the loose cannon job candidate, the interview from a toilet, and other tales of interview mishaps by Alison Green on May 17, 2021 A while back, I asked readers to share the weirdest or worst behavior they’ve ever seen from job candidates. Over at Inc. today, I’ve got 10 of my favorites — including a job candidates who described himself as “a loose cannon,” a wife blamer, someone interviewing from the toilet, and someone who touted his celibacy […] Read the full article →
my office is doing “circle work” with “offerings to the ancestors” and lots of talk about feelings by Alison Green on May 17, 2021 A reader writes: My nonprofit workplace has started doing “circle work” with staff and the people we serve. This is apparently a version of restorative justice circles. I say apparently, because I’m really not convinced that this is a work-appropriate activity. The idea is that you sit in a circle, an item is passed around […] Read the full article →
my job is causing me physical pain, I want to keep wearing a mask, and more by Alison Green on May 17, 2021 It’s six answers to six questions. Here we go… 1. Babysitting job is aggravating my chronic pain I work full-time as a reading specialist in a pre-school; we had remote learning due to the pandemic for the first half of the year, but recently began hybrid and fully in-person teaching. While I had a bit […] Read the full article →
weekend open thread – May 15-16, 2021 by Alison Green on May 15, 2021 This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week: The Fortunate Ones, by Ed Tarkington. A coming-of-age story in which a young man’s friendship with a son of a wealthy family pulls him into a different […] Read the full article →
it’s your Friday good news by Alison Green on May 14, 2021 It’s your Friday good news, with more accounts of success even in this weird time. 1. I read your recent “you need to ask for a raise” post and decided that you were absolutely right. I’ve been in my current position for 10 years and I’ve never asked for a raise. I’m a government contractor, […] Read the full article →
open thread – May 14-15, 2021 by Alison Green on May 14, 2021 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 (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. * […] Read the full article →
talking about Jesus on a resume, I threw my boss under the bus when I quit, and more by Alison Green on May 14, 2021 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Candidate’s resume talks about Jesus I manage 16 direct reports as well as our internship program and I ran into something that stumped me (honestly many things do). We received a request for an internship from a college student. She seems nice and I know […] Read the full article →
we need paid family and medical leave — and a new bill in Congress would give it to us by Alison Green on May 13, 2021 It’s no secret that the U.S. has terrible support for workers, particularly around paid family and medical leave. No federal law requires employers to offer paid leave at all. Some states have begun to require paid sick leave, but most still don’t. But there’s now legislation in Congress (the American Families Plan) that would provide […] Read the full article →
my employee barely speaks to me by Alison Green on May 13, 2021 A reader writes: I manage two wonderful employees who share an office next to mine. One of my employees (we’ll call him Neal) is very outgoing and friendly. We have some similar views on life (politics, child-rearing, etc) and talk easily and often. My other employee (we’ll call her Beth) is wonderful at her job […] Read the full article →
how can I stop coming across as quiet and timid? by Alison Green on May 13, 2021 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m a few years into my career and am an introvert in an industry full of extroverts (advertising). Every time I have a performance review or am up for promotion, I get the same feedback — I’m too quiet, I need to contribute more in […] Read the full article →