open thread – January 20-21, 2017 by Alison Green on January 20, 2017 It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything work-related that 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. * If you submitted […] Read the full article →
a hiring manager chastised me for using his personal email address, my estranged spouse badmouthed me to my boss, and more by Alison Green on January 20, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. A hiring manager chastised me for contacting him at his personal email address I found a fantastic overseas job listed on a company website, spent 20 minutes composing a knockout, personalized cover letter, and sent it to the manager’s email to make sure he saw […] Read the full article →
how do I network with a senior person when I’m much more junior? by Alison Green on January 19, 2017 A reader writes: I am a fairly recent college grad (2013) who was hired by the local city government just a few months out of college into the job I’ve had for the last three years, the first two of which I was working part-time while juggling other jobs and internships. Now, however, I have […] Read the full article →
be a better manager in 2017 by Alison Green on January 19, 2017 Most of us who manage have a hell of a lot of room to do it better. Here are four things to do differently this year to make yourself a stronger boss – and get better results from your team. 1. Get on the same page as your staff members about what a successful year will […] Read the full article →
when I give my staff feedback, they complain that I didn’t tell them earlier — but I’m telling them pretty fast by Alison Green on January 19, 2017 A reader writes: I’m looking for some help with replying to a specific line of conversation. I’m at the middle management level in a medium-sized company. For the most part, things have been going smoothly. I do a lot of one-on-one coaching, and it usually goes without incident. I have a private, casual chat once […] Read the full article →
when a manager keeps saying he took a chance on you, boss keeps canceling meetings, and more by Alison Green on January 19, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Manager kept reminding me that he took a chance on me Is it appropriate for a manager to constantly remind an employee (in one-on-one check-in meetings and evaluations and the like) that they “took a chance on him” by hiring him because he didn’t have […] Read the full article →
my manager keeps disparaging millennials on Facebook (and I’m a millennial) by Alison Green on January 18, 2017 A reader writes: I’ve got an issue with my manager that I’m not sure how to address. My manager and I are friends on Facebook (she added me, and not the other way around). Normally, I wouldn’t have accepted, but it’s unfortunately a cultural norm around this company that everyone, across several layers of management, […] Read the full article →
how to fire a volunteer by Alison Green on January 18, 2017 A reader writes: I serve on a board for an alumni association. We are all volunteers, and we have various committees that other alumni serve on. It’s hard to get much help sometimes, so we try to find something for anyone who wants to help to contribute. However, we have one volunteer who seems to […] Read the full article →
why should I have to help clean the office kitchen when I never use it? by Alison Green on January 18, 2017 Two letters, same theme. The first: The directors at my workplace have introduced a policy that each week two people are responsible for cleaning the kitchen every afternoon before leaving. I find it unfair to have to clean other’s mess, given that the only use I make of the kitchen is for a coffee or […] Read the full article →
can I promote my jewelry at work, my boss is bad at email, and more by Alison Green on January 18, 2017 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I promote my jewelry at work? I am the executive assistant for four executives at a private company. I also just became a part-time rep for a direct sales business selling beautiful, reasonably priced, stylish jewelry. From time to time, my bosses (all men) […] Read the full article →