m too busy eating pints of Haagen-Dasz and trying to squeeze into bridesmaids dresses.”

    23. AmyNYC*

      I love my boyfriend a lot, and I’m happy to move in with him for many reasons – but not dealing with roommates anymore is definitely in the top ten!

    24. C average*

      I love my husband and stepkids, but sometimes I’d sell my soul to have the house to myself so I could watch dumb TV in my underwear and eat cereal for dinner. I miss those days sometimes. If I had it to do over, I’m honestly not sure I’d get married.

  8. Sunflower*

    So I recently started using this new job search site called The Ladders and it shows you information of the other people that applied. So far the jobs I’ve applied to I’ve been qualified for but people applying are much more qualified than me. I have 3 years of experience and bachelors degree and these people have 8 and some have masters(masters aren’t really necessary in my field). Just a little disheartening to see that this is the competition I’ll be fighting with over any available jobs.

      1. Sunflower*

        Oh wow, I haven’t applied to any jobs through the actual site- I get emails about positions(for free) and apply to them directly through the company site. I am impressed with the jobs they send out though

    3. thenoiseinspace*

      I feel your pain (and I have two masters, actually – they just made me over-qualified for entry level jobs for quite a while, even though I didn’t have enough experience for anything higher.) But just yesterday, I got an email from a job I applied for. It said that they never even consider anyone with less than five years of experience. I went back and checked the actual job posting, and it said only three years were required. I wouldn’t have applied if the posting had said five! Trust me, I don’t WANT to waste your time!

      1. Audiophile*

        That’s strange.
        I had a hiring manager email me once and rudely write “tell my why I should hire you, when you didn’t tell me whether you were interested in the full-time or part-time role?” I took a look at my cover letter again, where I had clearly explained I was looking for full-time work and then also mentioned that the ad said nothing about part-time.

        1. Dan*

          So write her back and ask her why would you want to work for somebody who can’t read basic English.

        2. Mephyle*

          I would like to see a whole post about this! How should one react? Pretend the hiring manager is being reasonable and answer politely, or let a bit of snark creep through?

          1. Ask a Manager* Post author

            “I think you might have misdirected this! I do indeed say in my cover letter that I’m looking for full-time work.”

            However, you might also take that as a flag that you have no interest in working for this person.

            1. Audiophile*

              I took it as a red flag.

              I wrote something similar to what you stated and I think I also put the URL in my reply to show that the job post did not mention part-time.

  9. The LeGal*

    In my last four positions with my current company, I have not been given any training – at all.
    What are your tips for being successful in your new role when you haven’t been given any training, and aren’t going to get any? I have been doing well (by reading manuals, discussing concerns w/ managers, studying net articles / blogs, asking questions – both good and bad, and lots of other stuff.)
    Also, what are your tips for keeping a solid reputation when you are still learning the ropes?

    1. Malissa*

      Admit mistakes and ask questions! Both will show people that you are doing your very best to learn.

    2. Jamie*

      What kind of position is it? If there are others in that position this is where you try to find a mentor to help show you the ropes.

      Why aren’t they training you? That’s so weird.

      1. It's the economy*

        I haven’t been given any training since the beginning of the recession because my employer says that there are people who already have the training and waiting in line to get a job, and he’s right. So either I train myself or I don’t have job.

      2. NM Anon*

        Our company doesn’t provide any training for new hires. They’re given the manual and told to do the job & turn it in to be QC’d. It’ll get rejected & sent back to them for corrections. You’ll turn it in again, it’ll go through one tier of QC and be sent to another, where it’ll either be approved or more than likely, rejected & sent back to you for corrections. This will continue until you “get it right” AKA “the way they want it.”

    3. J.B.*

      What training do you think you need? If you think something would help and you haven’t put a business case together to support it, then do that.

      I wouldn’t be worried about reputation while learning, unless the expectations are unreasonably high…? Being responsive anytime someone needs help that you can give helps. Knowing where to go for the answers to questions is a huge benefit for the long term.

    4. matcha123*

      I don’t know how much help I can be. I also haven’t been given any formal training in my past two positions.
      What I try to do is observe the people around me, apologize when necessary and leave myself open to anything. There was a job that I really did not want to do, but, I wasn’t in any position to choose. It was very difficult and on top of that I was given a very basic outline of things to do. I just tried to take any advice from my coworkers, tell them that while I don’t know everything, that I am willing to learn and read through whatever they threw at me. I ended up quitting that job, but my supervisors told me that they were impressed with my work.

      TL;DR: Stay observant, know that you’ll make mistakes and don’t feel bad when you trip up as long as you consistently make the effort to improve. And try to keep a positive attitude and open mind :)

    5. ClaireS*

      I’ve been in several “trial by fire” situations before. My biggest suggestion is to manage expectations and ask a lot of questions. When someone requests something, answer with “yes, I can try to do that but would you be available for some guidance along the way as I’ve never done that before.” Or “sure, I’d love to try but I would need x,y and z to make it a success.” Stay positive but assert yourself when you need things from others. In my experience, people really respect a go getter attitude tempered with a knowledge of when to ask for help.

      Good luck!

    6. C average*

      This is really interesting to me. I’m currently writing a playbook for our department’s geo expansion and, as part of the project, interviewed everyone on the top of the org chart in our department. One of the questions I asked each of them was, “What kind of training did you receive when you started, and what kind of training do you WISH you’d received?”

      To a one, they said, “None, and ANYTHING would’ve helped! It was sink or swim.”

      Which led to me pondering a lot how the successful people got that way. Here are a few theories.

      –They were good at identifying who on our team had knowledge and influence, and they found ways to learn from those people.
      –They had good instincts for dealing with mistakes appropriately. They knew they were going to make some, and they had a damage control plan. If you make a mistake and don’t know how to fix it, do you have someone knowledgeable you can trust enough to ask? If not, find that person.
      –They understood the hierarchy, including escalation paths. They knew that they should ask Bob about finance questions, Judy about HR issues, Luanne about operations, etc. If you aren’t clear on who you go to for what, find one person who’s been around for a while and ask him or her to break down the org chart for you.
      –They were clear with the rest of the team about where they had confidence and where they’d need training. This way, any training could be targeted, rather than ad hoc. There’s no sense creating a comprehensive training plan that spends a week on a certain program when the newest hire is already an expert user. In some cases, the existing team wound up learning from the new hire, which was awesome.

    7. 22dncr*

      In 20 jobs I have received training once and that was only for the mondo-convoluted software package. Usually it’s: “Here’s your desk, here’s the computer manual, no one here knows how to work the system, good luck.” Always managed to make it and most of this was pre-google (;. When I have been to classes like for Excel or Word I get bored really fast. I think my brain thinks like a computer – or I’ve learned how to make it do that! No advise because I’ve always had sink-or-swim jobs. I seem to thrive on it.

    8. Ruffingit*

      That’s been an issue in my last few jobs as well. It’s a thrown to the wolves kind of thing. How to handle it is dependent on the job of course, but overall talking to co-workers and asking questions has been helpful to me as well as just generally poking around the systems. For example, come in half an hour early and just mess around with the computer programs they use, take a look in the filing cabinets to see how things are filed and what is needed, etc. Those are very simple tips and again, what you do is dependent on the industry, but the best you can do is look around, ask questions, and do the best you can to learn the ropes without hanging yourself with them.

  10. BB*

    Has anyone used Twitter to connect with industry people? I’m in creative services and I think thoughtfully replying to tweets and seems like an easy, non threatening way to put yourself in people’s lines of vision.My issue is I have a twitter but I mostly use it to tweet dumb jokes and live tweet reality TV- nothing offensive. I’ve contemplated starting 2 different accounts to separate work and fun but thinking also maybe having them together would show more personality. I’m leaning towards having 2 separate accts- a blocked one for my friends and a public one that I include some personal stuff on but use to mostly connect with people. Thoughts?

    1. Adiposehysteria*

      It isn’t a bad idea, especially for tech and creative stuff. I would suggest learning to use the advanced search feature. Some places post open positions on Twitter and the best way to find out about them is to search.

      Additionally, Twitter is a great way for networking since it is so easy to connect. Just make sure that you have one account for professional use and one for personal stuff. No one you are connected to professionally wants to see pictures of your cat or whatever you normally post. Tweetdeck is a great way to keep track of multiple accounts.

      1. cecilhungry*

        Ha, I just gave the exact opposite advice. This is probably sounder, although it may depend on what kind of industry you are trying to get into.

        1. Adiposehysteria*

          Well, if you were looking for a “cat photographer” position, one account would probably be perfect, lol.

      2. BB*

        Thanks this is great info! I didn’t realize it was common to have several social media accounts on one site- I recently found an app like Tweetdeck but for Instagram. I’d really like to work for a magazine so a lot would be reaching out to editors and writers and getting involved in industry discussions.

    2. cecilhungry*

      I will admit that I’m not an expert at twitter, but I would lean towards having just one account. I don’t think tweeting dumb (non-offensive, I assume) jokes and live-tweets will hurt anything (and the way media is going, live-tweeting events are all the rage) and I agree it shows personality. I think if you split into two, you will end up probably only using one anyway or accidentally tweeting to the wrong account at some point.

    3. Nancy D*

      It’s pretty common in my industry (libraries). I only have one account, so people get library stuff, books I am reading, pictures of my cat. I tweet a lot about libraries, but I almost never tweet specifically about my job. And I don’t tweet when I’m at work.

    4. Persephone Mulberry*

      1. Twitter is fantastic for making industry connections, especially in the creative arena. When I follow someone new, I like to dig through who they follow and who follows them for more inspiration. Plus it’s an instant ice-breaker when you meet someone you follow, face-to-face: “I follow you on Twitter! I loved your tweet about [whatever] the other day.”

      I had two Twitter accounts and got tired of mentally trying to separate them. I was always careful about what I was tweeting from my “personal” account anyway, and I eventually just stopped using the “professional” one. Yeah, I tweet dumb stuff about my cats and kids on occasion, but I try to keep a balance of personal and professional interest, because as it happens, MOST of my followers are industry contacts.

    5. Elizabeth West*

      I connect with other fiction writers, but I don’t do a lot with it at the moment. I follow some who don’t follow me back, and I’ve gotten a few retweets and some followers from those. My blog is connected to it so when I post, it tweets a link.

  11. thenoiseinspace*

    Happy Friday, everyone!

    It’s pretty dreary and yucky here, so to liven things up, what are your favorite web comics/cartoons? I’ve just gotten hooked on Gemma Correll, personally. :)

    1. Blue Anne*

      Questionable Content is the only one I read every day, but I’m also a big fan of Girl Genius, Robot Hugs, FindChaos, Templar Arizona, and Oglaf.

      DO NOT LOOK UP OGLAF AT WORK.

      1. the_scientist*

        I love QC; it’s a daily read for me. Anders <3s Maria was also a daily read but it's finished now (extremely NSFW!). And I like PhD comics as well although I tend to read it sporadically (having gone through grad school it speaks to me).

        1. Blue Anne*

          DEFINITELY look it up when you get home. Not for the faint hearted, but incredibly hilarious.

    3. Ash (the other one!)*

      PhD Comics is my main one — probably because I’m a PhD and started reading it in grad school. BUT if you are in or have gone through grad school, then definitely read it!

      1. themmases*

        I was going to write this same thing! I’ve been linked to it a few times so my current work break thing is reading it from the beginning.

      2. Blue Anne*

        I’m a big fan of that one! Not because I’m a grad student, but because I grew up in the Ivory Tower. My parents were both the supervisor characters in that, to a T.

        If they ever did a strip about the home life of that supervisor, it would show him going through piles of student papers with a large bottle of white wine, then sitting his 10 year old daughter down with a red pen and saying “Here. Edit this for spelling and punctuation.”

        Sorry to break it to you, grad students, but that’s why I got such high verbal scores. I’m pretty sure they all do it.

    4. Persephone Mulberry*

      I read QC and Girls With Slingshots daily.

      All Dungeons & Dragons geeks should also read The Order of the Stick (although I kind of dropped that one when his posting schedule got sporadic and haven’t picked it back up again yet).

        2. Persephone Mulberry*

          I tend to go on XKCD binges. I’ll forget about it for a while, and then read, like, 50 of them in one day.

          I also love Hyperbole and a half, although for some reason my brain doesn’t frame it as a webcomic. It would definitely be on my list if the question was “blogs you follow.”

      2. Forrest*

        I went to school with the Girls With Slingshots author! I’m always excited when I hear her blog being promoted.

        2. Persephone Mulberry*

          Neat! I’m super excited that she’s coming here on her Slingshot Across America tour. :)

      3. Elizabeth*

        OOTS: He’s on hiatus at the moment, as he’s getting the latest book to go to press. He’ll resume on 3/31.

        Others I read: Kevin & Kell, General Protection Fault, Doc Rat, Yet Another Fantasy Gamer Comic (NSFW), Two Lumps, and Girls with Slingshots. GwS cost me an entire weekend catching up when my husband introduced me to it.

    5. Algae (formerly LauraG)*

      I like Surviving the World, personally. It’s a professor’s one panel photocomic on how to survive life.

    6. The Real Ash*

      How has no one mention Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal? That is one of my all-time favorites. There’s also Achewood and Dinosaur Comics, and I second the recommendations for Hark! A Vagrant and Oglaf (this one is definitely NSFW).

    7. Blue Anne*

      Oh, also, the various philosophers and geeks who hang around here should read Dresden Codak!

    11. Gene*

      Since there are so many cat fans here, don’t forget Two Lumps.

      And for sheer storytelling, Ursula Vernon’s Digger story. It’s ended, so start at the beginning.

      1. Elizabeth*

        I follow the authors of Two Lumps on their respective personal journals (Mel is a friend-of-a-friend). When the cats who were the inspiration for the strip passed away, it was almost as if the cat of a close friend had died.

    12. Chris*

      Unsounded, Lady Sabre & The Pirates of The Ineffable Ether, Gunnerkrigg Court and Camp Weedonwantcha are my top ones right now. Lackadaisy Cats is awesome, but she’s a game designer and doesn’t post alot so I only check it once a month or so.

    13. Anonymous*

      In addition to the others listed xkcd, Oatmeal, Tree Lobsters, sometimes Scenes from a multiverse, and always Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.

    14. leighhh*

      I have fallen way behind on most of my webcomics, but I feel obligated to mention my sister’s comic, Ruby Red: http://www.rubyredcomic.com.

      I need to catch back up on Gunnerkrigg Court. And Bad Machinery. Well, I guess I know what I’m doing this weekend…

  12. Cruciatus*

    I’ve been looking at a university’s available jobs and they have many that are exactly the same title and pay but in different departments. You have to send in a new application for each job–is it bad form to apply to all of them? Do I need to change my cover letter much? Most of them are clerical/administrative–the job description is exactly the same for each open position. Do I need to cover anything about it being at the Benefits Office, or the HR Office, or the one in the English Department? Or should I just apply to one and be done?

    1. Anonymous*

      In my previous university experience, there were different hiring managers in different academic departments. If there were open positions for secretaries in the English department and the HR office, you would need to apply to both to ensure that the right people are seeing your application.

      There may be shared admin hiring managers (for Benefits and HR, for example), but that’s not universally true. In that case, look at the contact info – is it the same person?

      1. Sunflower*

        Yes this. I have applied to several of the ‘same’ positions and had completely different people contact me. I think each application gets routed to a totally different person.

      2. Kelly L.*

        Yeah, it’s all over the place. At the university where I currently work, when you apply for a position (say, a particular level of administrative assistant) with one department, you actually end up in a pool where other departments who need the same kind of spot filled can see your app too. I applied to one department and was called by four (and ended up being hired by the one I’d been applying for in the first place). The first call really confused me! :D

    2. TotesMaGoats*

      It depends on what type of system they are using…to some degree. We use a system where I can see every job you apply for at my university. I can also see any resumes or cover letters that you may submit. You would have to apply individually to each job with us. This might be the one and only case where I think a more generic cover letter would be okay. However, I’d still lean toward customizing it a little bit.

    3. BB*

      After reading through the replies it sounds like every college works differently. To be safe, I would apply to all of them and slightly tweek your cover letter for each. I don’t think they are going to fault you for that

    4. Cassie*

      The way it works at my university is that once you submit your application to the central portal, that application is used for every job opening you apply for. Some positions require cover letters or resumes (in addition to the application form) – so you are able to upload those separately for each position.

      I would say tweak the cover letters a little for each position (depending on the dept) but you probably won’t have to make any major changes since it’s basically the same position. Each dept does their own hiring so I don’t think a hiring manager in one dept would know whether you applied to another position or not. Maybe the people in central HR could see that information, but they’re not the ones doing the hiring/interviewing.

  13. iseeshiny*

    Does anyone work in IT as a long-term contractor through a third party service and have some sense of what a yearly review process might be like? How do you talk about a raise with a person who isn’t actually your boss?

    1. Jamie*

      Is the review with the 3rd party service for whom you work officially or is the review with the client where you’re assigned?

      I can only speak to the latter from the reviewer side of the desk – but the client is the one who has to approve a raise. Unless your agency wants to cut into their own profits (doubtful) the client needs to agree to the increased fee…so it’s not much different than a regular review.

      They aren’t your employer, but they are paying your salary.

      1. iseeshiny*

        I should have put this first but I am asking for my husband. (I don’t know why I’m embarrassed to say that, I think I’m being silly.)

        So a little background: He does monthly one on ones with his boss and they are pleased with his work. He got the position in the first place through networking, and since it’s a contract-only position, they just pointed him to a firm they work with and he negotiated his fee with them directly. In June he’ll have worked there for a year and we’re pretty certain his company wants to keep him on, which we thought might mean that he has room to negotiate things like paid vacation/sick leave and raises with the agency. Other people on his team (also contractors) with different contracts have such things, but it’s also very much Not Talked About in his office.

        But that is good to know from your end, because if it’s like a regular review then he has a better idea how to make a case for a raise. Thanks so much!

        1. Jamie*

          That’s how we do it – hope it’s the same for him and I hope he gets the increase he wants.

  14. C average*

    I’m taking a PTO day to study for the GMAT, which I’m taking in two weeks.

    Have any of you taken it? Do you have any tips or hints for success?

    I’ve historically done extremely well at standardized tests, in part because (I know this is perverse) I kind of dig them. I also kind of dig the puzzle page in the newspaper, and I was the only kid in my geometry class who enjoyed proofs. I’m in no way traumatized by the idea of this test–I just want to do my best and gain every advantage I can!

    1. Em*

      I was just going to ask if anyone has any advice about the GRE- I’m taking it tomorrow!

      I would highly recommend the app BenchPrep- they have tons of practice tests and quizzes.

      Good luck to you:)

      1. Stephanie*

        Apparently the first 10 questions in the first two sections really determine your score (and the direction of the test), so focus on those. (I’m assuming you’re taking the computer-based test.)

        Also, I would say don’t focus too much on how “difficult” the second sections are. Don’t let that psych you out!

        1. Em*

          Yes- thank you! I have heard that the previous version is question-adaptive, so if you answer a question incorrectly, they get noticeably easier- that would psych me out! I think like you mentioned, the current test is section adaptive.

          1. AnonAnalyst*

            Yeah, I took both when they were question-adaptive, and had a couple of practice tests where I could tell I was not doing well since the questions got way easier. I feel like it made me more stressed when I was taking the actual tests because I couldn’t tell if I just prepared really well or if I was doing horribly. The move to section-adaptive sounds like an improvement!

          2. Stephanie*

            GRE’s section adaptive.

            Also, avoid clothing with lots of pockets. The proctor will run a wand over you and make you turn all your pockets inside out.

            1. TheSnarkyB*

              YES. I felt like I was going to prison when I took the GRE. Don’t let that bother you, and just remember that you belong there, you’re following all the rules, and you’re gonna do great.
              Also, take multiple IDs. I don’t think I needed them, but the person in line before me had a big mix up that made me happy to have my passport on me lol

              1. Stephanie*

                “Cavity search! We need to make sure you’re not hiding vocab flash cards anywhere.”

      3. Stephanie*

        I have a pretty good vocab (as evidenced by that sentence), but Kaplan has this little box of flashcards that are great for studying vocab.

        I’d also up the level of your reading material while you’re studying. Magazines like The Atlantic, the Economist, Foreign Affairs, Smithsonian, etc are good for getting you exposed to more complex arguments and vocabulary. Popular history books or political science books are usually good for that as well.

      4. themmases*

        I needed to improve my math score, and I got a lot of mileage out of the free SparkNotes pages on that section. They spend a long time explaining what kinds of trick questions the GRE will throw at you (and there are a lot of them, because the math itself is stuff most people learned in high school and just need to brush up on), and in particular how to recognize a question that is simpler than it looks. I credit their observation that if something looks too hard to solve with the very basic GRE calculator, it probably is with raising my score from 18th percentile to 75th– seriously. The first time around, I would see the seemingly crazy question, panic that I hadn’t studied that topic, and guess. Not so this last time.

        Good luck!

    2. AnonAnalyst*

      I’m not sure this will be super helpful, but I’ve taken both the GRE and the GMAT. I’m another one that usually does well with standardized tests and puzzles so buying a couple of prep books worked well for me to get me back in practice with the types of questions they ask. Most come with software also that’s supposed to simulate the test taking experience so I’d work through that as well. I found the prep books to be helpful more for getting me in the mindset of figuring out how the test writers intended for people to approach the questions, if that makes any sense (since it seems like they write things that can be interpreted in a number of ways, and most frequently the way I’d usually approach it is not what they’re looking for.)

      I may be misremembering because I took the GMAT in 2009, but isn’t there some software you can download from the official website to help prep for it? I’d definitely work through those practice tests, too.

      I’m lucky in that my vocabulary is probably a little larger than average so I didn’t feel like I needed to spend as much time with the vocabulary lists they suggest, but if you feel like you’re weaker there it’s worth investing more time since if you draw a blank with a word on the test and end up guessing wrong, it can really hurt your score depending on when you come across it since the difficulty of subsequent questions are determined by how well you do on the first few (I had a couple of practice tests like this where I got one at the beginning and it killed my score for the verbal section).

    3. Malissa*

      I took the GMAT years ago, back before the computerized test centers had their crap together. They’ve greatly improved since then. ;) Mostly make sure you follow all the prompts on the computer screen. You don’t want to get up with out actually finishing your test! Wear as few pockets as possible and show up to the test center early, it’s a first come first served for getting into your test.
      Oh and use all the on-line study guides you can find!

      1. Jill of All Trades*

        I would add to this to pay attention to the timer. Don’t obsess on it, but don’t end up like me and lose track of time, look up at the timer to see that you have 3 minutes to get through the last 15 math questions. That sucked. I’d actually like to know how I did on those random answer questions since I had a 25% or more chance of being right (my odds changing if I could very quickly eliminate a choice or two).

    4. Kara Ayako*

      Download the offical software from GMAC. It’s super helpful in getting used to the test formatting. The hardest thing about the GMAT is that it’s computer-based and you can’t go backwards. My standardized test taking strategy was answering all the questions I knew right away first then going back to questions I was less sure of. This doesn’t work with the computer-based test, so you need to get used to this before you jump right in.

    5. the gold digger*

      Practice 8th grade algebra. That’s what got me – I hadn’t done word problems in so long. I was always good at them, but it’s a skill you lose if you are not doing it every day.

      1. Stephanie*

        Yes, this. I managed to get through an engineering degree, but managed to completely forget how probability works (this was for the GRE, btw). It was embarrassingly humbling (“I got through partial differential equations, but 8th grade probability is tripping me up?”)

        1. C average*

          Thanks, all! Great stuff. I have a couple of books I got at the library and have been working through, and I am using the Economist’s GMAT study app (which seems pretty awesome).

          I will check out the flash cards, make a mental note to wear something pocketless and keep an eye on the clock, and maybe pick up my own copy of one of the books that comes with a CD. (The library copies don’t have the CDs.)

          Now for the really hard part: tearing myself away from the AAM open thread.

    6. Mena*

      I took it some years back. I bought prep books, and like you, set aside time to review. I found the whole thing to be an unchallenging re-hash of previous learning. I did well and attended my business school of 1st choice. My advise is to spend time with the prep materials and get a good night’s sleep the night before the test. Good luck!

  15. Stephanie*

    Phoenix (and nearby) AAMers! Let’s revisit the idea of a Meetup. I posted this on LinkedIn, but wasn’t sure who else saw it.

    I was thinking first weekend in April or the second full week in April. Thoughts?

    1. Trixie*

      Or those interested in a NC Meetup, swing by Linkedin AAM and let’s chat about a meeting up.

    2. Arbynka*

      That sounds like fun. I don’t think I could manage to drive to Phoenix during the week and DH is working in the field on weekends during April. May might be better for me. I am also due for my Ikea trip anyways :) This will sound silly but I do Ikea when I fell “European homesick”.

      1. Stephanie*

        Haha, it doesn’t! Not sure where you’re from, but I pass by a Scandanavian restaurant in Mesa all the time. It is not too far from the IKEA. :)

        1. Arbynka*

          I am from Czech Republic but I take all European :) We have a good Polish restaurant down here. There was a Czech one but it closed while back. It wan not in business for long, either. What a shame. Their strawberry stuffed dumpling with cream.. Awesome.

  16. AAA*

    Feeling really off today — I had a bizarre dream last night that my boss sexually harassed me. Weird. Something I know he’d never do in real life, but I’m kind of mad at him anyway, though I know (logically) I shouldn’t be.
    Awkward.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      I think sometimes the brain just wanders around with no purpose what AT ALL while we sleep.

      For a while I dreamed I was working in a factory building. It must have been a tremendous building because I kept walking from one section to another to another….
      That made no sense at all. And somehow when I woke up the dream bothered me. Which also didn’t make sense, nothing major was happening I was just walking from room to room.

      Sometimes just talking about it during waking hours makes this stuff go away. It is odd though how a dream can throw you off kilter.

  17. Jealous Friend*

    ALLLLLL my friends now work except me. I used to have people to be miserable and broke with but now it’s just me. all by myself.

    I guess I shall be applying to jobs all weekend : (

    1. Kate*

      That was me during the seven months after I graduated from college – I had a group of unemployed friends to commiserate with, but I was the last to get a job by far. So frustrating! Good luck with apps…

  18. Oscar*

    Tips for “managing up?” Or suggestions for books or articles?

    My manager told our team that she needs to change her micromanaging ways, but it seems that she’s swung to the opposite end of the pendulum – no management, no feedback, and no advice. If anything at all comes up, we’re told to “manage up.” I love the freedom to take initiative, but now I feel like I’m constantly out on a limb without a net.

    1. WorkingAsDesigned*

      Read “The 360 Leader”, by John C. Maxwell. He’s a renowned authority on leadership, and this book addresses leading down, across, and up – great read!

    2. Tinker*

      I think the Manager Tools podcast has addressed issues like these a couple times — as I recall, they’re not big on the notion of “managing up” because that is not the direction that authority flows in, but IIRC they do have some suggestions on working to meet the needs of managers that aren’t making it easy to follow them.

    3. MK*

      The organization that AAM works at, the Management Center, should have resources to deal with micromanaging bosses and their tendency to overcompensate their micromanaging ways by being the complete opposite. I remember getting an email from them on this very topic!

  19. MissDisplaced*

    I just wanted to say that I finally got hired!
    I start my new job on the 1st. This blog has been so helpful for everything job-related, from resume and cover letter advice to help with negotiating job offers.

    For everyone who is currently looking for work: There is hope!

  20. A Jane*

    Started a new job this week, and this is the first time I’ve had a chance to look at AAM this week! What a whirlwind of a week, but it’s been amazing and I’m excited for the opportunities.

    Question for the folks: I’m having trouble keeping my energy up during the work day. Any suggestions for snacks/drinks/anything to keep me going through the end of the day?

    1. Nicole*

      It probably depends on how your particular body handles caffeine, but for me just one 8 oz cup of green tea when I first get to work does wonders for my energy level.

    2. Maegan*

      Bananas, water with chia seeds, yogurt, nuts. I avoid processed sugar as much as possible in beverages and have noticed that I don’t have that mid afternoon slump anymore.

    3. fposte*

      Do you have fridge access? I like cheese on a somethingorother. It’s got some substance and it doesn’t make me crash when it goes away.

      1. shaky bacon*

        +1 for movement. A change of scenery can do wonders for renewing energy. I try to go out for quick walks during lunch breaks if I can, but on the days I spend mostly chained to my desk, I start to feel that early afternoon slump and it carries on until the end of the day.

      2. Algae (formerly LauraG)*

        I agree with this. It’s not unusual to see me randomly wandering at 2:30.

        Also a small snack could help – celery with peanut butter, carrots and hummus, something that’s got some protein.

      3. Stephanie*

        There was a path by OldJob that went through a cemetery. It felt a little morbid to take walks there, but it was really relaxing and got me fresh air and sunlight.

      4. AmyNYC*

        I try to walk at lunch and stretch all day. I’ve been paced the hallway and gone up and down stairs just to move.

    5. Kelly L.*

      I like to have one more cup of coffee at about 2pm; my body has always wanted to nap at 3pm and this helps stave it off. I also keep granola bars around.

    6. rek*

      First, congratulations on your new job!

      Make sure you eat both breakfast and lunch! It’s easy to pass on meals, especially when things are hectic. Each meal doesn’t have to be so big it makes you sleepy, but it should be as balanced as you can make it. I know it sounds like a PSA, but breakfast really is the most important meal. Your body (and your brain!) needs fuel to operate at high efficiency.

      If you are already eating both of these meals, but still need more, I find it better to stay away from snacks with lots of sugar. Those always put me in a coma. :-p

      1. Mallory*

        I’m on a dietician-guided plan, and she says to never go more than four hours without eating something. So in addition to the breakfast/lunch/dinner meals, there are a couple of snacks in the plan. The morning snack is a fruit and a protein (cheese, cottage cheese, nuts or nut butter, lunch meat slice, etc.) and the afternoon snack is just dairy (plain greek yogurt, cup of milk or soymilk, etc.). It keeps your energy up and keeps you from being so hungry by mealtimes that you make poor choices.

    7. Anonymous*

      I’ve started eating Greek yogurt, granola, almonds, and fresh berries for lunch. I’m losing weight (yay!) and I’ve found that I have a pretty stable energy level throughout the afternoon.

    8. Elysian*

      Water, if you’re not drinking enough, is a surprisingly good energizer. I think its two-fold: dehydration can cause fatigue, but also if I’m drinking a lot of water I’m walking around more frequently to use the restroom and get more water.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        +1 for this. I had to put a reminder on my calendar to make sure I drank enough water. I aim to empty my large water bottle a day. If I don’t drink enough, I get a nasty headache.

        One thing I did was start walking the stairs twice a day at work to supplement my other workouts (I’m on the third floor, so why not use them). That has the added effect of making me thirsty so I drink more.

    9. Victoria Nonprofit (USA)*

      Emergen-C works wonders (and it’s just a blast of vitamin C – not caffeine or anything else like that). I take a shot at 2 or 3 p.m. and it powers me through the afternoon.

    10. Jax*

      Water. Sounds stupid, but if you remember to get up and refill your cup every hour or two it gives you a mini-break from your desk and a chance to stretch your legs.

      Sometimes just the act of getting up and walking down the hall the bathroom is enough of a recharge to tackle the next stack on my desk.

    11. NEP*

      I find that steady water intake does wonders for boosting energy — as do stretching and deep breathing. The latter take just a few seconds and can really help. As for foods, any fruits including dates — nature’s candy.

    12. Omne*

      I’ve found that proteins make a big difference for me. Nuts, like almonds, or a good quality protein bar really help me avoid the end of morning/afternoon crashes.

      1. Office Mercenary*

        I have issues with my blood sugar crashing all the time and I have to eat protein and fat every 2-3 hours to avoid hypoglycemia. Nuts are the BEST. So filling, so yummy.

    13. Stephanie*

      PROTEIN. I find this is the best to stave off blood sugar crashes and to keep me full.

      I also like to take B12 drops sublingually.

      I remember my mom and I were trying to finish up a cross-country drive (I was relocating). She had to fly out the next morning, so we had no choice but to drive another nine hours that night. Only thing that kept us awake and from crashing was munching on a box of Popeye’s (and avoiding the biscuits!). I felt absolutely disgusting at the end of the trip, but it kept me from crashing.

    14. Rev.*

      Maybe you’re doing this already, but a multivitamin with iron, with a side of B-complex (or B-12 sublingually) works wonders. Take the B-12 an hour after lunch.

      My congregation swears by it. :>)

    15. A Jane*

      All, thanks for the feedback! I’m keeping up with my water today, but I have some black tea if I need a push. I think the new job adrenaline also resulted in me eating less during breakfast and lunch. I’ll be planning next week to make sure I eat well and properly.

    16. MissDisplaced*

      I was thinking about that too for next week. I always tend to get hit by the 3pm slump and it was SO NICE when I was laid off to take a wee nap.

    17. LCL*

      Emergency energy potion, for when you have to work extra hours to get through a nightshift doing physical and mental work and you have already been working for hours, and all the stores and restaurants are closed and the only thing that is open is the Quickie-Mart, coffee and chocolate milk in one cup, remix as needed. Not recommended for long term consumption, but it will keep you alert enough to function and not crash the company car.

  21. AmyNYC*

    I’m currently studying for professional exams and a friend suggested I ask my office to pay the testing fee (I’ll be taking 7 exams, and each one is $200+). I work at small company (around 20 people) and to my knowledge they haven’t done this for other people.
    My instinct is to phrase it similarly to asking for a raise, highlighting the benefit to the company; but does anyone have tips or suggestions?

    1. Joey*

      Depends. First don’t consider it unless the company will see a benefit from it. Second, if they’re hesitant consider asking them to reimburse you only if you pass. Third, if they’re hesitant at shelling out the money consider agreeing to pay it back if you voluntarily leave with x time period.

    2. Jamie*

      If there is no benefit to the company I’d ask during a review or other time when you’re going over perks and compensation.

      If it does benefit the company then emphasis how and as Joey mentioned – if they seem reluctant make passing a condition of payment.

    3. AmyNYC*

      Good point about being clear – I’m hoping for reimbursement if I pass!
      I figure the worst that happens is they say no, but then maybe I can get something else – like a day off to take the exam without using vacation time.

    4. MK*

      My sister’s company paid for the fees related to her CFA exams which, if I remember correctly, requires many exams before you can claim the professional title. I think the company looked at the fees as the cost of doing business and a way to get more money out of clients. So, you may be able to get the fees covered if you can frame this issue as a way for your company to invest in something (you) to get more profits.

    5. Crazy Cat Lady*

      I’ve had two companies pay for things like that, when they hadn’t done it before. I presented it to them similarly to the way I’d ask for a raise, and in both cases, it benefited them in the long-run. In one situation, the level of reimbursement was based off how well I did (but was reimbursed some amount, regardless).

  22. JessA*

    When I was in college, during one summer, I participated in an internship at a film festival. As part of the program you worked 6 hours a day at a booth and during your time not working, you could go see films, attend roundtable discussions, etc. (It was unpaid. I had to pay the program fee which covered the festival pass, 2 meals a day, and hotel. I also had to buy a plane ticket.)

    Fast-forward several years to just a couple days ago, I see that this organization is looking to hire a few people to work at the fest this year. It is unpaid, but travel may be covered. I sent them my resume, and I’m waiting to hear back. The fest is a little over a month away. What do I do if I am invited to participate? I am currently employed in a retail position and I would need to take nearly 3 weeks off. I do realize that it is short notice and a lot of time to ask off. How do I make this request?

    More background about my employer: I’m in a retail job. I currently have relatively open availability. I have a standing request to have the same day off each week (our day with the lowest sales), and to not go above 32 hours a week (full time starts at 30 hrs.) Other than that, I have wide open availability, and I frequently swap shifts with co-workers and pick up extra shifts. During the summer, we usually experience a slump and they cut back on people’s hours. Also, I make about 40% more than what a new person in my position would make. So, from a business standpoint, I think it could really benefit the business if I took this time off.

    With having said all of that…how do I request this time off if I am indeed invited to attend the program?

    1. Audiophile*

      I would just ask if you can take an upaid vacation. You’re part-time, not a floater or per-diem.

      Question: is it Tribeca?

    2. Crow T. Robot*

      How far in advance is the schedule at your retail job made? If they already have the schedule drawn up for that time, with you on it, it might be hard to convince them to let you take that time off. If not, it might be a little easier. Either way, definitely offer to find people to cover your shifts. Since you mentioned that they cut hours during the summer, I would bet there are a few of your coworkers who would jump at the chance for some more work. However, 30-32 hrs a week for three weeks is a lot of time to make up for, so I wouldn’t expect your employer to be thrilled about this request.

      1. ArtsNerd*

        Agreed on finding people to cover! Also, you should be ready for your employer to say no, that they need you there. If that’s the case, are you willing to walk away from the job for this program?

        It might be worth it to you, but FWIW I’d be VERY skeptical about what the payoff of this program actually is, in terms of potential career prospects.

      1. ArtsNerd*

        Sounds like the fee covered room and board – not the entrance itself. JessA – do you mind clarifying that part?

  23. ChristineSW*

    I have two questions today. I’ll put them in separate posts, if that’s okay.

    First question

    I did a whole update on my LinkedIn profile the other day. This included a bullet about recently becoming Chair of one of the standing committees of a council that I sit on. I’ve had several people already congratulate me on my “new job”. There are two problems with this. 1) I’ve been on the full council since September of 2012; the Chair appointment came in late Jan/early Feb. 2) This is a voluntary council (I haven’t had paid employment in several years, but that is an eventual goal), not an actual job.

    What is the best way, if any, to correct this? Should I say something in the comments? Should I just update that part to clarify that it’s on a volunteer basis?

    1. shaky bacon*

      This happened to a friend of mine recently. All she did was change her current job title (a position she’s held for months now) and it sent out a notification to congratulate her on her “new job”. She got a few comments congratulating her and she posted a comment along the lines of, “thanks everyone, I’m still in the same job but silly LinkedIn thinks I got a new one.”

      I think it’s some weird thing that LinkedIn does and I’m not sure if it’s avoidable, so I think saying something in the comments would work.

    2. Audiophile*

      This is why I haven’t added my volunteer position to LinkedIn.

      In your case, I would do it and follow shaky bacon’s suggestion if people start congratulating you on your new ‘job’.

    3. Sunflower*

      If the change is coming up on your homepage, you may be able to ‘delete’ it which won’t delete the change but will delete the story. If not, I think it’s fine to write ‘Thanks so much, I’ve actually held this for years and am just doing some light housekeeping on my page!’ Beyond that, I wouldn’t worry about it. It shouldn’t pop up on your actual profile which employer’s would look at. I would be more concerned about tweeking the listing on your page to make sure it appears as a volunteer position and not an actual job.

      Also, you can go to Privacy/Settings and there is an option turn off activity broadcasts. That turns off ANY changes you make to your profile I believe. Not sure if there is a way to only turn off some but I did this when the same thing happened to me

    4. Jen in RO*

      Just Li being silly… A couple of coworkers created their LI profiles just before they left the company… but LI didn’t know that and it popped up a notification of congratulations for their ‘new’ jobs (that they had held for years).

      1. RJ*

        Yes, I added my current position to linkedin maybe 16 months after I started it, so I randomly started getting these “congratulations on your work anniversary” messages that were nowhere near my actual anniversary and were wrong on the number of years.

    1. Rev.*

      Is this really about revolutionizing the recruiting process, or is it an exercise in “thinking outside of the box”?

      To be honest, it struck me as two minutes of my life I can’t get back.

  25. LV*

    I’ve applied to 5 jobs, interviewed for 2, and got an offer this week… for the job that was my token “Meh, in case nothing else turns up” application.

    I reached out to the hiring manager for the other job I interviewed for to ask if I was still under consideration, because I had another offer but would strongly prefer this job and would take it if offered. She said she would get back to me by the end of this week. I haven’t heard back yet. I have to either accept or decline the offer I did get by the end of today, and I’m not sure what to do.

    Husband said a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush so I should just accept the offer I have. But 2 of the other jobs I applied for haven’t even hit the application deadline yet, so there’s a chance I might get called in for an interview. Those jobs are permanent and the one I was offered is short-term (less than a year) so I would definitely take one of those if offered… but I would feel like such a jerk for quitting so soon after accepting an offer.

    Fellow commenters, what would you do in this situation?

    1. LV*

      Also, the offer I received was via phone, and it was clear the guy was expecting me to accept right away. He seemed surprised that I wanted time to think about it and was a bit reluctant to give me 2 days. It’s a government job so I have a good idea of what the salary and benefits would be, but I wanted to say, “How about you send me a written letter of offer before asking me to commit to this?”

      1. Lily in NYC*

        Wait, you don’t know the salary? This is a great way to stall; just say you can’t make a decision until you know the full details on salary and benefits and that you want it in writing. I’ve never heard of anyone accepting a job without knowing this stuff first. Sorry if I misunderstood what you wrote.

        1. LV*

          I know what pay band the position is in – roughly between 62 and 70k – and I’d be falling on the lower end of that, but no exact figure was mentioned. I think their initial plan was to give me my letter of offer on my first day there.

      2. Kara Ayako*

        Wait, wait, he wanted you to accept the job but haven’t told you what the salary and benefits are? That doesn’t make any sense. Before doing anything else, ask what the salary and benefits are. How can you even think about it if you don’t know what your comp package is?

        1. Sadsack*

          And definitely get it all in writing before accepting! Especially in this case where the person didn’t even tell you all the details before expecting your verbal decision.

    2. O*

      I’m not sure how helpful this will be, but I will say, I ended up taking my “in case nothing else turns up” job, because while I got tons of interviews and people loved my references and me, my experience level just wasn’t there. I was basically looking for my first full time job in my field, and while what I’m doing isn’t exactly new or giving me a leg up on experience, what I’m learning in other aspects of the job has really taught me a lot, like how specific things work within a department, actually being a part of meetings instead of just the graduate assistant, how projects are initiated, etc…Just things I never thought about before when looking for jobs. I think back now on some of the jobs I applied for, and even got interviews for, and I realize now I definitely would not have been prepared for working in those places. Basically what I’m saying, and seriously this might not have anything to do with your situation, but sometimes the job that doesn’t look the most exciting or seem worthy, might actually surprise you. But ultimately you just have to decide if you’re willing to pass up an opportunity. I’d recommend looking at factors like, how long have you been job hunting, are those same type of jobs going to be around when you are done with the short-term job (btw mine is actually a limited term also), and would it hurt your credibility if you did expect the short term job and then quit for the other one, because if it is short term, they’re going to have to spend another couple months looking for people again, which if it’s an outside funded position, might seriously hurt the project. But I totally relate, it’s a difficult decision, because when I got my job offer, I was waiting to hear back on another that was a great starting position, and the guilty over what I would do if they offered it to me after I accepted the other one, made me feel horrible for weeks. But best of luck…maybe if you don’t hear anything in the next couple hours, send another really polite short email, asking for a update, they might reply.

    3. Bryan*

      You should definitely have gotten it in writing with proposed start date and all of the specifics. It is ok to nitpick my language this time, I say proposed so it’s still a gray area of accepting.

      You need to be ok not getting a different job if you turn down the short term one. Don’t accept the short term job and quit a short time. It’s a really cruddy thing to do. When they’re hiring you they’re assuming you’re making a good faith effort to do the job they offered.

  26. Trixie*

    Any updates (good news) from the Long Term Unemployed? Looking for encouragement and continued inspiration!

    1. Anx*

      I had been unemployed since 2010 and I just got a job!

      It’s only a few hours a week, but I thought I’d have to retire in my 20s or something.

    2. PuppyKat*

      My husband recently got a job after being unemployed since 2010. I truly believe that signing up for a volunteer gig last summer helped put him in the right frame of mind for continuing his search. But that’s only because I know my husband and his personality. (YMMV)

  27. Lily in NYC*

    This is a bit morbid, but my boss just quit so I am thinking of starting a job search (I’ve been here 10 years). In the last two years, my 3 best references have died. They were all very high-level people from well-known companies and were fantastic references ; well spoken, respected in their fields, and best of all, they liked me a lot. I’m terribly sad that they are gone because I was very fond of them and they each died in their early 50s, which makes it seem even sadder.

    So, what do I do? I’ve been at my current job for 10 years and I’ve lost touch with other potential references because my other ones were so good and I stayed in good contact with them. I’m going to use my boss who just quit, but that’s only one guy. I guess my best bet is to suck it up and let my current boss know when I’m looking so I can use him as well. I know he will be cool about it and I would probably let him know anyway. Any other ideas?

