should I put my politics on display at work? by Alison Green on January 24, 2017 A reader writes: Like many people, I am very passionate about the results of the recent U.S. election. I’m very opposed to our recently inaugurated president and his policies, and feel the need to express that firmly in all facets of my life. To what extent is expressing one’s political beliefs appropriate / allowed in […] Read the full article →
I’m a bad employee – but there’s not much I can change by Alison Green on January 24, 2017 A reader writes: I work for a government agency, as the executive assistant to the head of a division. My boss is not a problem – *I’m* the problem, but I don’t really know what to do about it. I am the single mom to a teen son with severe anxiety/depression. He was diagnosed about […] Read the full article →
should I tell my boss I know I’ve been a jerk and I’m getting therapy? by Alison Green on January 24, 2017 A reader writes: I found AAM recently, and after reading some of the archives, I realized I often don’t act professionally. I recognized myself in your “brilliant jerk” article. People criticizing me tend to include words like arrogant, condescending, argumentative, blunt, and self-absorbed. Although this problem affects my personal life, I always assumed it didn’t […] Read the full article →
two-page resumes while you’re still in school, new boss sends novel-length emails with hashtags, and more by Alison Green on January 24, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I have a two-page resume while I’m still in school? I was enjoying some of the more difficult situations you address in your blog when I came across one of your posts mentioning that a resume for a 20-something should never be longer than […] Read the full article →
should you send job interview thank-you notes through email or postal mail? by Alison Green on January 23, 2017 A reader writes: I have an interview next week for a position at a small company in the middle of relocating. The owner already moved to the area where I’m located and will be the one conducting the interview, and we’re meeting up at a coffee shop as they haven’t picked a location for the […] Read the full article →
things that will make you look unprofessional in your job search by Alison Green on January 23, 2017 If you’re job-searching, you probably (hopefully!) know the basic professionalism mistakes to avoid, like using an unprofessional moniker in your email address, having a silly outgoing voicemail message, or flooding social media with photos of yourself doing keg stands. But here are some less obvious ways that you can inadvertently come across as unprofessional in […] Read the full article →
I yelled at our intern by Alison Green on January 23, 2017 A reader writes: One of our interns, who I supervise directly, has been performing pretty poorly for a while. I’ve met with him and been giving him feedback, but it hasn’t worked. This afternoon we were scheduled to meet again, where I was planning to draw a harder line. Then he sent me a really […] Read the full article →
wearing a fake wedding ring to a job interview, coworker bosses me around, and more by Alison Green on January 23, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I wear a fake wedding ring to a job interview? My boyfriend is moving for an incredible job opportunity, and I plan to join him within the next year. It’s too far a distance to keep my current job, and I would only move […] Read the full article →
weekend free-for-all – January 21-22, 2017 by Alison Green on January 21, 2017 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.) Recommendation of the week: A […] Read the full article →
how to solve a conflict between two strong-willed employees by Alison Green on January 20, 2017 A reader writes: What do you do when you have two very strong-headed and opinionated employees working closely together, one a team leader and the other a newer employee, who have a personality conflict? The team leader has been with the company for five years and feels as if the newer employee talks to her […] Read the full article →