I get bored with all my jobs after six months by Alison Green on April 5, 2017 A reader writes: How do you know you’re in the right job? I’m in my early 40s and I’ve worked for corporations and colleges and social service agencies. The same pattern always emerges, which is: everything is great for about six months, then I get bored and start looking. This pattern repeats itself across entry-level […] Read the full article →
I don’t want to work in the office sick bay, letting an employer know you’ll be in their city, and more by Alison Green on April 5, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee quit and won’t come back unless another employee is fired This letter got so much interest that I made it into its own post, so that it didn’t overwhelm the comment section here. 2. I don’t want my office to be the sick bay […] Read the full article →
employee won’t come back unless her coworker is fired by Alison Green on April 5, 2017 This letter was originally part of a five-short-answers column, but it’s getting enough interest that I’m making it its own post. The other four letters that were originally bundled with it are now here. (Keep in mind that that’s also why my answer here is short and not as comprehensive as it might otherwise be.) […] Read the full article →
how long after resigning should you still answer questions? by Alison Green on April 4, 2017 A reader writes: I recently resigned from a mid-level management position at a large research organization, to take a position as director for a nonprofit that works regularly with the research organization (the nonprofit actually spends much of their time promoting the activities of the research group). It was a very amicable transition, and I […] Read the full article →
how do I hold it together at work during a personal crisis? by Alison Green on April 4, 2017 A reader writes: I’m looking for some advice on how you effectively manage a team while you’re drowning in personal issues. In the past year, I’ve had what can only be described as a Series of Unfortunate Events that honestly seem almost comical in their frequency and severity: I had emergency abdominal surgery, had to […] Read the full article →
my boss asked if I’m depressed by Alison Green on April 4, 2017 A reader writes: In a recent one-on-one with my boss, she told me she thinks that I’m depressed and should take advantage of our company’s resources. Am I right in feeling like this was inappropriate? I was kind of thrown off and speechless at the time, so I didn’t say much. This was a meeting […] Read the full article →
a fired employee’s wife is asking for his job back, negotiating when you’re happy with an offer, and more by Alison Green on April 4, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. A fired employee’s wife is asking for his job back I recently had to terminate an employee for the first time. My supervisor and I followed all necessary steps, so it was not out of the blue. “Fergus” was given a final written notice when the […] Read the full article →
me, talking about favorite past letters and more by Alison Green on April 3, 2017 If you like advice columns, I think you will like Hannah and Matt Know It All, a very fun podcast where Hannah and Matt re-answer questions from other advice columns and field new questions too. I joined them for this week’s episode, where we talked about: some of my favorite Ask a Manager letters, including the person […] Read the full article →
3 pieces of job search advice that don’t work in real life by Alison Green on April 3, 2017 Some job searching advice feels like it was dreamed up in a lab by people who have never hired or even done much interviewing as a candidate, because it won’t work well in real life. Here are three pieces of popular advice about job searching that don’t typically play out the way they’re intended. 1. […] Read the full article →
I accidentally sent my boss to Italy instead of Florida by Alison Green on April 3, 2017 A reader writes: My boss asked me to make travel arrangements for herself and a C-suite executive. I have done this before, but this time I made a huge mistake. The travel was supposed to be to the American city of Naples, in the state of Florida. I accidentally booked a flight and hotel for […] Read the full article →