2011 Posts Return to main archives January February March April May June July August September October November December December 2011 most popular posts of 2011…and my own favorites the worst boss of 2011 is… update from the reader wondering whether to tell her conservative coworkers she’s gay vote for the worst boss of 2011 the average salary increase is pretty low how to be awesome at work update from the reader wondering about taking her dream job while still working part-time for her old employer update from the reader whose marital stress was impacting his work tiny answer Tuesday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions habits that can get you fired update from the reader wondering how to avoid jobs that expect 70-hour work weeks update from the reader whose manager wouldn’t let him take an internal promotion update from the reader whose disgusting boss was fixated on her weight 3 more “where are they now” updates from readers update from the reader whose whole office was resigning at once update from the manager who inherited a bad staff update from the manager whose employee kept sneaking out of work early update from the reader worried she needed to be perfect to get a job my 10 least popular posts of 2011 fast answer Friday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions update from the reader whose company was monitoring her bathroom breaks my new employee wanted to quit and now wants to stay update from the reader who didn’t want to go to her new company’s Christmas party notice anything different? update from the reader fired by email and banned from collecting her belongings thinking about grad school? think again. my holiday gift to you update on the coworker stockpiling smelly clothes in office that wasn’t his your new year’s resolution: better meetings update from the reader whose male colleagues didn’t believe she’d return from maternity leave update from the reader wondering if 8 months was long enough to stay in a first job update from the reader whose boss kept drawing blood in front of her mini answer Monday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions how can I tell my boss how much I appreciate him? how to quit your job update from the reader whose coworker appointed herself the food police update from the reader who found fingernail clippings at her desk rules for office gift-giving 6 more “where are they now” updates from readers is it okay to fire someone close to Christmas? fast answer Friday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions update from the reader choosing between a job in India and an internal offer a whole bunch of updates update from the reader whose former employer wouldn’t stop contacting her update from the reader whose boss wouldn’t give her a client list 16-year-old wants help getting a job in food service update from the reader with the overly chatty boss update from the reader whose assistant was using her title on LinkedIn update about the coworker with the chronic cough how managers mess up performance evaluations update about the manager who was scaring her employees with sad Facebook posts update from the reader whose boss was stealing her lunch update from the reader whose friend was getting married on her company’s biggest weekend where are they now: update #1 — when satan’s intern came to stay being told to remove “Merry Christmas” from your work email signature I punched a coworker at the company Christmas party my friend wants to sell her product to my coworkers should my employer pay for my cell phone? where are you now? an informational interview is not what you think it is short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions how can I manage an impending gap in my resume due to caring for my kids? fast answer Friday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions is a job offer letter a contract? “let me know if any jobs might appeal to me” foot update I know my boss is pregnant, but why hasn’t she told me? holiday parties that employees won’t dread everything you’re wondering about how to submit your resume an office holiday party … before you’ve started your new job is this a good opening for a cover letter? more bad job advice from parents should I become my sister-in-law’s manager? reasons not to date a coworker when your interview is scheduled for 3:32, exactly short answer Saturday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions ridiculously rigid attendance policy what if your office banned email? I’m sick of editing my boss’s writing terse answer Thursday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions November 2011 your interviewer knows what she’s doing and other job searching myths coworker keeps bossing me around what do I say when I quit my job? how to manage work that you can’t do yourself stop telling me you’re the best candidate for the job beware, manager wannabes! an interview with me can my company make me pay the costs of a business trip if I resign before the trip? fast answer Friday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions how do you deal with having to fire someone? chat with me live tomorrow can blogging help your career? employer requires us to include our photo in all emails we send how can I tell my relative her career advice is out-of-touch? am I a job candidate or a free consultant? my whole team is going to resign at once how college doesn’t prepare students for the workworld short answer Saturday: 6 short-ish answers to 6 short questions my interviewer was obsessed with anger management should an admin show people how to do clerical tasks themselves? how to manage remote employees how can I make my coworker stop talking to me? 10 workplace myths, busted my husband fired my friend tiny answer Tuesday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions how long can I wait to respond to a job offer? advice for new or struggling managers how can I give my company feedback after I leave? short answer Saturday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions is this an unofficial rejection? coworker constantly swears and uses angry language can my interviewer push me to answer personal questions? your burning questions about salary, answered 10 questions you should never ask in a job interview terse answer Tuesday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions don’t want my co-workers to know I’m living off cupcakes from the employee