how can I find new hires who will be comfortable with our “boys club” culture? by Alison Green on November 23, 2020 A reader writes: I’m looking to add a new employee to my team, most likely a recent college graduate, and I’m not quite sure how to come up with questions to ensure a good cultural fit. Our team is a bit of a “boys club” with cursing and the occasional inappropriate joke made in smaller […] Read the full article →
will a job candidate who used to be in charge really be OK with a non-management job? by Alison Green on November 12, 2020 A reader writes: I work in biotech and am in the process of reading resumes and interviewing candidates to replace my only direct report, who left recently when she got a really nice job offer elsewhere. I work full-time at the bench and this is the first time I’ve had to drive the selection process […] Read the full article →
how to ask references about a candidate’s personality by Alison Green on November 11, 2020 A reader writes: I run a nonprofit and hire part-time workers to work in recreation-type centers across the city. Strong interpersonal skills are part of what we look for. However, interviews make people nervous, and it can be a little hard to judge those skills in interviews. My question is about checking references and getting […] Read the full article →
my employer won’t let us tell candidates what we pay until we make them an offer by Alison Green on October 5, 2020 A reader writes: I work for a private college, and my department is in the process of hiring a new staff person. I have been involved in vetting and interviewing applicants both for this current position and for several past positions, so this isn’t the first time I’ve faced this issue. But I don’t know […] Read the full article →
job candidate’s suspicious husband photographed me before her interview by Alison Green on August 26, 2020 A reader writes: I had a strange experience yesterday, and I think I need some perspective. I am a C-level department head. Recently, I volunteered to go temporarily to another location (very far from my home) that experienced a sudden and unforeseen leadership vacancy. Since I have no intention of staying here, I told senior […] Read the full article →
should I tell a candidate she was rejected for plagiarizing her recruitment test? by Alison Green on August 18, 2020 A reader writes: I work for a translation agency where I am also in charge of recruitment and selection for my team. After the initial phone screening, I send out a test to candidates and evaluate their language and translation skills. To evaluate all candidates against the same parameters, I send them the same document […] Read the full article →
companies that ask people to answer mini-essays before submitting resumes by Alison Green on July 29, 2020 A reader writes: In previous posts you have written that employers generally shouldn’t require applicants to do work (assessments, tests, what have you) at the very outset of the hiring process because that’s asking folks to dedicate time/effort when the majority of them won’t even get an interview. I agree with you wholeheartedly, but I’m […] Read the full article →
is it possible to apply for a job too quickly? by Alison Green on July 20, 2020 A reader writes: I see a lot of questions about when it could be too late to apply, but very little about it being too early. I’m curious about your thoughts on applications that come in the same day the job was posted, sometimes even within one to two hours. For true entry-level positions, this […] Read the full article →
should pet peeves influence hiring decisions? by Alison Green on July 16, 2020 A reader writes: I am hiring for a position that I will manage. Our office is small and this individual and I will work together very closely. I know selecting interviewees and employees is not truly “fair,” but how much should my pet peeves impact the decision to interview someone? For instance, someone sent me […] Read the full article →
how to handle a pushy job candidate by Alison Green on July 1, 2020 A reader writes: I am in the process of scheduling interviews for a new opening on our team. I called a batch of candidates this morning and left messages for a few of them. I was then in a meeting, and when I returned I had four phone calls from one candidate, who apparently was […] Read the full article →