will it hurt me to apply for multiple jobs at the same company? by Alison Green on March 14, 2018 A reader writes: I’ve been trying to start a career at the entry-level in a difficult industry to break into for quite some time. I wasn’t as tenacious as I should have been in my initial round of applications nearly a year ago, but now I’m finally ready to jump on every listing that fits […] Read the full article →
should I work for a tiny organization? by Alison Green on March 13, 2018 A reader writes: My husband works in the public school system (not a teacher) and is considering a job offer with a one-person nonprofit. He and the CEO will be the only employees aside from volunteers. He’d be working virtually and he hasn’t negotiated the offer yet, but I thought I’d ask you and your […] Read the full article →
how long should it take to hear back after you apply for a job? by Alison Green on February 13, 2018 A reader writes: What’s an average time you should expect to wait to hear if you will get an interview after you submit an online job application? I’ve read your prior posts that prospective employers usually know right away if they want to interview you. But how long before your resume typically makes it to […] Read the full article →
how can I explain why I’m leaving my new job after only three months? by Alison Green on February 13, 2018 A reader writes: I started a new job about three months ago and have quickly realized that it is a very bad fit. During the interview, I asked several questions about things that are important to me, such as the reason the last person left the position, the amount of paid time off, what the […] Read the full article →
how long should you wait to move on when you haven’t heard back from an employer? by Alison Green on December 26, 2017 I’m on vacation this week, so here’s a reprint of a post from 2012 on a topic that comes up all the time. A reader writes: I’ve read your thoughts on candidate time versus employer time, and have found it to be 100% accurate (and understandable — the massive priority that my application is to me […] Read the full article →
how to get hired for a nonprofit job by Alison Green on November 27, 2017 Want to get paid to help make the world a better place? Working at a nonprofit organization might be for you. But if you don’t already have nonprofit experience in your background, there are some things you need to know about how to get hired. Know you’ll need to be committed to the organization’s mission. […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: what red flags while you were interviewing turned out to be signs of real problems? by Alison Green on October 26, 2017 We talk a lot here about “red flags” that warn you that a job may not be one you’ll be happy in. But red flags can be tough to spot when you really, really want (or need) a job; it’s often pretty easy to overlook danger signs. And sometimes you don’t realize something was a red […] Read the full article →
here’s the right way to submit your resume online by Alison Green on October 23, 2017 Applying for jobs online isn’t always straightforward — often far from it. Online application systems can be confusing or unwieldy or enraging. Here are the most common questions I receive about applying for jobs online. What format should your resume be in – Word, PDF, or something else? Either one is fine. There are advantages to […] Read the full article →
what’s the worst “you need to show gumption to get a job?” advice you’ve heard? by Alison Green on October 12, 2017 There’s a whole field of career advice that’s based on the idea that you need to show “gumption” to get a job: “Walk into their office with your resume and ask to speak to the person in charge!” “Call every day until they agree to give you an interview!” “Send your resume on special paper through […] Read the full article →
how do employers know if you’re answering “have you ever been fired” honestly? by Alison Green on October 2, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve always wondered how employers check if you’ve ever been fired. I know this is a common pre-screening question. It’s shown up on several job applications I’ve filled out (thankfully I’ve always been able to say no). It seems like this question is only going to catch honest people who may have […] Read the full article →