employee gives me the silent treatment when I give him feedback by Alison Green on April 10, 2012 A reader writes: I work for an advertising agency. We’ve had a couple of new staff members join us in the past four months. They’re great workers but with a few personality “quirks.” I am being promoted to the head of our department, so there is one situation I would like to pick your brain […] Read the full article →
mini answer Monday: 7 short questions, 7 short answers by Alison Green on April 9, 2012 It’s mini answer Monday: 7 short answers to 7 short questions! We’ve got job ads that request a copy of your last performance evaluation, a horribly incompetent boss, and we’re warily, cautiously, revisiting the pantyhose debate. Here we go… 1. My manager won’t let me do my own hiring My manager is trying to hire […] Read the full article →
why do companies wait so long to contact candidates for interviews? by Alison Green on April 9, 2012 A reader writes: Why do companies wait so long to contact candidates for interviews? I applied for a job in a month and a half ago and just received a request for a phone interview today. It seems like waiting so long would result in the loss of a lot of good candidates. Personally, unless […] Read the full article →
no one is asking for your Facebook password by Alison Green on April 9, 2012 As I’ve written here before, despite what you may have read in the media recently, most employers aren’t asking job candidates to hand over their Facebook passwords. This is not a trend. In fact, it’s extremely rare. The article that started the near-pandemonium about this so-called trend cited one single case at an unnamed company, […] Read the full article →
do we have to go to a dinner the boss canceled as punishment, then reinstated? by Alison Green on April 7, 2012 A reader writes: My fiance’s boss invited all of his employees to dinner for tonight. However, my fiance and 1 other employee failed to respond to work alerts at 3 a.m. on Wednesday, so as punishment the boss cancel the dinner yesterday, but today, the boss has decided that the dinner is back on. I […] Read the full article →
fast answer Friday: 7 short questions, 7 short answers by Alison Green on April 6, 2012 It’s fast answer Friday! Today, you’re having coffee with your interviewer, your normally reliable employee is suddenly making a lot of mistakes, you’re engaging in some kind of weird speed networking, and more. Here we go… 1. My manager didn’t tell me about an opening she knew I’d be interested in I work as support […] Read the full article →
more things not to say in your cover letter by Alison Green on April 5, 2012 In our continuing Things Not to Say series, here are more things not to say in your cover letter: • “I strongly believe your search can end today.” Um, wow. You haven’t even talked to anyone yet to learn about the position. This kind of hyperbole doesn’t just make you look arrogant; it also makes […] Read the full article →
overly rigid online job application systems by Alison Green on April 5, 2012 A reader writes: During my job search, I’ve come across several organizations that use rigid online application systems. For instance, I was working on an application that asked if I have a bachelor’s degree in X. The options were yes or no, without a space to make notations. For me, the answer would be no, […] Read the full article →
wee answer Wednesday: 7 short questions, 7 short answers by Alison Green on April 4, 2012 It’s wee answer Wednesday! Here we go… 1. My boss suggested I become a contract employee My boss has suggested (but not acted on it yet) that she switch me from full-time salaried employee to a contract employee so that I am not on company payroll, therefore reducing her payroll taxes, because I do not […] Read the full article →
why you should volunteer by Alison Green on April 4, 2012 If you’re searching for a job, here’s one strategy you may have overlooked: Volunteer. Volunteering for a nonprofit organization in your community isn’t just a way of doing good – although it’s certainly that. It’s also a way to keep your skills up-to-date, expand your network, and possibly even get a paying job. And there […] Read the full article →