    1. Kit M.*

      I’m sorry. One of my references died, at a time when she was one of only two managers I could use as references. I ended up asking her right-hand woman, who had also been in a position to see some of my work. And of course this woman understood why I needed her as a reference even though I’d never talked to her about it before. However, if I’d had earlier references to fall back on, even ones I was no longer in touch with, I might have considered that.

    2. annie*

      Just wanted to say you are not alone. In my reference stable I have a seriously ill reference and a reference who I think is starting early stage Alzheimers. It makes me so sad, they’ve helped me so much in my career.

      When it comes up, I am going to draw on some former coworkers, a manager at the place where I volunteer, and some client-type of people I’ve worked with. And of course, explain the situation, hopefully without totally bumming everyone in the room out.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      This won’t help a lot but I have had opportunities where I could say “I worked with so-and-so for X years.” As you are saying, the name was well recognized, and it seemed to help open up conversation. Maybe you can use this some how in a cover letter or in an interview.

      I have noticed that at some point people stop caring about the actual reference and start caring about what you learned from this person- are you able to carry on in a manner similar to theirs? The trick here is the uniqueness of what you think of to say.

      “When I worked with Bob Smith, he was big on ABC so I fine tuned my skills/knowledge in this area. My time working with Jane Jones was interesting because Jane always required more information in X situation, so I learned to do Y in order to have that information for her.”

      Not the best example, but I think you see the drift. Show how these folks shaped your thinking and in turn, how you work.

  28. JessA*

    So, I realize this is off-topic, but I could use some advice. …

    Hey! Does anyone have any experience (or suggestions) on getting Airline miles re-instated? I just found out that mine expired. (All 91,000 of them – which is nearly enough to fly to Europe round trip) I called American Airlines and apparently I can pay over $600 and get them reinstated, or I can sign up for their Re-engagement Challenge (yes, that is really what they call it.) where you pay $30, fly 2 round trips and have to rack up 10,000 partner-base miles (ex. hotel, car rental, etc.) Anyone have any suggestions on how to get my miles back?

    1. matcha123*

      I had the same thing happen to me with United Miles last year. I emailed them and asked why I wasn’t given a warning email (as they used to do) when my miles were about to expire and then asked them to reinstate them.
      The woman who replied reinstated my miles and warned me that they do not give email warnings anymore. I was also told that I could pay some $600 to reinstate mine. Give email a try!

      1. Bryan*

        I would say call, it’s harder to be mean to someone over the one (not that it doesn’t happen but it’s far easier on the internet).

        And if the first person doesn’t give you an answer you like it’s ok to make up an excuse to hang up and try calling again.

    2. Mena*

      Good luck with that – I didn’t have good luck with it at all. I escalated several levels with both United and American and neither would budge. I now actively avoid both airlines

      1. Dan*

        Avoiding those two is funny, because your only other real domestic option is Delta, which has a terrible program.

        1. Stephanie*

          Oooooh, Delta miles are awful. The rewards website is so bad and buggy, it will take me two hours to book a trip. I try to keep the big picture in mind (i.e., I got a plane flight for $10…sort of) when I’m booking.

          Their mileage allotment is so stingy, however, that I try to conserve and use the miles only when I need to book a last-minute flight somewhere.

          1. Dan*

            I have gobs of miles on UA and AA that I’ve collected from credit card sign up bonuses. They can do whatever they want to me and I will still collect their miles. Delta can go to h-e-double hockey stick as far as I’m concerned, I haven’t earned a mile on them since the Delta merger.

    3. Dan*

      I think you have the suggestions that are going to work, the question is whether or not you want to pay $600 or you have enough AA travel coming up that will cover the “challenge.”

      You’ve got more than enough miles to fly to Europe in Coach, a Business class ticket will cost you 100,000 miles.

      The thing that you need to watch out for using AA miles flying to Europe is that AA has sharply reduced award seats on their own flights going over to Europe and back. What they will try and get you to do is fly on British Airways. Which is fine, except for the fact that BA has really nasty fuel surcharges on their awards — something like $600 or for the round trip. Redeeming on BA in coach is already a poor value, as $600 is almost enough for an economy ticket. Throw in the $600 reinstatement fee and it makes no sense whatsoever.

      If you are trying to fly business class, you will still have approximately the same fuel surcharges, but given how expenses those tickets can be, it might be defensible to pay the reinstatement fee.

      If you want to fly in a premium cabin to Asia, I’d pay the reinstatement fee in a hurry, particularly if you have ways (such as new credit card signup bonuses) to add to your collection. You can get a business class ticket to SE Asia for 110,000 miles, which is worth $600 easily. (You won’t pay fuel surcharges on the Asian carriers like you do on British Airways.)

  29. Maegan*

    I’ve got an interview today with a law firm for a secretary/assistant position. It was a very spur of the moment thing, but I’m stumped as to how to reply to the inevitable question of “why are you leaving your current position?” There are just so. Many. Reasons.

    1. thenoiseinspace*

      Not about people, even if it’s true! Even if your boss is a dragon, blame it on money or the commute or “looking for more challenges/a chance to move up/grow professionally” etc.

    2. TotesMaGoats*

      Well, we all know what NOT to say. But professional growth, new challenges or something along those lines would be true. We know know that while those are very true and valid, it also probably means that you are trying to get away from a bad workplace. I think everyone has been there are some point and would understand a lack of detail.

    3. Anon*

      Pick a diplomatic one. “I wasn’t planning to leave, but this looks like an excellent opportunity because X, Y, Z.” “It’s not a great cultural fit. I’m a very methodical worker, while my current higher-ups are much more spontaneous.” “After X many years, I’m ready for something new.” “This would be a third of the commute!”

      In my experience, most interviewers are great at picking up on the “my company is batshit, but I’m too polite to say so” undertones. If you do come right out and say it, you’ll look indiscreet, so don’t.

    4. Mike C.*

      I hate this question so much, because a truthful answer is inappropriate to give. Don’t force me to lie to you.

    5. Laura*

      I usually focus on why I want the new position when answering that. Like i’ll say that I really want to do work involving a lot of x, which I know is involved in this position, and I didn’t really have the opportunity to do much of x at current job. So not so much why I leave where I am, and more why I’d rather be at the job I’m interviewing for, which isn’t necessarily negative.

  30. Elizabeth*

    I took a couple days off of work to do some work around the house and get my head clear. I love my work, and when I start seriously looking at other places, I know I need some time away from my employer.

    Yesterday, after my cat wouldn’t let me get out of bed until 10 (ever had a 14 pound cat sit on you and not get up?), I discovered that my cell phone was going nuts with notifications of missed calls, voice mails and text messages. When I tried calling back? No one answered.

    I eventually did get a return call, and the obvious hope was that I would volunteer to call the vendor who is being clueless. Nope, it is my day off, and I’m not budging on that. Had this happened when I was out on the cruise last November, they would have had to have handled it, so they can handle it now. I gave the colleague some ideas on who else to call at the company to get assistance, and I wished her luck.

    All of the names & numbers I gave her were already in the documentation I put together when that particular system went into production. I don’t believe in hoarding skills or knowledge, because I really don’t want to be indispensable. I like being able to take time off and actually not get calls. And if I win a lottery jackpot? I’m gone.

    1. Algae (formerly LauraG)*

      Good on you for setting up the procedure and back ups and for reiterating your boundaries!

      People hoarding information and believing they’re indispensable is a pet peeve of mine. NO one is indispensable. You could get hit by a bus tonight and people expect the work to continue.

  31. StaminaTea*

    *venting* In the last seven days, I’ve had to talk to the Employee Assistance Office twice, about two separate employees that were both talking suicide. One had a mini mental-breakdown targeting me last Friday when no one else was in the office to witness it that culminated in a joke about killing himself. (Apparently I’m a horrible person that sucks at her job, but really he just has issues and this week he’s pretending nothing happened). The best part – I had been using him as a job reference! The other one is a work friend that posts worrisome stuff on Facebook, but I got him to visit a counselor. So that was a win.

    When I say my workplace has a negative culture, I mean it, people! Sigh. I really need a new job.

      1. StaminaTea*

        Thanks! It was a rough week, but I realized today I’m also learning a lot from working here. I’m 29, and everyone I work with is 50 to late 60s. They’re mostly bitter, condescending old farts (result of attitude, not biological age), but at first I was all like “love me, let’s be friends! I’m nice!” And now I’m like – heck with it. I’m here to work, not make friends with bitter people. And my boss has said a couple times that since I’m “nice” my coworkers see me as a target. What kind of a workplace is this?!?

  32. Mrs. Heuzen*

    Hello everyone, this is my first post after compulsively lurking for months.

    I had a job interview for a big company that is growing like crazy. I was super excited as it would be a change of industry for me. Things were moving very quickly when the came back and said they’d gone with another candidate but they’d keep in touch for other opportunities. This was a month ago. Flash forward to this week, they emailed and said the other candidate didn’t work out and wanted to have a Skype interview (I am out of state).

    Seems like it went well, I spoke with the Director for the team and a team member. The Director asked if I wouldn’t mind saying hello to some other team members, they were at lunch and weren’t able to so she said “We will be in touch.” This was on Wednesday.

    I’m really hoping that they actually will be in touch! I am excited that they came back to me and hope that I am a top contender. But I know that it’s not in the bag until I have an offer…

    Rant over.

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      Patience is all you can do at this point — Wednesday was only 2 days ago. They’re likely interviewing others and meeting internally. I’d wait at least a week, perhaps 2, before following up to inquire on timeline.

      1. Mrs. Heuzen*

        You are definitely right! I’m still looking for other opportunities while keeping hope alive for this one…

  33. Juli G.*

    I would love some feedback. I’m in HR and from time to time, I need to meet with people to talk. Not because they’re in trouble but someone might be worried about them – maybe they’ve lashed out or seemed depressed and it’s impacting their work.

    I don’t want to freak people out because HR wants to talk to them. When people come to me about this stuff, it’s always because they want to help and they like the person.

    If HR wanted to talk to you, how should they approach you to cause the least anxiety (because some is inevitable)?

    1. CalicoK*

      Please don’t send them a message that just says, “We need to talk” or “I’d like to speak with you. Call me back.” No context means people have a million conclusions about the worse possible things! I’d mention the subject matter so that they don’t jump immediately to “I’m getting fired!”.

    2. CanadianWriter*

      I would want to hear “You’re not in trouble” as the very first sentence, or I’d probably die of panic.

      1. Bryan*

        I second this. My associate vice president meets with all employees when they start and before the meeting make she walked by to say, you’re getting an appointment you’re not in trouble.

    3. Mike C.*

      Tell them what you’ve told us.

      In fact, if you used the phrase “I just wanted to check in with you”, it sends the message that it’s a two way conversation and that no one is in trouble. Heck, put that in there two, just to be extra clear.

    4. A Non*

      The suggestions here are really good! I think I’d prefer all of the above – don’t send me a meeting request ahead of time, just show up at a time when you’re pretty sure I’ll be available. Say something like “Hey, do you have a moment to go get coffee? I just want to check in with you and see how things are going. No, nothing major – no-one’s in trouble!” Very Serious Conversations don’t usually happen in coffee shops, so taking the conversation there might be one way to set the tone.

      1. Cassie*

        This is how I’d want HR to handle it for my office – definitely no cryptic “please call me back” messages.

        Although as far as serious conversations not taking place in coffee shops – my boss needed to have a serious discussion with an emplyoee (re: very unprofessional behavior the employee was exhibiting) and he wanted to take the employee to lunch and discuss it there. I thought it was a terrible idea plus it would send a very confusing message.

        1. annie*

          Second this – please don’t have these conversations in public. Someone who is having real issues you need to know about (whether its personal to them like depression or more directly company-related like a coworker is stealing and she was trying to find a way to tell you) isn’t going to be forthcoming with you standing in line at the Starbucks where everyone can hear. Also for a lot of people, they are on friendly terms with the local barista or cafe waitress, so don’t make it awkward for them the next time they want to get a coffee down the street!

        2. A Non*

          This is true. Don’t have painful conversations in public. If you suspect a ‘checking in with you’ chat with a coworker who’s not been themselves lately is going to result in, say, a painful talk about mental illness, don’t do that in public.

    5. Sunflower*

      There is actually a post on a very similar topic. It’s titled how-to-avoid-freaking-people-out-when-summoning-them-to-hr-a-smaller-bonus-than-expected-and-more

    6. Joey*

      There’s no trick. You have to show a pattern that you don’t only talk to people when somebody is going to get in trouble.

      1. Juli G.*

        @Joey – very true but 1) I am only 3 months into the job and 2) I support 400 people so while I do talk to lots of people frequently, I definitely haven’t had the opportunity to talk to everyone multiple times.

        1. Joey*

          In that case Id give them a call to explain. And clarify that they’re not in trouble.
          My point was more about the reputation you’re setting.

    7. Not So NewReader*

      I hate to be Debbie Downer but it’s not just the initial approach that would throw me.

      I would go home and dwell on how someone felt the need to report a dip in my work effort because of some problem, real or imagined.

      So the whole thing would throw me repeatedly.

      My punchline is it’s not just how you set up the meeting, it’s also what you say in the meeting.

      It could be based on my experiences. However, saying “no one is in trouble” to me means “someone is getting canned soon”. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen it play out this way.

      Since you have only been there three months you can use that to your advantage to spend a part of the conversation talking about company culture. “What do you like about the culture here? What do you dislike?”

      1. Not So NewReader*

        whoops – the comment got away from me.
        Perhaps there is something going on that impacts these people in a manner that is not immediately obvious.
        Or maybe it is THEM- having personal, life type issues. I think that merely pulling them to one side to suggest EAP, doesn’t do much good, in fact it probably does more harm.

  34. Ash (the other one!)*

    So I bombed my job talk earlier this week. They haven’t called yet, but I know I didn’t get it. I could sense by the end that I didn’t have the experience they wanted and I made some nervous mistakes in my presentation. That was the last of my “irons in the fire” so to speak at the moment and I feel pretty dejected.

    I’ve been one of the final two now for four separate jobs — meaning I’ve passed phone interviews and multiple in-person only to get rejected. My references are good, although my best one is hard to reach which may be an issue? He leads a big organization and is often traveling internationally, so I always say when I submit my references to email him and his assistant (instead of calling) in order to reach him since he is often not in the states. He was my direct boss for my most prominent job and so I don’t want to remove him from the list… thoughts?

    I’ve been searching about 7 months now, hoped to be out of here by the beginning of this year, but am still here. How do I keep hope I’ll find something?

    1. Joey*

      Two nuggets:

      You’ve been close multiple times so it’s probably just a matter of time before you are in the right place at the right time.

      Two, not having experience is not bombing.

      Three, (okay I lied when I said two). Learn from your presentation mistake. Practice the same presentation in front of a friend so the nerves don’t get you next time.

      1. Ash (the other one!)*

        Thanks for your comments! Its really hard not to get disheartened when I’ve been so close, yet so far.

        1. Joey*

          Fwiw, my wife was in the same position and felt the same way while she was interviewing. I kept telling her you can’t make them choose you you just have to keep doin the right things and eventually it will work out. It did and guess what, she said looking back she can honestly say this job by far was the best fit for her and the company.

    2. LMW*

      Hey, I thought I totally bombed the interview for my current job. I was actually told that they thought I was lacking in some areas of critical experience. But then I got the call.

      I find it helpful to read (or watch, if you are more of a video person) something inspirational. For me that’s not usually something that’s all “Yay you! You can do it!” — it’s more likely to be an article by someone with an inspiring career talking about something they are passionate about. For example, when I was getting really depressed about finishing my grad school thesis (I was pursuing a degree in writing), I’d read a book by an author I admired talking about craft. And then I’d feel inspired about what I might be able to do with my writing, and it would make me want to keep trying. Plus, learning is always a bonus!

      1. Ash (the other one!)*

        That would be incredibly ironic if I got this job despite the job talk, alas I don’t think its going to happen for me.

        My inspiration will be a nice bottle of Malbec tonight :)

    3. LV*

      My husband thought he bombed his job talk… but he got the job. He gets really nervous when he has to do public speaking (he actually passed out during a presentation once!) and was sure he’d messed it up very badly, but they still saw his potential and his talent. Don’t give up hope!

      1. Stephanie*

        I once belched during a phone interview and still landed the job. For some reason, I was really gassy and it just came out mid-answer. I apologized profusely and we moved on.

    4. Schmitt*

      I told my partner when she was discouraged at the lack of jobs to apply for, and lack of responses to resumes: You don’t need a lot of jobs to want you. You need *one* job which is right for you. And it’ll come along.

      She is finally settled in The Right Job and I’ve never seen her so happy about her work. It’s lovely.

  35. Anne 3*

    I know we have some French readers (Sandrine?). I recently got a job offer in Paris from the main branch of my current company. It would involve relocating from Belgium… and currently it looks like I might be doing this very soon.

    So: Anyone have tips for working in France and/or living/renting in Paris?

  36. Referred too many colleagues here to use Gravatar*

    I’ve been working on a non-fiction book proposal that’s on a subject closely related to what I do for work (although absolutely not anything proprietary or otherwise a conflict of interest – I checked with a friend who’s an IP lawyer in this jurisdiction). I think I’m going to be ready to start using my network to look for agents within the next few months.

    Right before I do that, I’m planning to have a chat with my manager and her manager about it – I don’t want them to hear about the book from anyone other than me, and I also want to have a chance to proactively address any concerns they have.

    Things I’m planning to say:

    – not one single word has been, or will be, written on work time or resources;
    – work always comes first (this is why it’s taken me so long to write the proposal). I do my writing after work and on weekends, and if I have a deadline crunch at work, I just don’t do any non-work writing until the crunch is over;
    – absolutely no promotion of the hypothetically published book will be done on work time or resources;
    – I have no plans to quit or go part time or anything like that – no-one I know who’s had even multiple books published has made enough money from it to be able to stop working full time!

    Is there anything else I should cover that I haven’t thought of?

    I should say that both managers are wonderful people and I think they’ll be broadly supportive. I just don’t want to freak them out :)

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      The one thing to think about is if the book is published, often publishers want the authors to do book tours and speaking engagements that could span over weeks and months. You will want to be procative with your employer that that may occur, you will have to take time off (paid or unpaid) to do so, and find out if that might be an issue. The other issue is often even though it is not being written using the employer’s resources, the very fact you are an employee ties you to them. If your book is in any way controversial, they may want to read and clear the book before publication — their name will inevitably be used in its context: “Gravatar current works at Teapot Associates working on Teapot Policy…” in the bio, or intros at talks etc.

      1. Lore*

        Sadly, unless the book has the potential to be a major seller, the odds of a book tour requiring travel outside your local area are a lot slimmer than they used to be–especially for a first-time author. Bookstores in your area, absolutely; possibly a few events in a major city right around the release date. But I wouldn’t recommend preparing an employer now for the likelihood of extended absences; if you get to that point, it probably means the book and your writing career are doing well enough, you might in fact be thinking about leaving the job!

        1. Referred too many colleagues here to use Gravatar*

          Thanks both!

          Yes, my promotion plan includes live events in the local area, and the internet for everywhere else (I’m thinking Google Hangouts, among other platforms).

          Even if Schrodinger’s Book (as I’m calling it until the published-not published situation resolves) does defy all expectations and make me a millionaire, I’m too risk-averse to quit the day job! I guess going part time is a (very) remote possibility… maybe.

          The book is not controversial, but TPTB might still want to have veto power I guess (I hope not, and my IP lawyer friend didn’t think so). I do have an outline I could take to the meeting with my managers, which hopefully would be enough to convince them that I’m not going to make them look bad!

    2. Camellia*

      :…absolutely not anything proprietary or otherwise a conflict of interest – I checked with a friend who’s an IP lawyer in this jurisdiction)”

      Let them know this? If you had the question, then they will also.

      1. Referred too many colleagues here to use Gravatar*

        Thank you! This is at least a couple of months away, but I’ll try to remember to report back on how it goes.

    4. Rev.*

      “…- not one single word has been, or will be, written on work time or resources;
      – work always comes first…”

      Best wishes to you, with a word of advice:

      Make sure #1 is hygienically, spotlessly true. It will be checked, trust me.

      As for #2, when word gets around about your plans, be prepared for the Work Always Comes First Police. Especially the ones working undercover. Human nature is funny that way.

      See you on the NY Times BSL!

      1. Referred too many colleagues here to use Gravatar*

        I talked to my lawyer friend while the proposal was just an idea, before I put a single word on paper, so I’m covered on #1 (isn’t it great having friends with useful professions?)

        #2 is an excellent point and I will make sure not only to always put work first, but to always be seen putting work first! Thanks!

  37. Audiophile*

    Wow 5 replies already!

    So I’ve had a not so great week. Got rejected for a social media job in less than 24hrs. Bummer. But then I got a call about a communications manager position, but haven’t heard back.

    Jamie, I saw someone with an HK wallet and it made me think of you. Now I feel like a creep.

    1. Joey*

      Yeah weird. My daughter has a hello kitty and recently asked me to cut off her sunglasses and I wondered if Jaime would have approved.

      1. Jamie*

        Of course I approve – it’s the inalienable right of any little girl to accessorize or deaccesorize kitty as she sees fit.

    2. Zelos*

      On my walk home I pass by a car with a HK bow decal on its gas tank door (whatever the proper name of it is). Every time I see it I think of Jamie. :)

      1. Jamie*

        Between yesterday and today you guys have made me feel so loved – backatcha – alla y’all. :)

        1. Elizabeth*

          When we were in the Detroit airport on a layover in November, they had a Sanrio store, and I thought of you. :)

    3. WorkingAsDesigned*

      Yep – just saw a picture of my niece wearing a cowgirl HK t-shirt, and thought of Jamie. Creepier – may now always associate HK with Jamie, and since I think we live in different parts of the country, never the two shall meet… :-)

  38. Veery*

    Here’s an interesting problem: How can I avoid the endless baby conversations in my 20- and 30-something office (and specifically, ones that are tmi)?

    There’s really just a handful of initiators — but the worst culprit is my teammate (we have a team of two), which means that I’m pretty constantly exposed to it. My teammate had a baby 1.5 years ago and LOVES to talk about said baby and all things baby in general. When one of our project managers became pregnant, my teammate wanted to know everything. Our joint meetings would trail off into lengthy conversations about pregnancy and labor and breastfeeding/pumping — stuff that was frankly tmi for me, but I didn’t know how to excuse myself politely.

    I am genuinely interested in my co-workers’ lives and children, but I don’t want to know all the details all the time (especially not the gross stuff!). When I’m at my desk, I can kind of tune out, but I’m at a loss for how to handle situations where a previous conversation or meeting takes a turn for extreme baby talk. How can I gracefully leave or change topics without coming across as rude?

    Side note: I’m in my late 20s. My husband and I plan to have kids someday, but are definitely not interested now!

    1. Mike C.*

      Frankly, I think if you told them what you told us that should be fine. If nothing else, the TMI stuff should always be off the table in polite/professional situations. That’s just common sense.

      But as to the other issue, constantly talking about babies/pregnancy is no different than constantly talking about any other topic – sports, hobbies, tv shows, movies, etc. It’s rude to socially exclude people, and it’s no different when all they do is talk about children.

      Of course, when the billions of kid pictures come out, I just pull out pictures of my car.

          4. Windchime*

            What!?? I didn’t know that Subaru even made a sports car. I’ve been thinking about getting some kind of a small SUV, but this is really, really cute. Er, I mean, really MANLY.

            1. Mike C.*

              There’s no shame in driving a “cute” or “pretty” car! :) I always hated the idea of “that’s a chick car” because, well, that’s really dumb. Anyway. :)

              The story behind this is that Toyota wanted an inexpensive sports car, but needed a boxer engine to maintain a low center of gravity, so they teamed up with Subaru. Toyota designed the outside and added some stuff to the engine, Subaru designed the inside and builds them all in the same factory.

              So here in the US you can have a Subaru BRZ or a Scion FR-S, and outside the US the Scion is a Toyota GT86. It’s not the fastest thing on the road, but it’s the most fun I can have without getting a speeding ticket.

    2. Who are you?*

      Can you approach your project manager and let her know that the conversations make you uncomfortable? She may be willing to stop talking about it once she realizes it’s making others uneasy.

    3. OriginalYup*

      It sounds like it’s really the one coworker driving this, right? Bringing up her personal stories, initiating the conversations, etc. So I say treat like any other favorite topic that starts to grate. In meetings or other business settings, let it go for a minute or two and then interject, “Sorry to interrupt, but do you mind if we get back to the Pinsky timeline? I had a few questions on that.”

      Social convos are different in that you can’t really redirect them as matter-of-factly. For those, I’d probably just quietly start a side convo with someone else who’s not participating in the kid talk and do my own thing. The exception is if the conversation gets graphic or really gross – at that point, I have no problem saying, “Whoa, major TMI!” or “that’s super gross, can we…not… during lunch?” I once just got up and left a lunchtime chat about episiotomies by cheerfully saying, “And that is my cue to exit. Catch you all later.”

    4. TotesMaGoats*

      Since I’ve come back from maternity leave, I’ve made a point NOT to inundate my team with baby updates or pictures or whining (depending on the situation). It’s hard. My kid is SUPER cute and I’m not sleeping through the night.

      I digress. The advice below is solid but some of these convos just can’t be avoided. I think most women think that anything related to our bodies is fair game to talk about around other women. I think we figure that you either will go through it or have gone through it too. Think of it as having to listen to that one friend who always brags/whines about their life. You just smile and nod.

      My office is probably a horrible example though. We have a lot of people who have kids and have had 3 pregnancies in the last 4 months, so it’s baby central and nothing is off limits. My folks know when I’m pumping even the guys. But then again, most things aren’t off limits in my office.

  39. matcha123*

    It’s really fun and informative to read about workplace life for full-time jobs back home. I don’t think my mom had anyone to guide her through workplace comings and goings and I certainly don’t have anyone here.

    Tomorrow my workplace is having a “hanami” party (sitting under cherry blossoms, eating bento and drinking alcohol). What might be interesting for people back home is that this is a work event, held on a Saturday and family/significant others are definitely NOT invited. But, since it looks like rain tomorrow, I think we’ll be sitting in our office eating bento. I hope they at least let us turn on our computers and play some music :)

  40. Communication problems*

    I was talking to a friend about communication problems in the departments we’ve worked in, and how this seems to be a widespread issue in our field (libraries/archives/museums). I’ve often had the experience that I’ll only know about decisions made or in process because I happen to ask the right person at the right time. These usually aren’t major decisions, but they still affect me. Based on what I’ve heard from others, I think the biggest problem is not so much that people are not told things — because they are, eventually — but that the way that it’s handled makes them feel that they are not being kept in the loop, and it makes them nervous.

    I’m not really in a position to address the problem, I don’t think, but I’m interested in how it’s done. I’d love to hear from people about what you think works for fostering efficient communication within a department, and how you make sure employees feel that they’re up-to-date on issues that affect them.

    1. OriginalYup*

      I don’t have experience in your particular field, but these are tactics I’ve seen work in different environments:

      – standing scheduled one-to-one check ins between bosses and employees, with periodic “skip” meetings where the employee meets with the boss’s boss
      – a monthly all-staff meeting (small company) with 30 min for state-of-the-business updates, and 30 min for rotating dept/team presentations about any major project that just happened.
      – weekly “roundups” or “huddles” where the group of less than 8 people just gathers in a cube aisle or work area, and has a quick standing meeting where everyone goes around and gives the key updates.
      – monthly/quarterly dashboards, where the key projects & business drivers get green/yellow/red ratings and a 1-2 sentence status update, and the info is emailed to everyone or put on an intranet
      – a wiki or sharepoint space where cross-team/dept administrators are responsible for updating the 10-20 pages on a scheduled basis
      – white boards/bulletins for big projects, where a physical space is set aside for a visual display that has a mix of standing reference content and rotating “latest update” content

      1. Communication problems*

        I like the wiki and the white board! So simple, and good for introverts and quiet people. At my office, we do have regular(ish) meetings, but those are only so helpful because most of the employees don’t do a lot of talking in them (myself included). I’ve noticed that smaller, more informal meetings, when they occur, seem to yield better results. However, those happen rarely and people are usually left out. I think something like “huddles” would probably work better.

    2. Cassie*

      Unfortunately, we have the same problem and although people keep complaining about the lack of communication, there hasn’t been any attempts to fix the problem.

      I’m lucky in the my desk in a centrally-located area (well, despite the noise factor) and I’m also invited to meetings as an observer so I hear about a lot of stuff coming down the pipeline. If it were up to me, I’d have mini meetings with each work unit to keep them informed. Unfortunately, a few of the managers in our organization seem to relish being “in the know”, and thus don’t share information readily. It’s a complaint that I hear from my coworkers time and time again.

      1. Communication problems*

        Yeah, in my case, I do wonder if there are any higher-ups who even consider it a problem. I had previously assumed that they realized it was a problem but now that I think about it, why would they? They know what they need to know and, as far as I’m aware, no one’s complained to them.

    3. Green Button*

      I’m in museums and this has been an issue at any site I’ve worked at with more than three employees. I think some of it has to do with turf battles (information is power!) and some of it has to do with the higher ups genuinely not realizing how many people certain decisions could impact and that office gossip will spread like wildfire if they don’t address things immediately.

  41. Lisa*

    I am so happy!

    I started my new job 2 weeks ago, and I actually come work with a smile on my face. I am back to working for my mentor again. He poached me, and would dread going to work, but no more. There are times where I catch myself smiling or giggling at my work cause I know he will like it, and in general just feel giddy going about my day.

    I never expected to ‘follow what I love’ – traveling with an endless source of income from thin air – but coming to work and having it not feel like work is the best thing ever!

    I am relaxed and have very little stress compared to my last job.

    1. Arbynka*

      That’s great, Lisa. I always love to hear updates, especially when they are good ones. I love traveling :)

  42. Nicole*

    Hi Everyone,

    So I followed my spouse for a new job and have been job hunting. The area doesn’t have ton of employers, the largest is a university (~6,000 employees). I have been applying to positions in a variety of roles but that I would be a good fit for. Do you think it hurts my chances if I am applying for positions doing different things and also does it hurt my chances just by applying for a number of positions (about 8 now)?

    Another question, all of my recent experience is adjuncting (I am applying for full-time, non-teaching positions). I also had an internship from 2003-2005. I was fortunate enough to get a retail position that started a month ago. Should I put it on my resume or leave it off? On one hand it’s current employment and it’s experience that’s non-teaching but I worry it could be a deterrent as I have not been there long even though it’s a high turnover industry.

    1. Juli G.*

      On the first thing, it could if they use an applicant tracking system (Taleo, etc.). I would try to be more focused on a certain path if you apply again. Also, prepare to answer the question of “So you’re applying for our accountant position but I see last week you applied for a sheep herding position as well. What’s your area of focus?” Answer by making comparisons between shepherding and accounting.

      On the second, I can go either way. I lean towards including it because I know managers that won’t even look at resumes of the unemployed (which is ridiculous in my opinion).

  43. LeeD*

    Ever since I read the article on Wednesday about being busy, I’ve had Jim Infantino’s song “Stress” stuck in my head.

    “I’m addicted to stress, that’s the way that I get things done/
    If I’m not under pressure then I sleep too long/
    and I hang around like a bum/
    and I think I’m going nowhere and that makes me nervous.”

    If you’re not familiar with it, it’s good for a laugh or twenty.
    http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/Stress/3BfJxQ?src=5

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Yep. Some people get energy from being in a panic all the time. They have to have some crisis in order to motivate themselves.

  44. Arbynka*

    I just want to apologize for one comment I made not long ago that still bothers me. I think it was in the discussion about the security badges and women speaking up. Some of our European commenters wrote about their cultural perspective and I replied with “So sad to see not much have changed in good ol’ Europe…” I even never went back to look if anyone replied because I immediately realized it was crappy of me :( So, especially to those European commenters, I am sorry. I know things in fact changed for better and I really know that just because you have different cultural perspective it does not mean you condone sexism or you agree with it. Honestly I do know all that, but my bad experiences from over there and the bias I formed sometimes gets the best of me. That plus the frustration over helping to change some more things. Again, sorry and I will watch it from now on :)

    1. AndersonDarling*

      I didn’t read your comment, but I sympathize with you. Worrying about a comment that wasn’t quite worded right… I would do that too.
      I think you are OK. :)

    2. Jen RO*

      I got pissed off and answered with an equally crappy comment aimed at the States, so I think it’s better that you didn’t go back and read. That was a discussion better left alone, especially knowing that we probably agree in principle.

      1. Arbynka*

        Well, you had a right to be pissed off. I thought at first I should go back and read because I deserved whatever was coming my way, but then decided not to. I already felt upset and that’s not the state I like to post in. If anything, I would probably screwed up some more. But honestly, on the bright side, it did make me realize that I do in fact have some bias and allowed me to work on it.

  45. Jen RO*

    So… there is a possibility I might go back to my former company. They have been trying to recruit for a while and they can’t find experienced people, and my former coworkers had been trying to convince me to come back for a while. I thought they would not be able to offer me the salary I want… but my former boss was in Romania this week and apparently he’s willing to try to create a senior position that would allow him to give me my desired salary. I will have a video conference with him next week to see if we can agree on the conditions for my return. I have been talking to my former team lead (who has been going back and forth between me and Boss, basically negotiating this for me – yay), and from what she tells me the team will be going in a good direction… much better than when I left. I am… oddly excited about this, because I had said there’s no way I am going back. Interesting times are ahead!

      1. Jen RO*

        See, this is the question… and the main reason I want to have a good long chat with the boss. The company was very disorganized when I left, and I got tired of putting out fires. My team was also prone to “my hair is on fire” – panicking and stressing out without a good reason. (Example: a client e-mailed saying we did X wrong. Ideal solution: apologize and fix it. Former approach: OMG client sucks! That wasn’t our mistake anyway, it was made by someone who left the company already! And anyway everything sucks and will never get better!)

        What is making me hopeful is the fact that the team lead will be promoted to full-fledged manager, so she will have more authority. I don’t really trust former boss’s judgment, he is oblivious to many things, but I trust the team lead and she could do great things if given more authority.

        As for getting it in writing, that’s not really “done” here, but I think I can tell whether what my boss says is true (feasible) or not. I have always been on the same page with the team lead, so I absolutely trust any decisions she will make. (Bonus: I am her “right hand”, so to say, and I have helped her out even after I left the company, with technical and management advice… so I am in a good position.)

          1. Jen RO*

            Yep, I know. That’s the big dilemma – go back to the devil I know or keep job searching for an unknown devil? (I *will* keep searching until I have a signed contract with a start date, because it seems they can’t make me an offer until the new fiscal year anyway.)

            1. Not So NewReader*

              My two cents- go for the unknown devil. This may or may not be doable for your given situation- but if you can make a clean break go for it.

    2. Arbynka*

      I so totally understand you being excited about it. My friend was in similar situation as you, also thought she would never return to her former job but the company made some changes, she is back now and things have been working well for her.

    3. Lisa*

      If you can go back and be happy, do it. I left a place that wasn’t the best, then changed dramatically in the 6 months that I was gone, so I gave it another shot. It was awesome, and I loved it. But then my mentor was fired, and it went back to being the same as why I left. So I followed my mentor and I am so happy.

      FYI – They will be very angry if you leave again, but they don’t own you and you are not groveling. Though some will claim you begged to come back even if that isn’t the case. If you think that you can stay for at least two years (no commitment or contract, just a gut feeling) then why not…

      1. Jen RO*

        If I do go back, I plan to stay as long as possible (my previous stint was 3 years and a half). My former boss also wants me to be 100% sure I am coming back because I *want* to, not because I *need* to. I enjoyed most of my time there… so I hope it will be a return to happier days. (Also, I will get a significant raise, more than 30% compared to what I had when I left, and a bit more than I have at my current job.)

  46. KarenT*

    I have a situation, and would love input!

    So my team is made up of three managers, of which I am one. We share an assistant, and she reports directly to the manager with the most seniority, though it’s very clear her duties are supporting all three of us. We’ve had this system the whole time I’ve been at the company (seven years) and they’ve had it in place much longer than that. It’s always worked perfectly well, even great. And I know this from both sides, as my first job at this company was as said assistant. I think it’s always worked well because we’ve always had great assistants working for great managers.

    Now, we have a new assistant, and she’s not great. She was intern here, and really impressed us all (including me, I pushed for her hire). Now that she’s here full-time, she’s a completely different person. She spends hours making personal calls (her cube neighbours are complaining about listening to her lengthy chats with her boyfriend and her fights with her landlord), takes long lunches, and does work at a snail’s pace. She’s also constantly complaining that she’s busy, when we know for a fact she’s not. Us three managers discuss her workload and it’s actually pretty light right now (and again, I can say that with experience because I’ve both had her job and witnessed others in it). It takes forever to get her to do anything, and when she does finally submit work, it’s always late with no apology and no sense of urgency. I will say her work is really, really good.
    Two out of the three of us are really frustrated with her, and the third is completely oblivious. Of course, the oblivious one is actually the one she reports to. He’s fine with us discussing these issues with her (and I have!) but has no interest in doing it himself. Whenever I talk to her, she’s mortified for a day and then it’s like nothing happened. I can’t even explain how many complaints I’m getting from other departments about her timeliness and professionalism.
    Help!

    1. TotesMaGoats*

      This may come across as flip but…it sounds like PIP time to me. If you’ve already spoken to her about this problem and haven’t seen a change then something in writing that requires accountability and measurable improvement is the next step.

      One thing though, I would get 3rd manager on board with the PIP plan, if you go that route. If the employee’s “main boss” isn’t complaining she may not take it as seriously. He needs to tow the party line on this one for it to be effective.

      1. AndersonDarling*

        That’s what I was thinking. If her boss is saying she is doing a good job, then she will think she is.

      2. KarenT*

        It doesn’t come off as flip for me–it’s my desired outcome. Her manager doesn’t feel the same (and I swear he’s just lazy/wants to avoid awkwardness). But I think it’s time to push harder.

    2. LCL*

      It sounds like part of the problem is she has way too much time on her hands. Before the PIP, figure out what she could reasonably have added to her duties, then meet with her and help her plan how she will have time for the extra work.

      1. KarenT*

        I think what’s happened is she really should be busy, but people are avoiding giving her work because it’s kind of a black hole.

    3. Lily in NYC*

      Instead of talking about a specific issue that she screwed up, have you tried a more general route? As in, letting her know exactly what you wrote above – that she was a good intern, you fought for her to get hired and that her attitude and work ethic have not been up to par since then? And approach her with concern so she won’t get defensive – maybe ask her if she feels like the job isn’t what she expected. Guilt can work wonders!Then tell her in no uncertain terms that there will be consequences if she continues her subpar performance (without mentioning that you don’t know if her main boss will support a PIP).

      1. KarenT*

        letting her know exactly what you wrote above – that she was a good intern, you fought for her to get hired and that her attitude and work ethic have not been up to par since then?

        I love this, and I’m going to do it! I’d sort of been holding back because she doesn’t report to me, but I think it’s time. I’ve been very blunt with her about her lack of meeting timelines (and really lack of caring about it) but you’re right, it’s time for a general conversation.

    4. some1*

      Any chance you can meet with her direct boss and lay out concrete examples of how her slacking off had a negative impact?

      “I had to leave a client meeting for 10 minutes to go find a file because Jane wasn’t back from lunch yet.”

      “I had to stay late on Thursday because I told Jane to merge the spreadsheets by noon and I didn’t get them til 4:45”

      1. KarenT*

        I have, but he doesn’t really care because it affects me more than it affects him. When I bring him specific examples, he’s always fine with me talking to her about it, and he even added some of my comments to her PA, but he won’t go the PIP route and I swear it’s just out of laziness. He’d rather wait for her to move on.

        1. Not So NewReader*

          Company policies cannot possibly be okay with all the personal phone calls. Can you start by targeting one behavior? It sounds like the phone calls are a big player in this problem.

          Also, are you accidentally shielding her boss from the complaints? Perhaps it is time to tell the complainers that they need to go talk with Bob about these issues, since you have no jurisdiction over all this.
          Maybe that is not the best idea, but since Bob is unwilling to change what he is doing (head in the sand) then the next question is can you change what you are doing?
          If it were me, I would start adding up the time I spend handling complaints about this person. “Bob, I spent 6 hours this week and 5.5 hours last week talking about problems here. This IS impacting our team and our work effort.”

        2. AB Normal*

          Can’t you change the org structure so that the assistant reports to you (or the other manager) instead of the current one?

          If the problems affects you more than the other manager, it seems like you might have a case for this.

  47. Anon for this one*

    Anybody have any advice on dealing with a new manager who doesn’t fit the workplace culture? I know we’ve talked about new employees who just don’t fit in, but we just hired a new library director, and she’s managed to alienate pretty much the entire staff in the three months she’s been here. She’s not incompetent and she does have some good ideas, but her attitude toward the staff–particularly the clerical/non-professional staff–is really grating.

    She’s condescending to the clerks, some of whom have been here for literally 30 or 40 years. She doesn’t seem to have any interest in learning about our specific patron population and what they want out of the library (we have a large population of low-income senior citizens, and what they want is going to be a lot different than what your average yuppie wants); instead, she’s parroting back the Latest Big Ideas about how to bring libraries into the 21st century. She actually got into an argument with a patron last week because the patron asked her to stop talking loudly at the front desk. She told the patron that libraries aren’t quiet places anymore and if she couldn’t deal with it this wasn’t the place for her.

    I just…I don’t really know how to deal with it. She’s not particularly receptive to feedback. A few people have talked about going to the board, but we’re concerned about retaliation if things go poorly.

    Any advice anybody has would be greatly appreciated.

    1. lavendertea*

      D: I don’t have any advice for you, just that it’s really disheartening to know people like this are getting hired given the ratio of applicants to open positions in this field. I hope everything works out.

      1. Aisling*

        This is actually true (I’m a librarian too). The push is more for “community spaces” than quiet places. However, there are ways to let patrons know that without alienating them!

    3. Arbynka*

      Is there anybody “above” her (boss) or is the only option going to the board ? Sorry, I really don’t know how libraries work. Because her getting into an argument with a patron should be addressed. I mean not only to get into an argument but actually tell your patron “deal with it or this is not a place for you ?” I am sorry you are in this situation.

      1. Anon for this one*

        Nope, just the board. We’re a small library, and the hierarchy is pretty flat and informal–or at least, it was before she started. So there are levels of seniority, but she’s the only one who actually has disciplinary privileges, and only the board has hiring/firing privileges.

        I wasn’t actually present for the argument, but I heard it from another member of the staff, and the patron posted a pretty angry comment about it on our Facebook page. Our usual web admin isn’t planning to delete it, but she also has admin privileges, and I’m wondering if she will.

        1. Arbynka*

          I wish I have some good suggestion to you. Sure, I can say “go to the board” but I am not the one who would possibly face retaliations :( Do you think she might be open to suggestion about creating loud and quit areas as poster below me suggested. I mean, if you want to create a “loud” library while your patrons mainly prefer the “quiet” one, I think some sort of transition should be in place. I don’t think it is a good strategy is to say :”Oops, this is now a loud library, deal with it or leave..” Do you think maybe she could take some feedback in that area or do you think the culture misfit is just too big and she won’t be open to any feedback ?

          1. Arbynka*

            And btw, I have to go to the library now :) I can’t renew one of my dvds because somebody has it on hold and is waiting for it.

    4. thenoiseinspace*

      She’s handling this unprofessionally, but I do see her point. Lots of libraries now are really places to meet or study, give presentations, hold lectures, etc. And I do understand that she’s not catering to the current clientele because she’s hoping to appeal to a new, larger group. But I don’t think either of these things need to be mutually exclusive. It also sounds like she’s feeling pressure to make some sort of big change to make her mark on things.

      I actually really like the way one of my universities built their library. It was divided into two main sections. One was the “loud” section: it had multimedia computers for video editing, a nice coffee shop, several whiteboards for brainstorming sessions, and some tables with projectors for meetings or presentations. It was a great community center – we had all kinds of poetry readings and video showings there, and people could bring books from other parts of the library there to study in groups.

      The second section was the “quiet” section. This was the more traditional kind of library – soft chairs, small study tables for individuals, rows and rows of books, and quiet. It was a great place to read or study on your own.

      It sounds like your new director wants the “loud” library, which has become pretty popular these days. It also seems like she wants it at the expense of the “quiet” library. That doesn’t have to be the case.

