open thread – May 16, 2014

by Alison Green on May 16, 2014

Olive hidingIt’s the Friday open thread!

The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything you want to talk about. If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet, but this is a chance to talk to other readers.

{ 1,436 comments }

{ 1,436 comments… read them below }

  1. Diet Coke Addict*

    In early today!

    How do other people’s companies handle trade show/travel pay? My boss is awful, and I am hourly—last week a coworker, my boss, and I went to a trade show together, and when my coworker asked about the pay situation, he snotted that we would be getting paid “8 hours a day, what did you think?” even though one of the days involved 3 hours of travel, set-up, and then working the show until 11pm at night. My boss explained himself as “well, I’m paying for your hotel and meals, so it evens out.” Is this really how other companies handle travel/trade shows/out-of-the-office events?

    1. IndieGir*

      Are you exempt or not exempt? If you are not exempt, my guess would be that they don’t have to pay you for travel time but would have to pay you for setup and whatever hours you work the show, even if it is more that 8 hours. But I am not a lawyer; hopefully one of the attorney readers will see your question and give you a more definitive answer!

      Also, your company doesn’t get any points for paying for your hotels and meals — that is the bare minimum expected for business travel, even by crappy companies.

      1. Diet Coke Addict*

        In Canada so not sure how exempt/non-exempt works and laws are different here, unfortunately–I am hourly and commissioned, does that make a difference?

        1. littlemoose*

          Check out Canada’s labor (labour?) board website, or perhaps the labor board website for your province. I bet they have some FAQs with applicable info.

        2. Esra*

          If you’re hourly, then he needs to pay for that set-up/overtime/travel time. Which province/territory are you in?

          1. Diet Coke Addict*

            Ontario–I think the labour board website will be the right way to go here!

            (Or not–my boss has already had dealings this year with the board over stat pay. Additionally he said something last week about “not wanting” to bump up our wage (minimum wage) to keep up with the increase next month, which will of course be a direct call to them, so. They are not strangers, the LB and this company.)

            2. Esra*

              The Ontario labour board site is a great resource.

              Also, if you’re making minimum wage and he’s expecting you to work hours for free? That is so, so not cool. You might want to google WorkSmartOntario, it’s a government website with a lot of great resources and FAQs.

            3. Felicia*

              From what you’re saying it sounds like he’s not going to bump your pay to be the new minimum wage next month, which is as obviously illegal as it gets, so it doesn’t sound like he’d care what teh law is if you just told him. Definitely the labour board seems the only way to go in this situation. I really hope he pays you stat pay for Monday, but if not that’s another thing for the labour board.

            4. LucyVP*

              Not sure how the labour board works in Ontario, but if you cant find your answer on their website, you may be able to call and speak to a labour law specialist who can advise on your specific situation.

        3. Chinook*

          Diet Coke Addict, the labour laws vary by province and is based on province of employment (not residence). Check with the provincial labour board website and give them a call to find out for sure.

          As well, if you are in a federally regulated industry (like oil & gas), you may be subject to federal labour laws as well.

          My gut, and experience, says you are paid for actual hours worked and travelled, which would include set-up and all the hours you are required to be on-site. So, if your day starts by arriving at the airport at 8 am (unless the airport is further away then your usual office – i.e. Edmonton International is abotu 45 mins. from the city, so I would take my travel time to the airport minus my normal commute time) and you aren’t allowed to go back to the hotel until 11 pm, that is 15 hours, which would require overtime pay (unless you are exempt) or blackbook time off at a later date (which, if your boss is scoffing at the idea, I wouldn’t offer to do).

    2. PX*

      I get paid a fixed rate also under the assumption that I work 8 hours a day; and if I have to travel for business, expenses etc are paid for, but there is no overtime either. Maybe check the terms of your contract? (eg mine explicitly states that there is no extra pay for overtime or anything like that…)

    3. Betsy*

      I am pretty sure that is not legal in the US if you’re non-exempt. If you have to be there and have to work, they have to pay you, so if you start setup at 10AM and leave at 11PM, that’s 13 hours.

      Travel time is a little trickier. By DOL guidelines, if this is a 1-day trip, all travel time must be paid, though they can deduct your normal commute from that. So if you normally drive 30 minutes and have to drive 3 hours, they could pay you for 2.5 hours.

      If it’s a multiday trip, travel time needs to be paid only if it occurs during normal working hours. So if you drove down on Sunday, they wouldn’t have to pay you, but if you drove down Monday from 8-11, they probably would.

      2. Betsy*

        I’ll add to my own comment to say, whether or not this is illegal, it’s gross and immoral. Paying for travel time or not paying for travel time is one thing, but if you are actually paid by the hour (and would, for instance, get only 6 hours pay if you only worked 6 hours), he’s offering you a perk you didn’t ask for (meals and a hotel room) in exchange for the money you should be making. I’d pretty much refuse to do any of these trade shows again in your position, and start looking for another job if that’s what’s needed.

        Not paying the overtime is one thing. Suggesting that it “evens out” because he’s paying for the necessities that go along with attending the trade show is ridiculous and shows a real lack of respect for you. If he’d said, “People really like to do trade shows, and we really can’t afford to pay overtime so people can go have fun with this: we pay expenses and for a day of work,” my reaction would be different.

        1. Diet Coke Addict*

          This is not the first time my boss has been immoral and totally not understood the way to motivate or keep employees–this is a temporary job for me and the other employees are all looking for new work.

          Whether or not he skirts the law is one thing, but his lack of respect for his employees is another entirely.

        2. Chinook*

          “he’s offering you a perk you didn’t ask for (meals and a hotel room) in exchange for the money you should be making”

          The thing is, hotel and dinners out are not perks but an added expense to working not normal to your every day job and, thus, your salary was not negotiated to cover those as personal expenses. If you had to pay for the hotel and meals, it is very possible that your wage for the work wouldn’t cover it and you would essentially be paying to work, which is most definitely illegal in Canada.

          1. Elizabeth the Ginger*

            Right, this is kind of like if your boss said, “We won’t pay you overtime for the work you did on Saturday in the office, but we did pay to heat the building over the weekend, so it evens out. And the company even paid for the paper in the copier, too, so look at how much you’re getting for free!”

    4. MaryMary*

      When I managed hourly employees and they were required to travel for client work, they were paid for all time spent at the client and for non-local travel (Inon-local was defined in our client contracts, it would be XX miles from the office), including overtime if applicable. But that was for non-exempt employees at an organization that was very conservative about how non-exempt employees were paid.

    5. Maggie*

      I’ve seen it a couple of different ways. If travelling during the week and it’s during your normal 8 hours, then you get paid just for the travel time (ie, you fly 4 hours on Monday morning but not expected to work until Tues, you’re paid for the 4 hours). If travelling over the weekend, you’re not paid for travel but paid mileage if you didn’t fly. If you regularly travel for your role (regional IT support), you’re paid for the travel time, and then clock in when you get to the location. In addition, if your role requires you to travel for training or licensing, then you’re paid to travel to the testing location but not paid to take the test. This was in WA or CA (US). Because it’s so variable, I would look up your local regulations. I think your boss is likely wrong because labor laws aren’t exactly convenient as ‘oh, I covered this so you cover that’. If it was, it would be impossible to regulate. But he could have the math already taken care of and it was ‘about’ the same as what the regulation states so he simply used that terminology. Also, he sounds kind of jerky. \-:

    7. Brett*

      For non-exempt employees, they get travel time to and from their home and then they are paid for the scheduled hours of the conference itself. Even though our organization never has booths, most conferences will have a designated booth set up time as part of the conference schedule, so using the official conference schedule should work out for that too.

      1. Brett*

        (This is for multi-day conferences requiring an overnight stay. If the conference is local, even if multi-day, they get 8 hours only. If the conference is not local but only a single day, they get paid from when they leave home until when they return home.)

    8. Noah*

      We pay for travel from when you arrive at the airport until you are in your hotel room for the night. If you are doing a trade show or event, your daily pay starts when you are on site at the event and ends when you leave. Travel home is paid from when you start traveling home until you arrive back at the airport.

      1. Chinook*

        “Travel home is paid from when you start traveling home until you arrive back at the airport.”

        Noah, Am I to assume that your company’s employees all work in a city with an airport. I am honestly curious, what would the policy be if the office was in a town without a local airport or the airport was way outside of city limits?

        1. Noah*

          The only people that really travel all work out of the office that is actually on airport grounds. In general the policy is that travel time is work time, so I would assume if someone worked at a location that lacked a commercial airport and had to drive the travel time would include the extra time beyond what they would have driven to the office.

    1. Mimmy*

      Not for my husband…he’s on “mailbox duty” (email) on Fridays, and he’s having an especially rough day right now :(

      1. Audiophile*

        Aw that’s too bad, Minny.

        I know I will be spending my weekend knee deep in job applications. And catching up on some Netflix, for short breaks.

      2. QualityControlFreak*

        Sorry for your spouse, Mimmy. We often get slammed at my workplace on Fridays too. However, today I’m at home seeing blurry double images (head injury) and typing this with my tablet about six inches from my nose. I wish I could be at work!

      1. The IT Manager*

        Yes! I should spend the weekend catching up because I am so far behind, but I know I need the mental break and won’t be able to bring myself to do any work. I feel like I have been the target all week long and it is so mentally exhausting. Not even in a bad way, but there’s way, way too much on my plate right now and I am not keeping up.

        1. Audiophile*

          I have some Netflix movies I want to watch and return. And I also need to go through and start scheduling posts in HootSuite, because when I don’t something always goes wrong and I can’t post in time.

        2. nep*

          Sounds like letting yourself take a break will help you bounce back stronger and catch up with all the work. Best of luck.

    3. De Minimis*

      Yeah, our Fridays tend to be crazy here….for some reason everyone decides to come here on Friday to complain or ask questions, and the people here who can answer them tend to either be gone or out of their offices. Our awesome secretary’s last day was yesterday, so we’re back to having to get up and answer the door every few minutes.

    4. The Other Katie*

      I know, I can’t wait for the weekend to finally sleep. We had a foster placement 6 weeks ago of newborn identical twin boys, so sleeping has not been on the agenda lately. Especially since we’ve both been pretty much working full time as well (we’ve had a few days off here and there, but we didn’t take any extended time off).

    5. Elizabeth*

      I wish. My schedule got changed to a half day on Fridays and a half day on Saturdays, effective today. :/

  3. Curiosity*

    Hi everyone! Quick question for the AAM hive mind:

    I supervise secretaries in a matrix organization, so they get their work from a pool of staff (who I don’t supervise). One member of the staff, who is fairly high level (certainly higher level than me), has been making remarks that are at best socially awkward and at worst really disrespectful to the secretary she supports. Comments like “Oh, I went to college so I’d never have to be a secretary” (when actually all our secretaries have master’s degrees and are very well trained for the work they do), or “I left a present on your desk! It’s a pile of receipts that need expense authorization – I’m so glad I don’t have to do that!” The thing is, it’s very clear that she doesn’t mean anything particularly bad by this, and that she is just approaching this in an awkward/tactless way. The secretary has been very generously giving her the benefit of the doubt, but after a while, this has started to really sink in and feel terrible (totally reasonable).

    I think the right thing to do is find a simple, quiet response that can be made in the moment that will bring the commenter’s attention to why these things are just not okay to say. However, I’m having trouble thinking of what that comment could be. So far, I’ve come up with “You know, I don’t appreciate it when you talk about my job/my experience/whatever like that.” I’d LOVE the AAM hive mind to suggest better one-liners that are kind, quiet, and to-the-point. Thoughts?

    1. Tina*

      Maybe try to reframe it – instead of saying “I don’t appreciate it when…” maybe you could try saying something about how much pride you take in the work and how you feel good about contributing to the team? It seems more positive that way.

    2. AdAgencyChick*

      I’d use the Miss Manners (at least, I think it was she who came up with this) response of “Why would you say a thing like that?”

    3. LCL*

      Since you are a supvervisor, this one falls on you. If you can talk to the person making the remarks, and explain why they are disrespectful and to stop it, that would be the best way. You have to explain, because you are giving her the benefit of the doubt and believe she is being tactless/awkward.

      If the power structure doesn’t allow you to directly address it with her, you should talk to her supervisor about it, and that you expect it to stop. Good admin help is priceless, you are right to want to stop this.

      1. Curiosity*

        I really appreciate this comment, and I actually did reach out to the woman’s supervisor to see if these comments are part of a larger pattern that needs to be (or is being) addressed. I also absolutely want my admin staff to know how valued they are.

        The secretary in question has expressed a desire to deal with this herself, and I think in this particular situation, that’s probably the most effective strategy. (If it wasn’t likely to be effective or appropriate, I’d absolutely take responsibility for resolving this myself). As it stands, I’d like to come up with good ways to support her, and I think a gentle in-the-moment correction fits the situation. But I totally agree, and if the secretary continues to express unhappiness (and BTW, I thanked her for coming to me, and said that I really appreciated hearing about issues like this, and scheduled a follow-up time next week for the two of us to come back and share updates or thoughts), I’m definitely prepared to take next steps on my own.

        1. Sugar coat it*

          I work in a similar structure, but I am on the “staff pool” side. It is very likely that this person simply means to express that she appreciates the secretary’s work (which she clearly considers burdensome/boring/etc), and is very awkward about it. But going to the staffer’s supervisor may backfire. If your workplace has the power-dynamics mine does, I can see some staffers getting really upset that they were reprimanded by a secretary or the manager of the secretaries. Some people take themselves too seriously, and assume their titles equate them to royalty. This person’s comments imply that she may be one of them. The sugar-coated approach may save the secretary (and you) from getting on this staffer’s bad side.
          I recommend that the secretary spin it in a positive way next time she gets one of these comments. For example: “Oh, I actually really enjoy [making copies / editing documents / organizing files / insert task at hand]. That is why I got a masters in this. It fits my meticulous personality.” That way the staffer learns (1) that her secretary is more capable and educated that she realized, and (2) that her comment is ignorant and disrespectful. All without confrontation.

    4. Variation*

      The problem with coming in hot is that she may get defensive. Clearly, she doesn’t know that her words aren’t appropriate. I’d play dumb to start- if she makes a callous remark, make a polite confused face and ask, “What do you mean?” She’ll explain her bias, and then you can correct that behaviour- “It’s a good thing our staff are so well-trained/educated/whatever.” Or, maybe, a little more pointedly, something about how your staff are really excellent at improving the lives of other people in your organization, though I’m stumbling on a polite way of saying that. (My gut reaction is to wave a couple middle fingers in the air whenever those comments are made, but sadly, I don’t think that would be well-received. ;)

      1. A Teacher*

        When a principal used to say stuff to my grandmother, the school secretary, she’d use the Carolyn Hax version, of “Wow” and go back to doing her job. The raised eyebrows and “wow” eventually sunk in…

      2. the gold digger*

        I would maybe stress the part that a good admin does important work and that everyone’s contribution is essential and that she shouldn’t degrade anyone’s job that way rather than emphasizing that the secretaries are well educated. I see your point, but I would be just as offended at the person who was disparaging the janitor’s work.

        1. Curiosity*

          Thanks for this – you’re absolutely right that the issue is not how much education the secretary does (or does not have), but whether she and her work are respected.

    5. Jennifer*

      Wow, you have to have a master’s degree to be a secretary now?!?

      And it’s only 8:30 a.m. so I can’t go drink for 8.5 more hours.

      2. Chinook*

        “Wow, you have to have a master’s degree to be a secretary now?!?”

        The joke at the accounting firm I worked at was that receptionists required Bachelor’s degrees but admins and office managers didn’t (based on the fact that the two receptionists were the only ones out of the support staff pool that had unviersity degrees).

        That being said, there are certain fields where I could see the secretaries requiring particular skill sets/training in order to deal with an integral portion of their job but that they also deal with tasks that anyone could do.

      3. Jess*

        I know a lot of secretary’s who have master’s degrees in fields they couldn’t find work in. Sadly.

        1. Leanna*

          I have two masters and I wish I could get an admin job because all I can do is customer service and retail. :(

    6. Maggie*

      This person has already revealed that she is not equipped to handle normal social graces, as such she will likely not handle a direct statement very well. Since she appears to think she is hilarious (eye roll), I would find a humorous/joke approach to it instead.

      ie “Well, we can’t all be as perfect as yoooooou” a good-humored laugh, finish with a smiling sigh like she’s in on the joke. She might have a bruised ego (all high performers do) unless you take care of it perfectly. (I am not attached to the ‘perfect’ comment, actually, and only you know whether she can take a truthful joke (some would ‘get’ it, some offices are too serious for gags like that) , so feel free to alter the messaging accordingly.

      Also, she might feel akward about having support staff. As the secretary’s leader (sidenote: it’s been drilled into me for the last decade not to ever use the term secretary anymore. Must be regional?), you should sit down with her and very comfortingly encourage her to open up about this insecurity. Your goal is to have her realize that her and the secretary are a Team and that there is nothing wrong with a) having a secretary and b) being a secretary. And then I would work out if there are any other areas of coaching for staff leadership she would appreciate. Maybe she was told that she needed to use the secreatary for ______ but she would prefer to do it, or that she would rather the secretary do ______ to free up her deskspace but she’s not allowed to use her for that, per the staff matrix. Seek to understand. Ultimately your staff is there to help her succeed (make sure she understands this as a VALUE, not task or folks tend to get entitled, ugh), and as a moving target, her contribution to that relationship is appreciated (even if it’s not, you’re ultimately seeking buy-in but she might have some good ideas too). :)

      1. A Bug!*

        This person has already revealed that she is not equipped to handle normal social graces, as such she will likely not handle a direct statement very well.
        This is not a universal truth. There are lots of socially tactless people who really don’t want to hurt people’s feelings, but they have trouble recognizing when they’re doing it. Those people are usually very receptive to direct criticism.

        From Curiosity’s description, I actually think a direct approach would work very well. Curiosity, however, is in the best position to judge.

        Here’s a suggested script to add to your own, Curiosity: “I know you don’t mean to belittle the work I do, but that’s how those comments come across.”

        It’s likely to start a dialogue. There are lots of points the secretary can touch on as she likes and if the staff member’s receptive, but I think a big one is that the secretary can point out that there’s a difference between saying “I’m glad you do this work because I couldn’t handle it myself” and saying “I’m glad I’m too smart to have to do this work.” The former is an expression of appreciation for the work, while the latter is a negative value judgement on the work (and by extension, the people who do it).

        I suspect the staff member probably thinks she’s making the former type of comment. But bringing up her education and dumping work unceremoniously on her secretary’s desk are more consistent with the latter.

        1. Sadsack*

          Sorry, but “I am glad I went to school so I wouldn’t have to…” does not sound like she is saying that she couldn’t handle the work of the secretary.

          1. Sadsack*

            i hit submit too soon! Meant to add that it seems unlikely that a person would say this and not intend it to be a dig.

            1. A Bug!*

              People can be surprisingly oblivious to the meaning of the things they say. For clarity, when I say she doesn’t mean to belittle the secretary, I don’t mean to also say she values and respects the work of a secretary. The things she’s saying make it very clear that she has an idea of what work is valuable and respectable and that the work of a secretary is neither.

              But she may not think it consciously; that’s the insidious nature of prejudice. It may just be reality to her that secretarial work is lesser work, and she’s never questioned or thought about what that really means.

              To take a brief but hopefully-relevant detour, when I was in college, I got a very drastic haircut. My best friend’s first reaction was to say, “You’re going to have to start wearing makeup or people will think you’re a boy.” I don’t think I have to go into the various implications that made this a hurtful thing to say. But that’s what my best friend said to me, and she was not a person who was prone to “mean girls” behavior. No, she said it with absolutely no idea that it was anything but a natural joke to make about my new look. And this is because she had notions of appropriate gender performance that were so deeply ingrained that it had never even occurred to her that I wouldn’t laugh and agree.

              So yeah, the staff member does mean to say what she’s saying, but it’s entirely possible that she doesn’t mean to hurt the secretary’s feelings at all or to express disrespect.

              The real test of that is what she does once the secretary calls her out on it.

              1. Anx*

                Ah, I was just about to say that these aren’t harmless or totally oblivious comments…but they certainly are ignorant.

        3. Maggie*

          Interesting perspective. My approach is biased from a ton of experience in a competitive sales org in which high performers save their politeness/good personality for their clients only, and the staff were treated liek the peons they were (regardless of education – which is such a moot point). It was a rough way to learn how to lead up, and frankly I still get bitter that I even have to lead up. Why can’t adults just act like adults and be respectful of all colleagues regardless of rank? Gr.

    7. LQ*

      How about something that focuses on contributing to the goal?

      (This works a lot better in nonprofits/governments.) “I’m really happy to be able to contribute to people being able to stay in their homes/feed their families/find jobs/etc.” I’ve given this speech more than once when someone tries to slam my job and I have never had a repeat offender when I’ve given that bit. But I really do believe that what I do matters to people and I refocus from people trying to talk about my job/qualifications to the final outcome.

    8. Polaris*

      Do you have a good working relationship with her manager? Given the nature of the comments and the fact that she outranks you, I think the feedback would be better received and more effective if it came from her manager.

      1. Polaris*

        Sorry, I wrote this before I saw your response above. It sounds like she has been making these comments without correction for awhile. Do other members of your team sit close enough to the secretary to hear the staff member’s remarks? There may be more than just one person affected by that staff member’s lack of tact.

    9. Student*

      If you want to give your direct report the ability to stop this herself, then you have to empower her to be able to reject requests from this other person. Then your direct report can enforce real consequences for bad behavior. The direct report can try asking for this other employee to modify her behavior, but if that doesn’t work she should be able to enforce some consequences to demonstrate that she is not inferior to this other employee and doesn’t have to put up with disrespectful comments.

      Otherwise, you should go to this employee and explain that she won’t be getting services from your department unless she treats your direct reports with more respect.

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        That’s a bit of a sledgehammer response though, when simply directly explaining why her statements are problematic would be a more proportionate step.

    10. Not So NewReader*

      So much depends on the relationship between the two women. Sometimes the use of humor gets the point across, but humor can be risky. I can think of some humorous responses but she may not be comfy using them.

      She could say “Actually, I like my job. Different strokes for different folks, eh?”

      OR “Gee, Roberta, you have said things along this line before. I just wanted you to know that I really like my job. I know not every job is for everyone, so I feel very fortunate.”

      OR “Roberta, I can understand where a person may not care for this type of work. However, I enjoy it and I am here to help you with this work. Please try to understand that I am helping you and you can help me by not making these comments. I am glad you are happy in your job. Please, let me enjoy my job.”

    11. Diane*

      I wonder if the staff member is ham-handedly trying to say that she appreciates the work the secretaries do because it’s not in her skill set? Tone and context are everything here. She could just as easily be revealing her bias that the work is beneath her.

      Either way, a genuinely curious, “What do you mean?” might get her to explain herself and create an opportunity to let her know that what she’s saying is coming across as dismissive, disrespectful, or hurtful.

    12. Mephyle*

      “Did you know that our secretaries all have (or Secretary X has) master’s degrees?” as a specific response to “I went to college so that I wouldn’t have to do this.”

  4. Sunflower*

    At what point do you think it’s okay to use ‘I’m looking for new challenges’ as the reason you’re looking to leave your current position? I’ve been at my company for a year and in my current position I was promoted to for 9 months. I had to take the job and have been trying to get out since I started. My job was never that challenging to start with and it’s hard to gauge how long I would stay if the workplace wasn’t toxic. I feel ready to take on more challenging work that isn’t being given to me at my current job (directors/bosses are crazy micro managers so they’ll only let people handle projects to a certain level) so it’s not a lie but I’m just curious when an interviewer might think?

    1. TNTT*

      I am just under 2 years in my current company and just over 1 year in my current role and I’m using this in interviews. The company is quite small and in a niche area, so once you’ve learned how to do what we do there isn’t much more to go on.

    2. PX*

      What I typically hear is 2 years.

      In a case like yours you could maybe use the micromanagers as a reason if you want to start looking earlier (new challenges not available at current workplace), but from what I hear, most employers like to see minimum 2 years….

      1. Lucy*

        I’m in a similar position, and I’m wary of the “new challenges” stance because I think it can sound too vague. Is there something about your current position that has prepared you for the new role? Like “In my role at Company X, I really loved planning events, and I’m looking for a full time events position” or “Working at Company X has given me a perspective on [such and such process]”?

      2. Maggie*

        I’m not entirely certain that one should fling poo at their current manager as a reason to leave. You never know if the new manager knows the old one….

        Sunflower, at 1 year, I would probably say that the role did not turn out as was discussed prior to onboarding. And then turn it into a win by saying that you don’t believe in fleeing at the first sign of trouble and gave it some extra time to develop into the role you were hired for. You recently reevaluated the situation, and it’s now time to move on to something more aligned with your career plan and their New Role is a perfect fit, blahblahblahblahblah.

        2. Felicia*

          That’s probably what I would do. I would probably go about it bay saying “while I enjoy doing x at current company, I would love the opportunity to focus on y at this company which is one of the reasons I was interested in the role!” A good way to further explain why you want the job you’re interviewing for, I think.

    3. switt*

      I’d go with some version of the job not being a great fit. Best done in a way that doesn’t sound like you’re trashing the current job. Something like “I was fortunately to find the position at XYZ company during a tough economy, and it’s been a great opportunity for me, but I’m really much more interested in doing (the kind of job for which you’re interviewing)”. Be prepared for a follow up along the lines of “what hasn’t been a good fit”, and make sure your answers don’t sound anything like the job you’re interviewing for. As long as you don’t have a history of short-term jobs, leaving one job after a year doesn’t really raise a red flag for me.

    4. Marina*

      If I talked to someone who said they were looking for new challenges after 9 months in their current position, I would wonder whether they would want to move on from my organization for more challenge after a similar amount of time. I’d focus more on what you’re looking for in terms of atmosphere… something like “My current manager’s style doesn’t work well for me, I’m looking for a job where I can take on a little more independent work and use blah blah blah experience.”

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        Yes — if you say you’re looking for new challenges after 9 months, I’m going to think you’re unrealistic, naive, or not being honest.

    5. Anonymous Educator*

      If the rest of your work history involves solid stints, there’s nothing suspicious about you leaving your current job after 9 months or 1 year.

      In other words, if I’m a hiring manager and see “1 year here, 1 year there, 2 years there, 1 year there, and now leaving?” that does not look good to me, no matter how you phrase it. I’m going to read those one-year or two-year stints as either you’re terrible and get let go without officially being fired or you’re amazing, but you can’t commit to a place.

      Either way, not desirable.

      However, if your work history looks like 3 years here, 5 years here, 2 years here, 3 years here, and then you have a one-year position you’re leaving, just tell me up front that it’s not working out or isn’t a good fit.

      1. Befuddled Squirrel*

        But that partly depends on the industry you’re in. There are industries where short stints are the norm (i.e. tech).

        1. Anonymous Educator*

          Of course, but then you don’t have to explain anything. If Sunflower was doing something typical, why would there be any need to say why you’re looking for something else?

    6. Eden*

      I’m going to echo Lucy here and say that positive framing will go a long way in this situation. Talking enthusiastically about things you enjoy and would want to do more of that are relevant to new job will go over a million times better than ‘reasons old job wasn’t a good fit’ as an answer to ‘why are you leaving your current position?’

      I’d frame this more as ‘I discovered that I really enjoy X and Y and am looking for a position where I can do more in these areas,’ rather than anything vague or negative.

      Having said that, I think that there are ways to qualify the ‘new challenges’ to make it an acceptable answer, like being specific about what you’ve gotten a taste of that you’d like to develop. What is challenging for one person may not be what challenges another, so specificity would help the hiring manager determine whether the position would be a good fit for you.

    7. A Jane*

      No, don’t take the counter offer. At my former job, my boss and I had a great working relationship. He ended up telling me that he got a job offer and was planning on leaving, but the executives offered him more money and a title increase and he chose to stay. Unfortunately, when things got even worse at the company, his counter offer package included a contract that wouldn’t let him leave for two years.

    8. BausLady*

      I’m in a very similar situation, with a much shorter timeline. I was laid off in early February and took the first job that was offered, and started mid March.

      I’m now absolutely desperate to get out. Most of what we talked about the role being during the interview process has been totally thrown out. Couple that with a key team member leaving last week, and it’s now a role that I have absolutely no interest in doing. It’s not challenging, it’s lower level work than I’m used to doing, and there’s no way I can grow professionally here.

      I have an interview next week and I when the ‘why are you looking’ question comes up I think I just have to be relatively honest in that I’m looking to have more responsibility, higher level work, and that the job totally changed. The rest of my stints have been long enough (6 years with one company, and 16 months with another) that I’m hoping this won’t look too bad.

    9. mess*

      When I was trying to move on from a job I didn’t like after six months I said it wasn’t a great cultural fit for me. Then when someone asked me to follow up on that I said something about the work the company does not being aligned to my values, which worked well because the company I was interviewing with is in the sustainability consulting realm so then I could talk about why that was a passion for me. I also had solid long term stints in my pass and had just landed at the sucky place because of a layoff, so it wasn’t part of a pattern. The truth was more that my boss was miserable and making everyone around her miserable, but I didn’t reveal that information until I got the job. ;)

    10. Mints*

      Oh I’m somewhat similar: I’ve been here a little over a year, and my answer is usually that I’m looking to focus on things more aligned with my long-term interests. (I’m working as front-desk admin, and trying to apply for support/admin jobs in specialized departments). This answer usually works, but I do get some skeptics who push me a bit, and I just tell them how excited I’d be working there because [details]. I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s as honest as I’m comfortable with while being diplomatic

  6. Katie*

    Is it ever worth accepting a counter offer?
    I put in my four weeks’ notice, three weeks ago. The new job I’m going to is a completely lateral move, but with a significant bump in pay and a less toxic work environment. My original employer just came up to me yesterday (five days before I’m supposed to leave o_O) and said that they wanted to keep me. They asked me to write a list of what it would take to stay, including matching the salary I would be getting at the new place and a promotion with second employee.

    I could basically write a new job description and create the position to be closer in line with what I wanted. The benefits are better at my current job, but I’m worried that it would be too much like putting lipstick on a pig. It’s still a crappy place to work. On the other hand, it’s a much better job in terms of responsibilities and what I would like to do with my career. It also gives me more freedom to pursue additional education.

    Am I just fooling myself? It’s not like management would change, I just might have less to do with them. And the new job seems to have a very supportive environment. Is that worth leaving a better resume builder?

    1. Elkay*

      My personal feeling is don’t do it. I did something similar and the new job description never came into play, they just expected me to do my old job plus extra.

      1. Ali*

        About three years ago, I wanted to leave my current part-time job for another part-time, temporary job that was only going to be for three months and there was no chance of being hired on after it was over. I began to have second thoughts about the position and told my boss this…I hadn’t officially set an end date for my job or anything that I remember and I had asked about coming on full-time. He looked into it, said it was possible and let me work 40 hours a week. I’m still there now and got a promotion a year after I moved to full-time, and my manager is confident not only in me, but the rest of the team I’m on.

        Of course, a lot changes in three years and I am now job searching. So even though I didn’t technically take a counter-offer, I would err on the side of not doing it. I know if I were to find a new job and resign next week, I would refuse a counter if one came up.

        1. falala*

          I’m confused. It sounded like staying at your job ended up being good for your (promotion, recognized for good work,…)?

    2. Sunflower*

      If management is bad, do you think any of this stuff would actually come to fruition? What are the chances you get what you want money wise but your new job never happens and you’re still stuck doing what you did before?

    3. Anonymous*

      You said your current place is toxic. It’s better to just leave.

      And who says they will stick to your “new job description”? Think about their business need; if they needed a position closer to what you had in mind, they would already have a posting/opening for it. They won’t change.

      2. ExceptionToTheRule*

        This is great advice. I accepted a counter-offer from my company that has worked out well, but the circumstances were radically different: I hadn’t been job hunting, I’d been approached by another company.

        More money & a different job description isn’t going to change the toxic environment.

    4. Bryan*

      I wouldn’t based on all of the reasons outlined in the never take a counter offer post (if you haven’t read it, search for it). I’d be concerned about job security if you accepted the counter.

    5. Barbara in Swampeast*

      Don’t stay. Tell your current employer that you appreciate their offer, but it is time for you to move on.

      I forget what the percentage is, but statistics show that most people who take a counter-offer are gone within a year anyway.

    6. Artemesia*

      Once you have played this game you are still a marked person. I have seen half a dozen counter offer situations. One was in a University where this is normal; you don’t get the big raise without an offer, and one was a situation where the new company basically told the guy ‘we can’t possibly offer what your old company is offering and it is clearly the best move for you (it meant a promotion at age 30 to a division CEO position) but we will meet down the road when we have something better to offer you’ In other words they essentially blessed the acceptance of the counter offer; the man was willing to keep his commitment if they had not. Later he was tapped to head up a new subsidiary of that original offerer.

      But the other four were classic ‘dead end job, toxic environment but desperate to keep the person and so counter offered’ Two of those were let go in the next big set of layoffs — by then the companies had marked them as ‘unreliable’ and essentially backed them up so they were not dependent on their skills. The other two were back in the toxic soup with just a higher salary.

      They didn’t appreciate you when they had you. AND the place is toxic. This is your big chance to make a clean break. I would not stay as the odds it will be abusive down the road are so high.

    7. Apollo Warbucks*

      Id leave and not think twice about it. If you were valued and appreciated in your old job you won’t have been looking for a new job.

    8. Dan*

      Ever? Yeah, sometimes. But in your case, probably not. If it was, it would the clear choice, you wouldn’t be on the fence.

      Getting out of a toxic environment is always a winning choice.

    9. Anonalicious*

      In your situation, I would say no, it’s not worth it. If you were still negotiating with the other company, or hadn’t already accepted their offer and agreed to a start date, then maybe it would be. But if you know nothing is really going to change at your current place, then you’ve already answered your own question.

    10. Maggie*

      TOXIC WORKPLACE.

      I just wanted to remind you of why you were leaving in the first place. ;) As someone who managed to turn around a toxic workplace (it took me four years and significant staffing changes both above and below me), I say it’s not worth the effort unless you want a career in leadership and operations/administration/hr. It’s simply not worth the effort otherwise. That, and when you’re knee deep in alligator’s, you’ll look at your paystub and curse yourself because it really is never enough pay to put up with toxic people/orgs.

      1. Maddy*

        I agree with all the advice here- don’t take it. Money cannot not buy you happiness at this job. Its a toxic environment and That will never change.

    11. Persephone Mulberry*

      The time to consider a counteroffer, if ever, is before you accept the new position. Don’t burn the bridge with the new employer by backing out a week before you’re supposed to start.

      1. Persephone Mulberry*

        That didn’t come across how I intended, but now I can’t remember what I meant to type. Please disregard.

          1. Persephone Mulberry*

            Except that you shouldn’t be giving your notice at oldjob until you’ve finalized your acceptance at newjob, which makes it almost impossible not to damage your relationship with newcompany when you back out.

    12. Polaris*

      I think you already know the answer: You said your current role is in a toxic environment and the changes you could make to the position will not fix that. Leaving anywhere can be hard, but go. You can do better. Also, congratulations!

    13. Not So NewReader*

      Money and respect are two different animals.

      I saw a good article one time that said most people who stay because of the counter-offer end up leaving anyway.
      Consistently, the problem was this: Yes, they were getting more money, had a better title or whatever BUT they were still being treated like crap. This sent them back to square one and reminded them of their original thinking that being treated decently was their number one issue. Pay improved, respect did not. Same old toxic environment. They ended up leaving anyway.

      Take the job at New Place.

  7. PX*

    Hi all,
    I’m in a bit of an odd situation. I have 2 coffee meetings next week which are a cross between informational interviews and real interviews, and any tips on how to approach this would be greatly appreciated.

    For background: I’ve been on essentially a temp contract, and there is a FT position available. However due to the weird nature of the company I work at, while I definitely need to impress the people I’ll be having coffee with (heads of the department I might end up in), they are not actually the ones who will have final say in whether I get hired or not.

    And to complicate matters further, while I like my current position, I’m not actually sure if I want the permanent position (its a big company with lots of great career opportunities, but the nature of the work is likely to change significantly if I go fulltime, and I’m not 100% sure it will be a good cultural fit/what I want right now).

    So I’m struggling to figure out how to balance all the questions I have about the company/cultural fit/expectations with the bit where I need to also make a good impression.

    Any thoughts/tips/advice on how to approach this?

    1. TNTT*

      Having many relevant questions about the position WILL make a good impression! As Alison often says, it is important that you interview the company (or in this case, the role) as well. Given that everyone involved understands that this a hybrid info/actual interview, the best way to make a good impression is to bring your questions and not be ashamed about asking them. Lots of them.

    2. LD*

      What TNTT said…making a good impression should include asking your questions in a way that is open, friendly, and about getting your needs met, too. It’s okay to say that when you ask, something like… “This opportunity sounds very interesting! I just want to make sure it’s a good fit for my skills and interests, so I have a few questions…what can you tell me about….?”
      As Alison says, tone makes a big difference!
      Keep in mind, even if these are not the people who make the final decision, they are people with potential influence over the decision. So it’s good to be as prepared as if it were an actual interview situation. Good luck with whatever you decide!

  8. LMW*

    No. When I was hourly we either got overtime or comp time immediately following the events so overtime didn’t accrue. And they paid our meals and hotel. That’s part of business travel. Of course they have to pay for that – those are business expenses, not personal expenses.

  9. Sascha*

    A success: I sent my very first networking email today to a database administrator in my sister’s organization. I want to be a full fledged DBA some day, and my sister was talking to this person and mentioned this, so she told my sister I should call her up! I followed Allison’s advice about how to write a good networking email, and now we’re having a phone call this afternoon!!!

    I’m still a little nervous but excited. I don’t like talking on the phone to strangers but the DBA seems very friendly, and I am thrilled to have the chance to talk to her about her work. Hopefully this will lead to good things. :)

      1. Sascha*

        Thanks! I’m going to ask her about what her daily work is like, what type of tasks does she deal with; what kind of skills and experience is necessary for this kind of work; what are the pros and what are the cons. I have sort of an idealized version of what being a DBA is so I’d like to hear it from a real DBA.

        1. bridget*

          Those are good questions. I’d suggest adding something to the effect of “is there anything you wish you had known when you were at my level?” and “is there anything that, looking back, you would have done differently?”

        2. Apollo Warbucks*

          I don’t work as a dba but do application support for a Microsoft database.

          You might like to ask about the actual systems she supports there are three main types of relational database management systems Microsoft, MYSQL and oracle, all slightly different.

          Microsoft and oracle do decent looking database qualifications it might be worth asking if your DBA contact thinks these are worth while.

          If you’ve got a Microsoft computer at home you can download trail versions of the server software and sample databases to work on. I’m just getting started on my Microsoft certification.

          Knowing how to write SQL code is must, other languages can be useful such as html or XML I’m not sure what exactly will be useful to you as a DBA but you should ask in your call.

          This is worth look:

          http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2013/07/announcing-our-free-accidental-dba-6-month-training-plan/

            1. Apollo Warbucks*

              No problem I hope it helps.

              If you have any questions you can email me
              Apollo.Warbucks at outlook.com

              1. Sascha*

                Thanks again! Looking forward to going through this. I would definitely be one of those accidental DBAs lol. It’s great to see some streamlined training material I can work on on my own. My coworkers are helping me, but there’s only so much time during a work day for training (read: zero) and I don’t have the time, money, or energy for going back to school right now.

    3. Sascha*

      Thanks everyone! Y’all have given some good questions I hadn’t thought of. Adding them to my list!

  10. Elkay*

    I’ve had a horrible week, I’m so glad it’s the weekend. It’s been really stressful professionally and personally with a total lack of support on both fronts.

    2. Noelle*

      I’m in the same boat, it’s been a long and brutal week. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

    6. Rebecca*

      Confession – I took a half day today, even though I have just a quick appointment at 4:30. I just couldn’t take another minute. I feel your pain.

    8. Polaris*

      I am sorry to hear so many people are having a bad week. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend and a much better week next week.

    9. Izzy LeighGal*

      Sending you a virtual hug. Get some rest this weekend and weather permitting, get out into the sunshine! :)

  11. Sunflower*

    When do you think is the best time to book domestic flights? Most research says, on average, 49-54 days before departure but another study said 21 days before. I book mostly last minute business travel so I have never booked a flight more than a month in advance. I lean more towards 21 days and I have almost always been able to snag a window or aisle seat on my flights. For me, I travel alone and don’t really need a set time. What do you guys think?

    1. Colette*

      Personally, it depends how flexible I am about whether I’m going or not. If I had set arrangements at my destination, I’d book early. If I was willing to chance not going at all, I might leave it until a few weeks out.

      1. Artemesia*

        I book a lot of personal international travel and it beats me. The rule of thumb is don’t look after you book; I think they have a cookie that will show cheaper tickets the week after you book regardless.

        I track the flights I am interested in and watch the prices to get an idea of the lows and highs and then about 3 mos out I snap when I see something reasonable. A few years ago European flights were mostly around $1200 but I managed to get them for $800. The last time I flew I paid $1100 and they were up to $1800 the month before the trip. I am not flexible. I only fly direct if possible and usually open jaw and the dates are fairly firm. If you are willing to take horrible routings you can do better.

        For domestic flights, same thing but I tend to book those about 6 weeks out. But the old guidelines about dates and time of day to book don’t really work anymore so you do need to have a feel for the range and then grab it when it gets close to the bottom.

    2. Dan*

      When you say “best time” well best time for what? You talk about window vs aisle seat, and not about fares. All of the studies you would be referring to would be fare discussions. When you talk about “don’t need a set time” well, FWIW, if you book too far out (more than 60 days) you can run into schedule changes.

      Many airline require that their cheapest fares be purchased more than 21 days in advance, which is where that number comes from. Inside 21 days, you take your chances, but aren’t guaranteed to get screwed over.

      I’d never purchase a domestic ticket more than 60 days out.

      I do a lot of international travel on frequent flier miles — I book those tickets almost a year out after a lot of planning. It’s a really weird mind set when I have to *buy* domestic tickets, where I shouldn’t purchase more than two months out.

      1. Sunflower*

        Fare is most important. I have a weekend getaway(domestic, in the US) with friends coming up. My friends all booked over 100 days out and I told them they were nuts. I’m about 55 days out now and the fare is the same as they booked so I’m tempted to wait a couple more weeks and see if it drops. I tend to fly US Air and United mostly

    3. Malissa*

      It really depends on the airline. Southwest gets cheap about 3 weeks out. Delta usually holds prices steady until a week before. Allegiant will drop prices to nothing the week before if they have open seats.

      Orbitz fare watcher is a good tool to use to get an idea.

    4. Laura*

      It depends on a lot of things. I buy about 45-60 days in advance…but I’m planning family trips with two kids under the age of six, one of whom is still traveling in an FAA approved car seat. I *must* get at least two pairs of adjacent seats, at least one of which *must* be a window seat (the only place the car seat is permitted to be used).

      The other advantage to buying that early is, if I can’t lock the seats in, I have more time to call the airline and beg, plead, and finagle.

      There’s a lot more flexibility if your dates are a little flexible, you’re traveling by yourself or only with another adult, etc. – and then you can save on fares as others are noting. Sometimes. Not always. One of our family destinations is a small town with a local airport in the Midwest – we’re actually flying into a hub and *driving* this year, because the youngest is old enough tht a four-hour drive is less ridiculous than the fares to that airport. There is no low price into that airport. If you really, really want to get there, they figure they have you firmly where they want you, I think.

    5. Mephyle*

      I just saw an article about this new website, Hopper. Scroll down to “When to Fly and Buy”, enter your start and destination, and it will report, based on recent data, when to buy for the best price (including which day of the week). It wouldn’t hurt to try it.
      Also, some sites like Kayak and Hipmunk have a section where you can enter flexible dates, so for example if you can save money buy going one day later or one day earlier, you can see the prices before you decide.

      1. Heatherbrarian*

        I bought a ticket and timed the purchase based on Hopper’s data – and ended up spending about $200/person more for worse flights that I was originally planning to buy as a result (on an already hideously expensive ticket – anyone know why it costs so freaking much to fly to Seattle?). Obviously that’s just one person’s experience… but if you use Hopper I’d suggest taking their info with a grain of salt.

  12. Stephanie*

    Reposting from last week, since this got buried.

    I got invited to an online Women in Technology career fair at one of the Big 4 professional services firms. I interviewed for a role there about 8 months ago in a completely different practice in advisory (but ended up not getting the job), so I’m guessing this is how they got my name. I also don’t have any experience in technology consulting (but that didn’t seem to be a prerequisite). Has anyone done anything like this?

    1. Maggie*

      When you say online, does this mean that the women in technology deal mainly with internet related technology? or is this some sort of live forum event or something? I am intrigued….

      (and obvs, no for me)

      1. Stephanie*

        Yeah, it’s for the firm’s technology consulting practice. It sounds like they are trying to recruit more women. From the description of event, it sounds like basically a bunch of chat rooms/video conferences with recruiters.

    2. Lora*

      Yes. I mean, what specifically do you want to know? I wouldn’t do it again, personally, but that is just me. It seemed like they wanted to tick a box that said “we tried to get diverse candidates but the girls were all lame, boo-hoo” sort of thing, and pretty much it was exactly like being mansplained at for three hours with appetizer trays. That said, it’s possible some folks made important connections and got a job out of it, I just wasn’t one of those people.

      1. Stephanie*

        It’s actually virtual, but I’ve had that experience at recruiting events targeted toward underrepresented groups.

  13. BB*

    Why do people stay in jobs/place when they’re miserable? I feel like everyday I walk into work, someone is complaining about something or getting into a screaming match with someone else. I could be wrong and you never know what’s going on behind closed doors but no one seems to be trying to get out. From what I understand, things have been going downhill for the past couple years and besides maybe 1 or 2 people, there aren’t any real perks that keep people here. I get the feeling a few people have just given up but a lot are only mid-thrities and have plent of time ahead of them! I’ve only been in the professional world for about 3 years so I guess I’m a little scared that could happen to me…

    2. Diet Coke Addict*

      If it’s a lousy place to be, odds are that it’s also a lousy place to advertise that you’re job-searching, so even people who are actively looking would likely be keeping it under pretty tight wraps.

      Additionally, job-searching while employed can be very difficult and time-consuming, and there are plenty of people who just don’t mind a dour workplace environment enough to get out. The paycheque might be all they need. It’s hard to say without knowing each individual story.

      1. Ali*

        I’m not satisfied at my job and am just staying right now because even though I’m sending applications, I’m not getting calls…well except the one insurance sales agency that called me yesterday. *angry* I am not in a position where I have enough savings to just up and quit. My job is decent and we have an open culture, but that doesn’t mean I would talk about my job searching there.

        Plus, in the area where I live, the pay I make would be considered amazing. Most jobs around here are call centers, blue-collar work and healthcare and don’t pay much more than $12 an hour. The good jobs…you have to know someone and barely anyone ever leaves them once they get them. I am trying to search long distance, but that’s been miserable so far. One company liked me but said call us when you move (and I couldn’t even know when I was moving); others haven’t replied or sent automated e-mails that talked about “an overwhelming number of applicants.”

          1. Ali*

            Thanks for the kind words! It’s still new so I haven’t grown it much yet. But we’ll get there!

    3. Anonymint*

      I have no idea. I left my previous two jobs after 2 years and 1.5 years, respectively. Both were terrible, terrible places. My coworkers from my first job (who I’m still close with) are STILL there, complaining about the same things. They don’t even look for new jobs – they just talk about it.

      Maybe a fear of change? Fear that a new place will be just as bad/worse? I’m curious as well.

    4. Jen*

      The few times I’ve been in that situation, I’m usually actively looking but having trouble getting interviews or offers. One time I stayed at a miserable job because I knew I was trying to get pregnant and to switch at that point would have been foolish because I would not have been able to get FMLA or build up enough vacation and sick time to take maternity leave. Another time I had signed a 3 year contract and could not afford to break it.

      So sometimes there are reasons why people stay. Other times they just like to complain but don’t want to do anything about it. Don’t spend too much time worrying about what might happen down the road.

    5. Kai*

      I think that aside from the fact that it’s just hard to find a new job in this market, people get very comfortable even in bad situations. It’s often easier to just bitch about your job than to do all the work necessary to find a new one.

    6. Bryan*

      I wonder this too. I have a coworkers who complains constantly about the company and has been here for 30 years.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        In this case, it’s not a work habit. It’s a way of life, they are doing this at home, too. Some people get energy from complaining. Some people that is the ONLY way they get energy is if they are ticked off about something.

    7. Bend & Snap*

      I stayed in a bad spot a lot longer than I should have–but it was because they kept dangling the carrot in a way that meant I could move past getting hit with the stick.

      What drove me out was never actually getting the carrot, not the beatings.

      Hilariously I found out that they were handing me the long-promised promotion about an hour before I gave my notice. Too little, too late.

    8. Jennifer*

      Nthing “they probably can’t get any other jobs.” And I am finding myself pretty locked into my current position/career because nobody wants someone who hasn’t already done the job before and they don’t seem to care about transferable skills. At this point I am forcing myself to love what I hate about my job because it’ll probably be the last job I ever have and I just don’t see a way out of here short of being fired, and if that happens it’s over for me.

    9. C Average*

      I don’t love my current role, but I love my company and want to continue working here. I am biding my time, networking, and keeping an eye out for the right role with another team. I’ll probably also take advantage of my company’s tuition assistance program to do my MBA in the next few years. I’m trying to keep my chin up about my current situation because I can see it eventually leading me where I’d like to go.

    10. Puddin*

      I currently work in a place that has many process issues. As a result, we work in a very inefficient way. This causes a lot of frustration with the waste, lack of challenge, and mis-management. However, it also creates an atmosphere where low levels of performance and commitment are acceptable for very reasonable, if not generous, pay. I am not leaving, even though I know better work environments are out there because I also know that I would be held to a higher standard. Right now, it feels easy to me to perform to a ‘meets expectations’ level and frankly I am kind of into easy at this point. I have ambition burn out. I expect that to change at some point, (I am thinking 2015) but this is where I am in my career right now. I am fulfilled/satisfied ‘enough’ and my employer is getting ‘enough’ from me without either of us putting in too much effort.

      For a more general reason as to why people stay in jobs they appear unhappy with…In my experiences, I have learned that unless a work place is very dysfunctional and the majority people you work with/for are extremists, abusive, or utterly incompetent, the grass is usually not greener.

    11. Betsy*

      The bad company I stayed with longest was a start-up. For the first few years, there were big bonuses. Then the bonuses stopped, to be replaced with stock options. Since the company wasn’t tradeable, those weren’t of value until/unless the company sold. And we kept getting dangling hints that a sale was in the offing.

      For 3 years. While I kept collecting salaries 20K+ less than market value.

      Finally, I realized it was time to acknowledge that those salary hits were sunk costs and I needed to stop making it worse. That was around 6 years ago. The company is still unsold.

    12. Maggie*

      Don’t underestimate the power of a complaining culture. Some people also just prefer to b*tch.

    13. Julie*

      Because I’m looking. Because I want to buy a house soon. Because I was unemployed/underemployed for 2 years and it killed who I am and my self-esteem. Because I worked temp job after temp job and now look like a job hopper and I’m scared to go back to that. Because I had cancer and like guaranteed benefits (though Obamacare has changed that some). Because I’m great at what I do and the days that are good make me so proud and give me another item to list on my resume. Because I hate giving up/quitting. Because I still am naive enough to believe I can make the world a better place at a bad job that is meant to do good in the world than at a slightly better job doing things I don’t believe in. Because I have to stay 5 years to get any retirement benefits. Because I like my coworkers. Because I no longer trust any job will treat me like a person.

      I didn’t think it could happen to me and here I sit 7 years post-graduation and I can’t remember what it was like to think I deserve to be treated well at a job. There have been so many bad ones or not good ones that I really no longer believe I deserve better.

    14. Lora*

      They like eating? They have mortgages?

      Free advice of the day: Do not ever voice this question in real life to your colleagues or anyone who reports to you. To those of us who have worked terrible, horrible, exploitative jobs to keep a roof over our heads and Ramen Noodles in the pantry, it comes across as really, really REALLY privileged and naive. If your other option at any point in your life was being homeless (vs. working a job you hate), trust me, you’ll deal with the confrontational meetings.

      2. Programmer 01*

        Seriously. It’s like asking why people can’t just move to a city that has better job availability — when you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck, you can’t exactly up and move with no safety net. I really side-eye people who ask things like this.

      3. BB*

        I was not implying that people should quit their jobs just because they are miserable. I am also miserable here and still working here so I am obviously in the same boat as them. I’ve been job searching for 3 years so I know the market is tough but I also know based on conversations I’ve had with them that the company is going downhill and business isn’t what it used to be. Jobs aren’t exactly secure and it just seems like a lot of people have fallen into ‘this is my life and this is what it will be forever’. Just curious why some people kind of give up hope on ever getting out of bad situation.

        1. Not So NewReader*

          No energy left to fight it? Disbelief that things could be better?

          Sometimes I think it is the barriers in their own minds.

        2. Lora*

          Oh, well that is a different question. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what you really want to do, or what else you might be able to do.

          I mean, I had a life crisis sort of thing a few years ago and the other things I’m good at are not even decently-paid jobs anymore because of technology. Print and radio journalism used to have a lot more jobs and paid reasonably well, and that is no longer the case. Other things I was good at when Kurt Cobain was alive included music and event promotions (taken over by only a few large companies who effectively have monopolies), farming (my cousins inherited the family farm and sold it to a developer), and medicine. Apart from really not liking sick people very much, I’m much too old to take on $200,000 – 300,000 in student loan debt for medical school. So I’m stuck with what I’m doing. Which is fine, I like it, it just isn’t what I want to grow old doing.

          Sometimes you really can’t. One of my good friends has three young special needs children to support and her partner left her, so for the sake of the kids she has to keep on keepin’ on as she can’t afford to pick up and do anything else: the kids’ activities and therapists and schools and custody issues keep them in one location.

          Sometimes people have health issues and need to stay on one particular insurance or near one particular doctor.

          Sometimes their hedge fund manager stole all their money and ran off to the Cayman Islands and after declaring bankruptcy the only job they could get was Starbucks. I mean, who knows. There’s loads of reasons, not the least of which is “our society is messed up sometimes”.

    15. Rebecca*

      Because I can’t find a job that pays the bills.

      I loved my job and looked forward to going to work every day. I always carried over vacation, and if something had to be done on the weekend, I’d gladly take care of it, write my time on my time card on Monday, and not even think anything about it. My company treated us great!

      That ended when we were purchased by another company. It’s horrible. Now I look forward to every minute out of the office, take every minute of PTO and vacation, and yes I’m job hunting. The cold hard fact is I can’t live on a part time $9/hr job, like many are around here. I’m not a nurse, a welder, or a CDL truck driver, and even if I could become one, every single position wants experience.

      The job market bites and that’s why people stay where they’re unhappy. It keeps the lights on, a roof overhead, and food on the table. That’s it.

    16. College Career Counselor*

      Because sometimes it’s better the devil you know than the one you don’t. Or they think if they just keep their heads down, things will get better/they can wait it out.

    17. Del*

      If it’s the company? What other people have said.

      If it’s just the specific job? They may be sticking it out to get somewhere better. My “foot in the door” job at my company was the call center, which was a year and a half of absolute misery for me. But it was worth it to “pay my dues” and then move up into another department with a better workload, more responsibility, and to have the valuable industry experience the call center had given me. (And I’m not joking about that last part — I’ve discovered I’m actually more knowledgeable about the company & industry than people who have been in my department for significantly longer, because the call center touched on just about everything the company does, while my current department is very specialized.)

    18. K*

      Lack of options definitely. While I have savings and could just leave my current terrible job, it would be foolish unless I found another one that paid around the same.

    19. Anon for Now*

      A few reasons:

      1. Looking for a job is a full-time job, so it’s difficult to manage both getting through the day-to-day of the current job and then going home to start all over.

      2. The hope that one day, it will get better. Management’s eyes will open, better processes will be put in place, etc.

      3. Guilt. It’s sometimes hard to consider leaving when colleagues that I’m close with will still be there.

      4. Exhaustion. The toxic workplace completely drains me – emotionally, mentally, physically. I know I won’t be at my best/in a good frame of mind when applying for new jobs. That’s when I’d be most likely to make a mistake on a cover letter or resume.

      5. Self-reflection. I’ve had two toxic workplaces in a row. I start to get paranoid and think “Maybe I’m the problem,” which takes away any self-confidence it would take to branch out and try a new company.

  14. Anon for this*

    Question for people in sales hiring or sales jobs – I’m in an organization that is structured so only about 3% of the reps make their annual quota attainment. I am not in this 3%. Is there a way to talk about this in interviews so that I don’t look like a terrible sales person or like I’m making excuses?

    1. E.R*

      What if you focus on what you did achieve? Ie. Sold a quarter-million dollars of new product; brought in X number of new clients; grew my territory by X%; in the top 20% of sales reps; my clients love me, my boss compliments my X skills ?

      If the company is truly set up so only 3% achieve their quota, they are awful, but it also means that a lot of people are probably doing great work and not being recognized for it. If you have good numbers to offer like the ones suggested above, most interviewers won’t follow up with “but what was your goal?”. And if they do, I wouldn’t look down on someone who said something along the lines of “My goal was X. It was widely accepted that our quotas were aspirational, and 97% of the sales force consistently did not meet them, despite being a hardworking and intelligent bunch. Can you tell me about how you determine the goals for your sales team?”

      Good luck!

      2. the gold digger*

        Oh yes! What a great question! I just figured out yesterday that the ten percent bonus I was told about with my new position depended on my more than tripling new revenue. There is absolutely no way I can ever reach that goal, but it didn’t even occur to me to ask about how attainable it was before I accepted the offer.

        1. Anon for this*

          And thanks AAM for open thread day! And an awesome blog! With awesome readers!

    2. Maggie*

      Can you focus on the innovative ways that you have found new clients or made other goals?

  15. Katie the Fed*

    Y’all, I need a stern talking to or something.

    I am really terrible lately about workplace snacking. I eat a reasonable breakfast and lunch, but there is always food out and I’ve been so terrible about snacking. I’m sure it’s somewhat stress related but I can’t seem to break the habit.

    Any good ideas? I have a wedding dress to fit into in a few months. Ackk!

    1. Elkay*

      Have a set snack time, say 10am and 3pm and provide your own healthy snacks? I might be making it up but I think plain popcorn isn’t too bad for you, it might satisfy your hand to mouth urge.

      1. GigglyPuff*

        Whole Foods has the best plain, air-popped, low sodium, bagged popcorn ever. Whenever I get the urge to eat out of the bag, “binge eat”, I definitely go with that.

      2. Katie the Fed*

        I thought about this earlier this week – that I might actually bring in an air popper. I use one at home. Usually I just want something with a crunch. I’m also a savory snacker.

        1. Nodumbunny*

          What I had to do was stop eating lunch. I can’t resist snacking while I’m concentrating at the computer, so I snack on healthy (almonds, carrots, popcorn) and unhealthy (chocolate) and call that lunch.

        2. Astor*

          I love my air popper, but the noise does get to me, so in case you find this useful:

          I’ve had good luck with making air popped corn at home the night before and bringing it in a paper bag. It keeps pretty well, assuming that you’re skipping the butter.

