open thread – October 27-28, 2017 by Alison Green on October 27, 2017 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. * If you submitted […] Read the full article →
can I do my own thing during business trip evenings, knitting on work breaks, and more by Alison Green on October 27, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I do my own thing in the evenings on a business trip with colleagues? In a few weeks, I will be taking a business trip with my manager and a senior employee. This is my first office job so I’m completely unfamiliar with business […] Read the full article →
is it okay to be honest about just being in it for the money? by Alison Green on October 26, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve worked for a large nonprofit for the 13 years as an assistant to a CEO. It is a great job and with more than generous PTO, but the pay isn’t great. I actually get some social services because of how little I make. I could possibly make more elsewhere, but there […] Read the full article →
I shared career tips and some favorite letters with A Practical Wedding by Alison Green on October 26, 2017 As you might imagine, I hear about a lot of bad office behavior… which is great for me, because I love stories of people doing awkward, ridiculous, or outright insane things. But sometimes it can be hard to judge whether what’s going on around you is reasonable or normal. Sometimes a toxic office environment can […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: what red flags while you were interviewing turned out to be signs of real problems? by Alison Green on October 26, 2017 We talk a lot here about “red flags” that warn you that a job may not be one you’ll be happy in. But red flags can be tough to spot when you really, really want (or need) a job; it’s often pretty easy to overlook danger signs. And sometimes you don’t realize something was a red […] Read the full article →
my boss does my coworker’s laundry, employee always misses staff photo day, and more by Alison Green on October 26, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss does my coworker’s laundry I recently learned that my boss has been doing one of our coworker’s laundry. I was a bit taken aback by this because my coworker had moved to new housing closer to our workplace about six months ago. I […] Read the full article →
here’s another real-life sample of a great cover letter by Alison Green on October 25, 2017 I regularly get asked for examples of good cover letters, and I’m always nervous about sharing them because PEOPLE STEAL THEM. But a reader sent me a great one and gave me permission to share it, and I thought it was a good example of how to write a letter that talks about what differentiates you, […] Read the full article →
my manager wants me to lie to my new coworker by Alison Green on October 25, 2017 A reader writes: Last week, I gave my two weeks’ notice to my company. At the same time as I gave my resignation, they were preparing to bring a new hire into our department. I realize that my resignation might be badly timed for them, but I’ve held firm even when presented with a counter-offer. […] Read the full article →
my employee is snippy with people and dramatic about stress by Alison Green on October 25, 2017 A reader writes: I am a first-time manager to a small team consisting of a few departments in a service-based industry. A woman I manage, “Lucinda,” appears to thrive on manufactured stress. I like Lucinda and she garners positive feedback from clients, but it is common for her to come off as exasperated or overwhelmed […] Read the full article →
companies that say they have a “young vibe,” do new grads really need to stick to one-page resumes, and more by Alison Green on October 25, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. What does it mean when a company says they have a “young vibe”? I went through a 15-minute phone screening today. I think the conversation went fairly well for how short it was (wow, she really spoke FAST!) but there’s one phrase the HR person used […] Read the full article →