      I don’t know the layout of your building or what resources you have, but would it be possible to suggest a similar new design? Maybe divide them by floor, or by wing (depending on what you have?) That way she’s be happy, your current customers would be happy, she’d feel like she was putting her stamp on things, and you might even get some new people enjoying your library. :)

      1. Arbynka*

        I like your points but since anon for this one now specified they are a small library, I don’t think they will have the means to separate loud and quiet areas. Maybe if they had wings.. But still, it would have to be suggested to the manager who, from the sound of it, does not take feedback well. And has disciplinary powers. Honestly, this is a sticky situation.

    5. Duckie*

      I’ve encountered this before, apparently she ended up leaving in about a year and a half. The director position was just a stepping stone to her until she could get a ‘better’ library. Is there any possibility that yours is the same way? She will probably end up bailing for somewhere else. If you can weather out the storm, it might get better when she leaves, depending on how much damage she does to your staff and patron relations. Of course, mine had a real disdain for our low-income patrons that was like ‘whoa did you just say that?’

    6. Blue Anne*

      “She actually got into an argument with a patron last week because the patron asked her to stop talking loudly at the front desk. She told the patron that libraries aren’t quiet places anymore and if she couldn’t deal with it this wasn’t the place for her.”

      Yikes! That’s just… oh man. What a thing to have to deal with, for both that patron and you.

      Would giving that as an example to the board, and saying “This patron was angry enough that they made a complaint on our Facebook page where it would be seen by other patrons” help? It’s not just an issue the staff are having with her, or an issue that a few of the patrons are having with her, but an issue that is becoming rather public. That would make it a very urgent issue for me if I was on the board.

      1. Joey*

        The problem with going to the board is you have no idea what they wanted when they hired her. All you know is that you don’t approve of her methods.

        1. Blue Anne*

          That’s a good point. I wonder if there’s someone on the board she could approach to say “Our new manager has been making a lot of changes, which has been hard to adjust to for some of our patrons. I don’t want to make a big deal of it, especially if this is part of a new direction the board is taking, but it’s a little worrying when we have upset patrons. Could you shed any light on it?”

          Hopefully they’d react with either “Yeah, sorry about a rough transition but this is exactly what we hired her for” or “What?! No, this is the first I’ve heard of it!”

          Would have to be someone the poster has a pretty good relationship with to be safe, though, I guess.

          1. VintageLydia USA*

            Your GaiaOnline avatar is seriously bringing back memories. I know this is OT but I had to say something!

        2. Anon for this one*

          I actually do; we had a hell of a time finding a replacement director when our old one moved on–it was literally like the job was cursed. The first person they offered it wouldn’t accept the salary (which is non-negotiable because…civil service). The second one died of a heart attack before he could start. The third just never got back to them. The interim director was our children’s librarian, and she absolutely hated it. This woman had actually been passed over in several rounds of interviews, so it’s not like she was a top choice. That’s actually the main reason anyone’s even considered going to the board at all; there’s at least a 50% chance they’ll be receptive.

    7. Joey*

      Change can be good, but highly uncomfortable. Who knows, maybe the board hired her because they wanted someone like her. I’d say give you’ve got to give her philosophy a chance and just make sure you’re providing lots of feedback.

      And not listening to customers can be a good thing. Afterall if you are the experts you should be able to anticipate what patrons want before they actually know it.

      1. Arbynka*

        ” Afterall if you are the experts you should be able to anticipate what patrons want before they actually know it.”

        I don’t know, in my experience, before a change always came marketing research. I think that’s how experts know what patrons want before they actually know it. They have to listen to the patrons. It’s fine to be “innovative” but if you do not what you are doing, it can fail very quickly.

        1. Joey*

          Absolutey, but very few people are informed enough to know what’s out there. Some people have no idea what an app is or how it could be useful in a library setting. And there are many many libraries are resistant to change.

      2. Aisling*

        And not listening to customers can be a good thing. Afterall if you are the experts you should be able to anticipate what patrons want before they actually know it.

        This doesn’t make sense to me. We can certainly anticipate what patrons want, and offer them the greatest new thing, but if libraries change something and every patron screams “No!” – then why wouldn’t we want to listen to the patrons? It seems a bit condescending to not consider the patrons at all – as if we’re saying we’re the mukety-mucks and know better than the patrons what their library experience should be. They do pay our salaries; their responses should be considered.

        1. Joey*

          Considered yes, but you also have to consider that people usually don’t fully understand the purpose of the library. They only fully understand and value the services or products they use. For example I know many people value that the library has old technology like PC stations, cd’s and regular dvd’s. But it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to heavily invest in those technologies when newer technology are taking over.

          1. Aisling*

            True, though that also has to do with how the library markets itself. As an aside, pc stations are not old technology- we’re still teaching patrons how to sign up for email, apply for jobs, and file taxes! Everything is a balance between new and old.

            1. Anon for this one*

              This. Especially in a low-income area like ours, we can’t just assume that everyone has their own laptop/smartphone/tablet. Our PC stations are heavily used–as is our DVD collection. Yes, Blu-ray is newer, but if none of our patrons has a Blu-ray player yet, it doesn’t make sense to start phasing out DVD’s. We have a handful of Blu-rays in our collection, and they never go out. We promote our digital collection as much as possible, but our hard-copy mysteries still circulate heavily. I’m working to get tablet and e-reader classes going, but at this juncture it would be frankly insane to start thinking about phasing out PC stations–and I think that will be the case for a long time yet.

              There are newer technologies out there, but that doesn’t make it good practice to just toss out every existing technology without even considering how that would affect patrons.

      3. Anon for this one*

        I don’t actually object to most of her ideas, just her execution (FWIW, I’m fairly fresh out of school and haven’t been there all that much longer than she has, so it’s not like I’m still married to the idea of card catalogs :P). I feel like there are a lot of ways she could accomplish exactly the same thing–probably more effectively–without pissing off her entire staff.

        And in general…IDK, I feel like getting into a heated argument with a patron in a public area is almost never a good idea, even if you’re right and they’re wrong.

    8. MJ*

      I would suggest that you do whatever you can to help her succeed. You can say things to her (in a helpful voice) like:

      —“There was a complaint on our FB page that you might want to have a look at. You should probably know we have a very old-fashioned clientele here, and it may take them some time to come around to the idea of libraries as noisy, sharing places.”

      OR

      — “Margery who works on the desk in the mornings has been with us for 30 years. You may find that some of our staff have deep ties in the community and could be really helpful as ambassadors for the new things we are thinking of trying.”

      OR

      “I am really excited about X idea that I heard you talking about. I think it would be really helpful to get the circ team on board with this before we launch it, because they are our best sales people.”

      You could consider giving her a bit more time. If this is her first time as a library director, it may take her awhile to learn the politics of her new job, and when her mistakes catch up with her she may learn from them and improve. Do not protect her from criticisms, and encourage unhappy patrons to fill in a comment card or whatever grievance path is open at your library, but also let the library director know that you heard X complaint and thought she might want to follow up, so it does not appear you are going behind her back.

      Small libraries often do not have big budgets for a library director, and she may be the best person the board could afford. Taking this to the board can be a little bit touchy, as they may be defensive of their decision. If you feel you need to address them, I would suggest having an informal conversation with the most accessible member of your board: “I don’t want the board to be blind-sided, so in the interest of the library and helping Library Director to succeed, I thought you should know that I have heard X complaints from the public and that a number of staff are upset with her approach. I think she might need some guidance in how to navigate different groups in our community.”

      Good luck!

      1. Anon for this one*

        Thanks…I think this approach could be really helpful, actually. I don’t have a grudge against her, and I DO want her to succeed…there’s just a lot resentment simmering that isn’t totally unjustified, you know? But I think framing it as helpful information instead of criticism might get a better reception.

  48. ChristineSW*

    Second question:

    Next Friday, I’m attending a career fair / professional development workshop at the school where I got my graduate degree; it is specific to my field (social work). I could use some advice on how to make the most of this event, or if it’d even be worth my time.

    The first half of the event is the workshop: from what I gather, it’ll entail panels on various topics, such as licensing and career options. That I’m not too worried about.

    The second half appears to be a typical career fair setup, although employers are required to have openings in order to register. There will also be experienced social workers (I assume with hiring experience) who’ll offer resume critiques.

    I really want to attend this at least for the first part alone. I’d like to stay for the second part (many attendees will be coming by a shuttle, so there may not be a choice about staying), but other than a working list of employers, I don’t know what types of positions are available. Those who know me know that I’m more interested in work similar to what I’m doing now in my volunteer committees–working with grants, maybe help with research or training projects–however, based on the list I’ve seen so far, it’s probably all going to be clinical/direct service positions. Also, I am not interested in management or supervisory roles.

    Long story short:
    1) How do I properly convey what I’m looking for–this is where I’ve been stumbling.

    2) Am I totally screwed (lack of a better term) since I haven’t had paid employment in so long? Yes I’ve been doing substantive work with my volunteering and I love it, but I’m ready to take on something paid, at least on a part-time basis.

    3) Should I bite the bullet and go for direct service positions? I have a sense that it’d serve me well for my long-term aspirations, but honestly, my anxiety tends to get in the way of this. I just think my personality and skills would lend better to project-based work, rather than anything where I have to build relationships (yes, I get along well with people, but not everyone is skilled in forming and cultivating relationships. And why did I go into social work again?? lol)

    1. HeatherSW*

      I just went to an everything career fair, but I spoke with human service agencies. I found it most useful to be able to go to them and say “I’m interested in your x position, here’s my resume.”
      What do job ad look like in your area? I feel like in MA I see grant-type jobs at the master’s level which want an independant liscence. As such, I’d go with the direct care to a)get the 2nd licence and b)get into an agency where you could move to develpment or something else.

  49. AnonForThis*

    I have a colleague (from a different organization, that I work closely with) that I just can’t figure out how to work with. I think the problem is that she wants to be in control of everything; she’s asked me to copy me on all my emails to our (joint) members; she wants to have input into decisions that are internal to my organization (but involve joint members), etc. I’ve tried accommodating her wishes, pushing back on specific things that seem crazy to me (e.g. being blind copied on communications to joint outside partners), ignoring her preferences entirely and going ahead with my own plans… none of it has been successful.

    I’m leaving this job (in part because I’m so tired of having to think through how to navigate her as a roadblock whenever I try to do something), so this won’t be a thing for me much longer. But I wish I had been able to resolve this. Any thoughts?

    1. Aisling*

      It sounds like you’ve done what you can. I’d involve your manager, and ask their advice on how to proceed, since it’s causing you issues.

  50. Wonderlander*

    Does anyone have any advice for dealing with an unemployed spouse? Not necessarily financially (we’re lucky I have a great job that pays 80% of the bills) but more on the emotional or supportive side. Husband has been unemployed for 4 months and it’s starting to strain our relationship. :( I love him dearly and want to keep being supportive. I can tell he’s feeling worthless, not useful, etc. I think I hold some contempt (for lack of a better word) because I grew up poor and began working to help my mom when I turned 16 and haven’t stopped since. It’s wrong of me to compare our current situation to my childhood/teenage years, I know. But to me, Husband seems to be waiting for The. Perfect. Job to land in his lap. He won’t volunteer or go to job training or vocational classes. Any encouraging words?

    1. Elysian*

      What is he doing when he’s home? Does he do house-stuff, or does he mope? If he’s a moper, you might try giving him something (anything at all) to do.
      If he won’t do it for himself, maybe you’ll do it because you asked. Getting started (on anything at all) is sometimes the hardest part. Is there a big project you’ve been putting off or something that he can be in charge of (paint the living room, put up some shelves, spring cleaning, whatever).

      1. Wonderlander*

        He’s doing little things on his own, and has good and bad days. Some days I come home and the house is spotless, laundry done, and dinner made. Other days he’s sat on the couch in his boxers all day. I *have* found that if I ask him to do something, it gets him started and he does other things that day too.

        1. Elysian*

          Could he join a gym? I could see a lot of benefits to that if he’s the kind of person who might work out – its stress relieving and makes you feel better about yourself and gets you out of bed and moving in the morning.

          I would try to lay off him about job-related things, though. I’m sure he knows, and that he’s thinking about it all the time, and I think he just needs to come around to that one his own. If I were you I would support him in his sad times, and try to find non-job related ways to uplift him. I think if he can get enough momentum going he’ll probably come around eventually.

    2. cecilhungry*

      Hmmm, I’m in a somewhat similar situation in that my BF is stuck in a dead-end job, took a course in something that he loves/will actually get him a job, and is now doing NOTHING. Not sending out resumes, not networking with the DOZENS OF PEOPLE HE KNOWS WHO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY, just continuing to work at this job he hates.

      I think what it comes down to, and it may be for your husband as well, is fear. It’s easier to sit at home and complain about the job market / work customer service in a really crappy store for a terrible manager than to face up to the fact that you might not make it in a new industry/job.

      If your husband was laid off, he also may be facing doubts about whether it was REALLY just money/restructuring or if there was a secret, underlying reason he was let go that no one told him. I know that’s what I struggled with when I was unemployed.

      I think the best thing you can do is to be compassionate and kind. If you run into something great for him, offer it up. Don’t nag, that’ll just make it worse. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do, it’s up to them now. (And try to keep the condescension off the table. Rant to us, but try to keep a straight face around him.)

      1. Wonderlander*

        Husband was laid off and it was supposedly for financial reasons, so that totally relates. I *know* he’s feeling wronged and that his skills/education/etc are worthless. He follows Old Job’s FB page and keeps in contact with co-workers, so I think he’s having trouble moving on. It’s like he’s waiting for them to call him and say “Just kidding! Come back to work!”

        Fear is something I didnt even think about. It’s spot on, I’m sure. He’s likely terrified of being told that he went to school, got a degree, and now it’s useless. I’m sure he’s scared that he spent the last 3 years at Old Job for naught, as it’s certainly not helping him move up in his career. And rejection is scary too.

        But…. how long should I give him to be scared, to feel worthless, to be depressed about losing his job? He’s an adult and feel like 4 months is long enough – I want to tell him to pick himself up and move on. Get out there. If I tell him that it’s been long enough and I need him to DO SOMETHING, won’t he resent me?

        Thanks for the encouraging words – I’ll try to keep the condescension and nagging to a minimum.

        1. cecilhungry*

          Well, I think in a lot of ways, you kind of just have to let him go on moping. There’s only so much you can do, and if you spend too much time trying to pep him up/offer solutions/etc, you’ll just be one more thing he tries to avoid.

          I do think it’ll be tough, but I think you need to let him alone about the fact that he’s not doing anything, but be REALLY helpful and upbeat whenever he does do anything (“Of course I will look over your resume! How about if I take over dinner tonight so you can finish that application!”) Positive reinforcement?

          1. Wonderlander*

            I definitely *try* to praise him when I come home and dinner is on the table or he’s vacuumed the living room, but I think it comes off as kind-of…. tired. He usually POUNCES on me as soon as I get in the door and starts talking, talks all the way through dinner, and finishes around the time dinner is done. He’s lonely, I know. But at the end of the day, the last thing I want is to listen to a recap of his entire conversation online with a stranger. I’ll try harder to make it sound more genuine.

            1. cecilhungry*

              Ugh, that’s so hard, because I feel you wanting space, but at the same time it can be SO boring to be unemployed.

              Are any of his friends unemployed/stay-at-home/part-time/night-shift/freelance? While I was unemployed, a few other people in my general circle of friends were too, and we formed the “Unemployed Ladies Networking Hour” (AKA the “Unemployed Ladies Cocktail and Gossiping Hour”). Once or twice a month (sometimes more), we would get together and do something fun/interesting and cheap during the day. A few times when the weather was nice we split a bottle of wine in the afternoon on my porch. We took whatever we were going to eat for lunch and brought it to the park. We found the cheapest happy hour in town and had a few cold ones at 3pm. We went for 11am runs. Basically, we got together and took advantage of the fact that we weren’t at work. Sometimes we talked about the job hunt, but most of the time it was understood that if someone didn’t bring it up, it meant there was nothing new. It was a good way to get out of the house, see some people who weren’t going to ask you how the job hunt was going, people to commiserate with, etc.

              1. Anonsie*

                “Ugh, that’s so hard, because I feel you wanting space, but at the same time it can be SO boring to be unemployed.”

                Right? This is exactly how I was when we moved to a new city for my partner’s job and I spent five months job hunting after we got there. Sometimes I would just wallow, sometimes I’d deep clean the entire house, but every time he got home I’d jump on him and tell him all about what I read on the internet that day. I needed human interaction sooo baaad

        2. Anonsie*

          I agree with Cecil– you need to let him work through it. Four months is not an extremely long time, especially since you’re financially stable.

          Because yes, he will resent that. You feel bad, sure, you wish he was doing something else. That’s valid, and you’re certainly not *wrong* to want that, but he is the one in the really tough place right now. You being upset with him because you don’t like him being in a tough place is unhelpful at best and extremely hurtful at worst, so while it’s definitely reasonable to have those feelings, this is a situation where they need to stay personal. I guarantee you he knows (or at least fears) that you feel this way.

      2. GoodGirl*

        Amen what you said about fear! I have a close friend (let’s call him Sam) who seems to be paralyzed by fear. I’ve watch Sam struggle for years in a job he hates and stay in bad romantic relationships because of fear. I’ve been Sam’s shoulder to cry on for many years, but now, I just don’t want to do it anymore because he never seems to make ANY progress or even try. I know that’s harsh and I feel like a bad friend, but after years of listening/offering advice and still nothing, it’s irritating.

        (End rant.)

        1. Elizabeth West*

          I had a friend in a similar situation. She finally broke out of it (after more than ten years!) but she had to do it on her own. Nothing I said made any difference, so I just tried to listen as best I could.

    3. iseeshiny*

      Oh man. Yeah, my husband was underemployed for a year, and then quit to focus on his job search and was unemployed for like eight months, then got a three month contract position that they offered to keep him at and HE TURNED DOWN because he thought he was getting a job that ended up not panning out and then unemployed for five more months after that. I had the same issue where I wanted to be supportive but also we did not have the resources for an unemployment stint that long and I really wondered if our (relatively new) marriage would survive the strain.

      What worked best for me was eventually just staying out of it. He was really good about doing housework, so it’s not like I was coming home to a couch potato – he’d have dinner in the works and everything – so I didn’t resent him for that. The hardest part was not freaking out about finances – I’m very much not a risk taker financially and terrified of poverty, and he was ineligible for unemployment – but the best thing I did for our marriage at that time was stop sending him links to jobs/AAM columns. I had to accept that he was a grown man who wanted to work and who was trying his best to find a good job, and that sometimes it just takes a while to find one. The best way for me to be supportive was to stay positive when he brought up his search, and never to bring it up if he didn’t, and just kind of trust him to find a job. And eventually he did, and now we just have to dig out of the hole we got into, which is much easier now that he’s making nearly twice what I do. It’s really tough though, and I’m sorry you’re going through it.

      1. Wonderlander*

        I think I’m going to use this as a mantra, “He is a grown man who wants to work and who is trying his best to find a good job, and that sometimes it just takes a while to find one.” Repeat.

        Your situation sounds SOOO similar. It’s encouraging to hear that even though it took close to 2 years, you did get out of it.

      2. O*

        So have absolutely no experience with this, but I would say I’d have to agree with iseeshiny about maybe just staying out of it, but at the same time, and I might be reading this wrong, it sounds like there hasn’t been much discussion about it. Maybe you could ask, very nice and nonjudgmental about what’s going on, if there is something going on, like maybe he just feels he’s horrible at cover letters and dreads doing them. I’d say, maybe just ask if there’s something that’s holding him back/bothering him in a real non-confrontational way, and if that doesn’t work, stay out of it.

    4. AndersonDarling*

      There was a while where my BF was unemployed and I would ask him to do things around the house and he would just mope. It drove me crazy!

      But, I was unemployed for 2 months and all I did was mope and apply to jobs. So I couldn’t be mad because I knew I felt that way.

      He got a job and things are fine. But one thing I did was put up a dry erase board and I would write a to-do list to be done before the end of the week. (and if he waited until Friday to do it, I couldn’t be mad.) This helped because he was really just being scatterbrained from being home so much. Writing it down helped him remember that we talked about it.

      1. cecilhungry*

        Yeah, when I was unemployed and living alone, I lived in total squalor because I had all the time in the world to clean and I could just start tomorrow (insert Eeyore sigh). My BF moving in and giving me to-do lists realllllly helped.

    5. EmmBee*

      Honestly? Just talk to him. Be kind and loving, of course, but be honest. I’m hearing a lot of “I can tell he’s…” and “It seems like” and I think right now you need to hear directly from him about where he is emotionally about this.

      And, frankly, he needs to hear from you about where YOU are emotionally with this :)

    6. De Minimis*

      This was basically me for about 2-3 years. It really helped me to have stuff to do, I did grocery shopping and sometimes other tasks with mixed success. But some days I couldn’t get motivated to do anything, and it was easy to get sucked into the internet all day long. That got worse the longer it went on.

      It helped me to have tasks and direction, I guess it was similar to having a job. I don’t think he would be offended if you kept asking him to help with various tasks, and it would allow him to feel useful. I know he really should be more active in looking for work, but I don’t know if it will work well to try and press the issue. Some of it depends on how his job search has gone, if he’s had some letdowns and disappointments that can be really demotivating. If he hasn’t really tried yet, that’s different.

    7. Not So NewReader*

      I see two things running here- a husband in grief over losing his job AND a wife having flash backs from her childhood. I am not clear on if the issue is the poverty or poverty PLUS other stuff. I am going to guess there’s other stuff running in that story.

      Try to force your brain to focus on how different this setting is from when you were 16. This means deliberately encouraging yourself to get away from the similarities and focus on what is new here. (Typically, thoughts tend to gravitate toward the well beaten path and it takes a bulldozer to move those thoughts on to a new path.)
      Personally, when I have hit reruns from my childhood, the reruns were never as bad as the original childhood situation. Why. Because as adults we have control- over our thoughts, our actions, what happens during our day, etc.
      Tell yourself- this is different, it’s not the same. (Telling yourself “it’s wrong to compare” is like beating yourself up because it does not instruct you how to move forward. Replace that sentence with “This is different now.”)
      Ironically, your hubby has the same deal going on– “how do I move forward?”

      Change one thing. I dunno what that could be. Have friends over to play cards on Fridays. Insist that you both go hiking on Saturdays. Pick something cheap/doable/easy. Just change something that you are doing and pick something new that you can do together. Use that little something as time to refresh, refocus and recharge.

    8. Smilingswan*

      This is kind of a late response, so I hope you see it. It is possible your husband is suffering from depression. I would advise you to encourage him to join a support group and/or get therapy. I have suffered from depression my whole life, and it gets exponentially worse when I’m unemployed. I feel worthless. I have no energy to do anything, and why bother even trying when I’m such a screw-up? This may not be the case for your husband, but please be aware that situations like unexpected unemployment, even through no fault of his own, can trigger depressive episodes even in people who have never suffered from depression before. I hope things work out for you both.

  51. Ocat*

    I have a short vacation starting tomorrow and have been getting everything in order for it this week. I was feeling good about it until yesterday, when a number of urgent things started cropping up. (feedback from clients on documents that need to be resubmitted, important conference calls) First, I was asked to join a quick planning call, then I was asked to handle the submission of some documents, then I was asked to join another call, then to make another revision to the point where it is eating into activities/events planned for my two work day (two days! Monday and Tuesday! Approved 12 weeks ago!) vacation. When I push back, because I am going to be driving by myself across the state at the time of the call or I am going to be at the Zoo with my nephew, I am reminded of all the occasions where others in the company have done calls before they went in for surgery or at their mother’s bedside when she was dying.

    This is insane. Our work is not that important. None of us are that important. We don’t save lives, we don’t respond to humanitarian crises, world peace doesn’t hinge on our work.

    I don’t know what to do about it. Just venting.

    1. BadPlanning*

      You really have to be firm — I have coworkers that bend over backwards all the time. People learn who is always available and who will do extra, but not 100% of the time. I do go the extra mile, but not all the time (I have coworkers who essentially don’t go on vacation because they log in and read their email all the time). Do your coworkers ever use the term “hard stop” — we do around here sometimes and if you follow up, it works. For example, if someone asks me to look at a Really Important Thing at the end of the day (which I know they’ve been plugging away at all day) and I can’t stay late, I’ll say that I can look for a bit, but I have a hard stop at 5:30. Then I leave at 5:30.

      Of course, if your manager is going to punish you because you don’t work 24/7, then there’s not always a lot you can do. A decent manager recognizes that you’ll pitch in for bad times and make sacrifices. But it’s not bad times all the time.

      1. Ocat*

        Thanks! We do occasionally use the term “hard stop” around here but usually when it is something else work related we need to switch over to. I will try it for non-work obligations and see what happens.

        I only recently became good at pushing back/setting a boundary; the next step is how to stay firm and defend that boundary when they keep pushing…

    2. Sadsack*

      Who is making the comments about what others have done in your situation – coworkers or your manager? Just curious. I’d say someone who took a work call at her mother’s death bed has some pretty screwed up priorities, given the way you described your work as not of life-or-death importance.

      1. Ocat*

        It’s both. My manager is understanding but in the same breath points out the things she has sacrificed for this organization, so it’s hard to read her signals. And sadly – I have been that person before, too. At my former organization I once worked 72 hours at the office and slept under my desk to get something in during a holiday weekend. The only difference is after a health scare a few years ago I decided this was not something to be proud of nor that should be what decides my value as an employee.

    3. Christine*

      Wait… someone called in from their dying mother’s bedside? For real?

      This sounds like one of those cultures where people like to be martyrs and compete for “who has it worse.” That sort of thing drives me nuts!

      I would be absolutely livid. I’ve always drawn pretty clear lines about not working while I’m on vacation, but thankfully I’ve never had a boss push me too hard on it. And 2 days! That’s just ridiculous.

      1. Ocat*

        Me too! I want them all to read that busyness article Alison posted the other day. This is not a badge of honor to compete over!

    4. OriginalYup*

      I completely get what you’re saying. Unless my job involves transporting live organs for transplant, everyone needs to calm the eff down.

    5. Elizabeth West*

      “I’m sorry; I won’t be available at X time, but I will check email at Y.” Then don’t check it until Y. Or “I’m sorry; I won’t be available during X time.” Lather, rinse, repeat.

      They may also be panicking because you’re going to be gone, but they’ll be fine. If you have someone to refer them to, that could go a long way toward reassuring them.

  52. Hrmm*

    I graduated from college in May 2013 and, through networking with a ton of alums and their connections (and with the help of this site!), managed to land a job I love. Now, I’m getting requests from soon-to-be-graduates to do informational interviews and introduce them to others in my network.

    How do I navigate this dynamic? I want to help them because so many alums helped me last year. But at the same time, at <1 year out of college, I don't feel like I've "given back" enough to my network for them to be doing more favors for me by letting me refer undergrads to them.

    Is it appropriate for me to be referring undergrads to people much further in their careers than I, and who have already helped me once (through advice, an informational, recommendation, etc.)? And am I "using up" favors from my network by asking them to talk to these undergrads?

    1. lavendertea*

      I would do informational interviews if you can, because that’s something you can give them yourself. But I agree that getting someone in your network to talk to an undergrad is really a favor you’re asking that person for yourself. Honestly, I wouldn’t do it unless I personally knew the student and thought highly of their work ethic/intelligence/potential/whatever. Because otherwise, you’re just asking someone to give their time to, not only a stranger to them, but a stranger to *you*, based on *your* alma mater connection. Although re-reading this it sounds like your network is largely alums you reached out to in the same way, which begs the question why aren’t they directly contacting the same alums you networked with?

  53. Canadamber*

    Any other young people here worried about the future? I didn’t do too fantastically in Grade 12 Semester 1, and while this semester is going slightly better, it’s not by too much. I’m going to a university near my home for at least the first year, which is probably better as I’m not getting a lot of scholarships and it’ll cut down on debt, as I’m not quite exactly sure yet what I want to do! I kind of wish that I had done better in the first semester, but it’s too late for that now. Moving forward, I shall do better! :)

    And… my parents keep telling me that the marks that you get in high school will pretty much dictate your future. Is that true? I’m in Ontario on the university track, and I figure that if I do well enough in first year here, I can always switch to a more prestigious university afterwards (kinda want Queen’s or Schulich). I CAN make up my marks, right? I don’t want a semester or two of laziness to doom me forever!!! :( I want to be able to have a decent apartment and own a nice car by the time I’m in my late 20’s. My parents are making it sound like I’ll be saddled with either crushing student loans or stuck working retail for the rest of my life, and will NEVER get that Subaru XV Crosstrek I want. :$ But I’m motivated! I just wasn’t for a little bit, but I am now!

    But what’s the point if I’m screwed anyway?! They’re making it sound like Grade 12 is the pivotal year! /minor freak out

    1. Diet Coke Addict*

      It is absolutely NOT TRUE. I promise. After you get into university, no one will give the tiniest crap about secondary marks. I guarantee it. You are absolutely not the first person to get mediocre marks in high school and then strive to do better in university. Hell, it’s common for first-year students to have tanking marks that recover during the second through fourth years.

      You’ll be just fine.

    2. AVP*

      I have no idea if that’s true in Canada, but in America it would be blatantly untrue – I have not thought about my high school grades since basically the day after I got each report card. Maybe if you’re looking to transfer to a better university down the road, but I would think that your first year of college marks would be much more important.

      Maybe your parents are just trying to get you to work harder?

    3. Anoners*

      Don’t panic about this. I mean, if you want to get into a specific university program (like engineering), your marks will matter. Most college/universities are pretty open about what classes you need to have, and what your marks need to be. It sounds like you’ve already gotten into uni, or at least know where you’ll be going? As long as you meet those minumum requirements marks seriously don’t matter.

      I would rethink going to university without really knowing what you want to do, though. I didn’t have a clue, and Arts programs are all about that, but in the end if I could go back I’d probably do it differently. You’ll probably figure it out as you go though. It’s really not abnormal to not know what you want to do with your life at 17. Good luck! :)

    4. Kelly L.*

      High school grades will help you get into the college of your choice. After that? Nope. I got stellar grades in high school and they haven’t helped me a bit. Really and truly. No one has cared about them since college admissions.

    5. BadPlanning*

      High school grades are good for college, then college grades are good for a first job. Sometimes high school grades are good for internships during college.

      Sometimes it’s mildly disappointing that no one cares I did well in High School. But then, I’m proud of myself and my parents are and really, that’s all you need.

    6. aebhel*

      Beyond getting you into college? Unless Ontario is vastly, vastly different from the U.S. (and I don’t think it is, at least not in regards to this), no, your high school grades don’t determine the course of your future. If you want to get into a really challenging or prestigious program, they’ll matter a bit more, but you can always transfer after your first year or two of college (and that might end up being cheaper as far as student loans are concerned, too).

      For what it’s worth, I was a pretty lackadaisical student in high school (straight B’s and C’s and a habit of not turning work in), and now that I’m in my late 20’s I have a house and a car and a decent job. My brothers were both the same, and they’re now responsible employed adults now (one in IT, one in the Marines, so take that as you will :P). One semester of bad grades will not doom you forever.

    7. Zelos*

      High school grades absolutely don’t matter once you get in the door (I went to a large Canadian university). You may have an easier time in first year if some of your high school courses went over the same material as the first year courses (I’m thinking AP sciences, psychology, and calculus) but that’s the extent of the effect.

      As a counterpoint, I did fantastic in high school, solid the first two years of uni, and completely bombed third year, then did great again fourth year. NO ONE has ever asked me for my transcript; the fact that I have a degree barely even comes up.

      You’ll be fine, I promise!

    8. Colette*

      I’m in Ontario, and I agree with everyone else. High school grades matter for getting in to university. After that, it’s university that matters.

      1. KarenT*

        Me too. I actually wish I could go back to my high school self and tell her to relax.

        Go to the website of your desired colleges/universities, find out what grades you need to get in, and work towards that. Once you get in to university high school doesn’t matter. There are things you learn from high school like study habits, foundational knowledge (like math or how to write an essay), but after that it means nothing. I promise.

    9. Laura*

      I am in Ontario too, and roughly 6-7 years older than you, and the marks you get in grade 12 have absolutely NOTHING to do with your future. Seriously, even in your first year of university, which isn’t t hat far off for you, it doesn’t matter at all. Also in Ontario, it doesn’t matter at all where you go to university for undergrad. Not even a little bit. No one will care what university you went to. Also after grade 12 no one will even ask you about your highschool marks ever again, nor will they care. Grade 12 marks do matter for getting into university in Ontario, and for that they matter very much, but once you’re in they don’t matter at all ever again. Your parents don’t know what they’re talking about. It is POSSIBLE to make up your marks, but it is really soooo unnecessary to go to a “prestigious” university. We don’t even really have “prestigious” universities the way Americans do. Also plenty of people I know who graduated from Queens aren’t doing very well now, and plenty of the people I know who are currently doing well did so-so in highschool. None of that matters in the real world

    10. Laura*

      Also I got amazing grades all 4 years of university, and no employer has cared about that even a little. Which I found a little annoying, but just to show that you shouldn’t worry all that much when you get to university either.

    11. Not So NewReader*

      I think if you do a google search you will find plenty of people that barely got through high school and went on to become very rich and very famous.

      If you believe you will fail because you lack this or that- then you probably will fail. If you believe that you will succeed no matter what- then you will probably succeed. Our lives tend to go in the direction of our thinking. And that is way more important than some letter grade.

      My father did not do well in school. Mostly Cs and Ds. He went on to get about 50 US patents. Grades don’t mean that much.

      It’s fine not to know what you want to do in life. I have friends who have picked out jobs that require some certifications and pay a living wage while they continue to sort what they want to do with their lives. Yes, a temporary career of sorts. It buys them some time and allows them to look around yet they are able to support themselves.

      PS. I am impressed that you are reading this forum. I would not have read it when I was graduating high school. I would have found it daunting. Keep reading. And ask people questions about what they are saying.

  54. TeaBQ*

    Not a full-on AAM question, but I’d be interested in how people feel about folks using e-cigarettes in the office? We currently have three people who use them. Two have offices of their own, one is in a cube.

    I get that theoretically all they release is water vapor, but at the same time I feel like this should be a no no.

    Thoughts?

    1. KarenT*

      E cigs release nicotine vapour, not water. There’s a lot of conflicting evidence about how safe (or not safe) they are. I was reading something the other day that discussed how e cigs aren’t really regulated because they don’t contain tobacco, which means they aren’t subject to tobacco laws. I’ve also heard companies are getting caught not disclosing all the chemicals that are actually contained in the vapour.
      All this to say, no, I don’t think people should be smoking them in your office (assuming you mean they are smoking them indoors, not in a regular smoking area).

      1. TeaBQ*

        Yes, they’re smoking indoors. Two guys in their offices, and just this past week I noticed one guy at his cube. I didn’t say anything at the time because I didn’t want to be That Girl, but I didn’t feel comfy with it either.

        The lack of regulation bothers me, especially since it’s coupled with the companies swearing that the chemicals are totally fine, no really, they swear they are.

        Good to know about the nicotine vapor. For some reason I thought they only expelled water vapor (to the environment, not the user). Now I feel like I have more ammo if I say something. Thanks.

    2. Elizabeth*

      We don’t allow them. They are still nicotine consumption on property, which is forbidden by state regulations.

      I know someone who uses one in any situation where he would otherwise be smoking, and I still smell the nicotine.

      1. TeaBQ*

        I didn’t know that about state regulations. I’ll have to see what mine has.

        I can sometimes smell it but assumed it was whatever flavoring was added.

        1. Elizabeth*

          We’re a healthcare facility, and the state health department here created the regs that banned nicotine use on the property of all healthcare facilities. Our state legislature banned smoking in all indoor public spaces, but there hasn’t been a ruling on whether or not e-cigs count as smoking for those purposes.

          1. TeaBQ*

            Ahhh. Sadly that does not apply in my case, and looks like my state doesn’t have any specific regulations about e-cig use.

      2. Windchime*

        My workplace doesn’t allow them, either. We are a nicotine-free workplace, and apparently that includes e-cigs.

    5. Anoners*

      From what I can tell, workplaces are pretty much all against using allowing them. Mostly because as another commenter stated, there’s some debate going on as to how healthy they actually are, and how dangerous some chemicals may be.

      I think aside from that, it just comes accross as a bit … naive of people to think they should be able to use them in the workplace (maybe naive isn’t the right word, but if an employee was freaking out about not being able to use it at their desk, I’d probably question their judgement in general).

      If they could go outside to smoke, they should be able to do the same to use the e-cigarette.

      1. TeaBQ*

        Yeah, we’re very flexible with smokers who go outside for a smoke break. Everyone here is salary so it’s not like there’s a limit on how often they can run downstairs (or, likewise, how often somebody makes a Starbucks run or whatever, if smoking isn’t their break of choice.)

        And agreed. I can’t imagine thinking it’d be acceptable to do this at my cube. I mean I can sorta-kinda see it for the guys with offices, since they can close their doors, but out in the open like that? My mind boggles.

    6. O*

      Does your company have maybe a wellness program, because not only is it obviously bothering others, one of the thing people are just now realizing is that you can actually smoke more on these, unlike a cigarette, where most people stop when they’ve finished it. Where I work they just added it to the library policy

      1. TeaBQ*

        We do have a wellness program. It’d make a nice change of pace for it to actually be useful for once, so I’ll look into whether it might help here. Thanks!

    7. NylaW*

      I work in healthcare and we have a 100% smoke/nicotine/tobacco free campus, so they are not allowed. I feel like in a few years we’ll find out there’s something awful in them too and they’ll be in the same category as regular cigarettes.

      1. De Minimis*

        Same with us. We’ve had to re-do our policy to include e-cigs though.

        Think it’s mainly an issue with patients who come in, not employees.

        1. De Minimis*

          Our CEO is big on writing out a policy for every single possible variation–I think after the first time they had to announce over the PA that no smoking included e-cigarettes he added it to the official policy.

      3. TeaBQ*

        Ditto. What gets me is that they’re completely unregulated, so there could be anything in there. Not saying that automatically means they’re awful, just that I wouldn’t be surprised if in a year or two we find out they’ve got horrible side effects.

    8. Malissa*

      Honestly the only time I’ve seen somebody using one they were a complete tool about it. He was using it and saying, “Ha ha, I’m not actually smoking.” So my opinion of them are a bit colored.
      I fall into the category of, I if don’t know you are doing it and it doesn’t affect me, then I don’t care.

    9. Jen RO*

      I have an e-cig (nicotine free) in a country where smoking is very common… and I still wouldn’t smoke it in the office.

    10. Sydney*

      You can actually get nicotine-free e-cigarettes so I don’t think the line should be drawn there because it’s an easy step over.

      Personally, I don’t mind them at all because they’re odorless. The vapor doesn’t smell like anything. You can’t tell a person smoked it if you didn’t see them do it, unlike regular cigarettes. The obvious effects on your neighbors are minimal.

      However, if research shows second hand e-smoke causes cancer, etc. then that’s when I believe they should be government regulated.

      1. TeaBQ*

        There’s a faint scent when cube guy does it, which I assume is due to the flavoring. But it’s not overpowering. More like I notice it when I pass his cube and, when I do notice the smell, he’s smoking it.

    11. TeaBQ*

      And to follow up on myself here, I noticed today that the guy using his e-cig in his cube was away from his desk for a few times today and I didn’t notice him using his e-cig. So maybe somebody spoke to him about taking it outside.

  55. Anon Today*

    Is it weird to take attendance on a conference call?

    My team, which is spread throughout the country, holds a weekly conference call. Like most conference calls, we all say “Hi, it’s Judy,” when we get on the line. My boss will usually ask after the folks who haven’t chimed in (“Did I miss George?”).

    A couple weeks ago my boss was late to get on the call, so he took attendance: he read off everyone’s names and we responded with “here!” just like in school.

    It felt weird to me. Our culture is generally one that trusts individuals to decide how best to use their time, so it felt off to take attendance for a check-in call.

    What do you think?

    1. Katrina*

      I think he was likely just trying to find the most direct route of figuring out who was on the call.

    2. Ash (the other one!)*

      Probably easier than asking everyone to id themselves and having everyone talk over each other. When I ran conference calls at my last job I needed accurate minutes on who was there and not, so although its definitely a bit school-ish, its definitely helpful.

    3. Jillociraptor*

      I think it’s just nice to know who all’s out there, and the attendance list is the easiest way to remember who all is supposed to be there. I always go through the whole attendance list when we start the call, just so I can make sure that if we need to get consensus on a decision, or something like that, I know who all is out there and can get their thumbs up or thumbs down on the call.

      If it’s actually optional to attend, as long as there’s no punishment associated with not attending (like your boss just moves on to the next person on the list), I think the awkwardness is mostly in your head. It’s just useful info to have when you can’t see who you’re talking to!

      1. Chocolate Teapot*

        I usually do it for corporate meetings by conference call, when there may be issues with being quorate. The only problems are the late mumblers (there’s one on every call!)

    4. Gilby*

      If the boss missed the usual ” Hi this is Susie” how would he know who is there?

      Maybe he needed to give an assigment or get info? He can’t just start saying… ” Susie, do you have the info?” and Susie isn’t there.

      Not sure why this is being described as schoolish. If I didn’t attend a conf call or show up to a meeting that I was asked to come to, they’d ask why I didn’t show up. ( If I had not cleared it already) I can’t just not show up. That is NOT being an adult.

      I think there is a tendancy to mix up ” trust” and being treated like an adult nowadays.

      A boss saying, ” I trust that you will work 40 hours a week and you can choose to come in at whatever timeframe you want but get the work done” is a major good thing in trust and being treated like an adult.

      Making sure people are at a phone conf meeting and taking some sort or attendance is simply a way to … well know who is there when you can’t physically see them. And yes, make sure people ARE being adults and going to a meeting that is a part of the job.

      If you cant’t make a meeting simply let the person know. That is just being polite.

      1. Anon Today*

        A couple of details:

        First: He wasn’t making any assignments or asking for info from people. This was a quick information-dump call, with follow up by email (e.g. “Here’s the new expense form we discussed on the call.”). When I’ve missed these before, I follow up with my direct supervisor and she catches me up on what happened.

        Second: Obviously you let someone know if you can’t be there. Everybody already does this (tells their direct supervisor if they aren’t going to be on the call).

        I think my weird feeling is because we work in an environment in which we’re expected to make our own choices about how to best spend our time. Doing that effectively is an expectation. So emphasizing “seat time” in this one case is out of whack with the overall culture.

        1. Gilby*

          Seriously, with all due respect, you are making way to much of this. Don’t, for your own sanity, make issues out of things like this.

          You seem to be trying to find a way to make this a problem. He wanted to know who was in a conf call. Who cares.

          You seem to be assuming he was taking attendance for some reason that has to do with making your own choices and spend your time.

          Find fault if he asks you to email you when you walk in the door in the morning. Find fault if he asks you to email him what you did hour to hour. That would be more appropriate for your concerns.

        2. fposte*

          I don’t see this as emphasizing seat time; I see this as finding out who’s on the phone.

          1. Not So NewReader*

            Yeah, that is what I thought, too. And also a way of letting callers know who else is on the call.
            I think it is just a courtesy.
            If they don’t worry about how you account for your time, then they are probably not worried about your attendance on the call. It’s more a matter of making sure not to ignore anyone who is participating in the call.

    5. badger_doc*

      We send out meeting minutes from conference calls that have the attendance list at the top. No big deal.

    6. RJ*

      I don’t think it’s too odd. And at least it avoids the common pitfall of asking “Who’s on the call?” and people start talking over each other, wait for silence, talk over each other again, etc.

    7. The IT Manager*

      I do understand what you mean. I do not think it’s wierd, but it a tad time comsuming when you have a long list of people.

      Fortunately for us we use MS Lync so we take roll from whose name shows up in Lync and ask people who have dialed in via the phone to speak up, but I do attend one meeting that still takes roll.

      It dpeneds on the meeting and the necessity of knowing who is on and tracking attendees. If it is needed, the best way to do it through roll call at the beginning.

    8. Traveller*

      I routinely need to do this on large calls that I host (with 20-40 people dialed in & need to know who’s there). I take a roll call by breaking it down into groups where there won’t be as many people talking over each other.
      “Who do we have on from the Chicago office?”, “Who do we have on from Asia”?
      I’ll repeat each name back as I hear it (so they know if I missed people talking at once).
      DO the roll call quickly & at the end ask for an instant message if I missed anyone. I usually still miss a few, but its better than any other approach I’ve found.

    10. Laura*

      I think it’s less like attendance, and more like just so everyone can know who they’re talking to. I had a conference call like that, and I found it helpful to know if a specific person was there or not, if I wanted to address them.

