October 2019

my coworker tipped me

A reader writes: Recently I took care of some work-related writing for a coworker. It’s definitely his job as a manager (although he’s not *my* manager), but I knocked it out in half an hour and did a much better job than he would have. He made a joke about paying me, which I laughed […]

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how to interview job candidates who won’t stop talking

A reader writes: While I try to be understanding of job candidates who give five-minute responses to interview questions that should never ever take that long to answer, I just can’t get past it, and it makes me want to fidget uncomfortably. Would it be rude to put specific time limits on their answers, like […]

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I keep breaking my own heart by turning down great job offers

A reader writes: I’m 25 and work in a very high-pressure and competitive industry. I’m trying to leave my current job for something more challenging with a better culture. Due to the nature of the job, I’ve had to turn down several of the offers I’ve had (which all would have challenged me and had […]

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weekend free-for-all — October 12-13, 2019

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly no work and no school.) Book recommendation of the week: Evvie Drake Starts Over, by Linda Holmes. A recent widow whose grief is complicated gets to know a baseball player whose arm stopped working and […]

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open thread – October 11-12, 2019

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 […]

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how much does your job in college matter?

A reader writes: I am a senior undergrad at a state college in a science major. I have been working for a year as a research assistant for a professor I very much admire. This professor has exposed me to many opportunities for travel and study that I otherwise wouldn’t have known about, and she […]

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requesting accommodations at work: share your experiences

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m about to start the process of requesting accommodations at work. I’d like to hear about people’s experience doing this — what they asked for, how they asked for it, and what the outcome was. I’m interested in stories in general, but especially if anyone […]

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