          You can make very lightly oiled popcorn in the microwave with a paper bag too, but I haven’t tried that myself.

          1. Mallory*

            I’ve tried making popcorn in a paper bag in the microwave. It worked pretty well. 1/4 cup of kernels in a lunch-sized paper bag, fold the top over a couple of times, and set the microwave on the popcorn setting. After the popcorn is done, I melt a little butter in the microwave to put on top of it, but you don’t have to do that (as I probably shouldn’t) if you’re watching your weight (which I should be).

    2. GigglyPuff*

      Ugh, sorry that sucks. Not great for teeth, but every time I feel like hitting my co-worker’s candy bowl, I pop some gum. Maybe something like that or mints.

      1. anon in tejas*

        I keep mints/altoids in my office for this purpose. another really good way to deal with his is brushing your teeth after meals. the aftertaste normally quells the desire to snack for many. added bonus with this method is you work on your smile for your big day.

    3. Diet Coke Addict*

      More liquids? I find that having tea or flavoured water suppresses the hand-to-mouth thing, and also plenty of liquid keeps you hydrated and feeling fuller. As well as making sure I have plenty of protein in my meals so it stays with me for longer.

      1. Anonymint*

        Yeah! I’m a terrible, terrible snacker – I realized when I drink tea/water all day long, it really helps cut down. People kept telling me that and I was skeptical, but so far it’s worked pretty well!

        1. GigglyPuff*

          A tip: if you drink water a certain amount of time before you eat, maybe 30 mins (can’t remember the specific time), it’ll keep you fuller. But make sure it’s not cold water, cold water hydrates, versus room temperature helps you feel full.

      2. Katie the Fed*

        I’m going to try the tea thing. I usually just have coffee in the morning and that’s it.

        1. krm*

          I need a cup of coffee in the morning as well, but after that, I stick to water or tea. Green tea is caffinated if I need more energy, plus it is good for your metabolism! Fruit infused green teas, like blueberry and pomegranate are really good for squashing sweet cravings, and peppermint tea is good for anything else!

        2. Anonymint*

          Tea is definitely better! The first few days I made the mistake of COFFEE ALL DAY and boy was that interesting…

          1. cuppa*

            Been there. Heart racing and trembling. And then I wonder to myself, “why do I feel so awful?” Maybe because you’ve had four cups of coffee and nothing to eat. ;)

          2. Mallory*

            I sometimes make the mistake of using coffee for an afternoon snack if I can’t find anything else. I typically want something sweet in the afternoon, so if there’s no cookie or chocolate around, I’ll make a cup of really sweet, really creamy coffee with a big, heaping tablespoon of sugar and probably about 1/4 c. of half-and-half. It’s like a hot milkshake.

        3. Rebecca Z*

          I keep a little jar of chicken bouillon cubes in my drawer for when I don’t feel like tea. Salty and only 5 calories.

      3. BB*

        Second this!!! Keeping yourself hydrated is good for all reasons and I’ve also heard you should drink a glass of water before every meal to avoid overeating. I keep a cup of iced tea with lemon on my desk all day and it helps me push lunch off as long as possible!

      4. Natalie*

        Sparkling water can be nice, too, particularly if you don’t like flavored water. I drink an unreasonable amount of plain LaCroix in my office.

    4. Sunflower*

      Avoid the areas with food as much as possible. I bring snacks to work and then leave them in my car or at least hide them in the bottom of a drawer as opposed to on my desk. Always have carrots or healthy snacks on hand and put on the blinders as much as possible!!!

      1. Katie the Fed*

        The food table is right in the middle of everything – I can’t possibly avoid it. :(

        1. cuppa*

          I second the bringing your own healthy snack. I was trying to slim down before a vacation, and it was really helpful to see cake and think, I’m going to eat this orange now, instead of this cake.

    5. fposte*

      Are you getting enough sleep? Seems random, but I’m a lot more vulnerable to eating temptation when my sleep is bad. Also consider eating a slightly more than reasonable breakfast and lunch, filling it out with something bulky like rice or greens, so you’re not just not hungry but consciously full.

      Might also be worth considering that expectations may be playing a paradoxical role here–“Eh, I’m sure I’m not going to go down the aisle naked whatever happens” might be more useful than “I have a wedding dress to fit into!”

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I think I’ve been better about getting more sleep, but I could probably increase it.

        I also started working out more, so I might actually need to be eating more at breakfast so I’m not getting hungry as quickly.

        And yes I probably do need to change the way I’m thinking about the wedding/wedding dress. I think it’s making me stress eat.

        1. Lucy*

          I try to bring a healthy but appealing main lunch- like a grain salad full of my favorite veggies (and hot sauce) so I don’t feel like I need to treat myself to something from the vending machine later. Also, lots and lots of flavored teas!

        2. AVP*

          Oh, I do eat more if I’m exercising more regularly – I’m just hungrier. But I think it’s better to increase the size of your regular meals if possible, as generally the food choices then are better than what you’ll end up snacking on if you go to the vending machine or the snack table.

        3. Chinook*

          “I also started working out more, so I might actually need to be eating more at breakfast so I’m not getting hungry as quickly.”

          Are you including some type of protein in your breakfast? If you are working out more, your body is burning more calories. Protein takes longer to digest/process and is more slow release. I found that I don’t snack in the afternoon because I always have protein in my lunch but I rarely have it in the morning and I find myself wanting something about mid-way through the morning.

          1. Robin*

            Yes, this! Right after I work out, I try to have a pretty decent sized, protein-heavy meal (I prefer eggs). It really helps cut down on the hunger/snacking later. Also agree on the having your own healthy snacks: carrots, yogurt, nuts. I find nuts in particular really help hold off sweets/chocolate cravings.

          2. SaraV*

            Do you have a toaster in your breakroom? I’d bring a loaf of whole wheat bread, keep that in my desk drawer, and purchase some margarine and keep that in the refrigerator. (Labelled and dated!) Then, I would daily bring a yogurt from home…so my breakfast was two slices of whole wheat toast and yogurt. The bread almost always lasted the two weeks it took to go through it as long as it stayed out of the light.

      2. LCL*

        What is working for me is to plan my snacks and bring them to work. I just started a weight loss program and that is working for me. Make sure you have some variety in what you bring, eating the same thing day after day is beyond tedious.

        I had to adjust my attitude to allow myself to bring food to work. I despise brown bagging, it reminds me too much of being poor, and lousy lunches from home. Brown bagging=deprivation in my mind. If I can’t afford to eat what I want, where I want, I consider myself a failure.

        1. krm*

          I had to do the same thing. It has always seemed like a status thing in my office to be able to go out for lunch. I’ve come to realize that I feel a whole lot better when I bring in my own food. I spend a bit more on groceries, but I am still saving a lot of money in the long run- not to mention calories! People have started to comment on how delicious my lunches look too! I will splurge on buying more expensive produce (spinach/kale/mixed greens rather than iceburg or romaine), and different types of fruit, almonds from the co-op, etc.

        2. April*

          Oh, that’s funny that to you brown bagging=deprivation. To me having to buy prepared meals all the time would feel like deprivation. I really like what I cook and feel sorry for people who have to depend on purchasing often-inferior meals. (If not inferior in taste, often in quality / healthfulness, or not the right portion size, or just not my preferred spin on a particular recipe) I just feel more in control and independent being able to cook my own food from scratch. (And I’m good at it, so it all tastes wonderful!)

      3. littlemoose*

        +1 on the eating more when sleep-deprived. I have definitely noticed that I do this. I think it’s a combination of physiological changes (I read once that not getting enough sleep messes with your ghrelin levels, making you hungrier), eroded willpower and decision-making capability, and impaired focus that leads me to snack because I need more frequent breaks from what I’m doing. For me the lack of enough sleep is terrible for my dietary habits, and I KNOW I need to get more sleep!

      4. Ellie H.*

        I completely agree – I’m usually pretty good about healthy eating but not getting enough sleep is the single biggest cause of unhealthy eating (or just randomly feeling incredibly hungry and eating more snacks than usual, even if it isn’t necessarily unhealthy)

      5. chewbecca*

        I’m definitely guilty of making poor snacking decisions when I’m sleepy. I tend to feel like I need some sort of sugar bump to get me through the afternoon. And then I’ll use that to justify buying a diet coke that I’ll only drink half of.

        Since the open thread mentioning graze, I’ve been thinking about signing up and seeing how that helps.

    6. Colette*

      To refer back to something that was brought up last week, are you an abstainer or a moderator? Could you just make the decision that you weren’t going to snack anymore?

      I’m an abstainer, and I absolutely cannot decide to have one snack a day in that type of environment – but I’m fine with no snacks.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        Hmm that’s an interesting point. I think I tend to be very all-or-nothing, so maybe I’m an abstainer.

      2. GigglyPuff*

        That was one of the hardest things I had to figure out when starting to eat better. I was lucky enough to get a personal trainer for cheap at my grad school, and she said there’s usually two types of people. Those who eat things when they are there, but are okay when there’s nothing there to eat. And then there’s people (like me), if the bad food (like single serve Haagen-Dazs ice cream cups), is not there at all, all you do is think about it, and it drives you a little insane.

        So I found, I actually eat less bad food, like chocolate or ice cream, as long as I know it’s there when I do desire it or factor it into my eats for the day. If it’s not there, I end up thinking about it way more, and usually end up eating something really bad, or eating more of it when I eventually do have it.

      3. Ellie H.*

        So happy to see more people who are into this dichotomy – it’s one of my favorite concepts of the many that I learned from Gretchen Rubin’s books!

      4. Jess*

        I decided a month or so ago (after being shocked by the number on my scale) that I was no longer going to snack, period. It has been weirdly easy for me to stick to that. I honestly didn’t think I could. I just started thinking of the hunger pangs as working up an appetite for my next actual meal.

      5. en pointe*

        This so much. For me, the best way is to decide not to touch the snacks at all. If I have one, I know I’ll keep going back, so I’m much better off not allowing myself to get started.

        2. Rat Racer*

          I’ve always brought my lunch to work, but started eating it at around 10 am when my first hunger pains strike. I pack lots of fruits and cut up vegetables and gradually eat my lunch throughout the day. It gives me the flexibility to eat when I’m hungry, but boundaries around eating only what I pack in my lunch bag. Note: I’m a runner and I eat a LOT of food. Sometimes, my lunch bag seriously looked like a bag of groceries, but it was packed with lots of fruits and veggies – and you know, those take up a lot of space.

    8. C Average*

      I hate to say it, but the only way I’ve ever been able to eat well is to track my food using a journal or an app. It’s boring and makes eating feel like homework, but it WORKS. There’s no arguing with the numbers. And I’m a lot less likely to have a bite of this or a nibble of that if I know I have to figure out a description of what I just ate so I can add it to my tally.

      I like MyFitnessPal and LoseIt for tracking.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I’ve been using myfitnesspal, except for the days when I’ve gone totally off the rails. So…I should probably stop going totally off the rails.

        1. BB*

          Such a love hate relationship with my fitnesspal. Curious if anyone has any other apps they can recommend that are similar!

            1. Katie the Fed*

              I have a fitbit but the app isn’t that great. I just wear mine all day to track my activity. It actually connects with MFP too so I get credit for all the walking I do.

            2. Ursula*

              Fitbit is kind of a pain to add the food to. Myfitnesspal has a UPC reader which is ever-so-handy, plus, as Katie said, it syncs with Fitbit.

          2. Anonicorn*

            I’ve used Noom about a year ago. I don’t know what might have changed, but at the time it offered a meal and exercise tracker. The way you ate was based on percentages of green (good for you), yellow (not as good for you), and red (bad for you) foods – something like eating 70% green, 25% yellow, and 5% red. It also had a built in pedometer.

            I stopped using it out of laziness. :P

          3. Elysian*

            I’ve used Sparkpeople a few times with some success. They have a pretty big food database and will even give you meal plans/shopping lists, if you want.

        2. Jen RO*

          I tried MFP for a couple of days and then I uninstalled it. Tracking home cooked food seemed like a major pain, and it’s geared towards the American market, so all the measuring units were confusing :(

        3. en pointe*

          Do you guys add friends on myfitnesspal or just use it for the calorie tracking? I don’t have any real life friends who use it, but I’ve connected with people online and we offer encouragement to each other. Someone might say congrats if you reach a milestone or ask you what’s up, (or give you a metaphorical kick up the backside), if you’re not updating, or go off-track, etc.

          So, you have your own little online community with the same goal, if you’re into that kind of thing. For me, I tend towards unhealthy in that I sometimes restrict too much, or skip meals if I’m busy, so it’s good to have people who see your diary updates and remind you that that’s not okay. (I realise that’s probably boundary-crossing for a lot of people, but I love it, so YMMV.)

          1. Kirsten*

            +1
            My boyfriend is trying to lose weight and I’m trying to gain it, so we are friends on MFP and can see everything in the other person’s food log. A gentle “what could you have done better today?” goes a long way.

          2. chewbecca*

            I had a lot of luck with MFP. I think it was a combination of the actually seeing what I was eating and a coworker who kept me accountable. There were a few times I thought “I can’t eat that! Jane will judge me!”.

          3. Ursula*

            My office mate and I both use FitBit and MFP and are doing P90X3 at the same time. It’s been hilarious to see what he eats every day.

        4. SarahBot*

          I’ve been having a lot of success with tracking via an app (MyNetDiary, which I believe is unfortunately iOS only), and I’ve found that I tend to go off the rails less often when I still enter everything in to the app.

          Part of doing well for me was accepting that there are going to be occasions that I will need / want to eat more than my numbers allow for, and that’s okay for me because part of what makes life enjoyable for me is bacon cheeseburgers, etc.. However, still entering those days / meals into the app helps me remember that, just because I’ve gone off the rails doesn’t mean that I need to keep going, and it has (a few times) kept me on the rails when I felt like I wanted to go off of them.

          Just a thought!

      2. Ann Furthermore*

        This, this, this. I use a website called myfooddiary.com and it is great for stuff like this. You can track what you eat, build recipes, track exercise, and so on. And it’s only $9 a month.

        1. C Average*

          I’m going to check this out. I like the apps I mentioned OK for tracking, but I’d love more ideas for healthy things to eat. Thanks!

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I excercise, but unfortunately I have a kind of jacked metabolism (thyroid) so exercise alone doesn’t get me where I need to be. I don’t think there will ever be a point in my life where I can just freely eat what I want to.

        1. fposte*

          I think very few people can, to be honest. It’s our evolutionary tendency to want more than we burn.

          1. TL*

            Huh. I’ve always been able to eat whatever when I’m exercising. I didn’t know that wasn’t common.

            But I also start craving healthier foods when I’m exercising so maybe it also isn’t just the exercising.

            1. Katie the Fed*

              I’ve always exercised – I’m really active. Right now I’m kicking up the intensity and doing more weight lifting, but exercise has generally always been part of of my life. So any weight loss for me is going to be from eating less. If I eat more than 1700 or so calories a day, I’m gaining weight. Crazy, huh?

      2. Ellie H.*

        On the subject of exercise to lose weight: I realize that this is a suggestion that isn’t necessarily an option for many, but when I started doing yoga just a few months ago (early February) it completely revolutionized my body and metabolism. This is even as someone who has always worked out a lot (like 4x a week, cardio for 45-60 minutes and 20-30 minutes of weights/exercises, long bike rides once or twice a week in the summer) and considered myself to be in pretty good shape and was already on the thin side. After just a few months of doing it I have dramatically more muscle tone, and the muscles yoga develops really burn up the calories, like where I lost weight without attempting to at all. I don’t do anything crazy either (I was a complete beginner when I started a few months ago), no hot yoga or power yoga or Pilates, just the normal beginner-to-intermediate level classes a couple times a week (and I barely work out in the gym anymore). A lot of yoga studios have an unlimited two-week pass so you can try out a bunch of classes for $25 or so and I don’t think the 10-class passes are prohibitively expensive, especially for what I get out of it.
        It also makes me feel more relaxed, happier, healthier, and sleep better, and just sort of feeling positive about my health leads to better decisions in other areas.

        I probably sound like some kind of obsessed cult member about yoga at this point but even for someone who was already satisfied with her fitness level, it was completely revolutionary and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

        1. Eden*

          +1000 for yoga!

          It’s also terrific for arthritic joints. I went twice a week for about a year and a half, and then my yoga studio closed, I moved, and was unemployed for 3 months…the difference is night and day. My knees are back to complaining/aching and I can tell I’m weak, and I’m up 8 pounds. Now that I’m settled I’m going to start again soon!

    10. Barbara in Swampeast*

      dailymail.co.uk had an article within the last week about “tapping.” It is a form of acupuncture. When you feel like snacking, you tap five or six points on your body and when you are through, you won’t feel like snacking. It’s free and worth a try.

      1. Carrie in Scotland*

        I had some CBT and tapping therapy. The pulse points she used were forehead (between eyebrows), (inner) wrist, cheekbone, chin, and breastbone. It was important to say/think of a phrase (I’m not telling you mine but something positive) and keep repeating whilst tapping.

    11. DJ*

      If you just need to lose a couple for a wedding, think about just ditching carbs. Like totally. Its counter-intuitive, but if you eat a ton of fat and basically no carbs (like under 30 grams a day) you’ll lose weight with or without excercise. You will however, not have much physical endurance.

      Basically if you eat a ton of fat (like 50% of your calories) you’re basically just so full that eating more than your maintenance is tough to do. Lets you snack all day on whatever you want as long as you ditch the carbs. Meat, cheese, and veggies will be your basic diet. With lots of cream and butter lol.
      Just don’t do it for more than a couple of months.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        Oh I did low carb previously, and lost a ton of weight and slowly put it all back on. I’m really just trying to live a healthy lifestyle all around – exercising (cardio and strength, eating in moderation, etc). But at work I’ve been really bad about giving into temptation.

    12. krm*

      Katie, I’ve dealt with this a lot over the past few months. My solution has been 3 fold-
      1. avoid walking through the office kitchen. It is a much more direct route to my desk, but going the long way helps me get more steps in my daily routine, and I don’t have to walk right by the treats that are always left out.
      2. pack healthy “treats”. I scour pinterest for low calorie goodies that i can bake, and i also spend a lot more time at the grocery store/local co-op looking for interesting things to try, like different flavored almonds, trail mix, hummus, etc. That way I have something to look forward to, rather than helping myself to a cookie that has been sitting out for 2 days.
      3. drink a mug of tea or a bottle of water before snacking. Peppermint tea is one of my go-tos throughout the day. Same with pomegranete green tea. They make me feel full, satisfy the hand to mouth urge, and take long enough to drink that the craving often times goes away. If I still want to snack 15/20 minutes after the tea, I allow myself to have a little something.
      I hope this helps!

      1. Katie the Fed*

        These are good/pracitcal trips. I can’t really avoid the food area, but the other two can probably work. I like veggies a lot so I might just start packing tons of veggies to bring with me for when I need something crunchy to nibble on.

        I’ll try the tea/water as well.

        Argh this is hard.

        1. fposte*

          You might also try prepacked little mouthfuls of various other things (sort of making your own Graze service), so that you have a treat and something with a little more heft than veggies.

        2. GigglyPuff*

          They sell hummus in individual small packs now, that make it easy to snack, if that’s something you like.

          1. Katie the Fed*

            I have those! I get the Hannah ones at Costco and bring them with the mini cucumbers (also at Costco). I think I just need to bring more of them.

          2. Elysian*

            They also do that with guacamole, which could also be part of an awesome tasty healthy snack. I love the guacamole packets.

        3. krm*

          It is hard. Packing a variety of snacks to keep at work for the week has been really helpful for me. I really like raw veggies, so rather than the traditional carrot and celery stick, i’ll also bring in mini bell peppers, snap peas, and edamame. I’ve found a really good recipe for parmesan crusted edamame- basically you toss shelled edamame with a bit of grated parmesan, garlic powder and pepper, and bake (sometimes I add chili powder as well). It keeps for a few days. It really satisfies my craving for savory foods. It has a bit of a crunch too.

    13. Stephanie*

      First, have you figured out why you’re snacking? When I chronically snacked at work, it was out of boredom. Morbid at this sounds, there was this short path that ran around a nearby cemetery. Taking a brief walk usually made me forget about the snack. Of course, I’m aware this might be a bit more involved if you work in a large office and/or have nowhere to walk.

      Tea/flavored water/coffee/gum are good if you just want to get the taste of something on your tongue. I also just had to plan my snacks out.

      1. Trillian*

        Related – do you have a time when you’re most susceptible? For me it’s mid afternoon when I just don’t wanna be here any more. Chocolate is my reward for sticking it out. I’m trying to find other ways to reward myself rather than food, because healthy snacks just will not do it.

        1. Lucy*

          I’m the same way, Trillian! I often feel like I deserve to treat myself with a snack if I’ve had an annoying day. An iced coffee or tea, a manicure or even a few extra minutes of reading a good book outside can satisfy the same impulse for me- have to remember that!

        3. Katie the Fed*

          I don’t know why, but I’m an afternoon snacker, definitely.

          I’m going to see about going for a walk at lunchtime to break up the doldrums, and trying to wait until later to eat lunch.

        4. Kelly L.*

          Oh, I had this issue. It was a reward and a pick-me-up as my energy was flagging (my body’s natural tendency seems to be to nap at 3pm, which doesn’t work well with my job). I’ve made a ritual of having a coffee at that time instead. Staves off the nap but isn’t food.

      2. Polaris*

        Good point! When I snack at work, it is usually because I am procrastinating. Forcing myself to do the task I am avoiding prevents the snacking.

        Are you eating because you are hungry? Because the food is there? Because you are avoiding something?

    14. Artemesia*

      I have to snack and while in my youth I was the skinny kid who could eat anything, now that I am old lady this is not working. The only thing that works for me is to substitute high cal with low cal munchies. Chewing on a carrot stick or celery stick or apple is not quite the same as eating a bag of M&Ms or a cupcake but I can resist the junk if I am crunching and munching.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        Yeah, I think this is probably the best strategy for me – lots and lots of veggies and stuff. I just need that crunchiness. I don’t even know why.

    15. Dang*

      The only thing that has ever worked for me is to tell myself I could have it later if I still wanted it. Oh, hey bag of mini cadbury eggs (EVIL, thank goodness they only come around once a year), if I still want to devour you in your entirety in 3 hours, ITS ON.

      And amazingly, I’m okay 3 hours later with not doing it.

      I’m amazed that this has actually (usually) worked because my impulse control is terrible when it comes to food.

      2. Ellie H.*

        I’ve heard people use this strategy for smoking – that you just have to get through the next five minutes, hour, day, etc. with a cigarette and no need to think about what happens after that right now. But then you repeat this same thought process.

        I guess I kind of did that too when I quit – I wasn’t particularly addicted but I was definitely in the habit of smoking (I went through about a pack every two weeks). I knew I had to stop permanently at some point but lacked motivation because I didn’t smoke all that much to begin with. I did find it helpful to tell myself that I could smoke if I really, really wanted to. I actually still have a pack of cigarettes around in a drawer (I forgot about it and found it by accident recently).

    16. Katrina*

      I second the gum and liquids suggestions! Those dessert flavored gums are better than you think, and I challenge myself to drink a gallon of water every day. Not only will this keep your mind off food, it will help get rid of any puffiness. But you will be going to the bathroom every 20 minutes.

    18. Maggie*

      Keep nust and fruit at your desk at all times and you are ONLY allowed to eat the snack after you have either had a handful of nuts or eaten a full serving of fruit. It’s hard to snack when your belly is already full of an orange/almonds, etc. I even have a stocked candy dish (we’re talking top of the line snack candy) and I rarely eat it. I keep bananas, apples and almonds in my line of vision and the candy hidden from my site (but visible to passerbys).

    19. Brett*

      Do you have a workplace refrigerator? I’ve found some great snacks at costco: vlasic pickles, mini-cucumbers, and bulk peppers. They are tasty, about 5 calories each, and filling. Bonus is that they each have different tastes too so I can grab whatever I am craving.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I do the mini cucumbers with hummus everyday.

        Oooh pickles are a good idea, especially since I LOVE salty foods.

        I think it’s time to hit costco more thoroughly. And maybe some of those lite Babybells they have.

        Oh and maggie – I can’t do nuts. I have no portion control at all when it comes to nuts.

        1. Laura*

          Graze, or something like it? The portions are small enough that you can’t overdo them. (You can stare in disappointment at the empty containers, hehe.)

          I make my own at home now, but it doesn’t sound like having a sufficient supply of nuts in the house for that would be ideal for you. (Although you can buy small amounts from the bulk sections at many stores.)

    20. Kay*

      1) Have the dress fitted to you. Don’t try to make yourself fit the dress.

      2) Before you eat, ask yourself why you’re eating that snack/meal/donut/etc. If the answer is anything except, “I’m hungry”, don’t eat it. When I really think about why I’m eating something, many times it’s because it tastes good or I’m stressed or tired or upset or whatever other emotion. I haven’t gotten my relationship w/ food under control, but I try to be more intentional about what I eat and why.

      3) Cut yourself a break. I’ve also found that if I slip up, I give up on that whole day or week and end up binging. If I’m okay with a minor slip-up and recognize that that’s okay, then I’m less likely to feel the guilt associated with “screwing up”. There’s a fancy version of this called the 80/20 rule. If you’re good to yourself (food choices/exercise/not smoking/etc) then the other 20% is forgivable.

    21. Laura*

      Alternate snacks that you like.

      Decide to track everything you eat in a log that tells you calories…I’m doing that for other reasons but I _really_ hesitate to eat some things if I’m going to have to log them, lol.

      If sweets are your weakness, Tic Tacs or other mints, or gum. (Extra sugar-free dessert gums are amazing…another one of my willpower reinforcers, that.)

      Tea, if you like that sort of thing – and there’s a wide variety in flavors. Took me a while to find the ones I like, but now they also help me resist.

    22. Not So NewReader*

      Water. Hunger/grazing can be dehydration in disguise.

      My boss has a rule that she cannot have X until she drinks an entire bottle of water. Then, if she still wants X she can have it. She even does this with coffee.

      If you feel it is stress related, keep an eye on the junk food. The junk food will amplify your stress and it will also make you get hungry/tired very quickly. Stress, hunger, fatigue is too much to override anyone would be grazing all day long.
      Sleep is important, too. Make sure you get a good amount of sleep every night. That, too, will help to reduce grazing. (Think of it this way energy has to come from some where. Lacking sleep, the next go-to source is food.)
      How about protein drinks?

    23. KCS*

      Buy a bunch of veggies and store them in your fridge or freezer.

      Let’s say you’re craving a snack. Before indulging in that snack, eat a couple servings of veggies along with a bottle of water. For example, I would eat an entire bag of microwaved broccoli before letting myself indulge in pasta or other calorie-heavy foods. The water and veggies take the edge off.

      That way, you’re not “depriving” or “abstaining” from the snack food. You’re just delaying it. Chances are, by the time you finish the veggies, the desire is gone (or at least dissipated).

    24. Anx*

      For the second week in a row, I have no shifts scheduled.

      I am a pretty new hire, but I’m a little nervous about the fact that I haven’t been put on the schedule for two weeks. I work part time, at a place where there really isn’t room for full time employees because of the business hours, but I did expect more regularity than this.

      I’m also afraid that my skills will lapse a bit. I know 2 weeks isn’t a long time, but since I work part time I feel like I’ve only really worked there a month, and my first day back from gaps feels a little shaky for the first half hour or so (which really affects a 2 hour shift).

      I’m not sure if I should say something or not. I’m afraid that as a new hire, I should expect to the be first to have hours cut (which I agree with) and to let a lot slide. But I also don’t want to establish myself as someone who doesn’t care.

      Also, I was going to refrain from looking for other work in case it wasn’t compatible with this job (unless it was something I really couldn’t pass up). Now I’m wondering if a few months of loyalty is all that they would expect, if it’s common to not have work every week.

    25. Mimco*

      Make sure that you are drinking plenty of water. Mild dehydration can be sneaky and disguise itself as unsatisfied hunger. Tell yourself you have to drink two glasses of water before you take that next snack.

  16. drunner*

    I have this weird thing that keeps happening to me with a few of my coworkers and the bathroom. I work in a small office, one floor and have one bathroom with a couple stalls. Obviously I run into coworkers in the bathroom but a few of them insist on talking to me while I’m using the bathroom. Like inside the stall they’re asking me about my day. It feels sooo incredibly awkward but I don’t know how to say anything. I’ve resorted to actually walking the extra distance and using a bathroom on the bottom floor because it’s just weird. I’m just curious if this happens to anyone else?

    1. TNTT*

      This. Is. Horrifying. If this happened to me I would probably just literally not answer a question that someone asked while I was in the stall. Maybe they’ll figure it out.

    2. OriginalYup*

      There is at least one person who does this in every office I’ve ever worked in. I cut off it by saying, “Do you mind if we chat later? Thanks.”

    4. Anoners*

      Be thankful you have a stall. My boss will have full blown coversations at the urinal, that are really, really lengthy.

    5. BB*

      YIKES!! Keep using the downstairs bathroom if you can. I also have a very small bathroom in my office and just running into people in it is a hassle. I hate when people start asking work questions. It’s weird but the bathroom is like my sanctuary. A couple minutes of quiet. I recently found a bathroom in my building on a floor of a company that is almost all men(I’m a woman). I use it all the time and I LOVE IT

    7. Jen RO*

      I have coworkers who talk on the phone while they’re doing their business… whyyy?

  17. Shell*

    Alison,I think you’ve said before that you were always on the side of management, not HR. And I know you’ve worked a lot with nonprofits. out of curiosity, what did you work your way up from ? my mental image of you is that you just appeared into the world as an awesome manager one day, but that’s not realistic :)

    *tries to imagine Alison as a file clerk and fails*

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I started as a coordinator of volunteers at a nonprofit, moved to a staff writer role somewhere else, did a mix of staff writer and campaign coordination for a while, then parlayed that into a leap to a communications director job. Then a membership director for a while, which turned into a chief of staff role, which I did for five years before leaving to do consulting, which is what I’m doing now.

  18. Kevin*

    How does everyone feel about being friends with coworkers outside of the work place?

    The info. The company has a couple thousand of employees. We’re both in a department of about 150 people but in completely separate branches that never interact with each other. I enjoy off color humor in my time off (never in the office though) and I know the coworker does but I have concern since we work for the same company.

    1. Sunflower*

      It depends on the org/indsutry. My friend works at a non-profit and is really good friends with her boss. Her boss has come to dinners and barbeques and knows our entire group of friends. I don’t see anything wrong with being friends outside of work but I think it’s important to keep those friends separate from your other friends. My friend and her boss end up talking about work stuff a lot when we’re all together and it’s painful because we don’t really care!!!

    2. fposte*

      I know it can be different at universities, but two of my best friends work in my same building. It’s been fine–we occasionally renegotiate stuff, because we do actually overlap, but this is close to twenty years now so I think it’s pretty secure.

    3. Elizabeth West*

      It depends on the person, for me. I’ve had work friends who were strictly at-work and never the twain shall meet–but when I left the job, I lost them as friends. And I have a friend from Exjob (who was even my supervisor for a while) with whom I’m still close. We don’t see each other much (too busy) but we talk on Facebook, etc. I was also friendly with one other person while there who, along with his family, is still a friend. Once again, though, everyone is so busy we rarely see each other.

      While I was there, I didn’t friend anyone on social media, but those of us who escaped the madness connected up afterward. Most everyone has a family, so I barely get to see them, though. :(

    4. Mimmy*

      I think it’s totally fine as long as it doesn’t interfere with work. At a nonprofit I volunteer at, the staff are all very friendly with each other, but I still see that they’re doing excellent work.

      Also, I’m still FB friends with several people I’ve met in previous jobs, some of whom I’ve gotten together with on occasion in the past couple of years.

    5. BCW*

      To me it depends on a lot. A big thing is how closely you actually work together. one of my best friends is a former co-worker. But we were teachers in completely different grades, so aside from staff meetings, we never really saw each other. If you are working side by side everyday, I think that complicates things because it can be hard to separate things at times. You get into an argument on Saturday night, how will Monday morning be? However I do think it happens and its fine.

    6. NavyLT*

      I know I work in a pretty different environment, but it would be weird if I didn’t spend time with my coworkers outside of work. In my experience, it’s completely possible to be friends outside of work, and professional at work, and if anything, knowing people on a more social level helps the professional relationship.

    7. Stephanie*

      Hmm, depends on the organization. FirstJob, it was all individual work and if I got in an argument with a friend/coworker, it didn’t matter when we got to work. But I could see it being an issue if you worked with the personally regularly and couldn’t separate Work Bob from Friend Bob. And much like a romantic relationship, would it be awkward to work with the person if y’all had a falling out?

      I’m a bit hesitant as well because I don’t want a super buddy-buddy atmosphere clouding my objective assessment of a job. I’ve heard a few (non-work) friends say “Oh, my [pay/responsibilities/hours] suck, but I love my coworkers. I’d hate to leave them!”

      But then it is really odd to work with strangers all day and know nothing about them. This was OldJob.

    8. Mints*

      I think you just try being friends, slowly, and if things get weird sometimes you hang out less but if things go great you can keep being friends. Just like dating romantically, you go out for group things, then structured dates, then you basically hang out all the time. But if things get weird, you just back out of plans and stay friendly at work

  19. Chocolate Teapot*

    “Oh, I went to college so I’d never have to be a secretary”

    “Yes, they let anyone in these days don’t they?”

    Ok, so, it’s neither kind, quiet, nor to the point. Can you give examples of the crisis which would ensue if the secretaries weren’t available and the company just ground to a halt?

    1. A Bug!*

      I’m laughing just thinking about this actually happening. Depending on the attitude of the staff member, it could be the perfect response.

  20. Cruciatus*

    In the Ask A Manager goodreads.com thread, people are discussing favorite books. What book did you have to stop reading? I don’t do it often; I’m usual a complete-ist, but I stopped reading:

    Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel — My main problem was WHO IS TALKING? A room full of men and it’s all “he said” and “his this?” and which he/his!? Also, it was more boring than I thought a book about Henry VIII’s divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn would be.
    Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – If this was a 200 page book I may have stuck it out. But it’s not my type of book, apparently. And I was not willing to commit to the rest of the books in the series.

    And I finished it, but I didn’t particularly like Gone Girl! (Ducks tomatoes)

    I know all these books are beloved by people and I can see why they are liked, but they are just not up my alley. So what have you given up on?

    1. Diet Coke Addict*

      I also REALLY did not enjoy Gone Girl. You are not alone! I left it halfway through.

      I’m halfway through Misfortune by Wesley Stace and eh. It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere and I’m enjoying it less. I think it’ll go back to the library half-done.

      1. Ann Furthermore*

        I loved Gone Girl. A friend of mine finished it and did not like the ending, and I’ll just say that I liked it. Completely fitting for the 2 main characters.

          1. Kelly L.*

            I found Gone Girl addictive but really hated both characters and thought the ending was kind of a letdown. Really loved her Dark Places, though. The narrator is So. Messed. Up. but I loved her anyway, in all her warped glory. And the mystery solution was crazy but played totally fair.

            1. Ann Furthermore*

              It’s hard to talk about this without spoilers, but if you think about the 2 main characters, and how the story ended for them, it’s really kind of perfect.

              The ending was a bit abrupt and sudden for me too, and at first I didn’t like it. Then after I thought about it for a little while I decided I liked it.

      2. ExceptionToTheRule*

        Glad to hear I’m not the only one that Gone Girl didn’t do anything for. I doubt I’ll ever finish it.

      3. Windchime*

        I just finished Gone Girl this week when I was on vacation. It took me awhile to get into and I ended up liking it, but I also thought it was kind of weird. It was a good vacation read, but I wouldn’t call it an awesome book.

        I couldn’t finish even the first Outlander book. I found it incredibly silly (apologies to those who love the series).

    2. Elkay*

      I gave up on Catcher in the Rye – I just wanted to shake Holden Caufield and tell him to pull himself together – I was late teens/early 20s when I tried so I’m sure I was supposed to be able to relate to him.

      1. Anonylicious*

        I had the same experience. Just wanted to smack him upside the head as I was reading it.

      2. Felicia*

        The only reason I finished The Catcher in the Rye was because I had to in high school. I hated that book!

      3. De Minimis*

        I think the thing some readers choose to ignore about CATCHER IN THE RYE is that Holden is crazy. I don’t think we are supposed to identify or relate with him, and it’s telling that so many readers do.

        1. Kerry (Like The County In Ireland)*

          If you dislike Catcher, read Frank Portman’s King Dork. THere are some hilarious riffs on the stupidity of that book and certain generational love for it.

        2. Audiophile*

          I didn’t hate Catcher in the Rye. And I swear I’m the only person who made it through Ethan Frome.
          The book I couldn’t finish was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Ugh 200+ pages of libel is what it seemed like to me.

      4. Windchime*

        Same here. I never finished it. It was assigned in high school and it was so full of cussing that I found it offensive (I’ve changed as I’ve grown up!). The teacher let me read Walden by Thoreau instead.

      1. KAS*

        Oh UGH! Lots of “look-here’s-another-magical-moment” and “over here! Magical-wonderfulness”……

    4. Sascha*

      Sadly I gave up on Game of Thrones, book 2. I really, really enjoyed book 1. I was so excited about book 2…and then I got overwhelmed by NAMES. So many names. Lord names, lady names, ship names, bastard names, ALL THE NAMES!!! I really want to read the whole series but it feels so daunting. Also I’m watching the series so I don’t feel too inclined to read when I can watch.

      1. Cruciatus*

        I can only read one Game of Thrones book a year–I’m usually too depressed at the end to start a new one right away! I was actually surprised at how many names/characters I do remember when I start it up again, but often I have no idea who someone is so I just read through and hope they do something that jogs my memory. It’s similar to Lord of the Rings. “Who is that again? Eh, I’ll figure it out. Probably.”

      2. Anoners*

        Keep reading the books! They are so, so much better than the show (and the show is amazing, and is my fav). Getting the first person perspective of everything that’s going on is just way more interesting.

        I know what you mean about the names though. So much time is devoted to all the minor houses. I just skim these parts. You know most of the main names from the show anyway, so just focus on those parts.

        1. Felicia*

          The names only started confusing me book 4 because they started introducing sooo many new characters. But the books are so much better!

      3. CheeryO*

        If you decide to try again, make sure you read from a hard copy. Referencing the maps and appendices often makes the sheer volume of characters and locations pretty manageable. And you really should give the third book a go. It’s definitely a fan favorite.

      4. Jen RO*

        It was the other way around for me – I was overwhelmed for much of book 1, and I started loving it with book 2. (I also stopped trying to remember minor character names and that helped with the enjoyment.)

      5. Mints*

        That didn’t bother me as much, because I wouldn’t try to remember all the minor characters. If I felt like I forgot something important, I could search in the kindle, or just google it

      6. Persephone Mulberry*

        I gave up on GoT book 5 about a third of the way in. Once SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER, I just didn’t care anymore. ;)

        1. Noelle*

          I’ve always thought that last theory was the most likely one. It just makes more sense!

          Also, am I the only person who doesn’t mind spoilers? I actually prefer to read a good review before I watch a TV show or movie. Then I’m prepared for anything gross/scary!

          Although I admit that usually I just do it because I am lazy and I need someone else to tell me the important parts of Mad Men because I won’t notice them myself.

          1. Mints*

            It depends. Sometimes things are just too damn suspenseful and I need to know NOW. But some twisty plots I enjoy for the ride. I spoiled some GoT plots for myself by reading the wiki pages when things were moving too slowly in the books. (what happened to Brienne?) But some things surprised me (the kid with the blue hair in the books)

            But books like Gone Girl are all about the big reveal, and I loved being shocked

          2. SD Cat*

            I don’t mind spoilers. Even if I know what happens I like to see how things get to that point.

      8. Noelle*

        I had to give up on GoT too, about halfway through A Feast for Crows. The problem is the author has 11 point of view characters in the first book, and that’s a lot but it’s manageable and you get to know and care about the characters. By the fourth book, there are TONS of point of view characters and they just don’t seem to inform the story in any useful way. I don’t care what some random person with a tertiary connection to a minor character has to say. Some people just don’t need a point of view in this story!

      9. LBK*

        It’s taken me about a year to get 1/4 of the way through the first book. I just find it dreadfully boring and the style of writing does nothing for me. And I absolutely love the show.

      10. De Minimis*

        I struggled with the first GAME OF THRONES book, got into the groove after that, but then quit again when I got to the most recent book.

        I think it’s just all too much for me anymore, the whole multi-volume epic fantasy thing.

      11. Kelly L.*

        See, I found the names rather easy, since the way I heard about the series was that some friends heard I was a Plantagenet and Tudor geek and told me I’d like ASOIAF too. At least in ASOIAF, they’re not all named Henry or Richard or Edward.

    5. Jen*

      I hated Wolf of Wall Street and gave up on it about 1/3 of the way through. It’s terribly written and completely uninteresting. Plus, the author seems like a major asshole and I didn’t feel like peeking into his brain any longer.

    6. Katie the Fed*

      Anna Karenina. I’ve tried to read it a million times but I put it down and then start to try to read it again and am like “mehhhh too many people.” I don’t usually have that problem and I’ve read other LONG Russian literature, but that book just doesn’t do it for me.

      1. LCL*

        Lies of Loche Lamora. Way too violent for me. The author is one heck of a writer, so everything is realistic, too realistic. Though it is a fantasy book.
        I do like horror, sometimes really violent and gory, but deep down I know it is fantasy.

        1. Anonylicious*

          I liked Lies of Locke Lamora, but I set it down halfway through and just never picked it back up. I guess that I didn’t like it as much as I thought.

      2. Windchime*

        I’m the same with Anna Karenina. Like Katie, I’ve read other Russian literature but I just can’t get more than a few chapters into Anna Karenina without getting confused by all the characters. It doesn’t help that each person in a Russian novel usually has at least 3 or 4 names. Sometimes I’ll get halfway through a story before I realize that Ivanovich and Sascha are the same person!

    7. C Average*

      I have finally given up on Middlemarch. So many people I respect absolutely revere this book, but it is so freaking dense and boring that I just can’t take it! (And I’m someone who’s read and loved Moby Dick, War and Peace, everything by Shakespeare, and plenty of other big classic tomes.)

      1. AVP*

        I’m around 10% of the way through Middlemarch and I just don’t know. I heard Rebecca Mead speak at the Strand about My Life in Middlemarch and she made me really want to like it, but…but…I don’t know if it’s gonna happen.

        1. C Average*

          Good luck! My husband and I actually read out loud to each other in the evenings and we’ve been through some dense stuff (The Aeneid, anyone?). We decided to take on Middlemarch and he actually begged me to stop.

          We were about 100 pages in when we stopped. I skimmed the rest. I’m relieved we didn’t actually slog through the whole thing. Not much appears to happen.

          1. samaD*

            urk, The Aeneid. I may have read some of it for a class I was supposed to read all of it for….

            The Iliad was pretty good though, & I’ve always loved The Odyssey!

      2. Emily, admin extraordinaire*

        Ugh, Middlemarch. I have a close friend who share a lot of my same tastes (Harry Potter, Jane Austen, Doctor Who, Shakespeare, Lois and Clark, Gilmore Girls, etc.) and she LOVES Middlemarch, and has even designated Will Ladislaw as her Book Boyfriend (as opposed to her TV Boyfriend, her Theater Boyfriend, her Movie Boyfriend, her Superhero Boyfriend, and so on). I tried to read it for her sake. I have an MA in English lit, folks! I have read and enjoyed many a classic novel! (I’ve also read and despised many a classic novel. . .) But I could. not. do. it. I even skipped to where Will Ladislaw actually shows up, but I just don’t get it. Oh, well.

        I had to give up on JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy. I really wanted to like it, because I love Harry Potter, but I think she was trying to hard to be different from HP. Too much adult language, too many unlikeable characters, too depressing. I liked Cuckoo’s Calling much more. Still a bit more swearing that I usually enjoy, but so much more entertaining. Writing it behind a pseudonym really helped free her from her psychological demons, I think.

        1. C Average*

          All the irresistible fictional dudes out there, and she picks WILL LADISLAW?

          Wow.

          I guess there’s somebody for everyone.

          I love the idea of Book Boyfriends, though. I’d have a hard time choosing between Prince Andrei and Quenton Cassidy.

    8. Anonymint*

      I HATED Gone Girl until I got to the middle part. You know what part I’m talking about. I thought it was so cliched and then was actually caught off guard (that rarely happens any more).

      However, I thought her other books were much, much better. Wayyyy worth the long libraryy waiting lists (at least in my city).

      I recently stopped reading The Illumination (Kevin Brockmeier) – I really loved his book A Brief History of the Dead, but though The Illumination was confusing and tedious, which was a bummer because the premise was great.

      1. Anonymint*

        Wow, sorry typos. I’m eating Sad Desk Lunch right now, and apparently it’s causing my typing problems…

    9. Eden*

      I gave up early on Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life. I have LOVED her previous books, but just couldn’t get interested. Would be interested in hearing from folks who finished it–did it grip you from page 1 or did you have to keep reading?

      1. Dang*

        I read the first two chapters and stopped also. It just seemed like a looooong trudge-through for something that didn’t grab me.

      2. Elkay*

        I kept reading because it wasn’t bad enough to make me stop. It was a little repetitive though.

      3. AVP*

        I read it for a book club so I felt committed to finishing it. I didn’t love it though, and I felt that she established certain rules for the world of the book that ended up being arbitrary, or like she was breaking them, which ended up with the book being kind of nonsensical.

        What Kate Atkinson books did you love? I would like to read more of her but I think I started in the wrong place.

        1. Eden*

          I loved Emotionally Weird, One Good Turn, Case Histories, um, something like One Good Turn (I should be looking up the actual titles), Behind the Scenes at the Museum…I know there are more but I’m frankly too Friday-lazy to look them up. Basically, I have enjoyed all of them except one called Human Croquet, which I think was a fairly early effort.

          I’m happy to learn I’m not the only one who struggled with this one.

      4. Theguvnah*

        I loved Life After Life – but it did take a little bit of time to get into it. Once I did I found it incredible and started recommending it everywhere.

        Wolf hall- I gave up and gave the book away and don’t feel bad about it!

    10. Elizabeth West*

      I used to love Robin Cook’s medical thrillers, but I had to quit the last couple of books because they were just so badly written. I’m wondering if he didn’t get a really sh!tty ghostwriter. If so, he needs to fire that person, pronto.

      Michael Palmer’s med-thrillers were much better, but alas, he died. :(

      1. EmilyG*

        His books used to be heavily edited to the point of being written-over by his editors and I don’t think they do that anymore. Maybe you are reading what his writing has actually been like all along! There seems to be a general trend in US publishing towards publishing things as-is, which was already common in the UK. When I say as-is, I mean as received from the agent, and maybe the agencies are doing more polishing before submitting something, but probably not in the case of an author like Cook who already has a publisher and a contract.

        1. Elizabeth West*

          Like all the other industries in the US, the economy gutted a lot of positions. You just don’t get that editing anymore. This is why I go over my manuscripts so many times (and I’m sure I still miss stuff) and have readers.

          1. Lore*

            I don’t know if it’s so much “editors don’t edit” as two other factors:

            1) once an author gets a certain amount of clout, they have a lot more power to say “I think my work is awesome as is, and readers agree, so if you insist on imposing edits I’ll just go take my best-selling books somewhere else.”
            2) a book with any kind of market expectations gets scheduled pretty far in advance, and yearly budgets get built around it, and entire publication seasons are planned to showcase the expected bestsellers and not have them go on sale simultaneously. So when an author doesn’t deliver a manuscript until, say, 12 weeks before that on-sale date, with the print ads and publicity campaigns all locked in, you don’t have a lot of ability to do the kind of work you might like to.

            At least, that’s been my experience from the inside, at a major publisher.

    11. Barbara in Swampeast*

      Anything by Henry James. I can’t even get to the end of the first chapter of “Turn of the Screw.” He puts me to sleep. Edith Wharton, I love. Anthony Trollope, I adore! I just can’t get through James.

    12. littlemoose*

      I started “The Art of Fielding” a while back and was enjoying it, but it starte dragging so much in the middle that I set it down and haven’t been able to motivate myself to pick it back up. I mean, I want to know what happens but I really just got sick of reading it.

      1. AVP*

        Oh! Pick it back up please! I did the same thing, put it down for 6 months, and finally decided to finish it….and it was so worth it. The ending is beautiful.

    13. Sunflower*

      I’ve given up on any vampire book I’ve ever tried to read- Twilight, Sookie Stackhouse books. I’m really not into supernatural stuff so it’s no surprise I didn’t like them.

      1. Mephyle*

        There is one more rather different vampire book I could recommend you to try, but knowing ahead of time that it’s vampire is a bit of a spoiler, so I can’t really mention it here. One Friday, I will suggest it in another thread of recommended books.

        1. Emily, admin extraordinaire*

          The only vampire novel I’ve ever really enjoyed (except for Dracula, which was kind of fun) was Sunshine by Robin McKinley (and I do like fantasy in general, just not vampires, I guess). So good!

    15. LV*

      Seventeen Against the Dealer by Cynthia Voigt. I loved all the books in her Tillerman series, but that one… ugh. It’s been several years so my memory is fuzzy, but the writing felt so stilted. I finally gave up on it when I got to the sentence “He sounded careful, as though he were being careful.” I just could not get past that terrible, ridiculous sentence.

      Also, I really wanted to shake Dicey, who was normally street-smart and level-headed, for (1) letting a drifter/gambler become involved in the business she was trying to set up (2) trusting him to deposit a cheque for her! She was so surprised that he actually cashed it and ran off with the money! WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN??

    16. Schuyler*

      It’s so weird that you brought this up today (and on an open thread that I’m early enough on that I can read some of the responses). I just finished Gone Girl last night. I HATED it. I’m trying to figure out how I can bleach my brain. I had one of the major plot points figured out within the first few chapters (I had read one of hers before this), but… I’m still so angry about that. And annoyed with myself–I had three weeks off between my spring semester and summer semester, and I wasted it on that book. I feel like I should apologize to Eleanor of Aquitaine for abandoning her for a newer, more hip book. But all the kids were doing it. Oh well… I still have at least one full weekend, and I’m only taking a class during the first summer session so I can enjoy it afterward.

      The other book that I remember putting down was Before I Go To Sleep. I had a very hard time figuring out when they were in this book, and it just got tiring after a while. I’ll go back someday, just not yet.

    17. Julie*

      Wolf Hall! I really was so lost that I just couldn’t do it. I’ve actually got it on my list to try again but I think I will have to give up trying that.

      Outlander was almost that way. I actually made it through all the published books. She needs an editor. If my friends didn’t all love it I would have given up but I hate being left out of a book discussion.

    18. bridget*

      There are certain authors/types of literature that I keep going back to try, but I can never get through it. For some reason, they are my kryptonite. I have never finished anything by Hemingway or Cormac McCarthy, although I have attempted both several times. I didn’t even finish the Old Man and the Sea, which is short enough I really should be able to just power through.

      1. bridget*

        Also, this isn’t fiction, but I recently threw Mindset, by Carol Dweck, away in disgust after reading the first chapter and skimming the rest. Which surprised me, because lots of people I like on the internet were blown away by it (Dear Prudie is jumping to mind), and I’m actually quite sympathetic to her thesis. It was just the kind of nonfiction I cannot stand – poor reasoning combined with a strong “self-help” style, and instead of focusing on the actual research the author has done, just listing a zillion successful people and painting a picture of their personality that comports with her approach.

      2. Cruciatus*

        I unfortunately finished Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms and I believe that was the first book I ever threw across the room in disgust when it was over. Although, that book helped me realize that I should write down everything I read on index cards and rate how I liked it and give a little synopsis (helpful most of the time since almost every book I pick up is part of a series). I believe I have “I hated this” as my rating. Possibly also my synopsis.

      3. Stephanie*

        I can’t get through Hemingway. I’ve tried. His books aren’t even that long…I just dislike them.

        I also couldn’t finish The World is Flat.

      4. SD Cat*

        I only got through Old Man and the Sea because I was required to for school. Ugh.

    19. Chinook*

      I stopped reading Leonard Cohen’s “Beautiful Losers” halfway through it even though it was assigned reading for a modern Canadain Literature class. When the prof asked me about the novel in class, I defened my choice by saying that life was too short and my required reading list too long (I was taking 3 lit courses that required novel reading and was averaging a novel a week on top of coursework) to waste my time reading something I found personally offensive and difficult to understand the point of. I then summer it up by saying that, even though he has only a 3 note range, he should stick to singing and poetry (I have since heard “Hallelujah” and take back dissing his singing.)

      Considering I also dissed Margaret Atwood in that class (not a Handmaid’s Tale but something else) and this was in a literature department noting for having both Atwood and Margaret Laurence (whom I love reading) among its former teaching staff, I was not among her favourite students.

    20. Chris*

      Henry, by David Starkey. I absolutely loved his other Tudor books and documentaries, but this book- hate, hate, hate!! I have put it down and picked it up numerous times, wanting it to not be so awful.

    21. Ms. Anonymity*

      The Outlander series is my hands down favorite series ever. I read anything and everything as well and this is the series I recommend the most. However, I know A LOT of people who had a hard time getting into the first book. All I can say is give it another go. Everyone that I’ve recommended the book to that has given it a second chance and read through the series has loved it. She gets better as a writer, and the characters become so alive, that by the end, you miss them as if they were real people.

      I couldn’t get through the first book in the Game of Thrones. I felt like it was all doom and gloom and bad thing, after bad thing, after worse thing.

      1. Chinook*

        “The Outlander series is my hands down favorite series ever. I read anything and everything as well and this is the series I recommend the most. However, I know A LOT of people who had a hard time getting into the first book. All I can say is give it another go ”

        Or you can wait until it comes out as a tv series this summer (the first book) that was produced by someone whose wife was a fan and used the author as creative resoruce (I think Diana even gets a cameo in one episode). Then, once you have fallen in love with Jamie and Claire, you will just need to know what happens to them, their children, their grandchildren and their best friend the Duke who also is madly in love with Jamie but eventually ends up married to Claire.

        1. Ms. Anonymity*

          I’m so excited for the t.v. series! I love the books and I loved the Battlestar Galactica series that the director doing the series did. I think it’s going to be a win, win!!

    22. Jen RO*

      I finished Steppenwolf by Herman Hesse as part of a book club. I want those hours of my life back. I wanted to slap the main character from page 2 til the end….

    23. Felicia*

      The Princess Bride – I couldn’t finish the book or the movie. I was just bored. The whole time I was like “wft? What’s happening? I don’t like this. Why do people like this?” Also The Lord of the Rings…judging by the other books/movies I like, you’d think this would be a book I’d enjoy. But no. I tried really hard, but I really didn’t like The Lord of the Rings…I was so bored trying to struggle through that book.

      1. LBK*

        Oddly enough I loved reading The Hobbit and then couldn’t make it even halfway through Fellowship of the Ring. The prose in the LOTR trilogy is too flowerly and historical for me. Just get to the damn point!

          1. Chinook*

            I forced myself to finish The Hobbit because I was teaching it to a grade 9 class. When the girls in class (and did divide along gender lines) complained about reading it, I gave them my sympathy and then pointed out that the next book was Agatha Chrisities “Ten Little Indians” which was about a bunch of people stuck on an island, murdering each other and tlaking about relationships – teh exact opposite of The Hobbit (and the guys all seemed to hate that one).

        2. Felicia*

          I think the prose being too flowery is why I didn’t like it…like I’ve read 20 pages and nothing happens! That’s how I felt about the movie of The Hobbit (the only I ever finished, because of peer pressure). It was half way into the movie before they actually went on their epic quest! And in the whole LoTR there’s a lot of walking around and traveling without anything actually happening. That’s also why I didn’t love Deathly Hallows until the end, too much camping.

      2. Elizabeth West*

        I couldn’t get through LOTR as a kid, though I loved The Hobbit. I tried it again later and LOVED it. Now I reread it every year or so (doing it now!).

        1. Sorcha*

          Me too! I tried to read it multiple times in high school, gave up in the first few chapters each time, and eventually stopped trying. Then I got dragged to see the first film, fell in love with Middle-Earth, and after ROTK came out I went back to read the books and finished the trilogy between Christmas and Hogmanay that year. Now I reread them every year or so, and can’t imagine what it would be like if I’d never read them.

      3. Eden*

        The Princess Bride has a great cast and great lines. It’s stupid, so I don’t fault you for not liking it, particularly if you didn’t see it when it came out. I love it, but I can completely understand someone NOT loving it, too.

        I agree with you on LOTR. What isn’t boring bloviation is battle. It isn’t for me.

        1. Felicia*

          I wasn’t born yet when The Princess Bride came out, and the first time I tried it I was 21 and I thought it was soooo stupid, I didn’t understand why everyone was telling me it was so wonderful and that I would love it. I’m glad you understand why i might not like it, a lot of people reacted like “how can you NOT like The Princess Bride?” which of course I responded “You do realize it’s really stupid right?” Not faulting you for liking it of course, but you agreed it’s stupid :) I think I read more of the book of The Princess Bride than I did of the movie but I gave up about 70 pages in. If I had been around to see it when it came out , I may have liked it.

      4. SD Cat*

        I skip the first few chapters of the first book of Lord of the Rings when I reread it. It’s been a few years since I’ve read them though.

    24. Laura*

      I finished _Ender’s Game_ but had I known the payoff at the end, I wouldn’t have. It’s VERY well-written. Which means it punched home and horrified me on an existential level, and I truly hate that book now.

      I don’t know the name of it, but a friend of ours loaned us a dystopian superhero novel. I put it down after the prologue. In retrospect, I should have stopped sooner.

      Actually, if it is a dystopia, I probably don’t want to read it. I find them very distressing, and there’s no reason to read fiction if I don’t enjoy it, in general. (Non-fiction is occasionally important even if uncomfortable. I’ll leave the fiction that distresses me for people who enjoy it, though.)

    25. Laura*

      If you are into such a thing, I would actually highly recommend giving the Wolf Hall audiobook a try. I have a long commute, so I have an Audible subscription and listen to a ton of audiobooks. The narrator for that one does a great job and I really loved it.

      As for books I couldn’t finish…my fellow fantasy nerds will hate me, but I absolutely LOATHED The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss. The book has something like 5,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, so clearly I’m in the minority, but man, I hated that book.

    26. Rat Racer*

      Everyone I know loves 100 Years of Solitude but I couldn’t get through it. Also get loud gasps of WTF when I say that I don’t like books by Barbara Kingsolver. To each her own, I suppose…

    27. Victoria Nonprofit (USA)*

      The only book that I’ve ever totally given up on was Don Quixote (UGH). There are plenty that I just don’t maintain enough interest in to finish before I have to return them to the library.

    28. H. Rawr*

      I never used to be able to just give up on books, but based on my list unrated book club books over the last few years, I’ve developed the ability :). I gave up on Love in the Time of Cholera, The Lost Girls, The Dressmaker of Kahir Khana, Winter’s Tale, The Shack, and Stealing Buddha’s Dinner are a few.

    29. chewbecca*

      I DEVOURED Gone Girl, but then the ending came and it made me angry. It ruined the whole book for me.