  56. Katrina*

    I’ve been with my company for five and a half years, but in my most recent position for just 6 months. I took it because my old position was being eliminated and this one seemed like it would be a good fit at the time.

    Six months in, and I really don’t like this job. Turns out I was completely wrong about what I want to do with my life. Fun! I’ve been doing some soul searching and thought about what I liked best about my old job and I have a better idea of the direction I want my career to go in now.

    A job at my company just opened up a few weeks ago that looks like it would be a great next step for me to get back on track. I just feel really guilty about applying to it. I’m not locked into my current position for any amount of time, so that’s not an issue. But, while I believe my manager likes me, I think he was hesitant about hiring me and he does constantly ask me how I’m liking things (I always say I like the role, because really what else do I say?). It’s actually not that uncommon for people to switch roles at my company after relatively short amounts of time, either.

    I’m wondering if this guilt is unfounded or not. Should I suck it up and put in more time in this role, or go after a better opportunity?

    1. A Non*

      Go for the better opportunity! It’s not going to serve the company’s interests for you to stay in a position you don’t like when there are other roles you could fill better.

      Be diplomatic when talking to your boss – you might say something like “I’m applying for position X because it involves more chocolate teapots, and I’ve missed that in the time I’ve been in this role.” No need to give a laundry list of reasons you don’t like your current job, especially if you end up not getting the other opportunity and have to stay for a while.

  57. Big Send Off?*

    Recently a VP left my mid-sized nonprofit. We are newish and she was the first person at that level to leave the organization. Some of her colleagues organized a lengthy send-off (with speeches from five staff members plus the woman who was leaving, a presentation of a gift, etc.) at an all-staff gathering.

    A dozen or so other people have left since we launched a few years ago. Their send-offs have ranged from nothing (at least nothing that made its way to me) to relatively in-depth well-wishing in staff meetings.

    I think it’s a little gross that the bigwig got all this time and attention and others have gotten much less. Is that normal? How do other companies handle this?

    1. Kevin*

      At my last job (non-profit with budget of about $50 million), it seemed completely random for who got a formal going away part and who didn’t. It did not seem to matter what level or tenure you had at the organization. I felt it pretty rude to certain people who got nothing.

      1. Jillociraptor*

        That’s unfortunately true in our organization too – there is no standard policy or expectations for what will happen when you leave your role, and so it tends to be based on the capacity of your team’s assistant to pull something together. Sometimes that’s a big send off, sometimes it’s a call out on a team call, sometimes it’s just a reminder to send nice emails on their last day.

        1. Chocolate Teapot*

          Somebody from my old company left (she was doing the same job) and I ended up organising the leaving gifts. There must have been about 200 euros collected and she got something nice (jewellery she wanted) and a gushing card.

          When I left, my team organised a last minute collection and I got a plant and some chocolates with a signed label on the plant. Whilst I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, and it was kind of them to think of me, I kept thinking about the colleague.

          1. CarrotNotKarat*

            This reminds me of a question that was on AAM several months back – someone asked about baby showers and how some people got awesome ones, while others got nothing.

            It stinks, but until you have a policy in place for this kind of stuff, it will probably will continue the way that it has. Ideally, it would be good to have one person in charge of organizing all of the “life events” celebrations. Note: Ask for a volunteer for this (don’t just designate someone without asking if they actually WANT the responsibility).

            A policy would at least help with the fairness aspect of it. Or you could just outlaw them like some companies do – that would be my preference actually. I just hate to see people getting their feelings hurt over unnecessary stuff like showers and parties. :(

            1. Nikki T*

              We have once a month celebrations (started about a year ago) and while I dread them (it’s a personal quirk), they take care of all the ‘stuff’ that’s happened or happening that month.

              Only works for small offices though. Each month has a theme and sometimes it’s potluck, sometimes it’s office provided…depending..

  58. KatieP*

    Hi everyone,

    I’ve been reading AAM like crazy for the last few months, and the advice here is fantastic. I’ve got a career dilemma and I’ve had different advice from friends – I wondered what people here thought?

    I want to change jobs, but I’m very likely to be promoted in 4-5 months’ time. There are no guarantees, but I’ve been told it’s very likely. We only get promotion opportunities once a year, and I narrowly missed it last time – I’ve been working at the more senior level already for some time.

    The problem is, if I start talking to recruiters and other contacts about potential jobs now, I have to tell them I am a (for example!) Junior Teapot Maker, when in fact I’m working as a Senior Teapot Maker already and hope to have the title and pay bump to reflect that very soon.

    The job titles and pay bands in my industry are very widely known, so my fear is that I’ll be offered jobs that are a step up in terms of responsibility and pay from my current role, when in fact I’m hoping to secure a job that’s a step up from the role I will officially hold in just a few months.

    Should I wait until I have found out about my promotion for certain before putting feelers out there? I feel like it would put me in a much stronger negotiating position than trying to explain that I’m hopefully on the brink of getting the promotion that will reflect my current responsibilities. On the other hand, is it nuts to not give myself more time to find the right role?

    My worst case scenario is that I don’t get the promotion after all – I’m definitely not going to hang around another year to get promoted, so then I’d have no choice but to leave with this job title.

    Any thoughts are welcome!

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      Start applying now and update applications if and when you get a promotion. Nothing is guaranteed and the job search can take months if not years. Plus, it never hurts to get the experience of writing cover letters, interviewing, and really figuring out what the right position is for you. Plus, you can highlight that you’ve been doing more advanced tasks even if you haven’t been formally promoted yet. (But one note, use your current job title… don’t fib on that)

    2. Katrina*

      Is there any way you could negotiate your job title for the time being? Something like “My job title is Junior Teapot Maker, but I’ve been performing the duties of a Senior Teapot Maker. Is there any way we can make my job title reflect these responsibilities?”

      Also, I’m not sure how much job titles matter. I could be wrong about this, but I picked my own job title for the last position I held and the process was 100% arbitrary. I’d likely rely more on the skills and achievements you list on your resume.

    5. Not So NewReader*

      The article is so loaded with negatives that reading it is like drowning.
      Alison, what are your thoughts on this guy’s setting?

  60. books*

    Ahh, got in early this time. :)
    My job changed options for phone reimbursement that I either (a) port my number to their plan and have it covered by them or (b) get a new phone/separate work line that is on their plan.
    I’m tentative on doing either of these (don’t necessarily want my employer knowing what I do with my cell phone, don’t need another line) but I end up using excessive minutes for work.
    Thoughts?

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      I’d go for the second option. Remember if your personal phone is technically your work phone they can wipe it clean when you leave — all your photos, contacts, everything gone. Have a separate phone and you won’t need to worry about that potentially happening and won’t be paying out of pocket for your work needs.

      1. TotesMaGoats*

        Agreed. And if you are on vacation and your work phone is your personal phone, it would be hard to have that clean break that we all need from work. I have two phones and relish turning my blackberry off and leaving it at home during vacation.

        1. books*

          Oh, didn’t think of that, although if I’m on vacation I just turn off syncing my emails.

    2. LCL*

      Option 2 is what we all do at my job. It’s more professional, and helps with the working/not working boundary.

    3. Iain Clarke (UK, no, SE, erm...)*

      There are dual sim phones, so you can have two lines without having two phones. Just remove the work sim when off duty! (I would hope you can disable it without physically removing it)

  61. alexa*

    Hi everyone, I would appreciate if you all could give me some suggestions!

    Today I’m offered a job… However, while the workload is heavier, the pay is lower as compared to my previous job. Since usually companies use past salary as one of the benchmarks to determine a new employee’s pay, I’m just worried it would affect my future job hunting! Is there any way to ask for a higher salary? I have read about salaries on this website and other where else, but I feel that those advice are more for profession. I’m a fresh grad (and the pay is not a fresh grad entry level pay, I.e. I could get something better elsewhere but I really like the company!).

    Is there any suggestion on how to draft an email for a salary negotiation without sounding aggressive or greedy? I just feel I wasn’t paid for duely in term of skills, motivation, and education (I know education is nothing in real world, but there are still many companies that look at education).

    Thanks in advance for any suggestion!

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      Most jobs expect you to negotiate. The best advice I’ve seen here is to show that you are genuinely excited and interested in the job but had hoped for something closer to X. I’d do this via phone, as email can be hard to judge tone for (see the unfortunate potential professor thread we were talking about last week).

      Say something like:
      “Thank you so much for the job offer. I am truly excited by the idea of working for Teapots United. I was hoping before I make a formal decision, if we could talk about the salary. I was hoping it would be closer to $X based on (industry standard, additional responsibility; etc. — remember make this about the job, not you). Might that be a possibility?”

      1. alexa*

        Hi Ash,

        Thank you for your reply. One reason I’m afraid to negotiate is because my friend actually tried to negotiate and when HR called him back again, he was told that management decided to withdraw the offer.

        I do not have industrial knowledge, and the only thing I have is only relevant experience. So I’m struggling a little and hesitanting because of what happened to my friend.

        1. Ash (the other one!)*

          Was it the same company? Or just a bad experience? It’s all about the framing and making clear this is not a personal desire its based on something external. Sites like Glassdoor are not the greatest, but can provide you some clues…

          1. alexa*

            Well, it’s a different company but I’m afraid same thing would happen to me. My friend wasn’t being rude and he was really nice to the HR lady over the phone (even when she told him they withdraw the offer). He merely states that if it’s possible to demand X and HR said she will ask for him. And then the next day HR called him and told him management has withdraw the offer.

            Since the job scope is pretty the same as my prev (although a different industry), could I say something like I received X for my previous job and I hope we could come to a conclusion that is around X range since there are additional tasks where my skills fit?

            Thanks again for answering. You’ve no idea how I value your insight because I don’t know who to approach.

            1. Ash (the other one!)*

              Do a google search for the conversation about the philosophy phd who had her offer rescinded and read the comments; it seems really rare that that would happen. I think the key really is to show genuine interest in working there and that the salary would not be a deal breaker for you, but is a consideration. Don’t let the rare occurrences of a job being rescinded scare you away.

              As for referring to your current salary, I hope others weigh in. I think that helps demonstrate that the offer is below “industry standard” so I would frame it as “In my current position, which as you know is quite similar, the salary is closer to this range, which I understand is industry standard.” Again, focusing not on you, but on the job itself. AAM tends to suggest leaving your current salary out of it, but not sure if that applies after negotiations have begun though.

              1. alexa*

                Yes, I have searched for answers online and have read about the PhD case. But somehow, I feel that the person involved in the PhD requested for a lot (e.g. less teaching, more researching etc). I thought by dismissing her and not giving her any room for negotiation isn’t a great idea, nevertheless.

                The problem is, my previous job was a one year contract… And the job is in a different industry (I.e I have no industry experience. But I don’t think its the most important thing for the role I’m offered and my prev role. I didn’t have industry exp for my previous role too). Personally, my one year contract salary was the basic pay for fresh grad with my result (I know degree is not everything but still, the new employers do agree that I have good results).

                Talking to you give me some ideas and courage to negotiate. I shouldn’t be short charge. What’s worse but a similar situation as my friend? There’s always plenty of fish out there right? Thank you so much ash! Really appreciate it!

            2. fposte*

              It’s pretty unusual for a place to withdraw based on a polite salary negotiation, and it’s usually the mark of something very wrong if they do.

              1. alexa*

                I’m not sure though. That was my friend’s case. According to him, the HR doesn’t have a say in the salary at all. When he asked if he could know how the salary was measured, HR couldn’t give him a definite answer and merely said that it probably because he doesn’t have industry experience (he’s a fresh grad too).

                It was shocking for him because he interviewed with his manager, and the director and both liked him a lot. The HR manager was a little “aggressive” and “condescending”. E.g. when the hr asked when would be good to start, he said one week notice and the manager went on to ask why he can’t start the next day. When he tried to explain, the hr manager got defensive. I don’t know but this might reflect something about the culture? Perhaps they don’t like people who rock the boat?

                The interview I had (with another company) was great. Interview was a little tough, but great. They liked me a lot, in my opinion, but just afraid the same situation might surface.

                1. Colette*

                  I wouldn’t suggest asking how the salary was measured – that’s not really what he was looking for. It’s better to suggest what salary you’d like – or even just to ask if there’s any flexibility.

                  The steps I’d recommend:
                  – know what the market is for the job in your area
                  – compare what you’ve been offered with the market value, and consider where you’d fit within the market. (If most people in your role have been doing it for 5 years and you’re just starting, you might be a little below the average.)
                  – Explain how much you are interested in the job, and then explain what salary you were looking for.

                2. fposte*

                  So it sounds like there was something very wrong at your friend’s company, and it sounds like he asked for more in an unusual way that might put people’s backs up.

                  I can’t guarantee you you won’t get an offer pulled. I can’t guarantee you that negotiating is the right thing to do in *this* situation.

                  But if you go through life being afraid of the consequences of asking for what you want, you will find the consequences of *not* asking for what you want. Never forget that there are plenty of those as well–it’s like not asking is safe while asking is dangerous.

              2. Not So NewReader*

                Echoing fposte. I took a temporary job a while ago. They said they were paying $A-$B. I said that I was thinking more in terms of $C-$D. (not a big jump but more than their range.)
                I offered reasons why, and I had a couple reasons.
                That was in case one did not have weight maybe the next reason would.

                I was walking three feet off the ground when they offered me $D. The upper part of my range.
                Thank you so much, Alison.

                Anyway, your friend’s company does not sound like they are rowing with both oars and he may have dodged a bullet.
                Assume you are dealing with sane people and prepare your explanation for your range.

    1. tcookson*

      Yeah, I’ve been thinking about getting a new username that is more anonymous, and I’d be honored to have Jamie do it!

      1. tcookson*

        PS — I actually hurried to the Open Thread from the civility comments for this very purpose! Lol

      2. Jamie*

        Stupid work problems standing in the way of my true vocation – which is reading open threads.

        tcookson = Mallory

        Because for some reason you look just like a young Mallory Keaton in my head. (please tell me you’re old enough to remember Family Ties or I will be very sad.)

        1. Mallory*

          OMG — People used to say I looked like Mallory Keaton when that show was on. Plus I had a boyfriend named Mallory when I was 17. Mallory it is.

        2. tcookson*

          Now I can start recommending this blog to people at work without having a weird sense that they will see exactly who I am.

    2. Mints*

      I’m kind of attached to Mints even though I don’t really remember why I choose it. I think I tested out a few things. One day I thought about Lamp, and had a Brick moment (Are you just naming things around the room you like). So I stopped changing it
      My name is unusual enough that I didn’t want to use it, but I like when other people use regular names

      1. Jamie*

        Had yours from yesterday…Mimmy or My Melody.

        Mimmy is HKs twin sister and she’s awesome and adorable – and My Melody is HKs bunny friend…ditto on the awesome and adorable. Both are very kind to others and you are kind and adorable.

        And I am aware I’m a woman in my 40s who knows way too much about the personality of various cartoon characters.

        1. ChristineSW*

          LOL Jamie! I think it’s absolutely fine…we all have an inner child. The world needs more people like you.

          And thank you, great suggestions!

      1. Jamie*

        Nothing could ever top Supreme Blogger Green – which I think you should have on your driver’s license!

  63. Rebecca*

    Dreary, rainy Friday, but it’s Friday!!!

    I got a great job tip, but when I went to the company website, the job had disappeared after just 48 hours! Ugh. There was a second position open at the same time (for an electrician) but the job I wanted to apply for was gone already. But I’m not giving up hope.

    I’ve also been reaching out to people and point blank asking – do you know of anyone who is hiring, I have these qualifications, keep me in mind, etc. I also did some auditing work for our neighborhood church, and am going to do a small job for my township, all just to make contacts and reach out more.

    I’m not getting anywhere with my current employer, so it’s time to make a change.

  64. Vacation & job change*

    I am changing jobs internally this spring. My current job ends on May 31. My current team offered me another job with the team, which I turned down. I don’t yet know what my new job will be (I have two offers from other departments and I have to decide between them).

    Before learning that my job was being eliminated, I had been planning on taking a two-week vacation in late May or June. But now I’m not sure how to handle it. Ask my current boss to squeeze it in (although I only have eight weeks left in my current job)? Try to negotiate with my new team (even though I’d basically be taking a vacation as soon as I landed in their budget)?

    btw two week vacations are reasonable for my organization.

    1. O*

      Honestly what I’ve done is basically let the new people that everything has already been planned, when they start asking about when you can start working.

    2. Persephone Mulberry*

      I’d handle it the same as you would an external offer: “I’m really excited about joining your team. I’m wrapping my current position on May 31 and I have a vacation planned for June 1-15. Will it work for me to begin my new role on Monday the 16th?”

  65. Anonalicious*

    This is a question for Alison/AAM: How many submissions do you get per week? And how “behind” are you with responding to them?

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I get around 40 questions a day (sometimes a little more). I’ve abandoned the concept of “behind on them,” because there’s no way I can answer all of them. Everyone gets an auto-reply apologizing that I can’t answer everything, telling them I’ll send them a link if I do publish an answer, and giving links for more info on my site that might be helpful in the meantime. Then I delete the ones I know I won’t answer (because I’ve have similar questions 50 times already, or the question makes no sense, or is incredibly long, or I don’t feel I have any expertise/insight on it, or so forth). But if I have a post already written that answers their question, I’ll email them a link to it.

      So then I have left is a pile of questions that I’d love to answer here and hope that I’ll answer here, and then when I need to write new posts, I pick what grabs me from that pile at that particular moment. The reality is that I never get through everything in that pile, even though I want to, but it’s at least smaller than if I left everything in it.

      None of this should discourage anyone from emailing me questions though. The site depends on them, and plenty do get answered!

      1. Joey*

        Ever have any naggers? People who repeatedly follow up with you when you haven’t answered. Id love to hear a crazy story about someone that got stalkerish because you didn’t answer their question.

        1. NylaW*

          Oh god. This is sounds a train wreck. I want to hear about it but at the same time I don’t.

        2. Ask a Manager* Post author

          Interestingly, that’s only happened once. She eventually offered to pay me to talk to her (she wanted to do a mock interview, I think), I explained I don’t do that, and she was VERY persistent. I explained to her what was wrong with that approach (and how it might be impacting how employers perceived her), and that was that. So no real horror stories!

  66. TheSnarkyB*

    Ack I hope I’m not too late!!
    Ok: communicating as a woman in the workplace (passive? Aggressive? Assertive?

    Obviously by my username, I’m not afraid to own my boldness. But I also try to be thoughtful and articulate. I consider myself an assertive person, but have noticed other people reacting to that poorly. However, those reactions aren’t across the board, and it mostly comes from people who also show bias in other ways. I’m thinking that this is an issue of women in the workplace having different expectations placed on their speech or behavior (be nice, smile, and other assorted bullshit). Does anyone have any similar or contrasting thoughts about this?
    P.S. I’m not the kind of person who says whatever they think or has that “people just don’t like realness” attitude. I very rarely get attitude feedback but I’m super self-conscious about directness, especially as a black woman.
    Thanks!! & I miss you all when I’m not around!

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      I think that’s the whole idea behind the Lean In “ban bossy” campaign. Women (girls) are not supposed to be assertive because they will be seen as “bossy” which is on a whole negative. We really need a culture shift in all of this…

      1. Jamie*

        There is a difference between bossy and assertive though.

        I give directives and tell people what to do, but I’m not bossy. I appreciate my daughter being assertive, but when she gets bossy I tell her to knock it off.

        I have an issue with the campaign conflating the two as if bossy = assertive and it doesn’t. Bossy is not something to which I think anyone should aspire.

        1. TheSnarkyB*

          I think the idea of the campaign is that, even though WE know bossy and assertive aren’t the same thing, many people don’t. Many people stamp the Bossy label on a woman when she’s being assertive, and not a man. I think that’s where the “ban bossy” campaign came from, bc the word just has so little relevance in an adult workplace. (I.e. It’s usually misused. Not trying to claim that adults don’t get bossy at work sometimes.)

          1. A Bug!*

            I really don’t like the Ban Bossy campaign. I could spit acid talking about why. But don’t mistake me for someone who doesn’t think that the campaign is at least trying to address a real problem; it’s precisely because I do recognize the real problem that the campaign ticks me off so hard. There’s a real message to be delivered here and #banbossy is actually hurting it.

            More importantly, #banbossy oversimplifies the problem and targets a symptom instead of the problem. There’s nothing in the hashtag that gets even close to suggesting the real problem: that girls and boys are held to different behavioral standards, and behavior that would be encouraged as assertive in boys is discouraged as bossy in girls.

            That’s not solved by banning “bossy.” It’s solved when people start learning the difference between assertive and bossy, and start recognizing and encouraging assertiveness in girls and boys alike.

            Presumably the campaign is meant to bring awareness to people who don’t already understand the issue. But their campaign misrepresents the actual issue they’re trying to address, and they’ve chosen a slogan that’s almost impossible to take seriously. “#banbossy, because I said so”?

            Ultimately, I really don’t see how #banbossy, as it’s presented, could result in the change they’re trying to cause, even if it’s completely successful. I’d go into why I feel this way but this comment’s already hecka long, so if anybody is really desperate to hear me rant more about this, say so and I’ll oblige, later, after my Friday whisky has settled me down a bit.

            1. C average*

              Please bring on the rant. Fuel it with whisky if you’d like!

              Here’s why I dislike this movement or initiative or campaign or whatever:

              1. I’m sick of movements and initiatives and campaigns in general. Does every idea need a hashtag and a budget and a PR strategy? Can’t trends emerge organically, based on a great idea that started small and grew? I am already marketed to SO MUCH.

              2. In my experience, when kids of either gender are called “bossy,” it’s because they’re being assertive in a way that’s inappropriate to the setting, audience, or circumstances.

              When a female executive is being assertive, it’s because she’s in a leadership position and her colleagues expect her to lead.

              When a “bossy” kid is being assertive, he or she is usually trying to exert unwanted authority over other kids or adults.

              Part of what makes great executives of both genders good at what they do is their ability to combine assertiveness with good judgment and situational awareness. They know when to lead with a heavy hand and when to lead with a light touch.

              Kids can be taught this. Kids SHOULD be taught this. Bossiness isn’t leadership. They both have an assertiveness component, though, and kids who are demonstrating assertiveness in a bossy way can be coached to demonstrate assertiveness in a more appropriate, leadership-oriented way.

              3. I admit it: Sheryl Sandberg bugs me. She may be lovely in person, but the persona I get from her is smug and preachy and out of touch. She seems like someone who believes that jargon and money can fix all problems.

              1. So Very Anonymous*

                “someone who believes that jargon and money can solve all problems”

                Yes. Thank you for putting that so well!

              2. Stephanie*

                I agree on all of this, especially #3. I think that’s what’s always bugged me about Sheryl Sandberg: she pushes these jargon-filled campaigns that seem to ignore the greater context.

                So, sure, it can be ridiculous that some women don’t “lean in” based on imaginary babies, but that ignores that women get viewed as odd if they’re not on the path to a nuclear family in their mid-20s. One can just scroll upthread to all the comments about singlehood and childlessness to see this.

                Also, she lost me when the Lean In nonprofit wanted an unpaid intern. I get nonprofits don’t always pay interns, but the organization’s mission is empowering female economic mobility. So with the unpaid internship, you’re limiting the candidates to those who can afford to work for free, which seems to counter the mission.

            2. TheSnarkyB*

              Ah, gotcha. Yeah, put this way- I agree with you completely (and I imagine, by extension, Jamie and Stephanie). I thought we were disagreeing about whether there’s a real problem underneath it. I think there are a lot of campaigns recently that are doing a super basic and low-level/simple job of addressing a real problem. It seems like they’re aimed at people who don’t already understand the problem or have… No basic concept of sexism or gender issues.
              I find it sort of frustrating but I do know some.. Very privileged or simple minded people who have had a “huh I nevertheless bought of that before” response.

        2. Stephanie*

          I get the idea of the campaign. I agree with Jamie that it conflates bossy and assertive.

          Also, anything from Sheryl Sandberg tends elicit a giant eyeroll from me.

          1. Jamie*

            Ditto on the eyeroll. And I know what you’re saying Snarky B (I’m combining comments) – but in my experience both men and women are pretty good at knowing the difference between bossy and assertive and the people I’ve seen making the public argument seem to be embracing the bossy which clouds the issue.

        3. Mallory*

          To me, “bossy” is an overly-intrusive attempt to control how another person does (or even thinks about) something, while assertive is not shying away from expressing one’s own view about how something should go. “Assertive” leaves the door open for back-and-forth conversation, while “bossy” puts the “bossee” on the defensive and tends to shut down mutual conversation.

          1. A Bug!*

            I agree completely. There are some words that can easily be replaced with other words to convey the intended meaning without also carrying harmful baggage. “Bossy” isn’t one of them; any of the alternatives I can think of are also words that could be used to disparage assertive girls.

    2. MK*

      I’ve thought about this alot. I’m a Korean-American woman and feel like the way I was raised isn’t always compatible with what’s professionally expected of me (for example, I’m not that comfortable with questioning/challenging my bosses). But, on the other hand, my parents were small business owners and they taught me how valuable networking is and how you won’t get recognized solely by focusing on your work all the time. I think I can write a thesis on women in the workplace because it’s so complicated and influenced by other factors such as race and class. But this topic is super interesting!

      1. TheSnarkyB*

        Ooh I think race and class are really important here- agreed!
        Especially with things like impostor-syndrome (class) playing a role and different socialization based on race. I think that there’s an expectation that I’m going to be gentle or apologetic or deferential because I’m female, but also a stronger reaction when I’m not, because I’m black. I imagine as a Korean-American woman, the expectation that you’ll be passive is even stronger, given the stereotypes that people have and also the legitimate cultural differences that parents reinforce when raising their kids to be a certain way- polite by the standards of whatever they’re used to.

        One other reason I have trouble with this is that I very strongly identify with my race and am very proud of it/who I am, but I’ve spent my WHOLE life being the only one or one of just a few people of color in all-white spaces, so I have a very “white cultural norm” way of interacting in the world- all my friends parents are Sarah and John, not Mr/Mrs anything, etc. I’ve been trained to ask for what I want and the worst you can hear is “no” when in reality it’s “no and how dare you request that, etc”
        So I’m kind of stuck btwn 2+ worlds with all this…

        1. MK*

          I totally understand where you’re coming from! I work in DC focused on public policy/government affairs and it’s not a very diverse field.. which means I feel like I’m code switching all the time. When I’m in NYC, my hometown, listening to a million different languages on the subway makes me feel so happy. I’m still learning how to navigate the workplace like you, so it’ll be interesting to see how we find the happy medium. Though if I can find a way to get rid of all the creepy old white guys with Asian fetishes, I’d be one happy camper! :)

    3. Jamie*

      I had negative reactions when I first entered the work force because my speech was too deferential. My male boss pulled me aside and told me to stop qualifying my statements, stop apologizing, and project confidence even if I had to fake it.

      Best advice ever. I work with a vast majority of men and the only women I see having issues are the ones who are too deferential. If there were typed transcripts between how I lead a meeting or issue directives and how the male execs do it you wouldn’t spot me as a woman unless there was a segue into basketball chatter.

      1. Mallory*

        It was really good of him to pull you aside and give you a straight-up conversation about what he saw going on. Too many people won’t do that; they’ll see exactly where someone else is getting off on the wrong foot, and will even remark upon it to others, but will not say anything directly to the person. Your boss gave you a real gift. I wish more people would do that (constructively and in a non-icky way — because I’ve had someone try to do it with me in an undermining way, and that’s not what I’m advocating for).

        I tend to be soft-spoken, and once when I was twenties my co-workers and I were all sitting around at the break room lunch table. One woman asked me about something to do with work, and I answered her. She then immediately turned to the person next to me and asked her the same thing, and accepted her answer. I asked her why she accepted the other person’s answer and not mine, and she said something that has stuck with me ever since: “Because she said it like it wasn’t a question, and you seemed like you weren’t sure.” I’ve learned to sound more sure of myself, especially when I am sure of myself.

    4. AndersonDarling*

      I was sent a research survey the other day about gender roles and I was thinking more about it… as gender roles in the workplace.
      As far as communication goes, I think it comes down to individual personalities. Anyone can rub anyone else the wrong way, it doesn’t have anything to do with gender.
      I feel the same way about authority. Some people have great management skills, others can be lacking, but there isn’t a “lady” management style, or a “man” style.

      That being said, the problem is with the receiver. If someone is gender biased, no matter what you do, it will go through their gender filter. I think these people are becoming less common as newer generations are coming into the workplace, but they are still there.

      2. Mallory*

        I agree with this, too. I can think of two people in my office right now (one male/one female) whom I’d love to have as my manager, and two people (one male/one female) whom I’d hate to have.

        The two I’d love to have (of which one is, fortunately, my current boss) are both very direct straight-shooters. Their praise and their criticism are both delivered on the spot and in equal measure. They don’t seem to enjoy criticizing, but they don’t shy away from it; they do seem to enjoy giving praise, but they don’t pile it on unless it’s earned. I respect that.

        The two I would not like to have are different from each other, but the reason I wouldn’t like them is the same: they are not direct. The man is wishy-washy in what he wants; he will come up to me now and want something, and want me to figure out what it is. The woman likes to make a spectacle of herself exercising her authority, as if she’s not really comfortable with her authority but wants other people to think she is. I prefer to work with people who know what they want from me and are comfortable with making a direct request for it.

    5. Joey*

      The key is learning what your reputation is like and whether it’s helping or hurting. I’ve seen the same person with the same style succeed and fail with the only change being the environment. From what I’m hearing you might consider adapting your style with certain people to be more effective.

      Otherwise the dilemma you face is this-be yourself and be less effective. Or adapt even though the problem may not lie with you and become more effective. Another important factor is that the higher you go the less the reason matters for not getting stuff done.

      1. TheSnarkyB*

        Hmm. This is an interesting thought, but it’s very outcome based. Just for a little more context, I’m pretty young (25)- so I’m still developing my “working world” persona. I want to develop that as someone who is assertive, etc. Because if I changed that now, I’d be doing it solely because I live in a world where sexism means I’ll be perceived and treated differently. The people I admire most are very assertive and effective, and I’m sure they’ve been on environments where their assertiveness wasn’t nurtured but they were able to hold onto it anyway. That said, I’m not open to changing entirely, but I’m considering tweaking it based on environment (code-switching and all).
        Any specific suggestions or thoughts you have Joey on tweaks/adjustments?

        1. Joey*

          Yes. Assertive means different things to different people. One persons assertive is another persons bitch is another persons nag. What I’m talking about is adapting you style to fit each person you’re dealing with so that you still get stuff done, but instead of some sexist person seeing you as bitchy you adapt your style to be incredibly polite but persistent, for example. I do the same thing when I give what I consider blunt feedback. Depending on who I’m giving it to I will change what I say based on how I think that person best accepts feedback without losing who I am. Some people appreciate hearing it exactly the way I think it. Others I have to massage my message to be more effective with that person.

    6. OriginalYup*

      I’m direct. Polite and friendly, and also very direct. I do try to be very aware of cues and reactions so that I’m not pushing my style on everyone else. Like you, I get mixed reactions. I once worked in a highly formal, passive-aggressive workplace where I stuck out like a sore thumb. In that environment, workplace culture + gender expectations meant that a simple statement like “I’ll schedule a follow-up meeting for Tuesday” was apparently me browbeating people within an inch of their life. But mostly it’s only an occasional issue, or an ongoing thing with just one or two people who, I don’t know, want me to deliver every statement with flowers and jazz hands?

      The flip side is that I’m fine with *getting* direct feedback or comments in return. I made a mistake? Great, tell me so I can fix it and not do it again. Didn’t love the draft? No problem, tell me what didn’t work so I can get it right. One of my favorite collegial relationships was with a former colleague (a retired military officer) who was all about direct commands and action verbs. Go, do, find, fix, make, get, cancel, investigate. We got along like a house on fire.

      1. TheSnarkyB*

        Oh my god, OriginalYup. We sound so similar and like we’ve worked in similar places. It was exactly stuff like that: “Okay, I’ll schedule a follow-up meeting.” that caused people to react negatively, and it’s made me so self-conscious ever since. I hate sending emails with more pleasantries than substance just so that the sender doesn’t think I’m “rude” etc. I feel the impulse to apologize for even writing people or to put smileys in work-related emails – not ok!! So I don’t, but I wish I didn’t feel the pressure to.

    7. Jules*

      I don’t have issues with any gender’s directness or bluntness at work but I have a problem when people don’t think before they speak. It could be not the message but how it’s said.

      I am ok with being told that I am wrong, I just don’t appreciate it being done as a public dressing down.

      1. Joey*

        Its tough, but its best to accept that there are tons of people out there that succeed despite being assholes. The further they’re removed from you the better, but its rare to not have to deal with an asshole.

        I’ve learned to tune out emotionally and flip the switch back on when its all over. I’ll listen, but I know the person isn’t usually directing the anger to me personally, but is frustrated with the results regardless of who or why.

        You have to find a way to deal or you will get eaten emotionally and eventually physically.

        1. Jules*

          Yeah, I don’t get the high school 2.0 that is going on where I am at nor do I understand why anyone thinks that they will get to the top with terrible behaviors.

          I am lucky to have special set of skills that I can trade reasonably well. If the environmental emotional issues gets out of hand, I know I can leave.

    8. Rev.*

      “…but I’m super self-conscious about directness, especially as a black woman….”

      I enjoyed reading your question, first of all. One of the things I teach people is that awareness of your world begins with an awareness of yourself. You seem to be doing a good job of getting a grip on the skin you’re in. That’s always Job One.

      Now, Job Two is understanding how others perceive you. In other words, what do ppl think when they see you approaching? Conventional wisdom says that leaders don’t care what other ppl think, but that’s really not true. Effective leaders are acutely aware of the perceptions of the ppl around them, and use it to their advantage, as far as getting things done. Do you think Oprah or Hillary are unaware of how people perceive them?

      As a Black woman in American society, you have 200+ years of preconceived ideas about you riding shotgun when you walk into a room, especially if you’re entering to impart some information or give directions.

      Can’t be helped; it is what it is.

      What you can do about it is work it to your advantage. Be mindful of “other assorted bullshit;” to use a metaphor, they’re kind of like the bullets in your gun. Using .22’s in a .45 will result in a misfire; using .45’s in a .22 will simply make you look stereotypically ridiculous, i.e. “the Black woman with an attitude.”

      Make sure your communication style fits the environment or situation you find yourself in. When people see you coming, the first thought should be, “Here comes the solution.”

      My daughter accuses me of lengthy opines, so I’ll stop here.

      1. TheSnarkyB*

        Tell your daughter she’ll appreciate it one day :)
        Thank you so much for your comments.

        I’m in a hurry right now, and I’m still processing the things you’ve posted, but I didn’t want to forget to say thanks Rev. and your points are very well-taken.

        And especially thank you for this acknowledgement:
        As a Black woman in American society, you have 200+ years of preconceived ideas about you riding shotgun when you walk into a room, especially if you’re entering to impart some information or give directions.

  67. esemjay*

    I posted about this a few threads back (was anonymous then).

    First, thanks Alison for all the practical, common-sense job hunting and career advice. Your stuff just makes the most sense.

    This ties into my main point. I’ve been working with a career coach (referred to me by my friend’s mother). Some stuff is good (interview prep), but the salesy non-interview advice is exasperating. There are times I just want to email her Alison’s blog.

    A couple of examples:
    1. I got an email about a contract role cross-country (job’s in the mid-Atlantic, I’m currently in a Mountain State). I believe the recruiter had an outdated resume from when I lived in the mid-Atlantic. The coach is like “Say you can start in a week!” I was like “Er? That doesn’t even sound realistic–it takes four days just to drive from here to the Eastern Seaboard. That just sounds like I’m telling them something they want to hear without being realistic.” “Oh no no, if you say two weeks and you’re unemployed, it sounds like you’re not interested.”

    Maybe I’m off-base? I’ve just had interviewers question super quick long-distance relocations (“Uh, you know housing searches in this area are difficult, right? You do have a friend or something you can stay with, yes?”)

    2. A job at a MegaCorp is taking a long time to get back to me with a yay or nay. Coach was like “You should call–not email–the interviewers as a follow-up. If they say you’re not under consideration, you should ask what other jobs you’d qualify for.” Keep in mind, this is like a Fortune 100 company with 70,000 employees.

    Anyway, I’m trying to use the good and ignore the bad, salesy stuff. Sort of stuck with her since my friend’s mom covered her fee.

    I’m hesitant to employ really salesy advice as I did that for a previous role. For OldJob, I told them basically a bunch of a stuff they wanted to hear in an interview (“Oh, I love working Teapot Documentation!” when I actually hate Teapot Documentation), got the job, took the job, and (not surprisingly) it was horrible.

    1. Colette*

      Sort of stuck with her since my friend’s mom covered her fee.

      You’re not stuck with her, even if she’s already been paid.

      Since you’re finding some of it valuable, can you redirect your time with her towards that stuff – i.e. “I’d love to talk about the jobs I’ve applied for, but I feel like I really need more interviewing practice – can we focus on that instead?”

  68. Salary Negotiation - did I make a mistake?*

    I recently got a new job after a long search (yay!). The salary was a big increase (nearly 10K) from what I’m making now, 2K off the high end of the range I had stated, and very competitive with other jobs in the industry. I decided not to negotiate because I was afraid of doing ANYTHING that might jeopardize the opportunity, especially since it’s a great role and a job I really wanted, and also because I didn’t think it would be worth the risk of haggling for $2,000 more to reach the top of the range I had told them. I’m wondering now if I made a mistake – do you think I should’ve negotiated in these circumstances? I think I got freaked out by that article about the female professor getting her offer rescinded for trying to negotiate salary…

    1. Jill of All Trades*

      Only you can decide if you made a mistake in this. Are you happy with the outcome? Do you actually regret not negotiating? Or are you basing your question on other peoples’ perception?

      Given the information you had at the time, you made a choice and went with what made you comfortable. Sometimes it’s good to push ourselves out of the comfort zone, but only you can determine those times. What’s done is done, and if you truly regret not negotiating, between now and your next job related negotiation, get some practice. Start small like negotiating a purchase at a yard sale and work your way up to bigger, higher stakes purchases until you’ve found your negotiation “zone” or tolerances or whatever you want to call it. And get comfortable with the idea of walking away or settling knowing that you tried.

      1. Salary Negotiation - did I make a mistake?*

        I’m happy with the outcome, but as a woman, I feel like we’re now being told more than ever that we HAVE to negotiate, that women NEVER negotiate and it only hurts them, etc. I’m just wondering how that (admittedly important) message comes into play in my situation. Should people always try to negotiate even when they’re genuinely happy with the offer?

        1. Elysian*

          I don’t think people should “always” negotiate. Here it sounds like you gave them a range and they offered you at the higher end of it. It might be a little disingenuous if you came back now and tried to push them to the absolute top.

          If there was a reason for it (compared to the market, current pay needs, etc) then it would make sense to go for it. But since you’ve already had the salary talk when you gave them a range, I don’t think you need to go back now and try for more.

          You did awesome! You sound excited about the change and I think you should just let yourself be happy about it. You didn’t do anything wrong, and you haven’t let woman-kind down.

        2. fposte*

          I would encourage you to let go of finding a way to punish yourself for getting a salary you like at a place you’re happy with :-).

          I think you could have asked for more (the $2k difference, maybe), sure, because you always can ask; it really is very unusual for a place to pull an offer for a polite inquiry about negotiation. But if they were $2k from your top number and you’re happy, this isn’t a case where you’ve hurt yourself by keeping quiet.

        3. Bryan*

          It depends on the situation. If you received a fair offer (they’re rare but I swear they exist) then why negotiate? For my current job I was offered an amazing salary. More than I feel I was worth, so I didn’t negotiate.

        4. Jill of All Trades*

          The message I get is that as women we need to be open to negotiating in order to try to get to target. Negotiating for the sake of negotiating even when you’re already happy with the offer and it’s a really good opening offer isn’t necessarily the message, though I’m sure that is how it’s being portrayed in some instances.

          Rest assured, you have not let down womanhood. You impressed them enough to get a great opening offer that made you happy, and in my opinion that is better than getting a lower offer and negotiating to where you ended up.

          1. Windchime*

            When I was negotiating salary for my current job, I was making $X. I decided that I would ask for a 10% increase, which would amount to $Y. So the negotiations start, and the hiring manager says, who knew I was currently making $X, says “We can offer you $Y” — the exact figure I was thinking of. Honestly, I probably should have said, “Hmmmm, let me think about it” and then tried to get a little more, but why? She was offering me exactly what I was hoping to get!

            So I let it go. Yeah, maybe I could have gotten a little more, but I was hired by a great company for a nice raise, and that has worked out fine.

            Congrats on your new job!

    2. Jamie*

      Do not beat yourself over < $40 per week before taxes.

      I understand your inner dialogue, I have the same kind of thing in these circumstances…but a great job with a fair salary? Just find a way to enjoy that. :)

    3. AndersonDarling*

      It sounds like the employer offered a reasonable salary right away. That is a good sign that other employees are also making market rate.
      I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s like saying, “Oh, if I only chose 3 different numbers then I would have won the powerball!”

      It sounds like you found somewhere with a reasonable hiring practice. You may be able to make the difference up with excellence performance and an excellent raise after a year.

    5. Salary Negotiation - did I make a mistake?*

      Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the feedback! I do feel great about this opportunity and like I’m being well-compensated for the role – I was just having nagging doubts that I had made a mistake and that no matter what, I “should” have negotiated.

  69. Jill of All Trades*

    Shoot, I’m already late. I wanted to ask Alison if she’d tell us a bit about the day in the life of a successful blogger. I’d love to have an idea of what it takes to keep this big blog going.

    2. Bryan*

      I would love to see an entry just documenting her day.

      2:00 pm, yes it’s legal
      2:15 pm, apply to the job and pretend you didn’t get it
      2:30 pm, play with cats

    3. Ask a Manager* Post author

      Well, I sort of weave it into the rest of my day wherever it fits. The activities involved are:
      – writing the next day’s posts (or, ideally, when I’m really on top of things, writing at least a couple of posts for a few days out)
      – going through the email that comes in with questions (deleting, sending relevant posts, setting aside for my “to answer” pile) — more on this is above in another thread
      – dealing with random maintenance issues (spam comments, approving things that got stuck in moderation, dealing with any rare technical issues)
      – reading and responding to comments

      I do most of this ad hoc as I have time — no real schedule; I just fit it in around the rest of my work. I do find that the more I write posts in advance, the happier I am; it takes the stress off me to not HAVE to write things for tomorrow if I’m pressed for time.

      The last year has been more stressful than previously, because my client workload has gone up significantly. Scaling back to 3 posts a day rather than 4 and eliminating the Sunday post has given me some breathing room.

      Oh, and then beyond that, there are bigger picture technical things that come up now and then. I contract with someone to take those on (small things and big ones), but that entails some back and forth, problem solving, etc.

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        That wasn’t really “day in the life” at all, sorry! Basically all that gets plugged in wherever it fits around my “regular” work, so what the day looks like definitely varies.

        When I enjoy it the most is when I don’t have pressing client work and I can just sit on my couch, read comments, read leisurely through the emailed questions, and not feel any pressure to move at any particular speed.

  70. lavendertea*

    My interest in working at your institution is inversely proportional to how stupid your online application is.

    Just filled one out which had a lot of irrelevant fields (preferred work hours/days for a full-time 9-5 job, etc) which, although annoying, were luckily not required. But I hate having to cross my fingers that I outsmarted a machine just to get a look from a hiring manager. Baaaah.

    1. BB*

      Seriously when I do a job app that is easy it makes me THAT much more interested in the company. It’s silly but if I know an app is easy to fill out, I’m going to apply to more jobs because I know it won’t take forever.

      I was applying to a job with a fashion company last week and was on the verge of tears. It kept telling me I hadn’t filled out a required field and I couldn’t find what they were talking about for the life of me. Then there was one that deleted all my entered info when I missed a required field. ay yiyiyiyiyi

    2. KCS*

      Agree, some of these online apps are laboriously long. Frankly, I fill out the required fields only and leave the rest blank.

      Sometimes, there are fields I do respond to (like salary requirement), yet when I get the screening call from HR, they ask me the very questions I already responded to my application (“So what are your salary requirements?”) I suspect that the HR folks might not even look at that online app, and go right to your resume & cover letter.

    3. Calla*

      I am in love recently with online applications that ask for the basic info, then allow you to import a little more from LinkedIn (PROPERLY, not the mess most ATS imports make) and then attach resume/cover letter and you’re done. Beautiful!

