December 2014
- most popular posts of 2014
- update: my creative role has turned into drudgery for the foreseeable future
- my interviewer was a distant cousin, telling my staff I’m job-searching, and more
- my favorite posts of 2014
- update: how important is it to answer every question perfectly during a job interview?
- I turned down a job offer, but now I want to accept it
- how to get what you need from remote coworkers without aggravation
- do employers think I’m trying too hard, my manager criticized me in front of others, and more
- the worst boss of 2014 is…
- 3 more updates from letter-writers
- can I opt out of our office instant-messaging program?
- bad management forced me to work over Christmas, my son was fired, and more
- Sunday open thread – December 28, 2014
- update: my coworker told a candidate’s current employer that he’s job-searching
- the best “ask the readers” posts in 2014
- 4 more reader updates
- open thread – December 26, 2014
- asking about difficult coworkers in an interview, apologizing for a terrible cover letter, and more
- update: I don’t want my coworkers to know I’m living off cupcakes from the employee kitchen
- update: my new coworker wants to forbid music in the office
- 4 more updates from readers
- my boss keeps offering to let me go home early, and it’s making me uncomfortable
- giving employees my family’s personal holiday card, turning down a promotion because of co-op income limits, and more
- update: what’s the best way to resign when your boss will explode?
- how being a jerk can hurt you at work, most people don’t want to be managers, and more
- was I rude to this stranger who wanted to connect on LinkedIn?
- an angry eBay buyer is threatening to contact my employer, cheetah print at work, and more
- vote for the worst boss of 2014
- all your questions about holiday gift-giving at work, answered
- will I ruin my future if I turn down this job?
- my boss lies about deadlines, my work crush is upset with me, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – December 21, 2014
- update: a company I want to work for blocked me on social media
- 4 updates from readers
- is this request from a networking contact weird?
- open thread – December 19, 2014
- HR manager wrote us up for drinking at a party she attended, my assistant goes overboard on gifts, and more
- update: I reported my awful manager to HR and it’s not going well
- 3 updates from readers
- how to throw an office holiday party people won’t dread
- my boss wants to personally reimburse me for a payroll error
- managing a jerk, my director gives out wrong info, and more
- update: can I say something about my coworker’s graphic, violent tattoo?
- how to stay productive during the holidays
- we have to make PowerPoints about our personal lives and present them to coworkers
- giving a gift to your boss, missing Christmas bonuses, ass-grabbers at the holiday party, and other holiday questions and answers
- update: how do I tell my coworkers that I have incurable cancer and it’s progressing?
- update: a parking shortage at my office is forcing me to park a mile away
- how to handle nosy coworkers around the holidays
- I’m filling in for someone on leave who left me tons of rules for what I can and can’t do while she’s away
- my new coworker noisily sucks on candy all day, wearing company-branded items after a buy-out, and more
- update: I accepted a job without finding out the salary
- update: how do I tell my boss that our new hire needs to be fired?
- 4 signs you just don’t like your boss
- all the party planning in my office always falls to women
- posting about a new job on Facebook, my coworker is a harlot, and more
- Sunday open thread – December 14, 2014
- another four reader updates
- update: my office is fighting about overhead lighting
- update: managing people with higher risk tolerance than I have
- open thread – December 12, 2014
- my phone number used to belong to a prostitute, how can I get access to my work email at night, and more
- update: my coworker kissed me and now his wife is emailing me
- update: my coworker constantly asks us to loan him money
- Christmas tantrums, Hanukkah balls, and other workplace holiday disasters
- I don’t want to give 360 feedback to my coworker
- does salary reflect the type of candidate an employer is seeking, my former coworkers aren’t allowed to talk to me, and more
- update: my coworker went through my trash can to get me in trouble
- update: I called the police on an angry driver, who turned out to be a coworker
- how to coach an irritated manager to stop yelling
- how can I get over my bitterness at being laid off, saying no to a networking request, and more
- update: my manager doesn’t want me to meet with clients unless I lose weight
- how to spread holiday cheer at work — without spiking the punch
- can I refuse to put up Christmas decorations at work?
- asking an interviewer about guns at work, when a department has fallen apart, and more
- update: I pulled a prank on a coworker — and it ended badly
- the 5 skills you need to work for yourself
- update: our museum volunteer is out of control
- CEO’s daughter gets special treatment, I almost fainted during a meeting, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – December 7, 2014
- here are another four updates from readers
- update: my employees say another employee slacks off when I’m not around
- 4 updates from readers
- open thread – December 5, 2014
- a chronically late employee, former employer is threatening me with arrest for trespassing, and more
- update: my office is forcing us to do karaoke for “fun”
- how can you stay organized when you’re on the road?
- I’m being asked to take the Meyers-Briggs test as part of applying to a training program
- my boss gives us fake performance reviews, job is changing to full-time but staying at a part-time salary, and more
- update: I’m frustrated by my office’s constant Nerf gun battles
- my boss keeps reminding me to dress up
- holidays at the office: share your weirdest stories
- my coworkers are going to my dad about problems with me, a parking kerfuffle, and more
- update: I think my manager tampered with my drinking water
- how to get the recognition you deserve in year-end reviews
- my employer moved our office to an inconvenient location
- leaving early on my second day of work, responding to secondhand gossip, and more
- update: I found an ad for my own job
- tempted to lie in a job interview?
- my coworkers are passing around a list of reasons they hate working with me
- my coworker wants to review my self-evaluation, an anonymous caller said one of my coworkers is dealing drugs, and more
November 2014
- Sunday free-for-all – November 30, 2014
- inheriting a longtime employee who isn’t doing his job, former employee was jailed for stealing $100,000, and more
- update: my managers are giving me contradictory instructions
- does it mean anything if an employer says they’ll keep me in their “talent pipeline”?
- open thread – November 28, 2014
- my boss told me “sorry isn’t good enough anymore,” wearing see-through blouses to work, and more
- the season of holiday office dramas begins today…
- update: my boss is frequently absent and neglects his work
- update: I was a test subject in a counseling session at work and now I regret it
- my employee constantly interrupts me with unnecessary updates and questions
- my job wants to use Facebook to monitor employees, demoralized by a coworker’s promotion, and more
- my coworker tried to pressure us into giving away our bonuses
- how to lead a project when you come in mid-stream
- my staff are sending too many personal emails to each other during the day
- HR rep insisted on reading my email, my manager has asked for brutally honest feedback, and more
- where are you now?
- 5 workplace trends to be thankful for
- company is banning alcohol at its holiday party, even if we buy it ourselves
- my boss keeps touching my hand, the point of bonuses, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – November 23, 2014
- a horrible coworker listed me as a job reference, my company won’t pay for meals on work travel, and more
- update: what to do when you have moral qualms about your employer’s line of business
- open thread – November 21, 2014
- I’m interviewing for the same job as my former employee, my coworker shared my salary info, and more
- my employer won’t interview me for an open position, even though I’m already doing the work
- when’s the last time you thanked a coworker for being awesome?
- my dad wants to apply for a job on my very small team
- my employer is competing with my walking group, job searching after generous medical leave, and more
- how do I resign when I can’t get time to meet with my busy manager?
- ask the readers: should an employer know about an employee’s history with hate groups?
- a secretary is holding up my job offer, I’m worried about how my peers will react to my promotion, and more
- when an employee stops coming to work, do we have to formally fire them?
