I’m supposed to interview my ex for a job by Alison Green on July 27, 2016 A reader writes: I’m assisting in the hiring for an open position at my company. Unless I change departments (which is feasible), this new hire will be my direct supervisor. I’m mid-level and the position is senior but not executive level. Someone I dated a few years ago is applying for the position and is […] Read the full article →
my company asks personal, invasive questions about your childhood and adolescence by Alison Green on July 27, 2016 A reader writes: I’ve been working for the past three years at a large global organization. After three interviews, I was brought on board for a one-year trial period, a common situation for junior staff, and I was recommended to go through the formal hiring process at the end of that first year. Thus began […] Read the full article →
my interviewers burst out laughing after I left the room, I need a different desk chair, and more by Alison Green on July 27, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My interviewers all burst out laughing after I left the room Last week, I interviewed for a position that would provide me some great experience right after I graduate. The position is not permanent, but would tide me over for a while as I search […] Read the full article →
how should we handle job candidates who show up for interviews way too early? by Alison Green on July 26, 2016 A reader writes: I’ve seen a lot of mentions on your blog about candidates who arrive too early (including that it is not something top candidates do). Accepting that there will always be some people who will show up early anyway, do you have any suggestions on mitigating the awkwardness that ensues if someone is […] Read the full article →
I can’t make small talk at work — and it’s holding me back by Alison Green on July 26, 2016 A reader writes: I work in the legal field. I am not a lawyer, and I love the work I do. Legal practice is a great outlet for my extremely detail oriented tendencies. Leave me in a room with reams of paper, a laptop, and five hard drives of disorganized electronic files, and I’m happy […] Read the full article →
I have an inappropriate coworker and our mothers are friends by Alison Green on July 26, 2016 A reader writes: Last year, a family moved onto my street last year — a woman and her daughter, “Alice.” The mother and my mother are friendly and generally do neighborly things like gardening together, occasionally doing grocery trips, etc. Alice and I both attend university in different cities, so we hadn’t met until this […] Read the full article →
how can I get out of singing on-camera, new hire sprang major time off on me, and more by Alison Green on July 26, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’m being required to sing on camera for work Each year, the government-funded organization that I work for has a roadshow which the government are invited to – it’s basically an excuse to showcase why our services are required and to encourage the government to […] Read the full article →
no, group work in school is not “just like in the real work world” by Alison Green on July 25, 2016 A reader writes: I’m starting a business graduate program now and all of the administrators are practically giddy proclaiming, “There’s going to be a lot of group work! Just like the real business world!” I’ve always struggled with group work because I’m a (recovering) perfectionist and was the type of kid who dominated group projects […] Read the full article →
how to negotiate salary … without getting your offer pulled by Alison Green on July 25, 2016 I hear from a lot of people who are nervous about negotiating salary when they get a job offer. One of the most common negotiation questions I hear is “what if I try to negotiate and they pull the offer?” It’s understandable that people worry about this. After all, when you’ve worked hard to get an […] Read the full article →
a coworker stole my spicy food, got sick, and is blaming me by Alison Green on July 25, 2016 A reader writes: We have a fridge at work. Up to this point, nothing I had in it was stolen (I am quite new, and others have told me that this was a problem). My food is always really, really spicy. I just love it that way. Anyway, I was sitting at my desk when […] Read the full article →