April 2012

random stuff you should read

Here are a bunch of miscellaneous articles that I thought you’d find interesting — 1. This will either horribly depress you or not surprise you at all: One in every two new graduates are either jobless or under-employed, says this Associated Press article. If you’re in this boat, here’s some advice from me for new […]

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how not to reply to a rejection email

When you get a rejection email, if you’re tempted to shoot back a reply, I strongly recommend that you wait a day to do it. Or at least a few hours. Otherwise, you risk sounding angry, defensive, or hot-headed. Good replies: thanking them for letting you know or asking for feedback. Bad replies: “You’re making a […]

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how to answer “tell me about yourself” in a job interview

“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most common openers to a job interview, yet job-seekers are often unsure what employers really want to hear in response. Should your answer include personal information? Should it focus on selling yourself, or just give the facts? What is the employer really asking? Let’s translate it: “Tell […]

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short answer Sunday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions

It’s short answer Sunday — seven short answers to seven short questions. Here we go… 1. Am I still entitled to severance pay if I find a new job quickly? Am I still entitled to the severance pay promised to me if I find another job immediately after I was let go? A couple weeks […]

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my friend is a terrible boss

A reader writes: Several months ago, a friend asked me to interview at his company for a position that was being vacated. I went to the interview with hesitation — it’s 50% less in pay and not in my field — but since I had been out of work for so long, I went anyway. […]

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what does it mean to “be yourself” in an interview?

A reader writes: I am an 18-year-old college student looking for an entry-level part-time job. I have been trying to prepare my answers ahead of time to some of the common questions, and I have examples my previous work experience with things like “dealing with an angry customer” and all that. I am trying to […]

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when should you go over your boss’s head?

In a disagreement with your boss, is it ever acceptable to go over your boss’ head to his or her own supervisor? While in most cases, your employer will instruct you to work things out directly with your manager, there are times when it makes sense to bring the issue to someone higher up. Figuring […]

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wee answer Wednesday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions

It’s wee answer Wednesday! We’ve got interviewers who don’t ask any questions, a coworker with a secret sex life (oh no!), and more. Here we go… 1. Can I require exempt employee to keep certain hours? I have 3 exempt-level employees and 1 non-exempt employee. The exempt employees are arriving and leaving work, basically whenever […]

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