- having a bad boss can make you sick, superstars can struggle to bond with their teams, and more
- I thought I liked my new boss, but I’m worried about how she treated a coworker
- my manager is disconnected and hands-off, my manager is pushing me to work I don’t want to do, and more
- 2 reader updates (with happy endings)
- 5 on-the-job benefits that sound great but don’t always deliver
- I turned down a job offer and now the recruiter is invoicing me
- someone keeps rearranging my desk, did my manager give me the finger, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – November 16, 2014
- giving feedback to an unprofessional job candidate, staying in a two-bedroom suite with a colleague, and more
- update: I was hired to run a department — but the old boss is still there, 10 months later
- open thread – November 14, 2014
- how long can I stay home with my kids, invasive questionnaire for job candidates, and more
- I think my employee lied about damage to a company vehicle
- what to do when your team disagrees with your decision
- my coworker is too nosy about how I’m spending my time off
- does my boss want to have an affair with me, I feel guilty about resigning, and more
- my interviewer asked me to buy make-up from her and then rejected me for the job
- how to search for a new job – without your current employer finding out
- my boss refuses to give me a job description and told me to stop asking for one
- my manager wants me to marry a stranger, exit interviews in toxic workplaces, and more
- my coworker uses a yoga ball as a chair
- how to do a great job on a stretch assignment
- my employee won’t copy me on his email, manager purposely gives negative references, and more
- why can’t I keep this position filled?
- my job wants me to deal with shotguns, guard dogs, mud holes, and dark woods
- Want a better intranet? Try Igloo.
- my manager’s girlfriend just joined our team, my boss doesn’t understand what I do, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – November 9, 2014
- refusing an offensively small raise, a lying boss, and more
- my boss is a nightmare — should I quit without another job lined up?
- open thread – November 7, 2014
- I lied to quit my job, how many microwaves should an office kitchen have, and more
- when a job ad says a preferred candidate has been identified
- 4 cool tools to help you manage your week better
- how do I recover from a huge, fireable mistake at work?
- am I wrong not to share job contacts with friends, a sexually explicit Facebook snafu, and more
- my manager invited me to a product party
- my coworker told a candidate’s current employer that he’s job-searching
- interview with a lab worker at the Arctic Circle
- my boss wants me to buy a client flowers with my own money, my interviewer contacted our mutual Facebook connections, and more
- my coworker will only talk to me over g-chat
- what to do when you don’t have the right person to delegate work to
- is it ever okay to leave a job after less than a year?
- suggesting a coworker has a learning disability, putting personal appointments on a team calendar, and more
- my coworker keeps taking the office’s magazines into the bathroom
- are you haunted by your last bad job?
- everyone in my office keeps their doors shut, who controls the mail room, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – November 2, 2014
- should I recommend my boyfriend for a job at my company, how to respond to homophobic remarks at work, and more
October 2014
- I’m not doing any of the work I was hired to do — and my boss doesn’t care
- Halloween open thread – October 31, 2014
- wearing a Halloween costume to an interview, talking to an employee with fuzzy thinking, and more
- I’m working a flexible schedule for a 10% cut in pay but producing 100% of what I used to
- what to do when 2 people on your team don’t get along
- my coworker went through my trash can to get me in trouble
- my interviewer asked me about personal items from Facebook, coworker insists on special email subject lines, and more
- I’m in trouble for pushing back on a Boss’s Day gift collection
- our manager periodically flips out and jams her authority down our throats
- I was called “mean” for reporting a coworker for stealing, not asking questions at an interview, and more
- should I let a company pay to use my resume in a job bid?
- how to convince your boss to give you more responsibility
- my boss thinks I made a mistake — but I didn’t
- my boss monitors my work from her home computer, cover letters when you’re not a great writer, and more
- update: when a married client brings his mistress to dinner
- 5 rules for celebrating Halloween at work
- my boss asked me to leave my desk every time I sneeze or blow my nose
- my boss’s praise is alienating my coworkers, dealing with frustrated temps, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – October 26, 2014
- our intern talks like a child, should my resume mention training to be a fitness instructor, and more
- what kind of volunteering is most helpful?
- open thread – October 24, 2014
- reference quandary for an employee I don’t want to keep, banning jalapeños, and more
- sorry, no calls
- you’re making 4 mistakes in your one-on-ones with your team
- how should we handle holiday vacation requests when we need to ensure coverage in the office?
- job application wants me to list contact info for my friends, ads that target “recent college grads,” and more
- my manager said I’m emasculating an employee (or how to respond to gendered feedback)
- how to get along with a disgruntled coworker who dislikes our boss
- my former boss is engaging in weird LinkedIn behavior, I feel guilty about leaving my job, and more
- HR emailed our department to say that someone has Hepatitis A
- 5 things likely to disrupt your project plan
- should I be in trouble for occasionally starting work a few minutes late?
- my office only assigns women to cover the phones, I can’t pronounce a coworker’s name, and more
- business live action role-play, online blunders that can cost you a job, and more
- I took a year off to travel and now employers are holding it against me
- expect these 5 questions at your next interview
- how to answer “what do you do?” when you’re unemployed, employer restricts how I can spend my salary, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – October 19, 2014
- my company banned PDA, I’m concerned about my boss’s possible replacement, and more
- should I use wording from the job ad in my resume or cover letter?
- open thread – October 17, 2014
- my coworkers were on their phones during a job interview, my work computer breaks daily, and more
- is my law degree keeping me from getting interviews?
- 7 ways you’re annoying your manager without realizing it
- my employee keeps venting to other team members, I regret recommending someone for a job, and more
- how can I ask whether I’m doing well enough at my new job?
- is there a polite way to walk out of an interview?
- negotiating a sign-on bonus, my new coworkers chat all day long, and more
- how your mate impacts your career, pre-cations, and more
- I’m training my replacement and worried she’s not right for the job
- I don’t want my staff to know how young I am, an ass-grabbing coworker, and more
- can your employer do that? probably — but you can still discuss it
- how to respond to an angry, profanity-laced email from a coworker
- I can’t let go of wanting a job that isn’t contacting me, my new boss didn’t acknowledge my mother’s death, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – October 12, 2014
- my nosy coworker keeps joining my conversations, re-interviewing after a job rejection, and more
- a client paid half my fee and then disappeared before giving me any work
- open thread – October 10, 2014
- my CEO wants us to wear pants with the company logo on the butt, dealing with a bad reference, and more
- I was asked to set aside four hours for a 10-15-minute phone call
- how to help staff members step out of their comfort zones
- how can I get more comfortable talking on the phone?
- one of my employees hit another, using a work printer for personal use, and more
- my phone voice sounds like the other gender
- is it unprofessional to put your feet up on your desk?
- my boss is trying to fix me up with his friend, offering to pay for job leads, and more
- what question do you wish you had asked before taking your current job?
- how to be your own boss — even when you have a manager
- my boss is ordering me to illegally trespass at a store where I’ve been banned
- my top performer constantly texts and web-surfs, asking about drug testing during an interview, and more
- I was late, badly prepared, and cried at an interview — why did they offer me the job?
- how to deal with a lazy coworker
- my boss seems irritated when I ask questions, new job wants me to travel for a month at a time, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – October 5, 2014
- I’m in training with a much slower coworker, contacting my boyfriend’s boss, and more
- how long should a cover letter be?