kitchen things employers forget in the hiring process why would an employer ban couples from working in the same department? fast answer Friday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions injury update do kids belong in your LinkedIn photo? ow! boss doesn’t want any food at our desks should employers pay for interview travel expenses? dealing with an overly persistent job applicant a coming flood terse answer Tuesday: 7 terse answers to 7 short questions October 2011 my boss fired me over email, then refused to let me collect my personal belongings how to deal with a bad interviewer short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions want to ruin a friendship? hire a friend. when job candidates are scheduled for a half-day of interviews, can I end it early if they’re not right for the job? my friend is getting married on my company’s biggest weekend how parents can help their kids look for a job my boss keeps stealing my lunch, after I’ve asked him to stop 10 myths about working for nonprofits a weekend of short answers: short answer Sunday short answer Saturday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions students: don’t make commitments you don’t intend to keep how to let your staff know that someone was fired how to deal with a racist coworker can I challenge a job rejection? old manager berated me for not taking an offer at his new firm job search tips for recent grads … and the most important interviewing advice you’ll ever hear why are interviewers turned off when they hear how much time I spend on my job search? G is for gimmick firings in literature: should this book character have been fired? short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions sleeping coworker’s snores are disrupting my work some things about my dad was I burned in this salary negotiation? how to deal with unreasonable deadlines how to handle 7 cringeworthy coworker situations manager publicly criticized me in an email to our whole office how can I help my struggling coworker, who’s possibly learning-disabled? awful advice: lie and cold call your way into a job! ask the readers: when everything is an emergency ask the readers: does networking really work? short answer Saturday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions my boss revoked my vacation time — while I was on vacation things that annoy the crap out of me what to do if you think you’re going to get fired office space: does size matter? when the government requires you to listen to bad career advice I’m loving “Blind Spots” by Alexandra Levit will my coworkers judge me now that my brother is getting psychiatric care from us? guess your next coworker to be fired and win a prize! 10 ways to piss off your boss your math should be correct now… short answer Saturday – 8 short answers to 8 short questions September 2011 fired for not replacing the milk? cc’ing supervisors when you email your coworkers more things that don’t belong on your resume a request from me to you say “I” — not “we” — in your interviews behavioral interview questions, demystified my mentor blocked me from a career opportunity earn cash by introducing your friends to Ask a Manager how to deal with an employee who takes too much sick leave can I apply for jobs anonymously? everything went great but I didn’t get the job — what happened? fast answer Friday: 14 fast answers to 14 fast questions the F word at work and other concerns why is it taking so long to hear back after your interview? should managers give job candidates unsolicited feedback? how to choose between equally qualified candidates should I respond to this candidate who’s questioning why I rejected her? something I’m helping with on the side… reasons why your awful coworker still has a job boss doesn’t speak to me unless there’s a problem asking for more info about a job before applying coworker stockpiling smelly clothes in office that isn’t his, and other boundary issues terse answer Thursday: 8 short answers to 8 short questions here’s an example of a great cover letter my disgusting boss is fixated on my weight 8 common complaints about bosses and what to do about them why meetings suck and how to make them useful for your team hot-tempered ladies who hate their jobs what to do if you’re not doing well at your job short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions 5 things you should read should employers spend time rejecting candidates who weren’t even interviewed? what do employers mean when they ask for a “proven ability” to do something? my boss is my boyfriend and we’re both about to resign my employee didn’t give me a full job history — is that lying? 10 signs you have a bad boss mini answer Monday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions advice for high schoolers on what to do in college is this blog a cheat sheet for bad candidates? August 2011 things I wish I hadn’t seen on your resume or in your cover letter how can I make my boss stop talking to me? righting a copyright wrong, unresponsive colleagues, thank-you notes, and some ladies manager wants to take back my raise top 10 mistakes interviewers make when hiring when a job ad doesn’t list the true qualifications the employer is seeking a quick lesson in not stealing terse answer Thursday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions what do you like about your job, part 2 how much do thank-you notes really matter after a job interview? what do you like about your job? rude recruiters, job-hunting librarians, and more how to find a job in another state employer demanded a doctor’s note when I asked to move my desk 3 feet short answer Saturday: 9 short answers to 9 short questions what is your secret career alter ego? can I tell an employee her inconsistency is holding her back? help! my husband submitted an error-filled application to my employer can my employer stop me from using the bathroom? should you accept a job when you haven’t met in person? is referring to an orgy in my cover letter going to hurt me? should my employee be able to cancel days off at the last minute? the 8 weirdest questions I’ve ever been asked fast answer Friday: 8 fast answers to 8 fast questions resume offer ends tomorrow my employer says I missed the deadline for an internal job posting — but outsiders can still apply what do reference-checkers ask? should I be upset with my friend for taking a job I had applied for? should I send a basket of treats to my new employer? salary negotiation, appearing authoritative, kitchens, and more want me to review your resume? 