my employer made me a contractor without telling me, sitting down at trade shows, and more by Alison Green on September 27, 2014 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My prospective new employer is wary of hiring me if it will piss off my current employer My current employer is a 10-year client of a large web development company that I reached out to and have interviewed with. I recently led the redesign of […] Read the full article →
how do I ask my new job to let me use a pseudonym? by Alison Green on September 26, 2014 A reader writes: I got hired for a freelance writing job, and I don’t want my real name on the articles, which will be published online. How do I go about asking the job for permission to use a pseudonym? My reasons are: 1) I am estranged from my family for reasons of safety and […] Read the full article →
open thread – September 26, 2014 by Alison Green on September 26, 2014 It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything work-related that 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. Read the full article →
my coworkers keep venting to me about things I can’t help with, not hearing back from a client, and more by Alison Green on September 26, 2014 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers keep venting to me about things I can’t help with I work at a large university. Professors here wield a lot of influence in academic and administrative decisions. Although I don’t always agree, I accept this is the way things get approved and […] Read the full article →
can I ask for an extra week of vacation, even though I’m entry-level? by Alison Green on September 25, 2014 A reader writes: I work at a very small organization (less than 10 employees). I’ve been working here full-time for just over a year, though I was a part-time intern for the preceding year. I currently get two weeks of paid vacation. There is no rigid policy regarding approval or recording of vacation days. This […] Read the full article →
how a 20-minute meeting after every project can help you do better work by Alison Green on September 25, 2014 When you wrap up a major project, do you most frequently (a) immediately turn your attention to other pressing items on your to-do list, (b) file away some lessons for next time in the back of your head, or (c) schedule a meeting to debrief with others who were involved with the work? If you’re most people, you do (a) or […] Read the full article →
how can I prepare my teenager for the workforce? by Alison Green on September 25, 2014 A reader writes: My daughter has just reached the minimum legal age to get a job (13 where we are) and she’s very eager. I of course want her to do really well in any industry — both the ones she wants to be in for a lifetime and the ones she’s in short-term for […] Read the full article →
I’m a bookkeeper for a company that doesn’t pay its bills on time, rejecting applicants who don’t meet basic qualifications, and more by Alison Green on September 25, 2014 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’m a bookkeeper for a company that doesn’t pay its bills on time I have been working for a small company for a few months now as their bookkeeper. They are a small retail store and money is tight. They never pay their bills on […] Read the full article →
if everyone dresses casually at my new job, can I still wear a suit and tie? by Alison Green on September 24, 2014 A reader writes: I’ve been interviewed by a company that has a very interesting role which I think would help develop me further and also grow in my career. Assuming I get the role and I start with them, would it be an issue if I don’t align myself to their dress code right away? […] Read the full article →
how to get along with your most annoying coworkers by Alison Green on September 24, 2014 Unless you’ve worked alone for your whole career or you’re extremely tolerant, you’ve probably had your share of annoying coworkers – the busybody who peppers you with intrusive questions, the slacker who does no work but somehow takes all the credit for yours, and a whole cast of annoying others. Although it can feel like […] Read the full article →