the person who holds the job I’m applying for doesn’t like me by Alison Green on December 6, 2017 A reader writes: I have an interview scheduled for this Friday, and it turns out that the person who currently holds the position (“Jane”) is a former coworker of mine from a different company. Unfortunately, there was a falling-out over the way we interacted during an orientation session and we ended on bad terms. To […] Read the full article →
how can I find out what skills an employer is really looking for? by Alison Green on November 20, 2017 A reader writes: I am incredibly frustrated as I prepare to enter the eighth year of my job search. I have a deep and abiding love of, let’s say, teapot design but am stuck working in gravyboat sales. (These are examples for anonymity’s sake.) During my time at my current job, however, I have coordinated […] Read the full article →
is it okay to wear designer clothes to a job interview? by Alison Green on November 14, 2017 A reader writes: I am currently employed at my first post-college job, and after two years with my company I am looking for other opportunities in my area. My job has paid fairly well since I started, and I enjoy bargain shopping as a hobby, so I have been able to score name-brand bags and […] Read the full article →
how to recognize a bad workplace … before you take the job by Alison Green on November 13, 2017 If you’ve ever worked for a bad manager or in a company that made you miserable, you’ve probably wondered how to ensure you avoid that in your next job. It can feel impossible to tell from the outside whether a job will become a nightmare once you’re in it, but if you pay attention, there […] Read the full article →
do you have to fake passion to get a job? by Alison Green on November 8, 2017 A reader writes: I’m getting so discouraged and wondering if I am missing some essential job hunting/interviewing skill. I have had three interviews in the last month (so I feel pretty good about the fact that my cover letter, resume, and networking are in good shape) but no job offer. The first interview I felt […] Read the full article →
how is being recruited different from just applying for a job? by Alison Green on November 2, 2017 A reader writes: I was curious about what kind of differences can be expected in interviews where a candidate is one of dozens — if not hundreds — who have applied for a position, and interviews where a company has specifically sought out a particular few individuals for a position they have open. I recently […] Read the full article →
an employer invited me to interview but never responded to my reply by Alison Green on October 16, 2017 A reader writes: I submitted a cover letter and resume a couple weeks ago for a job. Four days ago, the hiring manager’s assistant emailed to ask if I was available for an interview with the hiring manager on a specific date and time next week. She only gave me one option, and unfortunately I […] Read the full article →
should you really ask for the job at the end of an interview? by Alison Green on October 4, 2017 A reader writes: I read that if you ask for a job at the end of an interview, you should be prepared to accept the position on the spot. Is this true? What if the offer (salary, benefits, all of those things that you are not supposed to ask during the interview) is unfair/not up […] Read the full article →
how to deal with a hostile interviewer by Alison Green on September 27, 2017 A reader writes: I recently had a terrible experience with a phone interview. The interviewer began with a tone of voice that was irritated and sarcatic, which escalated over the course of 30 minutes into openly aggressive and loud, bordering on bullying and browbeating. I tried my best to keep calm and politely answer everything […] Read the full article →
how can I increase my chances when I’m under-qualified for a job? by Alison Green on September 20, 2017 A reader writes: I may — and may is the operative word — be about to hit a lucky break in my job search. I have a strong contact with a longtime associate of a hiring manager in a small office, which recently posted a position with requirements I technically meet. I’ve applied to the […] Read the full article →