- open thread – October 3, 2014
- my employer revoked everyone’s telecommuting status, my coworker copied my LinkedIn profile, and more
- your workplace is gross
- 3 ways to build accountability on your team
- is this job rejection a load of bull?
- should I ask for a lower salary, my boss wants me to inflate people’s performance ratings, and more
- I was hired to run a department — but the old boss is still there, 10 months later
- how to manage off-site employees
- my coworker kept vomiting in our shared office and wouldn’t go home
- getting clients to stick to deadlines, recovering from a bad video interview, and more
September 2014
- did my interviewer give my resume a numerical grade?
- 5 mistakes to avoid in your one-on-one’s with your manager
- do I have to call my coworker “Rabbi”?
- you need a better intranet: Igloo
- an interviewer said he doesn’t care about my happiness, can my boss make us all ride in his car, and more
- asking for a promotion as part of taking on a massive amount of new work
- 5 signs that your resume is holding you back
- yes, government interviews suck — but here’s how you can do well in them anyway
- the right time to bring in personal belongings to a new job, I was told to bring a pay stub to a job interview, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – September 28, 2014
- my employer made me a contractor without telling me, sitting down at trade shows, and more
- how do I ask my new job to let me use a pseudonym?
- open thread – September 26, 2014
- my coworkers keep venting to me about things I can’t help with, not hearing back from a client, and more
- can I ask for an extra week of vacation, even though I’m entry-level?
- how a 20-minute meeting after every project can help you do better work
- how can I prepare my teenager for the workforce?
- I’m a bookkeeper for a company that doesn’t pay its bills on time, rejecting applicants who don’t meet basic qualifications, and more
- if everyone dresses casually at my new job, can I still wear a suit and tie?
- how to get along with your most annoying coworkers
- my manager keeps complaining to me about her own boss
- I found an ad for my own job, my manager tells us to bill for hours we didn’t work, and more
- is it rude to call out an employee’s name when I want them to come into my office and they’re nearby?
- how can my resume demonstrate initiative, problem-solving, work ethic, and other qualities?
- how to team-build — without trust falls, rope courses, or lengthy off-sites
- can I suggest a candidate to replace my low-performing boss, job hunting with a fragrance allergy, and more
- my employer makes you wait 3 years for a raise and is staffed by lunatics
- employers, stop labeling Millennials
- wearing school colors when interviewing at a university, recommending a fired employee, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – September 21, 2014
- should I reach back out about a job I was rejected for, convincing a friend to job-search, and more
- I’m losing out on job offers because I don’t make enough eye contact
- open thread – September 19, 2014
- asking my boss why he’s disengaged, telling a coworker not to use Comic Sans, and more
- why does a neat or messy desk reflect on your productivity?
- 4 keys to building a team that delivers results
- my interviewers seem like they haven’t read my resume, my coworkers keep rummaging through my papers, and more
- my coworker is tracking my hours
- how to earn respect as the new hire
- as a new manager, am I saying “I’m sorry” too much?
- withdrawing a job offer, gifts from the boss, and more
- can you have close work friendships when you’re in HR?
- the word men don’t hear in performance reviews, the 40-hour work week is dead, and more
- my job is pushing me to get a smartphone and I don’t want one
- my coworker hogs the coffee supplies, suspicious sick days, and more
- my coworker won’t stop commenting on my clothes, handbags, and finances
- massive discount on the Ask a Manager “how to get a job” bible
- ask the readers: when parenthood changes work habits
- fired because of a false complaint, how to answer “Why are you the best person for this job?”
- Sunday free-for-all – September 14, 2014
- my coworker told me I’m too loud, salary and demotions, and more
- things top job candidates never do — which aren’t deal-breakers but which don’t reflect well on you
- open thread – September 12, 2014
- am I obligated to share my work with my coworker, how to reward an exceptional employee, and more
- how do I tell my boss that our new hire needs to be fired?
- how to make performance evaluations useful to your team
- I’m not the go-to person for my team, coworker’s nude photos, and more
- my coworker refused to help with a request I sent her
- how can we solve our office’s thermostat war?
- can I recover from a bad phone interview, a recruiter changed my resume, and more
- I want to ban energy drinks at my office
- how to keep other teams from being your team’s roadblock
- HR rigged our company raffle
- the best day of the week to apply for a job, email accounts for former employees, and more
- I called the police on an angry driver, who turned out to be a coworker
- 5 hidden costs of a new job
- should I take out my nose ring for job interviews, and other nose ring conundrums
- I reported my awful manager to HR and it’s not going well, refusing to give out employee salary info, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – September 7, 2014
- new employee wants me to hire her boyfriend, managing student workers, and more
- update: after I resigned, my boss asked me to drive 1,000 miles at my own expense
- open thread – September 5, 2014
- should I resign without notice since I’m making so many mistakes, how far out can I push my start date, and more
- 10 weirdest things you’ve seen at work
- does a quick rejection indicate that a human never saw my application materials?
- interview with a former receptionist at a legal brothel
- my manager’s daughter’s wedding will separate men and women, job searching soon after starting a new job, and more
- my manager won’t manage and tells us to “police our own ranks”
- California will require paid sick leave, how to change the font size here, and more
- I’m frustrated by my office’s constant Nerf gun battles
- is it okay to clip your nails at work, explaining why I don’t want a promotion, and more
- can I ask my new manager why she hired me?
- how to know a remote worker has checked out – and what to do about it
- should companies let employees use e-cigarettes at their desks?
- how to handle customer complaints about coworkers, discrimination in hiring, and more
- double standards: why your interviewer can take interruptions during an interview but you can’t
- I was promoted but still get asked to do my old job, I asked for a lower performance evaluation rating, and more
August 2014
- weekend free-for-all – August 30-31, 2014
- I hate my promotion and want my old job back, horrid interviewers, and more
- what should I look for when interviewing college students?
- open thread – August 29, 2014
- how to turn down requests to visit our office, retroactive pay decreases, and more
- how do I tell my coworkers that I have incurable cancer and it’s progressing?
- what to do when an employee makes a serious mistake
- what’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen at work?
- listing a brothel job on a resume, blocking coworker from Facebook posts, and more
- how to tell a coworker to stop touching you
- are you sending the right signals at work?
- my boss keeps pushing me to drink
- my remote team isn’t responsive, my managers joke about not hiring women who might get pregnant, and more
- bad bosses, inappropriate interview questions, and more
- first-time manager? here’s what you need to know
- did I offend my formerly friendly colleague?
- I’m afraid my temporary replacement will change my job, confusing job descriptions, and more
- an employer told me they don’t provide written offers
- what to do when you’re stuck in a job you hate
- interviewing when an employer has a horrible website, same-sex sharing of hotels on business trips, and more
- weekend free-for-all – August 23-24, 2014
- a coworker sent a snarky email about me, people who hover over your computer, and more
- dealing with callers who want short-notice appointments with my boss
- open thread – August 22, 2014
- my boss won’t let me floss at work, leaving during the busiest time of year, and more
- I was a test subject in a counseling session at work and now I regret it
- are you giving your employees enough feedback?
- company is giving us secret aptitude tests, new employees and dress code, and more
- how much talking in a meeting is too much?