      I have tried reading The Historian several times, but always give up at the same point in the story, and I have no idea why. I also have never managed to make it through Jane Eyre or Love in the Time of Cholera.

      I used to love the Sookie Stackhouse novels, but gave up after they introduced her nephew.

    30. samaD*

      Bleak House
      I put it down about 15 years ago and keep meaning to pick it back up….

      that’s the only one I feel kinda bad about. there’s others but….it’s the author’s job to make me want to keep reading and if I don’t then either they haven’t done their job or I’m not their target audience, and either way it’s not my problem :)

  21. Wakeen's Teapots Ltd.*

    Game of Thrones – Spoiler Free

    Is it possible to have a spoiler free GoT conversation? Let’s try this, topic: need to watch Game of Thrones to be culturally relevant in 2014.

    I absolutely wanted to watch GoT at some point, but, I found I had to make it a priority to sit down and start marathoning the other week. Between ducking out of conversations to avoid spoilers*, and missing GoT references/jokes that the rest of the world got, it took more effort not to watch than to watch.

    What do you think?

    p.s. I wish I could hang out during the work day but I can’t. I’ll probably not be back to the conversation for a few hours, should one break out.

    p.p.s LOVE the show, love the characters, have bad dreams if I watch more than 3 eps in a sitting.

    1. Wakeen's Teapots Ltd.*

      the * after spoilers was supposed to lead to a River Song footnote but I changed my mind about the diversion in my post and then forgot to remove the *

      1. Barbara in Swampeast*

        I do like how she says “spoilers” the first couple episodes she is in. But then Moffat ruins the whole River Song timeline. I’m sure he thinks he is very clever, but it gives me a massive headache trying to figure out her timeline.

      2. Felicia*

        I love River Song!

        And I think if you don’t know what Game of Thrones is it’s a little culturally out of touch. I tried to watch it, I really did. I watched the whole first season. But the reason I couldn’t get into it was I’d read all 5 books before the series even started. The books are basically thousands of pages worth of spoilers. So I’d watch the show , but I was never surprised because I knew what was going to happen from the books. And once the show started deviating from the books in very small ways, I hated the changes they were making,, particularly to certain characters. I do really love the books, and I hope the 6th one comes eventually (it’s years between books!) , but when I watch a show knowing essentially exactly what was going to happen it’s boring. Imagine knowing the Red Wedding would happen years before it made it onto the show or knowing Ned’s fate the second you saw him on screen.

        I also hate when people call the books spoilers, although they are, because the books started many many years before the show. And I always end up liking any book better than its screen adaptation.

        1. Rayner*

          I never liked River Song. Conceptually, she was good, but I just… couldn’t gel with her. She was so… everywhere. It was like, “I signed up for the Doctor Who show,” not the “River Song and Doctor Who Show.”

          1. chewbecca*

            I felt that way about Amy Pond toward the end of her run. It started feeling like the Amy Show with a little Doctor thrown in.

            People normally look at me weird because my two least favorite companions on New Who are the two most beloved ones.

            1. Felicia*

              River is not my favourite but I do love her . Donna Noble is by far my favourite New Who companion. I was indifferent to Amy her entire run.

              1. Rayner*

                I love Donna. I loved her so so much, and I sobbed like a baby when she ‘left’ the series.

                I loved her because she was so real, she connected with people – she had flaws, she was angry, she wanted to do the right thing because it was the right thing to do – like in the Fires of Pompeii – not because it would impresss the doctor.

                Amy I liked but didn’t love during the beginning of her first series but I got bored of her very quickly. The way she kept playing with Rory, abusing his trust and him physically, and demeaning him, really rubbed me up the wrong way. Didn’t appreciate it from Moffat.

                1. Felicia*

                  I loved that she was the only one in New Who that wasn’t in love with the Doctor. I love that she said no to him at first. I love that she so obviously grew and changed as a person during the duration of the series, which is why I was devastated the way she left – all of that growth was taken away from her. I loved that she had poor self esteem, a hot temper and an overbearing mother, because I have those things too. I love that she was older and not as conventionally pretty as the others (though I still think she’s gorgeous). I think what happened to her was the worst out of every companion on the show, and it would have been kinder if she’d died. That’s why I read a lot of fanfiction where she’s saved somehow. I basically love everything about her. She’s the most relatable to me. Donna changed so much since the beginning Runaway Bride, yet a lot of the things that made her amazing stayed the same.

                2. Rayner*

                  Can’t reply to you, Felicia, but I love that you love her. I have all the same reasons that I love Donna dearly – Turn Left was definitely one of my absolute favourite heartbreaking episode.

                3. Felicia*

                  Rayner, do you read fanfiction where they fix what happened to Donna? Those are my favourite kinds of fanfic, and I love recommendations! I love Turn Left too, and I think it’s underrated. I think that episode emphasized just how important she was to the Doctor, and even though it’s sad, I liked that she never believed she was anything special or important, because I can relate. And she just seemed more realistic in terms of how a real present day earthling would react to The Doctor. I wish she’d gotten the happy ending I thought she deserved.

                  I was going to actually post here as Donna Noble before I just decided to use my name- some variation of that is in my username a lot of places.

                4. Rayner*

                  @felicia, I did many many many moons ago – I’ve been in various fandoms since I was eleven so that’s a long time now.

                  Still in my early twenties but still. I’ve done my time :P

                  I loved DW world but once I moved away to university, I didn’t own a television which meant I couldn’t keep up with it.

                  My other BBC love was Merlin during my uni years. I needed the mental relief where dragons roam and women wore armour and rode to save their kingdoms.

    2. Del*

      I don’t think it’s a need to do thing — I resisted the urge for quite a while and felt absolutely fine — but knowing at least enough to know what people are talking about is no bad thing.

      I discovered really fast that I don’t have a lot of patience for watching and have trouble with understanding the actors speaking (a combination of accent + often low voices) so I’ve been reading the books instead. Goes faster, goes further, and I can go back and reread all the parts where people I hate come to horrible ends!

    3. A Non*

      I’ve been reading recaps on TV Tropes: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/GameOfthrones (Warning: TV Tropes is an utterly addictive website and will eat your life.)

      I can’t stomach the constant rape plotlines, so reading a recap of a tv show based on a book is about enough distance for me to be able to get the jokes and make small talk without losing the entire day to upsettedness.

    4. AVP*

      It’s *so* hard to avoid spoilers though! This season, I was traveling for most of April and couldn’t get to the episodes for 3-4 days. I thought I was doing a good job of avoiding the corners of the internet that lead to spoilers, but then there was a radio show on in a hotel lobby that ruined a major major event!

    6. Sorcha*

      I haven’t watched the show or read the books, and have no desire to do so, but I pick up enough from being on Tumblr and Twitter amongst my fandom friends that I get enough of the references. I don’t care about it beyond that.

  22. JM*

    Is there anyone out there on “work from home” jobs? I am a senior analyst in IT industry working for a big five consulting company. Looking for opportunities where I can have a better balance between my work and family.

    I know a few employers who allow that in NJ / NYC area? Can anyone guide me on how to seek such opportunities? I wouldn’t mind going to a commutable office 2 days a week or a flexible schedule that would let me leave early and then work from home for the rest of the day.

  23. Rayner*

    Question for all you financially minded people out there:

    What would you suggest doing with significant amounts of money? Like, not just a few thousand, a lot of money – 100k +. Anyone know what investments actually are? I don’t feel like putting it in ‘high risk’ things but what’s ‘low risk’?

    My grandfather’s passing has apparently been compensated for by the universe by coupling it with an inheritance that would be a massive unholy boon to me and my family. But I want it safe and protected – the thought of losing it to some shady shares sales guy keeps me up at night.

    Any ideas? Or just… how /not/ to blow through it in a year? IDK. Does anyone know where the links are to the money posts from a few years back?

        1. Cath in Canada*

          In Vegas last year, my husband and I played poker with an American guy who was the spitting image of Stephen Harper (Canadian prime minister). It was eerie! He was a super nice, smiley guy, which gave me severe cognitive dissonance that resolved itself only when he started taking all my money.

    2. fposte*

      I would turn to the Bogleheads right smart:

      http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Managing_a_windfall

      They’re more U.S. focused, but I think the principles obtain anywhere, and their wiki in general is a fount of information.

      I’m not clear if it’s being left just to you or not, but if other family members have their own pieces or it’s being left to the parent who’s his offspring, you may also need to accept that some decisions get made that you know aren’t good.

      1. Rayner*

        It’s being divided equally between myself and my older brother. I’m aware that he’s not very financially savvy – he’s likely to burn through a lot of it unless he listens to the mother unit, but I’d like to secure my half of it. It’s enough to purchase a whole house in it’s own right, for God’s sake.

        1. fposte*

          The basic principles that would universally apply: pay down debt save for very low/no interest or seriously long-term, put anything that needs to be available in the next five years or so in something liquid and non-volatile like a bank account, and put the rest toward Later/Retirement.

          Bogleheads also has a UK investing page:

          http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/UK_investing

          1. Rayner*

            Thank you for the links! Definitely considering at least one meeting with a financial adviser just to give me an idea of the best areas to put my money in.

    3. Jen*

      A reputable financial advisor should help you out but I would imagine that diversifying the investments is the key. Don’t put all of it in one place. Plus, you might want to take $8,000 or so out for each of your children and start a trust in their names so they get some of that.

      1. Rayner*

        No children, currently, and no plans for any since I don’t have a partner either.

        But I’ll take your point about diversifying and getting someone reputable. Maybe I’ll go and look at some paperwork. I don’t particularly want someone from a bank XD Look how well they managed to look after everybody else’s money.

        1. Judy*

          Look for a planner that gets paid by the hour rather than commissions, if you go that way.

          1. Rayner*

            I definitely think it’ll be worth it for at least one session to find out more information and ask all the dumb questions I have – I have zero understanding of finances beyond “I can make rent this month!” and “Damnit, I’m broke.”

      2. fposte*

        Here’s the problem, at least in the US, with a financial advisor: most of them take a considerable amount of money for something you could do yourself, and they will often engage in money-handling practices that bring them more benefit than you. Think of it this way–a safe withdrawal rate at retirement is considered to be between 3% and 4%. If you’re with an advisor who’s taking 1-2% of your assets every year, that’s just cut your retirement funds savagely.

        If you’re putting your money in index funds, you can do that yourself. If you want a financial advisor, look for somebody who will advise for a flat or hourly fee rather than take a percentage. There are a few places that have fees under 1%, and some of them are okay, but mostly you’d need to be a multimillionaire for it to make more sense than just putting it into index funds yourself.

        1. FD*

          In order to do that well, though, you have to be really comfortable with investing and managing your investments, in a way most people just aren’t.

          1. fposte*

            Frustratingly true, and most people end up losing a considerable amount of money as a result. It’s amazing that people who wouldn’t put something in their mouth without reading the ingredients list and quizzing the server on its provenance will blindly stick their money anywhere.

            One problem is that the noise around the subject obscures the fact it’s actually pretty easy to do. The US has complications in the form of the frequent badness of 401ks and 403bs that are secretive about expenses, horrible about expenses, and unavoidable, but the basic challenge, assuming you’re earning enough money, is mostly emotional rather than technical.

            1. fposte*

              To clarify, I mean people lose money because they’re afraid to handle it themselves and let somebody else do it. The number of people in stuff like expensive variable annuities at expensive places like Edward Jones is mind-boggling.

              1. Rayner*

                Unfortunately, when dealing with such large sums of money, and not having any financial experience (not to mention with such large sums of money) people don’t like to be risky.

                1. fposte*

                  And, as so often happens, they end up riskier as a result, because people are not good assessors of what’s *really* risky.

                  As you can probably tell I have a bit of a thing about financial education :-). My students aren’t in a field where they’re going to make a ton of money, and I really want them to have information that allows them to keep it for themselves rather than giving half of their retirement away for what they could do. Some of this is a particularly American problem, because there’s been a big shift away from fixed pensions and toward defined contribution plans (where you put a specific amount of money into an outsourced plan through your employer), and those are unfortunately becoming terrific cash cows for the management companies at the expense of the employees in many cases.

                2. Rayner*

                  I absolutely understand that it’s often better to invest your money yourself, and definitely to at least understand what’s happening to your money (or mine, as the case may be).

                  I just think it’s wise to have at least one or two meetings with someone who is professionally trained but indepedent (not from a bank) so I get someone looking over what I want to do. I have absolutely no experience with money beyond yay, made rent and I’m broke de broke broke broke. I’d someone to at least cast an eye over my figures.

                3. fposte*

                  I’m definitely not trying to discourage you or anybody from meeting with anybody to get advice. Advice is good. Accountants are good. Research is good. Taking your time is good!

                  I *am* trying to discourage people from handing their money over to somebody else to “manage” without understanding more about their own money. Which doesn’t necessarily seem to be you, but I think that’s a point worth making whenever possible for anybody who might read it.

      3. Chinook*

        Jen, since you don’t have any children or a spouse, ensure that you also do up a will. You should also have a will if you do have children/spouse, but not having them means the money could go to the government if you have obvious/legal inheritors whereas the laws will insist it go to spouse/children when you are will-less but it will take a lot longer (and probably cost them money in legal fees).

        1. Rayner*

          *points to self* It’s me, not Jen, I believe this message is for since I’m the question asker :D

          And I don’t have a will now, but I should get around to doing it. I don’t have any spouse or children, or even a partner, so any money after I died would go back up the line to my parent but I’d like to split the money, etc.

          Urgh, money takes /work/. I thought it was supposed to stop making me work.

    4. Colette*

      1. Decide whether you want to protect the money or make more money with it. It sounds like you want something very safe.
      2. Decide when you’re going to spend it. Are you going to withdraw $X/year? Spend $Y this year and then leave it where it is until you need it?
      3. How many people share the inheritance? It will be much easier to split it up now than to get everyone on the same page as far as what you’re doing with it & when you’ll spend it.
      4. Do you want to spend it on something big (travel, mortgage, debt repayment, university expenses, retirement account, etc.) or do you want to use it to bump up your standard of living?

      Generally, bonds are safer than stocks but provide less growth. However, there is variance within both categories. Mutual funds (or index funds) are safer than investing in an individual stock or bond.

      1. Rayner*

        1. I’m willing to take small growth over risky leaps forward. I’ve seen and read too many stories of people being convinced to invest fifty or sixty thousand in ‘reputable’ stocks and such, only for it to vanish in a heartbeat.

        2. I think I’m going to take twenty to rent a property, pay for driving lessons – I’m so overdue with that – cover travelling costs, flying to visit a friend in Sweden because I’ve been trying to do it for a year and a half now.

        3. It’s £200,000, or there abouts, each for me and my brother. Property values in the London area – you would not believe it.

        4. I think I want to use most of it to save – given the UK’s recent shift in mortgages, young people are struggling to get on the market in many many many cities. It would give me a phenomenal down payment for a property – potentially even buying it outright, if it’s small. Whatever’s left can be used to pay for my graduate degree in Norway that I wanted to do in a few years, and then I’ll keep the rest back for retirement.

        Oh God, three years ago, it would have been “HA! A BIG CAR AND ALL THE COMPUTERS EVER!” Now I’m like, “Um. Let me speak to a RESPONSIBLE PERSON AND BE CAREFUL”

        >.> Adulthood.

        1. Malissa*

          If you are unsure what you want to do with it right now, find a bond broker. They can guide you towards bonds that are stable and will mature in the time frame you want. Very low-risk investing.
          Buying real estate so you can live with out a monthly mortgage payment or rent is always a good investment. Even putting a good down payment on something so that your monthly living costs are lower is a good idea.

          1. Chinook*

            “Buying real estate so you can live with out a monthly mortgage payment or rent is always a good investment. Even putting a good down payment on something so that your monthly living costs are lower is a good idea.”

            If you look owning a home as “living rent free/at a reduced rent” vs. as a long term investment (since real estate can be volatile), you truly can’t loose. That being said, remember that home ownership comes with costs due to maintenance, etc.

      1. Stephanie*

        Not being facetious, Personal Finance for Dummies is actually really helpful.

        If you’re just paranoid about the financial industry, read Pound Foolish by Helaine Olaine (sp?). She talks about a lot of the pitfalls in the personal finance industry.

        I also really like the Marketplace Money podcast. You can even call in when they tape and ask things like “Hey, I have a $100k inheritance. How do I invest it wisely?”

        2. Chinook*

          From a Canadian perspective, “The Wealthy Barber” also gives great financial advice.

      3. Bryan*

        I second index funds, you can set up an account through vanguard (it’s where I use). They list all of the feeds and rates of return. Think of this option as long-term though.

        If you want to go safer you can look into high rated bonds but you’re not going to get a good return right now. I just read about college students who bought a couch with $40k stuffed in it, that’s another option.

        1. fposte*

          To clarify, though: 1, you don’t buy bonds (bond funds) for return, you have them as a brake against the volatility of the stocks; 2, bonds have actually performed very well this year.

          Asset allocation–the ratio of stocks to bonds–is what’s key there. That’s dependent on risk tolerance and time to use. “Age in bonds” is an oldie but a goodie. Basically, assume the stock portion of your portfolio will drop in value, possibly precipitously, as well as rise–how much of a drop could you stomach? If you’re 100% in stocks and stocks drop 50%, you’re down 50%; if you’re 20% in stocks and stocks drop 50%, you’re only down 10%–but you also won’t have the same growth.

          This is a great overview of historical patterns for different asset allocations–the maximum loss and years of loss are particularly revealing:

          https://personal.vanguard.com/us/insights/saving-investing/model-portfolio-allocations

    6. Elizabeth West*

      Get some qualified help with this. Put it away for now and don’t touch it until you find a good financial planner. If you know any rich people, ask them who they use.

    7. IndieGir*

      I would say, set aside a bit to blow (maybe 10K?), a bit for home repairs (maybe 15K), a bit for college education for kids (maybe 10K) and invest the rest.

      I would also highly recommend this book, I think you will find it very helpful:

      http://www.amazon.com/Sudden-Wealth-Financial-Emotional-Challenges/dp/1477512357/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400253860&sr=1-1&keywords=sudden+wealth

      It’s about how getting a bunch of money unexpectedly can create both financial and emotional issues an offers some good tips for coping (although they are not investment tips per se).

      In terms of investing, I’m not very good, so I generally pick what’s called an allocation fund. These are funds geared to different risk tolerance levels — conservative, balanced, growth, aggressive growth, etc. Vanguard calls their funds LifeStrategy, Hancock has a similar product with LifeStyle, and Fidelity calls them Target Allocation. (Note these are NOT the same as a lifecycle fund, which changes its investment allocation as you get older.) I do this because I don’t have the knowledge/energy to find funds that meet my risk tolerance and then keep them rebalanced. This approach has worked very well for me, and if you are adventurous you can Google some, or if not adventurous maybe set up some time with a financial adviser to help you out. It is a large sum of money, so I would probably choose to use an adviser, but do additional research on any recommendations after the meeting.

      Good luck, and congratulations!

    8. Ada M Key*

      I really like the Get Rich Slowly blog. You may find some good information there by digging through the archives.

    9. Artemesia*

      the problem these day is that safe earns nothing (but it is at least safe) and to earn you have to risk it.

      I would put half in a long term CD even though the rates are lousy and half in an index mutual fund i.e. a fund that basically gives you the average of the market. That way if the market continues to prosper you gain and you have a big chunk secured in a non growing but not losing situation.

      It is not enough money to have money management that takes its big cut. It is enough money to provide some security down the road in retirement or in tough times. And there is nothing wrong in spending a chunk on a nice car or nice trip — just make it something you really want to do. don’t let some investment councilor talk you into something you dont fully understand. While this is big money to you, it is not big money in investment terms. So a conservative split like this is a wise way to conserve.

    10. Katie the Fed*

      Are you generally a spender or a saver? Your style before coming into this money is going to be really important.

      I went through something similar – not quite that much but when I deployed I didn’t have any housing expenses at home and basically banked my salary and overtime for a year, so it was way more money than I’d ever had. After paying off my student loans I freaked out about having so much money I decided to put it as a down payment on a house so I couldn’t fritter it away.

      I would talk to a financial advisor, definitely. Give yourself an amount you can spend guilt-free, but tie the rest up in something that you’re not going to touch for a long time.

    11. Judy*

      If you’re talking about investing, I’m a big fan of Scott Burns. He has formulas for “couch potato investing” that can be done through many different fund companies, the simplest being 50% total stock index fund and 50% total bond index fund. His articles are on his website scott burns dot com.

      Our household has most of our investments in Vanguard index funds.

      I’d suggest giving yourself some time to figure it out, and giving yourself a treat, maybe a nice vacation or upgrade something around the house. Depending on your situation, you’ll most likely want to plan how much is debt pay offs vs investing vs current spending (new car, etc).

      FYI, Scott Burns had an interesting article recently about car MPG and investing, and how “investing” in cars with better MPG was like having $X in savings, and it was a big amount. I’m fairly financially conservative and an engineer, so I tend to look at things based on lifecycle costs. Much easier to convince me to replace windows or appliances with more energy efficient ones, than to get the latest wiz-bang gadgets.

      1. Muriel Heslop*

        I second Scott Burns. My dad is a retired financial guy and he also recommends the Motley Fool. He also recommends learning and doing as much as you can yourself as no one cares more about you money than you do. Personally, most of my money is with Vanguard.

        Good luck!

        1. fposte*

          I think Motley Fool used to be better than it is now, unfortunately–it’s doing a lot of stock tips kind of nonsense now.

    12. FD*

      Disclaimer: Not an accountant or other professional finance person. I do, however, read a lot in this area.

      Talk to an accountant. That’s absolutely vital!

      Don’t know an accountant? Ask around–parents, peers you respect, mentors, for recommendations. Talk to one or two, and don’t be afraid to decide that one doesn’t ‘click’ with you.

      When you’ve found one, make sure you fully understand your tax liabilities, both now, and going forward. Remember, in some cases, you may not just be paying taxes on what you inherited but on any returns on your future investment.

      Now, investments!

      In addition to an accountant, you should find a financial advisor whom you trust and whom you click well with. Again, recommendations are key–and on top of that, look at the financial strength ratings of the organization they’re with. Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s are the two main ones–I would suggest not going with anything below an A grade for either.

      Most financial advisers are commission-based, so you want to be wary of anyone who pushes you too hard in one direction. Trust your gut and do your research.

      You’ll want to invest that money in a good, diversified spread of investments. Diversified merely means that you have a blend of all sorts of investments. That way, if any one sector isn’t doing well, you don’t have all your eggs in one basket. In many cases, what you’ll end up doing is investing in a number of funds, each of which will have a portfolio of stocks or bonds within it.

      Put it like this: Let’s say you have $100 dollars (I’m using a nice easy number here). You decide to split that into three funds, like this:

      $15: Fund A, tends to be more aggressive, with higher risk but higher potential reward
      $70: Fund B, which tends to be middle of the road, taking some risks, but not as many, with a moderate potential reward
      $15: Fund C, which tends to be conservative, taking few risks, but with low potential reward

      In addition, each of these funds invests in many different areas, with each fund having some investments in tech, some in agriculture, etc. etc.

      It’s generally accepted that investments ought to be ‘rebalanced’ each year. That means that every year, you buy or sell off to bring your whole investment back to a stable level.

      Let’s go back to our earlier example. It’s the end of the year.

      Fund A grew by 25%, so it now has a value of $18.75
      Fund B grew by 5%, so it now has a value of $73.50
      Fund C contracted by 10%, so it now has a value of $13.50

      Your total portfolio value (the value of all of your investments added together) is $105.75

      Now, you want to keep investing in the same pattern that you did before, which is:

      15% of your investments in Fund A
      70% of your investments in Fund B
      15% of your investments in Fund C

      So in order to do that, you ‘rebalance’.

      You sell $2.89 of Fund A and use that money to buy $0.53 of Fund B and $2.36 of Fund C.

      That leaves you with:

      $15.86 of Fund A (15% of $105.75)
      $74.03 of Fund B (70% of $105.75)
      $15.86 of Fund C (15% of $105.75)

      Make sense?

      (TLDR: Ask for recommendations and get a good accountant and financial adviser to walk you through the process.)

      1. fposte*

        I’ll cavil slightly with your three funds there, FD–you’ve got three managed funds, and you could have the same diversification for much lower cost and better historical performance merely by buying an indexed total market fund. Plus there’s probably some overlap of the actual assets within these funds, and when it comes to diversification, it’s the assets within the funds, not the funds themselves, that are the baskets you’re spreading your eggs among.

    13. Forrest*

      I think when you’re talking about that kind of money, its best to seek out a financial adviser.

      That said, Suze Orman usually recommends paying off any debt first – student loans, credit card, house, etc. Then diversifying by placing it in various places. I recommend setting up trusts for your children if you have them.

      1. Rayner*

        The thing I have is at the moment, I have very little debt to my name so almost all of the inheritance is ‘disposable’. I rent, and have rented for the last three years so no mortgage, I don’t have a credit card debt, I don’t have any car payments, and my student loans will be manageable in their own right when they kick within in the next two years. I don’t start to pay them off until I earn above a certain level, and then it’s a consistent amount every month, not considered bad debt, either since like, 70% of the populous has them. I could probably pay them quicker though… the interest rate is low but it’s still there…. Hmm.

        I definitely think I’ll speak to a financial adviser though. Thanks for the advice :D

        1. Not So NewReader*

          Just my two cents. Pay off the student loans. It seems like a trivial point, but it’s called freedom. As others have said set up a short term savings and a long term savings. The short term is for car repairs and the long term is for a new car/house/big ticket items. Then set up an IRA. (Yes,I realize you do not drive- the car stuff is an example of how the accounts are used.)

          If you have any money left after this then consider real estate. I took a mortgage calculator (internet was not prevalent in those days.)
          I plugged in the monthly payment we could afford. I estimated a high interest rate for the loan. Then for term I put in 30 years.
          I hit “solve for loan amount”. I got a number that was 30% LOWER than what the lenders were telling us we could afford. I went by my number not theirs.

          Not a day has gone by that I have not given thanks for having the insight to do this.

          If we had taken the lenders at their word we would have been in financial trouble so fast. Now on my own, there is no way I would still have a house if we had used that higher loan amount the lenders okayed us for.

          With real estate, KNOW what you are getting into. Realize in all likelihood you will have a loss not a gain. (Real estate is a black hole into which you throw money.) Buy something that is modest for your income level. If you want to upgrade later, you can. If you want a rental property for income, uh… there are easier ways to get an income stream.

          As far as finance advice- talk to a couple professionals. Ask them to write you out a long term plan and make projections about the results they can get you. Compare the plans. Ask questions. Your financial plan should be comprehensive- your retirement, your funeral, your will, and so on. I think when you compare plans it will be more clear who you should go to. And yeah, you can get those plans done for free, but some people will charge you, so watch out.

          When I have inherited money I tried to spend it in a way that was enduring- it would have lasting impact on my life. I thought that was a good way to honor the person who left it to me. The bulk of my inheritances went to my education. Some of it I banked and some when to major repairs on my house. In short, I recommend doing what you are doing- go carefully and think about your long term future.

          1. fposte*

            I think Rayner’s not in the US, so she can’t do an IRA and her loans are going to be on very different terms.

            I would also say that student loans are like mortgages, in that early payoff may have psychological advantages but not always practical advantages, depending on the rate of interest on the loan and what else that money would be doing if it weren’t paying the loan off (in the US, for instance, you’re usually better off putting money toward retirement than paying off a low-interest loan for your early years, because you don’t ever get that compounding power from those contributions again). There are lots of freely shared calculators for things like this around the web, so it’s worth using them to run some comparisons.

            1. Rayner*

              Very much this.

              Student loans are, in the UK, low prority debts, if that makes sense. You don’t have to repay them if you’re not earning above a certain level (I think it’s about £21,000 off the top of my head), and the interest on them is so low, it’s not a horrific drain.

              In addition, they’re not counted against you as much as a high interest mortgage, or an overdraft.

              If you have a choice of a debt to keep and one to pay off, you’d be better keeping the student loans one, and paying off something else.

    14. Apollo Warbucks*

      If I came in to some money I would

      Clear any debts and mortgages

      Invest in a buy to let property

      Invest in treasury bonds or high interest saving accounts, but they mean not having access to the money for a number if years, but they are very safe investments

    15. annie*

      I think everyone’s given you some good ideas here. The only one I would add is take a small portion and treat yourself in some way that your grandpa would have appreciated – a gift, a gadget, a piece of jewelry or watch you’ll remember him every time you wear, a trip someplace he would have liked you to have been able to experience.

      1. SaraV*

        I agree with treating yourself in some way or another…a trip, a piece of jewelry, etc.

        My opinion is that any debt = bad debt. So if I were in your shoes, I would payoff all debt, including the “impending” student loans.

        One thing I didn’t see specifically said while skimming through…place 3-6 months worth of expenses into a savings/money market account for an emergency fund. Don’t consider this money as an investment, but more like an insurance plan.

        1. Rayner*

          In the UK, student loans count differently. They’re from the government, have a very low interest rate, and you pay X amount of your pay towards it, relative to how much you earn – over a set limit – 21k, atm. Most people have them, and they don’t count negatively against you so much when applying for loans etc.

          So although they’re debt, they’re not bad debt.

          Although, saying that, given that I don’t have any other forms of major debt, maybe I should put away the fifteen thousand and knock it on the head.

          And I like your ‘insurance policy’ idea. I should definitely get that in motion as soon as I get that money in.

      2. Rayner*

        I have to admit. I found a round the world trip in 100-180 days, give or take, between £20-50,000. I know I can’t take it now, but if I saved and saved, just before/after I do my graduate degree… maybe I’ll sign up for it.

      3. Not So NewReader*

        Yeah, definitely have some crazy money. Get it out of your system. Pick something meaningful to you and just do it.

        1. Rayner*

          I decided that somehow, I’m going to do a three to six months trip around the world. It would be the ultimate tribute to my grandfather’s memory.

    16. Tmarie*

      I really love Vanguard. There cost ratio’s are decent, and they have all sorts of investment choices. I had my company 401(k) through them, and when I was laid off a couple of years ago, I rolled it over to an IRA.

      I assume you can invest “real money vs. retirement money”.

  24. C Average*

    I’ve read some of the posts in the archive concerning team-building exercises, and I sense I’m speaking to a sympathetic audience here.

    Yesterday, my manager announced that some of my team’s international counterparts are coming here for a summit in August, and she’s begun putting together the agenda.

    She spoke to our whole team about it, telling us that after doing a personality analysis (which is fine with me–I view these things kind of the way I view horoscopes) and some related activities on Day One, we’ll be playing volleyball, rock climbing, and possibly doing a circuit-training activity similar to one we did for a company-wide activity last year. We’ll also be going out in the evenings for things like ping pong, arcade games, and karaoke.

    Then she mentioned that she was open to other ideas, too, including us participating in a management training class she took last year of which she’s spoken highly. (It’s something our company offers for managers and those who are interested in management.)

    I blurted out, “I’d love to do that! I’d so much rather do that than play volleyball or do circuit training.”

    She then said to me, “I know you hate stuff like that, but I expect everyone to participate because I think it’s a good opportunity to be vulnerable together as a team.” She then started talking about how children play and play is good and we need to learn to be open and vulnerable like children and we can somehow achieve this by playing volleyball and doing circuit training together.

    So yeah, I DO hate stuff like this. I’ve participated in the past, reluctantly and ineptly and without much in the way of enthusiasm. I tried to put on a decent game face, but the whole thing honestly gave me scary junior high PE flashbacks and I found it all pretty unnecessary.

    I’m not sure I want advice here–I’m mostly just venting–but really, what do you do when your manager knows you hate this stuff but plows on ahead with it anyway? What can I do to be more open-minded about this, short of a stiff drink before the festivities?

    I bring plenty of vulnerability to the creative work I do with my team. We take risks, we seek and get brutal feedback, we learn new skills and fail upward at them until we improve. Why must I also be vulnerable on the volleyball court and the climbing wall?

    And what’s this nonsense about kids and playing? Gather up a random group of eight kids, tell them they’re playing a certain game at a certain time and they’re gonna like it, and see how well THAT goes. The whole essence of play is that it’s relatively undirected and the kids choose the activities they actually find fun and the companions with whom they wish to play.

    I find the whole concept dumb, undignified, juvenile, and contrived.

    Are these activities designed to make us long to return to our ordinary work life full of meetings and spreadsheets and office politics? If that’s the aim, it’s working.

    1. OriginalYup*

      “be vulnerable together as a team”

      Oh good lord. I would have rolled my eyes so hard they would have fallen out and bounced away. You so have my sympathies on this. I’ll play along to be a good sport on most of these types of activities, but honestly — “be open and vulnerable like children?” FFS. Hire kindergartners to do my work then, see how that goes.

    2. Rayner*

      My suggestion is your manager is a idiot. And very unfair.

      I mean, there’s something to be said for giving people a choice of a physical activity, or even saying, “Guys, I’d really like it if you could come up with something to do in relation to this, even if it’s not actually playing on the team.” But it’s something else to insist because ‘children would do it’.

      The work place is not a place to be vulnerable. It’s a place to be competent, learn new skills, be productive, and (in a smaller capacity) be vaguely social.

    3. Esra*

      Oh god. It’s not just you, a lot of people would not enjoy those other activities. The idea that you need to be more vulnerable at work? No. Nooooooo.

      How does the rest of your team feel about it?

      1. C Average*

        I think two are probably fairly enthusiastic, one would put on a cheerful face for anything because that’s how she rolls, three are indifferent, and one is grumpy about this just like he’s grumpy about everything else. (That’s the U.S. team.)

        I can see the Japanese person drawing unflattering conclusions about Americans, the Chinese person enthusiastically joining in, and the European person back-benching it with me and teaching me how to swear in Dutch.

    4. Sunflower*

      The word vulnerable does NOT belong in the work place unless you’re 1. Counselor/social worker or 2. Talking about a system or product.

      I CAN’T EVEN.

    5. Jennifer*

      Unfortunately, I think the answer to this one is to SMILE FUCKING SMILE and fake that you are enjoying it, even if you get hit on the head with the damn volleyball five times.

      I hear your pain because man, I’m so sick of having to play stupid games to “get to know you” or whatever (though “being vulnerable” is a new one). At what point do I get old enough to not have to do this stuff? Ninety-five?

      1. C Average*

        I’m gonna write “SMILE FUCKING SMILE” on my hand for this event and look at it every time I need a reminder. Thank you!

        1. Marina*

          Best advice, from working in customer service for too long… imagine that “FUCK YOU” is written really big right on your front teeth.

    6. Judy*

      We’re engineers, so our “play time” team building generally revolves around making structures for a given purpose with tinker toys or something. (Think robotics without motion usually) I do think that interacting on a different level is valuable team building, but you need to do it in ways that everyone is comfortable. And that’s usually half a day of a 3 day team building, near the front, before you get down to strategy sessions, etc.

    7. Brett*

      Volleyball, circuit training, and rock climbing? Amazing job of picking some of the best ways for people to hurt themselves (and I saw this as someone who does MMA in my spare time).

      Circuit training is not even fun. But someone is going to get hurt with volleyball and someone could get seriously hurt with rock climbing (wall climbing would at least be a much better substitute).

      1. Not So NewReader*

        I can just see me laying in a hospital bed for weeks. I wonder if that would show enough of my “vulnerabity” to make this boss happy.

    8. AVP*

      I agree with your general point and outlook, but I think at this point, you know you’ve been heard by your manager and she has decided to do it her way, so you need to accept that this is Part Of The Job, have a stiff drink, beg off of whatever part of it you can or that you hate the most, and get on with it.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        And here is why I LOVE this blog.

        Seriously, OP, I bet you can find a good chiropractor that would write you out for this time period. No thinking doctor is going to believe this is a good idea.

      2. Shell*

        Alison, you’re so awesome. :D

        C Average, I’m sure you can find an elastic bandage and wrap your ankle for a couple of days…

      3. Windchime*

        For sure. As someone who still has to occasionally wear a walking boot six months post-surgery, I would anticipate a terrible Achilles flare-up that would make it impossible for me to participate. Such a shame.

    10. Rat Racer*

      No advice to share, but I’ve got a good/miserable team building story for you: My last manager was self-admittedly “not a people person,” but felt that team-building was important because she read it somewhere. She hired this *awful* consultant to come to our leadership team meetings and engage us in bonding exercises. The exercise was that we had to walk around and shake hands with each other while music played. When the music stopped, the person left not holding a hand (we were an odd number) had to dance to “I’m a little Tea Pot.”

      I got stuck without a hand, I nearly broke down under the weight of that humiliation. My boss’s response to my obvious cowering: “I’m afraid some of us have low self esteem.”

        2. Rat Racer*

          And if you knew how much money she spent on that guy – dollars given to us by members to pay for their health insurance (this was at a health insurance company – not my current one though) you would seriously vomit.

      2. Not So NewReader*

        “I’m afraid that some of us just have incredibly crappy bosses.”

        I think I would have been singing my own song, not the teapot song.

        “… take this job and shove it, I ain’t working here no more….”

        There’s other songs that are even better.

    11. Not So NewReader*

      Rock climbing. That would be a deal breaker for me. At 50 plus y/o and having several issues with my spine, I might get hurt just considering rock climbing.

      Honestly, I read this stuff and I have no idea how people are able to get through and hang on to their jobs.

      This is the type of story that would have terrorized (yes, an emotion out beyond fear) me in my 20s and 30s. Now my answer is NO. And if I get fired, then so be it.

  25. Holly*

    More of a rant than anything – my new boss, who’s been in his position for a little over a month now, is driving me crazy. Specifically, he keeps coming by to ask me basic Marketing 101 questions (he’s the VP of Marketing…) and to have me make decisions for him/validate his decisions. This happens a good 10-15 times a day, and it’s severely interrupting my ability to do my job (writing – concentration is important.) This is when he isn’t just grabbing a chair to sit behind me when I’m mid-type.

    He’s my manager so there’s nothing I can do about it, but it’s really driving me batty. I feel like he’s asking me to manage from the backseat, which isn’t helping.

    1. Biff*

      May I recommend you brush up your resume? A weak manager can usually hold things together for about 6 months to a year, but after the year mark, people start realizing there is a vacuum and the jockeying to fill it starts happening. Cliques form, people that don’t want to play sides hunker down and the office environment becomes a swamp very quickly thereafter. It’s rare that you can manage from the backseat like this.

      However, in the meantime, why don’t you ask your boss to do a scrum-type meeting everyday. Say something like “Hey, I’ve noticed you have a very hands on approach and you’ve been really good about getting my input. Can we schedule a short daily meeting — about 10-15 minutes to cover things for the day? I feel like that would serve us both really well.” This way, you can focus and be productive (which will get you a better recommendation when you leave.)

  26. Ask a Manager* Post author

    I want to talk about aging! I’m noticing that celebrities who are about my age (I just turned 41) are starting to look noticeably older. Which must mean that I am too. And I’m also starting to get pretty unsettled by looking at photos of celebrities who I’ve always known to be old but seeing them when they were young — they look like completely different people … which must mean that at some point I will look like a completely different person too. I mean, it’s not like I look like I did when I was 20, but there’s a much bigger difference between, say, 30 and 70 than there is between 20 and 40.

    I’m wondering if you maybe start caring about this less as you age. Or is it a slowly unfolding physical horror show? I feel like I need one of those books they give pre-teens about puberty to tell them what to expect, but for old age.

    1. Jen*

      I’m 38 and I feel ya. TBT photos on facebook are making me realize how much I’m aging and changing. I look at older photos of myself and wish I had appreciated at the time how thin and young I was but of course I only saw the flaws back then … which makes me realize that 15 years from now I’ll likely see photos of myself when I’m 38 and think “Why didn’t she appreciate how young and thin she was!” so I’m trying to just hang with it. And I wear sunscreeen.

      1. Sunflower*

        This!! I’m 25 and of course, nit-pick everything about myself. I already look at every line and think ‘OMG IT’S STARTING!’ I try to remind myself this is probably the best it’s getting for me so I try to appreciate what I have the best I can.

        I was watching a TV show last night where this woman asked a guy ‘Do you ever think about growing old with me’ and I was thinking I’ve definitely thought of spending my life with another person but I’ve never really thought about what we’ll look like in 40 years

        FWIW this mother’s day I saw lots of ladies my age post pics with their moms and I thought their mothers all looked beautiful still. I found myself thinking ‘I really hope I look that good at that age!’

    2. Bend & Snap*

      I’m 36 and this bothers me a lot…mostly because I look at women my age and think they look old.

      Having an older husband and being a new first-time mother means that I feel a lot older than my years.

      It sucks and I don’t know how to combat it! I care a LOT about how old I look and seem.

    3. Colette*

      I’m a year older than you, and in the last year I’ve run into two people I know well but haven’t seen in a few years, and they do look noticeably older – but I don’t see it in myself or people I see frequently.

      I’ve never really cared a lot about that – aging beats the alternative – but there are still a few areas where it is painful. (Pretty sure bifocals are not too far away, for example.)

      1. Jen*

        Yes to this! I will be walking down the street and I’ll see someone and think “Oh that looks like Katie from high school – only like an older lady version of Katie.” and then this middle aged lady will say “Jen?” and I’ll realize she’s thinking the same thing – looks like Jen but a middle aged version of me.

      2. Elizabeth West*

        Needing multi-focal glasses made me simply furious–but I’m not complaining about the bifocal contacts, because I spent the last year trying to use distance ones and had to use readers for EVERYTHING. I can see now and I won’t have to juggle the damn readers when I go on vacation.

    4. fposte*

      It’s somewhere between the two. One problem, though, is that the people we see most intimately do tend to be celebrities, and we see them either photoshopped/post-productioned or polished to a fine gloss (that’s why I love the shopped/not shopped photo comparisons, where you realize that many celebrities look pretty much like your co-workers).

      I have found that some stuff that bugged the crap out of me initially I’ve adjusted to; the more lasting annoyances are things that are legacies of my own folly, like sun damage. Also, in the early curve of life you tend to assume (correctly) that physiological weirdnesses will subside, and as you get older they start to aggregate more.

      I’ll also say that the older I get, the more I can see people’s young selves in their faces in a way I didn’t when I was younger. That’s not even limited to people I knew when they were younger–I see a balding talking head and I often see the boy he was very clearly at the same time, because I have more experience with the way aging looks now.

      1. LCL*

        I take solace in my tattoos-it makes me feel good to know I am marking up my body instead of Father time.

        If I suffer some age related indignity, I tell myself “well, at least this is happening to (worst enemy) also.

      2. Vanessa*

        I was on the Metro yesterday and saw a woman reading a book called The Upside of Aging! I have no idea if it’s any good, but perhaps you should check it out.

      3. KerryOwl*

        I do that all the time! I’m always imagining what strangers look like when they were kids.

    5. Eden*

      I know what you mean about looking like an entirely different person. I’m not sure when that happens, or whether it’s so gradual you don’t notice. I do see that I’m starting to have some age-related facial changes, at 45 I am starting to have jowls. Maybe it’s because they’re just emerging, but I don’t care nearly as much as I used to. In my 20s, I obsessed over tiny imperfections, and at like 120 lbs, thought I was fat. Now, I mostly just want my clothes to fit and my hair to look brushed.

      The way I combat caring too much about it is to think about how many people don’t get the opportunity to grow old. I think it’s a privilege to be permitted to hang around on this planet and age.

    6. Mimmy*

      Can’t really say about celebrities, but I’m 40 and have begun to think about how different I look compared to even 10 years ago. I’ve always seen myself as looking young for my age (which my whole family is blessed with), but seeing all the splotches and freckles, especially on my face, is making me cringe. I’ve never been really good with makeup, so now I reallllly need to learn if I’m going to feel good about how I look when I want to look professional or if I’m going to a special event.

      Also, I have a giant crease above my nose from years of squinting (vision impairment), and I hate, hate, HATE how it looks! My husband calls it a permanent scowl.

      Not sure I answered your question Alison, but I’ve been needing to vent about this.

    7. Joie de Vivre*

      I’m 48 days away from my 40th b-day and very much in the same boat. I can’t seem to watch TV without obsessively googling people to see how old they are and then try to figure out if they look older or younger than me.

      Not really a great pastime and seems to be feeding the panic more than easing it.

    8. Elizabeth West*

      I’m about to turn 49 and no, you don’t stop caring about it, at least I don’t. But that may have something to do with the fact that I’m still single and trying to break into a field where my face could be on the back of a book. So I’m busting my ass right now to get in better shape and eating better too.

      Everyone in my family looks at least ten years younger than they are, and I routinely have people think I’m younger. But that won’t last forever.

    9. Artemesia*

      I’m 70 and have always looked youngish for my age and still am comparatively youthful (well until I let my hair go gray at retirement and now wear it ‘up’ because it is easier) I don’t have much in the way of wrinkles. When I look in a mirror I do see an old lady which is such a surprise since I am still the same person inside I was at 24, but I also find myself totally at peace with this. In fact, I find myself the least anxious and happiest I have been in my life; I know the horror shows lie ahead i.e. one or the other of us will die or get whatever grim thing will eventually carry us off and be debilitated — no one gets out of this alive. But in the short run at least life is an immense pleasure and I am totally comfortable with the way I now look.

      3. KnitWorthy*

        I’ve been spending a lot of time this past year with my grandmother and her friends who are all in their 80s and 90s. They are all in decently good health, but have aged differently. I do find myself somewhat hoping that I will look “youthful” in my old age, because these some of these women really are strikingly beautiful. Would be nice anyway.

        But when it comes down to it, what I’ve appreciated most is how youthful they really are because of their attitudes. They are just so comfortable with themselves and joyful to still be meeting new people (the benefits of a nice retirement home). And at 26, I know this what I can have to look forward to, which is so much more refreshing than worrying specifically about how I look.

    10. Katie the Fed*

      As my dad always says, “it’s better than the alternative.”

      So I try to look at aging as a luxury – I TRY to be happy that I am aging instead of, ya know, dead.

      But…yeah there are a lot of indignities to it as well.

      I think the reason celebrities are so shocking is because they spend so much time and effort fighting it – plastic surgery and whatnot, and eventually nature wins and you’re like “WHOA!” whereas it’s a more gradual process for most of us.

      I definitely tell the difference when I look in pictures from my 20s now. And I wish I’d worn sunscreen. ARgh.

      2. en pointe*

        Yeah, and I’ve always thought that gradual, natural ageing that most regular people go is generally more graceful and looks better than the manufactured alternative.

        I don’t know, I just don’t perceive natural physical ageing as that scary or bad. I realise that could change when it starts to happen to me, but I hope not.

    11. C Average*

      I’m 40, and to be honest I’m way more creeped out by celebrities who have looked the same for their entire careers than by those who are starting to look a little long in the tooth. What the heck do they do, drink formaldehyde in their coffee?

      For most of my life I’ve looked forward to being the slightly bohemian Woman of a Certain Age with a little grey at the edges and a classic, not-trying-to-be-a-hipster wardrobe! I am totally embracing middle age.

    12. angie*

      We’re the same age and yeah, similar boat. I loved some of the comments – particularly fposte and Eden because we’re so similar in age. I think it’s increasing my empathy. When I was in my late 20s, I worked with a group of women in their late 40s. They would talk about physically feeling their age (popping knees, harder to get up once seated, less strength) and I thought either they were exaggerating or that I’d be immune. They weren’t and I’m not. One nice side effect of aging is that I am more comfortable in my own skin–I know what I have to give, I’m more passionate about investing in my relationships and mentoring kids (my own and others’) than I’ve ever been. Also, from a fashion sense, I do and wear what I want–Iris Apfel-style–and I just don’t care what people think as long as I make myself happy. I go to movies and eat by myself (with a book for company) from time to time, just to recharge. And, I’ve given up running for long walks. I notice and appreciate more around me, people included. Aging is an unsettling and unfamiliar landscape for sure, but I”m finding some good features and hoping I’m going about it gracefully and with good humor.

    13. en pointe*

      I don’t know, I realise that this attitude might very well change as I get older, and I’d be interested to hear if anyone else felt like this when they were younger and ‘grew out of it’, but I’m genuinely not worried about ageing in the future.

      It just seems like something that’s so natural, and that happens to all of us. I notice when people start to age, but I don’t really perceive it as a “physical horror show”, or even a big negative at all. I mean, I don’t want to look like them now, because I’m not even 20, but I don’t have a problem with looking like them when I’m their age.

      I have an elderly neighbour who I help to manage her medication, and I realise this sounds super corny, but I think her face has character. No, she’s not conventionally beautiful in the way she once may have been, but beautiful in the sense that her physical appearance is like a marker, a result of all the years she’s lived (and representative of the myriad of experiences she’s had within those years). It’s like a physical reminder that she’s seen so much more of life than I have and she has the most amazing stories (some touching and some quite inappropriate!)

      So yeah, I realise that story is a little corny, and I’m open to the possibility that I may be less welcome to ageing when it actually happens to me, but from my current perspective it’s just not something I’m scared of.

      1. LMW*

        I felt the same way when I was your age, but now that it’s actually starting to happen, it is a little annoying. Not devastating, but I was surprised that I was actually a little peeved to find that first gray hair and that the wrinkle between my eyebrows doesn’t go away after a nap. The most annoying thing though, is the slowed metabolism. I didn’t think that was real and it totally was!

        1. fposte*

          Yes, I had more more equanimity about it before it started happening. And I’m still cool with the overall concept–it’s just that some of the manifestations are ones I could do without.

          It’s always good to cultivate friends much older and much younger, I think; I did deeply amuse a 94-year-old friend the other week by telling her how old I felt.

    14. Brett*

      I was friends with Mario Lopez in junior high (we were in the same junior wrestling league). I cannot figure out if it is demoralizing or heartening to know that he is the exact same age and background as me, because he is on his way to being the next Dick Clark.

      Oh, the dimpled freak is the same age as you too Alison :)

    15. KarenT*

      I’m 31, and I’ve been noticing the same. Not that I think I’m old, but the teen stars that I grew up idolizing aren’t looking so young these days!

      1. Kerry (Like The County In Ireland)*

        Know what’s worse? When you’re reading YA and you realize the parent characters are more interesting than the kids.

        1. chewbecca*

          And that the kids you’re supposed to sympathize with are actually being unreasonable and making really bad decisions!

        2. Collarbone High*

          I saw an e-card on FB yesterday that pointed out that Chandler and Monica’s twins would be 10 now, Emma would be 13, Phoebe’s triplets would be 15 and Ben would be 19. Mind = blown.

    16. Vancouver Reader*

      I admit, I care less now at 45 than I did when I was 20. I wear a lot less makeup too (& therefore spend less time) and feel better for it.

      I don’t look at the J. Anistons of the world but rather the Judi Denches & Helen Mirrens and think that’s what I want to be like when I get to be their age.

    17. Jess*

      If it helps any, I’ve been noticing lately that there are plenty of older women (60+) who are still quite beautiful, even though they may look their age – and these are ordinary people too, not celebrities.

      I can definitely understand the impulse to “get work done” but ultimately people just end up looking like they had work done.

    18. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I think I’m less freaked out by signs of aging in general and more by the idea that so many people end up looking nothing like themselves after a certain point. When I look photos of, say, my grandparents when they were young, I don’t recognize them at all. I never saw them looking that way, at least not that I remember. It’s just crazy to me how much transformation occurs.

      1. Eden*

        I’m starting my transformation…into my mother. I notice now when I see pictures of myself how much I look like her in her later years. I do notice that some people have a much more pronounced transformation than others…my mom’s mom let her hair go not only grey but white in her 30s, and even in pictures from the early 1970s looks like she did in her 70s-80s.

        1. Kelly L.*

          I look so much like my grandmother. If I got the haircut she always had, it’d be uncanny, other than the fact that I’m a few inches taller than she was.

      2. fposte*

        But I do think some of that is the fact that you didn’t know them when they were young (and there’s a huge difference of era presentation that skews the difference further). People I’ve known all along still look like themselves to me.

        (It’s funny how the “themselves” interpretation is actually not about them but about us, isn’t it? It’s like our memories trump their own identities to us.)

      3. Not So NewReader*

        I keep checking the eyes. Something about the eyes. People change so much, but their eyes give them away. Can’t explain it very well.

      4. QualityControlFreak*

        Hmmm. When I look at photos of grandparents in their youth, I see the same steely dark gaze here, the same sideways smile there. And the bones of the face don’t seem to change much. At 53 I still look like myself. Older, grayer, yes. But not drastically changed. What I find difficult is observing the aging process in loved ones and realizing that we all walk that path. It’s function over form for me. But I’d recognize my granddad’s face at 25 or 75.

    19. cuppa*

      I’m starting to get grey hairs and I can’t decide whether or not I want to start dying it. I’m a little afraid to start down that rabbit hole but I’m not sure I want to start going grey, either.

      1. fposte*

        I’m torn on this, because I actually find it a little odd to see older faces with dyed greyless hair, but I understand the temptation, too

      2. Laura*

        My philosophy (such as it is, I’m only 30) is that since aging is unavoidable, all I can do is make myself look as awesome as possible with what nature/god/genetics gave me.

        I may be getting older but I’m also making more money than I ever have before, so I can afford to spend a little more on nicer clothes, a good hairstylist, nice makeup and skin care products. But that stuff is fun for me – I genuinely enjoy shopping and fixing my hair and putting on makeup – and I understand that that’s not for everyone. But so far it’s actually made me feel better about the way I look than I did when I was in my early 20s, so I hope that continues.

        Also, wearing a perfectly tailored suit or dress will make you look and feel like a million bucks, no matter what your age.

      3. Elizabeth West*

        I color, but I’ve been doing it since I started going gray at 28 (around the time I began showing symptoms of thyroid disease). I read somewhere that premature gray can be a symptom. You can imagine my reaction the first time I found a gray hair!

        Right now it’s still fairly dark red, but I may go lighter when my eyebrows start to lighten up.

      4. CTO*

        I actually think some gray hair is really pretty, even on younger people. I freaked out a little bit when I found my first gray hairs a couple of years ago, but now I kind of embrace them (I’m 27). I’m actually jealous of my friends around my age who have darker hair, because their gray hairs make really pretty silvery streaks.

        1. Judy*

          My first year of being a girl scout leader I had a 6 year old girl spout out during a discussion “How do you get all those pretty silver threads in your hair?”

        2. Windchime*

          I’m in my early 50’s, in a field that typically attracts younger people (IT). I do color my hair. I’ve got a lot of gray, but if I didn’t color, it wouldn’t be a lovely silvery gray. It would be mousy and dull brown mixed with tons of gray. So I color.

          As for the “not resembling their younger selves” thing, I think that it really makes a difference if you’ve known the person in many stages of life. I can look at a picture of my dad when he was 8 years old and still see the resemblance to the 70-ish guy he is today. Same with Mom or my siblings. Some of my classmates look quite similar today as they did in high school; others, not so much.

          I was in an airport restaurant the other day and there were two older ladies working as wait staff. Both seemed very fit and healthy. The lady who was helping our table had a kind face with many wrinkles, a soft hairstyle and a pretty smile. The other lady had harshly colored hair and her skin was so tight and shiny-smooth that she looked kind of scary — she had obviously had a lot of work done. To me, the lady with the natural wrinkles looked more beautiful and natural.

          Not sure what that has to do with this discussion, actually. But maybe the reason that some of the celebrities look nothing like their younger selves is because they’ve had so much plastic surgery that it would be impossible to look anything like what they would otherwise look like with normal aging.

      5. Esra*

        Highlights, friend, highlights. If you just colour it all, you’re stuck with that forever. But highlights a touch lighter than your natural colours will blend the grays and you don’t really notice as it grows out.

        (I’m 31 and my mom and grandma were almost all white by 45. I highlight. F aging gracefully.)

      6. samaD*

        this is going to sound weird, but I was happy when I found my first white hair! I was around 30, but my parents greyed early & my brother started greying at 17 and I was feeling left out :)

        can you get a temporary colour (one of those 1-week wash-out ones) and see if you like the effect?

    20. Noah*

      I found my ID card from my freshman year of college recently. Never realized how much different I looked at 18 than I do now at nearly 30. I know there will be an even larger gap between 18 and 70, but even 10 years seems to make a difference.

      1. fposte*

        My work ID photo is getting close to twenty years old now. I really should change it just because it looks kind of pathetic otherwise.

    21. Mephyle*

      I found that it was all good up till about 53 (four years ago), and then there is a big divide. My crepey neck, my furrowed brow, my droopy jowls – aggghhhhh.
      On the other hand, a lot of parts of me hurt now, and the bright side of that is that it distracts you somewhat from thinking about how you look.

    22. Ursula*

      I’m 47 and didn’t really start caring about aging until I went back to work a few years ago. The thing is, I look so much like my mother that I’ve got a pretty good idea of what I’m going to look like in 27 years. I take much better care of my skin than she has over the years, so I may not have the same amount of wrinkles at 74. What worries me more than wrinkles is overall health. My mom is in great physical and mental shape. She hikes once a week with other women her age who are also intellectually minded, takes zumba classes, travels, and volunteers regularly. I need to make sure I continue to be active and use my brain in different ways so I can be like she is.

    23. Not So NewReader*

      What gets me is the 20 y/o babies. They were just babies yesterday, what happened? I haven’t changed… much… okay some…okay, radically. Then I make me stop. This is what old people do, they talk about how big the babies have gotten. yikes. I have a list of “things old people do” inside my head. I have been making this list all my life. My vow is not to do those things- EVER. (We will see how this goes…)

      I think in my 20s and 30s time stood still. I never felt older- I mean aches/pains and I never thought about being older.

      My 40s it hit me that I will age just like I see others around me aging, I knew that right along, but some how I had to rediscover that.

      I actually like the age I am at and am generally content about whatever age I am. Each decade has it’s advantages and disadvantages. At 53, I no longer care about aging. And I have noticed a huge difference in the way my peer group treats each other- there seems to be a gentleness and respect that was not in place before.

      I will say that more than ever, I realize the choices I make now will effect my quality of life in 20-30 years. I think I am more aware of my choices than I have ever been. And I do try to remember the choices of people before me that did not work out so hot. Pick something different.

    24. Kelly L.*

      So many weird feels about aging! I noticed a few years ago that I look older (more fine lines and such) than any of my siblings. And I gave myself hell for looking “like a hag” (in my own mind) compared to them. And then I thought…but I am the oldest. I’ve simply lived more years on the earth than they have. What’s the alternative to my aging first–one of them living such a rough life that they catch up, visually? I don’t wish that on my siblings!

      With most people in my life, I’m continually surprised by how almost everyone looks younger than i thought “X years old” would look. I used to think I just knew a lot of vampires, but now I think we just have skewed ideas about what the ages look like, based on people who lied about their age, and on previous generations who smoked and spent more time in the sun.

    25. Lora*

      No, you do not stop caring. My mother is 72 and is itching for YET ANOTHER facelift.

      Definitely keep on with the sunscreen, though–I have super-pale redhead vampire skin, thus have always worn sunscreen religiously to keep from bursting into flames, and I regularly get carded (OK, thank you botox too). Meanwhile these women younger than me who are all about the tanning bed and not enough exercise get offended when people think they are MY age.

