do I need to have a better sense of humor at work? by Alison Green on May 24, 2018 A reader writes: Your blog has been invaluable to me in my career, especially in the last year since I became a manager. I’ve caught up to the learning curve of my actual job, but there’s one area I feel could use some improvement and I don’t know how to address it on my own. […] Read the full article →
I’ve been crying in front of my boss, are phone rejections more respectful, and more by Alison Green on May 24, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’ve been crying in front of my boss I need some assistance with getting over some crying spells at work. Crying at work is not something I do. At least it wasn’t until I got pregnant. I think the biological changes brought on by pregnancy […] Read the full article →
can you contact a hiring manager with questions before applying for a job? by Alison Green on May 23, 2018 I’m traveling to do some book promotion this week, so I’m running some reprints this week. This was originally published in 2012. A reader writes: Is it ever advisable to reach out to a hiring manager before applying to a position? For example, if you’re hoping for clarification of what they’re looking for in a […] Read the full article →
what’s the best day of the week to apply for a job? by Alison Green on May 23, 2018 A reader writes: Is there is a certain day and time of the week that is best for applying to online job postings? For example, is it better to apply Monday morning versus Friday afternoon? I was thinking that a Friday afternoon application might be overlooked because of the weekend (applications sent in Monday morning […] Read the full article →
what to say if an interviewer asks about your favorite books or movies by Alison Green on May 23, 2018 I’m traveling to do some book promotion this week, so I’m running some reprints this week. This was originally published in 2014. A reader writes: I have a question about an interview that I’m pretty sure I bombed recently. Things were going fairly well until my interviewer asked me for my favorite book and favorite […] Read the full article →
can I ask a new hire to use a nickname, manager asks for money for food and gas, and more by Alison Green on May 23, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I ask a new hire to use a nickname since we share the same first name? We’re in the process of interviewing and we’ve found a great candidate that we might be ready to move forward with. A big snag though is that she […] Read the full article →
update: I’m about to go on medical leave, but I’m also hoping to take my long-delayed honeymoon by Alison Green on May 22, 2018 Last week’s letter-writer who has about to go on medical leave but also hoped to take a long-delayed honeymoon has sent in an update: This is a very soon update, but after the urgency in some of the comments I got I felt I really needed to push forward and talk to my boss ASAP (sorry, letter-writer who […] Read the full article →
how does your job interviewer find out what you’re really like? by Alison Green on May 22, 2018 When you’re interviewing for a job, it’s easy to wonder how the standard hiring process — a résumé screening, job interview questions, and a reference check — will tell an employer what you’re really like. How are employers able to figure out whether or not to hire you based on such limited contact with so […] Read the full article →
my boss wants to give me his kidney — but I don’t want it by Alison Green on May 22, 2018 A reader writes: I have a question that is on the opposite end of the spectrum from the boss who (shudder) tried to force his employees to donate an organ to his brother. I have a serious chronic kidney disease. I was diagnosed almost a decade ago and have been able to control many of […] Read the full article →
coworker uses icebreakers in every meeting, is it wrong to fake enthusiasm in a job interview, and more by Alison Green on May 22, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker uses icebreakers in every meeting One of my coworkers runs a lot of the meetings at my workplace. He’s good at his job and generally well-liked, but I’ve noticed that he almost always schedules an icebreaker for meetings — even small ones with […] Read the full article →