May 2014

things that don’t matter in your job search

Things that don’t matter and which you must stop spending even a second longer thinking about: whether you put your cover letter in the body of the email or attach it (hiring managers have varying preferences, but no one is going to reject you over it, unless you ignore specific instructions) whether you address your […]

Read the full article →

my boss is smothering me

A reader writes: I work for an insurance agent who is based in another insurance agent’s office. He basically rents out a couple rooms in the office for himself and his employees, who are just me and another girl. Recently, that other girl left (she was my best friend in the office), and so it’s […]

Read the full article →

what’s your worst career sin?

The first time I had to fire someone, I messed it up badly. I had inherited an employee who was painfully slow, made regular mistakes, and didn’t respond to feedback. And like many newer managers, I danced around the issues with him.  I made “suggestions” and expressed concerns, but I never once said directly that the […]

Read the full article →