      Here’s what seems to make the difference, at least for me:
      -I eat ridiculously healthy 95% of the time. My favorite foods are yogurt w/ crunchy things in, kale chips with garlic salt, fresh fruit, baked sweet potatoes and smoked salmon with goat cheese on bagels. And lacto-fermented pickles with Szechuan peppers. Don’t ask me why, I hate steak.
      -I exercise A LOT. I love running with my dogs in the chilly morning air, doing yard work, yoga. We’re talking a solid 6-12 hours per week.
      -Sunscreen, botox (just a little around the eyes, not the weird mask-looking thing)
      -Teeth are bleached and even. When you & I were kids, unless your teeth were downright BAD, parents often didn’t buy braces. Now that’s so normal that all the young people have perfect teeth. It makes a difference.
      -Exfoliate and moisturize, even if your skin is naturally kinda greasy. I noticed my skin got this weird rough texture as I got older, and makeup kind of sinks into the wrinkles and pores. I get acid peels and exfoliate daily, and put Pond’s around my eyes and Neutrogena retinol cream on the rest of my face and neck. It seems to help, the fine lines really are not noticeable at least. I use BB instead of regular foundation as that also seems to be less cake-y.

      The exercise thing helps me move gracefully and comfortably–people I think of as looking old move stiffly, clumsily, shakily, like they are constantly suffering some kind of arthritis even when they’re not.

      Seems like the big determinant is really bone structure though. My great-grandmother looked practically the same from age 20 to 50 (she died young-ish), the only thing that changed in photos was her hair going from light brown to grey. It was a cheekbones/jawline thing. Same with my grandmother and aunt.

  27. thenoiseinspace*

    Yay! Okay, so I have two questions. Last week I interviewed for a position and the interview itself was…odd. I came prepared for every question and had tons of work samples that were directly related. When the interviewer said they needed someone who would be creative and take the initiative, I showed her samples of a project where I’d done just that. She was really impressed, but then got very quiet. I asked her if she had any concerns about my candidacy, and she replied, “Honestly, I think you’d be bored.” I did my best to assure her I wouldn’t be, but I was a little thrown by the comment. How should I have answered it? Has anyone encountered this before?

    Second, after the interview, I was emailed a test. I completed it and sent it in (again, via email) on Tuesday night. Stupidly, I didn’t request a delivery receipt (or whatever it’s called) and I haven’t heard back from her yet saying she received it. I don’t want to seem pushy, but on the other hand, if the file didn’t send, I don’t want to seem like I just forgot/blew off the test and didn’t do it. Suggestions, anyone? Is a “just checking to make sure the file sent” email three days later too obnoxious? I don’t want to be a pain and screw up my chances… :/

    1. Ask a Manager* Post author

      I asked her if she had any concerns about my candidacy, and she replied, “Honestly, I think you’d be bored.” I did my best to assure her I wouldn’t be, but I was a little thrown by the comment. How should I have answered it? Has anyone encountered this before?

      I’ve said that to candidates before, and it’s because I really meant it and wanted to be transparent with them. I don’t want hire someone who turns out to be bored; it’s too likely to affect the kind of job they’ll do, how long they’ll stay, etc. When I say it in an interview, I’m looking for a thoughtful response from them so that we can have a candid discussion of that.

      1. Jennifer*

        What kind of response can you give to that to talk someone out of that impression, though? It kind of sounds like the interview is doomed.

        1. Ask a Manager* Post author

          It really depends on the context. I’ve been swayed before, when someone was able to show that they fully understood the nature of the job and to compellingly explain what excited them about it.

          1. Wakeen's Teapots Ltd.*

            This for me also. I have two kinds of “bored” jobs.

            One is entry level in a field where it’s not easy to find a job. The job I offer is reasonably boring and doesn’t ever get any better. There’s a small chance of moving onto non-boring projects but I never even mention that because I don’t want to get hopes up. What will sway me is hearing somebody repeat back an understanding of what the job entails and tell me that they’ll be pleased enough to do this every day because (my life is hectic and I’m hoping for a job with routine and predictability, or, I’ve just graduated college and I want to do this for a few years to get resume experience, etc.)

            My second bored job is a passage to a reasonably exciting one. What sways me with this one is, again , a repeating back of what the job entails showing a clear understanding of the conditions and then an overall interest in the nature of what it that we do. I can’t ask them to be excited about the job itself, but if they have a spark about our business and convince me that they are committed/sticky, I’m swayed.

    2. Dang*

      I’ve gotten a few rejections because “I would be bored” also. Unfortunately it wasn’t at a point where I could even address it; I’d already been rejected.

    3. kdizzle*

      Ah yes, the “I think you’d be bored” comment.

      I must give off some kind of vibe about this, because about 40% of interviewers say this to me.

      Honestly, I’d take it mostly as a compliment that you’re presenting yourself as a high energy, dynamic kind of person.

      You have to figure out why they think you’d be bored. After hearing that comment, I do try to find out a lot more about what the typical day / week / month / year looks like for the person in that role. If they say that there’s 5 months of “slow-time” or “down-time” I know wouldn’t be interested. And I would be bored. Thank you for telling me.

      If they think I’d be bored because the job involves a lot of duties that a typical person might find boring, but I find engaging, I’ll allay their fears by telling them what a giant nerd I am (e.g. As a hobby, I collect daily data about myself: hours of excercise, weight, hours of sleep, mood, cups of coffee, etc….and then run regressions to determine effects of small lifestyle changes. A little spreadsheet work on the job? I’d love to. )

    4. LQ*

      I’ve had this said to me once. I would have been bored in the job. We had an honest conversation about advancement in the position and I came to the decision that the position wasn’t a good fit for me.

      I referred them someone else for the position after I declined it and they interviewed her and she did very well. They also contacted me quite a while later for another position that would have been more engaging for me.

      I don’t think it’s a bad thing. I think that if you are in a position to really honestly pick the best job for yourself (not I’ve been unemployed for too long and need something NOW) it is a sign of a good employer, someone who honestly cares about fit and is willing to critically examine things. It might also mean the job isn’t that exciting, doesn’t have much diversity, or doesn’t have advancement opportunity and those things seem important to you.

    1. Sunflower*

      I usually wear it half up, half down or all down. I think its fine to wear it pulled back but anyway I like my hair up, doesn’t look professional. A low, pulled back pony looks good too but I only like how I look if I leave my hair over my ears and it’s a little uncomfortable. Whatever you do, just don’t play with it!

    2. Kai*

      For long hair like I have, I think a neat bun is good, or putting it half-up with a barrette. My instincts would be to avoid a high ponytail (too little-girly) or leaving it all down, unless you can guarantee that it won’t get messy.

    3. Rayner*

      Something that’s not too complicated to fix if something happens to you – sudden wind, sudden rain shower, you stumble, you don’t want your hair to fall down and require twenty minutes and a blow dryer to repair.

      I like low pony tails but that’s about all I can manage without seven attempts and four mirrors.

      Nothing that looks too hard, so buns, pony tails, half ups with a barrette.

    4. Sascha*

      I have long, thick hair that gets frizzy easily, so I opt for a bun. It’s just too long to wear comfortably with a suit, especially during the summer.

      When it was more shoulder length, I would wear it down and straighten the hell out of it, and that looked nice.

    5. anon in tejas*

      I have a shoulder length bob currently– so down. But I always wear my hair down for interviews, even when it’s been longer or shorter. generally blown out straight.

      1. Shell*

        Usually either a bun or an updo. I use Goody’s spin pins or modern updo pin, respectively. I’m a total hair idiot and the updo is the absolute pinnacle of hair arrangement I can manage.

        My hair looks decent down, but it can be very inconsistent about how well it’d keep the freshly washed/blown dry look I put it through in the bathroom. Wearing it up is just more consistent…plus then I can’t play with it.

    6. Anonymint*

      When I had really long hair, it was corkscrew curly and unmanageable so for interviews I would do a french braid – it looked put together and kept everything contained.

      However, now I have a pixie cut (that I normally wear crazy and curly) but when I was interviewing for jobs I’d kind of part it and comb it with some gel (more like a man’s haircut).

    7. Mimmy*

      My hair is a bit past my shoulders, but like Sascha, gets frizzy if I don’t blow dry and put serum on it. I usually wear my hair all down because I’ve always been self-conscious about my hearing aids. However, my new hearing aids are more discreet, so I should think about trying a half-up, half-down look. Hair bands are a good option too, but they’re not comfortable for me.

    8. Jennifer*

      Mine gets pulled back in a clip as tightly as possible, barrettes and hairspray. Basically old maid hair without a bun. I already have long hair and look young, so I attempt to mitigate that the tiny bit that I can.

    9. TotesMaGoats*

      I have long and prior to my pregnancy very thick hair. FYI, you hair totally falls out when you have a kid. Stupid hormones.

      I would typically wear mine down and curly. Sometimes, on very humid days, it would go in a french twist. I could see a high ponytail in certain industries with the right kind of outfit. They can be super sleek when done well.

      1. Elizabeth the Ginger*

        Did you give birth recently? If so, your hair might go back to how it had been. Each individual hair has a “lifespan” after which it naturally falls out and is replaced by a new hair. During pregnancy, though, the hormones put all the hairs on hold and none of them fall out on schedule. Then, after birth, a lot of hairs “realize” that they’re overdue and all fall out at the same time. New hairs start to grow in, but it takes a while before they’re long enough to matter.

    10. Natalie*

      I have curly hair that’s roughly shoulder length. Usually I just wear it down, with maybe a little more oil on an interview day to keep it from being frizzy. If I was interviewing somewhere really conservative I might pull it back into a twist, but that hasn’t really come up yet.

      1. Cath in Canada*

        Curly hair here too, except that it’s not long enough to put up. Really the only thing you can do with curly hair is cross your fingers that it’s not going to have one of “those” days (people with curly hair will know exactly what I mean. My hair has never looked exactly the same two days in a row, and there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which variables will set it off. And I’m a scientist who’s been trained for decades in spotting the effects of changing variables).

      3. Persephone Mulberry*

        I’m in the middle of growing out my hair from a pixie (9 months in, and it could almost be called a bob!). I can’t wait until it’s long enough to do stuff like this.

      4. German Chick*

        Thank you :) If you search for “retro bouffant”, ” chic updo” or “gibson tuck” on youtube, you get videos which explain how to recreate these styles fairly easily.

    12. cuppa*

      I keep it up for interviews, too. I have unpredictable hair and I tend to play with it when I’m nervous, so I keep it up to prevent any issues on both of those fronts.

    13. Anonymous*

      I’ve always worn mine down and straightened. I actually wear my hair that way everyday!

      I try to do a better job when I have interviews though.

    14. Arjay*

      Never underestimate the power of a professional blowout. I can never do a thing with my hair, but a professional wielding professional tools can make magic happen. And that magic can really help with self-confidence and appearance.

    15. Stephanie*

      Ok, my answer is probably overly specific for my situation, but maybe this could be useful to someone. I have a schmedium Afro.

      My hair size tends to change based on the climate (usually bigger if it’s more humid), so I usually just wear it loose and deal with whatever curl pattern or volume I happen to have at the moment.

      I did get it pressed once when I interviewed at a Big 4 audit firm, because I was worried about the conservative culture. I don’t think I’d do that again. It took a long time since my hair’s so thick and it felt really weird to have straight hair again. Plus, I suppose there’s the whole principle of the thing.

  29. Ann Furthermore*

    In early this time!

    This is totally non-work related, but I’m so happy with how it turned out I just have to tell someone.

    I’ve been really trying to cook healthier meals for my family, since my husband was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 6 months ago. He’s done a great job of laying off the sweets, cutting out junk food, and so on. My part of that is to try and cook healthy food that still tastes good. I’ve been trying to cut out processed stuff wherever I can.

    I love a nice casserole — it’s the ultimate comfort food. But it’s usually made with canned cream of something soup, and OMG have you ever read the list of ingredients on one of those cans? Ack!! Anyway, I found a recipe for homemade cream of chicken soup that was just flour, milk, chicken broth, and spices. I made some a couple weeks ago, froze it (it froze very nicely), used whole wheat flour and 2% milk, and then used it this week in my favorite casserole. And it was SOOO good! I’m so happy that I’ve found a way to get one more processed thing out of my pantry.

    1. Sascha*

      That is great! Can you share the recipe?

      I’ve been trying to cook more healthy things, too – many days neither of us have enough energy to cook so we eat out a lot. I tried a new dish the other day and it turned out great. Simmered chicken breasts in chicken stock with some sauteed onions and leeks. It didn’t take much time to prepare and it turned out delicious!

      3. Ann Furthermore*

        My comment with the link just disappeared into the ether — no moderation or anything. But you can find it on this blog called asouthernmom.

    2. fposte*

      Congratulations! And to encourage you to step further away from the Cream of Whatever, I’ll give a big recommendation for America’s Test Kitchen/Cook’s Illustrated here. Even if you’re not into the geeky recipe-perfecting part, you end up with the closest to foolproof recipes that any source offers. I think a lot of times people cook something more from scratch and it doesn’t taste worth the effort, so they’re put off; ATK/CI stuff is almost always worth the effort. They’ve modernized very nicely to be more streamlined, and they have some cookbooks particularly geared to simplicity or short prep times–see if your library has them.

      I actually do a ton of soup-making and -freezing just for lunch, and I think it’s the handiest damn thing ever.

      1. Sascha*

        Thanks for the tip, I definitely need to check that out! I get put off by long prep times, cutting up lots of things, etc. I love fresh veggies and home made meals, but…effort…

      2. Sparrow*

        I love the America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Illustrated books. I have several of their Cooking for Two books, which is perfect for me and my husband.

        Speaking of casserole, I saw a recipe for Chicken, Broccoli and Quinoa casserole on the food blog Pinch of Yum. It uses a similiar homemade cream of chicken soup rather than processed stuff.

      3. Ellie H.*

        I love ATK. It’s so satisfying for someone who likes the whole idea of science experiments and controlled trials, plus great food. The podcast/radio show is a lot of fun too.

      4. Elizabeth the Ginger*

        The Cook’s Illustrated Best 30-Minute Recipe book is great for weeknight meals. A lot of the recipes have ingredients in them that you might not have in the pantry, though, so it’s good to plan ahead.

    3. anon in tejas*

      Best Light Recipe from America’s Test Kitchen has some great recipes. I really love the Chicken Rice Broccoli cassrole. I also like Smitten Kitchen’s sausage, tomato rissotto. I throw so many veggies in there, it’s not so much rissotto, and I’ll use kale instead of spinach.

      Good for you! Keep it up!

    4. krm*

      That sounds really good! I would definitely recommend checking out the blog “Can You Stay For Dinner”. It is written by a woman that has lost and kept off over 100 pounds. She is very realistic about indulgences and moderation, and also doesn’t use all kinds of crazy ingredients. I absolutely love her recipes, and cannot wait to buy her cookbook when it comes out this year!

      1. Sparrow*

        I like that site too. Lots of good recipes! Another good one is Skinnytaste. She posts calorie info and Weight Watchers points.

  30. CanadianWriter*

    My summer job is supposed to start this weekend, but it’s still cold enough to snow. I might have the long weekend off, for the first time in ages.

    1. The IT Manager*

      Woohoo! Your definition of cold is different than my definition. Cold front game through yesterday and we had highs in the 80s today and low humidity. Awesome. :)

  31. Blue Anne*

    I have my final interview for a Big 4 job early next month! The interview is going to be with a Partner. Eep!

    I’m feeling pretty confident, but if anyone has relevant interview experience, it’d be much appreciated. I get a little intimidated when I think about how much Big 4 partner time gets billed out for… and they’re spending an hour of that on me…

    3. Apollo Warbucks*

      It depends so much what job it’s for and what level you’re interviewing at?

      Make sure you know the firm and the service line as well as you can, do plenty of research.

      Read the job description a number if times and be able to demonstrate with examples how you can do the job.

      Be able to talk about the the biggest recent business news stories locally, nationally and internationally.

      Check out glass door as there maybe pervious candidates thoughts on the interview process you can

      Prepare for questions like tell me about a time where something that didn’t go to plan, you worked as part of a team, you had a disagreement at work.

      Make sure you have questions to ask at the end about the company and the job.

      1. Blue Anne*

        Thank you for this! It’s for an entry-level Audit position where they’d be giving me a training contract, so I’m hoping there won’t be too many technical questions. (Which glassdoor and wikijob have backed up, thank god.)

        Definitely need to spend some time reading the FT and getting to grips with the different services offered.

        Slightly nervous…. eep.

        1. De Minimis*

          I’ve worked for Big 4 on the tax side, but I imagine audit has similar interview practices. From your description though it sounds like it might be a little different. I met with a partner for a first round interview, then was invited to the office a few weeks later and interviewed with a second partner and a director.

          Big 4 tend to look more at behavioral fit than specific experience, their logic is that they can teach the technical stuff. The number one trait they really seem to want is someone who is adaptable to a fast-changing environment. Actually, not just someone who can adapt but someone who prefers that type of environment. There will probably be a lot of “tell me about a time when…” questions.

          Anything that shows that you can multi-task is good, like working while in school.

          People who get to this interview stage generally all have good academic qualifications, so at this point people usually just want to know more about what you’re like as a person. Be prepared to talk about stuff you like to do outside of work, current events, etc.

          Have good questions. It’s good to ask about something that shows you’ve done some research on the firm and that particular office, especially if they tend to serve a particular industry.

          If things are ran like my interviews were, the partner interviews will be more loose and less technical, and they’ll be more about your personality. They may also have you meet with a manager and/or director, and those tend to be a bit tougher and they might delve into technical things a little more, but they will definitely be more about how you might fit as a team member. As a new associate you generally won’t work a whole lot with partners on a regular basis, the manager will usually be your main “boss,” but the Big 4 model usually has you working on multiple engagements and being part of different teams.

          Good luck, I hope it works out for you if it’s something you really want. The job tends to be very demanding.

          1. Blue Anne*

            This is gold, thank you.

            I’m really hoping that I’ll have a chance to meet some of the team I’d be working with, especially my direct manager, but we’ll see. (Something to ask about!)

            How the interview process for entry-level Audit works here is online application with math and verbal tests, telephone interview, full-day “assessment centre” which assesses how you work, and then the final partner interview.

            There’s apparently about a 85-90% pass rate for the final partner interviews here, which makes me think that you’re probably right in saying it’s more about personality at that point.

            Pretty excited! (Despite the looming horror that would be Busy Season. At least I’m forewarned.) :D

        2. Apollo Warbucks*

          For audit you should google sarbanes oxley it’s a very important bit of legislation that’s been enacted in the wake of Enron and worldcom. It’s also worth a look at the international financial reporting standards, IFRS as that is the standard format for most business accounts you will deal with.

          You might like to ask the partner about the audit methodology and software used to complete audits.

          If it’s a training contact you should make sure you understand what’s on the syllabus and the pathway to qualification, (number of exams, how long it will take, any exceptions you can claim if you’ve got a degree) and post qualification experience needed to become a member.

          1. Blue Anne*

            Fantastic, thank you. I do already know a bit about sarbanes oxley and the IFRS, which is encouraging. Good to know I’m on the right track.

            I’m going to have a good weekend knitting and reading up on all of these things. Super helpful, folks, thank you.

  32. CTO*

    Just curious: how much emphasis do you give to your “gut feeling” during a job search? When considering an offer, are you more likely to follow your gut, or a more objective list of pros and cons?

    I tend to have a reliable gut sense when it comes to choosing jobs, even ones that sometimes aren’t the best choice on paper.

    This is on my mind because I had an interview last week for a job that in many ways is quite appealing on paper (though it has its downsides, too), but my gut tells me it’s just not the right job for me. But since I’m getting laid off in a few weeks and haven’t been scoring many other interviews, it might be tough to turn down the job if it were offered to me.

    So, what’s your general decision-making style during a job search?

    1. BB*

      9/10 times, in work or personal life, my gut has been right. Can’t explain it- in fact, I’d be interested in a book or research on ‘gut feelings’ *going to amazon now*

    2. Kelly L.*

      My gut sense has been pretty good, I think. My guess is that I pick up on things in the work environment without noticing. Sometimes after an interview I just feel…yuck. Not from nerves or worrying about my own performance, just really really not wanting to go back to the place the interview was held.

      1. CTO*

        Yeah, it’s easier to go with your gut when the negative feeling is really strong. But this time, it’s just “this isn’t quite the right job” not “RUN NOW!”

        I’m also switching fields and aiming for a big pay increase at the same time, so to actually have an opportunity on the table that would help me accomplish that feels particularly hard to turn down. Of course, the hiring process for this role is competitive, so maybe I won’t even be offered the job.

    3. A Bug!*

      You should listen carefully to your gut, but critically. If I always listened to my gut I’d never leave my comfort zone, but my biggest advances in life have been a result of doing something that scared me.

      If you can rule out that your gut feelings aren’t being influenced by something like that, then I think you should be able to trust it.

    4. Artemesia*

      40 years ago I was offered what looked like a dream job where I had been recommended by a major figure in my specialty. This would have necessitated moving my family including my husband just getting established in a law firm. There were giant pert charts on the wall; much was promised. But my spidey sense was tingling for no reason I could identify. I turned it down. A friend of mine was pursued and took the job. When he got there, he discovered that everything on the pert chart was a lie, that key people in the community who were supposedly participants in the projects of the business had been alienated through broken promises (they had gotten several teachers to quit their jobs on promise of major assignments in the company and then reneged) And worst yet, the president of the company had embezzled money including grant funds. A giant cluster fudge.

      I have listened to that gut feeling that saved me every sense.

  33. matcha123*

    Anyone else living and working abroad?
    How do you find it compared to back home?
    I’ve been abroad for 8 years, and it’s tough!

    1. Rayner*

      I’ve been away for a year, and I’m looking to move into a career path that will hopefully lead me to move to New Zealand or Australia.

      Going back home is hard. Everything from the way shops are laid out, to the way TVs work, to the way people treat public transport – it’s all different in Finland to the UK. It’ll probably be worse if/when I get to New Zealand.

      1. matcha123*

        I’ve never been to NZ but, everyone I’ve met from there is nice and easygoing.
        Of course my sample is small, but it seems like a good place!

      1. matcha123*

        Any countries or regions you have in mind?
        I’d love to take a year or two and just make my way around the world…after winning the lotto, of course hehe~

          1. Rayner*

            England is beautiful, but I’d steer clear of it pending on the election result.

            Or it’ll all fall down.

            Trust me, I’m from there.

            1. Elizabeth West*

              I’ve been watching that–and I have family over there anyway. But don’t worry; it’s not bloody likely anytime soon, unless I suddenly marry an Englishman (also not immediately likely).

            2. Carrie in Scotland*

              Which one? The European elections or the possible Scottish Independence? (Don’t make me independent!!)

    3. NavyLT*

      I was stationed overseas for three years and loved it. I found that the hardest part was getting used to dealing with the local government (renting a house, registering a car, stuff like that). But as far as day-to-day life, it was great.

      1. matcha123*

        Housing here is a huge pain, too. Sometimes you can luck out and get a real estate agent that seems like they are going a bit further for you. Even if it’s show, it still feels good…

    4. Schmitt*

      Tough until the language is learned and you’ve made a few friends – but now I don’t believe I’ll ever move back. German culture is just right for this cranky reserved lady.

    5. Blue Anne*

      I’m American and have been living in Scotland for about 7 years now. It’s ace.

      I occasionally miss things from back home, but usually only around Thanksgiving or the Fourth.

  34. Frustrated Job Seeker*

    How do you write a thank-you note for a job interview where the interviewer asked you no questions with the the exception of “tell me about yourself?” I’m glad I came equipped with at least a half dozen questions to ask (not thinking I’d need to use them all) and basically ended up interviewing her!

    Some background – this is a particular type of job I’ve been after for awhile, entry-level in theory but usually goes to someone “they already have in mind” – thus, an ad or two might be posted and a group of candidates are interviewed to give the appearance they are conducting a serious search. I have strong contacts in this field, so I reached out (abet publicly, via a social media platform) for help. Someone offered to help me at the very least get an interview, which I was granted (with to my chagrin, only a day and a half to prepare – I didn’t even have time to get a new suit, much less do in-depth research/memorize question answers) We met, and at the beginning she went on about our mutual contact, and I got the impression that was the only reason I was selected to interview in the first place.

    I searched the archives on here for this type of scenario, but the only thing I could find was that I should have steered the interview “back in the right direction” and made her start asking me questions. Honestly, I have no idea how I would have done this anyway, and wonder if it was some weird test (to see how you would take control of a situation?)

    Despite what Allison says about courtesy interviews being a rarity, they seem to be the only ones I can get (I had one last year where the interviewer basically turned it into a date. He was in a serious relationship, got engaged a few months after our interview, and got married recently. Yes, really.)

    1. Biff*

      I always keep my thank-yous really short and to the point, something like “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me on Tuesday. I really appreciated the time you took to introduce me to Tiffany and Co. I look forward to hearing from you in the future. All the best, Pablo.”

    2. Marina*

      “Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about this job. Please let me know if I can provide you any further information about my qualifications.”

  35. Ali*

    I had a pretty solid week! On the work end, I picked up another social media volunteer gig, so I’ll be spending the next couple months getting experience in that area. This on top of my internship plus full-time job. I may be crazy, but ever since I quit my hockey writing gig last week, I’ve realized that trying to work in sports was just not a good fit and that I really only wanted to be there for the fun and glamor aspects of having the job. I’m glad I found this blog and have now realized there is no such thing as a dream job.

    I also started my fitness blog, which you can read if you click on my name here. But in case you can’t: http://fitandstrong30.wordpress.com. There’s only a few posts so far, but I’m excited to be doing this. I also signed up for a Zumba mentoring program, which would pair me with an experienced instructor to help me get up and running with my teaching. I hope they can assign me to someone, but if not, the other teachers at the gym where I was told I can sub are amazing and supportive.

    I can’t say things are perfect since I’m still itching to leave my current job, but I feel like I’m moving towards things that are a better fit for me. I hope it all works out!

    1. Not So NewReader*

      This is sounding really good, Ali! Fingers crossed! Sometimes stuff boils down to just having the brass to forge ahead when it all doesn’t make sense.

      It is annoying to me, but I find the more I move around and do different things the more likely it is that things work out well.

  36. Ask a Manager* Post author

    I just closed comments on yesterday’s “my coworker is planning a CEOs and office hos party” post, because I didn’t see a way to rein in discussion that had gotten pretty far afield from the OP’s question and what will be useful to her and anyone else in a similar situation.

    The issues being discussed on that post are fascinating ones to me personally and obviously to others too, but they’re also not the point of the site, and if the comments on this post are taken over by that discussion, the actual discussion of the letter is drowned out and the site’s mission is diluted and compromised — and people are driven away because it’s not what they come here for. And I know that’s happening because they’re increasingly telling me that.

    The thing I want to say here is this: I’m far more interested in having people come here to talk about workplace issues than I am in having it be a forum for social justice issues. (I say that as someone who cares passionately about many of these issues and who has worked in advocacy for most of my career — but it’s not what I want to do with this site.) And so I guess I’m asking for your help, as regular commenters, in helping me out on that front.

    And this needs to be said too: That discussion wouldn’t have gone in the direction that it did if people weren’t getting into it with one specific commenter, so I’m asking that commenter to be mindful of what I’ve written above as well. (BCW, I’m talking to you!) I don’t want one commenter to have the ability to so significantly derail discussion (BCW, I don’t think that was your intent — but it was the effect), so maybe I need to tackle it from that angle too, but I’d rather not shut one person down if we can adjust community norms about how that’s responded to.

    1. BCW*

      I’m all good with that. But I will say, in my defense, the vast majority (aside from the one this morning) were in direct relation to the question or a response to someone’s post. Now after MY statement, yes other people started making statements and asking me questions, which I responded to. So yes, maybe I was the catalyst, but I didn’t necessarily take it in the social justice direction.

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        I know — you were primarily responding once it started. And maybe I should have stepped in sooner and that would have solved it. But I’d really appreciate it if you’d be cognizant of the the potential those threads have to really drown out the conversations that people come here for.

    2. CA Anon*

      Some of that was my fault, sorry. I didn’t intend to derail the conversation, I just wanted BCW to stop telling people that they were overreacting. Unfortunately, it lead down the rabbit hole of everyone discussing why it isn’t ok, which certainly wasn’t my intent.

      For future reference, how would you like us to call out problematic behaviors or comments in the discussion thread without causing a derail? I’d like to be able to say “please rethink that approach/comment, I find it sexist/racist/etc.” without it causing such a fuss.

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        I’m honestly not sure. I think people are going to have to agree to disagree and to recognize that this isn’t the spot for longer explorations of this stuff, so I guess my request is to leap to “agree to disagree” much, much sooner … or not feel an obligation to get into it at all.

        “This isn’t the place for it, but I strongly disagree with that comment” is also an option. Doesn’t let it stand unchallenged, but doesn’t go down the rabbit hole of debate either.

        1. Tinker*

          I think part of the problem has been that BCW’s repeated statements aren’t seen (at least by him) as being repetitive, pushing an agenda, or being part of the “social justice” topic, but the responses are seen as “you’re just saying the same things over and over again, doing this social justice thing”.

          This is understandable, given the number of people who hold the opposing position, but it seems to me that consistent opposition to feminist concepts is still a part of the overall social justice conversation and that the previously established pattern was not lacking in repetitiveness. I think there’s a tendency on both sides to some degree to do the “I’m forceful / you’re angry” sort of fundamental attribution error stuff — no fault in it, it’s a human thing. It happens. It’d be nice if it didn’t, though.

          I think it’s a good idea to mutually agree to avoid that particular path of discussion in the future, so I’m glad to hear that we’re going in that direction.

          I’d also like to float the suggestion that while it’s not reasonable to completely cut off expressing sincerely-held opinions, even if controversial, I’d like to see folks endeavor to move away from the “I know you all were going to…” post preamble and the “group-think / I dare to dissent” stuff, from any source — people often do feel this way, but actually driving that point has a way of poisoning discussion.

          In any event, I’m adequately convinced that there’s not any point in being involved in this pattern of discussion from my end, so regardless of what happens going forward I will endeavor not to be.

          1. Ask a Manager* Post author

            I think part of the problem has been that BCW’s repeated statements aren’t seen (at least by him) as being repetitive, pushing an agenda, or being part of the “social justice” topic, but the responses are seen as “you’re just saying the same things over and over again, doing this social justice thing”.

            I agree. If I’ve given the impression I see it as only one side being repetitive, let me correct the record here: I’m talking about both sides of it. It’s all off-topic after a certain point, and it’s all become circular.

            I’d also like to float the suggestion that while it’s not reasonable to completely cut off expressing sincerely-held opinions, even if controversial, I’d like to see folks endeavor to move away from the “I know you all were going to…” post preamble and the “group-think / I dare to dissent” stuff, from any source — people often do feel this way, but actually driving that point has a way of poisoning discussion.

            Holy hell, yes. I’d really appreciate it if people would drop that prelude to comments.

            1. Tinker*

              Yeah, I was a bit unclear — I think you’ve handled this well, it’s more in the way that these discussions have unfolded among the people participating in them, given the way we’ve tended to describe the thing that it is we’re trying not to go into. And I think that arises naturally from the number of people around here who are, at least roughly or with regard to gender issues, inclined toward the “progressive” perspective.

              I have been really impressed with the way we’ve been handling these conflicts, overall. I have a lot of experience in a discussion forum style where this sort of problem has been solved by the iron fist or not at all, so the fact that people are trying and mostly succeeding to work together as a community is impressive.

        2. Not So NewReader*

          I think asking ourselves this question may help:
          How does my comment help the OP?

          I find some of the comments very informative and interesting but I picture the OP sitting there saying “but, but, but… what about my question?”

      2. fposte*

        Can we perhaps think of it in terms other than “calling out”? That always has a bad flavor to me of adversariality and superiority.

        1. Ask a Manager* Post author

          Yes! Totally agree with this. We actually don’t need to feel an obligation to “call it out” every time it happens. We can just let the discussion move on to the intended topic.

        2. Not So NewReader*

          how about “redirecting to the OPs concern” or “going back to focusing on the OPs particular setting”

    3. LouG*

      When you close the comments, are we still able to see them? My understanding was closing the comments meant we can no longer add to the discussion, but we can still read what was written. I don’t see the comments link.

        1. LouG*

          Thanks! I never knew you could get to comments that way. I always click on the number of comments below the article.

    4. Jamie*

      I’m glad you addressed this, because last night driving home I had a serious case of posting remorse and if I could have deleted my comments I would have.

      Not that I said anything I don’t believe, but I’m embarrassed for even engaging in the conversation when I knew nothing productive would come of that. I found the whole exchange so unpleasant I don’t even have words. It’s only happened once before, years ago, where I just felt really uncomfortable here. Like I was in the wrong place.

      So I apologize for commenting at all on that I have been making a real effort to stay on topic (definitely a work in progess, but I’ve been better) but I need to also make a concerted effort to just walk away when I start getting uncomfortable. Because I don’t want to turn into that xkcd guy who is furiously typing because he thinks someone on the internet is wrong.

      It just makes me sad.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        “I’m embarrassed for even engaging in the conversation when I knew nothing productive would come of that”

        I had the same feeling. :(

        1. fposte*

          I was wall to wall busy yesterday and missed it entirely. Sounds like I might have picked a good day.

      2. Tinker*

        I did delete about five posts before I sent them and I still regret writing them. Also reading the thread more than once, and also also thinking about it when I had any number of more important and useful things to pay attention to.

        So I’m with you on that one >_>

      3. Elizabeth the Ginger*

        > I’m embarrassed for even engaging in the conversation when I knew nothing productive would come of that.

        I used to comment on Reddit fairly frequently, but found something similar happening to me and eventually quit cold turkey. Over there, most subreddits are very male-dominated and often pretty sexist – even ones devoted to gender-neutral-seeming subjects. I got sick of choosing between ignoring the sexism (like people using c*** to describe a female politician, for example) or getting into terrible-feeling arguments. Over there on Reddit it’s even worse-feeling because of the comment voting system. Suggest that something someone said was sexist, then watch the score for your comment plunge into negative numbers. Eventually I decided that the only way to win was not to play…

    5. Wakeen's Teapots Ltd.*

      For someone born in 1961, separating workplace issues from social justices issues is hard. The two have been blended on my entire pathway.

      I think I do okay here because I endeavor to keep my posts to practical matters (or slightly off topic jokes :p) as much as possible, but the two aren’t easily separated in my mind. I’m sure I’m not alone.

      (Agree with your approach. There are a zillion places to discuss social issues.)

    6. Anon 1*

      I read the letter and then moved on to your comments because I thought your discussion of the legal implications was very interesting (i.e. why does a private event have work place implications). I thought the information was great, and wish it had been included as part of the answer. Once I looked at the rabbit hole of discussion, I decided to steer clear.

      Although, I remember feeling the same way about the duck dynasty doll letter (I think that is the right show…I don’t have cable and constantly confuse reality stars). When I read that letter, I honestly thought “wow, there are going to be some charged comments” before even looking at the thread.

      Perhaps when you respond to such a letter, you could include some sort of a disclaimer at the end of your answer. Or even a few pertinent questions to think about and discuss in order to steer people in the direction of work place topics. Who knows, that may not work, but its just an idea.

    7. Steve G*

      Interesting – I come on for short periods at work. I like the questions that sound boring but are more realistic, like today’s “refusing more work without a raise.”

      I like the comments where people write a paragraph or so about how they were in the situation, and I think “can’t believe that really happened.” That gives me a burst of excitement to go back to work with.

      I appreciate the shut-down of the comments yesterday after just going through them. There were tens of versions of “in some situations what you just said was acceptable, but it is not here” or “I understand your opinion but I do not agree with you…….” which is fine if you are talking about something very contraversial – but this is not. Yesterday, it was like a Rikki Lake show where everyone had a microphone.

      There is no right or wrong here, the party throwers are wrong, we all know it. So yes the discussion should have gone differently. There should have been more comments about how to steer situations like this before they become fiascos, and less about whether the party is right or wrong (since it is wrong!). So thank you AAM.

  37. Ali*

    Why is my earlier comment still “awaiting moderation?” Never had that before. Weird, especially since all my other comments are posting.

    Anyway, I have decided I am ready to leave my parents’ house. I’m still here because it took me longer than I anticipated to find decent paying work in my field. I mean, up until about a year and a half ago, the most I was making was $11 an hour. But now that I have a decent salary, I am itching to get out.

    Part of the problem is that my younger brother is beyond lazy. He’s 22 years old and has had one job ever. He also did some volunteering on a political campaign…in high school. He doesn’t seem to be incredibly motivated. He changed his major from something that could at least be a little marketable b/c he had trouble with the classes and is majoring in history. He has no real plan beyond “go to grad school.” My mom coddled him for so long, never made him work in high school or the early part of his college years and now it’s starting to hurt him. (He’s the youngest of four of us.)

    I realize I can’t do anything to fix this but it’s beyond annoying that he’s so lazy when my other siblings and I had summer jobs in high school/college, jobs during the school year in college and he’s basically loafed all this time. I’m not saying my mom shouldn’t have made me work or anything, but what makes him so special? Now she’s complaining he can’t find a job and hasn’t gotten out and applied, and I just want to be like do you know you kind of caused this?

    Gah so annoying.

    2. Elizabeth West*

      Understandable, but it’s not really your problem. You can’t control what other people do, only how you react to it. It sounds like you’re doing well and things are going great for you. Enjoy it and try not to be annoyed by your brother. He may not ever get it together–or he may see how you have and ask for some advice.

    3. Sunflower*

      Curious what birth order you fall into? Lately I’ve been obsessed with reading about birth order and how birth order affects your personality and career and it’s all really interesting. My little sister is about to graduate and move home and I’m sure my parents will cut her a bigger break than either me or my older sister got. I told my mom if she moves for grad school and my parents pay her rent, I’m out of family(kidding I think…). Anyway I just find it all really interesting!

        1. Sunflower*

          I’m a middle so you could fall into that depending on age gaps and genders. I just started reading ‘The Secret Power of Middle Children’ and it has some interesting stuff in there. But reading about birth order has helped me understand why my parents treat us all differently(and parents should treat kids different but equal) and why we are all so different- birth order is still a pretty shaky thing though and tons of other factors go into it. Beyond being interesting, it makes me feel a bit better about being the odd child out in my family.

          Moving out was a also a big(but greatly needed) step for me. My salary is still not at what I hoped it would be at when I moved out and I’m struggling a bit but I needed it for my sanity. I dreaded when my mother came home because it would just be another ‘hows the job search, why don’t you have a boyfriend’. Even though I’m financially struggling, its honestly SO worth it

    4. Marina*

      It’ll be a lot less annoying once you move out, I promise. :) About a year after I got out of my parent’s house for good, my family’s foibles changed from “oh god DON’T THEY KNOW THEY’RE BEING IDIOTS” to “oh those lovable idiots, they’ll never change but boy do they give me good stories to tell at parties”.

    5. EG*

      I am the oldest of 3. My mom passed away 10 years ago, and my dad 4 years ago. My two younger brothers have been living in the family home while the youngest finished grad school, paying utilities instead of rent somewhere. Now that we’re finally going to sell the house, I am finding out how immature they have been in keeping it maintained. I feel like I’m going to be cleaning up after pigs! Annoyed would be putting it mildly, because I’ve been married for 5 years, work full time, and take care of a lot in my life…but they cannot clean a bathroom or mow the yard regularly? All that to say, you are not alone in stress caused by younger siblings. Best way I’ve found to deal with it (through therapy for anxiety issues) is to realize that I am only responsible for what I can control.

    6. Not So NewReader*

      Try not to stare at the situation too long, it won’t help you. At all. I have relatives who have had life handed to them on a silver platter. I hate to say it because it sounds like bragging but in some ways I have made out better in life than they have. They have material goods but I have some intangibles that are priceless to me.

      For example: Think about people who can’t seem to trust anyone. That makes life so hard. At some point we have to decide that we can pick out trust-worthy people. Or at least feel we know something about how to do that.

  38. anon in tejas*

    a colleague (much higher up than me, probably boss’s boss level) invited me to a charity lunch. I am a fan of the charity, and would not have been able to go otherwise, so I gratefully accepted. We had a lovely time. My colleague bought a table, so she had about 9 guests, so we didn’t get a chance to chat directly, but everyone had a wonderful time.

    I am struggling with whether I should write the colleague a thank you note (via mail) or send something via email.

    I worry about coming off too eager. Ideally, I’d like to just come off as super polite and someone that she could/should continue to invite to these types of things.

    Help?

    1. OriginalYup*

      A thank you email sounds perfect.

      Does wording like this help? “Dear Colleague, Thanks so much for inviting me to Charity’s lunch last Saturday. I had a lovely time. As a long-time supporter of Charity’s mission, I really enjoyed meeting the other guests and hearing in-person about their great work. It was so generous of you to include me — I really appreciate it. Thanks again! YourName”

    2. en pointe*

      Definitely send a thank you! I would recommend email, as it’s faster and I think the message is really what counts.

      My boss hosts lunches and invites colleagues to charity events occasionally, and she always grumbles to me in the couple of days afterwards about specific people who didn’t send thank you’s.

      I’m not saying her behaviour is reasonable; I think it’s very petty. But, in addition to people like my boss, there’s probably another subset of people who would have the social graces not to grumble, but would definitely notice the absence of a thank you.

      Plus, it’s just a nice, polite thing to do generally; I don’t think you need to worry about looking over-eager.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      Either way I think would be fine.
      I have sent hand-written notes and gotten a “wow” reaction- the people were very touched that I took the time. I would do that again for someone who really wowed me with their thoughtfulness.

      But I think here your words are the most important thing and it does not matter how the words get to the recipient.

  39. Vanilla Bean*

    One of my good friends lost their job a couple of weeks ago. Very long story short, the organization they worked for eliminated some of the positions and he was let go. He was actually very unhappy and had actually been placed on a PIP about a year ago, so in a way, it was kind of a good thing. He will not receive any unemployment benefits (because the organization doesn’t pay into it), but will receive roughly three months severance.

    Other than being a supportive friend, is there anything else I can do to help? For those who have been through this, what do you wish friends/family members would have done to help?

    1. Dang*

      As someone who has been job searching for a year… my biggest advice is to NOT bring it up. Or maybe next time you see your friend, say “I won’t ask because I know it’s all-consuming… but here’s a blanket invitation to talk, vent, or whatever you need.” Seriously, I get stressed out when I have to see people I KNOW will ask me about my job search because.. um.. I’ll tell you if I want to talk about it. It’s so important for your friend to have a support network.. unfortunately for some of us, we end up avoiding ours because we are trying to socialize and escape from the crappiness of job hunting.

    2. Elizabeth West*

      For me, it was stuff like this:

      –Don’t ask, “How’s the job search going?” every time we talk. I didn’t want to talk about only that.

      –Please listen if he does want to talk about it. You don’t need to offer advice unless he asks for it. It was nice just to vent sometimes.

      –Try to spend some time with him or talking to him on a regular basis. Unemployment can be pretty isolating and it’s nice to have people remember that you exist.

      –If you’re not sure what he needs, ask! :)

    3. BB*

      The same thing just happened to one of my friends! I just read an article in Cosmo about advice to give on this and I disagreed with all of it. It basically advocated to continue asking about the job search and how you can help. I would say NO NO NO.

      I’ve seen people suggest taking them to lunch and offering to pay. I’d say no to that because some people(myself included) get uncomfortable with that. Instead offer up free or very cheap activities to do. I used to go on walks with my friend every couple days. Got both of us moving and out of the house. I would also recommend sending them to work blogs or sites. My friend hadn’t job searched in a couple years and instead of giving advice, I found directing them to other outlets of advice was more helpful.

      Just take the lead from your friend. Talk about it when they bring it up and leave it be when they don’t.

      1. Stephanie*

        I agree with the lunch thing being uncomfortable. I appreciate the offers, it just bugs me that I can’t pay the person back and almost makes me feel more pathetic (i.e., “Gah! I can’t find any job so I can afford the $18 for lunch.”).

        I’ve been dodging the discussion of a visit with a close friend, actually. He offered to donate miles and I’m almost too embarrassed to admit “No, I’m like legit broke. You’d be paying for the entire visit.” I’m aware this is dumb, as I don’t know who would have lots of money after over a year of job searching.

        1. BB*

          Honestly, whenever anyone brings up visits that involve planes, it makes me uncomfortable. I live on the east coast and visiting friends in NYC and DC isn’t too hard because I can hop on a bus for $15-40 bucks. Plane tickets are AT LEAST $200. My 2 best friends live in San Fran and Austin. Yes I’d love to visit a lot but even a $25 wedding present for my friend is really swinging it. At some points when I was unemployed, I had $20-50 in my bank account and thanked god I was living with my parents or I would have been dead. I don’t know why some people assume everyone has a couple extra hundred bucks just lying around.

          1. Stephanie*

            Yeah, that’s me at the moment. Thing is, I don’t think people can grasp the level of brokeness you hit when unemployed unless they’ve been there.

            “Oh, but you’re living with your parents! You don’t have any rent!”
            “Yes, and no income.”

      2. Mints*

        I agree too that offering to pay is sometimes awkward. I’d basically only let my mom buy me lunch; with everyone else, I’d pay and then be broke for a week.

        So I suggest inviting them to free or (very very) cheap things. Like ice cream cheap. Or go for walks, or go watch Netflix at their place and bring popcorn (“I love this popcorn. You should try it”) or free concerts if your city has them.

        Also, if you don’t end up hanging out, it’s really nice to reach out in other ways, like sending them GoT memes or texting them terrible puns you love. It’s good to remember people still want to be friends, even if you’re too broke to leave the house

      3. Kate M*

        One thing I like to do regularly (even with friends who have jobs) is find something that we’d both like to do, and go ahead and buy tickets or buy a gift card to it or something. Then I can just say, hey, I have an extra ticket/gift card to this place, want to join? If they say yes (knowing that they’ll be treated), great. If not, I can almost always find someone to come with me. That way they know the deal up front, and there’s no pressure since the money has already been spent.

    4. Stephanie*

      Let him bring it up first. And if he’s complaining about his job hunt, see if he’s just venting or if he actually wants advice. The unsolicited advice drives me nuts, since a lot of it is bad, obvious, or both. Of course, I know people are just trying to help with the advice. More than likely, he just wants to vent.

      I would also reach out to him socially and do cheap hangouts. Money’s going to be tight for your friend until he lands something, but he’s still going to want to see people. Job searching involves a lot of isolation and rejection, so social outlets are really helpful. It can be something as simple as “Hey, how about I come over with a bottle of wine and we can watch a movie?” Overall, I would just be cognizant that your friend has pretty limited money and may feel awkward being the person backing out of things due to money.

    5. some1*

      I have been in your friend’s shoes and appreciate that you want to be a good friend.

      1) Check in with him regularly, especially if he lives alone. Being unemployed can be really socially isolating.

      2) Invite him to activities that you would normally do, but preface it with, “I realize if this isn’t your budget right now, but a few of us are going to X tomorrow night if you want to join us.” –don’t assume he won’t want to go because he doesn’t have the money.

      3) If it’s your budget, offer to treat him to a night out: movie, dinner or drinks. If he has an issue with you treating, tell him he can treat you to something when he gets on his feet.

      4) Invite him to free or cheap things.

      5) Ask if he needs any help job searching.

      6)When I was unemployed, I got rid of my home internet service to save $ and the friends and family who offered me theirs were a godsend — much more preferably than trying to use public computers.

      7) Don’t complain about any aspect of your job to him.

      8) Getting laid off or fired happens to everyone — but that’s small comfort to the people who hit with the fear, shame, guilt and plunging self-esteem that comes with it. Don’t dismiss him if he feels any of these things.

      9) Send him an encouraging text the day of a job interview — it helps.

      1. Stephanie*

        Yes to #7. So much yes to #7.

        Don’t complain about being broke or poor to your friend. My friend was doing this to me the other day and I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying “Hey, you at least have a paycheck!”

        I’d avoid “at least” statements (such as “at least you got severance” or “at least this city has a good job market”). They minimize your friend’s very real feelings. Like I had to move in with my parents while I job hunted. I’ve had people say “Hey at least you can live with your parents.” It is true that I’m lucky that I have parents who are financially comfortable enough to support me while I job hunt, but I never really found that particular “at least” statement reassuring as there were still the very real challenges of living with your parents at 28.

        1. Bryan*

          My best friend did number 7 to me after I was fired. They were genuine complaints but I would have almost taken any job at that point. Once I got my current job which is amazing I might have sent a couple texts of things she would be jealous of.

          I love your advice of avoiding at least statements, not just in this situation but really ever. They’re well meaning but just because somebody has it worse does not make me feel better.

  40. Xay*

    Looking for some advice. One of my classmates referred me to her colleague for an informational interview. I didn’t ask her to – I talked to her about her employer a few days before out of curiosity about her field and how her employer is structured, but I wasn’t looking for a contact. Now her colleague seems really eager to talk to me but I’m not really sure how to prepare for the talk. Any suggestions for meeting with a networking contact that you didn’t seek out who seems really interested in you?

    1. Need clarification*

      Your friend definitely should not have made the introduction without asking or mentioning it first, and I’m not sure what the long-term solution is. However, for the short term, I don’t think that eager colleague should suffer based on your classmate’s faux pas. Does the colleague think YOU want the info/help, or vice versa? If so, I can see it being difficult to prepare…

      1. Xay*

        Yeah, I’m not sure what to do about my friend. She’s pretty eager and I appreciate that she thought of me, but some warning would have been nice.

        Vice versa – the colleague is contacting me because he would like to know more about me and my experience. I’m pretty openminded careerwise right now so I’m interested in talking to him, I just don’t know very much about him or his role and I’m not sure if this is purely informational or if there is an opportunity that he would like to talk to me about. I’ve done informational interviews before but usually I research who I would want to talk to and then reach out.

        1. Need clarification*

          OH! Since it’s vice versa, you have nothing to worry about. You remember being the one who did the research, so that colleague is probably doing his/her research! Just be prepared to answer any questions and/or talk about your path to where you are. Still don’t know the long-term answer about your friend, sorry.

        2. Not So NewReader*

          Ugh. Did this guy leave you a message saying this or is this your friend’s interpretation of things?

          I think I would err on the side of caution. I would figure this is just an informational interview and have questions prepared.
          Ask open ended questions. “So what does an average day look like for you?” The more he talks the more questions you will think of as you go along.
          Talk about what you have done so far and ask him what he sees in his field that would be a good fit for your background.

          As for your friend, I would have had words on this one if she were my friend. BUT, cannot unring that bell. The best you can do is tell her “look, you can’t do this to people. You have to ask both parties for permission to link them up. And you start by asking the party closest to you [meaning she should have asked you first].”

          I guess I would open the whole conversation by asking her what are you getting to meet this guy for an info interview or a job interview? What can you expect to happen at this meeting?

          1. Xay*

            My friend introduced us via email and he elaborated in his reply, so I’m confident he knows that I didn’t initiate the contact – she told him that I might be a good fit in his office and mentioned some of my background from my LinkedIn profile. After some additional conversation it looks like the interview will be very informal and mostly informational but the company is probably hiring within the next 3-4 months. So I’m going to treat it as informational, but I’m updating my resume over the weekend just in case.

  41. Random Reader*

    Hooray for open thread! As a wedding guest for four weddings this year and a bridesmaid for one coming up in June, can I just say that weddings are freaking expensive????? Lots of blogs and wedding related materials talk about the cost for the couple, but being a part of them is not cheap. From the gifts for the various showers, the actual wedding gifts, makeup, hair, travel, dress… I have to put in a new budget line for wedding related expenses :(

    1. Stephanie*

      Dear God, yes. I’ve been obsessively watching fares for a wedding in Indianapolis thinking “Bah, can’t y’all have this in a hub city like Atlanta or Dallas? It’s expensive to fly Phoenix to Indianapolis!”

      Another friend is getting married in Cambridge, MA. Her website listed hotels that had special event rates. The special rates were still around $200/night (yeah, I know Boston is an expensive area).

      Honestly, I have no qualms skipping a wedding if I can’t financially swing it. I do think I missed that aspect of female socialization where I’m supposed to be wedding-crazy. I’ll just send a gift and my regrets.

      1. Random Reader*

        Honestly, I wish I could send a more expensive gift (factoring in what I would have spent on travel, accommodations, personal appearance, and other things). For other weddings, I’ve done that and made sure to follow up with the bride on how it went.

        1. Sunflower*

          I understand it but the whole ‘give what you can aspect’ is SO UNCOMFORTABLE! I was talking about my worries with an upcoming wedding with my therapist. My friends all make much more money than me and I feel like the bad friend for not knowing if I can attend a destination bachelorette party or spend a lot on a gift. Even spending $20 on a gift is a stretch for me so it’s weird to see my friends purchasing $60 gift like it’s nothing

          1. Katie the Fed*

            Especially because some people really do expect you to “cover your plate” with regards to how much you give (which is the tackiest line of thinking imaginable).

            Personally, if they’re good friends they probably want you at the event more than they care about a gift. At least that’s how I would feel. I would FAR rather having someone there than give a gift. And don’t worry about the bachelorette party – you’re under no obligation on that either.

            I would just explain it to the bride at some point – “I really want to come but I’m really broke right now and can’t afford much in the way of gifts” and you’d probably feel much better.

            I don’t really need/want/expect gifts. I know people want to give them but it’s not a fundraiser.

            1. Stephanie*

              Every time I talk to a couple of friends, they’re like “I’m really looking forward to seeing you at my wedding this summer!” I’m dreading sending the invite declines. I feel lousy declining since they’re both close friends, but I can’t swing a cross-country trip for a wedding while job hunting. =/

              1. Katie the Fed*

                Awww, I’m really sorry :(

                Hopefully in a year you’ll be in a better place financially and can go visit the newlyweds!

              2. Bryan*

                Depending on how close, I’m wondering if you should let them know ahead of time you won’t be able to attend.

                1. Stephanie*

                  Ugh, close. One was my best friend while I lived in DC and we navigated all the awkward post-graduation/first job adventures with each other. Another is a close friend from HS.

                  I probably should talk to them ahead of time to soften the blow.

                2. Not So NewReader*

                  yeah, talk to them. “Hmm, it’s not looking too good for me money wise, I might not be making it to your wedding.”

                  This is better than stringing them along. I had friends wait to the last minute to say they weren’t coming. I couldn’t tell if it was a money issue or something else. Because they waited so long, I figured there was more going on.

            2. AVP*

              Ugh, I was a bridesmaid in an old friends wedding when we were 25, at the height of the recession. It was the tackiest, spendiest affair you could think up – she insisted that we all get our hair and make-up professionally done, kept track of who gave how much for gifts at which event, invited 70 people to the bridal shower which we had to pay for, destination bachelorette party, on and on. At one point I told her that I might drop out because I couldn’t afford to “be a par tot her big day” and she actually asked to see my budget so she could advise me on what else I could cut out of my life to free up more wedding cash.

              I think a lot of this was based on the fact that I was living in my own apartment in an expensive city, and she was at home with her mom, so she just literally could not envision what expenses looked like. Then when her and the husband got their own house, she would call me up and complain about how expensive shampoo and toilet paper are!

              One of the other bridesmaid did quit, didn’t attend the wedding, and they aren’t friends anymore. Hmmm.

              1. Katie the Fed*

                Wow. Are you still friends with her? She sounds awful (or maybe just clueless, but I’m leaning toward awful).

                A friend of mine was like this as a bride – was having a black-tie destination wedding in Paris (yeah….) and all these events and was just awful to her bridesmaids. I think half of them quit, and she was left begging people to be bridesmaids because nobody wanted to do it.

                1. Mints*

                  She does sound awful. I really can’t be close friends with people who are this privileged or clueless about money

                2. AVP*

                  Barely. Now she’s a mom and it’s even worse. It’s not about her anymore – it’s about Baby, who I’m not even friends with! Because he’s a year old! Ugh.

    2. Vanilla Bean*

      I had a friend who got married earlier this year. She was getting married a few hours from where I live, but thought it was within driving distance. Originally, I had a very small role in the wedding. One week prior to the wedding, the friend asked me to fill in for someone who couldn’t be in the wedding party after all. I obliged, because I was already attending and I felt bad for my friend.

      Turns out, the wedding location is very difficult to get to and my significant other and I ended up having to get a hotel room and spending money that we weren’t intending to. The bride and her family were quite rude to us and other members of the wedding party. All in all, it was a really bad experience and I don’t even want to invite this person to my wedding because it really soured our friendship. (She was not a close friend to begin with)

      So I’ve decided moving forward that I will not attend out-of-town weddings unless it’s a.) a close family member b.) a very close/best friend or c.) it’s not going to financially strain me. I’ve discussed this with a lot of my girlfriends, and we’ve all been burned/treated poorly by bridezillas and quite frankly, we’re sick of it.

      1. C Average*

        Same here. “Regrets” is my default response to wedding invitations unless you’re a close relative. I figure it’s an invitation, not a court summons.

      2. Sabrina*

        Yep. My aunt is getting married next weekend. Her second. It’s an 8 hour drive away on the Friday of a holiday weekend. Unlikely to get the day off anyway. But for my wedding she didn’t even RSVP, and I was at her first wedding, so by my math she owes me one.

    3. BB*

      I’m invited to ONE wedding this year and am astonished at the cost of that alone. Other friends are getting engaged and apparently the theme for all the bachelorette parties are ‘Oh where haven’t we been yet that we want to go!’. YIKES!!

    4. Bryan*

      I have two weddings to attend this year and I’m like, thank god we don’t have more friends. My brother constantly has bachelor parties and weddings to attend and feels obligated and I wonder how he affords it.

      1. AVP*

        I have one to go to this year in Cleveland which I thought would be pretty inexpensive. I’m not a bridesmaid so I just have to pay for hotel, flight, and gift. Then I totaled it up and it’s like $700. UGH.

        1. Bryan*

          Coincidence, I have one in Cleveland too and they put out the hotel’s special rate. I was like, “did you specifically search to find the most expensive hotel in Cleveland?!?!”

          1. Katie the Fed*

            I’m getting married in the DC area and I managed to find a weekend rate of $149. That’s not the best, but that’s pretty damned good, I think.

            1. Bryan*

              I think that’s great for DC area. The Cleveland hotel is $150. I’m in Central NJ (pretty expensive area) and I got $117. My bff in ATL got $100.

      2. Stephanie*

        My friend just likes weddings. She will go to weddings of people it doesn’t even sound like she’s close with. Is your brother like that?

        She went to one that was in Buffalo in February that was dry (and had no dancing at the reception) and was held on a Sunday. Any of those (except maybe the no alcohol) would have been a dealbreaker for me. I was like “So this is a close friend, right? Because this sounds not that fun.” “Eh, kind of? I talk to her occasionally.”

        1. Bryan*

          He has a lot of friends and “feels obligated.” He also likes to party (drink and dance). Now he’s having the problem of feeling like he needs to invite all of these people to his wedding.

    5. LV*

      I tried my best to be mindful of the cost of being a bridesmaid when I got married, especially since all my bridesmaids were university or grad students at the time. I let them pick their own dresses (as long as they were navy or royal blue – that was all I cared about) so that they could stick to whatever price range they were comfortable with, and I paid for the hair stylist and makeup artist for them. Only one of my bridesmaids had to travel a significant distance and she stayed at our apartment so that she wouldn’t have to pay for a hotel on top of airfare.