- how to manage your boss
- ask the readers: how to move from white-collar work to blue-collar work
- my coworker wants me to goof off so she doesn’t look bad, peanut allergies when interviewing, and more
- when a job ad says a skill you don’t have is “a plus”
- when your former peer becomes your manager
- I think my manager tampered with my drinking water
- job applicants bearing gifts, turning down a LinkedIn recommendation request, and more
- my coworker exploded when I let our boss know about his major mistake
- 8 things you can’t do when you’re new to the job – but they’ll be okay to do later
- I snapped at my boss, is it okay to use color on a resume, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – August 17, 2014
- employees who take double lunches, nicknames on resumes, and more
- I’m leaving a toxic job but feel guilty about leaving my team behind
- open thread – August 15, 2014
- handling abusive clients, do early job applicants have an advantage, and more
- my creative role has turned into drudgery for the foreseeable future
- how to gain your manager’s trust
- my boss is frequently absent and neglects his work
- can I ask if my coworker will be fired, whether to give a struggling employee more time, and more
- looking professional after working out at lunch
- my new staff resents me — what do I do?
- should companies respond to Glassdoor reviews?
- shocking criticism in an annual review, job-fair-style interviews, and more
- how to make your boss adore you
- my boss makes us all keep kosher for Passover
- too much info is killing your productivity, brainstorming doesn’t work, and more
- does every job applicant deserve a reply, awful language at work, and more
- my office is forcing us to do karaoke for “fun”
- why you shouldn’t quit your job until you’ve accepted a new one
- my boss implied I let religion impact a hiring decision, a new employee is snarking at me, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – August 10, 2014
- should I hold a grudge over the job I didn’t get, restrictive new PTO policy, and more
- my job didn’t warn me that I’d be temporarily laid off each summer
- open thread – August 8, 2014
- accepted a promotion without talking salary, name-dropping in interviews, and more
- I was held hostage and insulted at a group interview of 45 people
- how’s the new layout working for you?
- how to terrify your new employee
- my boss slapped my hand, I was fired and then invited back, and more
- my assistant let us believe she has a key certification that she doesn’t actually have
- the 7 biggest mistakes managers make
- can my employer install spyware on my personal computer I use for work?
- I can’t get a job because of a mistake I made at 17, resigning when my boss will explode, and more
- my manager doesn’t want me to meet with clients unless I lose weight
- how to have more influence at work
- how long of a work gap is bad for your resume, my boss makes me do his grocery shopping, and more
- my coworker treats me like his assistant
- how to adjust to your young new coworkers
- my manager loves my coworker and hates me, choosing a girlfriend or a job, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – August 3, 2014
- does it look immature to ask what time to show up on my first day, inviting coworkers to a wedding, and more
- what to ask someone who has the job you just got promoted to
- open thread – August 1, 2014
- some changes…
- will martial arts hurt my boyfriend’s career in child care, I sent money to an employer who has disappeared, and more
July 2014
- how to gain respect as the new boss
- my boss won’t accept my resignation
- am I misrepresenting my commitment to a job, calling a coworker “daddy,” and more
- following Ask a Manager on Facebook? there’s something you should know
- how do I fire the most popular person in the office?
- can I keep my company truck when I leave to stick it to my company?
- my interviewer kept laughing at me, my managers are giving me contradictory instructions, and more
- update: when your boss is a raging alcoholic
- what to do when your team is missing deadlines
- my coworker is arguing with every decision I make — on a project that I’m leading
- my coworker spread a rumor that I have racist tattoos, what to expect in a third interview, and more
- update: I caught an employee in a lie
- 5 ways to modernize your job search
- manager wants to buy underwear for employees — and wants to approve it first
- bringing a boyfriend to an interview, preventing overtime abuse, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – July 27, 2014
- asking about birth control coverage when interviewing, reporting plagiarism, and more
- managers: you should ask your staff what’s not getting done
- open thread – July 25, 2014
- offensive comments heard secondhand, performance evaluations that ban comments, and more
- how to delegate last-minute work without a mutiny
- is it weird to eat throughout the day at my desk?
- how should students pick a college major?
- did I violate work-friends protocol, where’s my promotion, and more
- was this email condescending or territorial?
- is it legal for publications not to pay their writers?
- how can I get an employee to solve problems on her own, when does my two weeks notice start, and more
- my office permits bad behavior under the guise of harmony
- why you need a vacation (even when there’s no time)
- how can I get a job description, what heels are too high for work, and more
- update: I’m being penalized for not participating in monthly athletic events at work
- company scheduled a phone interview by telling me to be available “the next couple of days”
- the problem with “gentle reminders” — and other lesser-known email offenses you might be committing
- is my VP warning me about layoffs, interviewing while breast-feeding, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – July 20, 2014
- giving input for someone else’s evaluation, the job I wanted to apply to disappeared, and more
- my boss gives in to my coworker’s temper tantrums
- open thread – July 18, 2014
- we’re not allowed to exercise while staffing a conference, employer wants my high school diploma, and more
- how should I handle this unprofessional interviewer?
- my coworker was arrested for a horrifying crime and is returning to work
- how to leave work behind when you go on vacation
- photos on business cards, when to remove college accolades from your resume, and more
- update: my struggling new employee thinks her pushiness is “enthusiasm”
- how important is it to answer every question perfectly during a job interview?
- my new coworker is pushing a pyramid scheme on us
- asking for a higher raise, my manager wants me to start telemarketing, and more
- my coworker keeps emailing higher-ups about typos
- your work-life balance depends on your manager’s, what email does to your brain, and other things to know this week
- my coworker kissed me and now his wife is emailing me, mentioning a bonus on a resume, and more
- an update from our most notorious letter ever: I had to prepare a meal and entertain 20 people for a job interview
- what to do if you can’t find a job
- my boss demands to know how I’m spending my time off before he’ll approve it
- my office is moving to my boss’s house, difficult interns, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – July 13, 2014
- is my employer suggesting I apply to other jobs, vacation time after giving notice, and more
- do you have to tell your boss why you’re quitting?
- open thread – July 11, 2014
- unsolicited resumes from strangers, telling someone grad school isn’t for them, and more
- how big of a deal are mistakes when you’re new to a job?
- how to get your boss to read your emails
- I tried to negotiate salary and haven’t heard anything back, bug bites at work, and more
- Holding people accountable isn’t always about formal action. Sometimes it’s just a direct conversation.
- my coworker keeps trying to goad me into political arguments
- 8 things your boss won’t tell you … but wishes you knew
- my boss wants me to do something skeevy, an undeserved free lunch, and more
- do employers really look down on drinking and partying?
- how to keep track of the work you’ve delegated
- how can I tell if things are going well at my new job, the competition tried to recruit me, and more
- is this company stringing me along?
- why employers don’t like long-distance job candidates
- headshots in your email signature, coworker gets more assignments, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – July 6, 2014
- did my boss lie to me, using info from one employee about another, and more
- open thread – July 4, 2014
- should my cover letter explicitly ask for an interview?
- how to fend off nosy coworkers
- my coworker insulted me in an email, sharing a bedroom with coworkers, and more
- I can’t get used to calling coworkers by their first names
- ask the readers: should I band together with coworkers to request a different work-from-home policy?
