August 2010

My How to Get a Job ebook is here!

I threatened to do it, and now it’s done: an e-book crammed full of all my thoughts on how to get a job. If you’ve ever wished that you could look into the brain of a hiring manager to find out what you need to do to get hired, this guide is for you. Inside, […]

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the e-book is coming …. tomorrow!

Remember when I asked how you’d feel about a massive guide crammed so full of my advice on how to get a job that you’d never want or need to hear another word from me? It’s coming tomorrow! Basically, if you want me to be your tour guide all through your job search, this is the […]

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when customers speak to each other in a foreign language

A reader writes: I would like your feedback on a common occurrence in our store. Sometimes a couple of customers will walk in whose native language is other than English. However, these customers do speak English quite well but choose to speak in the other language while they are being directly waited on by our […]

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calling a coworker at 10:30 p.m. while they’re on vacation

A reader writes: My husband called a co-worker Tuesday night after 10:30 pm and talked until almost midnight about business. This person was also on vacation. This was not an emergency call and I feel, regardless of whether the co-worker kept the communication going, that my husband was out of bounds in making this call. […]

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stupid hiring practices: being a condescending jerk

A lovely anonymous commenter pointed out an outrageous article in the Wall St. Journal, headlined “Resume Overload? A Shortcut to Spot Best Hires.” In the article, the author — a small business owner — writes that when managers are inundated with resumes, they’re left with “no clue as to how to cull through them all to […]

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can you be a good manager if you’re shy?

A reader writes: I’m shy. Sometimes people misinterpret this as aloofness or snobbery. Being outgoing and making friends with everyone I meet has never been a part of my personality. I just have a hard time making casual conversation (which is necessary for good relationships with coworkers), and I have a hard time in difficult/important […]

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yet one more random thing

I just phone-interviewed someone who’s a regular blog reader! Apparently my voice sounds nothing like people to expect it to sound. I wonder what people think I will sound like — very gruff, I’m guessing. (The truth is that I sound like a 13-year-old girl, I’m sorry to say.) I told her about how when […]

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four random things

1. I guest-posted a few days ago over at You Should Only Know. Complaining about ingrates. Also, her whole blog is awesome; check it out. 2. If you’re job-searching, check your spam folder. This is my annual announcement. 3. It’s really not a good idea to use my sample cover letter as your own. Especially if you’re applying […]

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