      I don’t want to sound like I’m patting myself on the back for being The Most Considerate Friend Ever!! but it made me cringe so hard when I would read wedding forums or watch wedding shows and see brides who would insist on everything being Just So, without being the slightest bit concerned about the impact on others. (I remember one wedding reality show ep where the bride was so dead-set her black-tie dress code that she hired bouncers to keep out any guests who showed up in violation of her criteria!) What was important to me about my wedding was having a good time with the people I love the most, and I couldn’t have done that in good conscience if I had known that I was forcing anyone – especially my best friends! – to spend more than they could afford.

      1. Stephanie*

        Yeah, my friend had all her bridesmaids just wear black dresses. I really liked as it’s super easy to repurpose a black dress.

    6. Katie the Fed*

      This is part of why I’m not having bridesmaids. Fiance the Fed and I are just having one attendant each – my sister and his best friend. We just told them to wear something appropriate for the season, and that was that.

      I figure I’m in my 30s and most of my friends are over the bridesmaid thing (when I told them that I wasn’t having bridesmaids, everyone seemed relieved), but they’re all happy to help in their own way.

      People make weddings such a production now too with the engagement parties and multiple showers and bachelorette parties – it can cost members of the wedding party THOUSANDS of dollars. Heck no!

      1. Windchime*

        My son and his fiancé are getting married in September. They will have had a 5 month engagement. They chose a small, modest venue. The bride will either wear her mother’s dress or a simple white sundress that she can also wear on her honeymoon. The reception will be beer, wine, and finger-foods from the deli at Costco. I imagine the flowers will be from Costco as well. No big sit-down dinner, no bartender or DJ or band. I’m not sure if they will have attendants; if they do, I’m sure there will be no matching dresses or tuxedos.

        I’m so relieved that they are choosing to take this inexpensive, practical route. Getting married doesn’t have to be a horribly expensive affair that takes a year to plan and years to pay off.

    7. Random Reader*

      The worst part is that for the wedding I’m a bridesmaid in, I’m the one who probably makes the most. I’m a couple years out of college and have a pretty decent job, and the other bridesmaids are still in college or work minimum wage jobs. If it’s hurting me this much, I can’t imagine that it’s much better for them :(

    8. Annie*

      We live in Seattle, and almost every wedding we’ve been invited to has been in Michigan. Luckily, there are no weddings this year, but I expect there will be approximately 10 next summer, and we’ll probably say no to a big chunk of them. Doing 36 hour trips to Michigan is exhausting, and I’d rather use my vacation days for actual vacations.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I’d save it for the REALLY good friends. Non-close friends aren’t going to be too sad that you didn’t make it (and are probably already sweating the guest list numbers and a decline helps). Hell, they probably won’t even remember you being there.

        My wedding is pretty small. I only want people there that we’re really close to and actually care about :)

  42. Bend & Snap*

    I like my job. My team is full of nice people who advocate for me and are invested in my success, and I’m on a promotion path.

    The people I directly work with (internal clients of my service organization), however, are all a-holes. High touch, rude, micromanaging, riding-me-every-second jerks. I don’t report to them and that helps, but really, the only challenging part of my job right now is dealing with the people I’m assigned to service–not the work itself.

    One of them stalks me over text, IM, email and phone all day every day, and one likes to send (inaccurate) emails about how I’m sucking at my job and CC major executives. Another one goes straight to my VP when he isn’t made to feel important enough. And then I have a (junior to me) yeller who periodically calls me up to scream at me, which is very much not the culture in this company.

    I give my boss a lot of transparency into my work and interactions with these people, and all of my management agrees that I have a difficult base and am not in any way responsible–it does help that these people have treated others on my team the same way.

    Soooo 2 questions:
    My boss is WONDERFUL and candid–is there a productive way to bring this up to her in a problem-solving way?

    Any tips on letting this kind of behavior roll off? It’s really taking a toll on my stress levels and overall life enjoyment.

    1. angie*

      Ugh…so very sorry that you’re being treated that way by some jerky internal stakeholders. At the same time, glad that you’re cushioned from the blows (personally and professionally) by those most directly engaged with your professional success.

      A couple of things come to mind you might consider:

      a) What about bringing it up with your boss as a ‘line item’ in a check-in meeting (if you have them regularly) or setting up coffee? You could bring up that you love the role and look forward to growth (or specific projects or whatever makes sense) but could use advice on how to approach the stress of communicating with x and y, giving a couple of objective examples of how they’ve talked to you and how it’s impacting your stress. You could try to enroll them in generating solutions that might work better, whether that’s minimizing contact or something else.

      b) As far as dealing with the stress, is there a way to turn those vocal critics into allies? Can you figure out their motive or incentive for treating you and others before you in the way that they are (seems to be a pattern) or look for commonalities that you can help deflect or mitigate? Are their complaints anything that you can adapt to, even a little so that they look unreasonable if they continue to beat you up over small things?
      c) Is there some sort of quasi-formal feedback mechanism that you could create or that exists to put some of this in writing? Some people prone to phone rants would never put it in writing because they don’t really want others to see how they treat other people. You do have someone who emails if not placated though…curious how that’s handled within your organization since it seems to be continuing?

      Good luck!

    2. Student*

      The only way I know of to try to personally adjust how you feel about it is to say to yourself, “These clients are crazy. I can never please them. I don’t need to try to please them. All I need to do is provide them as well as I can. I pity my clients, because they must have horrible lives to act this way.”

      As for your boss – ask if there are any points where you can draw a line and refuse service until they learn to talk civilly to you. Ask if the boss can talk with the management of these horrible people to complain about their horrible behavior. Ask if you can transition the worst and most draining to someone else, or take turns with someone else.

      Stop answering the stalker-person every time she contacts you; only answer when it makes sense to do so (once a day? once a week?). When the screamer starts screaming, tell her that you will discuss this with her once she calms down, and hang up. For the one that contacts your VP all the time – touch base with the relevant VP to make sure everyone’s on the same page, and ignore the grandstanding as long as the VP is happy with your work with that client.

    3. Lora*

      Here is how I handle difficult clients:

      Say absolutely nothing until they are done yelling and throwing a tantrum. Wait a solid minute for them to soak in the silence. Ask if there is anything else they’d like to add. Re-state everything they have said back to them in the most neutral, factual method possible: “Let me make sure I am understanding correctly, Kate–you are unhappy with how Iris has handled the XYZ project, and you think she should have done ABC. Is that correct? What do you think we should do from now on when XYZ happens?” Then sit back and let them rant AGAIN. Wait for silence. Lots of painful, uncomfortable silence. Then say, “well, what I have done in the past about a similar situation is DEF. Do you think that would work here?” Sit back and let them go some more. “Well, you’ve given me a lot to think about [technically true]. Thanks for coming by and letting me know, it’s really interesting/educational. I’ve got a….a lot to consider, I guess! Much appreciated!”

      Then I bill their department for “review discussions with Iris and Kate”. At exorbitant payrates. You may not be able to do this part, but you can ask your boss innocently, earnestly, “When Kate comes over to throw a fit about Iris and Project XYZ, how do you want me to treat that time?”

      When it comes to lying clients (which sadly happens when people do not wish to pay their bills), I tend to say sugary-sweet reply-all things like “thanks for the feedback! I always appreciate suggestions for how to improve. Please send reviews of our service department’s work to [me, boss] so that we can compile and direct resolutions appropriately” As a form letter type of thing. That way, you are addressing their complaints politely and civilly, and they merely look like they can’t follow directions and just want to whine rather than solve the problem.

      You already know this, but people rarely want to actually solve problems. They just want to complain and feel important about themselves, in that they have made someone lower on the totem pole than them feel bad.

      1. Worker Bee*

        Lora, I kind of like your idea with the yeller, but only if the skin of the OP is thick enough.
        (If not,) there is no reason that OP needs to allow people to yell at him/her. If the yeller calls I would say in a very polite tone: “There is no need for you to yell at me. I am willing to listen to ANY complaints or constructive criticism but in a professional manner. When you’ve calmed down I am happy to listen and talk to you.”
        And then hang up. Repeat this line as often as necessary and be there to help, when the tone is appropriate

  43. Schuyler*

    I’ve been stalking the page since midnight so I could get in early!

    I’ll be heading to Nashville for a conference next month; I’ll be there around June 27-July5 or so. I’ve never been there. I’m planning to hit a lot of the music stuff (my major as an undergraduate was music management), but what else should I see (or avoid)? Of course I know of the Bluebird–overrated? What off the beaten path places would you suggest (music related or not). I’m open to any suggestions! I’ll be staying at the Omni during the conference, but I’m looking for another hotel for after (think Super 8), so how easy is it to get around without a car–or do I need to rent one for a couple days?

    1. Random Reader*

      I’m going to be in Nashville on vacation next weekend! Looking forward to seeing what people post.

      1. Schuyler*

        I didn’t, actually–I thought I had seen it posted at random times on occasion to allow everyone to benefit! Thanks for the tip, that’ll make it easier. :)

    5. NatalieR*

      Nashvillian here.

      The Bluebird is definitely not overrated. Last week Dave Grohl play an unannounced show there. Also check out The Ryman, The Station Inn, and Third Man Records (Jack White’s Studio). If you want more of the local scene, we like The Family Wash and The Five Spot.

      I have endless restaurant recs. Feel free to email me through my (linked) website.

  44. Noelle*

    I work in an office where I create most of the product, and the people who have final approval for my work are pretty easy to deal with and give me real edits. Unfortunately, tons of other people have to weigh in on my work before it’s finally approved. I’m fine with that, but the way this office does it is kind of snarky and unproductive. For instance, I’ll write up something, and there will be 30-40 emails (oh yeah, we also do everything entirely by email, which is a whole other issue) that are basically just stream-of-consciousness rambling and weirdly personal attacks on my work. Like, “Why would you do this?” “Do you think you’re qualified to do this issue?” Or they’ll say stuff like, “I don’t like this but I don’t know what I’d like better.”

    I try to answer all their questions in good faith, but usually my work gets ultimately approved with very few actual changes, so I feel like spending days criticizing my work is overkill when there aren’t ever any ACTUAL edits.

    One guy in particular acts as though I am always messing up everything, but then he’ll turn right around and use my work in meetings as though they’re his so clearly my work isn’t that bad.

    Does anyone have advice for how to deal with this? Thank you, AAM hive mind!

    1. Bend & Snap*

      I deal with this a fair bit. “Doesn’t read well, please fix.”

      Um…okay?

      Are you outlining exactly what you need from the feedback? So instead of saying “please review” are you asking for reviewers to review with X, Y and Z in mind, and make sure to provide context, reasoning and suggestions in their feedback?

      I hate to suggest this but if you haven’t already done the above, you might want to think about some kind of form to guide reviewers. So have them check off that they’ve reviewed and EDITED for grammar, spelling, message, etc.

      Finally, don’t be afraid to kick vague or unhelpful comments back to the reviewers. “Can you please provide some context? I’m not clear on what you’re asking for here.”

      Basically be clear on your expectations and stand up for yourself when people are bashing your work in a way that isn’t constructive.

      1. Noelle*

        Ha, yes. What am I supposed to do with this feedback? Just tell me what you want!

        I’ve tried to explain exactly why I’m doing something (although usually it’s pretty obvious) and what particular things I need for them and it doesn’t make any difference. I do like your idea about just kicking it back to them though, I will try that next!

        1. Bend & Snap*

          You’re not a mind reader and your time is valuable. I’d make sure to outline your expectations of reviewers in writing and then when someone doesn’t meet them, just send it back. “Bob, thanks for your comments. Per my original request, I need context and suggestions–so in order to make the changes on page 3, I need A, B and C info from you. Can you please provide by XX?”

          People typically review this way because they’re lazy and/or pressed for time. Make these habits more work for them in the long run and they’ll stop.

    2. A Non*

      Do you have a sympathetic supervisor you could discuss the situation with? If these email chains are taking a lot of time and not having useful results, maybe it’s time to reevaluate that process. Perhaps they could make suggestions about the personal attacks, and/or speak up in your defense as well, because that’s really not cool. Your work is not the office fire hydrant for all the big dogs to piss on. You have my sympathies.

      You could try the social engineering approach. Send out your next-to-last draft for “review”, mm-hm your way through the email thread, then send out what you actually want as your final product (with any actually useful revisions that came up.) If people are more interested in making their opinions heard than actually contributing to your work, it’d meet that need.

      1. Noelle*

        Sadly, no. My supervisor is very hands-off, so this is something I’ll have to handle on my own. But I like your other idea. I would probably be a lot less stressed if I stopped trying to address all of it and just ignoring stuff that isn’t useful.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      I can’t tell if they are hitting reply to all and they are talking with each other or if they are just emailing you multiple times.

      I don’t know if you can get away with it- but maybe bcc them? and then say in your first email that you only have time to process one reply per person and each person should limit themselves to their top three concerns. (or whatever number) Use time constraints or email overdose or whatever as a reason for this new way of handling things.
      Since the boss is a laid-back guy, he will either let you make the changes as you wish OR he will kick into gear and help you get control over the situation. I have made decisions in the past only to find my boss woke from his coma and had something to say. Even if I did not fully agree with him, I felt my mission was accomplished. I wanted things to be changed and the changes were made.

      1. Noelle*

        They’re doing reply all. I don’t think I could get away with bcc’ing people, but it would definitely stir up some action if I told them to send all their edits in one email! I’m not sure if my boss would get involved, but HIS boss (who has final approval of my work) would definitely support it.

    4. Artemesia*

      one of the main functions of this kind of process is buy in. For example in a program evaluation, every stakeholder who didn’t sign off on the evaluation standards will resist the findings. So engaging them in the process is not about improving it (although it can) but about providing them ownership.

      These unproductive whiners have now had ‘input’ and that is probably all that is intended by the process. Respond to those that provide actual feedback. Pick a few to elicit more from . Provide bland responses to the rest of the ‘thanks for taking a look at this’ variety. Don’t worry about it beyond that.

      1. Noelle*

        Yeah, I think a lot of them want to control what we do without actually having to do any work themselves. There’s actually a woman in my office who LOVES to send emails to me and my bosses that she knows will create a ton of work for me (like, “We should do something about this!” She’ll do that 5 or 6 times a day and at least a few of them my bosses will agree and then guess who is the “we” who ends up having to do something about it). I’ve been getting better at shutting those down, but I also just don’t understand people who do this.

    5. C Average*

      I used to have this issue and was able to deal with it with the help of our department’s single point of contact manager.

      First, we split projects into two categories: those with a short/urgent deadline, and those with a long, well-defined timeline.

      For the short/urgent deadline projects, we came up with a basic script for the email that went out to all the various stakeholders and reviewers. It said, more or less, “Attached is a draft of the chocolate teapot presentation we’ll be showing to the vice president at the annual meeting. This draft needs to be finalized by the end of next week. Please get back to me with any actionable feedback before the end of next week. I’ll do my best to address any actionable concerns that are raised, within the limitations of the project. Due to the condensed timeframe, I will not be able to respond to feedback individually, but I will take it into account during my revisions. I’ll distribute the final copy to all of you at the beginning of next week for your awareness.”

      When you get feedback, toss anything that’s not constructive. Use the actionable stuff to improve the project (within the scope of what it’s meant to be and what you can reasonably accomplish).

      When it’s done, distribute it to the stakeholders attached to an email that says, “Thanks for all the great feedback on my draft last week. I’ve incorporated it into the final copy, which is attached for you to read. At this point, the document is final. Unless you have truly urgent changes (factual inaccuracies, typos, or other specific problems that can be fixed reasonably quickly and easily), there’s no need for further feedback at this point.”

      For longer-term projects, make a list of stakeholders and then order them in importance. Send the doc out to review one group at a time, starting with the most important. Revise the doc based on the group’s feedback and then send it out to the next group. You may want to note, for the group’s benefit, who’s already reviewed it, e.g., “Hi marketing team! The chocolate teapot operations manual is attached for your review. Please note that it’s already been reviewed by PR and Legal in both the US and EU, as well as the engineering team. I’m mainly looking to you for feedback on the tone and readability, as I’m confident the content is factual and OK to be shared with consumers.”

      On particularly complex docs with many levels of feedback, I’ve actually kept a spreadsheet of feedback (content, source, date, whether I acted on it or not, and why) that I can show to anyone who’s curious about the process. Then if there are questions later, I can say, “Although Apollo wanted us to address the known issue involving the chocolate scorching at high temperatures, this suggestion was overruled by Jane in Legal who felt that might raise liability issues.” That way, if Apollo is concerned that I’m capriciously ignoring his feedback, he can see that it was considered but ultimately rejected by someone who outranked him.

      Sorry this is so long, and I hope it helps! I found this stuff a nightmare until I came up with some systems and got assertive about using them. Now they’re just routine.

      1. Noelle*

        This helps a lot, thank you! I definitely need to try the “actionable feedback” line.

  45. Katrina*

    Due completely to this site, I have just this week accepted a job offer for an amazing position. I am out of my skin excited. They want me to start June 2nd, so it’s already cutting it pretty close for giving my two-week notice.

    I signed the offer letter and sent it back to the hiring manager and she replied saying she was thrilled I was joining the team and that she would be back in touch next week with some preliminary details (she’s out of the office today). I haven’t received anything signed by her or the company. Should I wait to give my notice, even if that means giving less than two weeks?

    Also, related question: my manager is out of the office today and Monday. Since I’d like to let him know I’ll be leaving sooner rather than later, would emailing him be completely out of line?

    1. Sunflower*

      Hmm I would wait til Tuesday. If I was your manager, I’d prefer to hear it in person, even if it’s a couple days later. Congrats though!!

    2. Bryan*

      First congrats!!!!

      I would give your manager notice when they get back Tuesday. A day or two isn’t going to make or break everything.

    3. anon in tejas*

      Can you tender your resignation to HR and ask them if you should contact your manager?

      At my old job, it was a small office (about 20 people total). I told my boss’s boss and boss in person before I tendered my resignation out of respect.

    4. Anonymous*

      Tell your manager when he gets back. Since it will be less than two weeks, I’d tell him your plan to make the transition smoother (however you plan to go the extra mile, such as extensively writing down you job processes, completing projects before you leave, etc.). I’d really try to make it the most productive week and a half possible!

  46. Esra*

    Hey, my funemployment is due to end at the end of the month. It has not actually been very fun.

    I think the hardest part is not being able to balance job hunting – chores – and relaxation, because I had no idea when it would be over and couldn’t build any kind of work back schedule.

    So yay employment, but I think I’ll be back in a few weeks to ask the open thread how to deal with being a shiny new manager.

    1. OriginalYup*

      Congrats on the new gig! That’s awesome. I agree, it’s hard to relax when the future seems so uncertain. But hopefully you can enjoy the rest of your remaining free time? Sleep in, watch bad TV, putter about in pajamas.

  47. Malissa*

    Okay I know there are a good number of science people on here. Is it possible to have salty hard water?

    Also is there any good household type filters that will remove suspended solids from water other than a reverse osmosis?

    1. Biff*

      Yes, it’s possible. I have no idea what kind of filter to suggest at all. It’s a weird problem for sure. (I have a similar issue.)

        1. Biff*

          We have a PUR filter from Costco on our kitchen faucet for drinking water which seems to help, but it’s not a whole house solution. I clean with vinegar a couple times a month to cut down on hard water crusties.

    2. Lora*

      Yes, very much so. Especially in the Southwest, water quality is a big issue there.

      Regular carbon filter gets out most solids. They get trapped in the fibers/pores (depends on how carbon inside is made) and it’ll clog fast, it’s not exactly a USP grade diatomaceous earth depth filter, but it’s cheap and it works.

  48. anonymouse*

    I have TWO phone interviews next week! I’m very excited as I’ve applied to SO MANY jobs and these are the first two I’ve heard back from. It’s the same role, same company, but different divisions and locations (one would require a major relocation). Both are with HR representatives who do not have subject matter knowledge- what can I expect? (I imagine it will be general questions about my past jobs and experience?) What are good questions to ask at this stage?

    Also, since one role does require relocation, what is a good way to talk about that in a phone interview, should it come up?

    1. anon in tejas*

      Benefits, Office Policies, and Relocation would all be good areas, I would think

      i.e. what is the benefits package with this position? what is the rest of the interview process? what’s the office policy regarding comp time or flex time? As you can see from my materials, I am not a local candidate, can we discuss relocation and appropriate expenses?

      1. the_scientist*

        Ahhh! I just spoke to the hiring manager on the phone; they don’t even want to do a phone screen for the position requiring relocation- they want to bring me into their local office for a video interview, which ups the stakes considerably. I’m not even sure that I’d relocate- it’s really highly dependent on the offer- but it will be good to at least get some interview practice.

        Of course, the time they suggested overlapped with the phone screen for the local position, so they may not even be able to do an interview at a different time.

  49. EduStudent*

    I think someone asked this a while back, but I can’t find it via search. What are some things you wish you knew before starting your first job and living on your own for the first time?

    1. Random Reader*

      It’s going to be expensive and kind of suck for maybe the first six months to a year. You’re adjusting to so much new stuff- new place to live, new routines, new people! I remember just going home and collapsing on the couch for the first two weeks.

      Be kind to yourself and don’t commit to much the first two weeks. Put bedtimes in place, especially if you have a long commute. If Mom wants to hear all about your day, give yourself a mental cutoff and get off the phone or start wrapping up at that time.

    2. Jen*

      Unless you’re like a stock trader or something, know that your salary might not stretch as far as you think. In my first job I was overjoyed by the money I was making (which is sad because I was a journalist making $11,000/year in 1998) and that would have been a perfect salary if I’d lived at home but it didn’t stretch very far to cover an apartment and bills. Figure out some frugal recipes, don’t go out to eat very often anymore, live VERY simply until you figure out the best salary-to-bills ratio.

      There are things you might have gotten used to before going on your own. I’d get things dry cleaned way more than I needed to. I ate out with friends quite often. All of that had to change when I was on my own.

    4. Colette*

      Working all day is tiring, but you will adjust.

      Garbage cans, brooms, and other things you need in a new place are expensive.

      Make a plan for meals so you’re not buying food at the last minute.

    5. Bryan*

      Pay yourself first, savings, retirement etc. It might suck not going out to eat now but it will suck a lot worse not having money for car repairs or not having enough to live on when you’re retired.

  50. Natalie*

    Just some random gloating: a couple of months ago word came down that we were going to have RIFs due to losing our largest client, and I was pretty much 100% sure my position would be eliminated. My immediate supervisor also strongly suggested that she agreed.

    Found out Tuesday I’m being retained! And as a bonus, a deeply incompetent co-worker that has been coasting for years and has entered “bitch eating crackers” territory in my mind is being laid off! Yay!

    1. Programmer 01*

      Congrats, what a relief!

      Also the shorthand for that makes me laugh, I’ve seen it a few times and it summarizes it so perfectly.

  51. Burnt Out and Looking*

    What’s a good reason to be looking for a new job?

    Here’s the real situation: Two years ago, I accepted a job that sounded great on paper. The reality sucks. My department is not a priority to the company after all, and so it’s chronically underfunded and understaffed. We’re expected to be miracle workers and we end up wearing a lot of different hats. I’m burnt out. I’m not looking for a promotion or a higher salary; I just want the job I thought I had accepted two years ago.

    So, what’s a good reason for leaving?

    1. Coconut*

      “Once I was in the position, the job turned out to be much different than it was presented to me during the interview process, and therefore, it was no longer a good fit for my skills set.”

    2. CTO*

      You have a good reason for leaving! You’ve been there two years, it sucks, and nothing is getting better. What more reason do you need?

      1. Burnt Out and Looking*

        I should have been more clear. When I’m interviewing, what reason should I give for wanting a new job? Most of the ones I’ve used in the past (want more challenges or growth, etc) don’t really apply.

        1. angie*

          What about something like:

          “I’m looking to focus in a role/area in which I can do more of X in order to deliver (more/better) Y to the organization.”

          You can always use the two years of wearing lots of hats in your current role to illustrate how you’ve learned that: you work best in an environment that ( ) or when you’re in a role that focuses on ( ) or prioritizes ( ). Sprinkle in your own spices to customize to taste. :)

          1. CTO*

            Agreed. Since it sounds like you have to wear a lot of (unwanted) hats at your current job, how about something like, “I really want to focus on A at work, but my current job has unexpectedly required me to spend a lot of time on B, C, and D instead. I’m looking for a role where I can bring my A talents,” and then talk about why A is your strongest suit or what your A skills could do for the company.

  52. Eden*

    For everyone out there who has recently bought a house!

    Did you second-guess yourself constantly when you were making offers? I completely talked myself out of House#1 while the sellers were deliberating over our offer. It was the cutest house imaginable, but would have been at the top of what I felt comfortable paying in mortgage. So I’m glad they took a better offer, and we started looking for less expensive houses.

    Now I have an offer out on House #2, which is about 30K less than house #1, and I’m second-guessing it also, based on the amount of work it will need. (DH worked in construction for 20+ years, so DIY is reasonable here.)

    Is it reasonable to expect a “eureka!” moment? Do you really ever find a house that you just know is perfect for you? I read about this on house-buying forums, and wonder whether I’m defective. I’m wondering this because I’m an over-thinker and frankly, never felt that way getting married, either.

    If anyone has any insights here, I’m all ears.

    1. Colette*

      Do you normally second guess big decisions?

      It’s been a while since I bought my house, but I remember it as being a process that caused me a lot of anxiety. I didn’t second guess myself at the offer stage, but I certainly did after my offer was accepted!

    2. fposte*

      I’m totally like that. And the reason it worked out for me is that I bought in a serious seller’s market and that any time I took to second guess would lose me the house. I thought this was going to be horrible–I literally had to decide to make an offer while I was standing in the house seeing it for the first time. But this had the psychological effect of making me commit like hell out of the box.

      On the one hand, sure, it’s a big decision; on the other, it’s just a house, it’s not going to be perfect, and you can always sell it again if you don’t like it.

    3. Malissa*

      My house buying experience was a very bizarre one. First house I had an offer on a very important, but fixable, thing wasn’t disclosed until it was too late to fix it. So we lost it. Second house we all the cash in the bank to buy the thing. It was a short sale and we couldn’t get an answer from the bank….or so the listing agent said. Price went up $15K the week after we finally rescinded our offer.
      Third house was a HUD house and we bid it on the first round. This happened with-in two days. There was no time for second guessing. And quite frankly I was just happy to find a house with enough land to make us happy under budget.

    4. Programmer 01*

      House-buying was wild for me… I worried the same, and I had my eureka moment in FINDING the place, but all through offers etc I was second-guessing myself. I think it’s pretty natural, it is a LOT of money and time and your future.

      For a fixer-upper, know it is going to take a mental/emotional toll on you in advance, because until it’s DONE it’s going to bother you and you’ll see it all the time, every day. I don’t think this is any reason not to — my parents are retired and now spend their time renovating houses, and they LOVE it — but the first place I bought needed work done and it really, really sucked until it was all done. Then it was wonderful!

      My big advice would be to take your time. I was house-hunting for almost 6 months before I found somewhere that not only worked, but was really and truly perfect. That is a long time by the standards of availability where I was. It was worth it, but exhausting.

    5. Sparrow*

      What specficially are you second guessting? Can you put down some concrete pros/cons of each house and possibly some items that are dealbreakers when looking for a new house? Instead of thinking of all possible scenarios, maybe sticking to a concrete list could help.

      When we bought our first house 10 years ago, we looked at several but had a clear idea of which one was our favorite. Our number one criteria was to have a manageable mortgage payment, so that easily eliminated some choices. We are not DIYers at all, so we wanted a newer home.

      We sold that house last year and this time did a new build. Again, we came up with a list of must-haves to choose the floor pan we wanted – full basement, larger living room and kitchen for entertaining and 4 bedrooms. From there we tried to find one that met our basic criteria and was within our mortgage limit.

      Good luck!

    6. Elle*

      Oh man, we spent 2 weeks browsing online and my husband wanted to put in an offer on the very first house we saw in person. I couldn’t find a good reason to say no so I said yes.

      I spent the next 6 weeks poring over every detail of the inspection report (no major issues) wondering if I had made the most expensive mistake of my life. I just about had a panic attack the day we closed.

      But I love it now, it’s the perfect house for us. Some decisions feel right and some you grow into. I’ve always second guessed any financial decision over about $50 so it makes sense that over $100k was going to cause some anxiety.

    7. ec*

      We are about to close on our first house, and while I wouldn’t say we are second guessing, we are definitely less excited than I thought we would be and than people expect us to be. We made an offer the same day we first saw it because like fposte, we are in a major seller’s market and houses in our price range are going in under 24 hours. It wasn’t our “dream house” but it fit our wishlist and we knew it would work for us.

      Maybe check out Happiness Project’s distinction between maximizer and satisficer, and see if that gives you any insights.
      I bet you will get more excited/happy when you start working on (and finishing!) projects.

      1. ec*

        Oh, PS – the reason I say check out satisficer/maximizer is because I suspect you are a maximizer. I usually am too – but after an exhaustive 6 month + long search, I became a satisficer when it came to houses, and I feel good about that.

    8. Not So NewReader*

      I thought we bought a house perfect for us. Yeah, it needed some work. We were told it was around 80 years old.

      Turns out it needed more than just some work. And it turns out the house is over 180 years old. Surprise!

      I don’t think there is such a thing as perfect houses. I think you go with your other half, you both make your best guess and then make the decision to be happy with the place. Yeah, decide “hey this is cool.” You are saying you both can handle the repairs, it sounds to me like you’ve got a winner.

  53. Coconut*

    Got a question about appropriate work conversations…

    My company had a client event last week. There was some drinking going on. My director began having a conversation with a client about some really inappropriate stuff. Let’s just say that orgies, smoking pot, and a woman’s role were covered. The conversation was really loud and we were in a small confined space, so there was no escaping from it.

    The group was mostly made up on men, but there were a handful of women there too. My supervisor (who is also a woman) was very offended by the conversation as well, but no one spoke up or tried to turn the direction of the conversation.

    The director has been reported before to HR, but to my knowledge, nothing has been done. In fact, the director keeps getting promoted. We have a private ethics hotline where we can report this kind of behavior – would it even be worth talking to them?

    1. Del*

      I think it’s absolutely worth talking to the ethics hotline. Whether or not anything will come of it is a different question, but I think in general it’s better to speak up than not.

    2. vvondervvoman*

      Yes! Of course! Sometimes HR needs a pattern to be established before they can do anything.

  54. MaryMary*

    I interviewed a candidate for a high level account executive position yesterday. She has only been at her current job for about nine months, so I asked why she was looking to leave. She was veeeery vague. Turned out not to be the right fit, that sort of thing. When I pressed, the most detail I got is that leadership was not what she had expected.

    Is this a red flag? Any ideas on how to get more information? I plan to ask for references, but I don’t know anyone at her current organization I could call up and ask.

    1. vvondervvoman*

      If it’s a high level position, I’m assuming that she has had other positions, right? How long did she stay in those positions? If it’s 3-5+ years at all of them, then I would take it as a red flag for her current employer, not her. It’s pretty common knowledge here that you shouldn’t badmouth your current employer, no matter how terrible they are, so that’s where the evasiveness is probably coming from.

      1. CTO*

        Agreed–it’s common practice to be polite and rather circumspect about the job you’re leaving, even if it’s the job from hell.

        Could you ask her questions about what kind of fit/workplace she’s hoping to find this time? Would that be a way to get some insight about whether or not she’d encounter the same challenges in your company as she did in the last?

        1. MaryMary*

          I did ask about fit. She went from a smallish (150 employee) company to a very large (thousands of employees) company, and one of the reasons she’s interested in working for us is that we’re smaller (about 100). That was one of the things that gave me pause, though, in my experience there are some bad habits you can get away with at a small place that wouldn’t fly in a more structured corporate environment.

          The rest of her work history is solid. Maybe I’m overanalyzing and she is just being discreet.

          1. angie*

            Hey MaryMary,
            Just another perspective–I’ve done something like that in terms of going from midsized to huge and realizing huge is not for me. In smaller orgs, there is sometimes more ability to influence strategic direction, adapt to competitive environment, and morph your role to fit yourself and business needs. In larger orgs, not so much and so leadership without a clear vision (or a vision you don’t agree with) or without clear prioritization of values can make you miserable, fast. Depends on the person. There are really bad habits and processes you can get into in a big company also. Bottom line is sometimes a spade is a spade–you think grass is greener elsewhere…and it isn’t, but you you wouldn’t know if you hadn’t tried it.

            Sorry…couldn’t resist weighing in with that.

            I like the asking about fit approach. What about a follow-up with something like:

            You mentioned realizing that the larger environment wasn’t really a fit for you. Tell me more about that. And/or, what style of leadership (or what leadership attributes) do you value most?

            Those might give you some cues to poke on.

            Good luck!

            1. MaryMary*

              Angie, that’s a great point! Based on some of her other answers, I think she did have the ability to create her own strategy in previous jobs, but it would make sense that a large corporation would have a set approach communicated down the ranks.

        2. en pointe*

          Agreed, I don’t think vagueness is necessarily a red flag. It could very possibly just be a side effect of people knowing they’re not supposed to talk negatively about a past job, but don’t really know what to say instead. It’s hard to know if that’s the case from the interviewer’s side of the desk, but it’s certainly a possibility.

    2. Sunflower*

      I wouldn’t worry too much. I mean, reading this site, it’s crazy to see how many people end up in jobs that turned out to be not what they expected or to start and find the place is a nut house. As long as she has traction at her other jobs, I wouldn’t worry about it. Also, references at her old jobs are still very valuable. If she was good there, I doubt she would start spiraling down in the last 9 months

    3. Katie the Fed*

      I don’t think it’s a red flag.

      It could be that she’s in a really bad situation – a jerk boss, a crazy boss, an abusive boss, a harrassing boss, and she’s desperate to leave but also knows it’s bad form to badmouth your current boss in an interview.

      Actually, what SHOULD one do in a situation like that?

    4. Burnt Out and Looking*

      Ahh, this is the other side of the predicament I’m in! How do you explain your desire to leave without badmouthing your previous employer or sounding vague? It’s a fine line to walk, and I would bet that’s the situation the applicant is in.

      1. Biff*

        Me too. I was going to go with “While I do very good work, and my boss has been consistently happy with my output, I don’t think we’ve ever been a really comfortable fit.”

      2. MaryMary*

        I quit a job two years ago without anything else lined up (I know, I know) because I was so burnt out and stressed. When I was interviewing, I tried to be as honest as I could without bad mouthing the organization: I had been working 60-70 hour weeks on a regular basis (more than that during busy periods), and I was becoming increasingly unhappy and frustrated trying to keep up that pace. I didn’t want to become an unhappy, unpleasant person, and I didn’t want to become so unhappy that it impacted my work. That kind of work load also made it difficult to fulfill my responsibilities and job hunt at the same time. I was fortunate enough to be in a financial position where I could take some time to take a deep breath and decide what I wanted from my career. What I want from my career is [insert aspect of open opportunity I found appealing].

        This answer worked out for me in a couple ways. One, my workload was pretty heavy, a lot of people don’t want to work seven days a week or 12 hours a day and could sympathize with wanting to leave my job for that reason. I wasn’t faulting my former employer, I think it came off like I was self aware enough to realize I was in a situation that was not good for me. And a surprising number of people actually liked that I was ballsy enough to quit without having another job (do I say, kids, not as I do).

    5. Malissa*

      Leadership isn’t what she expected=The boss is a jerk.
      And yeah bailing out early when the boss is a jerk could be saving her sanity. So says another person who has been at her job just about as long and is looking to bail for a very similar reason.

    6. Not So NewReader*

      So what I am seeing here is that you cannot prove that a) her company was nuts or b) she is a bad worker.

      It sounds like you have gone as far as you can go with her reason for leaving and the people around her.

      So how about exploring how she would handle things at this new job? I am wondering if you tossed out a couple of “what if” scenarios you might get a feel for her knowledge and background. Which in turn might clue you as to if she is working with a bunch of turkeys or if she herself is the problem.

      I really think you have hit a dead end with the question about leaving. I think if you keep pushing it, she will just withdraw her resume. That is what I would do if I were pressed too hard about an employer.

  55. Grad School Apps*

    I’m in the process of deciding where to apply to grad school. I’m thinking of applying to 4 degree programs at 3 schools, either Anthropology, International Dev. or an MPH but I’m being paranoid that I won’t get into any of them.

    My primary concern is my lack of academic qualifications. I have 3 years of very applicable work experience, I already volunteer in the community in several related capacities, so I really think the only weaknesses in my application will be academics. I graduated from a middle of the line state school with a 3.36 gpa with my majors/minor in those fields. It’s not terrible situation of course, but not ideal either.

    I’m thinking of different things I could do now to boost my application. I’m working near a different state school, and I was thinking of taking a graduate level class in anthropology, either a 600 level general anthro class or a 300 level class focusing on africa that would be more applicable to future jobs/opportunities, but not a big academic challenge, at least on transcripts.

    I could also try to find a graduate certificate online, but they tend to be a little bit more expensive. And I don’t want to spend a lot of money if I don’t need it explicitly to get into grad school.

    Should I bother with more school before I apply? If so, what does everyone think is the best option? Is there anything else I can do?

    1. fposte*

      I’d say that taking classes is fine, but not because it’ll make you so much stronger as a candidate, but because right now you’re sounding kind of unfocused about what you want to do and that might help. A good grad school isn’t very interested in dabblers–they want to know that this is really the direction that you want to go. I’m wondering if you’re jumping the gun a bit if you’re still diffuse enough that four different disciplines are all looking equally likely.

      1. vvondervvoman*

        Oh, I guess that does make me sound unfocused, doesn’t it? I’m pretty solid on what I want to do with it (global public health) and all of those degrees would help me get there, but the one I really need is the MPH. For my top MPH program, if I attend school the year before attending the MPH, the tuition drops to only $1,000 (weird situation, I know!), so that’s why I’m considering other programs to attend first, but may just go straight for the MPH despite the tuition increase. I wouldn’t do those other programs if it didn’t really help me out either immediately or in the more distant future.

        1. fposte*

          Ah, okay. And I did initially have a footnote about “unless they’re all in service of a similar goal,” which it sounds like they are.

          Cool career path, vv!

    2. TotesMaGoats*

      Why do you want to go to grad school for those degrees? What is your career path? Those questions may better help you decide on the right programs to apply to and any preparatory work you want to do.

    3. Anoners*

      Are they competitive programs? You’d be surprised at how lax Masters programs have gotten when it comes to entry requirements. Some obviously are quite competitive, but others admit most everyone until it’s at full capacity (my friends and I all got into programs, and none of us really had strong qualifications, just met their minimum requirements).

      1. vvondervvoman*

        That makes me feel a bit better, and it sounds like it may be the case for me. None of these schools are in the US, so it’s hard to tell from a ranking or reputation or something like that. I think the most competitive one is Simon Fraser in Canada but even then, I know it’s nothing like Uni of Toronto.

        1. Anoners*

          You’re in luck! I went to U of T. For me, they literally took everyone that applied. Luckily I was going just to get the degree so I could work in the field.

          Now, obviously U of T has some pretty insanely competitive programs, so it’s hard to tell if that’ll be the same case for you. Good luck fellow Torontonian!

          1. vvondervvoman*

            Thanks! But the closest I’ve been to Toronto is a layover from hell in 2007 and a wedding weekend last year! From what I’ve heard, their MPH is crazy competitive, but they don’t offer a Global Health track, so I won’t be applying. Bummer, since it seems like a great city.

    4. Student*

      Applying to grad school is nothing like applying to undergrad.

      I think you need most to contact some people in your field and get a more realistic idea of how grad school will work. You haven’t specified why you want to do this, and you haven’t even specified what kind of degree you are aiming for.

      I don’t know how funding works in Anthropology (i don’t recognize the acronyms for other fields). In STEM fields, grad students generally get paid to attend school. In nearly any other field, like yours, you have to pay part or all of the associated costs. They might give you a teaching assistant position to pay part of your costs. They might expect you to spend so much time in school that they bar you from outside employment while you pursue your degree. You can always pursue scholarships and fellowships to fund things.

      If you want to boost your grad application chances, you make friends with a specific professor in a specific program that you are interested in.

      Some masters programs (even some PhD programs) do not actually filter people at the application stage at all. The application stage often only filters on “Can this person afford the school?” and “Do we have enough spots open to take this person?” Then, they put you through a bunch of hard classes and tests and other hoops to determine who actually gets the degrees at the end.

      1. vvondervvoman*

        Thanks! I think Anthropology grad school funding in the US works similar to how you described, but International Development and Masters in Public Health aren’t academic-based, they’re professional programs that are meant to prepare you for a job. The program in Anthro that I’m applying for doesn’t have a funding structure similar to the one you described, and I already know a professor in the program, so I may email him to discuss if the fieldwork I want to do is possible. That is something I can do to increase my chances, because this one is my top choice!

    5. gingersnap*

      As someone with an MPH, it really depends on the program. There’s no way my grades & experience would have gotten me into UNC or Hopkins, but I applied to a school of public health at a state university which accepts about 95% of MPH applicants. That doesn’t mean it’s a crummy program-I learned more in those 2.5 years than I had in my entire life up to that point. The classes in my MPH program really focused on more practice-based skills (program planning & evaluation, coalition building), and grades/GRE scores aren’t a great measurement of how good you are at those things.
      As an aside, the Affordable Care Act and federal budget cuts seem to have thrown public health into an identity crisis, so I’d be really hesitant about starting an MPH until that gets sorted out (unless you’re into the “harder” MPH areas- Epi, Environmental Health, Biostats)

      1. vvondervvoman*

        Why do you say that the ACA has ph in an identity crisis? I’m in health promotion, and I’m working under a grant provided by the ACA right now. Are other fields feeling the tightening of the purse strings? This is the first I’ve heard of ph not expanding rapidly.

        1. gingersnap*

          From the conversations I’ve been having, the ACA’s definition of “prevention” is much more clinical prevention than primary prevention, and moves it into the realm of nurses and doctors. There have also been extreme budget cuts to local health departments (and, depending on what state you’re in, finding resources to comply with accreditation for health departments is challenging too). Funding is far tighter than it was 10 years ago (although funding is always an issue in public health), and is much more tied to measurable outcomes (which may not be attainable if your goal is real community transformation). The people I work with are rattled by the community transformation grants being canceled, and it’s been a major wakeup call. Public health work still needs to happen (and hopefully will happen in other ways) but there are real questions about the future of government public health agencies. It’s kind of terrifying. We have to get better at advocating for ourselves and why our programs should exist, because you can only do “more with less” for so long. I guess the bright side is that there’s bound to be a horrible measles epidemic soon, and once people start dying, people will realize public health funding is important.

          1. gingersnap*

            n.b. I do think an MPH and a BSN in Nursing are an awesome and marketable combination if you do have the time and energy. And my guess is that it will only become more so.

            1. vvondervvoman*

              Yea seriously! I wish I had the drive for the science classes, it would be a golden ticket for my career path =/

          2. vvondervvoman*

            Ah I see where you’re coming from. I don’t necessarily plan on going into actual public health depts, but rather sticking to not-for-profits.

    6. SD Cat*

      I just finished my MPH in Epidemiology at a pretty good program. I don’t think you need more school- your work experience definitely helps along with a focus on what you’d like to do (which you mentioned below). And you definitely don’t want to spend a lot of money if you can avoid it .

      1. vvondervvoman*

        Thank you! This is what I know logically, but my irrational fears are getting the best of me =)

    8. Artemesia*

      Are you looking for a PhD program or a masters? I don’t think taking a class will strengthen your application. If you are applying to a program with a practical focus like many masters programs, then focusing on your experience and what you plan to do with the degree to increase your competence is good. People like to see focus and clear motivation linked to the degree. Your grades may screen you out of many programs, but they are above minimal threshhold so it will depend on the competition and how selective the program is. MANY masters programs are not highly selective as they are often cash cows for a college department.

      If you are looking at a PhD program, then scholarly focus is important. I would research the faculty and see where your interests fit. And make a case for the kinds of intellectual quest you see yourself on. What kind of research do you want to do? How does this connect with your background. Since there are so few jobs for PhDs and those tend to go to well qualified candidates from prestigious schools, do you have a clear idea of how the degree will take you where you want to go?

      In either case, avoid vague statements of purpose and tie your experience to your intellectual interest in the field.

      And think twice about whether graduate school will take you where you want to go. The world is full of waiters with masters degrees. They can be an important credential, but they are not inevitably so. If you see them as a route to employment, make sure you find out how well the program does with placing students. Most don’t put much energy into that.

      1. vvondervvoman*

        Thanks for the reply! I’m hoping to first attend a scholarly-focused research masters in anthropology, then complete a professional degree afterwards. Both of those will help in the long-run, but I only really need the MPH (see comment above re financing). Unfortunately, this program is not a cash cow–it’s a Uni in the EU and it’s not there to make money, but to educate its citizens. So theoretically, this a good thing, just not too great for me in terms of applying.

  56. StudentA*

    Re: autoimmune diseases (or any other illnesses that make you exhausted 24/7)

    Anyone here have an illness that makes them exhausted all the time? I’m job hunting and have zero energy. I’ve been jobless since October. I have autoimmune disease and have had it for 18 years.

    I’m dying to get a job but terrified to lose it because of my low energy :(

    1. Esra*

      Have you been diagnosed + are you on a treatment plan? That was key for me to get going on working full-time. I’ve been working for around 7 years now and it’s gone pretty well.

      Something that’s worked out well for me has been being (reasonably) open with management after probation re: the issues I have + accommodations I need. So they realize that a low energy day is not an attitude thing, it’s a health thing.

      1. StudentA*

        Yep, diagnosed and with a treatment plan. It’s relatively well-controlled right now, but I’m just Exhausted.

        I did share this with my previous boss, who was someone who appreciated such explanations. Other boss types find it a turn-off, even if they don’t come out and say it. I mean, it’s a legit concern. Most offices are high-energy and require wide-awake types. What’s funny is, my personality is engaging and high-energy, which only comes out occasionally, because my reality is autoimmune disease. And anxiety on top of it. My life is basically a crippling exhaustion cocktail (family struggles, interpersonal issues, traumatic history).

        Thanks everyone for being there.

        1. Esra*

          Oh man, I feel you StudentA. It can be scary, especially when you’re just starting out, and it feels like nothing is going right with your health, your work, or your relationships.

          Have you read Christine Miserandino’s short essay The Spoon Theory? It’s not something you could give to a boss, but I liked the way it laid out how difficult it can be to explain to people the difference in how much energy a healthy person has to work with and how much energy a chronically ill person has.

          It’s really difficult not to be super tough on yourself for not having the energy to do all the things you feel you need to. This is advice I need to follow myself as well, but try not to be too hard on yourself!

          1. StudentA*

            I will look into The Spoon Theory :)

            You are right. Some things are out of our control. I really should buckle down and take better care of myself, too.

    2. Elizabeth West*

      What kind of work do you do? Maybe you could find something that doesn’t require a lot of sustained effort for hours at a time and gives you a chance to catch your breath now and then. Or something part-time to start, so you can build up to working most of the day? It’s hard to say without knowing what you want to do. But I know that if you’ve been out for a while, it’s hard to get into a whole workday right off the bat even if you’re completely healthy.

      *Disclaimer: I’m hypothyroid and even though it’s under control, I have a finite amount of energy to work with every day.

      1. StudentA*

        Elizabeth,

        My background is in marketing and entertainment. It’s ironic, because those are very, very high-energy and demanding industries, that are competitive to penetrate enough as it is. It makes my situation harder. Maybe I would feel differently if I were a low- or mid-achiever, but that is just not me. Or I would feel differently if I were in a more static industry.

        I just wondered if anyone else around here was in the same boat.

      2. fposte*

        I’m curious, because I know several of us here have identified thyroid stuff, and I have no thyroid after getting mine nuked (it all comes out of a bottle). How do people know when their lack of energy or weight issues are thyroid related and when they’re not, assuming that your levels are normal?

        1. Esra*

          I don’t have thyroid issues, but have been tested for just about all of them. If everyone’s doctor is like mine, as soon as you start talking about low energy and fatigue, that’s the first thing they test for.

          1. fposte*

            Right, but that’s when your levels are genuinely hypo. I’m talking about people who are euthyroid and still feel like they have hypothyroid issues–what makes those symptoms different from regular tiredness and regular weight loss difficulty? I assume my tiredness issues/weight issues are pretty normal, but maybe they’re not, so I’m curious if there’s a way people know.

        2. Elizabeth West*

          I didn’t know for a long time. I had test after test after test–they even checked me for HIV (I was in my twenties and active). I was living in CA at the time and it wasn’t until I came home and went to see a doctor who had actually been one of my classmates in school and she diagnosed me. When I started taking the medication, it was like night and day.

          I still get tired sometimes–I have a certain amount of energy and some days, I have to pace myself or I just reach my limit sooner.

    3. fposte*

      I’ve got a few autoimmune things that have their ups and downs, and I had a bad injury that I’m only just recovering from that’s eaten my concentration and energy and freaking blighted 2014 for me. I have spreadsheets for what my finances would look like on disability for the very concern that you mention.

    4. cuppa*

      I had shingles a few years back and it knocked me down for a good two and a half months (one month before the rash, when I didn’t know I had shingles, and one month after the rash).
      I made rest a priority when I could. I went to bed early, took naps on my lunch breaks, and took it easy when I was off work. My husband helped a little more with household duties. I didn’t over commit myself with social activities. I also think eating well and light exercise helped. Other than that, I just did the best I could. The hardest part is that you don’t “look sick” and that was hard for people to understand. It was up to me to advocate and take care of myself.
      Good luck!

  57. A Teacher*

    I don’t need advice, its just been one of those weeks.

    My 13.5 year old lab mix was diagnosed with an inopperable bladder tumor yesterday. She was my very first foster dog that came to me at 11 when her family dumped her at the local animal control because they got a new puppy and didn’t want an old dog. She’s also lost some cognitive function. So we’re starting palliative care and letting her enjoy what time she has left with us.

    My 29th foster dog gets adopted tonight and number 30 comes next week, he’s heartworm positive so he’ll be getting treated for a while. Working with rescued dogs and seeing some of the horrible conditions they come from is hard but watching them get adopted is amazing.

    Hope all of you in AAM land have a good weekend!

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Awwww I’m sorry about your dog :(. You’ve given him a great last few years though, it sounds like.

      Thank you for helping out all the rescue dogs. My dog is a rescue – adopted as a young adult – and she’s the love of my life :)

    2. Puddin*

      I am sorry to hear about your companion. Thank you for being a puppy foster mom. You are demonstrating love to those who really need it.

      peace

    4. IT Business Analyst*

      My lab was just diagnosed with cancer. He is 11 years old. He’s only been with me for 3 years, but is such a great dog. Will probably adopt another senior-ish dog. I haven’t had him for long, but I know these last 3 years have been the best years he has had. So sorry to hear about your lab. Make the last days the best ones.

      1. A Teacher*

        Senior dogs are the absolute best. I will adopt another senior dog again in the future. THey help my younger dogs calm down so much.

    5. Programmer 01*

      I am so sorry, it is the hardest thing that animals don’t live as long as we do and we have to watch them deteriorate. I think she’s had a wonderful time with you, no matter how short, if she’s a “failed foster” — I have a couple of those myself, just couldn’t let them go.

      Good for you for doing such great things — you’re adding so much joy to peoples (and animals) lives!

    7. Mephyle*

      Give her a pat and a belly rub from all of us dog people, and enjoy her time with you.

      I came to dogness late in life, and my first dog was put to sleep yesterday. We knew from the time we got her (rescue puppy 14 years ago) that this day would come at some point. Over the last few months as her problems from aging got worse, yet she still had a zest for life, I was worried that it would be hard to make the decision – that we would be second-guessing ourselves or each other, but it didn’t happen that way. The moment was clear from one day to the next, and we took the decision without any delay. She didn’t suffer any longer than she had to, nor did she go any sooner than she should have.

  58. Who are you?*

    Oh what a rollercoaster of emotions this week has been.

    Monday: my husband and I got into a rip roaring fight because he went out for after work drinks with a female co-worker. Normally not a big deal, but he works until 11PM, I had a dentist appt at 7AM on Tuesday to which he was to drive me, and he didn’t walk in to the house until after 1AM and he never called me to let me know where he was so I was convinced he was lying in a ditch somewhere. It was long, way involved, and left me feeling very betrayed.
    Tuesday: I had a root canal and had to leave work early with severe jaw pain. Later our car (we have only have one) broke down at midnight on the side of the road. I had picked my husband up from work, the kids were asleep in the car, and boom! it just died. It was a long night!
    Wednesday: The garage couldn’t fit our car in. Kids and hubby had to stay home. But…I GOT THE JOB!!!! WOO HOO! And I got more than 20% more than what I wanted. It was a no negotiation moment for sure!!!! :)
    Thursday: Car finally got into the shop. Turns out the issue is way worse than thought and our car is a money pit. (It’s a used car that we’ve only owned for 6 months!)
    Friday: car is repaired and our mechanic, who I love, gave us a deal for sure! 40% discount from the quoted price.

    Tomorrow I go car shopping. I’m broke, I’m tired and ready for the weekend. Good news is I got a job, my husband and I had a long overdue talk that left us both feeling good about our marriage again, and we may have a new car by next week. But I’m totally ready to get off of this emotional rollercoaster. LOL!

    Also…I learned an interesting fact this week: did you know that Vincent Price was a rollercoaster enthusiast?

    1. Elizabeth West*

      Auugh! Glad all worked out well, Yay! on the job and the car discount, and LOL on the Vincent Price thing.

      He also had a very impressive art collection. :)

    2. Persephone Mulberry*

      ooofda, and I thought I’ve had a tough week. Glad things are looking up!

    3. Not So NewReader*

      Impressive job on handling all that! yikes. May things get hugely easier very soon!

  59. Brett*

    So, I asked two weeks about closing my door, because my boss’ office is a two feet from mine and he keeps wandering it. Well, I decided to go for it and start closing my door.

    It worked! I am the only one in the building that closes my door, but since I have a reputation as a hard worker, everyone immediately jumped to “Brett needs be able to work without distractions” and have completely respected it.

    Now I close my door completely when I am not in, and leave it open a crack when I am. People actually knock first, including my boss! It’s like I have a real office for the first time ever. Very weird.

    2. Programmer 01*

      That is fantastic! It’s also necessary, it sounds like, so I’m so glad it was received so well. I’ll bet it’s a huge relief and lets you get your work done without worrying someone’s going to wander by and decide you’re available to chat. ;)

  60. a.n.o.n.*

    Not much to say on the job front, but I’m defintely feeling better after taking the huge risk in telling my boss that I took the wrong job. I’m not all mopey, grouchy, and frustrated like I was.

    I had planned on stopping by an event hosted at the company I want to work for, but that didn’t work out. I’m buying a new house and the inspection was that day. It ran over by an hour and I couldn’t make it in time.

    I haven’t connected with that CEO after his voice mail to me and then mine to him, but I plan on emailing him in another week or so just to update him on what I’m doing, that I’m still mega interested in the job, etc. It’s actually OK that he has no update yet since I’m in the middle of buying a house and it would be back to have two job changes in the last 6 months. As I said last week, things happen in the order they’re supposed to happen.

  61. Persephone Mulberry*

    Holy crap, I forgot it was Open Thread day!

    House update: we didn’t get the one we applied for last week, after being jerked around for almost 10 days. So we’ve put in an app for our backup house and hope to hear on that one ASAP. If we don’t get it, we will probably be storing all our crap and moving into my parents’ spare bedroom come June 1. Urgh.

    Off to read the rest of the thread…!

    2. Brett*

      We went through three full price offers (in 2009!) before we finally got one. We reached the point where if we saw a house we wanted, we would go to the realtor’s office that night and send in the offer. 10 days is screwing. We always knew for sure within 48 hours.

    3. Programmer 01*

      Good luck to you! SO stressful, and 10 days is just awful — that so much time when houses are involved!

  62. De Minimis*

    I applied to the job at the other agency earlier this week. Not all that optimistic, the questions during the application process really focused on audit experience, and especially on audit experience in a particular sector. I’ve never worked as an auditor so not sure if I’ll be considered–it’ll depend on who else applies. Private sector people might not like the pay so I could still have a shot since I at least am local and have a good academic grounding [and a CPA license] so they might still be interested if they are willing to bring someone on board as more of an entry-level person.

  63. Brett*

    Annoyance for this week. I am right now 2 weeks out from a major tech event I am helping organizer. Two speakers cancelled on me this week! Argh! I can work around them, but trying to find a backup today.
    Even worse is the number of organizers that never responded to me before the dropdead mark last Friday. We even had speaker fees and travel covered.
    My first time organizing speakers and it is really not fun.

  64. Allison*

    So this week I update my LinkedIn profile, and thought I made three things very clear:
    1) my work experience is solely on the back-end of my industry, and I like it there, and I have no desire to move into a more front-facing role.
    2) I just started a new job a month ago
    3) I’m not interested in new job opportunities at this time. this should be an obvious thing, going off #2, but I thought it was worth clarifying in the “advice for contacting Allison” section.

    Two days later, however, I get hit up with a job opportunity, for a type of job I really thought I made clear I wasn’t interested in. The most annoying part was that he made it sound like a fantastic opportunity for me. He either neglected to actually read my profile or decided to disregard all the information I thought I’d made crystal clear. I’m really trying to be diplomatic and pleasant in how I phrase these things on my profile, because too much negativity and “DO NOT WANT” can be off-putting. I don’t want potential contacts to think I’m an antisocial jerk who hates people.

    But what can I do? how much clearer can I be while still sounding pleasant and (generally) approachable? Should I say something to this recruiter?

    1. Sunflower*

      Honestly, I think no matter what, you’re destined to get hit with these things. I was contacted for an entry-level job last month where the only overlap with my current job was some project management and I have 3 years of experience. It’s possible he searched by job title, found yours, and never looked at your profile. Recruiting can be a lot like sales- some have to hit a certain quota of people contacted or get a certain response rate so they’ll reach out to anyone. I wouldn’t worry so much about putting it in your profile. If you think you’d be able to work with the recruiter in the future, just a simply email back saying ‘Thanks but I’m really interested in x & y and not so much z. Please contact me if something you think I’d be a fit for comes up’. My philosophy is it’s better to say no to someone than to have them no you based on something in your profile.

      1. Allison*

        I should mention, I work in recruiting too, so I know how people are found. But I also know that if you contact someone without really checking out the context of the search terms located in a person’s profile, you may very well end up annoying or even insulting them, which not only makes you look like a dummy, it makes your company look stupid. Why so many recruiters fail to realize this is beyond me.

        Although I do suspect some of them have a quota to hit, like you said. But I sure as hell don’t want to work with a company that operates that way. Metrics are one measure of success, but if management relies too heavily on them to determine a recruiter or sourcer’s value and success, that usually causes a lot of unnecessary stress and can hurt more than help.

  65. Lore*

    Alison, are you planning to write about Jill Abramson? (The recently fired editor of the New York Times. Not sure if it’s as big a story nationally–or internationally–as it is in NYC!) I’d love to hear people’s thoughts–and have a chance to work through my own–but if you’re planning to cover it, I can certainly wait till next week.