- my boss isn’t doing his work, coworker won’t stop calling me a silly nickname, and more
- update: I gossiped and now my coworker doesn’t trust me
- resume weirdness, #271
- how to delegate when your team is already overloaded
- I give off nervous energy in interviews, I don’t want my old boss to evaluate me, and more
June 2014
- can this dysfunctional organization be saved?
- 4 things your company might tell you that simply aren’t true
- my boss told me not to say I lead the team, is my manager blogging at work, and more
- Sunday books and free-for-all – June 29, 2014
- staying with friends when traveling for an interview, job was mysteriously canceled, and more
- ending an interview early when your interviewer is a jerk
- open thread – June 27, 2014
- I want to lie to my boss about missing a flight, what kind of kitchen supplies should an office provide, and more
- our European clients are sneering at my American colleagues’ table manners
- tales of office busybodies: your nosiest coworkers
- should I ask if I’m going to be fired, I’ve been too pushy at work, and more
- job-searching when you share a name with a porn star
- how do I manage work outside my comfort area?
- negotiating pay when filling in for a maternity leave, bankruptcy cooties, and more
- should I send a post-interview thank-you if I’m not sure how enthusiastic I am about the job?
- six-hour workdays, Zappos’ big move to kill job postings, and other things to know this week
- my struggling new employee thinks her pushiness is “enthusiasm”
- if you dislike smelly things, Zero Odor is for you
- can I tell callers that my coworkers aren’t going to call them back, giving candidates interview guidance, and more
- can I say something about my coworker’s graphic, violent tattoo?
- 7 mistakes you might be making before your job interview even happens
- interviewer wants me to commit to the job before getting an offer, wearing shorts to work, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – June 22, 2014
- I was promised job benefits that I’m not getting, sending your LinkedIn profile instead of a resume, and more
- interviewer had concerns about me from the start
- we accidentally left a new employee behind when we went to lunch, too-fast interview invitations, and more
- open thread – June 20, 2014
- how can I get out of running my workplace’s United Way campaign?
- have you had a nosy coworker?
- employee is terrified of balloons, wife is hitchhiking to work, and more
- why do interviewers ask about your favorite books or movies?
- stop attending so many meetings
- parents who call in sick for their kids, interviewers who ask questions already answered on your resume, and more
- my employee constantly cries when things don’t go her way
- signs your team isn’t communicating well
- I accepted a job without finding out the salary, my colleague works 24-7, and more
- my employer wants me to repay business expenses because I’m resigning
- how much time should you spend on your job search?
- asking for a raise when your commute changes, feeling left out of a going-away party, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – June 15, 2014
- firing an employee who might cause sabotage, renegotiating a new job’s salary, and more
- cc’ing managers when you email your coworkers
- open thread – June 13, 2014
- declining a lunch or breakfast meeting without being rude, disorganized recruiters, and more
- do not do these things, ever (employer edition)
- how to make 1-on-1 check-in meetings more useful
- my employee keeps flirting with me
- interviewer asked if I’m still interested in the job, an indiscreet admin, and more
- my boss spoofed my caller ID to trick me into answering his call
- what to do if your boss asks you to resign
- employee opened everyone’s paychecks to see what they make, asking why it took so long to be interviewed, and more
- a parking shortage at my job is forcing me to park a mile away
- what to do if you’re turned down for a raise or promotion
- my boss puts incompetent coworker in charge when he’s away, explaining what I’ve done since my layoff, and more
- I was asked to pick up someone’s lunch when I arrived for a job interview
- how to rock your interview but lose the job offer
- I overheard my manager complaining about me, my coworker is a frequent surrogate mother, and more
- Sunday free-for-all – June 8, 2014
- a computer-throwing coworker, a new manager calling employers from 9 years ago, and more
- offering to consult after resigning
- open thread – June 6, 2014
- my former boss emails me daily, I’m being fired for writing in wet cement, and more
- do not do these things, ever (job seeker edition)
- my boss doesn’t want student workers eating lunch with other employees, because they might hear “adult subjects”
- stories of the greatest bosses of all time
- how can I cheat my temp agency, how do I know if I did well in an interview, and more
- my client is calling me 7 times a day
- is it okay to bring your kid to work when your child care falls through?
- horrible boss’s farewell party, substitutes for cover letters, and more
- should I go around HR and apply with the hiring manager directly?
- when your team constantly back-burners your priorities
- should I give my colleague feedback on her employee, written reference questionnaires, and more
- who was your best boss?
- how to evaluate a job offer
- my employer heard I was interviewing and confronted me
- how to reject an internal candidate, I can’t afford interview travel, and more
- Sunday free-for-all
May 2014
- coworker never tells us when she’s working from home, employee refuses to track mileage, and more
- my new employee wanted to quit and now wants to stay
- open thread – May 30, 2014
- coworkers who roll their eyes in meetings, my friend went after a job I wanted, and more
- don’t start your cover letter with “my name is” and other rules
- my boyfriend won’t share info about our coworkers, employees who can’t multi-task, and more
- I showed up for my interview on the wrong day
- will taking a year off after college affect your job prospects?
- my former boss was detained by police for stalking me, repeating words on a resume, and more
- my coworker is constantly convinced he’s going to get fired
- managers judge night owls, LinkedIn judges your popularity, and more
- my childhood friend just took a job at my office, my reference is upset with me, and more
- where are they now: 3 reader updates
- should I worry that I’m being overpaid?
- my low-performing employee can’t take feedback, telling coworkers I eloped, and more
- my new hire keeps cc’ing my manager on everything, new coworker is distracting me during training, and more
- when a job ad doesn’t list the true qualifications the employer is seeking
- open thread – May 23, 2014
- listing time as a stay-at-home parent on your resume, recruiter wants me to run jobs by her before I apply, and more
- update: my coworker is planning a “CEOs & Office Hoes” party
- what it really means to manage up
- how can I recover from being embarrassingly drunk at a work event?
- manager wants us constantly available on WhatsApp, leaving dates off a resume, and more
- when do I start negotiating salary?
- it’s not just helicopter parents — it’s helicopter professors too
- my coworker makes more money than me, but we do the same work
- can I ask an interviewer if I would have my own office, my coworker is avoiding me, and more
- how long should interviews last?
- how to keep a “small company” culture as your business gets bigger
- a parent asks: what’s wrong with my daughter’s rude, frustrating interviewers?
- my boss joined my Toastmasters club, why hiring managers look at LinkedIn profiles, and more
- 7 signs that your manager just doesn’t like you
- should you go to graduate school?
- should we have job candidates do group activities with each other?
- our manager is never at work, my coworker told a board member I’m upset at work, and more
- my coworker called my presentation “cute,” employee refuses to stop using company address for personal mail, and more
- refusing more work unless you get a raise or promotion
- open thread – May 16, 2014
- should I meet with the person who replaced me at my toxic job, what to say to plagiarists, and more
- my coworker is planning a “CEOs & Office Hoes” party
- what should I say to parents who are job-searching on behalf of their kids?
- video conferencing at work? here’s how to be more likable on video
- should I tell my staff I’m personally paying for the treats I bring them, my contract wasn’t renewed and they won’t tell me why, and more
- my boss is mentally ill
- which matters more: skills or personality?
