my favorite posts of all time

Ask a Manager came into being two years ago today. I had no idea whether anyone would be interested in reading what I had to say, but that’s never stopped me from babbling before, and I’m glad it didn’t stop me this time. Thank you guys for reading and commenting and emailing and giving me the incredibly satisfying realization that there are other people out there who obsess over this stuff like I do.

In a fit of self-indulgence, I’m presenting a list of my favorite posts during those two years. Here goes…

Bad candidate behavior:

I think this is the only series I’ve ever run:
job rejections and vitriol, part 1
job rejections and vitriol, part 2
job rejections and vitriol, part 3

And I also still really like this post. Even better, since I wrote this a year and a half ago, the guy whose friend ratted him out as not having done “anything last summer” was hired, has been promoted, and is completely awesome at his job.

Bad employer behavior:

why companies don’t get back to applicants

when your manager won’t manage

you are high maintenance and full of yourself

Advice on being a good employee:

taking criticism gracefully

instant credibility

what to do when you make a mistake at work

when you disagree with your boss

what can’t you not do

how to get the most out of your internship

Advice on being a good manager:

deathbed advice

new managers and authority

confession: I used to suck at firing people

alternatives to firing

how to mentor someone

what reality-based management looks like

posts on being both a chick and a boss:

male and female bosses judged differently?

on balls and lack thereof

my very favorite post of all time:

an ode to the bad managers of my past

{ 9 comments… read them below }

  1. The HR Store*

    Congratulations! I've been following your blog & commenting occasionally too. Have to say – your blog rocks!

    As always, I'm stayin' tuned for more..

  2. Evil HR Lady*

    Congrats! I forgot about all the people you rejected who didn’t handle it well. Ha!

  3. Rampancy*

    Congrats! And please continue the good work. You have no idea how much I’ve learned from your blog! I work as a contractor and I hardly get any feedback from clients and if I get it, it is most of the time political correct. Which has left me with the feeling that I’m stuck somewhere for the last two years.
    By reading your blog and the comments I’ve learned to look at situations differently and I’m also trying to handle stuff differently, it’s not easy though!

  4. Kathy*

    Happy Anniversary, AAM, and thank you for all your service. You have been part of my supportive lifeboat in these rocky, underemployed times. A voice of sanity and wisdom for both employers and employees and job-seekers, alike.

  5. Anonymous*

    Suggestion: update this every few months with any new favorite posts. (You're probably already planning that, since you're awesome, but just in case.)

    I also really like how you link to "related posts" at the ends of your answers to general questions.

    Keep up the good work!

Comments are closed.