I was fired from my internship for writing a proposal for a more flexible dress code by Alison Green on June 28, 2016 A note about this post, which is being linked to from all over the internet: This situation is not about “young people today.” The letter-writer’s generation is far from the first to bridle at dress codes or misunderstand office culture or start out with little knowledge of how things work in offices. This is about being […] Read the full article →
co-founder is an out-of-control jerk, interviewer told me that she’s hard to work for, and more by Alison Green on June 28, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Co-founder is out of control and a jerk Our company was co-founded by a woman, her husband, and her father. The husband has historically been a general pain, but has always had good ideas to contribute (albeit rarely). We’re getting to the point where he […] Read the full article →
I saw my coworker wiping down our kitchen sink with Drano by Alison Green on June 27, 2016 A reader writes: I am a junior staff member in an office of about 20 people. I have a colleague, Felicia, who is also junior and a good friend. Felicia is smart and a great colleague, and both of us are usually the first to arrive in the morning. Felicia also openly “jokes” about having […] Read the full article →
don’t ignore these job search red flags by Alison Green on June 27, 2016 When you’re searching for a job, it can be easy to get so focused on getting hired that you overlook the red flags that can reveal a job or a company that isn’t the right fit for you. That’s a dangerous mindset to have, because it can mean that you end up in a job […] Read the full article →
are unshaven legs unprofessional? by Alison Green on June 27, 2016 A reader writes: I’m just about to start my first professional internship, and I don’t shave my body hair for a lot of reasons I won’t go into. It wasn’t an issue at my last retail position because I was working in a air-conditioned warehouse and could stick with jeans. I could definitely just wear […] Read the full article →
company sports team is causing bad feelings, how much detail should an offer letter have, and more by Alison Green on June 27, 2016 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My company has an exclusive sports team that’s causing bad feelings I work for a company that sponsors various sports teams throughout the year – all coed and open to anyone who wants to play. Once a year, there is an industry-wide tournament with some […] Read the full article →
update: manager says I need to wear different socks by Alison Green on June 26, 2016 Remember the letter-writer whose assistant manager told that she wouldn’t get promoted if she kept wearing novelty socks? (#3 at the link) Here’s the update. After reading the response, I decided to let it go. She was leaving the next day, so I didn’t need to put up with her much longer. I thought it would […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – June 25-26, 2016 by Alison Green on June 25, 2016 This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly no work and no school. If you have a work question, you can email it to me or post it in the work-related open thread on Fridays.) Book recommendation of the week: I’m […] Read the full article →
my internship is giving me back pain, asking for a raise during layoffs, and more by Alison Green on June 25, 2016 It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My internship is giving me back pain I have suffered from chronic back pain for years. Not anything excessively severe, but the “student back” caused by anxiety and poor posture that has proved very difficult to reverse. I am at a summer internship right now, […] Read the full article →
four updates from recent letter-writers by Alison Green on June 24, 2016 Here are four updates from letter-writers who had their questions answered here recently. 1. How likely am I to be a top candidate the second time around? (#5 at the link) Writing an update because I know everyone loves those and also a happy ending! They ended up getting back to me two weeks earlier […] Read the full article →