interview candidates have stopped giving me their availability when I ask for it by Alison Green on May 26, 2022 A reader writes: I work in the public sector as a manager of a library. I’ve been in this position for a little over a year, but have had other library management jobs for the past 5-ish years. Due to the lower wages (above state minimum, but by only like a dollar) and mostly part-time […] Read the full article →
interviews with a prison librarian, a brothel receptionist, an Arctic Circle lab worker, and other interesting jobs by Alison Green on May 26, 2022 Do you know this site has a whole section of interviews with people with interesting jobs? Here’s the complete list: a former receptionist at a legal brothel a lab worker at the Arctic Circle an incredibly diplomatic person … or how to agreeably disagree a former professional matchmaker a prison librarian a children’s entertainer a […] Read the full article →
should I let my parents help me network? by Alison Green on May 26, 2022 It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: My question is about networking and family. My parents and I are in the same field, and I definitely was helped from the very beginning of my career by their experience and connections. Now that I’m finishing graduate school however, I feel that I want […] Read the full article →
my boss hasn’t talked to me in a year, a coworker named Babe, and more by Alison Green on May 26, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss hasn’t spoken to me in a year, but quitting feels like letting him win I am a dept manager at a small nonprofit for a cause I’m passionate about. I report to our exec director. I’ve been here five years. it’s become clear […] Read the full article →
the popcorn calamity, the chair battle, and more stories of dramatic reactions to small changes at work by Alison Green on May 25, 2022 Last week, I asked for stories about weirdly dramatic reactions that you’ve seen people have to small changes at work. The comment section was full of fantastic stories — so many that I had to split my favorites up into two posts. Yesterday was part one, and here’s part two. 1. The picnic table A […] Read the full article →
update: employer wants friends and family to participate in 360 feedback reviews by Alison Green on May 25, 2022 Remember the letter-writer whose sister’s employer who wanted friends and family to participate in 360 feedback reviews? Here’s the update. Thank you for answering my question about filling out a 360 review for my sister. The letter was published on a day when I had spotty cell/wifi reception, so I couldn’t participate in the conversation, […] Read the full article →
should we require “they/them” pronouns as the default for everyone at our meetings? by Alison Green on May 25, 2022 A reader writes: I just stumbled across your 2021 post “my office wants my pronouns — but I’m still figuring it out.“ I was so grateful to the letter writer and commenters who described the turmoil I feel when asked for my pronouns in a work context. The best parallel I can imagine is an […] Read the full article →
my boss talked me out of quitting, addressing hiring managers by their first names, and more by Alison Green on May 25, 2022 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I tried to resign, my boss cried, and I agreed to stay I have been planning to go to grad school in a new field, and while working part-time in my old field, I got another part-time job in this new field. Great foot in […] Read the full article →
the shirt crusade, the bacon crisis, and other stories of dramatic reactions to small changes at work by Alison Green on May 24, 2022 Last week, I asked for stories about weirdly dramatic reactions that you’ve seen people have to small changes at work. The comment section was full of fantastic stories — so many that I have to split my favorites up into two posts. So here’s part one, and part two is coming tomorrow. 1. The shirts […] Read the full article →
our receptionist is rude to people by Alison Green on May 24, 2022 A reader asks: The receptionist in my office is the first to answer the phone, and she is the first one clients see when they walk in the door. A big part of her job is customer service, but lately I’ve received complaints about her interactions with people — two from other employees and two […] Read the full article →