    5. Lore*

      To my mind, there are are three questions to raise here, not unrelated, and all problematic. One, of course, is the issue of gender, equal pay, and whether Abramson has lost her job for behaving in ways that would seem unremarkable if she were a man. The second, possibly more damning on many levels, is whether she’s being punished for using (imo, sound, but ymma) editorial judgment to contradict the desires of the businesspeople: taking a strong stand against “advertorial” content, insisting on running a full investigation into the association of the Times’s CEO and a sex-abuse case in the UK. And the third is whether this all goes back to personality conflicts–“soft skills” as it were–that predate her appointment in the first place…and, again, are those conflicts magnified by her gender? I feel like the way the situation was handled has to point to there being some genuine interpersonal issues; you don’t dismiss someone so brusquely for performance alone.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        I’m always skeptical of reports like the one in Politico that talked about her management style – anybody with an axe to grind against the boss can make unsubstantiated allegations in a forum like that. So I really wonder what the reality was.

        And if she had problems as a manager – what help did they give her? They said they’d recently brought in a management consultant to help her with her style – did they give her any time? As a female manager in a male-dominated field, it’s really hard to know what “right” looks like when it comes to being a strong, competent manager who happens to be female. I struggle with it, and I especially struggle with a lack of mentorship above me.

        1. Esra*

          I’ve seen a lot of journos on Twitter saying the management style critiques are bull, like that yes, of course she was pushy. That’s what editors are. No one wants an editor with a soft touch!

    6. Toph34*

      I have a thought about this, but it’s not well organized. I understand that when she was hired it was seen as a triumph of sorts for working women, especially at a paper that was once sued for systematically mistreating female employees. I also understand that Abrams is relatively abrasive and not very well liked, and she has done some specific things (other than being a “pushy woman”) that have raised the publisher’s ire.

      I am trying to figure out if there’s a way to talk about her firing without making it all about her being a woman, and tacitly assuming that the publisher is sexist, and all that stuff. Every time I have even tried to bring this up I am essentially told that simply asking this question means I don’t “get it.” (I really don’t like this answer.)

      Is there any way to talk about this without making all kinds of assumptions about how her gender played into it? I think it’s condescending to focus on that, but evidently a lot of people disagree with me because they think it’s the only topic worth talking about.

      1. Ask a Manager* Post author

        I’ll say that the automatic assumptions that it was because of gender really irk me. Talking about it as a possible factor, sure, but when I’ve seen pieces basically asserting that it 100% definitely was because she’s a woman, it really pisses me off. We can’t know that.

        1. Bryan*

          Ugh me too. It’s like when that professor had her offer revoked. Though in that case we had more information. But in this event we only have rumors and assumptions. Trying to read into this is like trying to read into a hiring manager’s communication.

    7. C Average*

      There’s a new piece up on Slate this morning (I’ll link to it in my next comment so this doesn’t get stuck in moderation) that has a statement from Sulzberger. It’s a lengthy statement that goes into a bit of detail about Abramson’s compensation package as well as the coaching leading up to her firing and the reasons for her firing.

      Leaving aside gender entirely, it sounds like she may have been a member of the stomp, scream, and berate school of management (what I think of as the Victor Newman School of Management). If this is indeed the case, I’m glad the people overseeing her decided to remove her. I’d also love to see more high-level managers removed for these types of reasons.

      We’ve all heard of, and many of us have encountered, the spectacularly talented person with a huge ego and a brutal management style; it’s as thought a certain amount of talent equals a free pass to not treat your underlings like humans. That always feels like a relic from another era to me. Really? This is how we manage? We teach our kindergartners about the evils of bullying, but we bully each other in alleged adult workplaces?

      I do wonder where and how she will land. Everyone who’s spoken of her agrees that she’s a talented journalist. I hope there’s a place she can bring her considerable talents.

  66. MousyNon*

    I love my job, but it’s in an industry that is notorious for low salary. Generally, the only way to get a substantial pay bump (to livable wages, no less–right now, I’m stuck living with family because salary is so low compared to COL on the west coast) is to leave and come back, which many many people in my company have done.

    I can absolutely justify a substantial bump given my reputation and ever-increasing responsibilities (and I know my market value is considerably higher–I’ve been headhunted a few times, resulting in two job offers since I started working here, and turned both down because I really do enjoy my job), but I’ve made my case for a raise to my boss in the past and he’s told me he’s being stonewalled by HR. I have no reason to believe he’s doing otherwise, since, after my last review where I asked for a more substantial raise, he told me he’d been stonewalled again but he encouraged me to follow up later in the year so that he can try again with HR before budgets are final.

    Any thoughts on how I should approach this? do I stick it out and try again with my boss? Should I assume I need to boomerang like everyone else and move on when I get another offer? Should I be honest with my boss and say that the salary issue is becoming a dealbreaker? I know my boss would like to keep me, and I know I’d rather stay on, because I enjoy my job and the workplace, but frankly I need to move the hell out on my own and I can’t do that at my current pay.

    Thoughts?

    1. Bryan*

      How do people leave and comeback? Do they return to the same position? How long are they gone?

      If you don’t want to live with family you need to move on. Make it clear that it’s solely because of salary. If you’re super close with your boss see if they can do an exit interview with someone in HR (higher up) so that it’s being made clear HR is making the organization lose good employees due to salary.

    2. A Jane*

      My recommendation is to keep an ear out and be serious about looking for opportunities. If the company is great about hiring boomerangs, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to be serious about it and see what’s available. I was an a similar company that bragged about its boomerangs and they were able to come back in roles with more responsibilities and money/title to reflect it.

  67. Claire MKE*

    After persevering through double PT jobs for 2+ years, I’m finally in a FT position that my boss created for me & tailored to my strengths – that, plus a former coworker messaging me on LinkedIn to ask for my opinion about working at a previous company, and I finally am feeling like a REAL PROFESSIONAL ADULT. In two months, I’ll even have health insurance! WOO. Just wanted to share good feelings & thank the whole AAM community – I feel like I’ve learned so much here that’s helped me a ton in navigating the tricky waters of my job situation (I wrote so many letters to Alison in my head, only to realize as I was composing them that I already knew the answers!)

  68. Mimmy*

    Small gripe: I’ve been unable to find my sunglasses, and I think I may’ve misplaced them 10 days ago at a meeting with my county council. I’ve emailed the secretary twice asking if anyone has turned them in. Then I called and left her her a voice mail under the assumption that she did not receive the emails since I saw her this past Tuesday, and she didn’t acknowledge receiving those emails. Still, crickets!

    The thing is, my sunglasses are prescription–I tried to make that clear to her in my second email and the voice mail. I said, “please let me know whether or not anything had been turned in”. Even if they haven’t, am I wrong in expecting at least the courtesy of a response, even if it’s to say “nothing was turned in”? She knows me well enough because I go to every meeting, so it’s not like I’m some random, annoying caller.

    Should I say something to her supervisor? I have a really good rapport with her, but i don’t know how the secretary would respond to my going over her head. She’s nice, but because she’s so busy, she can definitely come across as gruff. Or should I just let this go? They could very well be here at home, so I plan to tear apart the house this weekend.

    1. Colette*

      I wouldn’t say anything. Tracking your sunglasses isn’t her job. It would be nice of her to respond, but it’s not something her boss is likely to care about.

      1. Sunflower*

        Yea- i mean, its kind of annoying she hasn’t answered your emails but this really isn’t something her boss is going to get in the middle of since it’s not her job.

      2. Mimmy*

        I wasn’t looking for her to go look for them herself but yeah, you guys are right. My husband was kinda nudging me to try her again, but I think we can assume they’re either buried in the house or gone. I’ve been needing new ones anyway, so….

    2. Darth Admin*

      Since she seems busy and you clearly really want them back, I’d suggest stopping by in person to ask after them.

  69. BigSister*

    Regular commenter changing her username for this one because of reasons you’ll probably figure out below. :)

    I have career goals that I’m working towards and part of that is likely moving (not too far, about 100+ miles from where I am now, to a different state). My target is 3-5 years, before my child is in school, and ideally we’d be in that new area for really the rest of our lives if possible. There are many future career opportunities there, it’s a much larger area, more to do, better schools, etc.

    However, I have a special needs brother who is three years younger than me. He has several learning disabilities and is on the Autism spectrum. He is able to work a minimum wage job, but he cannot drive. He needs someone to coordinate his schedule, make food, do his laundry, pretty much do all those things a parent does while you’re growing up.

    Currently he lives with my parents, but based on their age and potential future health issues, I think I reasonably have only 10 years before I’ll have to take over his care. At that point, I’m not sure how I can actually move forward in my career, move out of this area, or really do any of the things I and my husband really want to do. We’ve known this was an inevitability. I’ve known it my whole life and my husband knew it from the first day we started dating. The prospect of taking over his care full-time is not only daunting, it feels unfair. It also feels like I may end up hindering my own life goals, and potentially having to sacrifice things for my daughter. Not to mention I can also see a future where I may end up not only taking care of my brother, but also my mother, and having both of them live with us.

    Is anyone else facing a future of caring for aging parents or other relatives? How do you move forward with your career and life goals knowing that?

    1. CTO*

      Would your family be open to you starting this conversation with them? Your dilemma is a very, very common one.

      For instance, would there be other options for your brother someday, like some sort of supportive housing or group home for people with needs like his? My uncle lives in a setting like that, and while my parents are still very involved in managing his care and progress, the building’s support staff handle most of the daily needs. (My uncle is able to take public transit to work, though, which sounds a little different from what your brother needs.)

      Also, I wonder if your brother and/or parents would be open to relocating to be closer to your new home if they eventually need more care from you.

      Some families would want a child in your situation to stay close and delay pursuing their own goals. Others would want their children to “fly away” anyway. Do you know where your family stands on the issue?

      1. BigSister*

        I haven’t never brought up to them in this way, but they have made comments in the past that basically assume I’ll always be in this immediate area.

        One of the issues is that my brother does not handle big change very well and does not know how to deal with his emotions. He typically becomes angry or very upset or both. I am not sure that moving, even to an area that my family is familiar with, would go over well with him. I am not sure if he could get another job at a place that is as comfortable employing special needs people (they have quite a few working there and are very flexible and understanding). I’m also not sure my husband or I could find a job that is willing to give us the flexibility to take care of my brother the way we need to. There is no adult or elderly care facility in this immediate area I would trust with any member of my family. We’ve had terrible experiences with a couple of them, and they were the ones that were supposedly the best.

        I know these are all things I need to talk to my parents about, but I honestly don’t even know how to bring it up. I feel like I’m being selfish and resenting my brother for being the way he is. But I also know I need to do things are good for me, my husband, and daughter.

        1. CTO*

          I wonder if some kind of family counselor would be a helpful resource here. There are people who are pros at these kinds of family transitions, and care planning. Maybe they could help you start the conversation or feel more prepared to start it on your own.

        2. AVP*

          Maybe it would be helpful if you moved as soon as possible, and let him slowly (over the course of years) get used to this as an inevitability? It does sound like, for the good of all involved (including your brother, whether he realizes it or not) the bigger area with more job and home-health-care opportunities would be a safer bet.

      1. Who are you?*

        I agree that a conversation with your parents is in order. I don’t know where you live, but there are some amazing programs out there for men and women like your brother.
        I can understand not handling change well, but there’s enough time between now and then that changes could occur as close to his pace as possible. Those changes and plans should be in place before you need them.

    3. cuppa*

      I have a brother with special needs and know exactly what you are going through.
      We just got him into a great group home situation that is working out well. Like you, my parents are getting older and it was not a good long-term situation for him to be there. I live out of town, but within driving distance, and I have another sibling in town. I know that my mother had a conversation with my brother asking him to be the designated family member in custody of my special needs brother, and he agreed. However, we have back up plans where he could come and be with me if we ever needed to, and I have scouted out a few living options in my area if it ever comes to that.
      Like you said, it can be kind of an inevitability when you have special needs people in your family, but I don’t think it means you need to give up all of your dreams as long as you plan ahead. (However, I will add that my brother’s special needs are different and not as behavior oriented as your brother’s, and that may change things).

      1. Not So NewReader*

        This. Group home placement. I would look into transiting now while all of you are young/strong enough to participate in that transition.

        If you feel you cannot take on your brother’s care there is no reason that you should have to. Suppose something happened to the both of you and you could not physically take care of him? Then where would he go?

        I feel very strongly that just because this is your parents’ commitment it does not have to be yours. (Matter of fact, it did not have to be theirs either, they could have transitioned him to a group home.)

        Human services organizations are very much aware of the types of needs your bother has. Please help your folks to understand that they are not the only ones on earth who understand his needs. Yes, there maybe a few specific things they will have to explain but the service these homes provide is accommodation for these various need levels.

        Sadly, it may happen that you may have to just tell your parents no in order to get them to change their thinking. That is rough. But you are not just answering for you any more, you have your husband to consider, too. And that makes it even more important to speak up now.
        Perhaps you can do some research and get some facts collected up regarding options. Armed with options that takes the focus off the NO word and moves the focus forward to investigating what else there is to do for him.

        (I hate to say this. But I think of it because my cousin and her husband were killed in an accident. What if something happened to the two of you? Then what would your parents do? It is just not a good idea to rest everything on your shoulders- for so many reasons.) Any good attorney would point this out to your parents.

        Start transitioning now, while the four of you can help each other and all of you can help your brother.

    4. Stephanie*

      Everyone here has good advice. If you are on Facebook, there is a Special Needs Sibling support group called SibNet where people post questions for advice all the time (and vent a lot). It is wonderful.

  70. Anonymous Drama*

    Going anon for this out of paranoia: a coworker of mine is obviously despised by her direct supervisor and the manager has been trying to fire her. The manager suspended her for something she didn’t do (and it was even proven after the fact that she didn’t do it) and my coworker even got moved into a separate office so that the two of them would be kept away from each other most of the time. I just heard from her that she’s about to officially be fired and she’s asking people for character references. Lawyers are being called. I’m pretty freaked out on her behalf.

    So what does one write in a character reference, anyway? I feel strongly that this woman is a good worker and not the liar that the manager is saying she is, but after writing a paragraph I don’t know what else to say.

    1. Colette*

      What will the references be used for? Is this part of some expected court case, or does she expect to use them when applying for new jobs?

      If it’s the latter, written references aren’t the norm in most places.

      1. Anonymous Drama*

        I’m assuming the court case. I did just write it out generically enough that it could be used for both purposes, though.

        1. fposte*

          I think that’s fine.

          Honestly, though, I don’t think the statements are likely even to be admitted if there’s a court case, and I’m not sure what she would be suing for unless there’s a contract involved or she’s really highly paid. It’s legal to fire somebody for something they didn’t do.

    2. Bryan*

      I would write just that she was a good worker.

      Is your coworker an at-will employee? I’d hate for her to waste money on a lawyer when she’s about to lose her job.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      This is hers to freak out over, not yours. I understand being concerned, but freaking out on her behalf is only going to cost you your job.

      Do what you can for her but keep an eye on your own job security.
      If you find the situation so wildly unfair then, yes, you may need to start looking for another job, too.

      I am saying this because I have seen similar situations play out very poorly. Take care of you.

  71. A Jane*

    Been playing catch up from vacation, so I’ve missed out on AAM =(

    What’s the highest number of emails you’ve come back to from vacation? I was out for a week and had about 480 total. When I cleared the junk (auto responds, other system notifications, etc), I was down to 75.

    2. Anonalicious*

      I received 1,347 while I was out on maternity leave (8 weeks +2 of best rest before that). Fortunately, I could delete most of them immediately after I returned because they were group emails, task updates from a vendor that were handled by someone else, etc.

    3. Elizabeth West*

      Ugh, here’s hoping my out-of-office will divert some of those. I can log in on the internet and clean some of them out, but I wasn’t planning to–I don’t want to show up as Available!

      I’ve already written my out-of-office message. :)

      1. A Jane*

        I love writing the out of office message! My brain can finally feel like it’s vacation time!

    4. Annie O*

      I think it was about 750 after being out seven business days. I generally get roughly 100 emails a day, about 2/3 of those requiring some sort of action or response. Which is just crazy. I read in the Wall Street Journal today that high-skilled knowledge workers spend an average of 28% of their time on email.

  72. Online applications: Who knows what??*

    I emailed this question to AAM but I think it was too basic to make the cut, so I thought I’d try on open thread.

    My general question is, who has access to what information in regards to online applications? For company website in which you create a profile, does HR know all the previous positions you applied for, and does that have an affect? Then, does HR simply provide the applications to the hiring manager, or does the hiring manager themselves go into the database and know about all other previous applications?

    Also, would this be a negative sign (she didn’t make the cut earlier; why is she applying to different departments/roles) or could it be positive (wow she really wants to work for this company)? Thank you!

    1. Bend & Snap*

      I think it really depends on the company, the software, the people. Some companies would know, sometimes the right hand doesn’t talk to the left. Sometimes HR vets all candidates and sometimes the hiring manager has that access.

      In any case, I don’t think you have anything to lose by applying twice, and you might just reference it as a sign of your enthusiasm for the company while spelling out why you’re awesome for the job.

    2. Anonalicious*

      It’s really company dependent. Where I work, HR does an initial screen to make sure the candidate meets at least the basic things they know the hiring manager wants. The hiring manager can see all applications, even if HR thinks the candidate didn’t make the cut, just in case the manager feels differently.

      If the system requires a login and your email address it may not let you apply twice because it could filter duplicates.

  73. Give Me What You Owe!*

    I presently have worked as a receptionist for an investment bank for 2.5 years and have had my fill. Frankly, I’m a hairsbreadth away from walking out the door today!

    My question for the group pertains mainly to something I’d like to do once I’ve left. I have proof that the sub-contractor that I work for on behalf of the bank has been doctoring my hours. I’m scheduled for 9 hours (45/week) and come in early every day due to my train schedule. Once I clock in 30-40 minutes early, I sit right down, answer emails, then do my walk through of the office. However, all of this is not paid for, as my hours are docked so I don’t accrue any further overtime. I send an email to sign in/sign out (my managers are in a different state) so I have the time stamp from that. This whole thing has gone on for all 2.5 years of my employment but I’ve only got proof of 1-1.5 years.

    My question is: Is it worth it to jeopardize my reference by submitting this evidence to the government and filing a suit for unpaid wages? Also, would I be completely protected from legal retaliation if I did so? What do others think?

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Yes you should file and yes you’re protected as a whistleblower (I’m pretty sure).

      YES.

    2. A Non*

      Talk to a lawyer before quitting so you can get an idea of how the process works and what evidence you need to gather. It all really varies depending on your location. Hopefully you’ll end up nailing those suckers to the wall in court!

    3. AVP*

      I think I’m a little confused, though – are you paid for the 45 hours a week, but you’re working more like 50? Have they explicitly asked you not to work those extra hours, or are they just turning a blind eye to the fact that you’re working more than they originally thought? Do they assign too much work for you to do in that 45 hour week?

      I guess I’m just a little thrown off by, if you knew you weren’t being paid for it, and they didn’t ask you go come in early (seems like it’s more of a fact of your commute than a request from the boss) why didn’t you just stop working those extra hours?

      1. Bryan*

        That’s kind of my view as well. Have they asked you to work extra or are you just doing it? Either way stop working once you get in (I know train schedules can dictated arrival times). Bring a book or something.

        But definitely report them and start looking for another job. You have whistle blower protection but it might turn into a toxic environment.

      2. krm*

        I am confused as well. Did they ever authorize the extra hours? Any time that I’ve needed to come in early or leave late due to transportation issues, I would bring a book and catch up on personal emails…I wouldn’t expect that overtime would be authorized for that additional time without discussion first. With that being said, if you’re not excempt, I believe they would still need to pay you for that time.

        1. Give Me What You Owe!*

          Thank you all for responding! A little clarification:

          @ AVP: I am paid for 45 but am working closer to 48. They are turning a blind eye, because they benefit from the work (the third-party contractor looks great and the client loves that there’s always someone here to look after things). The work load is basically an events coordinator position which really would require someone to be reachable 24/7 as details for our visiting execs change constantly, but they don’t want to pay for that. I didn’t stop working the extra hours because they would still pester me for things anyway (I get regular calls on my cell during my break/lunch asking for things that could wait 15 or 30 minutes).

          @ Bryan: The workplace already is toxic because the only other coworker I have who works for my company serves as my on-site contact and she has made my life miserable for the past 1.5 years. I won’t get into it, but I’ve been looking at alternatives and applying for awhile…

          @KRM: Extra hours can be worked with approval, yes. But even in my most recent review, it was remarked that the subcontractor I work with (and the client) love my dedication and attendance to the job. So while they haven’t out-right approved it, they also haven’t said no either

          It should also be pointed out, that all of the national team receptionists are in the exact same boat when it comes to this. They do not treat us with any dignity or respect and we are treated as an afterthought because we are all states-away from each other and are left to our own devices.

          Overall, I’m trying to find other work, but I did want to make sure that “if” I pursued this it wouldn’t turn into something that would haunt my life. Thank you all once again!

          2)

          1. AVP*

            As much as I want to be like “People power! Get what’s yours!” I think I would let it go. It only comes out to 3 hours a week, and for an event coordinator, this is sort of part-and-parcel and unfortunately might haunt you later if you were looking for an events position and got a reputation of nickel-and-diming when it came to hours. It sounds like the whole culture/organization is really toxic and you might be reacting more to that than the hours. If you had asked about billing for those hours first and gotten a fishy response…maybe.

  74. JoAnna*

    I have tried Googling this but haven’t had any luck, so I thought I’d ask the AAM Brain Trust.

    Every week I have a set of HTML documents to process. Some of them come through our (proprietary) system without closing body & html tags at the end of the document, and those files are rejected by the next component of our processing system (which will tell me the first file with the issue but doesn’t provide a list of files that are affected).

    I’m trying to find a way to batch search and find these files that DON’T have a closing body tag and a closing html tag, so I don’t have to open up every file and check (sometimes there can be 40+ files so it gets time consuming). I can find the files that DO have the closing tags in Notepad++ when I search all opened documents, but no way that I can see to filter out the ones that DON’T have it without installing a plugin (which I can’t do, see below).

    Programs at my disposal: Notepad++, FrontPage (yes, I know), and your typical MS Office Suite. I can use standalone .exe software or .bat files, but cannot install any software or Notepad++ plugins due to environment restrictions.

    Can anyone see what I need to do and give me any tips? Maybe a RegEx or macro or something that would work?

    1. Trillian*

      I have a slightly roundabout approach to suggest. Assuming you can add to the end of all files (I’ve not used Notepad++ for anything other than basic notetaking), add a closing body tag and html tag to all files. Then do a batch search/ replace for two successive closing body and html tags, replacing each with a single instance.

    2. Student*

      First, bug report to the people responsible for your proprietary system.

      Second:
      Write a perl script. It’s free and easy. Loop through all the files in a directory, check to see if they have the closing tags, and add the tags if they don’t. Any scripting language would be able to do this in 10 lines of code or less – perl, python, whatever. You say that you can’t install anything, though, so you are kind of stuck until you address that barrier – just ask IT if you can install one of these. Maybe your system has powershell installed?

      If the idea of writing a script isn’t for you, contact your IT and ask them to write a program for you to do this, if they won’t just fix the original bug immediately.

      1. JoAnna*

        Bug report has been done and deemed lowest priority (which means the chances of it ever being fixed are slim to none).

        Can’t contact IT or developers and ask for a script, it’ll get the same treatment as the bug report above.

        Asking IT to install anything is way more trouble than it’s worth — it’d have to go through the giant corporate IT dept who have been known to close tickets and mark them “completed” when they haven’t been so their metrics look better.

        I might try Trillian’s solution, that might be a workaround I can use.

  75. Trixie*

    A mutual friend who’s a teacher mentioned she does tutoring at the school and the pay is fantastic, even better with math focus. I”m guessing she’s at a private or charter school of some kind. She didn’t mentioned getting licensed but maybe since she’s a teacher it never came up. Anyone else have experience with paid tutoring through a school?

  76. Middle School Teacher*

    I’m curious if there are any former teachers out there who have changed careers and moved on to a different field. I’ve been teaching English to middle schoolers for about 5 years, and while I currently love my job, I don’t think I want to continue teaching forever. When I talk to professionals in other fields about changing careers, I get a lot of dismissive comments about how teachers aren’t the most intelligent people or aren’t very well suited to other types of jobs. I’m wondering if anyone has some advice about how to make myself more marketable in a world that under-values teachers and if there are fields that would value a teacher’s skills to make a transition more natural.

    1. De Minimis*

      My mother made a switch from middle school English to school librarian, but that’s not a huge shift.

    2. Senor Poncho*

      I’m not one to deify teachers or anything like that, and I have no idea how your experiences line up with whatever career change you’re making, but who bashes teachers’ intelligence like that?

      1. CanadianWriter*

        Loads of people. There’s that awful saying: “Those who can’t do, teach.”

        1. Canadamber*

          Yeah, and teaching apparently isn’t a “real job”. Well, why do you trust them with your kids, then? And making them actually LEARN something?!

      2. Stephanie*

        Lots of people. Education schools aren’t the most selective and pump out graduates. I grew up with girls who saw teaching (usually at the elementary level) as an “easy” career they could do before they got married and had babies.

        I don’t think that and had some really smart teachers growing up. And after talking to friends who were teachers, I am amazed at all teachers have to do relative to the amount of pay and respect.

        1. fposte*

          I think that’s the real problem–education programs don’t universally draw the best and the brightest, so some people default into it while others are drawn to it with a passion. The former don’t do the profession any favors.

    3. Elysian*

      I was an elementary school teacher and now I’m a lawyer. Some people have questioned my career change, but only saying things like “Those two are so different!” and stuff like that. I once had someone ask me about transferable skills, but really there are so, so many (you have no idea how often a room full of lawyers is just like a room full of 6-year-olds…) Mostly people tell me “It’s a shame that smart people don’t stay in teaching more often.” I think a lot of people recognize that there are problems with teaching that make it a really hard job.

      Don’t listen to those dismissive jerks. Teaching is extremely marketable and I know a ton of people who changed career because teaching just wasn’t treating them very well and they wanted better.

      1. Sunflower*

        It’s so funny when people say ‘but that stuff is so different!’. I was a hospitality major and was seriously considering becoming a counselor and people said that to me all the time. And I said ‘What’s the difference? I listen to other people’s problems all day and teach people how to work with other’s’ I can’t speak to anyone’s skills exactly but I’m sure your skills are transferable. Lesson plans I feel like can be like project managing. Making timetables and timelines is a big skill too. Plus you have to be pretty good at managing others and tracking their progress.

        But yeah don’t let people tell you anything bad about teachers!!

    4. Former teacher*

      I have! I left teaching and never looked back. My first job was still technically in the education field but involved more ‘consulting/sales’ type work. I’ve since transitioned more to project management. There are lots of applicable and transferable skills that translate well to a corporate environment. For me, I found both of my post-teaching jobs via personal connections, so I don’t have much help in terms of marketing – I’d love to see Alison address this as a larger question because I know many of my former colleagues are thinking about making the move as well. I do know that it is definitely possible and know many former teachers. As an aside, I do know that TFA members are coached to market themselves to work beyond teaching — I’m not sure if that is helpful as a launching point for researchers. You may want to look into moving from teaching to a non-profit, where the ‘values’ might be similar but your actual work would be much different as a way to make the first stepping stone.

    5. Educational Testing Specialist*

      If you’re just looking to get out of the classroom and not out of education entirely, consider getting into educational assessment or educational publishing; both of those are fields where having teaching experience is a big plus.

  77. char*

    Hi! I’m in marketing and recently the company wants to have an internal corporate newsletter. The management has put me in charge of it. Since it isn’t exactly my job scope, do you think I should spend less time on it?

    1. angie*

      Do you have concerns that it’s cutting into more critical parts/expectations of your role or are you just wondering how much time and attention to allocate to it?

      I’d suggest that you meet with your manager and ask for input and guidance about expectations and priorities given everything asked of you before you make any assumptions.

      Maybe business needs have/are changing and things are happening that you don’t know about that will require reshifting focus and resources in your role accordingly.

    2. Holly*

      From one marketing person to another – you should put an equal amount of time into it. For one, it could lead to them trusting you to do more “article” type projects, like blogging or client outreach or whatever, and two, it’s rarely good to phone a project in just because it seems like it’s not that important. You’d be surprised how sometimes what’s important to your boss/upper management is drastically different from what’s important to you.

      Oh, and this is internal, so all the other departments are basically getting a demonstration of your work capabilities. Just for face-saving reasons, it’s probably best to put in your full effort.

      (That said, I get your feelings. I hate doing newsletters.)

  78. A Nonny Mouse*

    Soooo, I need some advice.

    I am a legal assistant at a small, ~80 person law firm, about 20 partners or so. We hired a new law clerk on Monday. HR was bringing him around, and when he got to my cube, we both had a very awkward pause. Turns out, I dated this guy for a month about a year ago. It didn’t really go anywhere, but I wasn’t in a good place emotionally and kind of did a “slow fade” on him. Not my proudest moment, but it wasn’t like it was a serious relationship, either.

    Since Monday, he’s viewed my online dating profile (where we met) on several occasions. He also asked me on Tuesday if I liked madeleines (those little French butter cookies) because he was bringing some in the next day. I said sure, I like them. Well, turns out, he brought some in – but only for me. I thought he was bringing them in to share with the whole office – nope, I got a big baggie of them “just for me.”

    I’m trying to tell myself that this guy’s just happy to have someone he knows at the office, and that he’s just being friendly, if a bit awkward. But how would y’all suggest handling this if it progresses any further? I don’t want to scare the poor kid, and I certainly don’t want to go to HR if I can avoid it, but I also don’t want to make it awkward around the office either. I’m afraid I’m not very good at navigating this sort of thing. I should also mention that this kid is the son of one of the partners’ close friends, so I don’t want to piss him off, either, lest I end up on this partner’s bad side.

    Any suggestions are appreciated!

    1. Anonalicious*

      I was in a similar situation. Be honest with him and make sure he understands you aren’t interested in dating him. If you are okay being friends with him, then be clear about that, but if you just really want to be coworkers and nothing else, you have to make that crystal clear. He might not like you for it, but that’s not your problem. I would hope he could manage to be professional, and if he can’t, that’s something to take to your manager or HR.

      And if you are very clear with him and he doesn’t stop with the bag of cookies and whatever else, then take that to your manager or HR too.

    2. Katie the Fed*

      I would nip that one right in the bud in the most face-saving way possible for him.

      Like “Hey Boutros, thanks so much for bringing in these madelines. It’s good to see you again – and thanks for not being weird about the fact that we dated last year. It’s a good thing we didn’t end up dating, because I have a strict policy against dating people I work with! But I’m glad we can be friends.”

      1. fposte*

        Oh, nice, liking this. And I absolutely agree that something needs to be said.

        I also don’t think a slow fade is a big bad deal–they happen pretty frequently in early dating.

      2. A Nonny Mouse*

        1. BOUTROS. I love you.

        2. Thank you for this line. I think that was my big problem – I wanted to give him a “face saving” way out of this. I don’t want to embarrass him, but I also don’t want him thinking he has any chance of anything with me. I’ve been down the coworker dating road before, and have no desire to go back!

        1. Katie the Fed*

          Boutros is the Arabic version of “Peter”

          I just learned that this week and I’ve been enjoying that little fact!

  79. H. Vane*

    Woot! In the last seven months, I’ve doubled my pay and gotten full benefits, all while staying in the same company! Hooray! I can live like a real person now!

    Does anyone else have a snorker in their office? Someone who inhales their own snot loudly and regularly? Mine sits across the hall from me. It is so gross.

    2. Canadamber*

      You mean someone who tries to sniff it back? Guilty of that… :$ But I am currently getting over some kind of sickness, and can’t carry a Kleenex box with me everywhere I go. >_<;

    3. Pip*

      Yay! Party like a real person!

      At OldJob, there was one co-worker who did this thing where you suck the snot down to the back of your mouth and swallow it. She biked to work and apparently worked up a bit of phlegm, because she would always start her day with half an hour of this awfully noisy activity. She also had a habit of thinking aloud in a very whiney voice. This was in an open office plan. Not fun.

  80. C Average*

    Need some advice on assisting a couple of job-seekers.

    –How do I communicate sensitively to a job-seeker that her look (style of dress, makeup, and hair) would likely prevent her from getting a job here, or from being taken seriously in a professional setting in general? My company is very image-conscious, and there’s very much a typical look here. I know this woman to be intelligent and conscientious, and I’d like to help her get ahead. (She works for one of our vendors and I’ve known her in that capacity for a couple of years. Moving from the vendor to our company is a much-coveted but rarely achieved career path.)

    –Do any of you have a succinct way to describe what a run-on sentence is and how not to write them? I see this error SO OFTEN in communications from people who want my help getting a job here. I just intuitively know it when I see it, and I struggle to communicate it to others beyond “this is a run-on sentence and needs to be fixed.”

    1. Anonalicious*

      #1 There was a similar post at AAM about this here: https://www.askamanager.org/2014/04/ask-the-readers-urging-an-employee-to-dress-more-formally-to-help-her-advance-not-because-shes-outside-the-dress-code.html

      The comments might be helpful to you, but it really comes down to how well you know the person and how honest you think you can be with them. This is a sensitive area.

      #2 – Maybe just tell them to be more succinct and direct in their communications?

      1. BB*

        Yea even though that was an employee-manager, I still see it being just as beneficial here. And even if she doesn’t get a job at your company, it’s going to benefit her no matter where she goes

    2. Forrest Rhodes*

      Longtime freelance editor here. One of the things I suggest to my clients who’ve asked for coaching—as opposed to their just handing me the piece and saying, “Fix it!”—is that they read their writing to themselves, but aloud. (Often we do this together, with the author doing the reading and me saying, “Um, what?” at appropriate places.)

      Did the reader stumble over the words, or have to stop reading aloud so he can reread and understand what the sentence is saying? That generally indicates a phrase/sentence that needs some attention.

      With a single sentence, did the reader run out of breath, turn blue, and topple over, or did she need several breaths to finish reading it? That needs some attention, too: maybe make it into two (or more) sentences; maybe use a semicolon to break it up in appropriate places; maybe some combination of those two; maybe that sentence should even be presented as a list. Lots of choices here, but gasping for air is a good clue that attention must be paid to that sentence.

      These suggestions aren’t specific to run-ons, but just reading the piece aloud will usually raise giant “Do Something Here!” flags for the writer/reader.

      Hope these ideas help, a little. (And actually, I’m a better writer/editor than this quick note probably indicates … just had to say that.)

    3. fposte*

      What kind of run-on are we talking about? The comma splice is pretty easy to identify and articulate–two complete clauses with subject and verb in each need more than just a comma to link them or to be treated as separate sentences.

      1. C Average*

        I’m talking two entire sentences just mashed together, sometimes with a comma but often without even that! It’s so obviously wrong that it hurts to read it. I want to say to them, “THIS is a full sentence and THIS is a full sentence! Each one needs a period. Don’t mash them together like that.” It seems completely self-evident to me, but it obviously isn’t for everyone.

        (I see colleagues do this, too. So yeah, I know that if you’re a really talented engineer or IT guy, you can get away with this stuff. But would-be engineers and IT guys need to get this stuff right when they’re trying to network their way into a job!)

        1. fposte*

          If they don’t have a comma, do they have a conjunction? If they’re literally writing “I don’t know what a run-on sentence is I think my sentence is fine” they may be beyond quick correction.

          1. C Average*

            Yeah, that’s exactly what they’re doing. Did they really not learn this in school? It’s so ingrained in me that I don’t even remember when or how I learned it!

    4. Anonylicious*

      If you can split it into two complete sentences and there isn’t a semicolon or conjunction linking them, then it’s a run-on sentence. So there’s your test and your three options: split it in two, and if the two new sentences work then leave them like that, or join them appropriately.

    5. CLM*

      For jobseeker #1, I would keep your advice focused on your company specifically. Just lay it out to her that the company has expectations of a specific look/dress code that they expect employees to adhere to, as part of the company culture, and what that “look” consists of.

      You don’t have to point out to her that her own look is not consistent with your own company; if she’s smart, she’ll get it on her own. And I’d be hesitant to tell her that her own current look is hindering her from getting a new job in general, not just at your company specifically. You don’t really know that. She got her at her current company with her current look, after all.

  81. Programmer 01*

    Hi folks!

    I just wanted to update from last week (was it only a week ago?) where I was really struggling with depression, anxiety, and my job.

    I wanted to say a huge thank-you to everyone who commented — thanks to one comment I was able to get enrolled in my medication company’s “compassionate care” program, so my meds are no longer costing me over $100 a month! Even better, they’re going to retroactively apply it. They had a bunch of questions about my history and experience with their meds, but nothing invasive, it was all optional, and they absolutely DO have a program for people whose insurance doesn’t cover their meds. SO AMAZING.

    Also, I wound up joining a Captain Awkward support group… only to have half a dozen people say “you know your symptoms sound a lot like mine…” and when I talked that out with my doctor, it was like a thousand lightbulbs went on. I’ve been officially diagnosed with PTSD, with depression and anxiety stemming from it but not causes in and of themselves. The BEST news is that I had just started a new med that is used for PTSD, and I am responding really well to it. I am feeling great and chomping at the bit to go back to work and am just waiting on HR’s permission, because they set me up on temporary disability while I was out. I’ve been doing what I can from home, mostly delegation and connecting people who have questions to people who have answers, but I’m feeling good enough that I’ve been going to the gym, playing video games, reading outside, and having dinner with my partner out. HUGE HUGE change!

    Thank you, thank you. I feel good, I feel happy, and while I am not out of this yet, being able to give a name that fits to my symptoms is incredibly helpful and such a relief, because instead of flailing through the jungle of depression we now have a machete and a compass and if we beat that boss over there we get a map…

  82. Brittany*

    I did it, guys! Cut the cord with my former employer who contracted me to keep working freelance, then continued treating me like an employee. Professional email followed by insane phone call on her end begging me to change my mind. I feel so good about this! Thanks for the support and advice. You ladies and gents rock my very happy socks.

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Yippee! Good for you!
      I am sure her insane call only verified in your own mind that you made a good move.

  83. CrazyCrassBoss*

    If you have a crazy, crass boss, does it reflect badly on you?

    I was at a Board of Directors meeting this week and we were waiting on the Chairman to arrive when my boss decided to break the ice by telling a really long joke about penises. She must have said the word “dick” 15 times. It was horrifying. Afterwards, one of our consultants said that she should consider not talking about “dicks” at Board meetings and it seemed like she genuinely did not understand why it was offensive.

    At other times, she’s said some really strange stuff in the workplace like “Don’t get any ideas about having babies” or telling one job candidate that his resume looked “Too religious.” Besides her rude behaviors, she’s respected as a national expert in our industry and seems to have a lot of great connections. I enjoy my work, at least for the time being, but I don’t want her crassness and reputation as a jerk to stick to me.

    1. CanadianWriter*

      There’s no way this reflects badly on you. People probably feel bad for you since you have to put up with her everyday.

      1. Ruffingit*

        THIS. If anything people feel badly for you. It’s amazing that an industry expert wouldn’t know why this stuff was offensive. Then again maybe she’s like that job board lady who just got way too full of herself and stopped behaving appropriately because she’s “God” and therefore doesn’t have to in her eyes.

    2. nep*

      Yikes. That’s got to be rough. Agree with other commenter — I can’t see this reflecting badly on you. Perhaps gain you some admirers for being able to deal with it maturely and not let it affect you and your work. Good luck.

    3. Sparrow*

      Wow, this woman seems socially clueless. As long as you produce good work, kick ass at your job, and don’t make any dick jokes yourself, your repuation is already much better than hers.

    4. Joie de Vivre*

      Whether or not her reputation rubs off on you will have a lot to do with how you react in these situations. If you’re laughing along with the inappropriate jokes – or worse encouraging her to continue – the assumption will be made that you are okay with her behavior and have the same standards of professionalism.

      Other than that, it shouldn’t reflect badly on you.

    5. AVP*

      I hope not, because mine is very obviously nuts and everyone knows it, including all of our clients and most of the industry.

      However, one one occasion I was out at a bar and happened to meet a very important gatekeeper. He asked me where I worked and said “oh that company, hahaha, how is the old dog? How long have you worked for him? …6 years? wow, that’s very impressive.” So I think sometimes it can reflect well if people understand that it’s a challenge and you’ve been successful at it.

      1. Not So NewReader*

        Yep- that is how it goes. “Oh you have for Jane for 6 years? Wow, you must be superwoman (man).”
        I have also seen the conversation go into job offers under the theory that if you can handle Jane then surely you can handle X at new company.

    6. anon in tejas*

      there is an acquired finess to handling this and these types of inquires.

      I worked for such a boss a while ago. When I said where I worked, people who knew her would say “You worked for X, I hear she’s ______________” and I would be forced to respond.

      She was known for being a hot head, an ego maniac, a work aholic, really hard on her employees (right of passage was being threatened to be fired)

      Normally, I would say that she was challenging to work for/really hard worker (and inspiring, because she was, when she wasn’t being an ego maniac), but I really enjoyed ________________ (substantive part of my job) the most.

      You have to distance yourself from it, but in a polite way.

  84. gingersnap*

    About 3-4 weeks ago, Alison said something about the relationship between management & leadership (either in a comment or in a post). I didn’t write it down right away but should have, and I haven’t been able to find it since. Does anyone else have an idea of what I’m talking about?

    Also, any thoughts on the relationship between management & leadership or the differences between those skills & characteristics would be very welcome. (I’m working on clarifying the objectives of a “leadership development” program that may actually be more “management development” and I can’t quite figure out what’s going on)

    1. Katie the Fed*

      To me, it’s this:

      Management is about getting the work of the organization done. It’s the nuts and bolts of aligning resources against tasks, making sure the tasks are complete, etc.

      Leadership is about the people – inspiring them, looking after their professional development, etc. Making them the best employees they can be so they do great work.

      Personally, I think it’s a lot harder to be a good leader than a good manager.

      1. gingersnap*

        Thanks Alison & Katie!
        I feel like a lot of the rhetoric I here is along the lines of “Management is about keeping things the same, Leadership is about creating change” (and then usually something about “transactional” vs “transformational” leadership). I’m increasingly thinking that having management skills is almost a prerequisite for leadership skills.Particularly since this program is loosely based on Kouzes&Posner’s leadership practices: Model the way, Inspire a shared vision, Challenge the process, Enable others to act, Encourage the heart- some of those sound an awful lot like good management to me.

        2. Ask a Manager* Post author

          Management is definitely not inherently about keeping things the same. Good managers set ambitious goals to truly drive progress for their organizations, and then manage people to those goals.

    1. C Average*

      Worst: I’ve actually got nothing here.

      Best: Payday, Friday, first day of summer hours, and I wrote a completely awesome document yesterday that’s getting fantastic feedback from our Asia team (the target audience).

    2. Shell*

      Worst: lot of angst and anxiety all week about what I’m doing with my life.

      Best: IT’S THE WEEKEND YAY. Also, I got my computer fixed and seemed to have figured out how to stop Steam from screwing up on my Windows 8, so now I can game again. \o/

      1. Shell*

        Oh, another Best: my volunteer work with my documentation team has been kicking off a lot of very interesting discussion. It’s extra nice because we’re scattered across the world so this can be some practice for when I (maybe, one day, hopefully) get to work with teams overseas for tech writing.

        1. Jen RO*

          I’m part of an overseas tech writing team, so feel free to contact me in the AAM LinkedIn group if you want to discuss anything!

          1. Shell*

            Ooh, thanks! I’m definitely going to take you up on that.

            The group right now is doing FAQ documentation for a (very) large website, but it’s all based on usability right now–front end stuff, what the users see; we don’t really touch the technical stuff. I think they might have a few actualfax tech writers documenting more complicated backend stuff…

            I was actually really aggravated earlier this week about some stuff on language, and then checked myself and realized my irritation with life was totally bleeding into my work. The discussion seemed far more productive once I realized that, heh. :)

            1. Jen RO*

              I’m the only Romanian tech writer in the LI group, so I should be easy to find!

    3. Katie the Fed*

      Best: I’m filling in for my own boss for the next few weeks, which means he trusts me enough to run a bigger organization.

      Worst: That’s going to be hard!

      1. en pointe*

        Worst: I almost stepped on a brown snake* on the track I run yesterday.

        Best: I survived almost stepping on a brown snake on the track I run yesterday.

        *second deadliest snake in the world for all you non-Australians

        2. en pointe*

          Oh, another worst, or rather, most awkward:

          Accidentally recommending Savage Love to my super conservative boss. She asked if I had any favourite blogs and I blurted it out and then had to explain what it was about. (Why, oh why couldn’t I have just said AAM?)

    4. Stephanie*

      Best: I’ve been on a big workout kick while I’ve been job searching. I try not to weight myself, but I cracked the other day and weighed myself. I’m down 15 lbs!

      Worst: The hot weather’s finally starting in Phoenix.

    5. Elizabeth West*

      Hmmm….

      Worst: probably my morning commute. It’s not bad, just annoying and too many trucks and makes me crazy for about fifteen minutes a day.

      Best: I HAVE NO HOMEWORK THIS WEEKEND BECAUSE THE SEMESTER IS OVER!!!!!!!!!

      1. De Minimis*

        Best: Was able to be out a lot this week due to minor medical stuff that wasn’t a big hassle to deal with.
        Worst: I have to help submit a report each month reconciling reports from my department’s information system with reports from another department’s system. The guy who runs the other department is a notorious slacker, and isn’t holding up his end of the task, so it’s a pain.

    6. Jen RO*

      Best: I went back to my old job and so far it seems like it was the right decision. I am 3 days in and already thinking about new tasks. I will more or less be in charge of three new hires, and they seem smart and motivated! (The rest of the team, in another location, is getting laid off.)

      Worst: The team in the other location, who was supposed to train the new hires, is doing a crap job, basically not giving a shit about them. I was feeling sorry about the layoffs, but I was so angry today I just wanted them gone already.

    7. Lizabeth*

      Best: everybody’s at our bi-annual trade show the week so the office is QUIET!!!!

      Worse: highly annoying passive aggressive co-worker is coming back on Monday from said trade show.

    8. Canadamber*

      Worst: I got really sick and missed two days of school, and now have to catch up on EVERYTHING. I work tonight and Sunday.

      Best: I got paid on Thursday, and my mom is coming back on Saturday! :)

      Yeeeah, I’m not very positive this week… :(

        1. Canadamber*

          Thanks. :) My other comments here lately have probably made it obvious that I’m quite down lately – I’m not depressed or anything (I don’t think), but it’s been quite hard for me lately! I guess that being 17 and sort of feeling the pressure of oncoming adulthood and university and why didn’t I work harder this year and how did I manage to get into an amazingly bad relationship and why aren’t I ready to move away when all of my friends are moving away for university next year, etc., has sort of taken a toll on me. :$

          1. Ruffingit*

            Totally normal place to be at your age. Heck, at any age you sometimes sit back and take stock of what you’ve done and think “Seriously? Was I drunk that entire relationship and/or during the time I made the choice to take that job?” You’re still really young though, which works heavily in your favor. Nothing wrong with taking a year to get your life in order. This is the perfect time for you to do that when you still have family support and the whole world is still open to you.

            That said, totally OK to feel down about things too. It happens. Just dig yourself out of the emotional hole ASAP by looking at just the next thing you need to do. Not the whole picture, just the next thing. Do that and continue on down the line with the next thing after that and so on. Also, if you do feel like you might be more depressed than is just the normal blues, don’t be afraid to seek help for that. I’d have been a lot better off in my life if I had sought help for such things way before I did.

          2. Vancouver Reader*

            Ruffingit is so right, we all make dumb mistakes at every age in life and at least you’re smart enough to be looking for advice. If I was half as smart at your age, I’d be a lot further ahead in life. Of course they didn’t have the internet back when I was young, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. ;)

    9. Claire MKE*

      Best: Plowing through giant projects at my now-FT job & getting lots of nice feedback

      Worst: Very worried about my roomie’s job situation (for her, and for the fact that she’ll probably leave the area if she loses her job and then I’ll be up the creek re: housing :\)

    10. Persephone Mulberry*

      Worst: getting turned down on Wednesday for the house we really, really wanted.

      Best: Nothing particularly jumps out. It hasn’t been a terrible week, but it’s been challenging.

    11. Cath in Canada*

      Best: finally, a week of sunny weather! The type where cycling to work is a joy and a pleasure!

      Was unexpectedly invited to a wedding by a new friend!

      Worst: insomnia is kicking my butt even more than usual this week

    12. Ruffingit*

      Worst: Pulled some muscles this morning.

      Best: Got some things done this week that needed to be done and it’s the weekend. Nothing on the agenda tomorrow so I can sleep in and be lazy. Love those lazy days!

    13. Chris*

      Best:

      Survivor this week.

      http://www.cbs.com/shows/survivor/video/

      Definition of trainwreck. Also, finale next week.

      Worst:

      -General depression. To be frank, sometimes fellow classmates post advice for job hunting and resumes on Facebook when they are leaving for their second engineering job, and then watch other people (who have engineering jobs) give out bad advice (i.e. “ask your interviewer if you can switch jobs” if you don’t like the one they’re hiring you for, ask what his colleagues do after work is over, etc.). It’s depressing considering that my former classmates theoretically did something right by getting engineering jobs (which I have yet to do), but what they write suggests they hadn’t had to think about how they got them.

      -Kuma throwing a beautiful gem, then Rodney “Brandon Leagueing” it.

      -Yelling match with my dad. :
      –“You really need to get a job!”
      — “I’m working on it!”
      — “I’m sorry. Did you dress up in a suit and go out to (Aerospace company X)?
      — “No. It’s –”
      — “Then you’re not working on it.” -Door slam-

      This isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this: Went to a aerospace resume workshop. Last time I went, the teacher (whose career advice hadn’t thrown any red flags previously) suddenly suggested I do the same thing my dad suggested, and even ask if I could volunteer at those companies.

      This whole job hunting business really has done a number on my mentality. There’s very few people out there that actually know how to job hunt. And as I’ve found out, to my dismay, people that theoretically should be expert job hunters (former aerospace classmates that landed engineering jobs, people at my college career center, people at my unemployment office) give a lot of bad advice.

      – Went to visit my ex-roommates to chill and relax, but in the first 10 seconds it became perfectly clear that we are no longer in the same world. One guy was talking about how he had to stay overtime to work on some wiring issues at the company he works at, and another guy was disgruntled about having to learn Scheme (programming language) for his job. And of course:

      “Wow Chris! You’ve been at this for so long, you must be an expert at tailoring applications!”

      Clearly not, since I have yet to get an offer. But yeah, I left the next morning because it was too depressing.

      1. Stephanie*

        Sorry to hear about your rough job hunt, Chris. Aerospace sounds really rough right now. My best friend from undergrad is finishing up her aerospace PhD at a top program and she’s freaked out about the job market (and hasn’t gotten any interviews). Sounded like people in her program were struggling a bit as well.

        Apologies if this is obvious advice you’ve already tried, but have you tried the car companies at all? I know they sometimes hire AEs.

        1. Canadamber*

          Yes, back when I was looking into mechanical engineering, apparently aerospace is something that car companies will ALSO hire for. O_o;

          Anyway, aerospace is pretty much impossible to get a job in right now. I’m not considering engineering any more, and am now in finance, but it’s still pretty crazy, just how dead end it seems to be. :$

    14. Anon scientist*

      Worst: epic poison ivy from fieldwork earlier this week

      Best: starting a two-week vacation!

    15. Windchime*

      Worst: The long-feared layoffs in my area happened last week. About 10% of our department was given notice that their jobs were ending. I’m fortunate that my team was spared but it’s sad and difficult to know that co-workers will be leaving.

      Best: I spent most of last week on vacation in Sedona. It was my first trip to Arizona and I loved it. We flew into Phoenix (I waved at you, Stephanie–did you see me?) and then drove up to Sedona from there. It was a stunningly beautiful drive, and Sedona is absolutely lovely and peaceful. Best of the best? Blooming cacti. I got lots of lovely pictures.

      1. Stephanie*

        *waves back*

        I love the drive on I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff. It’s really cool to see the transition from low desert to pine forest. Did you happen to drive on 89A through Oak Creek Canyon? Kind of terrifying at times (a few switchbacks), but the canyon, creek, and forest are incredible.

        Sedona’s lovely, I just wish the food situation was better. A friend and I were there in January and it was a struggle to find a middle point between high-end and diner. We just gave up and went to this alien-themed diner one night.

  86. Emily*

    What do you all think of the movement to make discriminating against the unemployed illegal?

    1. Katie the Fed*

      I don’t like it. I would prefer to see tax breaks or something for companies that hire long-term unemployed.

      1. De Minimis*

        Same here….discrimination would be too difficult to prove so I don’t think it would really help anyone, but companies are often eager for any kind of tax credits. There would just need to be something that would prevent companies from abusing the credits.

      2. Elizabeth West*

        I like this suggestion. They’ll still discriminate; they’ll just make up another excuse. The only language many companies understand is money.

        1. Canadamber*

          I can see it becoming a thing where they start hiring ONLY unemployed people, because tax breaks. :$ Or am I just stupid?

      3. Del*

        Agreed, I think this is the better way.

        Making it a discrimination issue would make it harder for companies to avoid people who are long-term unemployed for a reason. (Sidenote: I see this as different from the current anti-discrimination laws we have as there’s a much stronger potential connection between “long-term unemployed” and “undesirable employee” than there is between “female/PoC/disabled/etc” and “undesirable employee.”)

      4. Anonalicious*

        +1

        Giving companies incentives to hire the qualified long term unemployed is way better than a bunch of people crying discrimination. Sometimes there really are reasons why people are unemployed for a long time.

      1. Stephanie*

        I’m long-term unemployed and (it pains me to) agree with Alison. Some fields change rapidly enough that a break can really make a difference. Like someone who’s been out of healthcare policy for over a year would have missed the Obamacare rollout.

    3. Bryan*

      Nope. It’s so difficult to prove discrimination in the hiring process and sometimes it makes sense to have fresh skills. I’d rather hiring managers not let someone else decide if a person is a good employee or not.

    4. Esra*

      Talk about fixing the wrong problem. I’d rather the government invest more in infrastructure, grants, and support for people looking for work.

  87. Programmer 01*

    Also I know I missed last month’s “yo this is what I do for a living” but I am a video game developer and have been in the industry for over a decade now, so if people have any questions about the industry, how to orient towards a career for it, get your foot in the door etc, I’m happy to answer. It’s the most passionate and intelligent group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, an incredible atmosphere, and with new consoles it’s a really interesting time to be in this industry.

    I’ll also link what is one of the best breakdowns of the sheer number of roles available (that also summarizes my sheer hatred of doors), by Liz England: http://www.lizengland.com/blog/2014/04/the-door-problem/

      2. Programmer 01*

        The ones I’m proud of and got published? Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Assassin’s Creed Liberation, uhhhhh….. project canceled, project canceled, project canceled, Lego Star Wars. I worked on a lot of Disney handheld games before I really hit the big time, but I got to work on a lot of weird one-off stuff like be part of the localization team for World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade, help record voice acting for Reservoir Dogs, and about 64636223 different versions of Sudoku.

        I’m working on AC Unity right now, it’s been 8 years since we had the “OH MY GOSH NO ONE KNOWS HOW IT WORKS” of new consoles, so it’s super exciting to be doing that again, after I finally had reached a truce with the PS3.

        1. Programmer 01*

          I’ve also worked on a lot of really, really bad games, but in my defense, the code was great.

          I’ve also single-handedly seriously screwed up some titles when I worked for Sony Pictures Entertainment (not Sony itself) because we’d be making sim-ship games for related movies, and they couldn’t give us the scripts because it was a security leak soooo we just kind of had to guess as to what was going on. Let’s just say there’s a reason the Spider-Man games are so weird.

    2. Alex*

      I am so far from anything having to do with your profession, but I read that link you posted, and now I want to be be a video game designer. That is EXACTLY how my brain operates.

      My LinkedIn profile is linked to my name here – I’d love to take you up on your offer of chatting about your industry. I am more curious than anything, so I understand if you’d prefer to spend time with people who may be more serious about it than I am.

      1. Programmer 01*

        Designers are amazing people, and if I hadn’t gone into programming I think I might have gone that way, too. They’re also masters of excel and tend to really “get” what makes games work and work well, and they spend as much time as anyone spying on playtests and metrics and trying to figure out WHY WON’T YOU TAKE COVER IT YOU JUST HAD A TUTORIAL ABOUT THIS IT IS A COVER-BASED SHOOTER.

        I’ll shoot you an email from my personal address — I’m happy to answer questions, I do a lot of public speaking and school visits because if someone hadn’t told me in school yes this could be a real job, I never would have learned how to program, nevermind make games.

  88. Anon today*

    Any tips for behavioral based interviews when you have trouble remembering events, and especially the specifics of events? I know I have learned a lot from previous experiences, but I don’t necessarily remember them in that context, I typically remember more of the big picture solutions rather than the details about how we got to the solution. I also have a good idea how I would respond to situations, but I can never point to a specific place in the past that I reacted that way.

    1. Cadie*

      Obviously going forward it would be good to jot down notes when you wrap up something that might be useful as an example later on!

      For an immediate solution I’m not sure what to tell you if you don’t remember anything! Obviously making up the scenario is not an option, so the best you could do is try to jot down as much as you can remember and use that information in your interview. Sometimes just writing it down will bring some memories back. Fingers crossed someone else as a better answer for you ;)

    2. Dulcinea*

      I am also not a detail person…I think what I would do is pick a specific skill you have developed over time that you are proud of/is relevant for theposition you are applying for. Then reflect back on your experiences for ANY events you do remember, even if you only partially remember them…then pick one that theoretically *could* demonstrate the skill you want to emphasize, even if that isn’t literally the Time You Learned Your Lesson. If you don’t rememember enough specific details, try to fill them in with your best guess, or merge details of two similar stories.

      I guess people might think this is dishonest, but I don’t think interviewers really care about the specifc details, they just want to know that you ave certain skills and can give examples of how you have used those skills or how you developed them.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      Do warm up exercises at home.
      Seriously.

      I am not good at designing questions for myself to practice on so I google for questions that seem to be reasonable for the job I am applying for.

      Then I try to make myself come up with more than one answer for each question. Although, I don’t shoot myself if I only find one answer.

      I find that I am harder on me than the interviewer is. And it does loosen up my thinking so that I am in the swing of it. You do not have to do a lot of this, to get the hang of it.

  89. Once Anon a Time*

    Hi, I recently graduated from college with my BS in Sociology and Business Administration (minor). However, I’ve decided I want to pursue a career in healthcare. Although I’ve been getting interviews from hospitals and medical facilities, the problem always is that I lack formal knowledge of medical terminology and transcription. As a result, I am not hired, and the position is given to another candidate with this experience. These are for basic, entry-level positions. I do have formal work experience (three years of office experience, to be exact) but not in healthcare.

    I was thinking of getting a Associate of Applied Science degree in Medical Office Technology, which has courses in transcribing, medical terminology, and medical software. I was told this will help me in my healthcare job search.

    My question is two parts — 1) Does this seem like a good idea to get into the healthcare field? 2) If I do this, the certificate is offered at a community college where I already received an Associate of Arts degree (this new degree would be an AAS). How would I list both on my resume without overshadowing my BS from another university?

