what do we do about end-of-year celebrations during the pandemic? by Alison Green on November 12, 2020 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question: I work for a multinational company. Normally at the end of the year, various geographic offices would have holiday parties/dinners. Obviously this won’t happen this year due to the plague. One of our teams in the UK is investigating online escape rooms, which sounds fun! But are there […] Read the full article →
is it OK to fire someone over email, resigning over an ethical conflict, and more by Alison Green on November 12, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is it OK to fire someone over email? Is firing someone over email acceptable? Someone I know was recently fired via email. They are not a remote employee. Their manager tested positive for covid about a week ago (mild symptoms) and is still in isolation […] Read the full article →
I’m not getting interviews because employers think they can’t afford me by Alison Green on November 11, 2020 A reader writes: Like many people, I am now unemployed due to the economic impact COVID-19 had on my previous sector. I have been working in this industry for almost eight years in project management/engineering-related positions, and the industry tends to be very well-paying. I live in a part of the U.S. where the industry […] Read the full article →
how to ask references about a candidate’s personality by Alison Green on November 11, 2020 A reader writes: I run a nonprofit and hire part-time workers to work in recreation-type centers across the city. Strong interpersonal skills are part of what we look for. However, interviews make people nervous, and it can be a little hard to judge those skills in interviews. My question is about checking references and getting […] Read the full article →
my company wants us to meditate and do yoga and alternative healing by Alison Green on November 11, 2020 A reader writes: I work for a growing company (think of the products you’d find in Whole Foods beauty aisle) that is doing great things and genuinely has good intentions and smart people behind it. They don’t just greenwash, they are really careful about sourcing, branding, social justice, and diversity. Sometimes they try to do […] Read the full article →
job candidate read all his answers from notes, predecessor won’t clear out their office, and more by Alison Green on November 11, 2020 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Job candidate read all his answers from prepared notes I recently conducted a Zoom interview that did not go well. The candidate’s answers weren’t spectacular, but the delivery was the bigger issue. He wears glasses and I could see a reflection of his screen in […] Read the full article →
my interviewer berated me and called me a liar by Alison Green on November 10, 2020 A reader writes: I royally screwed up today in the middle of an interview process and got weird reaction from the recruiter in the process. Where do I go from here? I’ve been underemployed as freelancer for the past few months due to COVID-19 and have been actively job searching and networking to not much […] Read the full article →
is my job the problem — or is it me? by Alison Green on November 10, 2020 A reader writes: How do you know if the problem is you and that you are just going through a hard time in life, or if you are in a toxic workplace that exacerbated your mental health issues? On one hand, I have been at my current position for a year and a half. As […] Read the full article →
I can’t fire a terrible employee by Alison Green on November 10, 2020 A reader writes: I’m the manager at a growing professional services firm. I’m in charge of a lot of things, but the company owners have the final say in hiring or firing, and I’m stuck in a situation where the owners won’t fire a terrible employee. Bad Fit was hired for a position that it […] Read the full article →
we all need a good editor – and I’ve found her by Alison Green on November 10, 2020 And now a word from a sponsor… Early in my career, I didn’t much like being edited — my words, my beautiful words! How dare someone suggest they could be different or – gasp – shorter. But as my career has progressed and I’ve worked with better and better editors, I’ve learned to appreciate the […] Read the full article →