- how to create a resume from scratch
- my coworker has an inappropriate LinkedIn photo, responding to a candidate’s rejection of our offer, and more
- LinkedIn is not a dating site
- how to avoid telling employees “because I said so”
- my manager threatened to fire me or lower my pay if I don’t help clean the lunchroom
- my coworkers keep badmouthing my boss to me, is it okay to just order coffee at a lunch interview, and more
- hiring someone who will need two airplane seats when she travels
- how to get a job when you don’t have experience
- want me to review your resume?
- can I ask my staff to be nicer, beauty routines during class, and more
- my volunteer role has become full-time and I want to be paid, jobs without benefits, and more
- why don’t hiring managers look for potential in people?
- open thread – May 9, 2014
- what if my coworker fails a class I teach, hiring the long-term unemployed, and more
- 4 random things
- help! my new boss hates me
- your 7 biggest career sins
- my junior coworker won’t stop complaining about how hungry she is in meetings
- my manager asked me if this is the right job for me, requests for online reviews when you’d rather decline, and more
- should you always negotiate salary?
- my coworker has an offensive bobble-head doll on his desk
- why haven’t I heard back after my job interview?
- former employer wants me to fill out paperwork 6 months after I left, boss stole friend’s wallet, and more
- update about the employee who added the F-word to a client form
- how to work amid chaos and constant change
- my new coworker wants to forbid music in the office
- wet Speedos in the office, my manager has gone AWOL, and more
- my coworker self-published an X-rated book and won’t stop promoting it at work
- how to deal with a bad performance review
- Sam, Lucy, and Olive would like a minute of your time
- a stolen cover letter, an invitation to my boss’s spouse’s birthday party, and more
- I accidentally told my boss I’d work for free, I flubbed an interview answer, and more
- should a candidate ever give a company feedback on its hiring process?
- open thread – May 2, 2014
- my father-in-law is pouting after I resigned, double toilet trouble, and more
- things that don’t matter in your job search
- my boss is smothering me
- what’s your worst career sin?
- my manager cites God’s will in response to complaints, a senior coworker’s work sucks, and more
April 2014
- why do I have to submit an application when I’m already providing my resume?
- an employee added the F-word to a client form
- my manager is venting about work on Facebook, asking for outside feedback on my work, and more
- my new coworker is pushing huge amounts of junk food on me
- how to find the time you need to get more work done
- I was asked to work more slowly so others don’t look bad, the purpose of a mentor, and more
- I sent chocolate to a hiring manager but haven’t heard back
- what your internship manager wishes you knew
- my coworkers’ wives don’t want them to work with a woman, my manager won’t let me say goodbye to my clients, and more
- I don’t want to say hello to my horrible coworker, we get comp time that we can’t take, and more
- my boss won’t let me come up with new ideas
- open thread – April 25, 2014
- my boss didn’t talk to me directly about a new project, I feel like I’m enabling a bad boss, and more
- update: my rude and intrusive coworker makes me feel horrible
- our museum volunteer is out of control
- how to give presentations that won’t put people to sleep – even if you’re shy
- my company said I could work remotely but then replaced me, unwanted help from a coworker, and more
- update: my coworker wants me to have a sleepover with her
- my bosses’ dog keeps attacking my coworkers
- how to spot a bad boss — before you take the job
- naming your dog after your manager, tying pay to off-duty conduct, and more
- “I am confident I am the best candidate for the job” is a ridiculous thing to say
- my coworker’s stress is stressing me out
- how to survive work travel and keep your sanity
- my office is fighting about overhead lighting, how to address an employee’s bad attitude, and more
- update: my assistant keeps commenting on my appearance
- how to make your new boss regret hiring you
- my boss has romantic phone conversations that bother me because I’m single
- my wife had an affair with her manager, being underweight in job interviews, and more
- frustrated by my parents’ employee’s constant complaining, over-sharing in a cover letter, and more
- can you be a good manager if you’re shy?
- open thread – April 18, 2014
- my employees say their coworker slacks off when I’m not around, explaining an 18-month internship, and more
- what to do when you disagree with your manager’s feedback
- the winner of the hiring advice contest is…
- 8 workplace dilemmas you might face — and how to overcome them
- now managers are calling millennials’ parents
- asking my boss to move his vacation days, I’m being laid off and don’t want a goodbye lunch, and more
- update: how can I tell my coworkers their Halloween costumes are racist?
- I quit my job 2 months ago, and my employer wants to retroactively make it a firing
- the questions I get asked the most
- I caught my employee in a lie, sending an e-card after an interview, and more
- I pulled a prank on a coworker — and it ended badly
- talk about your job / ask about other people’s jobs
- banning email after-hours, rescinded job offers, and other things to know this week
- my coworker is getting credit for my work, impossible billable hours requirements, and more
- my friend wrote a novel at work – should I tell our employer?
- 7 beliefs about your job search that are all wrong
- what do you wish you knew before you started hiring people?
- my manager threatened to kick my ass, using vacation time when my company closes early, and more
- how to tell someone their email font is unprofessional, letting a company know about their bad reputation, and more
- I’m still emotional after a bad performance review
- me, talking about how to manage
- open thread – April 11, 2014
- a company I want to work for blocked me on social media, my mentor declined to be a reference for me, and more
- update: how can I back out of a mentoring relationship?
- am I overstepping when I try to be emotionally intelligent?
- 5 abuses of email that will destroy your productivity
- my new employee started a client meeting without me, my managers wants a formal resignation before I’m ready, and more
- update: my manager showed up at my house and beat on the doors and windows
- 5 dangers in working for a bad boss
- will I look like I’m goofing off if I take notes on a tablet at meetings?
- work lunches when you’re fasting for Lent, my husband’s retirement party still hasn’t happened, and more
- update: does the admin in my new office have boundary issues?
- how to manage work when you don’t have authority over the people doing it
- ask the readers: urging an employee to dress more formally … to help her advance, not because she’s outside the dress code
- I’m doing way more work than I signed up for, my manager over-shares about my coworkers, and more
- update: my coworker is having a phantom pregnancy
- can my boss really do that?
- should I mention future plans for a family when interviewing?
- my old manager won’t hire someone to replace me, is my manager undermining me, and more
- managing an unmotivated staff, getting out of office lunches, and more
- I’m anxious about leaving my bad job for a better one
- open thread – April 4, 2014
- should I tell my employer if I file for bankruptcy, using speaker phone during a phone interview, and more
- my manager wants to be cc’d on all my emails
- employer scheduled an interview with me — but just assigned me a date and time without asking about my schedule
- the 10 worst coworkers of all time
- my employer wants me to stay in hotels that feel unsafe, being told to repay $3.91 for expensing aspirin, and more
- update: my coworkers heard my roommates having sex while I was on a conference call
- starting your first job? here are 10 things you need to know
- I gossiped and now my coworker doesn’t trust me
- my coworker blew up over a photo, employee keeps bugging me to interview someone, and more
- update: my manager got demoted because of me – and now we have to go to a tropical island for team-building
- should I tell my employer that I’m bringing a legal concealed weapon to work?