      On the other hand I applied to one last night that wouldn’t let me continue without putting in my college GPA. Super annoying, but I’ve been keeping an eye on the company for a while in hope of an opening, so I sucked it up. (Then, their confirmation email outlined the hiring process, which concludes with an interview with the CEO and an “integrity essay.” What?!)

    4. Malissa*

      Seriously, some of those on-line systems are nuts. There has been a position open in my area for months. I check all the boxes except one for a very specific requirement, that would be almost impossible unless you currently worked for the company. I submitted my app on a Friday night a got a reject email in less than 24 hours. I know no human actually looked at my app.

    5. Elizabeth West*

      Hear ya. I bailed on several jobs that sounded great because their online applications didn’t work, were nuts, etc. Perhaps they weren’t so great after all.

      1. Winchester*

        I’ve had online job applications that FORCED people to put in past work experience- for a job that a high schooler could qualify for!- that later had check boxes where you could say “This is my first job”. Seriously?

    6. Pip*

      I hear you. I had to fill in an application were I was asked to indicate which countries I am legally permitted to work in. Being an EU citizen, that is a lot of countries. And it was an awful list where you had to Ctrl + click. And Yugoslavia was on the list. This was in 2012.

  71. BB*

    My friend just quit/lost her job- honestly I’m not really sure which it was- in an industry she hated and wanted to leave anyway. She is now job searching and insisting on using only using a recruiter because she is so clueless as to what she wants to do next. She is only 3 years into her a career and I think this is limiting her and is a terrible idea- especially since she isn’t working part-time or volunteering so I’m not sure what she is doing with her time as she ‘waits for recruiters to contact her’- her words. She’s already started telling me how scary being unemployed is but I have no idea what to say back. I’ve already referred her to AAM

    1. TheSnarkyB*

      I’m sorry, that really sucks. Sounds like you’re in a rough position. You’re right, but you can’t make her get it. Is suggest that you ask this question again (earlier if you can) on next Friday’s open thread- I know there are some people on here who’ll have good recruiter advice and many words of warning. Good luck!

    2. Ask a Manager* Post author

      Does she understand how recruiters work? They fill jobs for companies; they don’t find jobs for candidates. If she doesn’t know what she wants to do, recruiters aren’t going to figure it out for her. I wonder if you could explain that piece of it to her?

      1. BB*

        I guess she doesn’t know how her experience can translate to other industries and has a skewed idea of what it means when a recruiter says ‘we’ll contact you when something you’re a fit for comes up’. I’m going to try by asking her what she is hoping to accomplish and how this is going to benefit her more than using recruiters plus applying herself and then segue into explaining how recruiters work. Recruiters have never brought me anything but headaches so maybe if she realizes how much she limiting herself, it will change her mind

  72. Spoony Bard*

    So I had my performance eval last month, which went very well, and my boss mentioned that he was going to be creating some team lead/supervisor positions and setting up mini divisions in our department. The team leads would be over 4-5 staff, grouped by areas of focus. This is exactly the type of job I’m looking to move into so I can start making the transition into management.

    At the end of a semi-related discussion yesterday, I reiterated that I was interested in a team lead position, or at least applying for and being considered, and I asked if he had a timeframe on them being posted on our internal job board, or possibly external too. Then he dropped the bomb that he had already selected the 3 people he would promoting into these positions.

    Except one of them had flat out told me she doesn’t want it and is not interested in taking on more responsibility this late in her career. Her husband is already retired and she has commented to numerous people that she’s “only got about a couple years left” before she does the same. It seems she hasn’t conveyed these feelings to our boss, and I’m not sure if he has actually discussed it with her directly or not. I feel like I should say something but I don’t know what. I can just see her getting pushed into a position she doesn’t want, and then being there for only 2 years or so before she retires (or quits because she hates the work).

    1. fposte*

      I don’t see this as for you to say to him, though, especially since you’ve already indicated interest in the position so you don’t look neutral. If she really doesn’t want it, she can say no herself; if she’d rather do the job than say no to the boss, you can’t really insert yourself in that.

      If the information isn’t confidential, you could give her a heads up, but it sounds like it might well be.

      1. Spoony Bard*

        The conversation between me and my boss took place while we were walking out of the building, passing people as we went, and out into the open parking lot. It wasn’t exactly confidential. I know I don’t really have any place to say anything, I can just see this turning into a bad situation. My boss has a tendency to decide what he wants for people’s positions and then do that without really talking to them and it’s backfired before.

    2. Not So NewReader*

      I had a reverse situation at one point. I did not want the additional responsibility and someone else did. The boss pressured me.
      With my approval, the other person went to the boss and said “NSNR, does not want to take this on, but I am willing to.”

      Perhaps the two of you can work out a similar deal? If she really does not want the responsibility perhaps she would be willing to remind that boss that you are interested?

  73. KCS*

    Resume ethical question:

    Suppose that, in your current role, you perform 75% of A duties, and 25% of B duties. You are now applying to a job as “Director of the A Department.” Is it unethical for your resume to state that your current duties pertain to A, and omit your B duties?

    This implies you only do A, when in reality, you do mostly A, but a little B as well.

    1. Calla*

      I don’t think so. A resume isn’t supposed to be a comprehensive list of every single one of your duties. If you do 5% B and tried to make your resume all B for a Director of B position then maybe that’s a little more gray but it would come to light before hiring anyway.

    2. Jamie*

      I don’t think it’s unethical – your resume isn’t supposed to be a detailed history, but a document to highlight why they should consider you for a particular job.

      I have a software I admin now that I will never touch again. I took it off my resume, if I go elsewhere I will not mention my experience with it nor will I jump into help if they are having issues. It’s mess…a regular nightmare config…and it’s my kryptonite. I don’t feel one bit guilty for leaving it off my resume.

      But we all do things at work which we don’t highlight. After the receptionist goes home those of us in the office take turns grabbing the phone. And we do our own filing and stuff – none of us would put that on our resume.

  74. wesgerrr*

    I guess you could call this one… Battle of the keys…
    I have a great job for almost 9 months and I love my work and coworkers. As I’ve been there, I’ve received a glowingly positive performance review and fairly constant praise for the quality of my work. Due to this, I’ve received new responsibilities which take up a ton of time. I’ve asked the big boss for a key to the building so that I can work extra, and he dodged the question. I’ve asked my manager “what can I do to stay later on x days to work on projects a, b, c” and he dodged the question. 60% of employees have a key . I am salaried overtime exempt. This is a culture where everybody comes in 8-8:30, and clears out and locks up at 5:30. I can’t email my work home, due to the confidentiality of some of the info. What do I do?

    1. Jamie*

      I don’t think there is anything you can do – and I would advise against pushing for a key since they seem hesitant. That should be their call.

      Is there a reason you can’t remote in via VPN? I agree with not emailing work home, but that shouldn’t preclude logging in to work from home. I’d ask about that.

      1. wesgerrr*

        Jamie- good call. We are working on getting remote access set up, and my boss has already discussed how awesome it will be for me to be able to pull files while I’m out of office. I’m just trying to fill the gap….

    2. AndersonDarling*

      There could be security reasons that they don’t want to give out keys. It’s actually really scary that 60% of employees have keys. I can’t imagine how often a key is lost if you have that many floating around.

      Is your manager thinking that you should be completing all your work within the regular office hours? He/she may think your workload is smaller than it is. This may be worth a sit-down discussion with your manager.

  75. a.n.o.n.*

    No question today, just came to say that I confided in a coworker about my whole saga with picking the wrong job/career path and I feel SOOOOO much better. He was so understanding and encouraged me to pursue the other company. He’s much older and said I’m way too young to spend any amount of time being miserable in a job/career path that isn’t right for me. He’s been at this company about a year and has a lot of the same gripes I do, but stays here because of his age (it would be tough for him if he left. Hate to say it, but it’s reality.) I’m confident he won’t say anything to the boss, but if he does the department isn’t in a position to let me go right away due to certain circumstances. Yes, I know no one’s job is safe, but I can say in this instance I have some job security for at least a few months.

  76. Calla*

    Whew, I’m on PTO today and almost forgot about this thread! At least I’m here before it hits 1k :)

    So, funny story. I’m an admin/exec assistant and recently, my big boss left and was replaced by a new one. We also just expanded to a new office, and New Boss immediately hired one of her friends as a receptionist. In my weekly meeting with New Boss this week, she asked for the SECOND time “So, explain to me again how you’re different from the receptionist?” After being really annoyed (no offense, receptionists, I know you do a lot) for a few minutes, I thought about the fact that her friend is the receptionist and our company has a history of eliminating positions with no notice to the person in it. Hmm…!

    I don’t believe she’s actually conspiring to eliminate my position and put her friend in, but regardless, I’m glad I’m currently interviewing other places!

    1. BadPlanning*

      Maybe when you take a longer vacation and people are “When’s Calla coming back, I need Calla for Thing A.” or “Yeah, Calla does that normally, we wait for Calla to come back or we screw it up” then it will become apparent?

  77. themmases*

    Has anyone here felt dishonest after been put on the spot about when they’re leaving?

    My boss knows I will eventually leave for grad school, but on the advice of a mentor in the department I’ve decided not to tell him until I’m in and know where I’m going. Well, I got accepted the other day and am just tying up some loose ends before I let him know I’ll be leaving at the end of July.

    Yesterday my boss stopped by and was asking me about some part-time classes I’m in now and what I’m planning on taking next year. I told him the truth about which classes are next in the sequence and that I’m just deciding whether to take them in the summer. It was a casual conversation, the door was open, and my coworker was there– I just didn’t feel like it was the right moment to tell him I’ll be leaving.

    I’ve told my boss all along that my classes are to prepare me to leave and I didn’t know if I would get in without them or not, which was true. It was a nice surprise when I did get in this year. However, I like my boss a lot, it’s not his fault I’m not ready to share, and I feel awful that it will seem like I lied to him in a week or two when I tell him I’m leaving.

    1. Sunflower*

      It doesn’t sound like he was asking you when you were leaving. You know your boss better than me obviously but I think he was just making casual conversation.

      Also, it’s not lying! You were tying up lose ends which to me means you were solidifying your decision. Also you are giving him ample time to find a replacement so I wouldn’t worry about him being mad. If he does say something like ‘why didn’t you mention it last week’, just say ‘I wanted to make sure everything was set in stone before I mentioned it. I didn’t want something to get missed and end up giving you bad information.’

      I think you’re feeling guilty over this. Don’t! You gave him ample time and considering he was okay with you leaving eventually to pursue grad school, he’s probably more than okay with you saying you’ll be leaving in July and giving him 5/6 months notice.

      Also congrats!

      1. themmases*

        Thank you! I know he has been wondering and so far I’ve just told him that I could get in some places now, but that the classes I’m taking would really help me in the future. I was a little surprised to be successful this year before my courses are done, so I’ll be telling him that.

    2. julen*

      One former boss expected me to tell her when I submitted my grad school applications. Wouldn’t have done much good, though, seeing how even after I gave several weeks notice she failed to start seeking a replacement until two days before I left.

  78. Anonymous*

    I just started a new job two weeks ago. Ive been getting used to the environment and the work, but i have been noticing that work is slow. I do not want to start panicking. What should I do to stay busy and to feel focused?

    1. KCS*

      Are you about to panic because of the lack of work? I would approach my manager and talk to her about workload. “I just wanted to touch base on some ongoing projects. XYZ is on my plate right now. Are there other departmental needs or projects I can help with?” Or if you have other concerns, address those as well with your manager in a similar help-me-help-you tone.

  80. jenniferM*

    I’m hoping to gain some insight from folks here. I work at a small firm that does chocolate teapot design as well as chocolate teapot organizational and manufacturing planning. We work primarily within a day’s drive. I have the opportunity to go to a big multinational firm that does the same work plus lots of other stuff– management, other types of design, etc.

    I’m torn. I am based stateside now (in a city near my extended family) and have a 1 year old. I thought this was where I wanted to be. But after living abroad for a number of years, I’m pining to get out of here. Obviously the multinational would help me make that happen. Although the position is currently open in my city.

    But I’m on track to become a partner at the small firm where I am now. I’ll be able to influence different projects and shape my role here.

    I’m wondering if anyone has made this kind of jump- in either direction and what their experience was. Leaving my current job for the competition will set the bridge ablaze no matter how I do it. So this is a big deal for me.

    1. De Minimis*

      So you’re pining to get out of your current location, but you’re okay with your job? Or is it a problem with both?

      1. jenniferm*

        I’m basically ok with my current job. Just feeling. Not exactly bored. Antsy? Thought the baby would cure the feeling but he hasn’t.

  81. Ali*

    Rant…I hate obnoxious self-marketing.

    I have been writing for a site now for about two years and have never seen any pay from it unless I have hit a certain amount of traffic for the month. That only happened once because I care about quality, not SEO hits. Since I was trying to get into sports for a while, this is a sports website. I plan on leaving in a couple of months b/c I no longer want to work in the field anyway, but I want to finish out a commitment I made with another writer at the beginning of the season for the sport we cover.

    So yesterday in our closed writer’s group, our editor/manager posted and asked how often we tweet and retweet our stuff. He said we should be doing it at least four times a day for a few days and then everyday for a week. Everyone else thinks this is a great idea, but I think it’s over the top and self indulgent. Plus, I don’t know how these people find time to sit on Twitter every day and do nothing but promote their work over and over and over. This isn’t a full-time job for anyone but our site’s owner anyway. Of course, everyone thought I was nuts for disagreeing and harped on me for never tweeting anything out and saying “it’s like writing a great book and then sticking it under your mattress.”

    In other words, I’m not going to be a good fit for any job that requires an insane amount of marketing and practically shoving something in someone else’s face. I just don’t see the point in doing all of this when no one is getting paid for it unless they hit X number of page views.

    Sigh.

    1. Jill of all trades*

      I don’t like overmarketing (is that a word??) myself, but it looks like you’ve got a simple issue here: if readership went up you’d get paid. Marketing leads to higher readership if done correctly. So to solve the not getting paid problem you need to tackle the marketing aspect.

      There are apps that will let you create posts and then publish them to social media as prescribed, like Hootsuite. Figure out the posting frequency that you’re comfortable with and set up whichever hub app you decide on the to do the publishing for you.

    2. Persephone Mulberry*

      On the one hand: I really get annoyed at people who plug the same content multiple times a week, much less multiple times a day.

      On the other hand: I get it, you need your content to be seen, and Twitter moves fast. Not everyone is as obsessive about reading their entire Twitter feed as I am.

      That said, heck no, you don’t have to be glued to your computer and manually retweet your own content. There are about a zillion apps that you can use to schedule your content (Hootsuite is probably one of the most popular, I’m a fan of Buffer).

    3. Colette*

      My personal limit for Twitter is 2 tweets about the same content – regularly tweet more than that and I’ll unfollow.

      I think up to twice is totally valid, though.

  82. Lateral Mover*

    I have an interview for an internal position on Monday. In my company, apparently you can get a pay bump if you are below the midpoint (I am) if you’ve been in your current position for two years. I’ve only been with the company for one.

    The new position requires some training that I’m fairly certain that the other candidates don’t have, though I can’t know for sure. This training is expensive and long, and I’ve already mentioned that I have it to the recruiter, but they are not willing to move on salary right now.

    I would really like the new position but I feel like I’m being short-changed. Do I continue to pursue it with the recruiter or wait until I actually have an offer to try to negotiate then? Thanks.

    1. Penguin*

      I think you should wait until you have the offer. Let them consider you against the other applicants first. You don’t know who else is applying, or who they may have in mind. It isn’t a good idea to push them and give them a reason to disqualify you now.

      Once you get offered the position then negotiate over pay increases. I am assuming this new role would be a step-up for you, so you don’t want to knock yourself out of the opportunity. Wait and see how it plays out. You have mentioned it to them so its at the back of their minds, do the interview first and see.

      1. Lateral Mover*

        Thanks, Penguin! In her latest email, the recruiter asked if I was interested in pursuing it knowing that it wouldn’t be an increase. I feel like I’m being asked to agree to a set salary before the interview. Any tips on how to respond?

  83. Christine*

    I had my performance review last week, and I got the standard “good” review which 90% of people get here. I asked what it would take for the “great” review, and my boss basically told me that it would require me to put work above other things in my life. As in, put in longer hours, work weekends, etc. I am an engineer at a manufacturing plant, for context.

    What does the AAM community think about that? I don’t agree – I think it’s perfectly possible to be a great employee while working 40 -45 hours a week. I know I have room for improvement, but I was disappointed to hear that’s what he was looking for.

    1. Jamie*

      I’m not condoning it, but in manufacturing it’s pretty par for the course ime.

      I do think you can be a great employee in 40-45 hours if the job is structured for that period of time. But if your plant is like most I’ve known they run lean and there is more work to be done in a week than would fit that time period…so exempt positions are often built in with more than the standard 40 worth of stuff to do.

      So if what they need for a great employee takes 50 hours then it’s not possible to be that for them without putting in the time.

      1. Christine*

        I think you’re right. I guess it just bothers me that 50 hours is the expectation. I put a high value on my free time and I kind of feel like I’m in the minority in my field sometimes! I’m just not willing to work weekends and late nights all the time (although on occasion, ok.) Maybe I’m just in the wrong line of work. :)

    2. Just a Reader*

      Was it just based on hours and not accomplishments? Because theoretically you could clock in and put your feet up.

      Can you find out what specific things you should achieve during those recommended hours that would be meaningful?

      1. Christine*

        Well, it was tied to accomplishments as well, he also mentioned picking up additional projects. And I would love to do that, but I also highly value my free time, my hobbies, and my relationships. With the way things run around here, I have a hard enough time just keeping up (and I truly believe that most people would in my shoes and that I’m not just whining.) I guess I just have to resign myself to the fact that I’ll never be rated at the highest level while I work here. It is pretty de-motivating, though!

        1. Joey*

          That changes things. If the only way for you do take on additional projects is to work more hours then he sorta has a point. Fwiw plenty of people choose not to be high achievers for that exact reason. Absolutely nothing wrong with it.

        2. Just a Reader*

          That is demotivating. Can you make a case for offloading some of your existing responsibilities to focus on higher level work?

          If you value your free time and also want to advance, you may need to leave.

          I did, and it was scary, but I ended up with a WAY better job and a much more satisfying personal life.

          1. Joey*

            Offloading core functions to focus on higher level stuff? I’m not sure the boss would go for that

        3. Colette*

          I don’t really understand why it’s demotivating. It’s a choice you’re making – you prefer to get a good rating and have time for your life outside of work instead of spending more time at work and getting a great rating. That’s completely valid.

          1. Joey*

            Oh I get why its demotivating. Because you feel like excelling shouldn’t require trading off your personal life. And since you’re not willing to make the trade you don’t see the point in having the goal. Basically you’ve done the best you could ever do under the conditions you’ve set for yourself.

            1. Colette*

              I guess I see motivation as mostly internal, with the external part being whether you believe what you’re doing has value. If you do less because you aren’t getting recognized the way you’d like, the person you’re hurting most is yourself, because it’s your reputation on the line.

    3. Glorified Plumber*

      You’ve just expressed a re-occurring issue I’ve seen with engineers where I work. Like your company, performance reviews basically fall into a 10% under performing and must change, 80% performing, and 10% jedi categories.

      I have a cadre of junior engineers (1-3 years experience) who are just devastated when their performance review comes back with “You do a GREAT job, we LOVE your work, don’t change a thing, people like you, people like working with you, people trust you… here is a promotion and a raise that’s larger than your coworkers’ raises. I’ve put you in the “Performing” category! Good job, I look forward to our review next year!”

      They immediately walk out of that review on the verge of tears… find a mid-level engineer they trust like myself, and say, “Hey GlorifiedPlumber, I don’t understand, BossEngineer said all these super nice things and gave me a great raise, and I got promoted… but… but… but… they said I was “performing.” I DON’T GET IT, what more do I have to do?? Why am I not the super pretty pretty prince of the company????” and they are just super broken up about it. They then vow to move heaven and earth to get “Jedi” status next year… don’t get it… and then are doubly devastated. Some of our most promising and most versatile junior folk who go above and beyond are just ruined mentally by this situation.

      I only see this with the junior folks, and I don’t know why!

      Are they, not getting enough continual praise and feedback? They probably get pointed job feedback ~3 times per year schedule, and then as often as they want when they solicit it. Is it perception that the “jedi’s” are getting more money and advancement than they are? Are they just mentally weak?

      The mid-level people just joke about it… and none of us can understand. As far as I am concerned, the proof is in the pudding… a.k.a. “Do they pay you enough to make you happy and empower you with the authority you feel appropriate for your role here?” Yes? Move on!!!

      Anyways, looping back to you… it sounds like your boss doesn’t have good concrete reasons why someone gets jedi vs. performing, so your BossEngineer just says something like “The people who get that basically devote their life to the company…” Devoting your life to a company has NOTHING to do with actual jedi status… it is just what they say because they have to say something.

      If you and the “jedi” are getting the same raises or you’re getting more, or you are being presented with enough opportunity and growth that you’re super happy… I think you just have to chalk it up to “stupid corporate structure” and worthless yearly reviews.

      If it is a “need more continuous feedback situation”, all you need to do is solicit it from your Boss Engineer. I’ve found 100% success just approaching senior folks in my mentor/authority chain and being like, “Let’s talk about work and how I am doing out here when you have some time!”

      If I had to guess, you’re relatively new to the engineering world… I think when you’re 5-7 years in, you’ll look at this situation, find the applicable Dilbert, and laugh at how worthless HR imposed review systems are.

      1. Christine*

        I’ve actually been working about 7 years. I guess when it comes down to it, what irritated me about his comments were 2 things:
        1. The idea that I have to put in long hours in order to be considered a “top performer” or however you phrase it. It’s so different than how I view work in general. But I’m trying to see it as just different viewpoint and move on!
        2. The boss fired the other engineer last year, so it’s been just me for months, and I’ve been busting my ass trying to keep this place going as the only engineer. Not necessarily putting in long hours all the time, but going hard while I am at work. Maybe this sounds entitled, but I haven’t gotten any sort of feedback until my formal review, and it would have been nice to get a little recognition of all the BS I’ve been putting up with!

        But I’m frustrated with this job in general, so I’m sure that’s coloring my perception. I think you’re right in that I need to just shrug it off – and continue my job search. :)

        1. Colette*

          Yeah, that makes a difference. Stepping up and keeping things going is worth recognizing. I will say, though, that you’ve received a pretty clear message about how this company measures performance – and it’s not an unusual one. If the norm is to put in extra hours, it would be highly unlikely that anyone would get a stellar review if they don’t.

      2. Joey*

        They’re devastated because they aren’t used to being anything other than the best. Welcome to the working world where you’re competing with people who could teach your professors a thing or two and have the advantage of already knowing the things you’re starting to learn.

        1. Jill of All Trades*

          In my experience it was really demotivating to be in the same “meets expectations” category with acknowledged underperformers when I’d busted my rear and soundly exceeded my stretch goals. The bigger bump in pay just didn’t make up for that with the way my brain is wired. And there usually wasn’t even a bump in pay since we were in bankruptcy for a lot of that time. Giving someone a higher ranking when they did exceed expectations doesn’t cost anything (especially handy when pay has been frozen or you’ve recently had two pay cuts) and may preserve some value for the review process. No one at my old job had any respect for it because it was handled so poorly.

          Back then I wasn’t very money motivated – I think I stayed on through the hard times for the challenge. Now that I’m older and have a mortgage and stuff, yeah, just show me money and I’m fine. But I’ve also grown out of depending on outside validation too.

          1. Jules*

            I think when you’re 5-7 years in, you’ll look at this situation, find the applicable Dilbert, and laugh at how worthless HR imposed review systems are.

            This pretty much covers it in general though…

            Well, technically, depending where you work and how well structured your company is, it’s not so easy to just give anyone higher then ‘meets expectation’. It would influence your pay, your internal career growth etc. Some companies restricts how many percent of the population can get higher ranking. Sometimes your supervior can recommend the higher ranking and during calibration you’d get knocked down. There are a lot of elements that can influence the issues.

            That is why it’s important to play nice across departments and functions. Sometimes you it’s not only you knocking the ball out of the park but also how you did it.

  84. Mints*

    I just want to vent with an annoyed post:

    It’s annoying that if employees are sometimes missing mandatory conference calls, instead of talking to those employees (at all) the manager asks the admin to send an additional outlook event as ~*~important call ~*~

    1. Jules*

      Heh.. some all hands on the decks meeting was recently made -required- because some people couldn’t be bothered to attend. Like really?

  85. Cath in Canada*

    Who else here is on Twitter? I’m @enniscath

    (p.s. changed user name because I really like the idea of knowing where everyone’s from! Hopefully the usual Gravatar will still show up)

  86. Incognito*

    Ugh – new manager hired to do A, B, and C.

    All are very important functions, but only B and C affect my job personally.

    They are quite good at A – as promised. However they are abysmal at B and I don’t think they’ve ever even heard of C despite claiming extensive experience.

    (And no, I had nothing to do with hiring.)

    Also very fake charming to people who outrank him or those who have the ear of those who out rank him. Everyone else…the fake charm is replaced with condescension and a smarminess that just grates.

    When you talk a lot about leaving your last job due to personality conflicts with more than one person…and this is the impression you’re making it’s really hard not to be on team Former Co-workers.

    It’s amazing to me how some people really lack the ability to read a room.

  87. kimberly*

    To piggy-back on yesterday’s discussion on debating grammar/word usage/word origins, would any of you like to share your favorite blogs/websites for those subjects?

    There was one site I followed many years ago, but I can’t find it anymore.

    Like many of you, I love those discussions but I totally understand why Alison doesn’t want them here.

    1. TotesMaGoats*

      If you haven’t read it, The Adventure of English by Melvyn Bragg, is an awesome history of the evolution of the english language. Written in layman’s terms but totally engaging. I’ve read it multiple times just because it’s so engaging.

    2. Arbynka*

      I don’t know any good blogs but for my next airplane ride I found a book (in our used book store. I love that place) – “So you think you can spell ? Killer quizzes for the incurably competitive and overly confident”. Fun times.

    3. Mallory*

      I don’t know any websites, but I still really love the book ‘Eats, Shoots & Leaves’. Some of her drily witty comments still make me chortle out loud, and then when my husband asks what’s so funny, the humor of it doesn’t really translate for him. Kind of like when I’m nearly rolling around in the floor laughing at a Miss Manners comment; he doesn’t get nearly the same kick out of her wit that I do.

    4. Cath in Canada*

      There’s a podcast called A Way With Words that I absolutely love for this topic. They even have a wordplay quiz every week! Some of the listener questions they get seem a little basic/obvious, but some are really out there and the hosts can turn even the basic ones into an interesting conversation.

  88. Rye-Ann*

    I was at a presentation by my school’s Career Center and they mentioned illegal interview questions. I was tempted to say, “Wait, isn’t it just illegal to make hiring decisions based on certain things, but the questions are legal?” or something just to see what they said, but I ended up holding my tongue. :P I am curious about how that myth got so widespread though.

    1. fposte*

      I think word of mouth generally resists nuance. It’s a lot easier to remember “These questions are illegal” than “Don’t ask these questions because even if they’re not illegal (although one of them is) it’s illegal to factor in the candidate’s answers.”

      This myth bothers me less than some others (like the “it’s illegal to give a bad reference/say more than hiring dates”) because it gets to functionally the same place as the truth. It’s just hair-splitters like me that find the difference interesting.

      1. Persephone Mulberry*

        And don’t forget “you can only contact the references the candidate provides.” I suggested to a hiring manager at my company that they do some asking around to their colleagues when they were on the fence about a candidate and it blew. their. minds.

  89. The Real Ash*

    I just wanted to drop a quick thanks in here for all the people who answered my question in the last open thread. There were a lot of great ideas and tips and I really do appreciate them.

    Any AAM readers in the Tampa area that might be hiring at the end of the year? ;)

  90. Jubilance*

    Just an update – I had an interview that really wasn’t; it was more a situation where they were humoring me because so many people suggested they interview me. They were done with questions 15 minutes into a 30 minute interview *sigh*. I left pretty defeated because I felt like I got the brushoff and that it was a waste of time. I also got some conflicting information about the role they were interviewing for and the role my contacts thought I was a great fit for – apparently there was some miscommunication there.

    On the bright side, I got a decent review and my manager has seemed to “see the light” regarding his less-than stellar managing skills, and we seem to be on the same page regarding helping me move to a new role in the next 3-6 months. I’m bummed that I won’t be able to move soon, but who knows what the future holds.

    1. fposte*

      Was this for the in-house Six Sigma thing? That sounded like it would be a really good fit, so I hope it wasn’t that. (If it was, my commiserations.)

      1. Jubilance*

        Yes :-( Apparently they are currently hiring for a Master Black Belt to be a subject matter expert & take on some of the teaching duties, and later they’ll be hiring someone to do mostly teaching and a little bit of the expertise consulting. It wasn’t presented to me in that way from my contacts, I was told this was the teaching role. They told me and my boss that they would keep me in mind for the 2nd teaching role (which would be at a lower level) but it was a “thanks but no thanks” for the role they are currently hiring for. I knew walking out they didn’t want me so I’ve had some time to be bummed about it and then pick myself back up. It’s still an area I want to work in, and my job is less horrible now. But I’m also thinking I want to start exploring what else is out there, just to see what’s available.

      1. Mallory*

        Hear, hear! And it’s pretty impressive that so many people recommended you for the interview. Even though it didn’t pan out for this particular job, the fact that so many people think so highly of you has got to come in handy in the future!

        1. Jubilance*

          That’s what my manager told me, and what I’ve been trying to tell myself. I’m sure once the disappointment wears off I’ll have a better perspective on the whole thing.

  91. Orange Banana*

    I have a really hard time ‘dis-connecting’ myself from jobs I apply to.
    The advice on this site has been awesome, I’m kind of addicted to the ‘surprise me’ button….

    But when I spend so much time preparing a CL/Resume and then preparing for the interview – researching the company – writing out questions and answers – coming up with unique ideas to offer – it is REALLY hard to then just ‘forget’ about the job until I hear back. Or even after I hear back. I’ve invested so much time, energy and emotion into the application/interview – how can I just ‘dis-connect’ myself on a dime?

    I just heard from a job I interviewed for on Tuesday – that they are going with a more qualified candidate – and I get that there can be more qualified people out there – especially since I’m just trying to get my career off the ground(lots of part-time/seasonal work in my field, but not long term, which is what i’m trying to get) – but I’ve been at it for 2 years and I just want to know when its MY turn to be the ‘best qualified’ candidate.

    1. Joey*

      It’s really hard to really forget about it. Although submersing yourself in the next opportunity is probably the best way.

      Although if you haven’t done so reach out to the hiring manager tell her you value her opinion and ask if she has for any advice/feedback that may help you going forward. If you do it genuinely she is likely to give you something of value and will probably remember you which can only help.

      1. JustMe*

        I actually want to second this. I’ve been at it for as long as you, and I’m also terrible about not letting things get to me, too.

        I had a job interview last week for Dream Job at Dream Company. I knew even when I applied that it might be a bit of a stretch, but the first stage was basically a group interview with personality-type questions. So, with no real right or wrong answers, I relaxed and had a blast. I thought my answers were at least interesting and maybe I’d make it to the next round.

        Of course, then I got the call that I hadn’t made it. I was obviously disappointed–and the bad part is that while personality interviews are much more pleasant, if you *don’t* move on, you start to question if it was a lack of skills or a dissonant personality that are responsible for that.

        Before I could think too much about what I was doing, I wrote the interviewers and thanked them again, and asked for feedback. I’ve never done that before, but because this is my Dream Company, I felt I had to try. The good news is, I actually heard back from them. They said it wasn’t a personality thing, just a skills thing–which is awesome because skills can be tweaked. They even offered to meet with me and chat more about the industry. So even though I didn’t move on, I’m super stoked at the outcome so far.

        Especially if you’re applying to places you’d really want to work, it’s worth it to ask for feedback. For one, it might help you feel more closure. For two, they might surprise you and offer helpful feedback.

  92. Katie the Fed*

    OK, wish me luck. I have to have yet another uncomfortable conversation with an employee. This is a new one – had been a good employee but lately is really resistant to everything, complains a lot, has a generally bad attitude about everything we ask her to do. She treats work as though assignments should be fulfilling to her, rather than doing the job we need her to do.

    This is hard because I have to focus on behavior and not personality, and she’s SUPER sensitive. If I come at it too hard she’ll break down and we’ll get nowhere. If not hard enough she won’t realize it’s a problem. So I have to hit that perfect sweet spot. Argh.

    1. Just a Reader*

      Ah, sorry Katie. Can you couch it in terms of opportunity for her? Change this behavior = more valued employee, better development, better work, better reputation, more opportunity. No change = behavior we unfortunately cannot reward.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        That’s what I’m going to try. She’s up for a promotion review soon so I want to explain in those terms as well.

        The other thing I’m struggling with is that we’re women in a very male-dominated environment and so I want to mentor her to handle things more professionally. I know too well that whining, complaining, and crying at work (which she has done) are all going to make it really hard for her to be taken seriously professionally.

        Argh, I hate these conversations.

        2. Sunflower*

          On this front, I would say if you read any articles about women in the workplace(esp one male dominated) that you think might help, forward them to her. Just with a note like ‘I just read this article and thought it was great so I wanted to pass it along’

    2. ChristineSW*

      Good luck Katie, I have faith in you. I’ve been that employee (super-sensitive), so I know it can be a balancing act.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I’m not as good with the highly emotional stuff (because I’m the same way). I like the people I can say “hey, stop being a jerk” and they’re like “okey doke!” This one I’ll probably start from the approach of asking what’s going on with her because it seems like she’s been acting a little different, and go from there.

        And stifle the urge to say “we’re not here for your personal fulfillment!”

    3. Malissa*

      The phrase “I understand that is how you fell but here is the issue” and getting back on target is a strategy I’ve used with great success.
      I don’t know where you are at, but Connie Poulsen (based out of WA state) does some very good classes in regards to difficult conversations and difficult people. If you ever get a chance take her classes.

      1. Malissa*

        I’ll join you! It’s been a very long day that isn’t going to end for a couple more hours yet.

      2. Anonymous for this*

        What did you tell her?

        I am fighting hard not to be this person at my job. I used to be upbeat and motivated and kind of a rock star. For a lot of reasons, I am having a really hard time lately. (Some of the reasons are work-related and some are personal. To put it as succinctly as I can, both my work life and my home life used to be what I thought of as my “happy place,” and now neither is, and I don’t really have a happy place and I miss having a happy place and . . . insert Eeyore image here.)

        I hate being like this, and I don’t know what to do. I feel like the place to start is by faking it, but I don’t even know how to do THAT.

        My basic deliverables are being met, but I’m bringing bad energy to my team and I know it and I really want to stop. I just don’t know how.

    5. Callie30*

      Hi Katie the Fed – I suppose I am one of the more ‘sensitive’ people (in the middle) in the workplace, at least when it comes to the people whose opinions I value. While I don’t complain/am not resistant/don’t have a bad attitude, I can say the following from experience (and I hope this can help):

      Be calm, rational, and professional. Set an example. State the problem and maybe ask if something has changed lately that’s affecting her performance – Let her have a voice and make her feel like she can confide in you about work-related matters without fear. More sensitive people often respond to the energy that’s coming at them, like the laws of physics. If people come at me hard and it comes across as unprofessional (especially if they lose their patience when they shouldn’t), it’s easy to break down in response to that, especially on a bad day. If people continually talk to someone this way, it can be damaging and toxic to someone’s confidence and spirit, which can culminate and build up – further degrading someone’s performance.

      The conversation’s ‘hardness’ should also correspond to the level of the offense. Be firm, but rational. The more rational you are, the more of a ‘non-sensitive atmosphere’ you’ll have. I’ve found that many supervisors get irritated with more sensitive people – and the problem worsens when then visibly show their irritation because of the ENERGY being conveyed.

      These thoughts are based on the employee in question not being an entitled ‘brat’, of course. Anyway, I hope this helps make it easier to find that ‘sweet spot’. Good luck!

  93. fposte*

    Ellipsis followup!

    Long after the day, I saw my ellipsis use mentioned on a previous open thread , and I’ll come clean: in written communication, I do use the proper ellipsis with spaces ( . . . ), but I’m bone-lazy on a keyboard and skip the spaces. That’s the closest I get to text-speak.

    There, now I feel unburdened.

      1. Jamie*

        I didn’t either and if inappropriate and overuse of ellipses ever criminalized I’m up for the death penalty. Good to know.

    2. Sadsack*

      So glad you decided to unburden yourself! I had no idea about the spacing and have never noticed it in the writing of others, anywhere, ever. I have learned something new!

    3. Anonymous*

      I’ve gotten so used to Word auto-correcting the spacing that I’ve stopped doing it myself….

    5. Mallory*

      Ah, good to know! That was me about the ellipsis, and I was thinking, ‘if fposte does it, it must be grammatical! :-)

  94. Just a Reader*

    Does anyone have tips for someone who is just straight up rude to your face at work?

    For any Bridget Jones fans, I keep getting jellyfished by someone I have to work with–rude nasty comments that are easily defended if the person gets called on them.

    I keep my impartial face on and only engage with her when I have to but it’s becoming unbearable. She insulted me in front of a group yesterday and it was so uncomfortable that someone paid me a compliment and changed the subject.

    She has an abrasive personality and no filter, apparently, so I don’t know that any of this is personally directed at me.

    1. Katie the Fed*

      I’m really bad at dealing with these kind of situations so take this with a grain of salt, but I’ve read the following are good:

      – Just look at her and say “wow….” and kind of laugh/roll your eyes/shake you head and go back to talking
      – Completely ignore it
      – If you feel like something more direct, you could try “why would you think that’s an appropriate thing to say?”

      She’s not going to learn that what she’s doing is wrong, so don’t make that your goal. Just completely marginalize her.

      1. Just a Reader*

        She is a director and i’m a senior-level individual contributor, although i don’t report to her. She’s a little younger than I am. So yes, senior to me, but not on my team and does not manage me.

        She’s new and isn’t fitting in with the culture so far. She has been rude and/or condescending and demanding to everyone in my peer group in the month since she joined.

        My boss backs me up when I push back on her trying to give me work, but the comments are rude and ridiculous, and have raised more than one eyebrow.

        1. Katie the Fed*

          OK, with that in mind I’d go with the “wow…” and slow head shake or just flat out ignoring it

          2. fposte*

            I’m also a fan of various pleasant abstracted expressions that basically read “Oh, you made a noise,” often accompanied by a vague “mm.” A nice touch can be to dig in your paperwork or laptop while you do it.

          3. The Real Ash*

            I agree. I would definitely say “Wow” and make a “Are you serious” face complete with eyebrow at her. Then change the subject and ignore her as much as possible. She sounds like a jerk.

            1. Just a Reader*

              Aaaand she just forwarded an email I wrote to the same group I sent it to saying “Just a Reader has said X about Y. I think Z is the answer. Please provide your input.”

              THE EMAIL WAS ASKING FOR INPUT. I DON’T NEED YOU TO SPEAK FOR ME.

              Holy crap do I need a glass of wine.

              1. Katie the Fed*

                Oh wow, I want to slap her too.

                Um.

                Just ignore. Other people will realize how inappropriate she’s being. And tell us more stories as she does it. :)

                1. Just a Reader*

                  LOL. She’s going to be a recurring character I think.

                  The email pretty much tried to negate my recommendation.

              3. Arbynka*

                I am not blaming you. I am just reading it and I had to get up and have a sip of Kahlua.

              4. Not So NewReader*

                Not sure how this plays out, but isn’t she now treading in your boss’ territory? Wouldn’t he want to be aware that your company is now making decision by survey?

                “And the survey SEZ …”

                She is grasping at straws.

      2. Mallory*

        I think that when other people are so obviously getting the same urge to roll their eyes at the same person, ignoring that person becomes a more valid option. Everyone already knows the person is a PITA, and the more the PITA says, the more they’re cementing their own reputation.

        We have a person like that at our office, and now when she says anything over the top to me, I just pause for a second, put on my exceedingly-patient customer-service face (which everyone else in the room but her recognizes as me making a conscious effort to not roll my eyes), and stick to the topic at hand.

    4. Callie30*

      Just a Reader – I’m in a similar situation with a co-worker that has a condescending tone in most of what he says to me.

      I finally recently told him that I find his tone ‘inappropriate’ in a workplace, but he refuses to even consider that this tone could be inappropriate. It’s so frustrating and our supervisor simply doesn’t want to get involved.

      We just avoid each other after this ‘quaffle’ we had about 3 weeks ago, when I told him his tone seemed inappropriate. The ‘quaffle’ stemmed from me speaking up and asking him not to speak to me that way – which seems like a fair request, but it isn’t with a rude and irrational person.

      I think many people who are rude are unhappy with their own lives, so they take it out on others. After this recent experience of speaking up , I would say ignore it as it comes and move on, at least with people like this.

    5. Jules*

      I go British and say, “I beg your pardon?” and leave it up to her to explain herself. After that rephrased what she said back to you in the simplest form and ask her if that is what she means. And if she gets defensive, explain that you just want to understand her point of view.

      Bullies, when confronted back off and don’t come back.

  95. Jamie*

    Debate with a co-worker this am on worst way to die.

    I contend that it’s being eaten by a giant squid. Their tentacle sucker things are razor sharp, they have a beak which they use to eat you in pieces while still alive – whilst drowning.

    He claims that being buried alive or being bricked up behind a wall alive to suffocate and die would be worse.

    I admit that would be horrible…but mine is so much worse. Right?

    1. The IT Manager*

      I am rather terrified of fire and think living through terrible burns before dying from it sounds horrible.

      As for your two option, I’m thinking the buried alive thing might sound worse. It seems that your suffering will last longer. The squid sounds horrible but fast.

      1. Sascha*

        Maybe if the squid had you just at the water’s surface so you can still breathe air, but it’s also eating you slowly piece by piece. So the drowning element is removed.

        And now I’ll be having some interesting nightmares for the next week or so.

        1. Just a Reader*

          I just got over that “lights out” video that was going around last week, and now this…

    2. NylaW*

      One of my worst fears is being burned alive or to be trapped and starve to death. Starving can take days and at a certain point your body is basically cannibalizing itself, which I’m sure feels fantastic. And burning, well yeah. I feel that needs no explanation.

      1. NylaW*

        Thanks for posting that early, Chrome. -_-

        To your question, I think being buried alive is worse. With the squid, they typically drag their prey to the lower depths (which is where they hang out anyways so wtf were you doing down there?!) so you’d likely drown before they ate you.

      2. Katie the Fed*

        I think with starvation you stop feeling hungry after a while, and actually get a little euphoric, so there’s that.

      3. Not So NewReader*

        I could be mistaken but last I read starvation takes 21 days where as dehydration takes 3 days.

        I find dehydration the more scary of the two because of the insanity that seems to accompany it. It can involve murderous rage.

        1. Pip*

          I’ve heard a “rule of three” from several sources. You can survive 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.

          Alzheimer’s is scariest to me, because it takes a long time and you can turn into this awful, horrible, violent person in the meanwhile. Apparently it’s not uncommon for people to commit suicide when they get diagnosed with it because they can’t stand the idea of going through this.

    3. The Real Ash*

      Crashing your car into a large body of water and getting trapped while the car slowly starts to fill up.

      That is one of my secret fears. :s

      1. Elizabeth West*

        It was mine too, and I used to have nightmares about it (I’m afraid of high bridges or roads over / near water) until I watched the Mythbusters show on it. Now I know how to get out. :)

    4. Anonymous*

      A slow, painful death in a hospital while my family struggles to make the right medical decisions for me.

      1. Arbynka*

        Being trapped in my body. Not being able to move or communicate but being able to hear and feel everything. That sounds scary.

    5. Katie the Fed*

      I think if you look to medieval history you’ll find some worse ones. I’d go with flaying. That seems pretty awful.

      1. Nina*

        Medieval wise, the Iron Maiden looks horrifying. And I thought it was just a band. :(

        Otherwise, buried alive. Besides being scary, talk about losing your mind in the process.

    6. Arbynka*

      I almost drowned when I was a kid and it still scares me. I am not afraid of water, I swim and dive but I still vote for drowning. Though I am a horror movie junkie and I saw quite a few horrible and creative ways to die.

    7. C average*

      Random reminiscence, then my answer.

