when is it okay to address someone I don’t know well by their first name in an email? by Alison Green on October 5, 2017 A reader writes: I have a quick professional norms question regarding email. I’m a man, late-20s, in a career (journalism) that involves me frequently interacting with people I don’t know very well, many of whom are in different industries and frequently much senior to me. When it’s over the phone or in person, I’m awesome, […] Read the full article →
I’m mentoring a know-it-all by Alison Green on October 5, 2017 A reader writes: I have been in my position for about two years now and have a “mentee.” There’s nothing official about this relationship; it’s just an informal setup our team does to help onboard new people who get hired. We are the same level and position. I am just a person who is more […] Read the full article →
resigning via cod, a glorious out-of-office message, and other quitting stories by Alison Green on October 5, 2017 In case you didn’t read all of the entries in last week’s post about spectacular resignations, here are some of my favorites. 1. “One guy quit, and left up an out-of-office message with stupid quotes from all of his bosses and seniors over the year – attributed to them by name. Because our IT is so […] Read the full article →
my coworker is making me late, my boss won’t answer my texts, and more by Alison Green on October 5, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker won’t leave work on time and is making me late I have recently started carpooling with a coworker who lives nearby. She doesn’t have a car, so I pick her up from her house and drop her off after work and she makes […] Read the full article →
I could delete my former employer’s website — should I? by Alison Green on October 4, 2017 A reader writes: Last year, I left a job that made me miserable. I had been really unhappy there for about eight months, and I got really lucky and got a great job. Before I left, I had some major conflict with someone higher up the food chain and felt bullied by her. The small […] Read the full article →
should you really ask for the job at the end of an interview? by Alison Green on October 4, 2017 A reader writes: I read that if you ask for a job at the end of an interview, you should be prepared to accept the position on the spot. Is this true? What if the offer (salary, benefits, all of those things that you are not supposed to ask during the interview) is unfair/not up […] Read the full article →
we have to be interviewed by a psychologist to get promoted by Alison Green on October 4, 2017 A reader writes: I am a senior manager in a division of a global corporation. Each of the divisions is actually a company that was acquired by the corporation. As long as the division continues to make a profit, they are pretty much allowed to operate as if they are still a stand-alone organization. Some […] Read the full article →
my boss goes through my things, how far back to list your experience, and more by Alison Green on October 4, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss sits at my desk and goes through my things I just started a new receptionist job with a very small company. This is my first time in any kind of front-desk role. When I’m at lunch, my boss sits at my desk to […] Read the full article →
what’s the best way to handle friends who apply for jobs where they’d be working with me? by Alison Green on October 3, 2017 A reader writes: What’s the best way to handle a friend who applies for a job not just at your company, but working with you? As I’ve moved up in my company, this has come up a couple of times. In both cases, the friend in question would work with me, so I was involved […] Read the full article →
do I complain too much at work? by Alison Green on October 3, 2017 A reader writes: How can you stop complaining when you’re in a work situation that is frustrating and stressful? I work for an organization that is structured quite flexibly, and people are often shuffled to different project teams throughout the year. My main role is independent, but for a big, multi-month project, I’ve been assigned part-time […] Read the full article →