- back slowly away from your email and pick up the damn phone
- responding to an unprofessional resignation, pitting companies against each other to get a better offer, and more
March 2014
- the Onion: 95% of grandfathers got their jobs by walking up and asking
- you are misapplying job search advice
- my coworkers heard my roommates having sex while I was on a conference call
- is it presumptuous to ask for an office, giving feedback to a creepy rejected job candidate, and more
- my boss keeps asking to borrow money, employer wants to know how much my other job offers are, and more
- if you wildly over-reach in your salary negotiation, you will look like a loon
- application deadlines are misleading you
- open thread – March 28, 2014
- my coworker won’t stop interrupting me while I train her, going by a middle name, and more
- my boss heard I’m afraid of him, but I’m not … I just make comments about his grumpiness
- how can I make sure I’m hiring people who will thrive in our demanding firm?
- comments, crankiness, and civility
- I’m afraid a manager will find my trash-talking emails about her, affairs with married coworkers, and more
- are you really as busy as you think you are?
- do you want to work at a nonprofit?
- should a resigning employee have to reimburse us for costs of a future conference he signed up for?
- my manager shared my pregnancy with people before I did, divorce at work, and more
- is this email from my coworker manipulative and weird?
- how to succeed when deadlines and priorities constantly change
- how to talk to an employee who frequently calls in sick before or after a weekend
- I want quiet but I want to be likable, retro pay for a late performance review, and more
- update: we took up a collection for a coworker to get to a funeral, but she lied about it and didn’t go
- if you’re getting interviews but no job offers, here’s what to do
- an employer wants to take a photo of me at my interview
- my boss is being investigated by HR, broken promises in an offer letter, and more
- we have to write letters to our boss while she decides whether to re-hire us, fired for refusing to answer manager’s questions on the weekend, and more
- stop telling me that you work well independently and in groups
- open thread
- my assistant keeps commenting on my appearance, I seem too shy in interviews, and more
- update: my coworker sent a hostile resignation email to our team, and now wants me to attend a going-away party
- my boss wants everyone to donate personal money back to our employer
- thermostat wars, reply-all, and other unsolved problems of the modern office
- employee didn’t seem happy to get a raise, my coworker has pinkeye, and more
- how do I tell my manager I’m dating a coworker?
- 10 annoying email habits to break today
- we took up a collection for a coworker to get to a funeral, but she lied about it and didn’t go
- my manager wants me to lie to a new coworker, I’m mentoring a know-it-all, and more
- why you should ask for feedback, even if you’re scared
- my coworkers talk over me and I think I’m causing it
- stop using the compliment sandwich … and more ways to give better feedback
- convincing a company to let me work long-distance, should I explain that I took six months off due to stress, and more
- what process or problem has yet to be solved at your office?
- 7 questions to ask yourself before asking for a raise
- my boss is obsessed with treating me like a Millennial
- returning to work after 10 years as a “kept woman,” should I let my manager know about my crippling anxiety, and more
- can I ask for a raise at my 90-day review, how to greet a former employer who fired you, and more
- I’m angry and insulted that my coworkers did my job for me
- open thread
- should I have to pay for a networking meeting, my job isn’t what I was promised it would be, and more
- update: how can I convince my boss I don’t speak Spanish?
- why can’t I get feedback after I’m rejected from a job? (3 letters, 1 theme)
- how your cubicle is holding you back
- my office has a wall of shame, interviewers keep commenting on my height, and more
- my client posted thinly-veiled hostile messages about me on Facebook
- how to find a job long-distance
- when a coworker missed a deadline, I told her it’s a good thing she’s pretty
- can my employer confiscate my personal notes, shared printer etiquette, and more
- my boss is infesting our office with fruit flies
- should your company switch to unlimited vacation time?
- when I resigned, my company offered to fire a coworker and promote me
- I think my boss is getting copies of all my email, wage theft, and more
- how long should I give a candidate to think over a job offer?
- how to lose your boss’s trust
- meet Lucy
- my staff found me bound and gagged after a robbery, bringing pies to work, and more
- a recruiter emailed me a dozen annoying interview questions to complete, Phi Beta Kappa on a resume, and more
- don’t send poetry as your writing sample, and other suggestions for job applicants
- my company wants to track employees’ volunteer time outside the office, responding to a job inquiry when my resume is out-of-date, and more
- open thread
- being asked to include SAT, ACT, or GRE scores with a job application
- should a sex worker avoid her corporate spouse’s social functions?
- how is your work space hurting your productivity?
- how to deal with a hostile interviewer, my boss asked me not to say “y’all” to customers, and more
- do I look uninterested if I don’t follow up with companies where I’ve applied for a job?
- how to complain about a coworker
- my manager showed up at my house and beat on the doors and windows
- my coworker assumes I’ll always give her a ride home, I’m being singled out for being tardy, and more
- update: new employee insists we call her “Mrs. ____” even though we all use first names
- the company president took my chair and I’m sick of being disrespected
- 10 things great bosses do
- how can I get junior staff to respect me, a reference doesn’t remember who I am, and more
- what does this interview question mean? and why must it be answered in an essay?
- 8 lies interviewers tell job candidates
- our company ID badges are causing people to stare at women’s chests
- my boss loaned me money and now insists I repay it all immediately, union membership on a resume, and more
- coworkers are insensitive after a layoff, trimming down internship experience on a resume, and more
February 2014
- can I accept a job knowing I plan to leave it in a few months?
- open thread
- my office-mate’s breast pump is too noisy, negotiating a 4-day work week, and more
- how do background checks work?
- can you leave your home address off your resume?
- how to improve your presentation skills — without an “eccentric professor” vibe
- my medical condition flared up just before an interview, being asked to resign before moving part-time, and more
- my coworker wants me to give him a false reference and lie about his salary
- 5 mistakes smart people make at work
- head of job bank outed for sending nasty emails to job seekers
- should companies prohibit political celebrations, my prosthetic leg made an interviewer uncomfortable, and more
- is it appropriate to want to be told when my manager won’t be in the office?
- the 5 worst people to have in your meetings — and how to deal with them
- my boss watches porn all day, salary and cost-of-living differences, and more
- new employee insists we call her “Mrs. ____” even though we all use first names
- the most common job interviews questions — and how to answer them
- my new hire is badmouthing our business on Twitter, referral bonuses, and more
- I was promised time off for my wedding that’s now being revoked, salary requirements in a cover letter, and more
- did I offend the company that just offered me a job?
- update: our time off is being rescinded — Hunger Games style
- open thread
- should I let my staff constantly change desks, verb tense on resumes, and more
- don’t check references? here’s a horror story for you
- what surprised you most when you first started working?
- when a meeting goes off on a social tangent, how can I bring it back to business?
- my coworker is doing the work I’m supposed to do for him
- 8 ways companies can attract the best job candidates
- how can I stop being afraid every time my manager wants to talk to me?
- who has the final say in hiring, sick day favoritism, and more
- are personal branding websites a crock?
- how your company should handle flu season at work
- after I applied for a job, the HR rep viewed my LinkedIn profile — should I follow up with her?
- I missed the deadline for a video interview, giving feedback to a part-time intern, and more
- how to fire your oldest client
- how can I get out of having lunch with coworkers?
