can I wear a backpack with a suit? by Alison Green on May 31, 2018 A reader writes: I’m a woman in her 30’s and I work in an office setting for a nonprofit. I commute via train and walking, and am often carrying quite a bit with me (lunch, a book, sometimes shoes, etc.). Last year I started having some minor pain on one side of my back, and […] Read the full article →
update: my boss is being a jerk about my gym time by Alison Green on May 31, 2018 Here’s an update from the letter-writer earlier this month whose boss was giving her a hard time about scheduling company-encouraged gym time on her calendar: I don’t know if readers caught my mini update in the comments of my letter, but it appears Remus is a reader of this site and recognized the situation (and […] Read the full article →
my coworker keeps demanding I say “please” by Alison Green on May 31, 2018 A reader writes: I have a problem with a coworker and have been hesitant to send this to you as it seems petty but it has been bugging me for awhile. It started as a pet peeve but has moved into something bigger the more she does it. This coworker, I’ll call her Eleanor, demands […] Read the full article →
I had a fling with my boss’s son; pink, scented resumes; and more by Alison Green on May 31, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I had a fling with my boss’s son Within the last two months, I got a new job in my hometown and moved back there. I’ve been at my job about a month now and LOVE it. It’s a great culture fit and I really […] Read the full article →
my coworker has started faking a British accent by Alison Green on May 30, 2018 A reader writes: So this question is … more just truly bizarre than anything. But recently, a coworker of mine has decided she is now British and has been regularly slipping into a thick British accent — very Madonna-esque. On one hand, I guess live your life. On the other hand, OH MY GOD, WHAT? […] Read the full article →
can I ask if a coworker will be fired? by Alison Green on May 30, 2018 A reader writes: My coworker, Sue, is painful to deal with. The feeling is shared by generally everyone in our office. In addition to personality issues, she is often tardy to meetings/work, misses deadlines, is unhygienic, etc. Sue has told us that her reviews have been much less than stellar. While I enjoy the work […] Read the full article →
can I tell a recruiter how rude it was to ghost me after my interview? by Alison Green on May 30, 2018 A reader writes: I interviewed for a position that a recruiter brought to my attention over two months ago. I’ve heard nothing from the recruiter even after emailing/calling. I went on Linkedin and saw that the company hired a person. Can I let the recruiter know that it was rude and unprofessional not to let […] Read the full article →
an affair is causing drama at work, video thank-you notes, and more by Alison Green on May 30, 2018 It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. An affair is causing drama on my team “Michael” is married to “Amy.” Amy is having an affair with “Jake.” Jake is single. All three of them work here. When Michael found out about the affair, he left Amy and filed for divorce and did […] Read the full article →
when I tried to negotiate, employer told me to decline the offer first by Alison Green on May 29, 2018 A reader writes: After asking several of my friends if they had ever negotiated a salary (none had), one of them recommended your site. I read a lot of your advice about negotiating salaries, and listened to your recent podcast about it. I’ve never done it before, but I gave it a shot after reviewing […] Read the full article →
how to write a great cover letter by Alison Green on May 29, 2018 I’ve read a lot of cover letters in my career — thousands of them, maybe even tens of thousands. (If you’re thinking that sounds like really boring reading, you’re right.) What I can tell you from doing that is that most people make the same mistakes over and over, and they waste the opportunity cover […] Read the full article →