10 ways to annoy a hiring manager company rejected me, then asked me to recommend a better-qualified candidate how can I tell an employer that their benefits suck? terse answer Thursday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions can my boss monitor my computer and then fire me for being unproductive? how do I tell my coworkers my wedding is off? 10 signs your boss just isn’t that into you July 2011 I gave a good reference for my moody assistant — is it now biting me in the ass? kitchen … and kittens what employers can and can’t say when giving references I’m scared my bullying ex-boss will give me a bad reference wee answer Wednesday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions should I tell my boss about my bipolar disorder? should my spouse? can I ask about salary range before accepting an interview? because I refuse to go through this alone… ask the readers: when Satan’s intern comes to stay manager struggling with staff leaving early asking hard-sell “closing” questions in job interviews 2678 should you advise a job-seeker against your dysfunctional employer? how do I tell someone his resume is terrible? how long should you spend writing a cover letter? I accidentally woke up a company VIP with an early-morning call! why you got rejected for a job you’re perfect for short answer Saturday: another job search edition is my parents’ advice destroying my job search? why I refer to everyone as “she” when I write awful boss wants to connect on LinkedIn ending an interview early when your interviewer is a jerk applying for a job where you don’t meet every listed qualification can your boss make you get a fake tan? interviewer wants me to create a 20-minute presentation about myself salaried employees and missed days: when do they have to be paid? 10 pieces of outdated career advice short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions male coworkers think I won’t return to work after my pregnancy — and won’t shut up about it I’m on Marketplace this weekend, talking about bad bosses in trouble for reporting a coworker for suspected child abuse is “use a land line” outdated advice for phone interviews? should a candidate ever give a company feedback on its hiring process? terse answer Tuesday: 7 terse answers to 7 short questions have a question for an employment lawyer? can I ask for a retroactive raise? your age doesn’t go in your cover letter (or your resume) things you should never say in a job interview lost out on job offer when HR insisted on emails for references June 2011 boss is angry that I missed a meeting for a medical emergency employee made a homophobic remark during job interview what are the boundaries when your spouse applies for a job with your company? asking about salary freeze at an all-employee meeting it’s time for a job-seekers’ bill of rights what to do when you’re overworked hiring-related emails that are sent at night or over the weekend short answer Sunday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions what’s the deal with informational interviews? 4 words to remove from your resume help! my repetitive job is now invading my sleep! what your boss thinks when you ask for a raise, rich interns, Gen Y, and more terse answer Tuesday: 7 terse answers to 7 short questions what does a bottle of liquor in the interview room say about an employer’s culture? can I apply for the job my friend asked me to connect him to? how to manage your boss struggling over whether to accept job offer is my boss trying to get rid of me? bad ideas from interns: using your company’s email list to promote underage drinking is it worth calling to find out the hiring manager’s name? crazy hiring managers who act like Caligula I’m allergic to my new office! taking time off to get married after starting a new job how the hell do you use LinkedIn in a job search, anyway? short answer Sunday: 10 short answers to 10 short questions did I offend my interviewer? hiring your teenage sister is often a really bad idea free guide on preparing for a job interview confirmed: I am not a man! should I reconnect with coworkers from my internship last summer? I made up an answer in a job interview; what should I do now? should I choose India over an internal job offer? employer berated me after I turned down their job offer should I mention my new coworker’s sloppy writing? 6 types of annoying coworkers and how to deal with them short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions should recent grads have a resume objective? overworked, nudity, BBC adaptations, and more do you have to tell your boss why you’re quitting? Evil HR Lady and I critique a resume ways that new managers mess up where is my promised raise? May 2011 the office clerk I supervise is out-of-control my job-share divides our workload unevenly my requests for post-job-rejection feedback are being ignored! 10 ways to ace your phone interview short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions is it appropriate to ask my interviewer for pointers for the next interview round? when does a writing sample become too old to use? warning… when you’re asked to interview your prospective new manager my employer cc’d my husband on an email turning me down for a promotion my coworker coughs all day long – can I do anything about it? declining boss’s invitation to dinner on a Saturday job-searching in the wake of a natural disaster happy endings how to look for a job when you’re already employed is it worth applying to a job that was posted a few weeks ago? how to deal with a bad boss how to increase your pay when changing jobs (or how I doubled my salary in one career move) entry-level out-of-town job seeker: a success story company that fired me is still contacting me with questions … 5 months later help! my new boss is giving me negative feedback short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions employees drinking on the job and the ethics of firing without warning update from the job seeker whose interviewer had gone AWOL bombarding an employer with unsolicited recommendations can backfire dealing with coworkers who are rude in meetings how to research what salary you should ask for interviewer seemed enthusiastic, then went AWOL short answer Sunday: 5 short answers to 5 short questions 16-year-old with critical