May 2011

my coworker coughs all day long – can I do anything about it?

A reader writes: I’ve been looking for advice for handling (or even WHETHER to handle) the issue of a co-worker with a chronic cough. Over the years I’ve worked with several people with bad coughs. I’ve always accepted it as just part of the working world. I’ve never spoken to HR about it because I don’t know if […]

Read the full article →

declining boss’s invitation to dinner on a Saturday

A reader writes: What is your take on a manager who schedules a get-together at her place on a Saturday? My husband’s boss scheduled a dinner over at her place, and we hesitantly said yes for not wanting to give a bad impression. She only invited a few people (her direct reports). Well, that event […]

Read the full article →

job-searching in the wake of a natural disaster

A reader writes: What if you’re looking for a job in another city and what if, in the meantime, your home and the city that you are currently living in is obliterated by a natural disaster? For a normal relocation, I’d just say “relocating to [name of city]; current address:” at the top of the […]

Read the full article →

happy endings

In response to a dejected commenter last night, I’ve created a new category: happy endings. There are 20 or so posts in there with happy endings — stories that ended well, with jobs landed, jerks receiving their comeuppance, and much more. Cheer yourself up by reading them! Other fun categories to read include jerks and […]

Read the full article →

how to look for a job when you’re already employed

Job-searching is hard enough under any circumstances, but doing it when you already have a job presents special challenges: How do you schedule interviews during the work day? Can you do a phone interview from your office? What about getting a reference from your current boss? Here are eight tips for searching for a new job […]

Read the full article →

entry-level out-of-town job seeker: a success story

It doesn’t get much more challenging than being an entry-level long-distance job-seeker applying for jobs in New York. Which is why you should listen to me when I preach and lecture and yell about cover letters. A reader writes: I wanted to thank you for all of the job-hunting advice on your blog, especially the […]

Read the full article →