      Is anyone else here old enough to remember the slumber party game MASH? It involved making lists of people you might marry, cars you might drive, types of job you might have, etc. You’d make serious and ridiculous selections, and then you’d pick a number that would be used to eliminate various choices until you were down to one in each category.

      My friends and I, being warped little monsters, added a “method of death” category. As you might imagine, we devised some pretty gruesome scenarios.

      I think mine would involve being in some enclosed space where a contagious disease was afoot, like on a plane with ebola victims. Shudder.

      1. Stephanie*

        Yes, I remember MASH! My friend and I played it at a bar recently. We drew on a napkin.

        1. Mallory*

          My sisters and I are all married with kids now, and we still play it when we get together :-)

    8. Not So NewReader*

      Since there’s no squids in my living room (I am pretty far inland) I’d go with the burning building or hospital deathbed as my big horrors.

      I rather go quickly than linger in a hospital room and have all kinds of medical drama.

  96. The IT Manager*

    I have a friend/acquaintance with a bitchy resting face. I think I have a very neutral resting face (noth helpful for me), but hers is a downright frown enhance by large creases (sort of like dimples not wrinkles) which highlight downturm of her lips. She’s going through a rough time at work, but yesterday I heard her referring to herself as a happy person (which I think she isn’t) but even if she is her faces does not show it. She looks unhappy/sad practically whenever she not speaking.

    Is there any point in telling her this. Could it help her out? Any ideas how to tell again.

    Again definately not a close friend, so maybe my answer is no.

    1. Katie the Fed*

      I feel like when it comes to things like faces and bodies, you only comment unless you’re 1) VERY close or 2) asked for your opinion. I’d leave it alone.

      1. Jamie*

        I agree. Unless you are close enough that she’d consider giving you a kidney if you needed one I wouldn’t comment on her face.

        Even then – don’t.

    2. Sadsack*

      How can it help her to tell her what you think about her natural expression that she can do nothing about? If she sits around smiling all the time, then she will look insane.

      1. Jamie*

        Okay this is weird – I had my caps redone last year and I was so delighted with my new and improved smile I was grinning at everyone like a lunatic. I can’t tell you how many people asked me if I was okay in the most bemused way.

        When someone with RBF turns into the Cheshire cat it throws people off. But even then I’d have looked like a maniac if I was alone in my office grinning at my monitor.

    3. Diet Coke Addict*

      What are you hoping to get out of the conversation? I don’t quite see how it could help her. In situations like this I like to go by the “Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it kind?” rule–must fit two out of three. If it’s true, but not particularly kind or helpful, I would not.

      1. The IT Manager*

        You’re right. The “solution” would be her to consiciously try to smile all the time and I don’t think much of that as a solution myself (hence my own neutral resting face).

        The only way it might help would be make her realize a potential problem if she wasn’t already aware of it. I think it might be affecting her life, but I am not sure that its something she’s unaware of or something she could fix. I guess it is sort of a bummer to be hanging out with her when she looks so sad and what really made me think of it was the juxipostion of her saying she’s happy most of the time with her appearing exactly the opposite most of the time.

    4. EduStudent*

      I’m going to disagree with most people’s responses here and suggest bringing it up if it can be worked into a conversation naturally (e.g., when she expresses confusion that she’s happy but people don’t get that vibe). I also have this issue and I am only aware of it because a friend of mine mentioned it. Now I try to consciously be extra enthusiastic/smiley in interviews and things like that, because then it looks normal even if it feels weird. I would say it in the context of ‘sometimes it can be hard to read your facial expressions’ or ‘sometimes you look sad when you are saying you’re happy.’ I wouldn’t say anything about her face specifically (like the part about the creases/dimples), but just say it with the goal being to help her understand how her face is sometimes non-expressive or even expresses the ‘wrong’ emotion.

    5. Pip*

      I have RBF too, and believe me, I know about it because a bajillion people from aunties and teachers to complete strangers have told me so. I compensate by being really animated and expressive when I talk, and your friend probably does this too on some level.

      She may very well be a happy person in general in spite of the rough patch at work. Life isn’t all about work you know! If you wonder about how she is feeling, check other clues like posture, tone of voice and general energy level.

  97. Intrepid Intern*

    What should you do in an interview scenario where the interviewer is telling you information about the field/role that you already know? I don’t want to interrupt, but I also don’t want to look uninformed– particularly because I’m at intern/entry level, but this isn’t my first rodeo (or my fourth. So ready for full-time employment), and I don’t want to seem like I’ll need excessive hand-holding about the basics. So far I’ve settled for what I hope is decisive nodding, but I’m afraid I’m getting the bobblehead effect. Is there something polite I can say to the interviewer that conveys “yes, I know this, I’ve done/researched this?”

    1. Elysian*

      I don’t think there’s a polite was to stop them. I would just smile and nod.

      If you want to draw attention to your research, you might try something like “I read about X on your website and saw that you did a lot of work on the Y project, but I didn’t realize that you had such a tight timeline for that project!” or something to that effect. “I read about your pro-bono work, but the way you talk about it I can tell its really important to you. Could you tell me more about why you wanted to work with Distressed Snuffleupagusses?”

    2. Jamie*

      Decisive nodding is exactly what’s called for.

      You want the look on your face to say, “yes, you are confirming that what I know about this is correct and I am interested in hearing it because it’s important to know we’re on the same page.”

      Find a way to say that with your eyes and a nod. And to negate the bobble head effect you don’t always have to nod, you can do the agreement with the eyebrows expression.

    3. OhNo*

      You might also confirm that it is something you know or have done before when they are done talking. Like, “Yes, I worked with that software at XYZ company, I would be interested in seeing how your procedures are different”, or “I had heard that about this field before, but your explanation makes things much clearer for me”. Combined with decisive nodding, it has worked pretty well for me in the past.

      Obviously, don’t ever say that you already knew that, or that you’ve done that before so you don’t need to hear it again. Find something unique about their commentary to acknowledge and comment on (even if you have to pretend that it’s unique).

    4. Not So NewReader*

      Can you work in a question or two that takes it to the next level?

      “You know, I saw that about X and Y and I wondered where is Z in relationship to all that?”

  98. Intrepid Intern*

    Another question, also about interviewing.

    For an entry-level interview, how much would you expect/allow a candidate to pull from professional vs. personal or academic experience for examples? I generally try to use as many professional examples as possible, though sometime paired with a more thorough personal example (i.e. “I’ve done scheduling for work before at X company, but I’ve also made logistical arrangements and planned an itinerary a weekend away for myself and two others while I was studying abroad.”)

    (For context, I have about 2-3 years PT experience during school, a BA and (almost) a non-technical MS).

    1. fposte*

      I’d rather hear academic experience than personal. Generally, personal experience doesn’t get judged in any quantifiable way and it’s too often a common task being overblown. (A travel weekend, for instance, is a bit of a stretch.)

    3. Penguin*

      I agree. Plus work you are doing in your personal life is something you are probably doing for pleasure, whereas work experiences are things you had to do. So it would give a better indication of how you handle tasks you need to. If that makes any sense.

      The exception to that rule is of course if you don’t have work experience to draw from or are volunteering with a charity that would be a great example to bring in.

  99. Sharm*

    In the grand scheme of things, I know this isn’t a big deal. But I have a co-worker that drives me batty. She is someone who loves to tell you how awesome she is, she always talks about rubbing it in her relatives’ faces that she lives in a tropical place now, she brags about being her high school valedictorian (…50 years ago), and basically never shuts up.

    The work issue is that she’s a frustrating colleague. She is always right and everyone else is wrong. She is sweetly condescending to all new hires on our team (we’re all pretty new). She interrupts everyone, even our manager, constantly. She just wants everyone to know how much she knows. For some reason, our manager lets her train all the new people. A task that takes 30 minutes turns into 2.5 hours because if people call or drop by durin the training, she’ll ignore the person she’s training and get sidetracked. She is disrespectful of people’s time, never asking if they have the time to stay, frequently taking over their lunch hour.

    It’s minor, but I really hate working with her. Everyone is so much more drawn out and inefficient than it has to be.

    My question is, during evaluations, our manager solicits feedback from team members for each person she reviewing. Is it worth mentioning any of this, obviously in a more constructive way? Other team members have made subtle comments to me and my manager has said outright in confidence the woman is a handful and that she appreciates having the rest of us to balance out. I have never said anything but I truly believe there’s a productivity issue here.

    2. Just a Reader*

      If you’re being solicited for feedback, definitely say this stuff professionally–but only the parts about how it affects your work.

      Do you feel comfortable telling her that your training is most effective without interruptions? And do you feel comfortable telling the drop-bys to pound sand? (That one is hard)

      As to how to deal in the meantime can you work with her over email as much as possible?

      1. Sharm*

        It’s a culture thing at my company to let people interrupt, BUT, most of my other colleagues will be sure to wrap up the sidetrack quickly. She loves to go on, so she’ll never cut it off. I had a really hard time saying anything to her before because I was so new and was still gauging my surroundings (which is my fear for the new people). I do feel more confident I could say something the next time she does it to me, but the thing is, my training is over, and I rarely have to work with her. The others, not so much, sadly.

    3. Sascha*

      I think it would be good to mention things that affect your productivity. I think you should make a list of some facts about her that cause productivity problems. Like the thing about training people…if you notice that what should take 30 minutes takes 2.5 hours, put that down. If she interrupts you while you’re working and takes up a lot of time, put that down.

      I’d leave any personality assessments out of it unless asked by your manager. Focus on observable events and the consequences of those events.

      1. Sharm*

        Observable events — definitely! I have let the personality stuff get to me, but this blog has taught me to focus on productivity and actual work instances. Thank you!

    4. fposte*

      So it sounds like your manager knows she does this and that it’s a problem and hasn’t done anything about it. That doesn’t bode well, and I think you need to face up to the fact that it’s up to the staff to negotiate her.

      A lot of what you’re posting is about her being annoying–and boy, does she sound annoying. (Though I don’t get the “tropical place”–aren’t you all living in a tropical place now? How can she be superior about the place where everybody lives?) I’d only give feedback to the manager if you could focus on a specific and changeable aspect of her behavior that makes your work directly harder: “It’s sometimes a problem for me when Jane can’t get stuff back to me in time. How do you want me to handle this?”

      You say: “She is disrespectful of people’s time, never asking if they have the time to stay, frequently taking over their lunch hour.” Which people are these? If they are you and your colleagues, not trainees, you say “I need to cut this off now–if you want to follow up, I’ll be available after 1” and you walk away. If they’re trainees, are they non-exempt and having their lunch hour illegally eroded?

      1. Sharm*

        Re: Tropical place — it is SO annoying. Every day, she tells us she’s rubbing it in the face of her brother/sister/niece how lucky it is she lives here and how much it sucks for them. WHAT?? I am grateful to live here too, but I’d never lord it over others, especially those I care about and may not have the means to be here. There’s just something about how she says it that really bothers me.

        I was thinking about it from a coachable/improvement perspective also. I can’t get her to stop talking about her family, but making her focus on the task is something I think I could suggest to our manager.

        My manager is new, and so maybe that’s part of it. My manager’s personality is more quiet and calm, whereas this woman is loud and forceful. My manager has shut her down in other instances when the woman is derailing our meeting, but I don’t think the message has really gotten through. Which is why I want to frame it from a productivity standpoint and to show it has an effect on others.

        None of us are non-exempt so there are no legal issues. Because this training happens when employees are new, they’re still trying to figure out the work situation. Maybe this was just me, but I can see for the new people now, they don’t want to tell her to stop at 1 because they think this is just the culture here — that no one takes a lunch. But that’s not true! I only realized that after I stopped working with her.

        1. fposte*

          “making her focus on the task is something I think I could suggest to our manager.”

          I’d try to be less abstract than that–your concern isn’t (or shouldn’t be) that Jane isn’t productive (because her overall productivity isn’t your remit), it’s that she’s interfering with other people. Noting that she forgets to let the trainees get lunch is a legitimate thing to mention, too.

          You’re teetering on the edge of “make Jane not be that way,” and even a good manager can’t do that, nor is it fair to ask it, nor would you look good if you do. If the conversation goes deeper than “I’m finding Jane slow in getting me needed information, and it’s frustrating when I’m waiting and see her in a tangential spontaneous conversation” you might be able to talk a little more about overall time management, but start with How Jane Hurts Your Work.

    5. Malissa*

      If I’m working with some one and they are constantly getting side tracked I will say, “If you are too busy to do this right on I can go work on X and we can pick this back up when you have time.”
      This lets them know that you are interested in doing whatever, but you’re too busy to just sit there while they are side tracked as well.
      If I’m the one training I just look at the other person and ask if what ever it is can wait until we are done.

      1. Sharm*

        I have always had a hard time speaking up for myself and being direct, but I discovered this blog while I took this job, and feel much more confident about doing so now. The thing is, I don’t work much with this woman in a direct capacity anymore, so it likely won’t come up. I am concerned about the newer staff.

        The company culture in general is to interrupt people, which I find really annoying and distracting. Most people will get through the distraction quickly, but no one ever asks if they could address is later. It strikes me as rude, and I wish I could change that, but I doubt it. If I could at least mitigate this particularly bad offender, I’d feel like I’d accomplished something.

    6. Elizabeth West*

      I would make it about the productivity issue and not the personal irritants. If other people are noticing it too, it’s obviously affecting their work and I think it’s worth bringing it up.

    7. Not So NewReader*

      Some of this stuff – like the high school stuff and the tropical paradise stuff comes under the heading of “at home topics”.

      “Oh that’s an at home topic, we are focusing on work now.”

      The constant interrupting can be grating. If your manager allows her to interrupt there’s not a lot you are going to do. But if she interrupts you, you can say “I wasn’t finished.” Try not to spit nails while saying that though.

      The training thing seems to be your best bet. If new hires are getting the wrong idea about the company environment/culture this is a problem. And taking 2.5 hours to convey 30 minutes of training is a problem.

      I guess I would describe her as not focused on her work; too confusing/scattered for a trainee to follow; and she does not let other people express themselves.

      Sometimes people go on a power kick if they are doing a lot of training. It might be time to delegate the training to another person.

      1. Stephanie*

        Sometimes people go on a power kick if they are doing a lot of training. It might be time to delegate the training to another person.

        Oh man, this is so true. OldJob, one guy started training the new analysts as a side project (it was a small company) and it went to his head (it then became his full-time job). God forbid you said anything critical (but constructive) about the training. The training was this sacrosanct thing that everyone talked about like “Oh man. Wakeen’s training course.”

        I thought I was losing it until another coworker confided that he thought the formal training course was kind of dumb.

  101. Ash (the other one!)*

    Legal name vs. Career name —

    Random question for you all, related to one of the questions this morning (middle name vs. first name).

    I got married in October and changed my name to match my husbands. However, I still use my maiden name exclusively for work. My legal name is “Ash Maiden Married” but I go by “Ash Maiden” for work. As I’m applying to jobs, my resume just says “Ash Maiden, Ph.D.” At the point of them asking for references or indicating their doing a background check I usually tell them I legally changed my name in October to “Ash Maiden Married” but still go by “Ash Maiden” for work. Do you all think this is probelmatic? The one exception is applying to jobs on USAJobs where I’ve relented and applied as Ash Married.

    1. StaminaTea*

      I think you’re doing everything right. I go by my middle name and leave my legal first name off most everything, except legal forms. I find this keeps people from wanting to call me by the wrong name but also keeps the legal stuff covered.

    2. CollegeAdmin*

      I don’t think it should be problematic – I’ve heard people phrase it as, “I use my maiden name professionally.”

  102. BenderB*

    Hey everyone – long time lurker here. I love this site and its commenters, and I finally have a question that needs answering – sorry it’s a little long.

    I had a 2nd interview yesterday that went really well, but the person I interviewed with doesn’t work for the company. The hiring manager – my 1st interviewer – has only been on the job for a month. This person that did my 2nd interview, who still consults for the company occasionally, previously had the hiring manager’s position for about 10 years. From what I gathered, she just came in to do my interview, immediately gave feedback to the current hiring manager, and left to go back to her own company.

    Because of this, I don’t have any of her contact info, but I want to send some kind of thank you/follow up, especially since she took time to drive over just for my interview. Would it be okay to just e-mail the HR person who set up the interview, and ask her to pass my thanks along? Or should I just skip the thank you, since she already gave feedback to the hiring manager?

    1. fposte*

      Why skip it if you can do it? If you don’t have her contact info, say to the HR person “I’d love to thank Jane as well; if you’re comfortable sharing her contact information, I’ll email her directly, otherwise please pass my gratitude on to her for …”

      1. BenderB*

        Thanks so much, fposte! I was having a hard time wording it, but your suggestion is perfect. I’ll do it right now!

  103. Zelos*

    Argh…anyone have any hacks for keeping motivated for workouts?

    I swim because I have crappy joints that preclude a lot of other activities. I love swimming, but I also don’t own a car. Usually my swim buddy drives us, but she’s moving soon so that’s not a long-term strategy. I can also walk to the pool (25 min), swim, then walk back. I actually like the walk in the summer, but with it being so cold and wet (especially in the evenings, when I swim) I just haven’t had the motivation to go…hence not having swam for at least a month. I’m getting twitchy and restless; my sleep quality is shot and I’m tense and wound-up.

    You’d think that would be enough to motivate me, but if the weather is crappy more often than not I still noodle around the internet instead.

    What are your hacks for keeping yourself motivated?

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Is swimming the only exercise you want to do?

      I find it a little harder to get motivated for things that require more prep time – swimming is a hassle except in the summer when my neighborhood pool is open and I can do laps after work.

      Is there something else you could do? Go on walks? Elliptical? Exercise videos? I finally got an elliptical at home and I prop my iPad into the magazine rack and watch TV shows on Netflix. I don’t use it as much as I should (or I expected) but the convenience makes it more likely I use it. I can roll out and do it in my pajamas with coffee in hand (don’t judge!).

    2. Sunflower*

      Yoga?

      Maybe tie your workout to other activities. Like you’ll go to the pharmacy when you go to the pool- that way you HAVE to go.

    3. Stephanie*

      If it’s a group fitness class, usually prepaying convinces me to go. “Ok, Yoga District already got my $15 for the 6 pm class, I need to go.”

      I agree with Katie that swimming’s a bit tough since there’s a lot of prep required.

      I do things like keep my workout gear at my desk or in plain sight, just so I have a visual cue to go workout. Like, I’ll leave my sneakers by the front door.

      As goofy as this sounds, buying some cute workout clothes helps (this may not work if you’re male…). I’m always excited to sport a new workout top, leggings, or shoes.

    4. Office Mercenary*

      I use a bunch of web or smartphone apps to make the workout feel more rewarding. Fitocracy gives you points when you workout and then you earn badges and level up like a video game, plus there’s groups and clubs to join. Sworkit gives you coupons for sports drinks and whatnot when you finish a workout. Zombies, Run! is designed for runners, but maybe you could use it for walking or biking? It’s basically an e-book synced to your workout playlist, about a post-Apocalyptic society that has run out of fuel so they use runners instead of vehicles, but you have to avoid the zombies. You get points at the end of each chapter to build your base with. Charity Miles logs how far you walk, run or bike and donates money to charity based on the distance.

    5. StaminaTea*

      I think I plugged this in a prior Open Thread, but I have a FitBit that keeps me motivated. It’s like a bluetooth pedometer that tracks my steps and gives me encouragement and badges based on how far I walk. I also have a few “FitBit friends” whose steps I can see and vice versa that I can get competitive with. It’s a great do-what-you-can where-you-are tool. I also swim and bike, but the FitBit ensures I’m getting at least a minimum amount of exercise everyday. I love it.

    6. Elizabeth West*

      Katie the Fed has some good suggestions. I find it’s easier to motivate myself when I’m not just doing ONE thing and only that. So if I need to skip for some reason (it’s cold out, forgot my gym bag), then I’ve already got something else to do. Or, since I’ve been doing twice-daily stair climbs at work, I’ve already done at least some exercise that day.

      Plus, I don’t get bored as easy. I figure skate, which is fun and not boring, but I can only do it on weekends because of the stupid rink schedule.

    7. Colette*

      I find that I’m far more motivated if I don’t go home first – once I’m home, it’s unlikely I’ll leave again for exercise.

      However, since you can walk as well, can you substitute walking for swimming (maybe somewhere indoors) when the weather is bad?

    8. C average*

      What amenities does your pool have? Is there a sauna or steam room?

      I also walk to the pool, swim, and walk home, and walking home in the winter with wet hair can be pure misery for sure. I’ve found, though, that if I swim and then spend some time warming up in the sauna and THEN put warm, dry clothes on and a hat over my wet hair, I can talk myself into doing it. I also save my favorite podcasts for the walk. Makes it go by quicker.

      Good luck!

    9. Zelos*

      Thanks for the tips everybody! I generally like swimming because it gives me the best exercise bang for the buck (cheap admission at the community centre, unknots my spine, good cardio, easy on the joints, and makes me sleep really well even if I only swim for 30 min). I have an exercise ball and several pilates/yoga videos, so I think I’ll try doing that when I’m too lazy to go out.

      Fitbit/yoga studio classes are unfortunately not in the budget, but one day…!

      On the upside, I finally went swimming Friday night and slept like the dead immediately thereafter. :)

  104. Penguin*

    So I need to some advice, sorry this is so long I have tried to shorten it. I interviewed for the role I have now, then did a trial day of the role. I really should have listened to my intuition and one of the workers who came in and said “If I were you, I would work someplace else.” I left the trial day thinking that it was a good role but probably not the best place for me. I ended up taking it anyway though.

    I have been at the new job for only a month. I hate it. I share an office with my boss, and 2 contract managers. Everyone else who works there is a physical laborers, lets go with they are the teapot makers. My boss and the other managers bad-mouth the teapot makers, call them names behind their backs, they think all the teapot makers can’t be trusted. They talk about the teapot makers private lives a lot. They even have a management only coffee maker thats in a file room across the hall from the break room. It stays locked except for when we go in to do filing or get coffee. Its really stupid. They will even yell at teapot makers if they catch them in the room using it, not that they do. The break room is across the hall and has 2 in it.

    They also (and this is my boss’s words) “Assign eachother employees as pretend boyfriends and girlfriends.” Yeah, they are all in their 30s-40s and act like children. If any member of staff is talking to someone of the other gender they say something must be going on. They tease each other if one of them talks to someone of the opposite gender, and assign that person as their “boyfriend” or “girlfriend.” They even say inappropriate sexual comments about those employees.

    My boss and I are the only HR people there. They only do these things when the others aren’t around. And its just assumed even though I refuse to participate that I won’t say anything, plus they will all deny it. My boss has said she studied HR because she likes to learn all the loopholes. Our head office HR sent a rep down the other day who behaved in the same way. They keep saying they need to do XYZ to “appear” like they care. And a few other things that are barely legal, highly immoral and incredibly unprofessional.

    They are nice to me but I really can’t stand the way they treat others and the fact that I am shut down at every turn if I try to treat people fairly. I have started applying to new work because even though its a super short time. I don’t need the extra stress of being in a toxic environment. I have already gotten 2 interviews.

    I have a meeting with my boss on Monday for my 1 month review. Do I mention to her then that I am looking elsewhere? I don’t want them to get rid of me before I find something else. When I do get something else, how do I tell them that I am leaving? I can’t exactly say they are the most unprofessional bunch of people I have ever worked with, even if it is true. It would be difficult to say the job isn’t what I expected because I did a trial day. I know the bridge will be a bit burnt by the fact I am leaving so soon. But any ideas on how best to handle this?

    1. The Other Dawn*

      I wouldn’t say anything about being unhappy and looking elsewhere. I know it’s tempting (I’m in a similar situation, in a new job for less than 2 months, and want very badly to say something), but you don’t want to find yourseld promptly unemployed before you’ve got something else lined up. Spend your spare time looking for another job and try your best to just ignore what goes on. Unless it’s illegal, of course.

    2. Elizabeth West*

      What The Other Dawn said. And I would just say that you are sorry, but you came across another opportunity unexpectedly that was more in line with your career goals. If you keep it about the professional stuff, you probably won’t get sucked into a discussion about the culture. Just give the shortest notice you can and be prepared to leave as soon as you give it, in case they throw a tantrum.

      Good luck finding something sane.

      1. Penguin*

        Thanks Elizabeth West and The Other Dawn.

        That is really helpful. I hadn’t thought about the career goals angle. Which is also true for the roles I am applying/interviewing with.

        I hope you get something better too The Other Dawn.

        1. The Other Dawn*

          Me too! For me it’s not people being unprofessional, it’s that I chose a career path I thought I wanted and turns out I don’t. Plus it’s just a very formal, busy, bureaucratic place to work. And not thrilled with certain people. Good luck in your search!

  105. Burned out*

    I hope I’m not too late to get any help, but I’m at wits’ end.

    Due to a ton of poor management, shifting priorities and deadlines (the post earlier this week didn’t help a lot beyond “suck it up”, but anyway…) I have worked for 25 straight days. Most of those were 14-16 hour days (though I slacked last Sunday and only worked for 5 hours). I’m on salary, which makes this suck worse. I have plans this weekend, and lo! It is noon on Friday, and management has requested that I work again this weekend.

    What do I say to not politically screw myself over when I tell them that I seriously can’t take one more day here? I haven’t seen my family in weeks, I only go home to sleep and go back to work. I’m eating like crap. I’m discouraged, weary, and exhausted.

    The stuff they need done IS important. I AM the only person who can do it on staff at this point (but if they’d had their priorities in order, this could have been done more smoothly with some semblance of work-life balance.)

    I don’t even have time to look for another job. Anyway. Short of checking myself into a mental hospital (which is probably career-limiting, anyway), what can I do? They frequently tell me they couldn’t do it without me, which is nice, but doesn’t help my burned out, ticked off state.

    I may kill someone if I have to return here.

    1. Joey*

      Go to your boss tell her how much you’ve worked without a day off and let her know you need a day off. Anyone with any sense of reasonableness with say go home.

      Or just call in.

      Unless they’re batshit or this is the norm you won’t screw yourself.

      1. Jamie*

        Joey is right – depending on your relationship with your boss I say it more as a statement than a request.

        You HAVE to reset the expectations – because I’ve been there and this is ridiculous.

        If they don’t want to do without the service you bring to the table the solution is not that you move into the supply closet at work and take sink baths in the ladies room. It’s that they staff appropriately.

        You cannot sacrifice your health and well being – because it is at that point – the toboggan of burn out wildly careening out of control – because they are understaffed.

        Seriously, I want to march in and have a talk with your boss. Good luck and get some rest and hug your family.

        1. Tris Prior*

          Yes, this. I worked for more than two months straight at Former Company due to a similar situation. Mainly because my superiors would not tell a client that their expectations were batsh*t insane and not do-able unless we brought on 4x as many people as we had. And that wouldn’t even have helped because of training/ramp-up time needed as we were in a specialized field.

          I said nothing. Just kept plowing through it. I was afraid of political fallout that would come from admitting that I had physical needs like food and sleep. And in the end, my “reward” was getting assigned to more and more projects like this while my co-workers were assigned the projects that had reasonable deadlines. “Because you handled Batsh*t Insane Client so well last time.” “We couldn’t do it without you.” Etc.

          I ended up leaving that job with nothing lined up because I just couldn’t physically continue – this went on for years for me. I totally understand not wanting the political fallout. But what OP is doing is setting up the expectation that she can handle this pace, because she’s not speaking up. Some people honestly do thrive on this pace! My company thought I was fine with it.

          OP, please speak up. If you think they’re going to give you a hard time for not being a robot and wanting to see your family, maybe frame it as “I will be more productive/be able to work more efficiently/make fewer errors if I can take a day to regroup.” Because, seriously, no one can keep going at that pace, thoroughly exhausted, and not occasionally screw up, no matter how talented or competent.

    2. OhNo*

      I don’t have personal experience with this, but I’m seconding Joey. Tell your boss that you absolutely need at least one day off. If you have to, call in sick or take a mental health day or something. Whatever they need done so badly can probably wait one day.

      After that, though – is there any chance you can talk to someone about hiring a second person to do the tasks that are keeping you so late? Or maybe training another person on them? This does not sound like a situation that is sensible in the long term.

    3. fposte*

      I don’t think you can guarantee an absence of political fallout, but I think from the sound of it it’s still worth to take the time off. And it might do some good to put your actions where your mouth is on this, too, so they’re not thinking “Oh, Burned is always complaining, it doesn’t mean anything.”

      They’re basically creating an expectation of a 7-day work week for you. You don’t share that expectation. Time to clarify, I think, and say “It seems like this is no longer a case of coming in for emergencies but a regular thing, and I’m not prepared to regularly work seven days a week. Since I’d responded to the request to work through the weekend the last three weeks, I’ve made plans this weekend and won’t be available. I’d like to talk more about how we can avoid this problem in future.”

      1. AVP*

        I think this is a perfect script. If it’s happened for three weeks in a row, you’re beyond an emergency level response – this is the new norm. It’s unreasonable for your manager to think you’ll just never make any plans or see family or friends ever again.

  106. Audiophile*

    Here’s my question for the day, I’m curious if anyone else has encountered this.
    I found a job listed on a job board, followed the link to the employer’s website. It said I had an account, so I guessed my password, but then couldn’t get any further because it displayed a header saying my resume was on file and I did not need to reapply. I know this is a new posting, and clearly this website does not allow for resubmissions or submitting a new updated resume. I just found that so strange and I really have no idea what version of my resume I submitted in the past. It’s disappointing.

    1. Ash (the other one!)*

      Can you create a new account (use a different email, just make sure it matches that in your resume)?

      1. Audiophile*

        There’s an idea and I could just edit my resume to reflect that new email.

        Have you ever seen that though?

        1. Ash (the other one!)*

          The way a lot of these sites are set up, it forces you into creating a new account. Since you can’t see or edit what’s already on that account, create a new one and give yourself peace of mind.

    2. Elysian*

      Are you sure it was you who did it? I get job-related inquiries all the time from people who gave their prospective employer my email address instead of theirs.

      Just because it would make sense if your email was initial.lastname@… doesn’t mean that’s what it IS. There are other people with Lastname, and they have the same first initial. I got their first! Give them your own email address!

      Anyway, it might be a mistake if you can’t remember doing it.

      1. Audiophile*

        Creepy. No this is nickname.last name@ which I use because my first name was not available. But it’s certainly possible someone has a similar email.

      2. Audiophile*

        Creepy. No this is nickname.last name@ which I use because my first name was not available. But it’s certainly possible someone has a similar email.

        Side note: can someone work on a mobile app for this site, I just spent ten minutes trying to reply because my to this post. The reply box kept popping up under other comments.

  107. KayDay*

    We’ve talked on A.A.M a few times about sounds that we just find really unignorably annoying. I’m like that that with the sound of typing….I just can’t stand it at all. Like I become more than annoyed, I get agitated/anxious/can’t focus, etch. I often listen to white noise to cover up the sound, but I would honestly prefer to just get over it! I won’t always be able to listen to headphones, so that is a better solution.

    Has any one ever gotten over their annoyance from a particular sound? How did you do it?

    1. Calla*

      No advice, but I recently learned there is a word for this — misophonia! I get irrationally angry at certain sounds too, mainly chewing, specifically gum chewing (one of the most common for misophonia), and footsteps (light ones are ok, heels can sometimes bother me, but someone walking without picking up their feet entirely enrages me). I just have to focus on something else.

      1. Jamie*

        I learned that word here and it was life changing for me to realize it wasn’t just a weird family quirk.

        Well, the only thing that changed in my life is that we now have a name for the weird family quirk…but still.

        I have no advice for getting over one, but I was wondering the other day why people noises (mine are almost exclusively mouth noises (eating, breathing, sipping, clicking) and anything to do with food/drink. Click of silverware on plates, that kind of thing) bother me SO much but hearing dogs or cats eat is freaking adorable – even when the dog is snorfely.

        If my husband made the same sounds as my dog I’d have to leave him – so I don’t get it. It’s like it’s not just the sound it’s context.

        My whole family has the food thing, but my dad also had a serious issue with the sound an emery board makes on nails. You did NOT file your nails within earshot of my dad.

        1. Elizabeth West*

          Dogs barking bothers me. However, it could be because the dogs in my neighborhood bark endlessly and without ceasing for hours at a time, rather than the actual noise.

          1. Mallory*

            @Elizabeth West: have you read Billy Collins’ poem, “The Neighbor’s Dog Won’t Stop Barking?” :-)

            1. tcookson*

              Wait! The real title of the poem is, “Another Reason I Don’t Keep a Gun in the House”. The first line is “The neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking”.

        2. Mallory*

          For me it is the sound of someone biting their nails. I don’t know what to do about it if they are not a member of my family. If they are a member of my family, I say, “For the love of god please STOP THAT!!”

        3. Windchime*

          There is an announcer on my local NPR station who makes squishy mouth sounds when she talks. I have to turn it off when she starts talking. There is just a whole lot of smacking, moist mouth-sounds going on. Normally I’m not bothered by that kind of thing, but it creeps me out for this particular person and I have to turn it off.

    2. Winchester*

      Ugh, I feel bad because I sometimes pop my jaw when I eat. Of course, I don’t do it on purpose and I actually can’t prevent it (I have a problem with my jaw that causes it to partially dislocated and fix itself, and it will require surgery to fix), but I know it is annoying and infuriating to many.

    3. Christine*

      This is going to sound strange, but I made myself get over this at one point. My roommate in college would often stay up late working on a paper while I was trying to sleep. At first it drove me nuts but I forced myself to think of it as a calming sound. Just repeating to myself mentally that “yes, this is very soothing.” Eventually the sound of her typing actually helped me fall asleep. Maybe my brain is easily tricked, but it worked for me!

      1. KayDay*

        I am hearing the gentle sounds of productivity, the gentle sounds of productivity, the gentle sounds of omglskd@#!#$$lsdjfalskdjf@#!!!!

        I am working on implementing this tip, but I think it may take some time…

  108. a.n.o.n.*

    I finally thought of a question. Anyone have any advice on career coaches? If I’m not able to get into the company and job I really want, I need to figure out which direction to go. After almost 20 years in the same place, I’ve realized I want to eliminate about 70% of what I used to do. I’m trying on my own to figure it out, but I’m thinking I could use the help of a career coach? Any one ever work with one? What did you like/dislike? Advice on how to find one? Advice in general?

    Thanks!

      1. a.n.o.n.*

        Thanks! I kind of thought there might have been a post, but being at work I couldn’t spend much time searching.

    2. esemjay*

      I’ve worked with one. I think they can be helpful, you just really need to ask what her package involves (i.e., resume rewrites, interview preps, delving into your experience), what her experience is, and what her approach will be. The one I worked with, I felt her approach was way salesier than I was comfortable with.

      What I liked: person to bounce ideas off, resume rewrites, interview prep

      What I disliked: some of the advice seemed like common sense, “hard sell” suggestions

      1. a.n.o.n.*

        Thanks. What I’m really looking for is help in figuring out what I want to do next, in the event I can’t get the job I want at the other company. I was a Jill-of-all-trades at the last company and I’m finding it hard to hone in on one or two things that I think I want to do. I think part of the problem as to why I can’t figure things out is that I feel burned out after almost 20 years at the same place. I feel like I have no direction at all and don’t even want to work anymore. Not realistic, of course; I have to pay my mortgage and bills. I do know that I don’t want the new job I have now. That’s something I know for a fact. This type of job just doesn’t fit me anymore. UGH I probably sound like an emotional train wreck.

  109. Office Mercenary*

    How do you handle job interviews when you’re applying to graduate school?

    I have a second interview on Monday for what appears to be a great job. If I get it, it will be my first full-time, non-contract position relevant to my field ever since I graduated college in 2009, and I’m really excited. It would be temp-to-perm, and I believe the temp portion would be 90 days, but I’ll have to double-check on Monday. During the first interview, one of the interviewers expressed concern that I was a little overqualified and would leave shortly after being hired. Or, I might end up being transferred to a different department and then they’d have to find a replacement, which is exactly why this position is open in the first place and they don’t want to go through all that trouble all over again.

    My question is, how should I answer the question, “How long would you stay in this position?” I’m applying for graduate programs that begin this September. I need to pay the bills for the next six months so I can’t stay unemployed, but I also don’t want to mislead an employer and say that I plan to stay there forever. I could, depending on where I’m accepted, defer admission for a year and work for a maximum of 18 months. Would that still be so short as to be inconsiderate to the employer? If/when I get the job, how much notice should I give?

    PS: Thank you so much, Allison, for your e-book about job hunting! Your advice about how the hiring manager WANTS to hire you because filling a vacancy is a pain in the butt and they hope you are the solution to their problem helped calm my nerves so much! I think it really made a difference in my performance!

  110. Gilby*

    Just a little positive stuff here….

    A COMPANY REJECTED ME but TOLD ME !! Woo hoo !!!

    I DIDN’T get a job offer. And that is OK. It wasn’t the right job for me. Good interview overall. The manager asked good questions and I felt OK about her overall.

    They said all the usual stuff…..please apply again if you see something you like…. and so on.

    But at least I know……

    1. Amy B.*

      As odd as it sounds… that is great news. 1. You didn’t get a job that was wrong for you. 2. They let you know without just leaving you hanging. Great attitude by the way.

      1. Gilby*

        Gotta not take it personally and gotta know every job isn’t going to be the right one.
        Thanks !

    2. Ash (the other one!)*

      I would think (hope!) that if you’ve had an interview you should be contacted about not getting the position. I understanding not responding to every resume, but seriously, are there really folks who would interview and then leave you hanging indefinitely?

      3. Laura*

        There are many many folks that will interview you and then never contact you again. I’d say 60% of the interviews I have, I will never hear again. So when you have interviews you should except to never hear from them again unless you get the job because it’s common. And don’t get mad if that happens, because although it’s rude, it’s not uncommon

  111. OhNo*

    I’m very excited this week – someone I go to school with and have worked with for a little while just got hired to a job I suggested for them. I know it doesn’t seem very exciting, but I had a suspicion that she would be great for it and apparently my supervisor agreed!

    For context, my supervisor hires and oversees paid interns at two different locations. I’m the current intern at one, and the intern at the other (also someone I go to school with) is leaving at the end of the semester. My supervisor asked me to see if I knew anyone who might be interested. That very afternoon I mentioned it to one of the interns at my other job, and gave her a few tips for interviewing with my supervisor – and now she’s officially hired!

    I just love being able to help awesome people find awesome (paid!) jobs. If I wasn’t so fond of working in libraries, I might consider being a recruiter instead.

  112. Ali*

    Anybody in HR here? I am considering changing fields, since communications/writing and so forth seem overly saturated, and I came across an SHRM guide on the topic one day. I feel like I’d have some of the right skills to succeed like research and interviewing, and my current position also requires good attention to detail. However, it seems even entry level HR jobs want experience (I saw an HR assistant job the other day that said 1-2 years experience as an assistant!) and I can’t exactly give up my current non-HR job to take an internship, especially if it doesn’t pay. It seems like most people just get lucky/fall into this field, and I’m not sure if I could make that happen for myself. And grad school is a HUGE amount of money for me. Any ideas or anything else about the career I should consider?

    2. Dang*

      I am considering HR too… for the exact same reasons! I’ve done a lot of interviewing and research. Can you try temping? If you don’t already have a job that is. There are a ton of places, at least in my neck of the woods, that are hiring HR assistants on a temporary basis. Seems they won’t even look at you without experience, and that would at least get your foot in the door. Tell the recruiter that you’re specifically interested in HR functions.

      Everything I’ve read warns AGAINST going back to school for HR, and I’m already paying for a master’s degree I wish I hadn’t gotten, so that’s out for me as well.

      Good luck!

      1. Ali*

        I was working with a temp agency before I got promoted at my current job (ended up not getting anything through them), so worst comes to worst, I can try getting back in touch with the recruiter I was working with.

    3. Jules*

      Try applying for low level HR jobs. Most of them don’t pay a ton but if you are trying to change fields it’s a way.

      I have to say though, don’t expect HR to be easy or happy.

  113. Lori*

    When you apply for jobs on Linked In, how do you handle the issue of not being able to attach a separate cover letter? Do you just send a resume? Combine the letter and resume in one document? I’m flummoxed at this new (to me, anyway) change and not sure I handled an application the best way earlier this week.

    1. Sunflower*

      I combine the cover letter and resume in one document! Cover Letter on page 1 and then space down to a new page for the resume.

  114. pizzagrl*

    NOT WEARING BRAS AT WORK…

    What do you all think about this? Particularly for those with smaller chests?

    1. Calla*

      My stance is I shouldn’t be able to see anything that signals you are obviously not wearing one (like if you’re wearing a thin top in a cold office sans bra… some of these problems can also happen with just a bad bra), otherwise it doesn’t matter. I personally can’t imagine not wearing one, but if you can get away with it and no one can tell, then why should anyone care?

      Same with wearing fancy lingerie — or none (though I would say NEVER WITH A SKIRT in that case) — under work clothes. If no one can tell, then no one should bother themselves about it.

    2. Rayne*

      I am of the “if someone can tell you aren’t wearing one…..you should be wearing one” opinion. So fabric/fit etc can make a big difference.

    3. OhNo*

      I don’t care? As long as it’s comfortable and they’re not whipping their breasts out in front of me, I have no opinion on what people do or don’t wear.

      And I don’t really understand the idea that “if someone can tell you aren’t wearing one, then you should be” mindset. If someone can tell I’m not wearing one, maybe they should stop wasting time staring at my chest and get back to work.

      Can anyone explain that mindset to me?

      1. Jamie*

        You don’t have to stare at someone’s chest to notice they aren’t wearing a bra. I’d notice if someone someone spilled ketchup on their crotch, too, doesn’t mean I’m checking them out.

        If we didn’t notice people from the waist down we wouldn’t care what people wore to work.

        The rule of thumb that if you can tell you aren’t wearing one you need one is sound. That’s not policing undergarments, it’s making sure that what is externally visible to others is professional and appropriate. And being visibly braless is neither.

        1. OhNo*

          So it’s more a matter of visible n*pples (following Calla’s lead in censoring to avoid moderation) not being professional? I guess that makes sense.

          Still seems like a bit of a sexist double standard to me, but that’s on society.

          1. Jamie*

            Not just visible nipples, although definitely that, but also bounce. Noticeable jiggle is not office appropriate.

            1. Joey*

              Yeah that’s what I think is worse is the lack of restraint. If you’re small enough that’s it’s not an issue then it’s not an issue, but nether regions flopping around is distracting and unprofessional. And yes, goes for men too

      2. Calla*

        I just don’t think it is professional, and that goes for men too — I don’t think their shirts should be thin and tight enough to see n*pple (censoring to bypass moderation!) either. I think maybe part of it is the idea that clothing should be well-fitting with smooth lines and that interrupts that.

        1. Jamie*

          Yes, thank you. Can we make this a thing? It’s a particular issue with those nylon golf shirts. No one wants to see that.

        2. Sunflower*

          Yea- I’ve recently read about this article where scott disick ‘pulled a Jon Hamm’ which is going commando and your pants are thin enough for us to see the outline/shape/size of EVERYTHING. No one wants to see that unless they ask.

          1. Elizabeth West*

            Oh dear God…those polyester pants the coaches wore in high school. We had one coach/teacher who wore them and you could tell what side he wore it on each day. >_<

            WAAAY too much information!

            1. Jamie*

              I have one…I went to boarding school and one of the teachers who lived on campus as a dorm parent in one of the boys dorms was hanging out with us in the courtyard once after dinner wearing those little nylon shorts (it was the 80’s) and he propped his leg up on a bench.

              Totally unintentional but his…little buddy…just came flopping into view. And he didn’t notice – it was just hanging there. I guess not all such shorts are lined.

              Anyway – I laugh when I’m nervous and nothing makes a 14 year old me more nervous than seeing one of those for the first time in my whole life ever. Could not stop laughing. Physically could not stop, even after he noticed and was embarrassed and left.

              What’s funny is I couldn’t believe the first one I ever saw was on a guy so old. Looking back now I doubt he was over 35 – but to me he might as well have been a grandpa.

              So yeah…if someone wants to see your stuff they’ll ask…otherwise everyone needs to keep that locked up!

              1. Jill of All Trades*

                That’s making me laugh with rather limited control and I’m not 14 so I would not have done any better.

                My ex-fiance’s 65 year old dad wore those shorts with nothing else and one day we were pulling up the driveway and he was bent over in the yard and yep, little buddy was checking out the scenery. I was mortified and I still laughed uncontrollably.

              2. Elizabeth West*

                Hahahahahahahahahahaha
                OMG I’m trying not to fall out of my office chair. . . .

