what’s up with this rude and entitled networker? by Alison Green on February 9, 2023 A reader writes: A friend of mine works in community development and occasionally comes across young people who she thinks would do well to learn more about my field. She recently asked permission to put me in touch with a college sophomore. Mine is a high paying, prestigious, and extremely interesting field that most college […] Read the full article →
should I quit my high school job? by Alison Green on September 27, 2022 A reader writes: I’m 15, a girl, and work at one of Canada’s top grocery/retail employers. Late August, I decided to get a part-time job because I felt like a lot of my classmates had one. I applied, got trained without an interview, and started shifts, which wasn’t a problem when I didn’t have school […] Read the full article →
I agreed to help a student with a grad school project … it’s gone badly by Alison Green on June 27, 2022 A reader writes: I have found myself in a mentor-mentee situation and wanted your advice. I am in a profession (think doctor, lawyer, scientist) and was approached by a local graduate student who wanted some help with a project for one of her classes. I reluctantly agreed despite my hectic schedule because my philosophy is […] Read the full article →
my professor wants us to walk into local businesses and ask if we can do a free project for them by Alison Green on April 21, 2022 A reader writes: In two of my classes so far in college, we have been required to divide into groups of students and find a client in the community, usually a small business, nonprofit, or the like, and do a website or other IT, design, or technical communications work for them. Yes, for free. We […] Read the full article →
student employee keeps venting on social media about a work decision by Alison Green on May 11, 2021 A reader writes: Something happened a couple of years ago that I’d like to get your take on. I work at a university in a student-run program with a few departments that state law requires us to have. The students have a great amount of autonomy in this program and interview and hire their own […] Read the full article →
should we require resumes from high school volunteers? by Alison Green on March 29, 2021 A reader writes: I work as a year-round educator. I love working with kids, and the greater flexibility during summer has let me show off my passions in ways that I don’t have time to do during the school year. At a recent meeting with my summer boss, I suggested that we have our high […] Read the full article →
how can I explain why I went to a for-profit school? by Alison Green on February 14, 2018 A reader writes: I graduated from DeVry in the late 80’s. I earned a four-year B.S. there. I was heavily recruited (high test scores) by many colleges and ultimately it came down to a UC and DeVry. DeVry was on a trimester system, so I would graduate in three years vs. four years, and I […] Read the full article →
with teen employees, where’s the line between reprimands and firing? (and a niece weighs in) by Alison Green on July 20, 2017 A reader writes: This is not a question about something I am dealing with, but there was something in the news in my community that is really generating a lot of discussion. I was wondering what you thought about it. A bunch of lifeguards (largely teens) were fired from our community pool. The director of […] Read the full article →
I’m terrified of graduating and am panicking about finding a job by Alison Green on July 5, 2017 A reader writes: I am a year out from graduating college (that is, in the summer between my junior and senior year.) I’m working at a fairly prestigious internship (in academia) but I think I’m figuring out that it’s not really what I want to do and I have no idea what I DO want […] Read the full article →
colleges’ “competency badges” for students are a terrible idea by Alison Green on June 29, 2017 A reader writes: I saw a segment on the news today about “digital badges,” which a few universities are trying to offer so students can show competency in specific workplace skills, and I was really curious what you would think. (Link here. The segment about the badges starts around 43:25.) My first impression was that this […] Read the full article →