    1. Once Anon a Time*

      So to clarify, my degrees at the end of this will be:

      Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts, ABC Community College
      Bachelor of Science, Sociology, XYZ University
      Associate of Applied Science, Medical Office Technology, ABC Community College

      1. Dang*

        Do you live near a large university? If you’re interested in research at all I highly recommend clinical research assistant/coordinator jobs.

        1. Once Anon a Time*

          I do live near a large university, the same one I received my BS in. But no, I know I don’t want to be a research assistant. I took enough social research courses to know that. I’m looking at clerical healthcare jobs, such as scheduling coordinator, patient coordinator, and clerical office associate. They all fall under the secretarial/clerical category at hospitals.

    2. periwinkle*

      What area of health care do you want to move into? That makes a big difference on what kind of additional background you might need. For example, if you’re looking at working in clinical administration (like an outpatient clinic in a non-patient care role) it would be helpful to speak “clinician”; you shouldn’t have to know things like billing codes, but you should understand how a medical office functions. It just depends on what sort of positions you’re applying to.

      If you really want to be marketable, learn how to speak finance – controlling costs and managing the money is hugely important to any health care operation.

      1. Once Anon a Time*

        I am looking for work in the clerical/secretarial sector of hospitals. The AAS degree I am looking at covers transcription, billing, coding, software and medical terminology (two courses in that, one beginner and one advanced). I don’t want to do clinical or research. I’d like to work as a scheduling coordinator, patient coordinator, billing coordinator, or clerical office associate. I meet all other requirements but just don’t have experience with the categories mentioned above.

        The program I am applying for also has an internship component at the end of it, which I’m told can lead to full-time work.

    3. Bryan*

      Are you getting turned down after applying or interviewing? Would there be a cheaper way to learn and prove medical terminology? I know when I was job hunting there was a concern that in the chocolate tea pot world I focused on handles while applying for a lot of spout positions. I only had to say I am familiar with x,y, and z and that eased their worries.

      Maybe you just take out the first associates (end in upward inflection because I’m not sure).

      1. Once Anon a Time*

        Hi Bryan, I am getting turned down after interviewing. Sometimes I go on second, even third interviews, only to be told that they are going with someone else with more experience in healthcare. After being rejected, I always inquire about feedback, and have been fortunate enough to receive it on a few occasions.

        More than one hiring manager told me that the reason I wasn’t picked was that I did not have any experience in healthcare (professionally or academically) and the other candidates for the position had either one or the other, or both. And I really couldn’t say I was familiar with x (transcription), y (coding) or z (medical terminology) because the truth was, I wasn’t.

        As for leaving off the first Associates degree, I may do that. Only thing is, I made Dean’s List several times while pursuing that degree, and also received honors in that major (Liberal Arts). So that’s the only problem I’d have with taking it off my resume. I also received this Associates four years ago, so it’s not like I’m doing back to back Associates degrees.

        1. Bryan*

          I’m always just very cautious about going back to school to get a job. It sounds like you might be the exception in where it would help.

          I wouldn’t worry about listing both associates. Although I would list most recent first.

      2. Once Anon a Time*

        Oh, sorry Bryan, I just reread your last statement about taking off the 1st Associates in regards to upwards inflection. I thought you meant take it off completely, my mistake. I understand what you mean. I shouldn’t have written it the way I did in my previous comment.

        My resume always lists the most recent first, so assuming this is my resume below, I’d list it like this:

        ABC Community College, In Progress
        Associate of Applied Science, Medical Office Technology

        XYZ University, 2013
        Bachelor of Science, Sociology

        ABC Community College, 2010
        Associate of Arts, Liberal Arts

        1. Bryan*

          yeah that looks great to me.

          To the others out there, does in progress vs. expected graduation matter? To show when you plan on completing your degree.

    4. Windchime*

      I hope that you will come back and read this. I’m on a BI team at a medical facility and I used to do medical coding, billing, and payment processing back in the day when it was possible to break into that field without any experience. These days, offices look for people with a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) certification. You might look into that; it seems like it would certainly be more affordable than going back to get another AA degree.

  90. Toph34*

    I am giving my 2 weeks notice today. I moved for this job 2 years ago but it hasn’t been working out, and I got a much better job in a bigger city for more money, better benefits, and less responsibility.

    I am extremely nervous about giving my notice. This is a great organization and hiring me was a key part of their strategic plan. It’s really going to be back to the drawing board for them and I feel really really bad about it. Not looking forward to this conversation.

    1. De Minimis*

      I feel like I could have written this…..it’s exactly how I feel right now [other than the whole getting a better job in a better location part.] Be sure and let us know how it goes.

      1. Toph34*

        Thanks for the kind words. I just did it and it went okay. I could tell my boss was extremely disappointed, but she did say that she wasn’t surprised, and that this town is a hard place for a young person to build a life. I guess it went as well as it could have gone. I still feel bad. Working in the nonprofit world really does make you think that everything you do is a personal mission for the greater good rather than a business decision.

  91. Jennifer*

    So if a family member breaks something very expensive to replace on your car, especially after you asked her multiple times not to mess with that because it wasn’t broken, is it fair/reasonable to ask her to pay for the repairs?

    2. Cadie*

      Absolutely! But I’d advise that you think and decide ahead of time how far you want to push in case they resist compensating you. It would really, really be crappy of them to refuse, so you’ll have to figure out what level of deal-breaker it is! I can think of various people in my life for whom it would be A) Annoying but I’d let it go because of everything else they’ve done for me/how much they mean to me, B) I would be upset and probably need awhile to be not upset and would let them know that, C) Deal breaker, nice knowing you, you’ve always been inconsiderate and this is the last straw for me!

    3. Sparrow*

      Ugh, sorry about the broken item. It’s absolutely fair for you to ask her to pay for the repairs.

    4. Canadamber*

      YES! Your insurance might not cover that, and it’s her fault. What was it, like a mirror or some sort of engine part or something?

    6. JamieG*

      Yes! But as Cadie said, decide in advance how firm you need to be here; she already broke it because she thought she knew better than you/was doing you a favor, so I doubt she’ll take asking her to pay the cost very well. (“God, I was just HELPING. I can’t believe you’d ask your own mother* to pay for something when it was an accident! It was probably broken already anyway…”) Definitely try to get her to, but it’ll be easier if you know already what you can live with/how much convincing is worth trying.

      *I think I remember from a different thread that it was your mother breaking the roof of your car, but I might be making that up; apologies if so.

    7. Bryan*

      Yes, as others mention figure out how far is it worth to go.

      Is animosity worth $200, $300, $400….

    8. Not So NewReader*

      Consider non-monetary actions:
      She no longer rides in your car.

      You get to break something of equal value in her car. (Sorry had this happen with a family member- she broke something, then I accidentally broke something. We called it a wash.)

      She now needs to give you gas money because you can no longer afford gas because you have to pay for this @#$% repair. (If she chooses not to get in your car, at least you know it won’t happen again.)
      But really-
      I would ask for the family member to pay me back. But I would not hold my breath waiting for payment.

  92. In progress*

    I got a job! Strangely, I’m almost skeptical of a place that would want to hire me (I’m reminded of that Groucho Marx quote), but I’m going to put on my best effort and the confidence will come later!

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Congrats! You got the job because they KNOW you’re the best person for it, and you beat out tons of other applicants for it. You deserve it! OWN IT.

  93. Elizabeth West*

    Aww, poor little Olive looks like she’s drowning in a bowl of oatmeal!

    Non-work stuff: Sent out a query this week for Current Book; got rejected. Nuts! On to the next one.

    I’ve been obsessively stair-climbing at work. Twice a day, I climb three floors five times, and I do twelve push-ups on the windowsill at the top. I’m about to add my neighborhood walks back in. It’s working, albeit slowly. And I’m eating better, too, or at least less. :)

    The semester is over and I AM FREE. I’m not even going to think about anything but my vacation, queries, and NextBook until I absolutely have to make a decision whether to go back (after I come back from the UK). Here’s hoping stuff happens between now and then. 0_0

    Busy with vacation planning. So far I have made plans to do the following:
    –Visit with my aunt (of course!)
    –Harry Potter studio tour
    –Doctor Who Experience (in Cardiff)
    –I’m looking at a ghost walk in Cardiff Castle (!!). It’s at night and it says you get to go in places the public doesn’t during the day, hehe.
    –I have a ticket to Riverdance in Cardiff. :D
    –The Jack the Ripper walk in London.
    –A bit of shopping
    –A bit of just knocking around
    –Maybe a day trip in Wales, if I can find one I like that runs that late in the year
    –Attempting to locate a place where I can try absinthe
    –Stuffing my face with as many delicious goodies as I can find that I can’t get here

    I CANNOT WAIT

    2. Lamington*

      I love London if you can splurge and get an afternoon tea, do it! I went to the Orangerie of kensington palace after visiting it and it was a delicious and relaxing experience

      1. Elizabeth West*

        There’s a place my mom told me about called Maids of Honour (it’s a kind of cake or biscuit), where the bakery has been there since Tudor times. She said I should get my aunt to take me there. They have high tea, but my aunt apparently doesn’t care for that, so I might go do that one on my own. Gawd, half the stuff I bookmarked has to do with food!

        I love London too; it’s really one of the coolest cities, and the best thing, besides all the historical stuff, is how easy it is to get around. I think I’ve figured out the Oyster/Travelcard thing now. Last time I went was so long ago they didn’t even have those. And how there is always something going on. (I’m making myself not want to come back now!)

        1. fposte*

          Maids of Honour is right by Kew Gardens, too, so an excellent spot in several respects.

          Alert: “high tea” doesn’t traditionally mean the same thing in the UK that it does in the US, though the UK seems to be doing some pandering to tourists on the terminology these days, just to confuse things. What you’re looking for is “afternoon tea” or even, in the West Country, a “cream tea”; “high tea” is a working-class supper.

        2. Lamington*

          The scones there at Maids of Honour are to die for! And if you’re in Kew swing by the gardens

          1. Elizabeth West*

            Will have to! I went to Regents Park last time, when the roses were in bloom. I have a list of gardens somewhere–they ought to be interesting in the autumn.

            I’d also like to visit the Lindley Sambourne house (home of the Punch cartoonist). I have a miniature book that has some interesting reproductions of it and I’d like to see the real thing.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        LOL I’ll probably be stuffing myself on British sweets–I get some of them (Crunchie bars!) at an amazing food truck we have here that makes pasties (they modeled it after West Cornwall Pasty Company). They had Kit Kats for a while; I love those, because instead of the little wimpy US things, it’s one HUGE one. :D

    4. Schmitt*

      The London Eye at night in the dark was fantastic and totally worth it, especially if you’re going up the Shard for a daytime view – if not they have a double ticket for 1 day and 1 night ride on the same day that is only a few pounds more than a single ticket. I don’t know if they stay open until true dark in the summer though!

        1. Carrie in Scotland*

          Oh The Shard is amazing – you can walk in and get tickets or buy online (think there’s a discount for pre-paid ones but then there’s the risk of rubbish weather when walking in you can go on the best day). Talking of The Shard, there’s another building being built – can’t remember its name or when it’s to be completed but you can see it from the top of The Shard that will have a public garden on the top.
          Hummingbird Bakeries (there are a few to be had around London). Also Convent Garden and Portobello are worth going to. Watch out for the ongoing strikes/maintenance work on the Tube :(

          I’m going to London in November to watch the ATP World Tour Tennis Finals (just for one day – so far!)

  94. Kirsten*

    It’s only lunchtime, but I’ve already gotten one job offer today and was told I’d most likely hear back from another today as well. I know to not count my chickens and all that, but the interview for the latter went really well and I was the only applicant, so I am hopeful that by the end of the day it will be two job offers. After two years of cobbling together enough contract work to just scrape by, the idea of having at least one (if not two) additional part-time jobs – both in my field – is super exciting. I love what I do, but I’m ready to make a comfortable living again!

    1. Kirsten*

      Update: just got off the phone with HR and have accepted an offer from the 2nd job as well! BEST FRIDAY EVER.

  95. Lamington*

    i’m sad, my little sister is mo ing out to graduate school. Any tips on how to deal with empty nest?

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Be deliberate. Plan your day/week. Keep yourself moving.

      And oh yeah, have a set time to call her, so you guys can catch up.

    2. Lamington*

      Thanks so much, we have live together since she moved to the States in 2006 to go to college and now grad school. sniff :'(

      1. Not So NewReader*

        Awww. Treasures of time, for sure. It’s this kind of stuff that creates a life-long bond. You and she will always have a special sister relationship.

  96. Cath in Canada*

    Does anyone have any experience running a MeetUp group?

    I’m thinking of setting up a new group, based around science-related events in my city. It would be for everyone – kids & parents, science students at all levels, professional scientists, people with no formal science background who are interested in the topic. The idea would be to create a community resource where any member can add their own events (you can do that, right?) – anything from formal or informal lectures to movie nights to science museum/aquarium visits to “let’s get together in a pub for no particular reason and talk about science”.

    I just don’t want to accidentally create a monster that’s going to end up being a massive time and energy suck…

    1. Piper*

      I’ve done it. Eventually I had to close down the group because I just didn’t have the time anymore.

      However, if you have a group with active participants who are also interested in helping out (i.e., hosting events, being assistant organizers), that helps out a lot. I’ve been a member of groups like that and they seem to run themselves. That’s really what I wanted for my group, but no one was interested in hosting events, so I just couldn’t keep up anymore.

      Some of the more annoying things that happen: you make reservations somewhere only half the people who RSVP’d show up or people change RSVP’s at the last minute and you end up somewhere by yourself. Both happened to me.

      For me personally, I’d rather be a member of a meetup group than run one just because of the headaches I’ve had with the one(s) I’ve done. But with the right group of people, they can really work well.

    2. LMW*

      It depends on how you set it up and how often you plan to post events. I’ve been on the leadership team for one for two years (the groups been around for about five years) and since we actually host and coordinate events in a very hands on manner, it can be a gigantic time suck.
      I’d say make sure you set up events in such a way that if people don’t show up (even if they RSVPed), it’s not a big deal. And definitely try to get some other people to plan and post. One issue we have is that our main organizers wants a rep from the leadership team there for everything. Fine in theory, but it means people might have great ideas that aren’t being used because they can’t post them directly.
      If you go in thinking it’s going to be casual, you know how much time you are willing to commit (and are firm about it) and you are willing to let other people run with ideas, it will probably be easier and a lot of fun. I’m always surprised by how many cool people get involved and how willing they are to pitch in!

      1. Cath in Canada*

        Thank you Piper and LMW – this is really helpful!

        I have a few friends who are really involved with the local science outreach community, including someone who organises the local branch of Cafe Scientifique (monthly talks by scientists, for non-specialists, in a pub). I ran the idea by them last week and a couple of them were interested in joining and helping out. Having read your comments, I’ll go back to them and thrash out some more details about who wants to take on how much responsibility and how the group would work.

        At an absolute minimum I can just post the monthly Cafe Scientifique events (which I go to anyway and no-one has to RSVP for). I’d also initiate one event of each of the examples I listed in my first comment, and then proactively encourage everyone who attends those first meetings to feel more than welcome to add their own events. Anything beyond that is a lot hazier, but hopefully would become clearer as things progress!

        1. Shell*

          You’re in Vancouver, I think? I’ve been living here for most of my life and I’ve never even heard of Cafe Scientifique, and I still consider myself pretty science-y. The things AAM teaches me. :)

          1. Cath in Canada*

            Yup! The regular Cafe Sci is organised via UBC and is held at the Railway Club downtown (http://blogs.ubc.ca/cafesci/). There are also occasional one-off events under the international Cafe Scientifique umbrella and organised by people like the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (a federal research funding agency), which are usually larger and more formal (but still in pubs, yay!). And I think there’s also something out at SFU.

            1. Shell*

              Oh wow, and the next one is on chemistry! I think I might go.

              Hope to see you there? :)

  97. Canadamber*

    Unrelated to careers, but am I the only one who just doesn’t want to date right now?

    Some of you may know that I was dating this guy from my store. WAS. He’s 23; I’m 17. Anyway, I broke up with him just before March break started. But, for some reason, the bad parts of the relationship just do nothing but stick in my mind, all. the. time.

    Okay, so I didn’t mean to write this whole big rant, but I did, so please hear me out, or skip it if you want. :)

    Big rant ahead (tl;dr: guy was annoying and bigoted and pressure-y):

    He was a good guy in a lot of ways, in that he bought me stuff and was always around to cuddle and worried about me when I was sad and stuff, but he was also quite… rude. He wasn’t homophobic, or so he claimed, but he used “gay” as an insult. Called people the c-word, including a woman on the train once when she told him to get his feet down off of the seat. WHEN SHE WAS SITTING IN THE ROW NEXT TO US!!! Lord, he was saying it under his breath, but I bet you any money that she heard and they both saw that I was with him and I was just so, so mortified!!! (I actually only remembered that today. Funny, huh?) He was also trans-phobic. Also pressured me for sex, and a few times I gave in to some softer stuff and kind of hated myself for it after. Made sexist jokes, but made a HUGE deal of it whenever I made one. (Which was not too often, but he would make woman driver jokes quite often. Once, I joked that he was obviously not a guy since he had absolutely ZERO interest in cars, and he loudly kind of freaked out, and while he didn’t yell, he shouted back in a more laughing tone that I should get back in the kitchen, and then told me not to be sexist. Thanks, really. I kind of apologized, I think, but when he made another woman driver joke in reference to a bad accident a few weeks later (this was over text), by saying that he bet that it was a woman driver who caused it, he didn’t seem to understand why I was irritated. Then, get this, I actually freaking apologized and said that I’d just been sensitive about it lately, in the same message as I told him that it makes you look like an a-hole for just generally assuming that!!! And all he could do was ask why! Like THANKS for deflecting!!!

    Like, freaking God, it was BAD in so many ways. Like, just, ugh. Plus, I was kind of afraid to be alone in a room with him because things would ALWAYS be initiated. And I didn’t know how to say no. And even if I did, he would either wheedle, keep asking, or stop asking but then start again a couple of weeks later. (In fact, that’s eventually why I broke up with him. He told me to get over my nerves one time and kept pressuring and kissing me, so I threatened to leave, so he stopped; then, when I went to talk to him about it, he said that he was always told to face his fears and that everyone’s nervous the first time that they do it… So, obviously, since he didn’t get it and wasn’t going to, I ended things.)

    He also wanted to hang out ALL the time, and I never really had the time for more than once or twice a week.

    I’m just kind of kicking myself for jumping into it all too soon, and also glad that I ended it, but now I don’t really want to date. At all. Ever. I mean, honestly, how can anyone else put up with this?

    BLAGH.

    1. CanadianWriter*

      I’m glad you broke up with this douche. He has zero redeeming qualities.

    2. AVP*

      And it’s okay to want to take a break! Especially since you’ve just recently ended a not-great relationship. Spend some time thinking about what you want and what makes you happy instead.

    3. JamieG*

      That guy sounds like a massive d-bag. With everything, but especially the pressuring you into sex thing… That’s gross and actually kind of abusive. I’m glad that you left him, because ugh.

    4. Programmer 01*

      Ugh, good for you for getting rid of a tick.

      It’s totally cool to take a break. It’s totally cool to not want to date ever again! There’s all kinds of pressure for ~the future~ and marriage and babies and who knows what else, but it’s your life and you get to decide what you want to do with it, with who, and when. Self-care is a huge thing no matter how old you are!

    5. Colette*

      It’s totally fine to not want to date now (or ever, if that’s what you want).

      Have you thought about how you’d handle some of this stuff differently? (I don’t need an answer, obviously, but you do.)

      I think a lot of people struggle with this kind of thing at your age, and it’s a process of learning when it’s important to stand up for yourself, when you should go along with the other person, and what your deal breakers are.

      (The numerous “women drivers” jokes, for example, are a sign to me of a belief that women are naturally inferior – that’s a red flag for me.)

      1. Canadamber*

        Thank you. :) Since I work with him, and my parents liked him (he met mine because he stayed over a few times, but I never met his), I’ve been feeling like, oh, maybe he wasn’t that bad, but I didn’t really want to stick around to find out, because you know how sometimes it looks like on the surface that things are good, but if you think about it, it’s really just awful? Like, he was nice and bought me things, but then there were a few things that just screamed of wrong to me. :$

        And I didn’t respect him after a while, I don’t think, and I thought it was mainly because he dropped out of school and wasn’t planning to go back, but maybe it was because I also felt like he didn’t respect ME. Ugh. Maybe I lost a gem, but I don’t really feel like it, you know? I’m starting to realize that there WILL be others. :)

        While I don’t find anything wrong with working retail, it’s when the person kind of just… stops, and has no interest in growing themselves either personally or professionally, is what I think I will have a problem with. Maybe that sounds shallow? I don’t know. It was hardly the biggest issue, anyhow.

    6. Elizabeth West*

      What a butthead! I’m glad you got out of that.

      It’s fine to take a break. Do what you want to do right now and focus on you. You’ve got plenty of time. :)

      1. Canadamber*

        I think that while I’m still in high school and university, it will be nice not to date, tbh.

    7. Anonylicious*

      Dude sounds like a tool and a creep, and it’s perfectly reasonable to take a break from dating for a while. And we all kiss a few (dozen) toads along the way, but as long as you learn things about yourself and what you will and will not tolerate in a significant other, then it’s not time wasted.

      (And you never, ever, ever should feel like you have to stay with someone who makes you uncomfortable or afraid, no matter what they or anyone else tell you.)

      1. Anonylicious*

        And “for a while” could be forever. Some people aren’t into the whole dating thing, and that’s valid, too. But don’t think that every relationship has to be like that one.

    8. Not So NewReader*

      I think it is perfectly fine not to date, if you don’t want to.
      Please do read up on positive relationships and how they work. Just for your own peace of mind.

      Congrats on shedding the loser.

    9. samaD*

      (bit o’personal stuff: your description really hit home for me because I was in something very similar for too long and it only gets worse.)

      so first of all: good on you for ending it! you are a strong person and that is a wonderful thing :)

      second: it was definitely an abusive relationship. I don’t know if you read Captain Awkward, but there are some really, really good things in there that have helped me a lot. Even just reading that other people have gone through similar things and those things were bad and wrong….it just helps process the bad things and put them in their place: where they can be helpful and informing, not controlling.

      third: never dating again is awesome if you decide that’s what you want to do! dating again is awesome if you decide that’s what you want to do! somewhere in between is awesome if you decide that’s what you want to do! whatever _you_ decide is absolutely right for you and if you decide something else later that’s absolutely right too.

      fourth: someone who is not a manipulative, abusive jerk isn’t prepared to deal with someone who is. There is absolutely no need to kick yourself about anything that you did.

      (more personal bits: I did eventually date again, and he was wonderful :) And I never had to apologize for him and I always, always felt safe around him :) )

      but again: whatever you personally decide for you is the right decision for you at the time you decide it until and unless you decide differently :)

      1. Canadamber*

        Thank you for the comments! :)

        1. Yeah, it was hard, because it wasn’t ALL bad, but the things that were, were glaring enough that I didn’t feel that they could be overlooked.

        2. But… he could be nice, and he just wasn’t, like, ugggh… >__<; Relationships are weird.

        Thank you again for the lovely comment. :) It's really helpful!

  98. The Unicorn*

    How would you handle consistently being asked to do things that are wildly outside of your realm of responsibility (and in some cases, skillset) in company that already has people employed to do the things you’re being asked to do?

    Background: I manage research and strategy at my company (I’m the only person who does this, it’s a new program and it’s very labor intensive). Because I have other skills (visual design and copywriting), I’m often asked to do these types of jobs, even though we have an entire department dedicated to this.

    What’s more, I’m sometimes asked to edit and clean up technical documentation (this is not within my wheelhouse nor has it ever been in my background) when our technical writers churn out bad work. I’m not sure why I’m the catch-all for this, but it seems that by upper management (read: VPs) seeing that I have a wide variety of skills, they now come to me and ask me to do other people’s jobs. It makes it pretty difficult to get my own job done when I’m covering for or cleaning up after other people who were hired to do these other jobs.

    This organization has 1000+ people. I’ve been the catch-all before at other jobs where the organizations only had 20 or 50 people, but this is a bit nutty, in my opinion.

    Thoughts?

    1. The Unicorn*

      Also wanted to add…with regard to the technical documentation, it often requires extensive research (not the type of research I was hired to do) to find out exactly what the product is all about – chasing down people who have the answers, finding requirements documents, etc., so that takes up additional time for me when the technical writer was the one that was on the project all along. I also get these requests at the last minute with less than a day or so to complete them. Sometimes, I only have a few hours to complete it and then I end up working late to finish my own work or on days when I can’t stay late, my own work suffers.

      1. Jen RO*

        That’s stupid. Can you push back or have a manager push back for you? You should at least be able to finish your tasks before helping others! (And as a tech writer myself, I am embarrassed by the fact that you need to do their jobs for them.)

    2. CTO*

      Have you tried talking with your direct boss about this? Maybe you could try to quantify how much time you spend on these unrelated projects and how that impacts your ability to complete your core duties. Assuming that she places a high priority on you accomplishing your actual assigned job duties, perhaps she could help you “defend” your time.

      1. Elizabeth West*

        That was going to be my suggestion. The same thing has happened to me at a past job. My boss was awesome and told them, “No, she doesn’t have time to do this,” and I just referred them to her from then on.

        1. The Unicorn*

          Yes, this is what I plan to do next week. Unfortunately, the person who keeps dumping this on me is an SVP and is my boss’s boss. So….yeah. This place is a disaster on so many levels. This being just one small piece of the problems. I’m really not sure why the performance issues with the technical writer are not being addressed. It’s baffling. The documents I’ve been dealing with barely seem like English (which makes it all the more difficult for me to decipher what the actual meaning is, in addition to my lack of project and product knowledge for these document’s contents).

          1. CTO*

            I’ve had bosses who were great at defending me from work-dumping, even from their own bosses. If you have a good relationship with your boss, it might be work neutrally letting her know about the workload challenge. It can just be phrased as “please help me prioritize now that I’m getting a lot of extra projects.” You might find out that your boss would really rather have you shift your attention to the SVP’s projects. You might find out that your boss isn’t thrilled, but won’t take it up the ladder. But at least you’ll better understand what is expected of you for the immediate future.

            1. The Unicorn*

              Yeah, my boss is reasonable and I know that he’s not going to say that I should be cleaning up after the technical writers (that is so far afield from what I was hired to do, plus these writers should be doing their jobs!). And what I WAS hired to do is a huge, important, and highly publicized company initiative, so I doubt anyone wants it to fall through the cracks. I’m just not sure if he’ll push back to the SVP. Not entirely sure of that dynamic. But I don’t know until I try.

  99. Chris*

    This is posted for my wife who is a regular reader.

    She enjoys her job and has a great manager, “A”. She’s a junior person in her department and reports to a senior person “B” under the good manager. There’s another senior person who is also great to work with “C”.

    Both seniors and the manager are friends and have worked together at several companies. That brings up the issue that “B” is supposed to train my wife, but is, in fact, lazy, moody, and never has the time. He frequently announces stuff like, “I’m getting SOOOO drunk tonight, expect a hangover tomorrow.”, leaves early, comes in late, etc.

    “A” either ignores or doesn’t notice this, and is very busy when in the office and travels quite a bit as well, so he’s not accessible. “A” is helpful when he can be. “C” is helpful, but not really the trainer.

    We’d like to know a professional way of approaching “A” to let him know that “B” is difficult to work with, makes frequent mistakes (that my wife is getting good at cleaning up), and so on. Given the friendships and the fact that it appears that “B” is being groomed to possibly take over “A’s” position when “A” gets a promotion, it’s a bit of a minefield.

    So, what to to?

    1. fposte*

      I’m getting lost a little in the pronouns–does your wife report to B or does A? If it’s your wife, how is A her manager if she reports to B?

      None of which is really relevant, I suppose. What you can’t do is go to A and say B sucks, please make B different than he is, I don’t think you’re managing him the way he should be managed. It’s also unwise to expect B to change, so if your wife wouldn’t want to work for B as he is, she might want to think about looking for some place else if he does get the promotion.

      What you *can* do is say “B’s schedule hasn’t worked for the training we’d planned–is there another way to for me to develop those skills? I’m really excited about learning them, and I’d be happy to work with you or C if you had the time to do it.” Unless your wife is really close to A herself, though, the conversation has to be limited to your wife’s work–not B’s.

      1. Chris*

        Thanks for the reply. Good advice about not really mentioning how awful “B” is, how lazy, etc. :)

        To clarify, “A” is the department manager and oversees everyone, but she directly reports to “B” and was told to look to him for work assignments, guidance, training, etc.

        She’s not “friends” with any of the pronouns in the same way they are with each other. The pronouns frequently meet socially outside of work hours, for instance. My wife isn’t necessarily excluding herself from that, but she’s not “inner circle” yet and likely doesn’t want to be.

        Again, I appreciate the input and I’m sure my wife will when she’s able to read this as well.

  100. The Other Dawn*

    A coworker of mine was the recipient of an anonymous note not more than 5 minutes ago. Actually, a page of the HR handbook was placed on her chair while she was in a meeting and the person highlighted the dress code and that sneakers aren’t allowed. She’s wearing sneakers with her business attire because she’s having knee problems. One of her bosses is out today and the other couldn’t care less if she’s wearing sneakers. So that means it was another coworker. The poor woman is walking all over the office trying to figure out who it is. Of course, no one is going to admit it so it’s futile. So messed up! These people aren’t her bosses so why should they care? She doesn’t report to them. And I’ve seen other people wear sneakers and some other things that are way worse.

    1. Katie the Fed*

      THat’s really asinine.

      I’m torn between thinking she should send an email to the office saying “to whoever left a passive agressive note about my sneakers on my desk, here’s why I am”

      and just ignoring it.

      1. Colette*

        If I were her, I’d talk to my manager about it – not to ferret out who did it, but to say “I received this. Apparently there’s some concern about me wearing sneakers so I wanted to make sure it was OK with you that I continue wearing them while I work through my knee issue.”

        If it were the manager who had the issue, though, I’d tell her to get new shoes – she should be able to get flat shoes that are dressier than sneakers but don’t aggravate her knee.

        1. Katie the Fed*

          Yeah, that’s probably the rational/best way to do it.

          But it would be hard to resist the urge to yell at everyone.

    2. Shell*

      I have knee issues too that flare up occasionally. I’d totally ignore it to let the offender have a sliver of a chance to save face. If anyone dares confront me about it, I’d just raise a pointed eyebrow…and roll up my pant leg to let them see my knee brace.

      I had to do that on a bus once because I’m in my 20s and look healthy, especially since I had my brace on that day. Boy did that person backpedal.

    3. Sadsack*

      She should hang the sign up outside her cube for one day only with a note on it reading, “Having knee problems that require comfortable footwear. Thanks for understanding.”

  101. Trixie*

    Any other favorite options for bookmarking pages without saving to my old, dying Mac notebook? I use Pinterest for some stuff but that’s mostly public.

    1. Calla*

      Have you looked at Pocket? you can save it there and then access on your computer, phone, etc.

      1. Pixel Pusher*

        Seconding the Pocket recommendation. It’s a great tool, especially if you use more than one computer/device.

    2. CTO*

      Google Chrome will let you bookmark directly within your Google account so that your links are accessible from any computer.

    3. Anne-Cara*

      You could try using Delicious; I think there’s an option to make that private.

    4. Jeanne TW*

      I’ve been using Collectably, which saves URLS in the cloud, so it doesn’t matter which phyical machine I’m on.

  102. Colorado*

    Need some career/life advice:
    I turned 42, feel like I’m having a mid-life crisis. I’ve had a very good career. I’m good at what I do. I take great pride in my work and have loved my jobs up until the one I took last year. I even wrote into AAM called cold feet because the day I started the job I knew it wasn’t for me. Alison was kind enough to write back and offer advice. Alison – it wasn’t cold feet after all. It was my gut screaming “listen to me!”. I should have seen the red flags. Fast forward to now. I’ve been hanging in my job dealing with an unethical owner, harsh unnecessary criticism, work I can’t stand, and really trying hard to convince myself I can’t walk away. I’m the breadwinner and have a loving, supportive husband. But I can’t do it. I’ve been depressed, angry at myself for leaving my previous job, and trying to pull out of the abyss convincing myself that one bad job is not the reason to change careers. So, thanks to this incredible blog that I read religiously, I have landed myself 4 interviews with the next one on location for a dream company in my field doing my passion, sustainability efforts in healthcare! The problem? The job is in Arizona, I live in wonderful Colorado (for 20 years) but for what I do the jobs are not plentiful here. I have a farm, family, friends, the whole works.
    After all of this longwinded preface, my question is: how does one know when to take the leap? That it is okay to move? How do I talk with my husband about leaving our home? How do I get past the fear? Has anyone relocated and it was the best thing they ever did or the worst? And Arizona? It’s hot as hell there. But I am so excited I can’t stand it!
    Thank you!!

    1. Lexie*

      I have relocated multiple times for my career. Each time it is simultaneously petrifying and exciting. I have found that each place I have lived has given me great stories, a world full of friends, and unique opportunities. My advice would be to remember that nothing is permanent. If moving ends up being a mistake, you can move again. Don’t get bogged down in the “bigness” of the decision and trust your gut.
      I also lived in Arizona for 5 years and I would recommend giving it a whirl. It still ranks #1 for me out of the ten places I have lived so far.

      1. Colorado*

        Thank you for the reply. It makes me feel warm and fuzzy :-) And less scared. What the hell, we only live once.

      2. Trixie*

        Arizona is hot as hell but also one of the most beautiful landscapes to live in. Snowbirds have it right by living there after the year. I do wish I had invested in prescription sunglasses and black window tinting sooner.

    2. Malissa*

      Arizona is truly a land of enchantment. A year after moving and I still love looking at the views every day. Farming is also year-round here. The friends…They’ll turn into snow birds eventually and you’ll get to see them in the winter. ;)
      Go on the interview. Check out the local real estate, then make the decision. No need to hurry it.

    3. Stephanie*

      Hi! Phoenix area resident here. Where in Arizona?

      Actually, only southern/central Arizona are super hot. Flagstaff can get super cold since it’s around 7,000-8,000 feet in elevation. I think Flagstaff even got a light dusting of snow a couple of weeks ago.

      If it’s Phoenix/Tucson/Yuma you’re talking about, there is very pleasant weather half the year. The really brutal months are in June/July/August. May and September are warm (I think it’s 102 here today), but doable. April and October are hit or miss weather-wise. And it is a total cliche, but it’s a dry heat. You’ll acclimate pretty easily (and everywhere else will feel cold and clammy as a result).

      If you’re into the outdoors, Arizona is very, very pretty. I take that for granted. My buddy visited from Chicago and we drove from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon and she couldn’t stop talking about the landscape (and how she could actually see stars here).

      It sounds like you’re in a semi-rural area already, but I will point out that Phoenix is kind of sprawly.

      Overall, I wouldn’t sweat the relocation. It sounds like the job would be a good opportunity. And the relocation doesn’t have to be permanent.

      1. Windchime*

        I’m a native of Washington state who just returned from a short trip to Arizona, and it’s a beautiful, lovely place. And I can vouch for the “dry heat” thing. 100 degrees in a desert is totally different from 100 degrees in a humid place…..hot weather in Washington, DC made me want to live permanently in a cool shower. Hot weather in a desert makes me want to sit in the shade with an iced tea and a book because it’s so pleasant.

  103. KC*

    Hi folks —

    How long do you give a new job before you decide: “Holy crap; I’ve made a huge mistake!”?

    I jumped from being a PM at software companies to being a PM in a digital agency. I’ve been here 2 months. The people are awesome and I feel like I’ve learned more in 2 months than in the last year at my prior job. So those are the positive aspects. The pace is pretty break-neck. There’s little to no guidance from my “supervisor” (who said, when I asked about the lack of direction, that “No one here is going to care about your career for you.”–which I thought was a bizarro response).

    I’m generally pretty good about compartmentalizing my emotions. But I’ve been on the verge of a nervous breakdown 3 times in the last 2 months. One of those times I actually was crying on and off all day; the other 2 I managed to head off at the pass by popping anti-anxiety meds. I’ve been having crazy work anxiety dreams and have a hard time “unplugging” from work.

    I can’t tell if this is going to get better–that I’ll get used to the pace and the culture of the place (it’s a VERY different sort of company than I’ve been at), or if I’m going to be sitting here in 6 months, dreading coming to work every day.

    Have any of you had the experience where you dropped yourself into a Brave New World and came to really thrive there after a rough start? I’d love to hear your stories.

    1. C Average*

      I can sympathize. I knew my first WEEK at my current job that I’d made a mistake.

      I’ve been in the job for over two years now. It’s gotten better, in part because a manager was hired for my team and additional head count was brought on. It’s tolerable now, but I still have regrets and look forward to escaping one day when the right opportunity comes along. (I’m actively looking for that opportunity!)

      One thing that helped me was to find a peer I trusted enough to talk through some of the challenges. She recommended specific resources, introduced me to key people, and helped me have a sense of the learning curve for the role. It was reassuring to know that the same job had been equally challenging initially for someone I admired and found to be highly competent.

    2. AVP*

      I think 2 months isn’t long enough – it’s a big transition and it takes longer than that to get up to speed in almost any job change, let alone one that’s radically different.

      But thinking about those nervous breakdowns – what specifically caused them? A particular project, client, deadline, etc? Are those likely to keep coming up? Were they caused by a part of your job that you think you can improve at, or will you keep getting hit like a brick? Reactions like that worry me and are not sustainable so I would dive into those triggers as when deciding what to do.

      1. KC*

        I think for me it was more a culmination of tight deadlines, information coming from ten different sources on the client side, no guidance, and being new (so being afraid of making mistakes, trying to feel out how I “fit” into the grander scheme of the flow of work, etc.).

        The last couple of weeks have been MUCH better, as I’m starting to get into the groove of how this place works, the cadence of how delivery and feedback works with this client, etc. But I think you’re right; I need to do a lot more self-analysis about what puts me over the edge when it does, and how I can mitigate it.

    3. Programmer 01*

      2 months is about where I start to have worn off the initial adrenaline rush of a new place and my anxiety comes screaming to the front. I so hear you on a lot of this — breakneck pace, dreams about work, and unable to leave it at the door. I’ve been fortunate in that management IS very caring and supportive about careers, so that remark is worrying.

      However, if it’s not feeling toxic, just stressful, you can step up the self-care. Don’t check email after work, don’t work during your lunch, and when you’re home put as much focus on you as you can — eat food you like, read books you like, listen to music you like, and really make sure you get enough sleep (sleep makes the biggest difference in the world to me, even if it means going to bed at 9pm during crunch weeks).

      If you’re still feeling overwhelmed, it is okay to say that and lay out your concerns (especially if you’re like me and keep taking new stuff onto your plate the minute you feel like you finally have a handle on things). It is a massive culture and dynamic change you’re going through, you’re chewing up a lot of energy, and anxiety is your body and mind’s way of saying “I am having a hard time”. It’s ok to listen to it.

      If you have a doctor you trust, it’s worth talking to them about. If you have an EAP or other program through work, ABSOLUTELY take advantage of it, and do it now rather than later — some do counselling by phone or email, some offer a lot of really great programs.

      It’s hard to pull yourself back from work, especially if you’re a high-achiever who puts 100% of themselves into something. You can’t, if you’re not going to get supported back. I’m not saying don’t do a good job — but if it’s following you home and consuming every hour, waking or sleeping, then it’s better to start making changes now rather than burn out hard in 6 months.

      I will say I feel like this every time I start a new project as it involves switching teams, areas, even entire offices — it’s like having a whole new job every few years. I find myself thriving in it, but I have to be very careful with taking care of my own needs, even if it’s things like ordering in food because I don’t have the energy to cook, or getting up an extra hour early so I can take a bath in the morning instead of a shower. I have a lot of guided meditation on my ipod, including work-relaxation ones (15min or so in a chair) that really, really help me when stuff is at its busiest, but sometimes just listening to an episode of “Welcome to Night Vale” is enough to loosen me up and get my thoughts back in the flow.

      1. KC*

        Thanks so much for this; you’re entirely right about self-care (and I’m definitely not doing enough for myself in that department). Side effects of being one of those over-achiever types, I guess?

        It’s been a few years since I saw a psychologist regularly, but it might be time to start up again. Even if it’s just to have an impartial outlet.

        And “Welcome to Nightvale” is the best. :)

    4. Colorado*

      As I posted right above you, I started a new job and realized immediately it wasn’t for me. 6 months was my minimal target regardless how much it did not fit, now heading into a year and still is not a good fit. I started looking elsewhere. Everything is difficult at first and I’m not a quitter but if you have to pop meds to go to work (same boat I am in), it’s time to move on. Good luck!

    5. BausLady*

      Are we the same person?
      Unfortunately I don’t have a story to share that will help, as I’m going through literally the same thing. But good luck, and I’ll be sending positive thoughts your way!

    6. Pixel Pusher*

      This seems to be a common problem today. I had the “I’ve made a huge mistake” moment my first month. One thing that helped was putting a date on my calendar six months out from my start date when I planned to reevaluate the decision. Not a meeting or anything, just for myself. It helped not having to worry every day about making a career decision as well as dealing with work stress, but still knowing I wasn’t stuck or settling. I just hit that six month mark and decided it’s still a bad fit and I’m working on an exit strategy now, but the time went pretty fast and it gave me some more time to figure our what I want my next step to be.

      1. KC*

        I just added the date to my calendar. I feel a little better about things knowing that I’ve made a deal with myself to re-evaluate then. It’ll hopefully keep me from obsessing over it in the mean time.

    7. KC*

      Many, many thanks to you all for your advice; it genuinely helped to hear your perspectives. I’m going to keep hanging in!

  104. Ben*

    I am 34 years old and I work as a controller at a smaller company. Would it be odd if I applied for an entry level position at a bigger company? To get a foot in the door and learn the ropes, so to speak?

    1. Persephone Mulberry*

      What kind of entry level position? Are you looking at changing fields entirely, or do you just feel that your current experience doesn’t qualify you for an equivalent position at a larger company?

      1. De Minimis*

        That might be an odd transition for some companies…maybe a mid-level role at a bigger company instead?

      2. Ben*

        The latter. My career goal long-term is to have a position similar (and beyond) to the one I have now, at a larger company.

        My guess is that I would have a greater shot at that climbing from entry level rather than applying for the same position as I have currently, since I suspect my lack of large-company-experience would put be behind other candidates.

    2. Malissa*

      They’re going to wonder what is wrong with you if you are looking at entry level. I’d shoot more for senior accountant or assistant controller…That would make a whole lot more sense. Even AP or AR manager, if the company is big enough to have those positions.

      1. Ben*

        Oh, and I am in Europe so the controller role would roughly translate to the title “Financial Planning Analyst” which is used in NA. It’s more of an analyis and management reporting role rather than head of financial accounting/public reporting.

  105. Tabs12*

    Throwing a question out there — How much credence to you give to Glassdoor reviews? I am in the interview process for a job and came across some Glassdoor reviews for the company when I was researching the company. There are several (50+) reviews, and they are either SCATHING or glowingly positive. Multiple reviews mention that the CEO of the company specifically asked people to write positive reviews.

    Its seeming like a red flag of a toxic work environment to me…any thoughts/experiences here?

    I did research my own company on the website out of curiosity and found the reviews to be pretty balanced and accurate without such extremes.

    1. Calla*

      Yeah, the reviews of my current company are very similar and there are rumors that the HR team writes the glowing ones themselves. And to answer your question… I’m job-searching if that tells you! The company I’m considering an offer with right now has a good rating, but the reviews seem genuine and aren’t such polar opposites. So I think the reviews can be something to consider, but you definitely have to take them with a grain of salt, because like any review site you can have people who are just momentarily angry or fakes.

    2. Riki*

      I treat them like I treat Yelp reviews. I ignore the ones that are over the top great (“This is the BEST PLACE TO WORK EVER!!!!!1) and over the top bad (“This place sucks! Especially Sam in Design and Mavis in Accounting! The CEO is a big dummy!!!!1”). I focus on what’s in the middle because those are probably the closest to day-to-day life at that company. I also look for patterns. If there are 20 reviews and every single one brings up the same issue, then that’s something I might want to keep in mind.

      Don’t let bad reviews scare you off, but try to find a diplomatic way to ask the hiring manager about the things you find troubling. For example, if lack of promotion keeps coming up, you might want to ask about the career track for the position you’re interviewing for or the company’s advancement process.

    3. Bryan*

      Keep your eyes out while interviewing for the things they say are bad. It’s easier to look for them when you have a heads up.

      Some people are always negative and will write that the positive reviews are fake.

    4. Stephanie*

      I look for patterns and tend to ignore both the good and bad outliers. More often than not, the one-star reviews tend to be polemics and the five-stars tend to be HR plants. But I also look for length or specificity. I’ll lend credence to a one-star review if it gives legitimate reasons for the company being horrible (because some places are legitimately horrible) or a five-star review if it’s specific to why it’s awesome.

      Just use the trends as a basis for your questions.

    5. Anonylicious*

      The glassdoor reviews for my company are all very polarized and all very obviously written by people at the central office with agendas to push. Which could be a sign of a few vocal drama-mongers or of a dysfunctional workplace. I think it’s the same as any review site, so you have to remember that usually people aren’t motivated to post a review without some strong feeling that may or may not be justified.

    6. girlonfire*

      I feel like you might be writing about my old (incredibly toxic and mismanaged) workplace. The reviews have been adding on since after I started there, and are either terrible or super positive. I’m still in touch with a lot of former and current employees there, and it’s pretty clear to us that the positive ones are fake or requested by senior management … and several of the negative reviews mention that.

      It’s true that one or two disgruntled employees can cause a firestorm of bad reviews, though. I’d say be aware of the negatives going into your interviews, and ask questions to get to the heart of the matter — how high is turnover? what is management style? is it a whirlwind interview? is there a ridiculous noncompete you’ll have to sign? etc.

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Seems like a fairly reasonable solution to me. It should not have been that hard to reach a solution, though. And I wonder if the emails will do any good.

  107. Pixel Pusher*

    Any advice on making a clean break from a job?

    I started at this company as a freelancer/consultant. After six months they offered me a full-time position and I took it, thinking it was a great opportunity. Turns out full-time office work may not be for me and THIS office is absolutely not for me. I’ve stuck it out six months in the permanent position to see if I’d get used to it or if things would change for the better. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Things have changed for the worse, to the point that I’m sometimes embarrassed to admit I work there.

    I’m planning on giving notice soon. Since I’m going back to freelancing, I have room to be very flexible and even to continue working with them as a consultant, but I truly don’t want to. Any thoughts on saying goodbye and making it stick without completely burning all my bridges?

    1. Nodumbunny*

      Well the easiest thing for them to understand would be if you could say, truthfully, that you’re going back to freelancing and you have x, y and z projects already scheduled which will take alllll your time for the foreseeable future.

  108. Stephanie*

    I need some advice for getting an entry level HR position. I find whenever I’m looking for positions, even the entry level ones, you need a few years of experience. Is there a particular avenue to pursue first, like a recruiting position, or do I just need to get lucky? Also, maybe I’m not looking in the right places, anyone have any websites to suggest for entry level HR work? What I’ve found I really love doing is hiring, training and employee experience.

    Any advice is much appreciated!

    1. Stephanie*

      Have you looked into the Society for Human Resource Management? I worked across the street from their HQ for three years. I’d guess they’d have some resources for breaking into the field. I know they also have conferences, if you can afford to attend those.

      1. Stephanie*

        I’ve looked for job postings on there before, but haven’t really dived deep into the other resources offered. I’ll have to start! I sometimes forget about the simple things :). Thanks!

    2. HR*

      Recruiting is one way to enter the field. If you work in a staffing agency for a year or two and learn the ropes (new hire paperwork, payroll basics, recruiting process, etc), you’ll probably find it easier to transition into an entry level HR Assistant role. I imagine that roles in a staffing agency might be easier to come by.

      I work in HR and we recently hired an entry level HR Assistant for my department. We received an overwhelming number of applicants–far more than we have for any other administrative/entry level role. There is simply a lot of competition for HR jobs, so it’s getting harder to find an entry level position without some experience.

  109. Katie the Fed*

    Hey Alison,

    I just noticed you shut down comments on the “CEOs and Office Hoes” party. Is that the first time you’ve ever done that? I noticed some trolls popping up on the “two airplane seat” question the other day but you didn’t have to resort to shutting down comments.

    Another question – would you ever consider running a poll on who your readers are? I’m kind of curious the demographics of your readership (age, sex, geography, etc).

        1. fposte*

          And it’s happened before–I believe the first one was the infamous pantyhose debate :-).

          1. Katie the Fed*

            Oh I think that one was before my time.

            Yesterday was one where I honestly should have stopped. I generally know when further discussion is pointless because nobody is going to change their minds :(

    2. Colette*

      Yeah, I’m actually finding the aging comment above quite interesting, specifically because many people are sharing how old they are.

  110. MovingRightAlong*

    Wish I wasn’t getting in late, but I wonder if anyone has advice for someone applying for a job they already have, but moving from contract to full time. I’ve only been in my job for a couple months, but my company is looking to switch one of three temporary employees to full time. We have all the same job duties, although one person has been here few months longer and is therefore further ahead in his training than myself and the other temp.

    This place is all about paper trails, so we all have to actually apply with a cover letter and resume. The only problem is I have no idea what my manager thinks of my work (or anyone else’s). My coworkers tell me that no feedback is good feedback, but that doesn’t really help me with my resume or letter. How do I make a case for why I’m a good employee to keep around?

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Is there any reason you can’t ask your manager for her thoughts? Say “hey, I really like working here and want to try to come on in a permanent capacity. Do you have any thoughts on how I could be a strong candidate?”

      Some of my favorite contractors have gone govvie and I’ve bent over backwards to help them through the process.

      1. MovingRightAlong*

        I doubt anyone is still reading, but to answer:

        I thought about doing exactly that, but have chosen not to for two reasons. One is that my manager is very uncommunicative (thus the “no feedback is good feedback”). On the occasions when I’ve had to directly ask him a question (because none my co-workers knew what to do in X situation and generally, no, I’m not supposed to figure it out on my own. Everything I do must be done by the book, but unfortunately large parts of that book aren’t written down anywhere! Asking a million questions is par for the course), he almost seems angry. The other week I gave him a heads up that I was finishing tasks more quickly than new ones became available and asked if it would be possible to learn additional procedures in order to remain productive. So he gave me more training, but, again, seemed almost angry to be doing it. The other day, a coworker brought in bagels for our office group. When he asked who provided the bagels, he seemed angry. Basically, every time he speaks he seems pissed off (except during my interview. Go figure). For the moment, I’m mostly trying to stay out of his way.

        The second reason is, I’m about 75% sure that this is just a formality and that the temp who has a few months more training is getting the position. He’s far more independent than myself and Other Temp and can provide better coverage for a wider range of job duties. I’m not going to poke the bear for this.

  111. Tyler*

    Re: University Employment application /process

    I’m looking through the AAM archives for this but thought I’d ask here as well. Some of the jobs I’m applying for do not require a degree but will accept equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience. Should I include all the schools I’ve attended, or only the ones with better grades? I’m concerned they’ll request transcripts even when they don’t mention it upfront.

    Also, the university listings are notorious for length and detail. Since I don’t have a strictly academic background or CV, I’m trying to cover as much of the posting without losing a strong AAM writing style. Are folks having better luck in either direction, or trying to stay somewhere in the middle?

    1. Tyler*

      One more item I forgot. I can’t speak to any recent conferences, training or certification but I keep up with a lot of online webinars. Is this of any value to mention?

      1. Sascha*

        I think that would be good to mention in the cover letter, but not the resume. I have received resumes for support staff positions that list every conference session/webinar the applicant attended. No one cared and it looked like overkill. But mentioning that you attend webinars, and maybe a sample of a few of them (brief!!) in a cover letter is appropriate because it shows your initiative and commitment to professional development.

    2. Sascha*

      What type of jobs are you applying for at a university? In my experience, if it’s not involved with teaching in any way, they don’t need anything like a CV – just stick with a regular resume.

      As for schools – if you received a degree, just list that one and the years. If you did not, list the schools you attended with years.

      1. Tyler*

        Mostly fundraising/event planning so no teaching I do include ESL tutoring under volunteer/community involvement.

  112. RG*

    I’m pretty inexperienced in office politics, so I’d be REALLY grateful for advice.

    Today my top-level boss asked me for advice on how to “instill standards of professionalism in twenty-somethings” in our office. For context, I’m the youngest though longest-standing employee in the office. She is concerned that the staff (mostly late 20s to early 30s) is underperforming due to a lack of professionalism. This is mostly going to apply to the new employees we bring on over the next couple months.

    I believe the issue is mostly morale, not professionalism. We just had a mass exodus of half of our small staff (including the manager between her and the rest of the staff) over the past few months, largely because of a toxic work environment. The examples of unprofessional behavior she cited to me in the conversation were primarily lack of attention to detail from people who were on their way out, discovered after they had left. These issues of “behavior” were projects left incomplete when people left or people spending more time on a project that she felt they should have. They did not relate to dress, tardiness, demeanor, or other things that generally fall under things people new to work environments sometimes struggle with.

    I don’t think I can make this conversation about her management style without being shouted at (based on her reaction to my former manager who tried to have a similar conversation). I’m fairly certain she wants me to come back with a solution like “twenty-somethings respond better to verbal than written communication” or “use more bullet points.”

    What should I do? Would this be a good opportunity to bring up the morale issue?

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Well, the good news is that she sees you as a kind of quasi-leader of this group, or she wouldn’t have come to you. So that’s good.

      But you know she’s not going to be receptive to it being about the morale problems from over half the staff leaving, so you can’t go there.

      Could you ask her if she’d be comfortable with you kind of quietly spreading the word among them that it’s something senior management has noticed and is concerned about?

      1. RG*

        Thanks! That’s very helpful! My one worry is that any future problems would then reflect badly on me, but I can probably defend myself effectively from that.

        She actually came by my desk after I posted this and asked if I thought the problem was sexism and that people wouldn’t make these kind of mistakes/leave work for her to do after they left if she weren’t female. I think, based on that conversation, I should just keep my head down and just offer to talk to the new hires about office norms and things to avoid, as you suggested.

        1. Graciosa*

          Okay, I don’t want to depress you, but that made me wince.

          Obviously, she is thinking “It can’t be my management skills, which are perfect, and therefore must be sexism.” After all, how could it be anything to do with her?

          Changing a manager requires a manager who has some self-awareness or emotional intelligence, is willing to learn, and wants to improve herself. This does not describe your manager.

          I am very, very sorry you’re stuck in this situation.

  113. Reality Bites*

    OK, I am not sure if it’s just me or if something is amiss.

    Received a job offer (two actually), accepted the one that really fit for me and I felt was the right choice. Signed paperwork. Asked the questions that I had. Was really feeling communication was going well and they had really stayed on top of communicating with me while I was reviewing my offers.

    Now, there is seemingly radio silence. A few days ago I have asked a few simple questions by email as I was consistently told “please feel free to contact me with any questions, at any time, by text, phone or email.” Yet nothing, no answers from anyone, for the past three days.

    I’m worried that something is wrong, and I could end up without an actual job to go to in a week and a half but no one is telling me so. I don’t want to be screwed over when I could have accepted another offer or accepted invitations to interview with other companies.

    Am I overreacting or is my gut feeling right?

    1. Jen RO*

      I think you are overreacting. They are probably busy and, for now, you are not a priority.

    2. fposte*

      I understand your anxiety, but I’m with Jen. You’ve signed, so you’re joining them in a week and a half; they’re not worrying about getting back to you before that because they know you’ll be in the office with them soon.

      1. Reality Bites*

        Thank you both!

        I think I needed to hear that for someone other than those close to me. I just am nervous and worrying myself for nothing.

  114. Dulcinea*

    Hey everyone, here’s a silly question I can’t figure it out…I have my first iPhone (4S) and I have set multiple daily alarms on it to remind me to do certain tasks/take medication every day. However, I also regularly go to court and while I need the phone to be absolutely SILENT, I also need it on so I can check my email during the hours I am sitting waiting for my case to be heard. (That’s the whole reason I got a smartphone in the first place).

    However, the switch on the side doesn’t seem to silence the alarm. It also doesn’t prevent Siri from beeping when I accidentally press the button that allows you to talk to the phone….I now know to manually switch the alarms off when I go to court, but I’d rather have a one-touch solution. And I don’t know how to make that Siri thing not beep.

    Any suggestions? Thanks!

    1. Katie the Fed*

      Do you need the Siri thing to beep at all ever? Because you could turn off that function of it or just make sure it’s locked so you don’t press it.

      As for the alarms – are they alarms or notifications? Because the notifications should only buzz, not beep, if the phone is on silent mode. The alarms will still go.

      And now you reminded me of a funny story about iPhone notifications that I’m going to share because I’m bored:

      Last year I met my fiance’s parents for the first time. I was showing his mom and a family friend some pictures on my phone when the notification for “take BC pill” popped up. I tried to grab the phone right away but his mom’s friend asked “what’s BC?” and I just mumbled something and turned so bright red. I wanted to die.

      1. Dulcinea*

        Thanks! I am switching it to calendar notifications. And, your story is the reason why my medication reminder is written in a very cryptic way that only I would understand….I guess that might still prompt people to ask about it though!

        How do you make it so Siri doesn’t beep?

        1. Katie the Fed*

          I’m not sure – I’ll look at my phone later and try to figure it out for you :)

        2. vvondervvoman*

          The only way I’ve seen is to disable it completely. That’s what I have because I don’t like it at all.

          1. De Minimis*

            I did the same thing with Siri….I hardly ever need her so I just turn Siri off most of the time.

    2. Elysian*

      If you have iOS 7 you should be able to drag the screen from the bottom up and access the mute button. I think that button mutes everything and the switch on the side doesn’t. I might be wrong though.

      1. Elysian*

        It’s not mute on the phone, actually – it’s Do Not Disturb and it looks like a moon.

        1. Dulcinea*

          Thanks! I did try Do Not Disturb, it doesn’t affect the alarms unfortunately. I think the calendar notification instead of alarms is the way to go.

        2. Katie the Fed*

          THAT’s what the moon is? The moon has been on my phone for a while and I can’t figure out how to turn it off!

          1. Katie the Fed*

            and I’d been wondering why text messages weren’t beeping.

            Um, so don’t take advice from me. I’m clearly stupid. How do I turn it off?

            1. Elysian*

              Slide your finger up from the bottom of the phone and you should get the menu so you can de-select the moon.

            2. De Minimis*

              Should be under Settings somewhere….for my IPhone it’s on the very first screen if you tap Settings.

    3. Aisling*

      There isn’t a way to silence the alarms – that’s actually a specific feature for iPhone. My boyfriend works shift work for security, and his friends never remember that he sleeps during the day, so it’s wonderful for him: phone calls and texts don’t wake him up, but the alarm still will. I think you’ll need to use Tasks or Notifications (I forget what it’s called, but it’s one of the included apps).