                (and now I’m really self-conscious about remembering the ellipsis spaces)

              5. Windchime*

                My first “little buddy” sighting was a guy who was wearing those very same shorts when I was about 14 or 15. Only this was a guy closer to my age. It was still an unintended sighting, but it kind of freaked me out. I was totally NOT expecting to see that!

    4. Malissa*

      If I don’t know, I don’t care.
      Also I am extremely jealous of anyone who could pull this off.

      1. Sharm*

        Same here. This is my rant for another blog, another day, but I so wish I could do this and have seriously considered surgery several times. Alas, going under the knife scares me, especially for what is a cosmetic decision.

        1. Calla*

          I’m considering a reduction for non-cosmetic reasons (back pain) but ngl, the cosmetic benefits like that are totally a factor in the consideration, too.

        2. OhNo*

          FWIW, a friend of mine got a reduction several years ago, and she was absolutely ecstatic about the results, both from a cosmetic standpoint and a no-more-back-pain standpoint.

          She said the surgery was pretty easy, as far as surgeries go. But the recovery is apparently awful, and you WILL need someone to help care for you while you recover. She basically couldn’t use her arms for several days.

    5. Elizabeth West*

      If you can get by without a bra, that’s your business, but I think it’s a good idea to wear a cami or something as a buffer. That way there are no jiggle / nip issues going on. I shouldn’t be able to tell you’re not wearing one. And of course, I’m assuming you’re in a place that doesn’t allow tank tops, spaghetti straps, etc.

      1. Jamie*

        A bra is like IT. If it’s working properly you don’t even think about it. It’s when it’s missing or a bad fit that it becomes your whole focus.

        Hey, maybe I should write a line of lingerie/computer professional motivational posters.

    6. Jules*

      Or skirts that slits up too high… OMG I don’t want to see… but I am curious at the same time. Eyes trained to the floor when walking behind regular offender.

  115. Rayne*

    My crazy boss (the fruit fly guy….) and I have moved to new digs. This was a spur of the moment thing, we only found out Wednesday.

    So now we are in a different building with new people (yay) but he is still annoying.

    Is it wrong to feel a bit awkward when your boss feels the need to announce to you each time he goes to the bathroom/gets a coke/etc?

    1. Pip*

      Considering some bosses don’t even tell anyone when they’re leaving for the day or going abroad for conferences, I think you got the sweeter end of the deal. In some jobs (mostly “floor level”) it’s the norm to tell where you are off to so people know when you’ll be back and where to find you. Might be an old habit for him.

  116. Nadia*

    Does any have any ideas on avoiding “ghost/phantom postings”?

    I’ve heard that some organizations (especially large ones) often put up job postings when the position has already been filled (usually internally). However, they still put the posting up for formality reasons and, because phantom posting is not illegal, to publicly show “yes! we are creating jobs and hiring in this employer’s economy!”

    Is it possible to spot a phantom posting? (I notice some postings are only up for a week, or even a few days). It’s an incredible waste of time to apply and get emotionally invested if they have no intention of hiring you in the first place.

    1. Sunflower*

      Maybe if something seems to good to be true? Or the description doesn’t seem to add up or match the title? Or it looks exactly like other jobs you’ve seen. I mostly see it from recruiters and recruiting sites. One recruitment site was emailing me once a week with jobs with similar titles and the descriptions were pretty much exactly the same. I answered a couple times that I was interested and never heard back.

      It is annoying but I wouldn’t let it stop you from applying for a job. Yes, it sucks to have wasted your time but imagine how upset you would be if you didn’t apply to the job and found out it was a legitimate listing?

  117. WorkingAsDesigned*

    This question is directed mostly toward admin/exec assistants and managers with assistants, but I welcome everyone’s feedback!

    I support a C-suite exec and a VP. They’re both very satisfied with my work, so no issue there. What I’m looking for are suggestions to continually step up my game. Reading AAM has certainly been helpful! I’ve also purchased books about becoming a great/better assistant, and read blogs by stand-outs in the field.

    In addition to suggestions about continued growth, I’d also like to hear suggestions on ways to fill downtime when my 2 execs don’t have anything for me, and other assistants and/or managers in the office don’t have anything I can help with. I am slowly working on a policies & procedures manual for my role in the event that we win the lottery and I give 12-second notice. :-)

  118. Jamie*

    Another debate with a co-worker this week on the ethics of what you can take with you when you leave a job.

    For example, if you create a form document it is ethical to just take it with you, go to another company and change the footer so it’s theirs now?

    Or a more complicated example – I create custom reports for our ERP. If while developing I create a particularly complex or cool formula I don’t want to forget I’ll save the formula in text with a reference and keep it. But I’d never save the report to just use with another company with the same ERP. And tbh I don’t take my forms either – I’d recreate them if I left but I wouldn’t just take my templates, forms, and procedures and modify them to use elsewhere.

    Am I being a pollyanna about this – and I am totally open to that possibility. It won’t change my behavior because it doesn’t sit well with my personal ethics, but I am really interested to know if this is a normal or common thing and I’m being the big weirdo who calls security when someone accidentally takes a pen home.

    I have seen new people implement documents and have to be reminded to take their old company info off of them and it always colors my opinion of them. I’d like a reality check to know if I should stop giving people who do this the side eye.

    1. Malissa*

      No, I don’t think you should take them–with out permission. But if you can recreate that’s fine.

    2. Jen RO*

      I wouldn’t have a problem taking a spreadsheet I designed. It was my work after all and I don’t see it as company property. I would also make very, very sure that no info about the old company is left on it!

    3. CollegeAdmin*

      Caveat: I am not a lawyer, and I don’t even play one on television.

      I think that if you use Company A’s time and/or resources to create something for them, despite it being your creation, it belongs to Company A – you can’t turn around and use it at Company B if you change jobs.

      My boss used to work for College X and created a bunch of things for them. Now that she works for College Y, she’s using the stuff here. Under the above reasoning, that shouldn’t be okay, except that she claims that she created her own “consulting company” for the sole purpose of saying that she created them herself and then basically allowed College X to use them. Now that she’s here at College Y, she’s using the same creations.

      (This part is more of a rant than helpful info – sorry Jamie!)
      She’s been creating stuff here at College Y (and using stuff from College X) for the past few years that she’s been here. However, she’s just now getting into copyright law discussions and wants to claim that all of the stuff still belongs to her. I would think that since she hasn’t made a claim on the stuff until now, has no prior arrangement with College Y stating that her creations are under her “consultancy,” and most definitely created it on College Y’s time and budget, she should lose this fight.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        I think she needs to check whether College X has a policy that anything you create on company time, in the course of your work and pertaining to it (which is where the gray area can be), belongs to the company. Many companies have this policy and although IANAL, it may fall under some copyright protections. Otherwise, she would not be able to claim it.

      3. Iain Clarke (UK, no, SE, erm...)*

        It’s complicated by country and environment.

        I have likely missed some details here, but there’s a bit of a fuss at at least one University on Sweden, where the university is asserting rights to use teaching materials used in their classes, eg. powerpoints.

        As lecturers are paid for preparation time, as well as time standing in front of the class, I find this quite reasonable. But apparently that’s a great change in culture, and should be pushed back on.

    4. Trixie*

      This was recently covered on USA’s Suits and I think the actors playing lawyers would agree with Jamie.

    5. Anon scientist*

      It depends on how much work it is and how proprietary it is, for me. For example, I had inherited (and passed to other coworkers) a little excel file to do some basic calculations that are standard for my science. It has like six calculations and 3 input boxes. I didn’t take the file with me when I went, but I did email a former coworker a couple months into my new job and she sent it back to me. Saved me about an hour of checking old textbooks.

      It was weird when I was reading some reports from another consultant and I was thought the forms they used were awfully familiar. But it’s an incestuous industry, and form formatting isn’t exactly a trade secret. Whole reports that you get as a reviewer, though… Not so good.

    6. Graciosa*

      Normally, anything you create for your employer belongs to the employer. Using it for another employer is a problem.

      If the material is copyrighted, it may be infringing on the first employer’s intellectual property. Copyrights come into being at the time of creation (even if the work is not formally registered with the copyright office) so don’t ever assume the lack of a copyright.

      This could apply (I am sorry to say) to really cool formulas.

      What the individual employee is entitled to use for another employer is generally skill and know-how. Someone who has worked out cool formulas in the past will be able to do this task more easily and effectively in the future.

      All of that said, the easy thing to do in this situation is to ask. It’s not hard to say “I am really pleased with the [solution I found to problem X / form for typical situation Y / formula to calculate result Z] and would like to add that work to my portfolio so I could reuse it again in the future. Would that be all right?”

      The answer will either be yes or no, but there will have been honest communication rather than assumptions. Unfortunately, the answer to the question about whether reusing work is common is yes – but that doesn’t make it a best practice.

  119. Katie*

    Could use some cheering up. I just turned down an amazing job offer, and of course the second I did, I truly felt what a enormous mistake I made. The phrase “career suicide” comes to mind.

    I was laid off in late January, and now I was offered the chance to work at a dream company in a dream job. It would’ve propelled my career to new heights, and what a lucky break coming so soon after a layoff. Unfortunately, it required to relocating to a great city, but one where I have no strong ties. I’ve spent the last week intensely considering my decision, and yesterday finally declined it because I felt I wanted to prioritize keeping the lifestyle and friends I have here at home. I did this knowing there’s a high probability I will end up with a boring job in my current city (knowing my options here).

    As soon as my turning down the job was final, I realized I seriously miscalculated how integral career progression and enjoying daily work is to my happiness. Obviously friends/comfort is important, but I can’t fundamentally be happy without the career part being on track.

    Looking for encouragement from anyone who’s ever traveled my path. I’ve made life more difficult for myself, with less optimism for it working out okay. Anyone else made a major mistake like this? Was it possible for you to course-correct and end up fine in the end?

    Thank you.

    1. 22dncr*

      You’ve got to REALLY figure out what your priority is in life. Me it was moving back to Texas. This means no matter what I’m doing or where in Texas I’m living – as long as I’m in Texas I’m happy. Makes life so much easier. This means no “Oh no, I shoulda, I woulda, etc.” People thought I was crazy to leave a happening area for one that was so smallsville but I’ve never regreted it in over 20 years. Make your decision and own it.

      1. Katie*

        Thank you very much for your reply:). I definitely realized through this that my career is my #1 priority, over & above friends/family/location, but I got freaked out in the stress of wondering whether that really is accurate about me. Yep, it is, and I feel like I *couldn’t* have know it for sure until I was forced to choose between the two.

        I hope I learned that lesson for a reason, and didn’t just throw away an amazing opportunity for nothing. I’ll continue to be pursue great jobs that require relocation (as well as in my current city), knowing that this time I will know to choose it. I’m terrified I won’t get another chance to *accept* (not reject!) a second really great job. Seems unlikely one person could be that lucky:(.

        1. 22dncr*

          You’ll get (; I had the same thing happen to me. I had a chance to move back LONG before I did AND it would’ve been when I was still dancing (see name) and for a Ballet Company but I wasn’t ready. I’m actually glad I waited as I learned many life skills and was able to easily transition into the “real world” after my career ending injury.

          1. Katie*

            Thank you again, 22dncr. It’s really nice to hear that maybe like you, sometime I’ll look back on this and realize there was a reason I felt I wasn’t able to go through with the relocation at this time, and that it’ll work out at the time I am ready to do it. All’s well that ends well. I’m glad to hear it worked out well for you! Thank you for your kindness in replying.

    2. C average*

      It sounds like you thought about this a lot and made what you felt to be the right decision. But it’s a big decision, and second-guessing is only human.

      Over beers one night, a colleague and I got to talking about choices we’d made and how they’d turned out to affect our lives downstream. We wound up sketching flow charts on napkins to try to assess where we might be if we’d chosen differently–kind of a retrospective “Choose Your Own Adventure.” It was pretty interesting to ponder the small-seeming choices that seem huge now and the huge-seeming choices that seem obvious (or, yes, sometimes regrettable) in retrospect.

      I hope in years hence you can look back on this choice over beers with a friend and be content with it.

      1. Katie*

        Thank you, “C average”, I appreciate your response. I know I did do my best to try to make the best decision. I don’t think I did make the best decision, but well, I did try!

        1. Not So NewReader*

          Actually, you will end up fine in the end. Too many times I have seen “OMG if I had chose X over Y, I would have had big issues with A and B.” It takes a while for this stuff to play out and this info to bubble to the surface.
          Trust for that some reason you were not supposed to take that job. Just trust. (I know, this is like jumping the Grand Canyon.)

          Also use the time to figure out what your plan is for filling the gaps in your life while living in Next Great City. How will you fill up your time that would have been filled by family and friends? Once you have several ideas it might be easier to make the move.

    3. Jules*

      I moved thousands of miles away from family and friends thinking that I rarely see them anyways… No, I miss them a lot especially when I am in a high stress situation and needed a sounding board or someone to talk to. Sitting across someone talking is not the same as calling/Skyping/emailing.

      My 2 cents.

    4. Pip*

      I just did the opposite – accepted a job offer in another country even though I’m reluctant to move to that country. And of course job opportunities closer to home or in more attractive countries started popping up as soon as I accepted.

      The worst decision I ever made was to be the treasurer for a small non-profit even though I had very limited experience of that sort of thing. (They asked! Several times!) Turns out I hate it. I did fulfil my obligations, but not very timely, and I let down my friends. The only silver lining was that I learnt a lot about how I (don’t) work under pressure, and that I must avoid bookkeeping at all costs in the future.

      That’s all I can offer for you. You’ve learnt something important about yourself, and the next time opportunity comes knocking, you’ll know what to do.

  120. Gloomy in Seattle*

    I hope this is ok to ask about – I think we’re handling it correctly, but I am hoping for feedback. It’s a sensitive topic, so I’ll start off by saying that it may be triggering for some people, and I’m being deliberately anonymous.

    My company has a bunch of temporary people working for us right now. They’ll be here until the project they were hired for is completed (likely, June) and the client we are doing the project for is VERY security conscious. Everyone has to pass a background check and I’ve had to convince the client that having an 8-yr old DUI or a misdemeanor traffic violation isn’t a factor in how employee X will perform in this job. (I say that so you get a sense of how picky the client is – they want 100% perfect records, which they mostly have gotten.)

    A recent hire, Joe, passed my checks with a clean slate. . . but then a less recent hire, Jane, went to her supervisor to say that working with Joe makes her feel very uncomfortable. Turns out that the two of them know each other socially (she’d mentioned the job opening to him, in fact) and she was surprised he’d been accepted for the job because he’s a registered sex offender. She wanted to be moved to a different part of the room (she was seated one person apart in ‘call center’ style cubes) so that she didn’t have to interact with him at all, or only minimally. Supervisor thanked her, said he’d look into it, and got a hold of me.

    We have a local ordinance that makes it difficult to fire or even withdraw an offer from new hires who have adverse information in their backgrounds, unless the offense would somehow interfere with the business. For example, Joe could be let go if he was working with young people or in some similar position of trust. But he’s doing data entry for us, no public contact at all.

    He’s listed on the county website as a level II offender, which means that the State feels he will either do it again, it involved a young person with whom he was in a position of trust, or the victim was younger than 12 yrs old. But (and here’s the kicker) . . . the incident took place 18 yrs ago, when he was 13 yrs old. (Apparently my background checker only goes back 10 years.) The Supervisor (an awesome manager!) did a meeting and asked for clarification and found out that yes, the girl involved was younger (9 yrs old), the two of them were fooling around and his mother found them. She reported it to the girl’s parents and he was disciplined and everyone agreed it was stupid (he says this now, even) and would never happen again. Then, two years later, the State found out. He was tried, and sentenced to juvenile detention for a month, with mandatory therapy after that. Then he was on probation for two years. All of which he did.

    To our mind, he was punished and it was a long time ago, and (frankly) there is no adverse action we can take that would be legal.

    In the following meeting with Jane, Supervisor explained what was relevant and necessary and thanked her for bringing it to our attention, but that’s as far as this will go. Jane then said that she has heard that there have been later incidents, but they never went to the police. She couldn’t believe he got hired, and now she just can’t stand the idea of sitting so close to him. Jane also said that she’s spoken with a counselor and knows that there really isn’t any action we can take because of the local ordinance. Supervisor got a strong feeling (not verified) that she herself had suffered abuse of some sort or knew the person who was a recent victim. She was visibly upset, but not in a dramatic way. Supervisor did move Jane to a different cube, but we both feel that we don’t have any more we can do.

    Like I said, I’m looking for feedback, maybe even validation. Are we missing something? I confess that I feel quite icky about this whole situation, and even a bit manipulated by Jane. So my ‘gut’ is reacting, but I’m not sure how to read the signs.

    1. fposte*

      Though, to be fair, it’s also possible your supervisor is being manipulated by Joe, since it sounds like the account of what happened is all from Joe.

      But I’m with you in thinking you go with the records you have here, and that unless Joe lied about his record on his application, there’s no reason to terminate him; if Jane is truly uncomfortable with being in the same workplace, I think it’s up to her to make the move.

    2. Laura*

      Wait…she TOLD him about the job opening…and now she is surprised that he has the job. If she wasn’t aware he was applying, I can see why she didn’t tell anyone before he was hired – but why did she mention it to him? Why, if he makes her that uncomfortable, was she even telling him about the job opening?

      The guy was four years older than the girl; had he been just a little younger, the law wouldn’t even have applied. That doesn’t make what he did right, but he was thirteen.

      If he has, in fact, re-offended, then that should be addressed *by reporting it to the proper authorities and getting him charged*. By the people who have material knowledge of it.

      If he hasn’t, then maybe we should consider how useful it is to take someone and completely marginalize them for actions they took at 13. Marginalized people get desperate. Productive people in reasonable jobs generally don’t. Morally, ethically, *and* legally, he should keep his job and be treated the same as any other employee. And it’s best for society, too.

      Again, if he’s reoffended, the people with knowledge of that need to take it to the proper authorities. I’m pretty sure a *new* conviction would also be grounds for letting him go.

      Otherwise, as much space as possible between the two of them (physically and in job interaction) is probably the best policy.

    3. Laura*

      Oh, and also, if your background check company is only going back ten years for convictions, great…but do you want them checking the registered sex offender list also? If so, you might want to ask them. (That said, there’s a wide range of people on those lists, and some of them have done some very minor things in some states, from what I understand. Such as public urination in front of the opposite gender, which while gross, is not what most of us think of as a ‘sex offender’.)

      1. Gloomy in Seattle*

        Theoretically, they do. (And that’s a battle I’ll take up with them on Monday.) Because of this oversight, I spent several hours yesterday looking up all of my employees on the website. Fortunately no one else showed up there.

    4. Jamie*

      I’m skeptical of Joe’s explanation.

      The odds of getting on a sex offender registry for life due to something that happened at 13? And the federal sex offender registry started in it’s current form (I know various states had their own before) in 1994…which was 20 years ago. Pretty new when this incident allegedly happened according to Joe. We’re they putting 13 year olds on it then as adults?

      And that act, even if true, isn’t included in the tier II criteria. So there was more to it than that.

      It sounds like he found the most innocent explanation that he thought might sound plausible to others but my money is on it being a load of crap.

      My question would be why she’s afraid of him at work, but knows him socially enough to have told him about the job? Maybe don’t tell sex offenders about jobs you’re applying for if you don’t want to work with them?

      As fposte says, I don’t think you can terminate him unless he lied on his application.

      This is where it gets complicated for me ethically and socially. I wouldn’t want to work with him either…and yes it would weird me out to no small degree. But if offenders can’t earn a living that’s not in societies best interest either. So if Jane goes around telling everyone and drives him out because he’s a social pariah then he’s society’s problem again.

      But the other side of my brain will never budge from the position that certain actions will affect the rest of your life and no amount of time will make up for that. Yes, I do think some acts are so heinous that one forfeits the right to be accepted by civilized society. But the impact on society is great when that happens so …I have no answers.

      1. Jamie*

        Just to clarify I’m not saying the act he is admitting to necessarily qualifies as enough to forfeit right to a normal life (although still really awful – 13 and 9 is a big deal until he has issues which impact his reasoning and ability to appreciate that it was wrong) – depending on the circumstances – but anything that legitimately gets you on tier II sure as hell does, imo.

        1. Gloomy in Seattle*

          The details aren’t available online, but the dates are, so I know those facts. In the question session with the Supervisor he came across as very matter of fact and not at all taking the matter lightly. His story could be total BS, I agree, but I really don’t have any further research I can do without putting more resources into than I have.
          (Not disagreeing with you, just clarifying.)

      2. Mimmy (formerly ChristineSW)*

        Very good point Jamie – something isn’t quite adding up with this story, and I mean from both Joe AND Jane.

        However, I think you’ve done all you can. Unless there is proof otherwise, Joe says what he did was “stupid”, served his punishment, and there is no evidence that he’s committed any other crimes since. I’d say just keep your eyes and ears open for any further complaints from Jane or other employees.

    5. OhNo*

      Is it something you should bring up with the company you are doing the work for? It sounds like they are so security-conscious that they might have problem with it, and might ask for him to be off their project if they knew.

      I’m also highly skeptical of the employee’s explanation, but that’s a personal feeling.

      1. Gloomy in Seattle*

        The local ordinance wouldn’t let us take adverse action, and the client won’t pay our legal bills, should they arise.

    6. Not So NewReader*

      There’s a lot of sad stories on the sex offender registry, people that should not be on there. I hope we move to a higher level of discernment at some point. (not saying this guy is or is not one of these people- just making a general comment that the registry needs some refinement.)
      Meanwhile this is the system we have and we work with it. The fact that he had no priors over the last ten years means something.
      Jane strikes me as odd for referring him to her work place and then “turning him in”. If she knew he was a sex offender then why does she know him socially if it bothers her so?
      She said she has heard stories of more problems. But you have done your part by doing a thorough background search. We cannot convict people who have not been formally charged.

      As a side note these background checks are going to get dicier in years to come. Here in NY they are RETRO-actively upgrading misdemeanors to felonies. For example: A person could have been charged with X years ago. He went to court and agreed to a plea agreement. He paid his fine, did his time/community service/counseling/whatever. The matter was closed as a misdemeanor. Fast forward, 20 years later that charge has now become a felony charge retroactively. The person thought they had a misdemeanor on their record and they now have a felony.
      This is not what they had agreed to in the plea deal.

      I am not clear on how this teaches integrity. But, also this is going to make background checks more difficult.

    7. mys*

      Apologies for the very late reply. I emailed Alison because I didn’t read the Open Comments until Monday, looking for your email, and she suggested I reply. I hope, GIS, you see this.

      As I read your post, alarms went off in my head. There are too many odd things about the story. About 20 years ago (employment laws were different then, but …) I worked in an office for a company new to the city and hiring was fast & furious for telemarketing. Long story, short: they hired 2 people (man & woman) who proceeded to set them up for a scam (including false prior job references that were in on it) leading to the threat of a lawsuit for improper hiring/firing. The company fought it and those 2 actually were later arrested, exactly what for I don’t know (blackmail?). Once the company’s lawyers looked into their background very closely, it was found that they had done the same thing at other offices, forcing companies to settle out of court and give them large amounts of money.

      i.e. if you had reacted by firing Joe, that would be what they wanted, leading to a lawsuit or blackmail.

      In any case, be very careful. Document EVERYTHING, tape/record what you can, and ALWAYS have at least 2 people present when talking with either Joe or Jane. If you or your supervisor did not write down the conversations, write them out now, have Joe or Jane read them, & sign them. Treat them like all other employees after that. Maybe consult a lawyer.

  121. Jamie*

    I know we’ve talked on here before that others like me have a really hair trigger startle reflex.

    Does anyone know what causes this – any good links on it? I haven’t found anything definitive.

    I know it sounds silly but it’s really an issue. I do the usual, desk facing the door – but it’s involuntary that when I don’t see someone coming I jump. It’s an office joke, I laugh it off…but I’d love to stop doing it because I think it makes other people uncomfortable at times – but I truly cannot help it. Sometimes it’s just a little hop in my chair, but if I’m super focused it I make a little noise too. Not a scream, and not quite a little shriek.

    Although if I think I’m alone in the office and someone pops up unexpectedly it’s definitely a short scream and at times I’ve hit the floor.

    How do you undo an automatic response? And why the heck am I like this?

    1. WorkingAsDesigned*

      I do the same thing – looking forward to the responses!

      (Jamie, you’ve mentioned that you’re in your 40’s. I am, too – maybe it’s a result of being a child of the 80’s? :) )

        1. Mimmy (formerly ChristineSW)*

          Ahhh you might be onto something!! I used to watch MTV for hours at a time, sometimes dancing around the room without a care in the world….until I realize a family member has been watching me for the past several minutes. LOL.

          1. Jamie*

            YES! Seriously – why do people sneak up on us when we’re dancing, or singing into our hairbrushes…

            or when we’re grownups putting on a puppet show for the cats with socks and a potato with silly voices and made up songs and the kids come in and start talking about putting you into a home…

            I think we’re zeroing in on the source…

    2. fposte*

      There’s a Wikipedia on “Fear-potentiated startle” that you might find an interesting read. A lot of the work is of course done on people with PTSD, but it seems a valid place to extrapolate from. Basically, your neurochemistry seems to overfire at small stimuli (I think we talked once about how this may relate to the misophonia).

      Dr. Wikipedia suggests that there are medications that can damp down the neurotransmitter response, which may be a level of intervention beyond what you’re interested in exploring; however, I wonder if some of the online CBT courses/treatment modalities for anxiety might have a similar response without side effects?

      1. Jamie*

        Thanks – I will definitely follow up. I’m not opposed to medication per se, all depends on the side effects and collateral effects. Definitely interested in some CBT to see if it helps.

        Interesting about the stimulation because sensory integration issues are said to be related to misophonia as well for the same reason. And everyone in my family with misophonia could be tortured into giving up state secrets just by having to wear a shirt with a scratchy tag or a sock with a lumpy seam.

      2. Mimmy (formerly ChristineSW)*

        Oooh how interesting fposte! I think I have some sensory integration issues as well–misophonia, easily startled, don’t like scratchy tags, not to mention that I can’t STAND when someone even touches my seat (such as in a movie theater).

        I tend to take Wikipedia with a grain of salt, but I just may look into this.

        As for your question Jamie – Hmmm. Sometimes I have to remind myself that this is just how I am and stop fighting it. But I’ll be interested to hear from other readers as far as helpful strategies.

        1. Jamie*

          Yes, the seat thing! On rare occasion my boss will stand behind my chair and put his hand on the back while I’m bringing something up on the monitor – great guy, but holy cow one day I will freak out and lose it.

          I am really rigid on personal space. We had a company meeting once in the lunchroom and it was so packed we were all jammed in on benches and one woman had her arm where it was touching my back. I could think of nothing else except getting out of there without realizing it I was sliding the bench further and further and shoving my work friend into the radiator.

          I like people individually very much (well, some) but I don’t like anyone in crowds.

          1. Mimmy (formerly ChristineSW)*

            Jamie, if I were in the IT field, I’d so move out your way and get a job in your department. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a long-lost twin. lol.

            I’m not too terrible with regard to personal space. In fact, when I was younger, I used to get too close to people, probably because of my vision and hearing issues. But I’ve gotten better with that.

    3. Sadsack*

      I can’t even believe it – I do the same exact thing and was just speaking with my new manager about it about a half an hour ago. I have always been that way, I guess just being hyper-focused on something causes it. It can be embarrassing.

    4. Jill of All Trades*

      I’m the opposite way; it’s really difficult to startle me. It happens maybe twice a year and then it’s a bigger jump than most people. Like I saved them all up for that moment or something. I wish I could tell you some great secret that would make you never startled again, but keep in mind that being so mellow would not have served me well during the early days of human evolution. You and your quick reactions would have made you a survivor!

    5. Not So NewReader*

      How’s your heart? I mean literally your actual heart, not a flip question here. How’s your blood vessels? Bruise easy?

      I am thinking some B vitamins. But I am no practitioner. Could be other vitamins- A, C and E strike me.

      That jumpiness could be a shortage of one or more minerals, too.

      Some of these things are easily fixed with just the right nutrition.
      Upsetting, sometimes scary to experience, though.

    6. Jules*

      Funnily enough, when I get startled, I’d be in my defensive pose. Thanks to the urban myth in college about rapist randomly attacking dorms, I’d go to relax to ready to kick someone’s ass in a blink an eye. I don’t even know why I believed that stupid urban legand but I blame the fact that I was sheltered and paranoid when I was younger.

      I just accept it as part of my genetic make up. Haha..

  122. Anonymous - Resume Observations*

    Randoms thought on resumes, because I am having to read a lot of them at the moment:

    When you emphasize all the skills used at every job before, whether or not they are relevant to our position, I have trouble finding the ones that are. When some of those skills are wildly unrelated, I ask the lovely person who sent me the resumes to also send me the link to the exact job posting, to see if there is something wrong with it. Imagine my bafflement to look at it and see it is perfectly on target, then look back at the resume of Huh?

    Four page resumes. Also, bullet points aren’t very useful if you use 3+ lines per bullet point and have only the bullet point indented. They are just paragraphs with dots at that time. Well, and no blank lines in between, so you can cram more of them on the page.

    If you say that you are skilled in “lots” of programming languages and then list only four after that, I have to wonder. Did you cut out many of them, or do you think four is “lots”? And if any of those “lots” are the three we listed as necessary, good to have, and good to have in our ad…why does the list include only one of the good to haves, and not the necessary one?

    For the love of everything, why is this person listing everywhere they’ve worked – in the cover letter?

    I’m really glad to know that you’re a dynamic person and looking for an exciting position. It lets me move on quickly, because it sounds like you love change and new things, and a lot of our work is maintaining existing code in a very boring day-to-day language. I’d rather not hire you only to see you move on in six months. (This looks especially bad if a quick scan shows that the longest you’ve held any job on your resume is 2 years, and you have over a decade of job history. That’s going to raise questions in my mind even without your “objective” making me focus on it.)

    Your cover letter says “I am not very (positive trait here), but….” I’ll admit it did cause us to discuss your cover letter and got our attention, but not in a good way. Something like that should probably not even be open in a text file on your computer at the same time that you are writing a cover letter or resume. It definitely shouldn’t be included in them. Which falls under the heading of things I thought would be too obvious to need to be said.

    1. MichaelD*

      From your comments, I’m assuming that you are in HR or a Hiring Manager. I’m searching and applying for jobs and sometimes receive no response or a response of non-acceptance from positions for which I am experienced and have the qualifications. I’m beginning to wonder if I need to completely revise my resume or remove information to shorten it. I too, list skills in my resume that may not be specifically listed in the job posting but feel that it’s important to show my entire work history. Many times, those skills (though not required) compliment the skill sets that are being sought. Particularly in my case where, besides 10 years as a business owner and manager, the majority of my work history is in the military at 8 different duty locations and shows my rapid progression through the ranks. So, my question is, should I not include skill sets that are not specifically listed in the job posting?

      And while I’m asking questions let me ask another. I recently finished a phone interview for a position and am currently being considered for an in-person interview. This is an office position (Coordinator) and I’ve recently learned that the normal attire for office personnel for this company is jeans and a buttoned shirt. Should a suit always be worn to an interview or should a person dress in accordance with the normal work attire for the position being sought?

      1. OfficePrincess*

        I’m not in HR and I’ve only been in a position to make hiring positions a few times, but I really think there’s a difference between skills that complement what the job posting asks for and completely unrelated skills that make a person wonder if you even know what you were applying for. For example, I run the office for a warehouse-type environment and got a resume and cover letter from someone talking about how fabulous she is at picking orders and stacking trailers. That’s fantastic, but I don’t want a cog in a machine, and manual labor skills mean nothing to me. The office positions I supervise are more about communication, computer skills, and critical thinking.

      2. Jeanne*

        MichaelD: The suggestions I’ve seen are to dress up one level from the normal office attire. So a full suit and tie would probably be too formal, but maybe a dress shirt and pants, no tie?

      3. Anonymous - Resume Observations*

        Absolutely do include skill sets that are related, or that are general! But, for an analogy, if you are applying for a job as a Teapot Spout Tester, listing your experience with Teapot Lid Testing might be relevant, but listing the details of your job seasoning cast iron pans isn’t. Yes, they’re both things you put on your stove, but after that you’ve really lost the relevance. The skills from one have nothing to do with the other. (And again, listing the position and relevant skills is great. The resume that made me say that had something like 6-7 irrelevant skills listed under each job, along with 0-1 relevant skills. Very irrelevant, not ‘related but not in the posting’.)

        Listing the job itself is, of course, still important, but other than value-added, relevant skills, or something that shows you’re really driven, there’s no reason to give me an exhaustive list of what you did / skills you demonstrated there, where they’re not relevant to the job you’re applying to.

        Our office is generally business casual – jeans or slacks, shirts, sometimes t-shirts. Someone showing up in a suit and tie hasn’t *damaged* their chances, because they might not know our dress code, but they do look a little overly formal. (That’s better than too informal, though.)

        I’d go with Jeanne’s recommendation; no suit coat, but a dress shirt and nice slacks, in the environment you describe.

  123. Sarah*

    Good news! I moved for a job to a new city about 2 hours away from my husband. There hasn’t been many openings in his field (electrical engineering, utilities) until last month. He got calls this week for 2 jobs, including a VP position!!! I am so excited. I sent him AAM’s interviewing guide because he has no idea what he is doing (been at this job for 6 years).

    3. Michelle*

      Good luck! I’m sort of in a similar position with my fiancé, but we haven’t had much good luck yet. Hopefully the tides will begin to turn – it’s great to hear others are seeing opportunities arise in similar situations!

  124. BG*

    Some good news: I had three interviews this week! One was a second interview where I was asked to prepare a 15-20 minute presentation on a campaign I put together, then present it to the team. I was SO nervous—I’ve never had to do a presentation as part of an interview before—but I think it went really well! Everyone said it was great, and there were lots of questions and conversations throughout.

    Anyway, now I’ve been unemployed (was laid off) for almost 2 months. I really hope one of these jobs pans out! Everyone keeps telling me that 2 months is nothing, and that I shouldn’t freak out yet… But I’m kind of starting to. I just want to get back to work!

  125. Cassie*

    How ethical is it (or not at all) to take forms and checklists from the internet and use them at work (either in their original form or modified form)? I thought about creating a spreadsheet intake form for this project we’re working on, but we’re very short on time and the thought of sitting there adjusting column widths and merging cells is too tedious at this moment.

    I found a form online that would fit the bill with changing some formulas here and there. Can I do that? (For what it’s worth, this would be used internally to gather info and calculate some data – we have an official pdf form to use for the project). If I had more time, I would try to make a form myself (using the online form as general inspiration).

    1. Katie the Fed*

      I don’t think it’s a problem. Just say something like “I found this on the internet and adjusted it for our purposes”

      You’re saving time without reinventing the wheel. Why would that be bad?

    2. fposte*

      As long as it’s posted for free download by the likes of you and you don’t pretend you made it, I don’t see why not.

    3. Jamie*

      I’m thirding Katie and fposte. You’re not taking credit, just saving time. That’s the definition of efficiency.

      No issue here.

    4. Elizabeth West*

      I agree with the others; however, you should make sure there isn’t a notice on it that precludes using it without written permission. Sites that put samples up usually expect that you’ll use them, but sometimes people do put material out there they would rather you didn’t (for illustrative purposes, etc.).

      I ran into this when looking for rubrics and such when in teacher school.

      1. Jamie*

        Oh for sure – so much is out there where it’s totally legal and ethical to d/l there is no reason to pull protected stuff.

    5. Cassie*

      Thanks for everyone’s responses! I thought so too, but the question upthread about bringing stuff that you create from one job to another made me pause and think.

      The form I found is provided by the other organization (a university) for their end users to use. I didn’t notice any clauses on their website prohibiting outside use, but I’ll double-check just in case.

      1. Jamie*

        In that I was talking more about crystal reports and procedural documents as part of a QC system…more formal stuff. Stuff out there in the public with no restrictions is a whole different ballgame.

        1. Windchime*

          Yeah, we borrow snippets of code from the internet at my place of business. Not huge blocks of it, but if you’re trying to figure out how to do a particular thing that we rarely do, someone else will have already asked that question and there are usually several examples showing how to do it.

          No need to reinvent the wheel!

  126. sunnysideup*

    I have a question for Alison and The Readers:

    I have recently transistioned to my second job after graduation. I found that at my first job (Office Assistant at a chocolate teapot consulting firm), my manager was very micromanagey and paranoid. She needed to know exactly what I was doing, how I was doing it, and the progress on what I was doing at all times. Before I did anything I asked her permission because she wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. This sounds normal but after 18 months I still had to let her know something had spilled and needed to be cleaned up before I actually cleaned it up. I finally realized that a large part of why things were this was was because all of the people she reported to were also micormangey and paranoid. There was absolutely an understanding throught the company that if someone (and especially a client) asked you a question, you needed to have the answer on the tip of your tounge. No going back and looking it up.

    Fast forward, I now work as a Recruiter at a turkish delight manufacturing and distribution company. I find I like the culture here a lot more: virtually no micromanaging, answering, “I’m not sure, let me look that up for you,” is an acceptable answer, and I am trusted to do what I say I will do. I am now wondering: is micormanaging a common trait among consulting firms, or was it just the culture of my particular employer?

    I am also soliciting advice. Does anyone have experience transistioning from a less than stellar manager to one who is pretty great? How did you overcome old habits? For instance, more often than not my new manager will come over to ask me a question because she is seeking knowledge – not because I did something wrong – but I still feel terrified every time she asks me a question. Check ins are now an opportunity for my team to keep each other abreast of what is happening, but I still feel myself approaching them with a high level of stress. Any advice on how to overcome this would be greatly appreciated!

    1. Laura*

      I can’t speak to consulting vs. normal firms, but as for your last question – remind yourself, as often as you need to, of how the culture has changed. I find that if I want to adapt to a positive change in my life, being grateful for it – on a regular basis! – often helps. I don’t mean just feeling grateful in the moment; I make a practice of writing out 1-3 things I’m grateful for each evening. I don’t think it’s so much the act of being grateful for the new positive as it is the act of writing out its existence – routinely! – that gets me used to thinking that “this is in fact how it is”.

      If you can come up with something simple that will serve as a visual reminder but not look weird to your coworkers, putting it on your desk (if you have one!) or somewhere you’ll see it occasionally might help, too – but coming up with something meaningful that does that, and doesn’t look like a twee affirmation note to yourself, can be tricky.

    2. pgh_adventurer*

      There was a discussion on overcoming work-related PTSD with a lot of great suggestions. Sorry, I can’t remember if it was in an open thread or another post….anyone else remember??

  127. Anonsie*

    I have two last names (think Soto Gutierrez) and it’s a pain in the butt. I want to just drop the second one at work, but I’m afraid this will cause confusion if it’s not consistent. My work uses your full last name in their email addresses and it’s on my cards, things like that, and it was set up before I started and I didn’t ask them to change it. Now I feel kind of stuck because people only ever remember the second one an it’s the pain in the butt that I wanna drop.

    To complicate things, my name is also going to start going onto a lot of customer related materials, which is another reason I want to simplify it. But again, if it’s not consistent, I’m afraid it will cause problems here or there.

    You can still look me up using just the first one in our directory, so it shouldn’t be an issue, right? I mean people change their names entirely all the time.

    1. Kerr*

      Well, it’s always easier to change before a particular usage becomes fully entrenched. In this case, it sounds like it would be best to change your name before it starts going on customer-facing materials. It shouldn’t be a big deal for IT to change your email, and have the old one forwarded to the new one. In your shoes, I think I’d prefer to make a clean break now, rather than deal with inconsistent usage later.

      1. Anonsie*

        Yeah, it was strange to me because usually people naturally drop off the second name, and I’ve never really had to ask anyone to do it. Here people do the exact opposite. I didn’t realize I needed to ask people to just use the one until it was too late.

    2. Jamie*

      Of course they do – there shouldn’t be a problem with asking them to change it.

      Ideally it’s easier when starting new jobs to make sure it’s how you like it from the start, just to save comments from co-workers which get old – but it’s never an issue to change it.

      I personally ask people how they want it. Email addy is uniform (firstinitiallastname) but if they are Michael or Mike or whatever I just ask.

      In your case if the change involves changing the email addy it’s still simple. Using Exchange as an example because that’s my wheelhouse, you get your new email addy and the do a forward from the old one to the new…so you don’t lose any mail when people are replying to your old emails.

      If it’s just the name and not the addy even easier – that’s literally seconds – maybe a minute or two to change active directory also depending on load time. :)

      I would so hate for a user to be unhappy with how their name is in the system just because they didn’t want to bother me for a couple minutes of my time.

      1. Anonsie*

        I’m not worried about changing it in our materials as much as I’m worried that people will genuinely not know who Anon Soto is when they see it, or be confused when they can’t find Anon Gutierrez on something.

        You’d think people would be smarter, but I have a lot of experience with this being a problem. Mail from my doctor’s office or insurance plan, of course, will say Soto Gutierrez, but a birthday card will say Soto. If I put Soto Gutierrez on my mail box, sometimes the Sotos get returned. If I put Soto, the Soto Gutierrezes get returned. Happens everywhere I’ve ever lived– I have to put Anon Soto Gutierrez / Anon Soto / Anon Gutierrez on there. I’m not joking. And tooons of things are like that.

    3. Marmite*

      I changed my e-mail address from firstname.lastname to preferredname.lastname after about three months in my job. People I knew already called me by the preferred name, but I found with e-mail, even when I signed the e-mail with my preferred name, people kept addressing me by my full name. It was bugging me so I got in touch with IT and asked to change it. They made the change, I sent out a quick e-mail letting regular contacts know about the change and that was it. Ever since everyone, bar one crazy old lady who calls me a completely incorrect name unrelated to my actual name, calls me by my preferred name.

      1. Jamie*

        There’s always one. I worked with one woman who consistently called me Dana.

        I don’t know either.

        She swore she didn’t know another Dana. Technically she didn’t know any Dana’s since I’m not one, either.

        1. Marmite*

          Yeah, it’s weird. I’ve pretty much given up correcting her now.

          She does make the trip over to my part of the building to talk to me face to face more often than is really warranted and I wonder if it’s because she can’t get my name right and is therefore either unable to e-mail/call me, or is e-mailing/calling the wrong person and wondering why they’re ignoring her!

        2. Mallory*

          I once in a very great while will find myself unable reconcile someone’s name with how they look. For instance, I went to a summer academic camp back when I was a teenager, and my roommate, “Becky”, looked just like a young version of my grandma’s sister, “Wanda”. It took me nearly a week, even while making a conscious effort, to stop calling “Becky” “Wanda”.

          1. C average*

            Ugh, I had that happen with a colleague at a summer job in high school. The worst part was that he reminded me of a character in a book, not an actual person, and that character was Lennie from “Of Mice and Men.” (Yes, he was big and slow and had a heart of gold, and yes, I felt horrible for the flawed component in my brain that made me think “Lennie” when I should’ve thought “Darrell.”)

            I actually wound up marrying a man named Len, and his mom still calls him Lenny. I can’t hear it without thinking of Darrell/Lennie.

            1. Mallory*

              That makes me really, really wish I would meet someone who could be Atticus Finch for me . . . *swoon*

          2. C average*

            Ugh, I had that happen with a colleague at a summer job in high school. The worst part was that he reminded me of a character in a book, not an actual person, and that character was Lennie from “Of Mice and Men.” (Yes, he was big and slow and had a heart of gold, and yes, I felt horrible for the flawed component in my brain that made me think “Lennie” when I should’ve thought “Darrell.”)

            I actually wound up marrying a man named Len, and his mom still calls him Lenny. I can’t hear it without thinking of Darrell/Lennie.

        3. Anonsie*

          I once had a job where my boss called all the women under her by my name. And no, none of our names were similar.

          As a bonus, she later hired three men who were all named Nathan or Nate. We were pretty sure she did that so she could keep on only ever learning one name.

  128. Elizabeth West*

    Kittehs! That is so freaking cute. I love how Olive has her little paws on the other kitty (I forgot its name).

    Not much going on right now. Plowing through the semester, just printed a hard copy of NewBook for the second HC edit, and planning my trip in the fall (it’s all I can think about right now!). I’m also preparing material for a post-every-day blogging challenge next month.

    I’ll be taking a break from school this summer to write another book, and it’s becoming highly doubtful that I will return in the fall. I also plan to spend some time studying screenwriting (just in case).

    I’m a woman with a plan. :)

    1. Ruffingit*

      I remember you’ve been struggling with being in school and whether it’s the path you want to be on. Have you decided to drop it entirely since you likely won’t return in the fall?

