when should I tell an interviewer I need disability accommodations? by Alison Green on March 21, 2023 A reader writes: I have a question regarding asking for disability accommodations when getting a new job. I have a circadian rhythm disorder that basically makes me a clinically diagnosed night owl and causes me great pain when getting up at what would be a normal time for most people. When I’m able to sleep […] Read the full article →
how to request time off for a last-minute interview by Alison Green on March 16, 2023 A reader writes: I’m currently interviewing for a new position and I passed the first two rounds of interviews (yeah me!). Those two interviews were done online and I could manage my workday around them easily. However, the next round of interviews is an on-site all-day kind of meeting, and that would require a couple […] Read the full article →
how to answer “tell me about yourself” in a job interview by Alison Green on March 7, 2023 It’s common for job interviews to open with a question that sounds simple on its surface but which many job seekers find difficult to answer: “Tell me about yourself.” Job seekers often aren’t sure exactly what interviewers want to know when they ask that question. Are they requesting a full history of your life? Should […] Read the full article →
interviewer fake-rejected me to see if I would “fight for the job” by Alison Green on February 21, 2023 A reader writes: I have a question about a weird interviewing situation for a sales role. I had gone through a few interviews with a company as I was evaluating a new sales role, and the entire interview process felt standard and professional (phone screen, in-person interview, tour of the branch, and next step would […] Read the full article →
how do I tell interviewers why I’m leaving my job without badmouthing my employer? by Alison Green on February 16, 2023 A reader writes: Is it badmouthing an employer if it is the truth? I have worked at my current job for almost 15 years. My boss is an attorney in a solo practice. He is planning to retire at the end of this year. In the past five years, he has gone from five employees […] Read the full article →
how to answer “why are you interested in this position?” by Alison Green on February 7, 2023 Sit down for any job interview and one of the first questions you’re likely to be asked is, “Why are you interested in this position?” For a lot of interviewers, this is a softball question: a way to ease into the interview without hitting you with high-pressure questions the minute you sit down. And to […] Read the full article →
I had to deal with a sick toddler and a vomiting dog while doing a video interview by Alison Green on January 19, 2023 A reader writes: I am a mom to a 2.5 year old and, due to the obstacles of trying to work in a pandemic with a small child, sought a part-time role and started with a new employer in March of last year. I really like this company, and recent opportunities for growth and my […] Read the full article →
10 impressive questions to ask in a job interview by Alison Green on January 10, 2023 It’s the question you’re likely to be asked at the end of every job interview: “What questions do you have for me?” As someone who’s interviewed probably thousands of job candidates in my career, I’m always taken aback by how many people don’t have questions about the job at all. After all, you’re considering spending […] Read the full article →
do I still need to wear a suit to a job interview? by Alison Green on January 9, 2023 A reader writes: I read your blog religiously and am excited to have some interviews coming up! Looking back through your archives, like these posts in 2015, 2012, and 2008, you have me convinced that my best option is to wear a suit for these interviews. But when it comes to actually shopping for a […] Read the full article →
was I wrong to be put off by interviewing on Bring Your Kids to Work Day? by Alison Green on January 9, 2023 A reader writes: I wanted to get your thoughts on an interview situation I was in a while ago. This experience sticks out in my memory as Not Good, but I wonder if I’m being a stick-in-the-mud. A while ago (pre-Covid), I had an in-person interview that ended up coinciding with Bring Your Kids to […] Read the full article →