- sharing resumes with coworkers, should I have to plan a going-away party for my cubicle mate, and more
- How can I get my staff to stop socializing in front of clients, interviewing with a noticeable rash, and more
- you won’t find these 7 skills on a job description — but you need them
- I’ve been breaking into my company’s computer network
- open thread
- the office temp is making more than me, I made a mess of asking for a raise, and more
- what’s wrong with “do what you love,” how employers can get your salary history, and more
- how to manage a difficult employee who does good work
- when a married client brings his mistress to dinner
- I’m being evaluated by a manager who just started last week, my interviewers ignored me, and more
- interviewing for a job with pieces that I won’t be good at
- how to know it’s time to leave your job
- my coworker was arrested for domestic violence in front of us, and our employer won’t do anything about it
- I’m cranky about having to volunteer in my field, my former employer’s website still lists me as an active employee, and more
- if you aren’t screening job candidates by phone, you must start now
- how to manage a team that’s older than you
- should your manager know how to do your job?
- my new job was delayed 2 days before my start date, when a beloved manager leaves, and more
- here’s a real-life example of a great cover letter (with before and after versions!)
- my new job wants to call me by my full name, which I don’t use
- The Ask a Manager kitties try SHEBA® cat food
- how to write a cover letter that will get you an interview
- stealth interviews, being paid for being stuck at work during snow, and more
- my hostile manager won’t invite me to the staff party at her house, my grandfather is waking me up too early, and more
- when I talk to HR, don’t they have to keep it confidential?
- how much money do you make, part 2
- open thread
- my HR rep used offensive language, should teachers go to nightclubs, and more
- my coworker is getting the credit for my work
- how can I manage my team in the aftermath of layoffs?
- my boss seems annoyed when I stay home every time it snows
- employer offered me a job but said I offended half the team, my boss is overruling HR, and more
- my parents say I should offer to work for free for a week to prove myself to employers
- 12 ways to get the most out of attending a conference
- how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties
- how many interviews do employers conduct for one position, should I warn my boss before I shave my head, and more
- should you ever negotiate salary through email?
- 5 hiring regrets to avoid before you make a job offer
- our time off is being rescinded — Hunger Games style
- should promotions be based on seniority, my boyfriend’s accountant is flirting with him, and more
- how to reach out to a coworker who was fired
- 6 small resume changes that will have a big impact
- should I turn my questions to interviewers into a sales pitch for myself?
- I think I’m in the wrong career, does my interviewer expect his new hire to fail, and more
- Should a receptionist tell callers when someone is out sick, consolation prize interviews, and more
January 2014
- your employer can wipe your phone clean, American bosses, and more
- my coworker brushes her hair with a fork and cleans her false teeth at her desk
- open thread
- can my wife and I apply to do a job jointly, what “thanks for coming in” means, and more
- when an employer calls me at work, can I ask how long the call will take or to reschedule?
- employers that ask for high school transcripts from 30 years ago
- how do I address a glaring weakness in an internal interview?
- when can you use someone’s first name, when to disclose salary, and more
- do you need multiple versions of your resume?
- how to avoid giving employers your salary history
- how much money do you make?
- leaving a job off your resume, greeting coworkers by name, and more
- how far in advance can you request time off?
- what to do when your manager is a bottleneck
- pre-employment testing for software developers
- I don’t want to spend a week in a remote cabin with coworkers while I’m pregnant
- my manager has crippling anxiety, putting modeling on a resume, and more
- I’m caught between two companies and a staffing agency
- keep your flu out of the office
- when your boss wants to inspect your house before letting you work from home
- how to avoid socializing with kids at the office, how to end a cover letter, and more
- I have no idea what salary to expect, I want to stop covering the phones, and more
- check the name of your resume file
- I provide my company’s daily cash out of my personal funds
- open thread
- I don’t want to do TV interviews, extending a business trip for personal reasons, and more
- 3 more reader updates
- ask the readers: what should a company jobs page include?
- I’m being penalized for not participating in monthly athletic events at work
- asking a coworker about the real reasons she’s quitting, do I have to reply to recruiters’ emails, and more
- when a job description keeps changing during the hiring process
- everything you need to know about snow days at work
- my employee is acting like a manager even though I’ve told him to stop
- announcing a layoff on Facebook, getting to know new coworkers, and more
- should you refuse to sign a performance improvement plan?
- 5 qualities you really need in your coworkers
- I was told not to attend a former coworker’s retirement party
- contacting people who had my job before me, am I overqualified, under-qualified, or just right, and more
- my boss is constantly urging me to stay at my job, even though I’ve shown no signs of leaving
- does the admin in my new office have boundary issues?
- my manager doesn’t give us input on new hires, my manager shared a coworker’s medical details with us, and more
- housekeeping: mobile version of Ask a Manager?
- I don’t like the restrictions on my severance, employer is changing pay rate every week, and more
- I’m annoyed that I got an automated rejection for a job I was invited to apply for by an old boss
- meeting for training in a coworker’s home, I don’t like my boss’s comments in my performance review, and more
- open thread
- my manager got demoted because of me – and now we have to go to a tropical island for team-building
- can I ask about salary before flying out of state for a job interview?
- I found out my coworker is getting laid off
- company is posting job applicants on their website, with contact information
- my coworker told a customer I didn’t want to do part of my job, I haven’t received my legally mandated backpay, and more
- my coworker wants me to have a sleepover with her
- don’t make these 8 mistakes when negotiating salary
- can training be mandatory if it requires a 3-night stay out of town?
- should I send a very belated job rejection, getting paid for doing required reading outside of work, and more
- how to show passion for your work when you’re not a demonstrative person
- how to manage an employee who’s argumentative when I correct her work
- 3 work mistakes you don’t realize you’re making
- how transparent should I be with new hires, is emergency contact info a privacy violation, and more
- workplace wellness programs aren’t so effective — surprise!
- 5 ways to make job hunting easier on yourself
- my coworker is having a phantom pregnancy
- I don’t want to drive an oversized company vehicle, security guard is addressing me by my first name, and more
- 2 more reader updates
- my coworkers think I’m too enthusiastic, telling my competition that we’re up for the same job, and more
- someone accused me of crying at work — but I didn’t
- do I have to fake passion to get a job?
- my boss’s kid punched me in the groin, how to factor overtime pay into salary history, and more
- open thread
- you can’t predict your chances of getting a job — really, you can’t
- ask the readers: better work habits when you have ADHD
- I had to prepare a meal and entertain 20 people for a job interview — and so did 19 other candidates
- I can’t do my new job’s required travel, family business disasters, and more
- my friend doesn’t understand that I can’t meet her for lunch when I’m at work
- how to respond to an anonymous note that says a temp is stealing
- 8 ways the economy is still affecting the job market
- my interview was canceled 10 minutes before it was supposed to start, what to do with company swag, and more
- why should your references be managers rather than peers?
- my boss wants me to lie to coworkers about my commute
- 6 new year’s resolutions for managers
- who should attend an exit interview, Toastmasters on a resume, and more
- am I a grinch for expecting my staff to work from home on snow days?
- my coworker constantly asks us to loan him money
- new year’s resolutions for upcoming graduates
- job candidates who won’t talk salary, demoted after maternity leave, and more
- how should companies handle snow days?
- my company monitors us to make sure we don’t job search, school-issued email addresses, and more
- 2 more reader updates
- should I apply for the stretch job or the slightly-less-of-a-stretch job?
- open thread
- my new coworker is rude to clients, my company won’t give me my personal laptop back, and more
- my manager is incredibly irritating and I’m ready to snap
- how to find a mentor at work
- my reference stole a job from me, applying for a promotion after tardiness troubles, and more
- 4 more reader updates
- update from the reader managing a lying sister-in-law
- confession: I used to suck at firing people