  129. Jamie*

    I totally forgot that tomorrow is my 10 year anniversary. We both usually forget but he remembered this year and apparently we’re doing something.

    I need gift suggestions fast – and nothing that has to be ordered I need to stop on the way home. I live by a huge mall so should be okay.

    Here’s some info: He’s a great guy but impossible to buy for because he likes tools and stuff, which I never get the right one unless he gives me a model number, and he likes sci fi tv stuff which I hate and we already have 1000 years worth of dvds of that crap so none of that. He doesn’t drink and has no hobbies outside of video games and computer stuff and lord knows he is all set in that area.

    He doesn’t wear jewelry, he’s not a fancy clothes guy, no cologne. Doesn’t really collect anything. (he sounds boring, but I swear he’s a sweetie.)

    Best present I ever got him was a new lazyboy…but he doesn’t need another one.

    I need something anniversary like – so sentimental I guess – and fast – and under $200 because his milestone is making it 10 years without leaving me, he didn’t become the Pope.

    We do need a new dryer, but that’s being delivered next Monday so there goes that idea.

    I am a horrible gift giver and it sucks since he’s a man I can’t get away with phoning flowers in.

    Any ideas? I’m leaving in an hour – I need the creatives out there to help me. :)

    2. Laura*

      A gift card toa store that sells tools, computer parts, or video games.

      If he doesn’t already have it, and it’s at all his sort of game, I’ve heard REALLY good things about The Elder Scrolls Online from my husband – and that one is new out this year, I believe.

    3. Anoners*

      Is he a gamer? If so, Elder Scrolls Online is coming out and I would be the happiest boy in the world if my bf got it for me.

      1. Jamie*

        Okay my reply went below as a stand alone – but you and Laura are brilliant because he’s mentioned this game and I forgot! Perfect.

        Okay so the standard edition or imperial. He plays on PC. I know nothing about any of this so I need help and pre-ordering now.

    4. Katie the Fed*

      Does he have noise-cancelling headphones? The over-ear ones are a little spendy at $300 but they’re great. Bose also makes in-ear ones that are awesome – I just used them on my last trip.

      Does he travel a lot? A new suitcase?

  130. Jamie*

    OMG you guys – elder scrolls…he’s mentioned this! I forgot until you reminded me.

    Off to google to see if I could pre-order. So this with a card giving him X hours of nag free game time should be good.

    Even though I did not get flowers at work today, nor for Valentines day. And someone else got them last week for no occasion at all.

    Ahem.

    Thanks – that was a wicked fast save you guys!

    1. cecilhungry*

      If you want something small, and he likes sci-fi stuff, a lot of smaller “quirky” stores have cute coffee mugs that will do things when they get warm (for instance, I got one for my BF that has a TARDIS that disappears and reappears on the other side of the cup when hot liquid is poured in). Then fill it with nice local coffee/tea?

  131. Kerr*

    Is there any legit reason why an online job application would want to know how long you’ve had your phone number? I would think nothing of it in the context of a lengthy app that wanted you to list the nitty-gritty details about every job you’ve had since high school, but this wasn’t one of them. This particular job was at a “hip” company, and judging by the short application, it looked like they were bordering on trying to weed out “old” applicants. (You need a HS graduation year why, exactly?)

    1. Elizabeth West*

      Ick, sounds questionable. I’ve seen people ask for high school graduation date to make sure you have a diploman, but I can’t think of one single reason why they would ask about the phone number. Except for maybe what you said. If that’s the case, they can go jump in the lake.

      1. Kerr*

        I’ve provided my graduation year countless times, in the context of traditional applications, although I’m sure it’s rarely checked. But this one seemed weird about it, especially in the context of their entire application.

        The irony is that I’m not old! But I don’t want to work for some hipster company where 20-something me would be considered stodgy.

    2. Bryan*

      If they’re hip are they new? They might not know how to do a proper application. I can only think of including it for the background check.

      1. Kerr*

        Not brand new, but not established. I could maybe see an ill-advised background check attempt, but the application didn’t ask for much in the way of standardized background info, which is why it struck me as so strange. After all, what’s a phone # going to tell you that length of residence doesn’t? (They asked about that, too.) There were a couple of questions I’m leaving out to avoid pinpointing it, but the way they were listed seemed off.

    3. AVP*

      Are they trying to figure out where you’re “originally” from? I’ve had my cell number since I was 15 and the location that pops up on iphone screens occasionally weirds people out, but I always just make a joke of it and move on. I guess if there was a burning reason an employer wanted to know where my parents live they could track it back that way. (But no, I can’t think of an actual GOOD reason they would want to know this.)

  132. Bryan*

    The tenth anniversary is tin/aluminum. You could get him a “tin” of something and a six pack in aluminum cans.

  133. blinking cursor*

    *sigh* I’m just having a really lousy time at work right now, even though I get on really well with the team I support and would go – and often do – go over & above my duties if asked but I’m not any of my managers’ favourite person right now and the situation at work is just become far too dysfunctional for me. So I’m job hunting but am worried about references and what they might say. I have not been put on any formal disciplinary action but have had 3 meetings to deal with 3 separate issues (one was not knowing the holiday policy, one was about not getting on with my manager and one was me trying to do the best for someone I support but has been seen as “not supporting management decisions/colleagues” – to my management it looked like I was advocating a particular course of action – which was not what I was indending it was more I knew they wouldn’t be happy with the changes as they require addition support due to dyslexia).

    //end tale of woe. thanks for listening if you did.

    1. Jamie*

      I’m really sorry you’re going through a rough patch right now.

      I don’t have any advice, but I’ve been in a workplace where I was just miserable and all I can say is keep looking for something better because it is out there.

      And about references, all you can do is your best with the job you have and you can’t worry about how other people will act…but if it makes you feel any better I know way more people who will give a neutral or even positive reference than a negative one no matter what they personally think because they fear reprisals.

      From a hiring standpoint that stinks, but I just point it out so you can know that not everyone from a bad workplace will give a bad reference.

  134. Hummingbird*

    I do sub work on the side when I need a few extra dollars. I just sign up via the website for a job I can fit into my schedule. I signed up for one this week, and the job was for the morning, beginning at 8:30am (school starts at 9am so I assume it’s so the sub can settle and, if possible, meet up with the teacher). I arrived 10 minutes early – 8:20am. The school secretary – in front of the entire group of teachers – chewed me out as to how “extremely early” I was. I politely reminder her that the website said “8:30,” but she continued on making sure I got the message that I was “extremely early.”

    Was she right that I was really early? Or was she just getting all ruffled over nothing? Like I said the website said “8:30” and I understand as meaning I am being paid from that time to the time listed as the end (half-day or full-day). I would think the board of education wouldn’t like it if I showed up at 9am when I knew about the job the day before. (Once in a great while, you can get a sub job after it’s supposed to have started because no one else picked it up.)

    1. C average*

      For professional commitments, I always thought the general rule was that you wanted to be there 5-10 minutes early. Early enough to demonstrate that you’re punctual, but not early enough to create awkwardness if they don’t have a plan for what to do with you while you wait.

      Early is only bad if you’re going to a dinner party. Especially mine. Ten minutes early probably means I’m still in the shower.

    2. AVP*

      Besides, who publicly chews anyone out for being early for their first day on a job? I bet every teacher there was internally cringing for you.

  135. Scout*

    Grateful for any advice on a work issue that’s been really getting me down this week. Particularly from any fellow ADHD people. Here it is;

    I work for a non-profit and do work I enjoy. We handle zebra attacks and our work is very reactive, when there are no zebra attacks there is very little work, when there is a zebra attack there is lots of work for a short period of time, then back to no work until the next zebra attack.

    We used to handle rhino hordes too, but about six months ago it was decided that our sister non-profit would take that work as it was better funded for it. That cut our work load, and there have been very few zebra attacks recently, so for the last few months I have had very little work to do.

    I have days where I literally spend eight hours doing nothing. Now, I know a lot of people would love that – paid to sit and surf the net, awesome! I hate it. I have relatively severe ADHD, which makes it difficult for me to keep my butt in a chair for eight hours even when I have work to do. I manage my ADHD pretty well when there is work to do, I know how to keep myself focused and plan my time and get my work done and so on. What I don’t know how to handle is many hours of keeping myself quiet and in a chair with nothing to do. I also am just someone who likes to be mentally challenged and I feel like I can feel brain cells dying when I’m just sitting there.

    My manager is great and gives me whatever work he can. But the past few weeks I’ve been getting increasingly frustrated with my job and really struggling to keep myself in that chair all day. Anyone got any ideas for what I could try to keep myself going crazy?

    1. Stephanie*

      Could you take the slow days to learn about the zebra attack landscape? New challenges, anticipated attack patterns, etc? Or maybe brainstorm ways you could integrate the zebra attack work with the work that the rhino stampede work does?

      (Also, I’m guessing you’ve made up what the nonprofit does, but I’d love it if you actually did deal with zebra attacks and rhino stampedes.)

      1. Scout*

        Thanks for replying. I would love it if I worked with zebra attacks, but, yeah, sadly not!

        I have done a LOT of reading around my area of work, shadowing various people in other departments/our sister non-profit, attending training, etc. I feel like I am TOTALLY ready for the next zebra attack, I just need to keep myself occupied until then.

    2. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

      Do you seriously handle zebra attacks, or is that a chocolate teapot euphemism?

      How does one go about “handling” zebra attacks?

      In my new job there are days when projects are done and the zebras are sunning themselves with no ulterior motive apparent, so I come up with side projects that maybe no one cares so much about but keep me busy and end up being nice to have (if not essential). I’m working right now on making video tutorials for all our equipment (cameras, tablets, etc) and resource lists of zebra literature. Could you write zebra articles for the website or arrange weekly zebra tours? Is there an information center you could spruce up?

        1. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

          No problem! Sometimes I have these ideas and think, oh, no one will care (because at Old Job you were punished for initiative), but then I figure, I’m there anyway. If it makes one person’s life easier to be able to pull up a video, cool.

      2. Smilingswan*

        ROTFL at “zebras are sunning themselves with no ulterior motive apparent”. Too funny! :)

    3. Jamie*

      Wow, do I know how you feel. I can handle stress and emergencies far better than too much downtime and without intellectual stimulation – forget it. I remember this from days when I temped, the assignments where I was not busy killed me.

      I agree with Stephanie – create your own intellectual project for learning in more depth about zebra attacks…or find someone in another department that does work you’re interested in (or would give you ROR) and see if you can learn that part of the business when you’re slow. Maybe the IT would love to teach someone else the subtleties of the software they use to forecast the zebra attacks.

      But you absolutely need to keep your brain engaged. With this being the nature of your business I’m surprised your boss doesn’t have plan B projects for just such times.

      I love the metaphor, but I am curious as to why the zebras are so angry. Are people wearing too much plaid?

      1. Scout*

        Yes! Emergencies, no problem. Tight deadlines, multiple projects on the go, no problem. Nothing to do, GAH!

        I do think managers need to come up with a plan B for this, but, they are of the opinion that this is an unusually long lull and things will pick up again soon. I am…not convinced, but there’s not much I can do about that. My manager is great about trying to find work for me, although has told me I am weird for wanting so much work.

        Our IT is outsourced, but I like the idea of something along those lines…I will have a think about what we do have that someone might be willing to teach me.

        The zebras are angry because no one can correctly tell them apart and want their individuality recognized.

        1. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

          The zebras are angry because no one can correctly tell them apart and want their individuality recognized.

          In light of recent events, I can’t be the only one who thought of Russia.

    4. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

      I had another thought–does your organization have lots of old files that it would be really nice to have digitized? Could you scan those in and organize them? It quickly becomes a mindless process of switching the paper and hitting a couple keys for the next sheet and you can easily read, work on a different computer, etc at the same time.

    5. C average*

      Would your manager allow you to spend some time looking for grants for which your organization might be eligible and applying for them?

      1. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

        Scout’s might not, but mine would probably faint dead away if I handed her some grant proposals. Thanks!!

    6. Pip*

      You mentioned that your work is mostly reactive. Could you start proactive projects, like prevention or raising awareness?

  136. SCW*

    I have a hard time keeping up with these threads–so many awesome conversations I can’t always follow them all. But I wanted to ask a question about an ongoing situation.

    I started as a manager of a pretty small team a little over a year ago. Shortly after I started, one of the staff members took a transfer and a reduction in hours at another job site closer to where he was living. She’d had difficulties in her personal life and had not adapted well to having a new manager–some personality conflicts and resistance when I asked her to do new things. The new person I hired is doing great, and we work well together. I reconfigured one of the other positions, transferring that staff person out to get someone with a different job title. I didn’t get to select that person–he was transferred in, and has never from day one wanted to work at our location. I try not to take it personal, and he hasn’t said to anyone that it was because of me–I’ve been working to find a different position for him at a location that would be a better match, but it hasn’t happened. It is difficult to find people who want to work at our location–it is slow, with a small staff, and in a bad part of town. There were only two applicants for my job when I interviewed.

    The issue now–the third original member of my team has been interviewing for lateral or even lower level positions at other branches. He hasn’t said he is, but it is pretty obvious (coming to work dressed up, getting calls from managers who are hiring, needing to take time off, and today e-mailing that he needs to spend some time at one of the branches that has an open position). While he had mentioned before he’d like to work closer to home, I was very surprised to see he was interviewing for other positions that were a grade below where he is now.

    So two questions:
    I know he’s interviewing for other positions–should I bring it up?
    I’m pretty new as a manager, how can I distinguish between the people who are leaving because they hate me and for other reasons? I would like to learn and improve, and if I am doing something wrong change it! I am quite worried that this turn over is an indication that I suck as a manager.

    1. Bryan*

      It sounds like it’s probably the location.

      Talk to your employees now and say you want to make sure you’re doing a good job and ask what would they want.

    2. Graciosa*

      The location is probably a big factor, but I would think about this as an opportunity to improve your management skills. If you don’t know what’s going on with your employees – especially on a small team – then you could probably work on improving the communication.

      This isn’t something you can fix instantly (like waiting to clean out the garage and finally getting around to it). Open communication needs to be built up over time. Your employees trust you when they have a long experience of sharing things with you – first little discontents and then bigger issues – and seeing that you consistently react well. Consistency is key.

      Reacting well means that you don’t take anything personally – even if an employee is telling you that something about you is causing a problem. The lens you need to use is whether a problem is 1) legitimately a problem (sometimes you need to reset expectations) and 2) fixable (sometimes it isn’t – I suspect that you don’t get to decide to relocate the branch).

      As an example, I want an employee to be comfortable saying to me, “Graciosa, it drives me crazy that you come in and say ‘Good morning’ to me every day when I am trying to finish the daily cash report.”

      Possible responses include:
      1. “Why are you still working on the cash report at eight o’clock in the morning? It is supposed to be finished before you leave each night.”
      2. “This is a customer service position, and you need to be prepared to be pleasant and cheerful to anyone who comes in. There will be interruptions – other than me – and you need to be able to work through them. It’s part of the job. Is that something you think you can do?”
      3. “No problem. Thank you for telling me. I’ll stop doing that.”

      None of these answers have anything to do with me or my feelings – which one I give depends very much on the work. My job is to make sure it moves as smoothly as possible. If John needs to chat for five minutes about the weather before getting down to business, I can chat. If Sue is more effective with written instructions and Mark prefers verbal ones, Sue gets written ones and Mark gets verbal ones. I have a preference, of course – but this isn’t about me. It’s about making the team as effective as possible.

      To answer your specific questions, you can bring up the interviewing as long as you can do so without making the discussion an adversarial one or about you. Worrying about employees hating you is normal for a new manager, but not something that you can bring to this discussion.

      A confident manager is not going to assume that the problem is with him or her. It is fine – even good practice – to seek input from employees on how you can do better, but it is not appropriate to seek reassurance. Reassurance about your performance is a conversation you have with your manager.

      A possible opening to speak to the employee would be, “I understand you’ve been looking for other opportunities. Is there something about the work situation here that isn’t a good fit for you?” Then listen to the response. “Work situation” is sufficiently open ended that the individual can tell you it’s the location, the lack of good lunch restaurants, proximity to an ex, the smell from a nearby bakery, or your incessant micromanaging that is driving him away.

      When you hear the response, remember your lens. Is this a legitimate work problem, and is it fixable? You need to appear calm and relaxed throughout the conversation. Your employees are paying attention (this is not a public conversation, but assume they’ll hear about it later), and they will form opinions about whether or not it’s safe to talk to you.

      Work on building trust and communication with your employees on a regular basis. Do this deliberately – don’t just assume it will happen. I have regularly scheduled meetings with every member of my team even when there’s nothing to talk about. Typically, I need to do some prompting at early meetings – how are things going, what can we do better, what do you think about new system / latest company results – but when they get used to it they come in with a list of topics they want to discuss, which is great.

      At the end of the meeting, I ask what I can do differently to help them be more effective. This is where you get input on your management style. With good input, I can tailor my behavior to get the results I want.

      Finally, let me reassure you that it is perfectly normal for there to be some turn over with a change in leadership, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is a problem with the new manager – even without the location issues you face. Your manager should know this. If you have concerns about your performance or how you can be more effective, talk it over with him or her, but I strongly suspect that this is nothing to worry about.

      Most of the foregoing was to help you do a better job, which doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad one now. Like a lot of things, managing gets easier with practice. You’ll be fine.

      1. scw*

        Thank you SO much for your response! I’m still digesting it, but it really is what I need to hear. Communication is something I’ve been working at with all of the staff here, but it is a slow battle of people keeping information to themselves and needing to be prompted to share. This isn’t even with discontents, but with actual issues like letting someone know about problems with the public or police. I have a weekly meeting with this staff member who is interviewing, I think I will use your line to open up some dialogue. In the past I’ve asked the staff member about things I could do better, ways I could help make his job easier, what ways he would prefer receiving feedback and appreciation. Mostly he doesn’t say much, just that things are fine, good, I should keep up what I’m doing.

        1. Not So NewReader*

          I am jumping on the safety issues- include asking people about the safety of the area. How concerned are they?
          Maybe you could get security cameras or implement a buddy system. I have worked for places where no concern was shown for the safety of people exiting and entering the building, It was um- difficult to watch such lack of thinking. (It took time for my concern/resentment to build up.)

          1. SCW*

            Well, I have responded to the security concerns. We are upgrading our lighting, have installed a peephole in the back door, and did a training with the staff. That said, it isn’t actually that dangerous of a neighborhood. We have the police out here in roughly the same amount as at any facility, and most of the really bad areas are about a mile away.

            That said, I actually had the chat with the staff member today and he said he was trying to figure out what he wants to do, where he wants to go with his career. I asked him if there was anything that we could do to make his work situation here better and he said he had no complaints, just that he’d been here for a long time (7 years) when he only ever meant it to be a temporary job while he was in school. I mentioned the possibility of doing a swap to work at another branch for some months, try something out to see if he liked it, if this interview didn’t pan out. I think it went well–though I didn’t really get any feedback that helped me be a better manager, I hope having the conversation makes me a better manager.

  137. Allison*

    Finishing up my last day at a great company today. I’m sad to be leaving, everyone’s been a pleasure to work with, but I’m also excited to be starting something new soon. I don’t have anything lined up yet, but I have a couple solid leads and I’m confident I’ll land something by this time next month. Is that delusional?

    1. Graciosa*

      Whether that time line is appropriate or not depends on your industry and the local market (if you’re looking for an objective assessment) but I would advise you to go on thinking you’ll land something soon regardless – it’s much better for your mental health.

      Good luck.

  138. Malissa*

    Okay I’ve got a question.
    Any ideas on how to keep my puppy from chewing everything in sight?
    We’re down 2 shoes, one fly swatter, one pair of glasses, one glass case and countless napkins at this point.
    We really do try to keep everything picked up, but she catches anything we miss.

    1. Bryan*

      Some people have had success with bitter apple spray. I think you can make your own version at home. After a couple of times chewing that stuff the puppy should learn not to. Some dogs like it though.

      Also make sure you have plenty of stuff for the puppy to chew. Nylabones are great. When you catch (has to be caught in the act) the puppy chewing something they shouldn’t say no, take it away, and give them the thing they’re allowed to chew on.

      Last, and this sucks, it’s a puppy thing. They grow out of it.

      1. Stephanie*

        Last, and this sucks, it’s a puppy thing. They grow out of it.

        Heh, I wish. Our 10-year-old lab-pit mix still chews things. He’s just gotten more selective as he ages: his preference seems to be wood. I find chewed up emery boards and pencils on occasion. Luckily (?), there are some wood chips in a tree planter box that keep him entertained.

        I would just make sure your dog has lot of chew toys. If you can bear the noise, dogs love squeaky toys.

    2. Thinking of a Name*

      Boundary spray available in pet stores. The disgusting taste and smell is supposed to deter them. Toys like Nylabones and Kongs are good (no pig ears!). And finally stern “NO!”

    3. Anon scientist*

      They sell these skinned teddy bear things that have space for you to put an empty plastic bottle inside. Lots of dogs love the crunch + fabric/fake fur, and you can just replace the plastic bottle when it gets mangled.

  139. Winchester*

    So, I’m the classic 20 year old Psychology student who has no work experience (except dog walking, which I feel most companies don’t consider work), I get ok grades and I haven’t volunteered or done and internship (I can’t due to financial reasons- can’t afford the gas and public transit doesn’t go anywhere near me!)

    I have applied at over 40 jobs within the past two months. I had two call backs, and got rejected for both. I’m talking jobs like cashier jobs.

    I think most of my problem is I absoutely do not stand out in any way! Both in physical aspects and accomplishment wise- pretty much my only accomplishment is getting into a rollover car accident, walking away, and driving the next day.

    Any tips? I really need a paying job!

    1. Sitting Duck*

      It sucks doesn’t it? People are more than willing to let you work for free (as a volunteer or intern) but heaven forbid they give you a job so you can get experience and work your way up – that would be silly.

      Rant over.

      Have you looked into AmeriCorps? I know its not a huge ‘stipend’ but it is livable on (I did it as a single mom paying for my own daycare, rent/utilities and 1.5 hour round trip commute…somehow) It offers some great experience in a wide range of fields, you can get an education stipend to pay off student loan debt, and it looks GREAT on a resume. Its also a great way to network – because the AmeriCorps alumni network is HUGE!

      Good luck out there!

      1. Winchester*

        Ah, thank you! I’ll try and look into it. It doesn’t have to pay a ton, I’d just like to have work experience before I transfer out of state (and money in case my poor car breaks down!)

      2. Penguin*

        I second this. I did AmeriCorps as well. I actually ended up in a role in my field area, and it was a great year. The alumni network is massive and it looks good on your CV.

    2. Graciosa*

      You mentioned that you do not stand out either physically or with respect to accomplishments. Another reason one person will be selected for a job over another is personality – is this something you can work with? I’m not suggesting that you pretend to be someone you’re not (this doesn’t help you find a job for which you are truly suited and isn’t sustainable) but you can work on presenting your best self to the interviewers.

      Interviews are very stressful, but practice and the right mindset can help you settle down enough to work on other areas beyond the content of your answers. Smiling, good eye contact, and other signs of engagement can go a long way. I know of people with middling qualifications and great people skills who beat out candidates with better technical qualifications.

      We spend a lot of time at work, and a candidates who are relaxed, likable and just pleasant to be around generally have an edge over the tense and the serious. I’m not sure whether this will help you very much – and “great people skills” aren’t easily acquired in a class – but I did want to throw this out there for you to think about.

      In any event, don’t get too discouraged – remember that most of the work force is actually pretty average by definition.

  140. Betsy Bobbins*

    Since it would be innappropriate to share with co-workers and weird to post on FB, I’m going to share this here:
    I got a awesome review today complete with raise and bonus!
    I think a little happy hour is in order for me :)

  141. Sitting Duck*

    I got rejected from a great job today. Okay, it happens, I’m (working on) getting over it.

    The rejection letter was a personal one and very nice. I had great rapport with the whole staff (there are only 3).

    However, in the rejection letter, it was mentioned, should I ever have some extra free time, they would love for me to volunteer and be on the committee for a big project they have coming up.

    I think its important to mention that since it is such a small company I know volunteering won’t lead to a job. It is a company I greatly admire though, and fully support their work and think its very important….

    I’m still a bit emotional about the rejection, so I’m hoping some of you may have some better insight. What do you think the pros/cons of volunteering after being rejected from a job?

    1. C average*

      This is just me, but I don’t think I would.

      With a staff that small, you’re going to know exactly who got the job you wanted. You could very well be a better person than me in this regard, but I think I’d forever be comparing myself to that person and thinking about whether I could be doing a better job. I don’t think that sort of setup would bring out the best in me at all.

      Again, though, that could be just me.

      Are there other organizations LIKE this one that you’d like to work for? If so, volunteering might help you pick up some experience that would position you better to apply at a similar company.

      1. Ruffingit*

        I agree with C average on this one. Not only will you see the person who got the job you wanted, but I personally feel (and this may just be me so there’s that…) that being asked to volunteer after being rejected for a paying position is rather insulting. I don’t think that is what they are trying to do in your position, but nonetheless I would find it insulting. To me, it says “We don’t think you’re good enough to pay, but you’re good enough to give us free labor.” No thanks. I’d rather take the time I would be volunteering for them and use it to look for a job that pays.

        1. Sitting Duck*

          Ruffingit,

          This was my initial response too, that it was insulting.

          I’m so conflicted, because its a cause I believe in whole-heartedly, and as I said below – its one of a kind.

          1. Ruffingit*

            I get that, but perhaps you can volunteer with the cause that is the next best thing to this one. In other words, what is another cause that you also care deeply about?

      2. Sitting Duck*

        Thanks for your input.

        Unfortunately, it is actually a one of a kind company – one of the projects I’d like to help out on is expanding it beyond my home state (which is the only place it operates right now, and there is actually nothing like it in any other states, maybe I should just move and start my own? haha)

        I’m not sure how I feel about working with the person who got the job, I know what you are saying. Its something I’ll have to think about and consider.

        1. fposte*

          I’ll give you a different take, but before that, is this a for-profit company? Are we sure this volunteer program is legal?

          For the other take: I’m in an academic unit where we hire from our student population. They’re good and highly competitive jobs, and there are lots of terrific people whom we didn’t hire who are still attending our academic program and who then work as volunteers with us. It impresses the heck out of me when people are willing to do that, and it does come up in recommendations for them. I don’t know if they’re always comparing themselves to the people who got the jobs or not, but it’s common enough for them to really be involved with our unit long-term as volunteers that I figure they can’t be all that bothered by the comparison, and I think the immersion in the unit community is something they find valuable. While your situation sounds different in some key ways, I’m just saying that I think there are times when it can work.

    2. Not So NewReader*

      Off the wall idea: Will they consider letting you on board when they expand out of state in exchange for your volunteer help now?

      Frame it as “you will get to see my work and be able to have an idea of how I can help your mission”.

  142. voluptuousfire*

    Definitely need some advice! I was let go from the position I started back in December. I was let go due to performance issues. Basically I was the first member of a growing team and for about a month and a half I did the work of 2 or 3 people. I was falling behind a lot and was having trouble keeping up. Stress, frustration, illness (6 weeks worth of bronchitis) and doing at least an hour of unpaid overtime every night to try to keep up and also going back at least two steps professionally really affected my attitude and I just stopped caring. They ended up expanding the team by another two people and while my attitude did improve, my work apparently did not. I was only there 3 months.

    Before this position I was laid off in April of 2013 and was out of work for 8 months. Should I even put this on my resume? Either way, I did have my resume all set to go and this job is listed. I’m thinking of taking it off, but on the other hand then it looks like I’ve been out of a job for a year, which wouldn’t be the case. If I keep this job on my resume, I know how to spin it to turn it into a positive learning experience, but do I even need to keep this on? Overall it was just a bad fit. I would have left either way but I was hoping to actually quit to go into a better position, not be let go.

    1. Stephanie*

      Hmmm, were you working on anything else while you were out of work? Could you have that listed and omit the most recent job? Year-long gaps aren’t as crazy as they used to be and I feel like a three-month stint somewhere would bring up more questions than it answers.

      1. voluptuousfire*

        Yeah, but before my second to last job, I was out of work for 11 months due to my department of 5 years being eliminated in a corporate restructuring. If I didn’t have that gap, it wouldn’t be much of an issue.

        I did a few weeks stint at a holiday retail gig but aside from that, no. I tried temp agencies but had no luck.

  143. Hunny*

    Does anyone have suggestions for checking data quality? I’m rolling out new databases at my office and want to help the managers check their direct reports’ info easily.

    Do any of you have specific things you do to look for mistakes in someone else’s data?

    1. FD*

      What kind of data are we looking at. Is it data that has useful averages? If so, you can set up Excel to flag anything too far outside that average. (Use conditional formatting.)

      1. Hunny*

        Client contacts, including length of time spent, type of client, type of contact, number of referrals, etc. I think the averages will be useful to spot big trends (why did our average contact double in length!?!). What I am thinking of today would maybe be more data entry level, though. Do you have any informal approaches you use, like check the averages once a week?

    2. Trillian*

      Based on my experience with clinical study data –
      – Try and pin down which data they really need clean. Cleaning data sets is time-consuming.
      – Make sure you have a description of each data point, what it measures, its expected values, and where it came from.

      Then –
      – #1, are the data all there? Check for blank entries (though ideally there are data entry checks). Missing data is likely to be missing for a reason, and summaries may look fine because the 20% of off-target values aren’t included.
      – Also check that the zeroes are meaningful; sometimes people enter 0 and mean missing.
      – Run numerical summaries: mean, median, range for continuous variables, proportions for categorical. Look for impossible numbers – example from clinical data, heart rate = 0. Just a number to the statistician; tends to get the clinicians excited. Or strange patterns in the proportions suggesting that the don’t-knows are picking one particular option. Pull out lines with values above or below a certain measure. Plots are good for picking up patterns.
      – If data are being coded or categorized, check that that is being correctly done. If it’s being done on the basis of other data in the data set, run a cross-check, eg, if column C is between 10000 and 20000, column L should be 2, flag if it’s not. Otherwise, you may have to spot check the database against the source documents, either in a random selection or a chosen problem area.
      – Run cross-checks on values that you expect to be correlated: either they’ll always occur together, or never occur together. Clinical example again, adverse event = hysterectomy, sex = male. Possibly correct but needs query.

    1. TheSnarkyB*

      oops sorry, looks like I double-posted. Supreme Blogger Green, feel free to delete these!

  145. TheSnarkyB*

    If anyone’s still on here… what should my Gravatar be?
    Jamie? Does the naming offer extend to this as well?

  146. TonOProfessions*

    I’m excited! I just donated 8 inches of my hair to Children With Hair Loss. I’ve been growing it for a little over two years now. Feeling great about donating and I like having it short again. It just touches my shoulders now.

    http://www.childrenwithhairloss.us/

  147. 3rdtimesthecharm*

    Anyone here been married more than once? I’m married for the third time at age 38 and I feel like I’ve finally gotten it right. I learned a lot from the first two marriages. I married young the first time and in my late 20s the second.

  148. Carolina*

    I’m applying for jobs. On Wednesday, I got an email from a recruiter for a a job I applied to last week. He wanted to set up a call, and my response was along the lines of “Wednesday or Thursday morning works best for me, but I am flexible to accommodate your schedule”. He replied that those times didn’t work, and shortly thereafter I received a system generated “thanks but no thanks” email.

    I’m not sure if he was too lazy or not willing to sync up schedules. Dodged a bullet I guess?

    1. Audiophile*

      Wait, what? You indicated what worked best but still mentioned you were willing to be flexible, yeah that seems like a strange response.

      I had a recruiter reply to my application and ask if I was currently employed lol.

      I’d agree you dodged a bullet.

    4. Stephanie*

      Yeah, that’s a pretty lazy recruiter. He’s clearly just trying to fill a position as quickly as possible. Bullet dodged, Neo-style.

  149. Schuyler*

    Late to the party, but still wanted to post today.

    I was talking briefly with my boss today to confirm some things before I begin my performance evaluation. As we were talking, she said, “And I know I still owe you a promotion, so we need to think about that.” Of course I think I said something about how she didn’t owe me a promotion. Of course, I’ve had this in the back of my mind since last July or so; the division at our university changed a bit at that time, and at the time she asked if I wanted to be promoted in title but not in money, or wait until this year for both. I don’t count my chickens though, so it was a pleasant surprise that she had not “forgotten” about that.

  150. Nameless*

    A little late, but if anyone’s still around, I could use some advice.

    I’d been hoping to break into an industry in which it’s almost impossible to get a job without first having had an internship in the field, preferably with the same organization that you’re trying for a job at. However, I’m not in school and almost all of the available internships are for currently enrolled full time college students only. I’ve mostly given because of this, but I do idly check the openings from time to time to see if there’s anything really amazing.

    Well, an amazing internship has just been posted, at the organization within the field that I believe would be the best fit for me, no less, and I’m wondering how awful it would be to apply for the internship even though it’s another students-only one. I would of course address this in the cover letter (and could actually turn it to my advantage there, since I’ve got some good joking ways to phrase it and this is a writing-heavy position requiring a sense of humor). Probably the only reason I’m seriously considering this is that both internships and jobs at my level in this field open up so rarely.

    I feel like this might be worst idea ever, but I wanted to double check.

    2. Jen RO*

      Well, it can’t hurt to try, as long as you remember that the odds of getting it are pretty small.

      1. Nameless*

        Are you sure it can’t hurt? Won’t I become known as a person who can’t read a job ad, if I try again with that org in the future?

        1. Ask a Manager* Post author

          It won’t hurt, and you won’t get that reputation because (a) you will explain in your cover letter and (b) this is a minor thing that wouldn’t haunt you forever even if you didn’t.

    3. Penguin*

      There is no harm in trying. If you don’t get the job, then you haven’t lost anything because you didn’t have it to begin with.

      Have you considered going to school to study this new field area if it is something you really want to do? Even if its just at a local community college, or online. That may help you get an internship as well as open up more doors.

      1. Nameless*

        School’s not really an option for me right now, for both financial and personal reasons, and this niche is so specific that I’m not sure I would want to get a degree in it anyway. My skillset is transferable enough that this doesn’t have to be my only option.

  151. Michelle*

    My fiancé is moving from the East Coast to San Francisco, basically for me (I’m from here and moved back in July for a job opportunity) – he’s from back east.

    I have been helping him search for jobs and he’s had a lot of interest and interviews, but just no luck getting to that next stage, or at least with a company he’s actually interested in. He’s in Advertising Sales which is a much smaller market in SF (and he currently has limited SF contacts – but he’s good at building business), and his pay now is pretty good – hard for some SF companies he’s interviewed with to get close to matching.

    He’s really starting to hit a wall and get discouraged by all the interest and then he doesn’t make the next round. I think he’s starting to feel like companies don’t think he’s good enough for the job or there are others better/more qualified. I take a very different approach to interviews – it’s a business, a two way street – you need to be interested in them, as much as the company is interested in you. If one doesn’t work out, it wasn’t meant to be, and you just have to keep at it and apply. That mentality has served me well so far, but he’s much different. The 3 main jobs he’s had have all been situations where someone reached out to him and recruited him for the role, so he didn’t really have to search.

    He was also offered a really good opportunity in NY that he would have wanted had we not started the move to SF. He had to turn it down and I know he was disappointed – and now with the difficulty of getting something in SF so far, I feel like he’s getting really discouraged and it kills me to watch.

    I try to tell myself that once he’s out here maybe it’ll get better since he’ll be able to interview right away, instead of an employer having to wait to meet him in person due to him still being on the East Coast.

    I’m wondering if besides the things I’ve mentioned (smaller territory, limited contacts, distance) that might be working against him, can you think of any other reasons why he’s had so much interest, but then not getting the job? To put it in context, I’d say he’s interviewed (mainly via phone/skype but a couple in-person) with maybe 10+ companies in the last 3+ months, with only 1 becoming a dismal offer (pay is almost half his current salary). He’s exceed his sales quota’s two of the last 3 years, so he’s good at what he does and has an impressive resume.

    Appreciate any advice and please send positive job interviewing mojo our way!

    1. Penguin*

      Well I think first that the distance is definitely a big issue. The employers likely have timelines as to when they want to interview and fill the role by, and if he isn’t available to interview in person they may be a bit hesitant or flat-out unable to extend that. Skype is good but it isn’t the same as an in person interview goes, the body language can get misread or missed, and the general feeling the candidate brings (does he hold himself with confidence, etc.) isn’t as easily noticed.

      He will probably have a better time once he is in SF.

      That being said, you shouldn’t be comparing new offers he gets to how much he made before. The job market is different in different areas. A teacher may make $30,000 to start in one state and a starting rate of $20,000 in another. Do some research into what the job market for Advertising Sales in SF is and how much the pay rate is on average and then go from there. An offer may be a lot less in comparison to the East Coast but is fair based on SF’s job market and rates for the role.

      Hope he finds something soon and you both enjoy your new home in SF!

  152. Ellie*

    I got fired from a job I had for two weeks. It was going absolutely fine, or so I thought. They made me go through a huge background check to get the job in the first place. Then one day before I was supposed to come in, my boss called and said “we no longer need your services” and “we just have too many people working here right now.” Um, okay. It was so sudden and unexpected, and honestly I don’t really think that’s the reason for letting me go, but I don’t know what it would be. I just wish I could find and keep a job…..

    1. The Other Dawn*

      Oh, that really sucks. Sorry to hear that.

      “we just have too many people working here right now.”

      Either they’re covering up the real reason, or someone didn’t make an assessment before hand to determine if they really need extra people. Sounds like maybe you dodged a bullet here.

      1. Ellie*

        Those were my two thoughts and I was leaning towards lying. How can anybody not know their staffing needs?

    2. Colette*

      That sucks.

      Did you actually start, or did they call you before your first day?

      If you started, I’d suggest thinking about what could have happened, focusing on the things that were within your control.

      For example, were you late? Having trouble learning the job? Did you ask for help too often, or not even when you really needed it?

      I suggest this not because it was definitely your fault, but because maybe you’re doing something you could change for the next job. (If you were fired for reasons outside your control, it still sucks, but by definition you can’t control whether it happens again.)

      1. Ellie*

        Yes I really started, I was working there for two full weeks, and then one day I just got a phone call, “Don’t come in”. Which again raises my suspicions about it, because she called me instead of telling me at work.

        I was never late. I actually came in early on a couple different occasions for them. They actually never trained me, just said “here, go to work.” I am completely stumped as to what could have caused it. The only thing I can think of is that, one of my coworkers really did not like me, and maybe she told my boss. But I don’t think that warrants immediate termination.

    3. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

      Is it a nonprofit where maybe they had an Oh Shit moment when they realized they blew the budget? Well, that could happen anywhere, actually.

      1. Stephanie*

        Yeah, this happened in my for-profit job. The company had pretty poor workforce planning. Our work was all based on client requests (and we only seemed to have contracts with a few customers, so we got a lot of one-off projects). I’d get emails about new hires and think “How the eff can we afford to hire all these people?” And then I got my answer when the layoffs began to happen.

      2. Ellie*

        I suppose it is possible they are telling the truth about having too many employees, but I wish they figured that out before hiring me.

        1. Clerica D. McClerkykins*

          Oh, I know, it sucks royally either way. I’d just rather know it was about money than think it was something I did (or someone said I did).

    1. Stephanie*

      I am always skeptical of these lists. They’re a good starting point, but I think they ignore a lot of nuances in the market.

      Like DC, for example (speaking from personal experience living there): there are jobs, but I think you’re SOL there without a bachelors since it’s mostly white-collar work. I noticed salaries were somewhat bimodal there–there were a lot of high-paid government workers or attorneys, but then there were also a lot of $33k nonprofit workers.

      Austin, I tried searching there for a bit. After I got laid off, my best friend who lives there is like “Austin has an awesome job market! You’re welcome to stay here for a bit and hunt!” I did find it was good…for tech (which both she and her boyfriend work in). Once I got outside tech (which was most of my experience), I didn’t find it to be a whole lot better than anywhere else.

      1. Ruffingit*

        Yeah, whenever I see those types of lists or hear people say that a place has a strong job market, I am skeptical. You have to look at what exactly that strong job market is hiring for. In a lot of places the job market is strong if you work in oil and gas, STEM, or if you work in retail. Anything outside of that and the market is not so strong. So when someone says a place has a strong job market, if they’re including minimum wage jobs, that doesn’t really help anyone much because minimum wage in DC means living in a cardboard box if the hobo across the street finally vacates one.

  154. Ask a Manager* Post author

    Question for any of you who hire AmeriCorps members (or have worked as one yourself): Do you have thoughts about hiring AmeriCorps members and any special advice for keeping them engaged during their one year of service, since knowing that it’s just a one-year gig poses special challenges? What would you advice be for someone seeking to hire really strong AmeriCorps candidates?

    (I’m working with someone facing this right now and I don’t have any experience with it.)

    1. Victoria Nonprofit (USA)*

      I’m commenting mostly to remind myself to come back to this – I have a lot of thoughts and not enough time right now.

      Thoughts off the top of my head:

      – My biggest challenge in hiring AmeriCorps members was screening for people who are going to be able to stick it out with the very low salary (especially VISTAs, who aren’t allowed to do any outside work). We talked very explicitly about this in interviews but I still got it wrong sometimes. “Washing out” is a really significant problem, because you often cannot hire outside the normal windows (i.e., when a pre-service orientation is available for your new hire) – so if someone drops out it can be months before you can rehire.
      – For small AmeriCorps programs (or orgs hiring just one or two people), it can be difficult to get a strong pool of applicants. Large, well-known programs (like City Year) absorb a lot of the strongest candidates. We overcame this (to an extent) by building relationships with community service offices and individual professors at local colleges and universities. We also partnered with a coalition of small AmeriCorps programs to recruit as a unit.

      – I generally didn’t see problems with members staying focused through the end of their term. We would occasionally lose someone who got a permanent offer that needed them to start before the end of the term. That’s just a cost of doing business though; I’m can’t argue that a talented member should turn down a long-term opportunity for the last month of a time-limited (and low paying) gig.

      More thoughts later!

      2. Kit M.*

        This won’t be helpful to Alison, but my cousin did AmeriCorps Vista, and not being able to do extra part time work really made it difficult on her. Other than that, as I recall, the only thing that threatened to undermine her commitment to the program was coming up against intransigence in management and entrenched, inefficient bureaucracy at the small, local non-profits where she worked. Coming to something with a fresh perspective and fresh energy, and not being able to do much with either, is tough on a young idealistic person.

  155. Victoria Nonprofit (USA)*

    BTW, Olive looks HUGE for her age! I don’t mean fat; I mean, like, Maine Coon Cat. She’s going to be a big girl!

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I know! That photo is actually very misleading; something about the perspective is off and she looks bigger than Sam, who is an enormous (25 pound) cat, when in fact, she’s about a third of his size. But she is actually quite huge for her age, and I do wonder if she’s actually a puma cub or something.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        When animals have proper feedings and good food they can get pretty big. I think it’s the power of optimal conditions.

        My uncle used to talk about a bear in a zoo- I want to say in NJ?- it was well fed/cared for and it grew so much bigger than its wild counterparts. I guess it made news paper articles a few times because of the sheer size of the animal. This bear had the best deal going- so he grew and grew.

        I had a dog growing up- a lab mix. She weighed 135. We over fed her, so that was our bad. But she was bigger than either breed of dog and super strong. She had a large frame (long and wide) so she probably would have been okay around 110 or 120. No way to know what you will end up with when you bring these little ones home.

      2. KAS*

        Maine Coon owner here. She doesn’t look like an MC–I don’t see the foot feathers, tufted ears or an undercoat. However, she does look like an absolutely beautiful volumptuous calico.

  156. Frieda*

    Hi AtM team! I hope some people are still following this thread on a Monday, because after the Excel open-thread I thought this would be the best place to crowdsource a general PowerPoint question.

    I have to put together a training session for both my team and an offsite team. My director, whom I adore, will be at both trainings, and I really want to knock it out of the park. I’ve gotten really interested in data visualization theory this past year, but most of the advice about presentation software is “PowerPoint is the devil, never use it.” Alternatives such as writing a 6 page memo and having people spend the first 5-10 minutes reading silently are offered, but while I love that idea that is NOT the culture of my company. A radically different presentation format would be distracting enough that it would take away from the content. So PowerPoint it is.

    So, does anyone know of best practices for design/information-processing in presentations, or references they could point me toward? Or advice from personal training experience? I don’t want to end up reading slides at people for two hours.

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