  115. nyxalinth*

    OMG Olive is so adorable in that picture!

    this week I wanted to say something about job hunting and dodging a bullet. Sometimes it’s not aways abot narrowly missing a horrible situation, but it can also be about turning into something down the road that won’t work out.

    A few months ago on Open thread day, I’d posted abot a non-progit position that I really really really wanted, and was disappointed when they blew off my resume. Now, they did run the ad again requesting that someone be bilingual Spanish, so I figured that this was something wanted that was not clearly stated at first, and no harm done.

    Here’s the big thing: I take public transportation. I have crappy depth perception and feel very uncomfortable driving. when I’d first applied for the position, it was in an easily reached location. they ran their ad again recently, and they’ve shifted site to somewhere out in BFE Noertheast Denver, where there’s no bus at all. I would have ended up having to give up a job I really loved or paid money out the nose for a cab or gas money, (if there would even have even someone able and happy to let me ride with them).

    So if you’re struggling to find work, just keep in mind that sometimes it’s better than you think when you don’t get The Call.

  117. anon for this*

    Bad news: My workplace is becoming more toxic by the day, and although none if it really affects me directly, I am very sad witnessing it.
    Good news: My boyfriend told me last night that he had done the math and he could and would pay six months of the rent out of his savings if I felt I needed to quit my job. I would never quit without another job lined up for all the obvious reasons, but I thought it was incredibly sweet of him and was very touched.

    1. nep*

      Sweet indeed — great of him to support you like that. Take care and good luck getting out of the toxic work situation.

  118. Bryan*

    I just created two hours of more work for myself by pasting something in the wrong format in excel and I only had one chance to upload it to our data base correctly. Blurgh.

    2. Malissa*

      Well that’s one way to learn not to do it again…;) (I learned the very same way.)

  119. lz*

    Question — I’m filling out an exhaustive ‘professional history’ form. One of two supervisors from a job in ’04 died since. Wondering whether I should put that person’s name followed by ‘(deceased)’, or put only the other supervisor’s name? Thoughts?

  120. AnotherAlison*

    Fantastic day & conversation with my boss today. New things in the works. . .I hope this looks as good tomorrow as it does today.

  121. vvondervvoman*

    Has anyone had experiences teaching English abroad? I’m seriously considering getting a CELTA and doing it part time while I pursue other underpaid/volunteer opportunities abroad.

    1. Bryan*

      My fiance did it in China. He went for a year and got paid enough/ was given enough time off that he could buy the cheap plane tickets to many other countries in the area. He loved it but did was happy when it was over.

      1. Katie the Fed*

        Ha, I felt the same way about my semester in China. Glad I did it. Don’t want to go back.

    2. SD Cat*

      One of my friends is teaching English in South Korea. She loves it, and is staying at least a year longer than originally planned.

    3. kittylane*

      From many friends who have done this it can be an AMAZING experience. However, I must stress this, make sure the program is legit. I had a friend get stuck in China for 6 months because the program he went into fizzled out while he was en route. He arrived to find no housing, food, or any other resources. Once you have a program you have researched and are excited about do it! If you have a means and a way it is such a great thing to do and experience! I wish you much luck!!

  122. Meghan*

    Can anyone offer any advice on how to break up with my current department?

    I had an interview for another internal position that I think I’d thrive in and at this point, I’m the lead candidate (per the director of the new department) and should know soon if I’ll be made an offer.

    My director and manager don’t know. I used to have a good relationship with my director, but my direct manager has really only ever tolerated me, despite doing good work and my evaluations always being ‘exceeds expectations’. Based on past experiences, I know there will be a lot of anger, resentment, and trash talking me behind my back when I leave (for this position or any other reason). I’d like to mitigate that as much as possible as long as I’m with the company.

    Provided I get an offer, can anyone give any advice on how to go about telling them I’m leaving for a new department?

    1. AnotherAlison*

      Yuck. I’ve done this several times and am in the middle of it again, but my advice would have been to give your current management a heads up first. I’ve done it your way before, and my manager was always told by someone else before I could speak to them.

      As it is, I would just keep it fairly informal. Tell them about the new opportunity and how you have liked your time in this group but need to make a change for your long-term goals. Offer to make the transition as smooth as possible and work with your new and former dept. on the timing. No bridge-burning or expression of All The Crap You Hated allowed. You really never know when your paths will cross again when you’re in the same company.

    2. Harper*

      Well, sadly, you can’t control what they are going to do. However, just tell them calmly that you’re leaving, if that time comes, and stay as positive as possible, mentioning anything that you honestly feel you’ve learned or benefited from your time there (and I’m sure there are things you can come up with).

      Then, the best thing to do is to focus on your new position and do the best you can there. When you are doing excellent work in the new department, any trash they are trying to fling around is just going to reflect poorly on them.

    3. vvondervvoman*

      It sounds like you didn’t have a policy that you had to inform your current manager/get approval etc. before applying. So at least you’ll have the security of the new job before jeopardizing it. I would phrase it almost exactly like you were leaving for an external job. Don’t really mention the tension/issues etc. just say that it was an opportunity you couldn’t pass up etc. Being cheerful and upbeat and on top of the transition is all you can really do.

      Are the past experiences with people that have left for internal or external jobs? If they were external, it may be a different reaction if someone leaves for an internal one.

  123. Golden Yeti*

    I know every open thread, someone usually posts this, but I’ve just gotta say: I hate my job. Really.

    It’s run unprofessionally, you’re either stressed or bored, and some days (like today), I really feel like my only function is to be everybody’s b*tch. And there’s no real advancement to even make putting up with the crap feel like it’s going to pay off someday.

    Doesn’t help that yesterday I witnessed some very disappointing/unprofessional behavior by management.

    I’ve been trying to get out for so long with no end in sight.

    My friends tend to normalize some of the things I’ve said go on, and have emphasized I should be glad to have a job. Which, in this economy, I am. But still, I want to feel like what I do is going to actually take me somewhere in my life.

    Some days it’s more tolerable than others, but today is one of those days that I just want to quit.

    1. nep*

      I think it’s good that you have not ‘settled’ and just accepted such a negative environment, just because jobs are tough to come by these days. Keep that spark alive that says you want and deserve better. Best of luck to you.

  124. 15*

    Hello,
    I am in a problematic situation, and I’d like to know what other people think about it.
    I must confess that I’m basically venting, because I’ve asked my boss for advice, I’ll do what he’s said and try to forget about the whole thing.
    So, a couple of months ago, a long-time employee (20+ y) was forced into early retirement.
    Recently, I could not find some company property, so I asked her… and she has it at home “for safekeeping”. She proposes I take a company car and drive to her place to retrieve it. I am appalled and I think she is the one that should come to the office and apologise for the “misunderstanding”.
    The cherry on top: we are in R&D and I’m talking about the lab journals with all the notes about the projects she worked on, many of which are still active and under my responsibility now.
    So next week I’ll go and smile and get them, but my opinion of this person has sunk to the deepest depth.
    Am I making a big deal out of nothing?

    1. LCL*

      Someone who was forced to retire wants the person now in charge to come to their house and pick up company property they took?

      If you want those journals, someone should go, but it shouldn’t be you. Since the boss thinks it’s no biggie he should go, and he should take someone with him as a witness.

      You are making a big deal out of her (seeming) feeling of entitlement and actions. You should be making a big deal of your vulnerability instead, and do not go yourself but delegate or ask someone else to do this.

      1. Artemesia*

        THIS. Don’t go alone. Better yet, send security to pick them up. This is a potentially dangerous situation. It is so ‘off’ to have these things at her home and then to not have returned them that you have to assume this person is ‘off.’

    2. fposte*

      The real error here is that the people who wanted her to go didn’t pay attention to this stuff at the time.

      She shouldn’t have taken it home with her, but it’s a small enough thing (assuming she doesn’t live thousands of miles away) to do to repair the error that her manager made when she left, and otherwise you’re never going to see those journals.

    3. Not So NewReader*

      Echoing: Do not do this alone.

      Do not drive to her house. Tell her you want to meet in a X place. Where X is a very public place on a main road.

      Keep your cell with you, if your boss makes you go alone. Arrange to call a friend or family member at a specific time. That time should be your best estimate of when you would be headed back to the office.

      Yes, you are right, she should apologize and should return the stuff herself. For your own safety, don’t push the envelop here. Just quietly know you are right and let it go.

      Personally, I think the company attorney should handle all this. She took company property.
      I probably sound paranoid here- but I feel this is an upper management problem not yours. For you to be handling this is ridiculous. Take care of yourself, since no one else is in this instance.

    4. Onymouse*

      I think that we might be jumping to the worse case scenario a little too quickly. She could just have trouble letting go, similar to the one about the museum volunteer not too long ago. Seriously, what can an old lady do to OP?

      1. Aisling*

        All of the people who have violent felonies on their records will one day be old people – whether they are male or female.

      2. Ask a Manager* Post author

        I’m confused by this reaction too — not because she’s older, but because there’s nothing here that indicates potential for violence or crazy behavior. What part of the letter is making people react like that?

        1. Not So NewReader*

          For me, past experiences. The story has all the key things that blindsided me in the past. A seemingly apathetic boss, a benign employee, a stupid situation and “here, NSNR, handle this”. Yeah, okay. I find myself in a hornet’s nest that takes months to get out of.
          Sorry, I can’t elaborate more than that. I guess I should have just encouraged 15 to trust her gut and do things in an open/transparent manner.

        2. LCL*

          I wasn’t thinking violence, more legal entanglements. I can see the ex-employee shoving the journals into the OP’s arms, the OP staggers back to keep her balance, then accusations and counter accusations of assault, the police are called, lots of screaming.

          Also the fact that the OP is (rightfully) annoyed with the ex-employee, and might not have as good a grip on their temper as they think, if the other person starts carrying on. Things could get emotional very quickly. And I am not saying that because the ex-employee is female, rather that the circumstances could lead to things becoming very emotional very quickly.

    5. 15*

      Thank you all! I do not think there is potential for violence, but I really like the idea of going with a colleague. I’ve realised I’m afraid she’ll try to make me feel really bad and I don’t need it at all.

  125. Julie M.*

    I am a relatively recent college graduate with a degree in TV/Film Production but would much rather work at a local production company than do the whole “Hollywood” thing. Recently I’ve been applying to more traditional, office jobs in the hopes of breaking out of my current retail environment.

    Last month I applied for a position (web content writer) which was outside my industry but at a company I would really love to work for. A good friend of mine works there, thought I would be a good fit for the opening, and offered to be a reference. I had a phone interview but was contacted by their hiring manager a week later saying they were moving forward with a better qualified candidate. I responded to her email thanking her for the consideration and wishing her well with the other candidate.

    I am still job hunting and out of curiosity landed back on the company’s career page. They have a position open in the same office location but for a job much more in line with what I went to school for. Does applying for a second time to this company come off as desperate or unable to “let go” of my earlier rejection? If I do apply for this second position, is it inappropriate to use that same friend as a reference again?

    Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions!

    1. Bryan*

      I think it depends on if it’s the same department or hiring manager. If it’s different enough I don’t think it matters especially because it sounds like you’re better match for the new position. If your friend is willing, definitely use them as a reference.

    2. Persephone Mulberry*

      In your cover letter, frame it as a compliment to them. Interviewing with So and So for the XYZ position a few weeks ago reinforced your positive impression of the company, blah blah blah.

    3. Julie M.*

      Thanks for the suggestions to both of you! That’s a great idea I probably wouldn’t have thought of, @Persephone Mulberry!

  126. Sabrina*

    How do you explain a difference in what you majored in vs what types of jobs you’re applying to? I went back to school a couple of years ago and finished my degree last August. I’m not looking in my major’s field partially because I can’t find anything that doesn’t want experience and partially because I’ve come to realize that it isn’t a field I want to be in? Presumably I would have researched this before choosing my major, and I did, but the barrier to entry and the realization that I don’t want to be in that industry wasn’t readily apparent.

    1. BRR*

      I explained why the next field is interesting to me. My transition from degree to field is also explainable which helped. I majored in music, decided I would rather to arts administration, ended up in fundraising. I enjoy fundraising because x,y,z.

    2. Puddin*

      Just a thought, but can you focus on how they are similar rather than having to explain the difference? An interviewer asks, “You majored in nursing but are applying for teaching jobs. Why the change?” My response would be something like, “While earning my Bachelor’s, I learned a lot of things about myself and my values. I came to understand that I value helping people – children in particular. I think that teaching is the best way I can help families, communities, and specifically children. My nursing techniques have taught me how to communicate to people without being patronizing. I also learned to be very focused and detail oriented. My interests and my skills led me to pursue teaching.”

    3. Marina*

      Focus on why you DO want to be in the field you’re applying in, not why you aren’t looking in a different field. Ideally you can apply some of what you learned in college to this field, like, “The segment of my World Teapot History class that focused on the differences between spouts in different cultures fascinated me, which was why I was so excited to see your job posting for an admin assistant in your Teapot Spout Design department.”

  127. Not So NewReader*

    Alison, I don’t know if this has been mentioned yet, but I am getting messages that AAM is off-line. As you can see I was able to get back into the site, but I thought you might want to be aware.

    I found I could get into other sites easily and I only got that message for a short bit.

    1. De Minimis*

      I saw that too…thought we broke the site!

      And then I got an error message saying I was commenting “to fast.”

      1. fposte*

        Oh, I remember that one–I thought it got repaired a while ago. I think it’s some kind of WordPress belch.

    2. Ask a Manager* Post author

      Occasionally it’ll go down for a minute or two, but it’s always temporary (except for maybe once a year where it’ll last an hour or something). I think it happens to every website periodically.

  128. i hate open offices*

    Here’s another complaint about the open office setup – I’ve accidentally come into the knowledge that a coworker is going to be let go in about a month. For goodness’ sake people, keep your voices down when discussing this stuff in an open office! Now I have to walk around for the next month pretending I don’t know anything, and feeling awful and demoralized about it. (I personally disagree with the decision to let this person go, which makes it worse.)

    1. Befuddled Squirrel*

      +1. I’ve overheard all kinds of offensive things in my open office. That said, I feel somewhat better off for knowing the things I’ve found out that way, even though I have to play ignorant.

  129. annie*

    Way late on this, but a question about suits. I work in a field which is business casual at most. Yet, for a job interview, a suit is still the most appropriate thing to wear. I want to buy a new suit, anticipating some possible interviews and not wanting to have to rush out the night before and buy something out of desperation, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money since I probably won’t wear it much… and of course there’s also the possibility I won’t get any interviews and will have wasted the money on nothing. Any suggestions on where you shop?

    2. Colorado*

      Macy’s has some decently priced Calvin Klein suits/separates. Classy and timeless. Find someone who has a credit card there and use the 20-25% discount they seem to constantly offer. You can search thrift stores too of course but that will take some searching and patience. Oh, New York and Company has some nice professional options too depending on the season and store location.

      1. Colorado*

        PS. A timeless jacket and skirt/pants will last a long time so it will be well worth it over the years.

      2. Elysian*

        I’ve gotten a surprising amount of wear out of my NY and Co suit. It’s not the best suit I have, but its pretty versatile. I agree that their suiting seems seasonal though, because I haven’t always been able to find stuff there that works.

        1. annie*

          This is good to know about NY and Co being good and versitile, I have only ever bought “fun/trendy” tops there, and not really any work quality stuff.. Also good to know about the Macy’s credit card discount – thanks!

          I’ve never had much luck at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, unfortunately, as I seem to be one of those sizes that is always snatched up immediately. But, I will start keeping a look out when I happen to be there.

    3. Malissa*

      TJ Maxx, Burlington, or Marshall’s. You’ll have to dig, but I’ll bet you come out with some thing nice for way less than you expected to spend.
      Also if you dig sometime you can find nice stuff on clearance at Macy’s & Dillards.

    4. Kai*

      You might be able to find something at TJ Maxx or Marshall’s. That’d be my first thought.

    5. Izzy LeighGal*

      I’ve had good luck at Ann Taylor LOFT. If you can go in during a good sale, there’s a good selection of business attire.

    6. theeastcoastlife*

      I LOVE my suit from Express! The pieces are fitting, comfortable, and most of the time you can get the set for like $100 when they have the 40% off. I got a really simple black 3/4 length sleeve blazer that can be dressed up/down and sleek (read: not frumpy) pants. Best part is, good quality that doesn’t look cheap.
      Man, sorry for sounding like an ad now.

    7. FD*

      If you’re only wearing it for interviews, try used! I’ve had amazing luck at Savers, and moderately good luck at Goodwill. It’ll usually take a few trips to find something that fits and you like, but the prices are waaaay better than anywhere else. It beats spending 100+ for something you’ll only wear a dozen times or so.

  130. voluptuousfire*

    Great! I was due to have a phone screen for a position this afternoon and the recruiter never called. Not unusual but after doing the research for the position, it wasn’t as good a fit for me as I had previously thought so I didn’t follow up with the recruiter to reschedule. No sense in interviewing for a job that wasn’t a mutual fit.

    Fast forward to this afternoon: just received an email thanking me for my interest in the role and they weren’t going to go with my candidacy. I did have a hearty LOL over it but can’t help but feel a bit annoyed. It’s understandable they may have decided to go in a different direction but you don’t leave a candidate hanging, period. It looks unprofessional not following through.

    Interestingly enough, I’ve job hunted on and off over the past few years and never once did this happen to me until now.

      1. voluptuousfire*

        It’s weird but I had a little flash of intuition shortly after I confirmed the interview that she was not going to call me. Turns out I was right. Now only if one of those flashes of intuition hit with the numbers for one of those huge Powerball lotteries. Then I wouldn’t need to worry about looking for a job! :D

    2. kittylane*

      I feel you! I had a job say they would be calling around 6pm for a phone screen (which I thought was quite weird because this was for an office manager position and the office should have been shut down by then), I was so upset I had a couple glasses of wine and I wound up getting a call at 10pm!!! I know I shouldn’t have taken the call but I did and they asked me to come in for an 8am interview the next day! I realized though that this position would entail never being off the clock so it didn’t break my heart when it didn’t work out. Sometimes these things show you a little bit more into a company (and sometimes they are just honest mistakes). So sorry for the waste of time on your part!!

      1. voluptuousfire*

        Wow, 10 pm? That’s both rude and unusual.

        The job apparently was filled. I took a look at their website and it’s not listed anymore. Oh well! :)

  131. L*

    At my job there was recently a review of our pay and benefits and the grading system used across the company to decide how much each person gets paid. All existing staff were placed on to one of three grades and are now paid accordingly, with a fourth, higher grade available to be worked towards. I was placed on to the highest of the first three grades and I’ve been trying to move towards to fourth one but it’s going quite slowly (achieving this grade means consistently hitting all of the targets for my current grade, but also a long list of other achievements including qualifications and awards and performing certain roles within the company).

    I recently applied for a leadership course that my company is providing, seeing it as something that would help me get better at my current job, and also something that would look good on my CV should I decide to apply for another job at my company or elsewhere. During the application process for that, I was told that there was an opportunity to get involved in something that is on my list of things I need to do for my next pay rise – a role that involves being a representative for my department, attending various meetings to help implement changes, etc. So I applied for that too.

    I got on to the leadership course and I’m really excited about that. I wasn’t accepted for the representative role, the reasons being given that “we wanted to give someone else a chance” and “you’re going to be really busy with this leadership programme so you might not have time to do this”. My manager thinks this is ridiculous but the decision was made by people with higher authority than him so he can’t really do anything other than sympathise.

    Am I right to be annoyed about this or am I getting wound up over nothing? If I’d been aware during these applications that I’d only be allowed to do one or the other then I might have still gone for the course, but I could easily have chosen the other option – the one that would have helped me to get a pay rise. I’m open to the idea that maybe these aren’t the real reasons I didn’t get the role, but in that case I’d rather be given an honest response.

    Does anyone have any opinions or advice? I don’t think there’s anything I can do to challenge this or try to get more information without seeming bitter so I suppose I’m just going to have to let it go and continue on my current salary for the forseeable future.

    1. Persephone Mulberry*

      I think “you’re going to be really busy with the leadership course” might be legit, but “we wanted to give someone else a chance” is dumb.

      At the same time, I think you’re right that there’s little that can be done about it now – especially if the other position has been filled – and there’s definitely no point in bringing it up to them unless you know 100% that you would have chosen the representative role over the leadership program.

    2. Biff*

      I don’t think you are right to be annoyed, and this is why:

      It sounds like there are very limited opportunities for people to showcase themselves. If they give BOTH opportunities to you, then someone else gets no chance at all. I think I’d ask if, once you’d completed the course, if you might have another shot at the representative position.(While someone else gets the chance to showcase themselves in the leadership course.)

      1. Biff*

        I suppose I should say — how would you feel if one of your coworkers got BOTH opportunities and you knew those were the ONLY two opportunities this year?

    3. Not So NewReader*

      Please let this go. Which is better? Taking the leadership course or being a rep? I would argue the leadership course. They are putting money into you. Tangentially, they do not want to waste that money because you were distracted by other new duties and did not get the most out of the course.
      Take the course, knock their socks off with how well you do in the course.
      If this answer does not fully satisfy you, go to your boss and tell him that you respect the decision but you would like consideration again in the future after the course is done. Then let her know you are very happy about the course.

  133. Sky of Stars*

    Not sure if anyone is still reading but worth a shot.

    Does anyone have advice on managing up to a ‘green’ supervisor? My current manager excelled in her most previous position, so was brought to my department for a growth opportunity/professional development in a new area (marketing).

    I may be overly critical (in which case, feel free to put me in my place), but as a marketing person, is it unreasonable to assume she would know the basics – i.e., what “SEO” stands for, what a hashtag is, etc. I find myself answering questions like these; it’s frustrating because answering them takes away from productivity time.

    Thank you for any help,

      1. theeastcoastlife*

        Well it could go well or it could go badly.

        Why don’t you chat her up, ask her how she likes her time in the new department, what she did previously, and what she finds challenging? This conversation could potentially flow into one in which you can give her pointers without being critical. She might even be the one asking for tips.

      2. Ruffingit*

        I too would be frustrated. I know next to nothing about marketing, but it just seems to me to be common sense that a lot of it is taking place on the Internet now, which means hashtags, SEO and so forth should be basic items of knowledge for someone in the field.

        It’s exhausting to manage up with someone who has no clue about the basics. It’s like taking advanced programming and having to explain to the instructor what a computer mouse is and how to use it. I can imagine you feel not only frustrated, but also rather disgusted that you’re having to explain things that should be very, very basic to a manager.

    2. Katie the Fed*

      Well, as much as you can, try to remember that it’s not her fault she’s not an expert on the technical aspects of the job. Her own supervisors put her in this position; it’s not her fault. As long as she’s willing to learn, you’ll both be fine.

      Do you have a how-to guide that you’ve put together for new people to the team before? A guide to commonly used terms? Could you send that to her as reference material?

      I guess as much as possible, treat her as a any other new team member and show her the ropes. As long as she’s receptive, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. If she’s not receptive, that’s another issue altogether.

      And try to have a bit of compassion for her. It’s realllllllly hard to go from being really good at one job to being totally new at another one, especially when people are all more technically proficient than you.

  134. Frustrated*

    I can’t get a job and it sucks and I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. :(

    2. Ruffingit*

      Definitely check out the links Alison posted, they will help you! But beyond the practical, I just want to say that I get your frustration and it’s not easy. Hang in there!

  135. theeastcoastlife*

    I got a “second chance” interview at a company I previously interviewed for (similar position). One of the interviewers will be the same person who interviewed me last time and would be the supervisor.

    How would you guys approach this situation to really shine? I feel kind of awkward because I already know I’ll have the same answers to the big questions. I’d hate to be second best again because this would be an excellent company to work for and could really help my career!

    And on a side note, a person from their HR department called and said they would email me a confirmation about the interview time, but I have not heard back. Would it seem pushy to call and follow up? Or rather the real question is, how can I follow up nicely without seeming “desperate”?

    Have a wonderful weekend, all! :)

    1. Not So NewReader*

      If you are interviewing again, hopefully the interviewer would have a different set of questions?
      Re-read Alison’s guide book and see if you can develop different wording for those questions that concern you.

      No, I would not email. Just wait it out. They said they will call. Probably they will.

  136. Ali*

    Anyone here have any advice for pretty much starting over with savings, paying off debt, etc.?

    For what it’s worth I’m not going to post how much money I have in my savings right now (it’s not a lot) and how much debt I have, excluding my student loans. However, my savings took a real hit in the last month with having to pay 1099 taxes plus needing some money to hold me over till pay day. If not for the 1099 stuff I’d be doing fine. But I’m asking about starting over because, as I said earlier, I want to move out of my parents’ house and will need to save money for that anyway. I also don’t want to take all of my old furniture with me and want to start fresh pretty much.

    I have considered selling off some stuff, as I have a lot of crap that I don’t really need. I also know it’s necessary to make a budget and I plan on doing that before my next pay. What other money wisdom can you share? Finances aren’t exactly my strong point, I’ll be the first to admit, but I’m ready to be a little more responsible (but still enjoy life!).

    1. Ruffingit*

      Find a reputable financial planner and go see them. Also, since you’re doing 1099 stuff, find a good accountant and ask how you can maximize deductions and what not. Neither of those professionals have to be expensive (my accountant is awesome and very affordable). Financial planners can help a lot by looking at your individual situation and advising you on what to invest in, how much to have in savings, and so forth. I’d highly recommend getting the services of professionals here. It’s worth it.

      1. Ali*

        I’m not doing 1099 anymore. I was a contractor and then last year, my company was bought and we were made into employees of that company. So I was 1099 for about 2.5 years and was turned into a W-2 employee in the summer of last year. I was just caught off guard by how much taxes cost me. Glad I am not in that mess anymore and it kinda bums me out that my employer never made us W-2 folks until the purchase.

    2. Stephanie*

      Mint.com is good for tracking spending and will produce all kinds of pretty charts for showing your spending. Only annoying thing is that there are a lot of built-in ads (“You spend a lot on gas. You should look into the Chase Freedom card that gives 5% back on gas purchases.”)

    3. Graciosa*

      My most important wisdom is that you have to find a system that works for you. People think and function differently, and what works for me could be disastrous for someone else. That said, here’s what works for me:

      1. Make saving automatic, and put the money somewhere else. I allow myself to do whatever I want with anything in my checking account so I don’t feel restricted. Savings are hard to get to so I’m not tempted to use them for extra spending money.

      2. Think about savings in percentages, and try to increase those over time. I started by putting half of every raise into some sort of savings (could be emergency money in a bank account, my 401(k), or whatever). Whenever I got a raise, I figured out something to do to invest half of it, set it in motion, and forgot about it. Keeping the other half of my raise let me enjoy the reward and raise my standard of living a little, but not too much.

      3. If you’re paying off debt, do it in a way that makes sense to you. Paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first is the traditional approach, but I have also heard about people who pay off smaller debts first so that each success sustains their efforts to pay the next debt. Do what works for you.

      4. Live below your income as a habit. Again, I tend to look at percentages, but I have consistently lived on less than half my gross pay for years. I bought a home that was much less than the value of the mortgage I was approved for and never regretted it. However, you need to –

      5. Manage your money in accordance with *your* values. I did not want to regularly be without money to spend on anything other than a house – but that’s because there are other things that were more important to me (saving for retirement, travel, and charitable giving). Following a budget plan based on an expert’s recommendation or average across the population would have been a mistake for me. If the most important thing to you is having money to play paintball, figure out how to make your budget work to support that goal.

      If you make thoughtful decisions about how to manage your money that so that it works for you and supports your values, you’ll be fine. Good luck.

    4. Stephanie*

      Oh, what really helped me was to have part of my paycheck diverted into savings automatically. If your job lets you do direct deposit into multiple accounts, do that. That way saving even a tiny amount just becomes automatic.

  137. Sabrina*

    OT: If anyone plays The Simpsons: Tapped Out and wants to be friends, my Origin ID is sabrinafaire

  138. kittylane*

    Hey there!
    I’ve been a long time reader but I wanted to throw this out to everyone. How long have you gone underemployed/unemployed? I graduated in May of 2009 from a great art school, but with that a great amount of debt as well. Since then I’ve hustled my butt off, even taking a position that was only 37.5 weeks out of the year. The most I’ve ever made was when I was working 55 hour weeks, split between two jobs and even then I only managed to net around $18,500 for the year. I have viable skills, I interview well, my references are amazing and any position I’ve held always leaves me with an open door to return (although it is min wage retail work). I know I’ve made certain choices and I am always actively trying to improve my skill set by taking on volunteer positions when possible and even starting my own business. This long term underemployment is really starting to grate on me and I guess I’m just exasperated…

    1. De Minimis*

      I was underemployed nearly three years, got a part-time gig, then a full-time gig that I had to relocate for….and now my wife is the underemployed one [she was fully employed while I was out of work.]

      1. kittylane*

        Oh I wish you two luck! I think being flexible is a definite asset when looking for work right now and sometimes that means relocating.

        1. De Minimis*

          I regret it a lot….we were doing better in our old location because it turns out the cost of living in our new place is a lot higher, even though everyone likes to claim otherwise. My wife had much better benefits than I have, so even though I make about as much as she made I take home a whole lot less.

          I mistyped, I was actually unemployed for nearly 3 years while my wife had a decent full time job. I got tempted by the prospect of federal employment. I should have been more patient and tried to work my way back into full time professional accounting work.

          Still have a lot to be thankful for…and we’ll be okay once my wife is able to find a better position. Really hoping to go elsewhere in a couple of years.

          1. Stephanie*

            De Minimis, you’re in Oklahoma if I recall correctly, right? Where’d y’all relocate from? I grew in up North Texas and my parents always said there were a lot of hidden costs to living there. They always talked about how high property taxes and homeowners insurance (since North Texas gets some of the same nutty weather as Oklahoma).

            OKC always pops up on those (questionable) best places to find a job lists. OKC seems like it’s federal employment (hiring, but slow to hire) and energy (boom-bust and need to be skilled).

            1. De Minimis*

              We relocated from Central California, which has a really bad economy and very few jobs, but we were managing pretty good at least in the short term. My wife had a good job and we were making it.

              Homeowner’s insurance is insane here, I think property tax is a little high. The big gripe I have here is that we pay sales tax on groceries, and food in general is way more expensive than California [produce was really cheap there I guess due to low transportation costs.]

              The highways here are almost all turnpikes so you usually have to pay an extra dollar or two any time you use a lot of the main highways or even some freeways in Tulsa or OKC. The top income tax rate is relatively low compared to some other states, but the structure is set up to where almost all taxpayers pay that top rate, so lower and middle income people will pay more income tax than they would in states with a more traditional bracket structure. But what’s annoying is that I don’t feel like the tax dollars are being spent wisely, it’s like the money is just going down the drain. The state does very little for the people and is always looking to cut services as much as possible. Oklahoma usually ranks last in education and other metrics. In California I at least could see the tax money being put to work.

              I wouldn’t advise most people move here unless they work in oil and gas, that is about the only field that pays a reasonable wage, and you’re right, it is a boom and bust industry. I think even then I’d probably consider other states that might have a better quality of life. I find it interesting that a lot of the oil/gas workers here don’t seem to move here permanently.

    2. Katie the Fed*

      ooof, that’s rough.

      What kinds of jobs are you looking for? What field do you want to work in? What viable skills do you have?

      1. kittylane*

        I have solid experience in A/V and photography equipment rental facilities and am actually waiting for a possible offer this coming Monday or Tuesday for a position that would be full time, M-F and hits around 36K. I have progressive management experience in retail stores have have been pursuing visual merchandising opportunities which are in line with my track of continually growing responsibilities, background and experience. I had to bow out earlier this spring from my retail management position because it was barely above min wage and my partner was diagnosed with a very advanced form of a very difficult to cure cancer and I knew the first evil customer I got would feel my wrath. It wasn’t worth not being able to provide great service and ruining that reccomendation at that position. It wouldn’t have been fair to anyone involved, including said imaginary butthead customer.

        I also volunteer my time for galleries, artists, art fairs, etc and have a pretty solid grasp of that world with amazingly reputable people to reccomend me. The hard thing in terms of gallery work is that when the job market went south those positions which originally paid $18-$21 an hour all became unpaid internships. I have grown my own business, have a sellers permit and do all the tax stuff for that and marketing. It’s frustrating because I have a bit of an eclectic mix of skills, however I know I have to keep persevering and it will work out in the end. Even if not quite the way I originally thought. BTW, I always love your comments, I think you have a solid head on your shoulders.

        2. Katie the Fed*

          well thank you!

          I’m so sorry to hear about your partner – you must be under unbelievable stress with that and your job situation. I have no practical advice because it’s such a specialized industry, but you sound really smart and driven – I really hope you can make something work. My friends who are in art have been struggling a lot as well.

    3. Stephanie*

      In a week, I’ll hit 14 months. I’ve had interviews, just haven’t landed anything yet. Not much luck with temp work either.

      1. kittylane*

        Oh my goodness, I feel for you! I tried recruiters and temping but it never really came to much. I think some of it is that I’m based in the Bay Area. It’s rough if you don’t write code out here.

        1. Felicia*

          Recruiters and temping never worked for me either – they very rarely call me for interviews, and then if they do it’s things where they want more experience. Apparently I can’t temp in an admin role because I have minimal admin experience that was 3-4 years ago, and that’s just not enough anymore. I hate the advice from higher level people saying “why don’t you just temp?” Well I tried that, but they are competitive here, and require experience, and plenty of people with years of experience who just got laid off who are going for the same temp jobs that I am.

        2. De Minimis*

          The Bay is like that, it’s a great job market if you’re in tech or a few select other fields, but if you aren’t it’s pretty rough.

        3. Stephanie*

          Yeah, contract work in my area/field is just as competitive as full-time gigs since a lot of the big employers will use contractors as a “try before you buy” setup. And a lot do want very specific experience.

          I must be really good at choosing what I apply for, but if think nearly every interview I’ve landed has been through an online application (one job I applied for, but I also asked a friend for a referral, so not sure what led me to get that interview). I always cringe when I hear advice that applying online is a waste of time. It can be monotonous and tedious, but it works (sometimes). I do other job search methods as well, however.

          I’ve heard that about the Bay Area. I found it to be the same story in Austin. Good if you could code (or had some other specialized skill relating to tech), average otherwise.

    4. Fruitfly*

      It took me 9 months to get my first full-time job out of college. That job does not have anything to do with what I am majored in. I have sent out more than a hundred resumes and cover letters to positions that are directly related to my major; I got interviews, but none of them picked me. I am still working on my first full-time job right now while I am studying for my Masters degree. So I guess 9 months is considered the first time I experienced “real” unemployment, which I think is different from not having a job, but still going to school.

  139. Stephanie*

    Ok, late so not sure if anyone will see this. This Atlantic post (http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/05/should-women-get-paid-menstrual-leave-days/370789/) discusses the pluses and minuses of menstrual leave. Some countries offer it.

    I could see both ways.

    I, unfortunately, am one of those women who get pretty debilitating cramps every month without fail. When I was still working, if the cramps hit during the workday I usually had to head home early (I passed out one time and threw up another time), so I’d appreciate guaranteed sick leave.

    On the other hand, I’d feel really uncomfortable telling a male boss I needed to take menstrual leave. Seems like a blanket sick leave policy should cover that. This also seems like it stems from old notions of menstruating women being “unclean” and women not being able to take higher-powered jobs.

    1. Noah*

      So, I’m a guy and obviously cannot relate to it. However, it seems some expanded sick time or even a reasonable flex time policy would work better.

      For instance, I have ADHD. Normally it is controlled and not an issue, but I have days where I simply cannot focus. Thankfully my workplace has a nice flex time policy and I can simply leave for the afternoon and work from home later in the evening or stay late the next day. I also suffer from insomnia and once again, thankfully I can just adjust my schedule as long as the job is getting done and I am in the office the majority of normal workdays.

    2. Katie the Fed*

      Oh my gosh no, that sounds like a terrible idea!

      I agree that flexible work schedules and sick leave make it unnecessary. And I’m really not sure how women are supposed to get equal treatment in the workplace if we’re out for a few days every month because of PMS.

      BTW, I used to have terrible cramps as well – my doctor put me on prometrium and it helped a lot. Might want to look into it.

    3. Jennifer*

      The thing about menstrual leave is that it would probably be used a few days a month. Nobody’s really socially allowed to be “out sick” a few times a month, every single month even if you have the sick leave. On the one hand, menstrual leave is the one thing you could have clarifying why you’re out on a regular basis and making that legally-ish “okay.” On the other hand, yeah, it adds another reason to “Don’t hire women, they’ll be out sick too much.”

      Fuck if I know how to regard this one.

    4. BritCred*

      Flexibility around it yeah. “menstrual leave” no….

      Besides the issues mentioned above there are a few things that spring to mind:

      – Guys will feel its unfair. (Yes we have an obvious body function that causes pain but most guys do have hormonal ups and downs in the month too. Plus what about other conditions that have a pattern of a few days of ill health on a regular basis – the arguement would be that they should all be given extra no-fault sick leave )

      – I can see if someone takes the leave for a few months and then doesn’t because they’ve managed their diet or whatever to reduce the pain and issues that pregnancy rumors will start.

      – People may start to notice the pattern and if they they have a spat with someone a few days before/after the “patterned” leave days it will add the rant factor of “Just because you have PMS…”

      – I can see some management basically blocking out calenders and saying “don’t put Jane on that meeting…. she’ll be out” for the patterned days. And if the pattern changes as its want to do? I can see bad feeling all around.

      -Also I can see the reticence to give someone who has regular days out with this leave less important projects to do…. its a known issue of reliability and if it happens to fall during a important time for the project that’s not good.

      – Another: There is the possibility of abuse. Woman A has bad periods and gets “cushy” time off. Woman B doesn’t have bad periods so doesn’t and gets yelled at for not coming in just the once when they had that stinker of a bug that would have infected the whole office. I can see Woman B saying “I’ll take those days anyway. Not like they can ask me to prove its bad or not” Guy C is just annoyed since he can’t get away with either….

      1. C Average*

        I’m glad you wrote this! I was pondering this subject on my run yesterday and had many of the same thoughts. You’ve summed them up really well. I totally agree with your conclusion and many of the reasons you’ve listed.

        A couple more:

        –There have been scientific studies about the tendency of women who spend a lot of time together to sync menstrual cycles. It sounds crazy, but it’s a real thing. If that happened in your workplace, you’d have a policy in place that allowed the entire female staff to take time off.

        –This is purely anecdotal, but in my experience a lot of women tend to have rough periods when they’re fairly young and just starting to menstruate, but then either the periods get less rough or the women adjust. I’d hate to see young women get the message (any more than they already do) that periods are in general a disabling phenomenon requiring special treatment. I’d rather see them adjust to the experience and make up their own minds about whether periods are easy, difficult, or something in between.

  140. Be the Change*

    I hope I get some advice, late as it is in the day… So, I have accidentally completely crushed one of my team members’ motivation and energy. The person is a good team member. At my insistence we sat down today and had a long talk about what happened and I did apologize for what was a serious error in judgement on my part but ultimately did not disadvantage the person except for the emotional impact.

    The person is very…cautious, let’s say, and I have the feeling it’s going to take many many many weeks and months of absolute perfect boss-type behavior on my part to re-motivate. I am pretty sure I cannot be perfect, and I sure don’t want to respond to this by being worried all the time about what the person is thinking of me, so any ideas for me?

    Sorry I’m being vague here.

    1. fposte*

      As you say, you’re being a bit vague, but if you genuinely needlessly smacked a team member figuratively in the face and then apologized seriously, then you just need to stop taking that issue’s temperature and focus instead on treating all your team well and appropriately going forward. It may be that the team member simply won’t ever see you the way they did before–which is their prerogative, of course–so you really can’t wait around until it happens.

      1. BritCred*

        I agree with this. And don’t give into the idea of needing to over apologise when something close to it raises it head again. (Say similar task).

        I have a friend like this who does that and not only does it make him edgy and feel like he needs to still “atone” but still brings back the bitterness of the incident to mind. Which causes a feeling of mistrust and a “oh well you’ll only…..” all owver again. Next similar task or event and you start with less chance of sucess because peoples attention isn’t full on the task its divided between the issues with the “old” event and the new task.

    2. Not So NewReader*

      Quit being the perfect boss.

      Instead be a human boss. Human bosses make mistakes and therefore understand that their subordinates make mistakes.

      If you walk around stiff and awkward so will the employee. He will only do as you do.

      Instead role model the behavior you want from him. Apologize when you are wrong, explain when something seems obscure, and most importantly, let him collect his thoughts at his own pace.

      It will take time. There are no short cuts here. He has to learn to trust you all over again. It’s going to be an tough thing for the both of you.

    3. Be the Change*

      Thanks, fposte and Not So New Reader — very encouraging words!

      I am quite tolerant of people’s mistakes (too much so, perhaps) because I know all too well how many I make myself. The team member isn’t, but as you both point out, maybe modeling tolerance and, dare I call it, forgiveness, is the way to go.

  141. OriginalEmma*

    Really late in the game here but I’ll give it a go.

    One of my considerations once my temporary employment is over is joining the U.S. Navy. I know a handful of posters here have U.S. military experience, and I was curious about that. My intention is to join either now with my current bachelor’s, or to go to school to become an occupational therapist and then join. So if anyone have health, medical, public health experience…or just general advice to a late-20something female considering the military, I’d be very interested to hear it. Thanks!

    1. Graciosa*

      Not really my area of expertise, but I’ll pass on what I’ve gleaned from family members and friends.

      First, if you have a specific military career in mind, your chances of ending up in something like your chosen MOS are better if you already have skills or credentials in that area. You didn’t specify the type of bachelor’s degree you have, so it’s hard to assess it. As an example, lawyers are likely to be put in the JAG corps, but someone coming in who wants to learn to be a doctor or a mechanic can end up doing just about anything else. The military makes assignments and provides training in order to meet its needs, not your preferences.

      Next, the military is designed to efficiently handle very large projects and very large numbers of people. The efficiency is gained through standardization of almost everything. You will need to be prepared to accept this. Training, forms, pay, and uniforms (including underwear and glasses) are all standardized. Even promotion through the ranks is standardized (there are a very few opportunities to move ahead of the rest of your group, but this is rare). The military does not care if you could do it better or faster or in a different way – you will be expected to adhere to the military way.

      Some people work well in such a system and some people hate it. You need to know where you stand on this spectrum before you turn your life over to the military – and it will impact every aspect of your life.

      Finally, if you think you might want to do this, learn everything you can about how the military works as soon as possible. For example, there are cutoff ages for all sorts of things in the military (including enlistment and officer candidate school). You may need to plan to be in a position to take advantage of opportunities that are important to you. I know one individual who got top marks in basic training but had a very short window to make OCS before aging out and missed it.

      I’m going to stop there as I don’t want to get into any more controversial areas. The military can provide fantastic opportunities for some and I *strongly* support service to our country. On the other hand, there are – regrettably – reasons to be concerned about some aspects of the treatment of women in military service (although I really wish that wasn’t the case and believe strongly that it shouldn’t be).

      You need to make your own determination about how military service fits into your values and your plan for your life. I would urge you to get as much information as possible so you can make a thoughtful, well-considered decision.

      Good luck.

    2. The IT Manager*

      Not much for me to offer – I did college ROTC and was not medical. Just a note (and you may know this already), you’re interested in officer positions so the enlisted recruiter is not really the person to talk to about this. You’ll have to look for medical officer recruiter to learn about your options ands career path.

  142. RetailMama*

    I wanted to throw this out there in case anyone looking at your blog is applying for retail positions. With about ten years of retail management experience I just have to throw out my “pro tips”.

    Do:
    Have a printed and completed copy of the resume if possible. Many retail positions have the job application under a “Careers” section.

    Drop off the application yourself. I’ve had parents and believe it or not spouses drop off applications for other individuals. Trust me, it gets noticed but not in a good way.

    I know this is difficult but if possible come in on an off day, Tues-Thurs are usually good. Mondays are big for returns and randomly wind up being busy. Don’t get offended if the manager can’t meet you when you come in. Many corporate places have conference calls scheduled or meetings or even deliveries. Even if it’s retail, there is a lot going on behind the scenes.

    If you are applying for seasonal work be available to work the holidays! Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, New Years Eve and Day. That’s why it’s seasonal. In addition if you are looking to stay on (most likely part time) there is a great chance that will happen! If you excel at the position, ask questions and ask for more responsibilities, develop a great rapport with team you work with you have a very HIGH chance of being kept on.

    Don’t:
    Please don’t come on a major holiday and insist to speak with a manager. It reflects quite poorly on your judgment. Weekends aren’t great either but better than coming on a huge promo day. And if you just need an application, fine, but please don’t ask to see a manager on Memorial Day weekend.

    For the love of god please don’t dot your “I” with a heart!!!! I’ve seen about five applications like this so far. No gel pens, no pink ink!! I’ve also seen green resume paper or just odd formatting.

    When you drop off your application please don’t be dressed in PJ’s. Or anything you wouldn’t wear to work the position. This too has happened more than I would expect. Scout the job, see what associates are wearing and dress accordingly.

    This one might not be universal but for all of my retail based positions I signed a contract when I was hired in which I can’t discuss my pay rate to anyone. So if you drop off an application and ask to see a manager don’t ask them what it pays. Retail jobs are so very transparent in terms of compensation. Even if it isn’t a chain more likely than not the pay is around minimum wage.

    Lastly, don’t call every day, every week, or more than once about your application. In retail a one time check up is fine but good gracious no more!!

    Good Luck!!!!

    1. Noah*

      I worked in retail all through college, eventually ending up in management before I left. I agree 100% with just about everything.

      However, an employer in the US cannot require you to sign a contract or agreement stating you will not discuss your wages. They also cannot make a policy stating that. It’s a violation of the National Labor Relations Act.

    2. Ellie*

      thanks for posting this because I am kinda sorta trying to get a minimum wage job even though it’s not my dream in life, I just need “something” right now. So what do I say when employers ask “What experience do you have?” Because I have none! I have never worked retail, food service, etc. All my experience is professional =/

      Also, I thought that going to stores in person was the way to go but every time I go there, they tell me to go online and fill out an app, lol

      1. Felicia*

        I’m having the same problem! I highschool I worked as a receptionist, and in college I primarily worked in the testing centre in what was primarily an admin assistant job. And then I had 1 temp job and 3 internships in what I studied (public relations). So “just” getting a job at a retail place or whatever isn’t so easy, when they have like 100 people to choose from who either have retail experience or are in highschool (therefore will stay a while, when no matter what I say it’s obvious I won’t) , why pick me?

      2. Stephanie*

        Yeah, ditto. My prior office work and degree aren’t relevant, so then I just have nothing to list for experience. And I’m guessing nowadays, places have more than enough experienced applicants to chose from, especially at the better-paying retailers like Costco or Whole Foods.

      3. RetailMama*

        I think almost anything can be pulled into retail. I would highlight the brand and how they see themselves. For instance, anthropologie loves mixing their pieces in with your own valued treasures. So a cover letter with them might mention how amazing it is to help someone find the perfect dress to go with their favorite cowgirl boots, or a necklace handed down from their grandmother. A retailer like Crate and Barrel is Chicago based and extremely customer service oriented (and usually always has openings). They love finding amazing designers to collaborate with (Novogratz for CB2, etc). You would spin any people skills in with the desire to help a customer find the perfect pieces for their home.

  143. Ellie*

    Oh my goodness, I applied for a job yesterday and they sent me an email saying they received it and would review, I went online today and the job listing has been removed. Now I am over analyzing what this could possibly mean!

    1. In progress*

      It happens to all of us! My analysis skills could make a strong case for either way!

    2. Fruitfly*

      I think they are just reviewing the candidates that respond on their first attempt at posting the job. Maybe if they feel that they need more candidates, they would post the job listing back up.

  144. Ali*

    Not sure if this is buried at this point, and if it is, I’ll just re-post it in next week’s open thread, but I wanted to expand on my earlier comment of (paraphrasing) “Alison was right that there is no such thing as a dream job.”

    As I have said here repeatedly, I was hoping to break into the sports industry. Sure, it’s notoriously competitive and everyone hopes to be in it, but I didn’t care. I was writing for free, applying for internships that paid WAY less than my current job and were full-time to boot, went to Super Bowl weekend to volunteer and had a plan of ways I wanted to make connections in the industry to help me find a job. No one would tell me otherwise that I wasn’t going to make it.

    Then, in February I went to a seasonal hiring fair for the local baseball team and found out in March that I did not get hired. It was crushing, as I had also had plenty of interviews that never resulted in offers. Sometimes it was because someone had better experience; other times it was having a local candidate more available. Thereafter, I grew resentful of the site I was writing for and some of their practices, and I felt it was no longer an enjoyable place to me. I was seeing some signs that maybe I was in the wrong career, but tried to ignore them until they may as well have been right over my head in bright flashing lights and all CAPS.

    I began to think about my career and saw that sports was the last place I wanted to be. Was it still a cool job? Sure. But I also didn’t want to relocate to some middle of nowhere area for no pay (I met someone , take on internships when I already had a job that paid decent and offered benefits (especially when said internship was full-time and paid very little or nothing at all, which would only hurt me) and spend God knows how long of my life working on holidays and weekends. I already do the holidays/weekends thing in my current job, and I’m getting tired of it. I have worked the last three Thanksgivings and Christmases, as well as 4th of July, Memorial Day and Labor Day. I started to think…why not get a job that will give me saner hours while still paying me enough to have season tickets to my favorite hockey team? That is now what I’m working towards.

    TL;DR: My “dream” industry still has good aspects, but for me, it has not turned out to be this amazing ride of me being always happy and not wanting to do anything else with my life. I’m now considering other options and have taken on an internship (that is remote and NOT full-time) in a social media role to gain more skills and see if that is something I can be happy doing. The company has already told me that a job is possible after the internship if everything goes well.

    1. Ali*

      Oops hit enter before I was ready.

      The lesson here? If you think something really is your dream, pursue it but make sure you know all the ups and downs before going into it. Some people deal with the cons of a job better than others. It’s just that I’m no longer willing to keep sacrificing holidays and weekends consistently just to say I’m working a sports job. I don’t mean to be a dream crusher, just saying I’m glad I had this blog to show me that things aren’t as dreamy as we think!

      1. Not So NewReader*

        I had a job once that I reeeally loved. Head over heels, loved. It took about eight years for me to realize that I was going no where fast. (Lots of reasons for that.) I left the job finally and it was one of the hardest choices I ever made. I had a migraine for nine weeks after I quit. My face felt like someone used a baseball bat on it- I can still remember how much it hurt. I was totally devastated.

        But it forced me to think. Never again will I get my heart set on a job so badly. It’s not healthy for me to do that. I needed to set goals- longer term goals in my personal life that filled up my mind and my off hours from work. And lastly- this part took the longest to reveal itself: I learned that the chemicals at that job were really toxic and probably doing a number on me. I learned that management was… not the most ethical, let’s say. I can’t expand on this last part but that whole story was huge enough that I ended up being grateful I had moved away from the job.

        I still think warmly of my years working there. It was a safe, consistent place to be at a time in my life where there was lots of upheaval and change. I learned A LOT. And I still use what I learned to this day. Time has been kind.
        Time will be kind to you, too.

        1. Ali*

          That sounds a lot like me! Loved my job for a while; now I’m outgrowing it. I just wish the market weren’t so darn tight and employers so picky….it’s so much harder to find something else to jump to!

  145. Maddy-quitting gone wrong!*

    Ahh, I hope I’m not too late with my question.

    So I put in my two weeks notice yesterday and it did not go well at all. I was called every name in the book- I am a traitor, disloyal, unprofessional, greedy, aggressive, ungrateful, I betrayed them, I don’t know how good I have it there, I don’t know what I’m getting myself into, I’m not worth the new salary that I’m being offered, the list goes on.

    Anyways, despite all the name calling, I was given a counter offer- a pretty good one… However, she made it clear that she didn’t think I was worth what they are counter offering, but she’s going to give it to me anyways because she’s that’s nice and wants to help me… Of course I turned it down… Who would take it after someone says something like that? Crazy! And so the name calling started again. It took three hours from the time I gave my notice to the time I was able to leave. It was such an experience that I hope I will never have to go through again. The minute I got to my car, I just burst end out crying.

    Anyways, so my question is should I call my future manager to let her know that the company did not handle my two weeks notice well at all. My boss is known to call the new employer to try to sabotage the move. So should I give my future manager a heads up? And ask her not to give them any information if she does happen to call. Should I even go back and work out my two weeks? Everyone else is telling me I should have quitted on the spot.

    P.s- I did not give out any info about the company that I’m going to at all. One of my references there did. I trusted her and can’t believe she would do something like that to me — she told them the company’s name, my title, salary, etc. I guess you really don’t know someone until something like this happens.

    1. Colette*

      I’d go back on Monday – but if the abuse continues, I’d leave then.

      I don’t recommend warning your future manager. If your current manager calls the new one, she is the one who will look ridiculous.

    2. Ruffingit*

      Oh man, I am sorry that happened. That is totally insane and I think you have every right NOT to work out the two weeks notice. They were not just unprofessional, they were abusive. I don’t think I’d bother going back there. Instead, I might call my new manager and let her know I can start on Monday as the old company did not want you to work out your notice period. They might be happy to have you sooner.

      Alison has addressed crazy ex-bosses who call the new boss and as I recall, the advice was not to worry about it since the old boss looks like a crazy person when they do that.

    3. Aisling*

      I think that if your boss did call new boss, it would be so ridiculous that new boss wouldn’t give it much credence. Why would your boss be trying to sabotage your leaving the company if you’re such a terrible employee, after all? Why not just let you go? That’s what I would think if I were new boss.

      Regarding staying there the two weeks: if you just quit, you may not get the benefits you’re entitled to (which vary by job; not sure if you can sell back vacation time or what). What I’d do is go back to work the next day, and let your boss know that you’d like to work your two weeks to finish up your work, but that based on her reaction when you gave notice, you’re not sure if she wants you to stay the two weeks. If she lets you go, then I’d call the new job and let them know that you gave old job two weeks notice, it was not well received, and you are now available to work earlier than planned. And then you can let new boss know about old boss’ potential to call and badmouth people who leave.

    4. Not So NewReader*

      Wow. I am so sorry this happened to you. I don’t have any real advice to add to what people have already said. But I wanted to say this is what most of us fear happening and it is actually happening to you- holy crap. I would have cried, too. Son of a gun. Do what you can here and then get out, just leave.

      I can’t tell — does your reference work at your new job?
      I hope you say something to her when you find a calmer moment. She can’t fix what she did here, but she can avoid doing this to anyone else.
      Let us know how it goes for you.

      1. Maddy*

        Thanks so much for all of your advice. I went back and read about the crazy ex-bosses. Ive decided to not call my future manager just so I don’t drag her into this mess. Also decided to just work out the two weeks- well, going to try to, but I’ll see how Monday goes. I will definitely keep you guys updated!

        Oh, Not so newsreader, The reference works at my current job- the one I’m quitting. Worked with her for 4 years so I was pretty shocked and surprised she would do something like that. She also wants out at the company too, like the most of us, so I’m not sure what she did that for.. Oh well, lesson learned. Not going to use her ever again.

        1. Ruffingit*

          Please do come back here on Monday and update us as to how that day went. I am thinking of you because…wow. This just sounds like a really, really bad environment. If I may offer one more piece of advice, your current boss is probably going to start in on berating you again and telling you how you’re not worth the salary you’ll be getting. Shut that down ASAP with “I’m not going to discuss that” or something similar. Just know you are not obligated to listen to abuse or to be berated. Totally OK to walk out the door and move on if that crap starts up again.

          1. Mandy*

            Hi, just want to give you guys a quick update. So today was definitely awkward- other than telling me again how I’m screwing her over, we barely talked. She Pretty much gave me the cold shoulder the whole day. I’m just glad that the yelling and berating didn’t continue. I think it’s going to be like this till I leave. Oh well, for once, I really don’t care what she thinks of me, In fact, I was in the happiest mood ever. One day down, 9 more days to go! :)

            Thanks again for all the advices. Really appreciate it,

            1. Ruffingit*

              Glad it wasn’t horrible and thanks for the update! I’d love to know what your last day is like too, maybe you can update in one of the upcoming Open Threads?

              Here’s hoping 9 days goes by quickly!

  146. BritCred*

    Help…. I’ve had too much of an eclectic career life and I’m struggling to trim my CV! (For reference my career has been mostly Administration, Accounting, Audit and Analysis and Credit Control work. Most recently voluntary PA work and Internet Radio DJ work)

    Basically having trimmed out anything like “other duties as necessary” and minor things like “sorting incoming mail” I still have 3 A4 sides.

    All the rest? Defined and diverse skills that don’t hugely overlap in context and I don’t want to leave out.

    The latest job I have nearly a page on alone since out of 8 bullet points 4 of them have quantifiable facts and figures (turnover, current debt percentages, active debt amounts, estimate to actual figure tolerances). And I know that people want to see those types of things.

    I know I can trim down when I have a specific job in hand but I feel overwhelmed. :(

    1. Not So NewReader*

      Sounds like you have your master CV, that you can pick off of to apply for a specific job.

      My work looks like a hodge-podge. But I finally figured out that I keep picking one key factor over and over. Working with living beings- plants, animals, people. I enjoy seeing beings thrive.

      Am saying this because you should look at your work in a similar manner. The bulk of it seems to be numbers. You understand the story numbers tell. I can get that out of the little bit you have written here. Mull this over and see what you think. What are the common threads through out most of your jobs?

      My family member chose paper. She just plain likes paper. She went from banking to teaching to making her own greeting cards. Almost every thing she does involves paper at some point. I don’t know what paper means to her but her common thread popped right out at me.

      Once you see your common threads it will be easier to figure out what you want to highlight and what you want to leave off as you apply for jobs.

      1. BritCred*

        Yeah, I see the thread. Numbers, helping and solutions seem to be my thing.

        One thing is that over here they hate having work gaps on the CV so I guess for most jobs I’m going to end up reducing it to one bullet overview point and then leave in the desired skills for the jobs.

  147. Elsie*

    I’m not sure how many people still look at these days after, but quick question…Is it unprofessional to tell your boss that you “really look up to her?” I had a review earlier this week with my boss to close out a project and I thanked her for the experience and shared how much I learned from her/how much I looked up to her. Now I’m wondering if that makes me sounds young or puts her in an awkward position. For context, my boss occupies a high level within our organization (so more like my boss’ boss), but I work in an office with a strong culture of mentorship and feedback and have had a good working relationship with her for a while now.

    1. Vancouver Reader*

      I would think that depends on your boss’ personality, but that to me sounds like a huge compliment to her professionalism and ability to provide guidance. I look up to Alison and a lot of the contributors here because of the sound advice they provide, and I would hope they take it as a compliment.

      1. Ruffingit*

        I think she will likely take it as a compliment. If you want to phrase it in a more professional way, I might say “I’ve learned a lot from you and I appreciate the opportunity to work with someone so knowledgeable and skilled in our field.”

    2. BritCred*

      No, I don’t think so. Its a sign of respect and of showing that you learned something from the experience.

  148. Audiophile*

    I’m sure no one is reading anymore. But check out the Google doodle for the day. It’s a chrome cube, which is a rendering of the Rubik cube. You can create your own or play with the one available on Google’s main page.
    https://chrome.com/cubelab#demo

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