fast food manager new manager wonders about the best way to give feedback workplace rights you think you have … but don’t swearing in the workplace unpaid internships, travel stipends, and revoked agreements social media: help or hindrance, you decide short answer Sunday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions April 2011 things that will mark you as a douchebag for life help! my workload is too high and I’m burning out interviewer had concerns about me from the start what’s the weirdest thing a previous occupant ever left in your desk? dealing with annoying coworkers someone is leaving their fingernail clippings in my desk 10 things your boss isn’t telling you short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions taking a new job while still working part-time for my old employer the state of Florida thinks unemployed people need capes manager won’t let me take internal promotion “I have my whole career thanks to my willingness to make the coffee!” schedule changed after I accepted job offer bad career advice and salary negotiation ask the readers: telling your assistant her shirts are too low-cut what to do when you hate your job short answer Saturday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions my friend is applying for my job and I don’t want to recommend her is it okay to burn this bridge? older boss calls me “kiddo” and I don’t like it my managers are younger than me! 10 tips for negotiating a raise short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions fired for being too eager photographic world tour of desk jobs when you work for jackasses book review, other people’s families, and mango sticky rice should I give my interviewer a typed list of my answers to likely questions? 3 things I learned by quitting my job in a recession when’s the right time to ask for a raise? short answer Saturday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions how to tackle your budget process when you’re “not a math person” March 2011 manager who’s bad at numbers is panicking over budget process resume review offer ends at midnight tonight phantom jobs, confidential searches, and job scams oh my want me to review your resume? good management: finding out what’s NOT getting done 10 mistakes you’re making on your resume short answer Sunday: 8 short answers to 8 short questions my assistant is using my title on LinkedIn can I justify hiring someone who needs additional education to do the job? things that aren’t good ideas #78 my company does secret performance reviews that we’re not allowed to see should you include a short-term job on your resume? short answer Saturday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions employer wants permission to call people outside my reference list am I wrong to be insulted by this rejection letter? my staff has been held to a low bar; am I asking too much of them now? Have you ever gotten a job from a job fair? how to stand out at a job fair short answer Sunday: seven short answers to seven short questions interviewed with the flu; how can I redeem myself? is my employer plotting against me? do what you say you’re going to do how can I get critical feedback? being overweight in an office that’s obsessed with weight things that aren’t good ideas interviewer was offended when I asked why the job was open yes, you really should write a better cover letter short answer Saturday: seven short answers to seven short questions manager is scaring her employees with sad Facebook posts 16 months after leaving job, still getting hassled by old boss terse answer Tuesday: 5 short answers to 5 short questions February 2011 mother bought me plane tickets without asking me if I could get time off work at an interview in a coffee shop, who pays for the coffee? do I have to be perfect to get a job? Get an Ask a Manager mug … or mousepad! my boss’s boss never talks to me but makes decisions that impact me answering questions from your old employer after you’ve moved on when a social contact invites you to send a resume short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions am I not getting hired because I’m gay? coworker has appointed herself the food police something cool and free for you terse answer Tuesday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions Valentine’s Day round-up 8 things you should know about job references coworker monopolizes meetings with irrelevant topics bad recruiter behavior: deceptive sales tactics telling your boss she talks too loudly will looking like a teenager harm my job search? want your resume reviewed by an expert (free)? short answer Sunday: 6 short answers to 6 short questions what should an internal “farewell” email say? 1,000th blog post (an excuse for an orgy of self-indulgence) how can I avoid jobs that expect 70-hour work weeks? job listing asks candidates to submit a headshot apparently (many) outplacement firms suck January 2011 my boss asks us to pick up his lunch for him better answers to “what are your weaknesses” short answer Saturday: another job search edition what should a resignation letter say? should I warn my employer about a slacker kiss-ass? Connect on Facebook how to manage a hard worker who’s dropping balls Social media CAN get you a job … or, I hired a blog reader the roots of Ask a Manager… the 10 interview questions you’re most likely to be asked short answer Saturday: job search edition am I wasting this recruiter’s time? how can I get employees to use vacation time? recruiter says: half my candidates are no-shows for interviews my employee is on personal calls all day long 10 tips to get the most out of your internship short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions update from reader afraid her old boss would out her as transgender coworkers can’t see past my Russian accent a few random things my boss keeps drawing her blood in front of me I will totally get you a job. what’s the minimum pay increase you’d change jobs for? is that interview question legal? short answer Sunday: 8 short answers to 8 short questions listen to me on Minnesota Public Radio is allowing smoke breaks unfair to non-smokers? does company’s silence mean I didn’t get the job? in a long interview process, can I ask about salary? office security guard won’t leave me alone how to fire an employee with a bad attitude referring a friend for a job? not so fast… short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions