can you un-burn a bridge? by Alison Green on April 24, 2012 A reader writes: While in college, I was a summer intern for a Fortune 500 company. It was the chance of a lifetime, but I failed to take advantage of it: I repeatedly chose to hang out with my friends (who also worked at the company or in the area) during business hours, frequently showed […] Read the full article →
how to set boundaries with people who want to pick your brain by Alison Green on April 23, 2012 A reader writes: I have follow up question to a February 2010 post, “When Does Advice Become Consulting.” I’m relatively new to nonprofit leadership and often find myself in a situation where, as the head of a reputable organization in a specific field, I get requests from people who want to “pick my brain” about […] Read the full article →
the 10 worst things about job hunting by Alison Green on April 23, 2012 Looking for a job is rarely fun, but being a job-seeker in today’s job market is especially difficult – and sometimes downright unpleasant. Here are the 10 worst things about looking for a job in today’s market. 1. Contradictory job search advice. There’s loads of job search advice on the interview, and much of it is […] Read the full article →
short answer Saturday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions by Alison Green on April 21, 2012 It’s short answer Saturday! Here we go… 1. Asking for a desk without fluorescent lights I am a master’s student set to graduate in the summer, and I have just begun my job search. I have problem where, if I am on a computer or reading for long periods at a time, I begin to […] Read the full article →
awkward staring from a coworker by Alison Green on April 20, 2012 A reader writes: I’m hoping that you can help out the office with a small problem from one of our fellow coworkers. We’re a bubbly little office of 8 women and one gentleman – as you can imagine we chit chat throughout the week, take lunches and attend meetings together, etc. When I first began […] Read the full article →
when a candidate won’t share salary expectations by Alison Green on April 19, 2012 A reader writes: I have a question in regard to a piece of the recruiting process. I have always asked candidates what their compensation requirements are, either before they come in to meet with me or after they have come in. Most candidates do not have any issues disclosing what they’re looking for, although some […] Read the full article →
7 short questions, 7 short answers by Alison Green on April 19, 2012 It’s thrifty answer Thursday — seven short questions and seven short answers. We’ve got using a P.O. box on your resume, whether you need to mention a job you were fired from, a boss who wants you to stop working overtime, and more. Here we go… 1. Should I tell an out-of-state employer I’m going to […] Read the full article →
I turned down a job offer but now I want the job by Alison Green on April 18, 2012 A reader writes: I have been unemployed for the past 4 months. I rejected an offer for employment a month ago. I recently saw that the job that I applied for is now being reposted. What is the professional etiquette in regard to me contacting the employer to review potentially joining them? I was clear […] Read the full article →
this is maybe why your career is stalled by Alison Green on April 18, 2012 If you’d like to be doing better in your career, it’s worth asking yourself if your own beliefs about work might be holding you back. Here are eight common misconceptions that can keep you from getting the projects, jobs, promotions, and salary you’d like. 1. Doing your job adequately is enough. Doing a merely adequate job […] Read the full article →
my boss has mini mean flashes by Alison Green on April 17, 2012 A reader writes: My boss is really reactive. The slightest thing will make her roll her eyes and display obvious signs of anger/irritation. For example, this can happen if you come to her office at the wrong moment or don’t know an answer offhand. She gives these knee-jerk reactions, and although the next minute she […] Read the full article →