November 2019

my boss keeps canceling our meetings

A reader writes: I have a problem at work that I’m not sure how to address. The meetings I request with colleagues are frequently canceled or rescheduled, particularly with my boss. My boss is very senior in the company and has a busy schedule. He ends up rescheduling at least 50% of my meetings with […]

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the way a coworker was fired has me worried for my own job

A reader writes: Recently the marketing director at my company (lets call her Tori)  got fired after 5+ years, and the way it went down has made me feel really uncomfortable. Now, Tori was not particularly great at her job and was prone to being confrontational and unpleasant at work, so most people in the office weren’t […]

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this is one of my favorite cover letters ever

Today I’m sharing with you one of my favorite cover letters of all time. This is a superb example of how to use your cover letter to make a strong case for yourself without resorting to repeating your resume … which is the most common mistake I see people make. The caveats I’ve learned to […]

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should I tell an employee the real reason I’m firing him?

A reader writes: I manage employees who start with a three-month probationary period. I have a current probationary employee who has not taken direction well, has acted defensively and challenged basic instructions about how to do his job, has rolled his eyes when provided with feedback on how to do certain tasks, and ironically who […]

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should students prioritize interviews over classes, complaining about my sister’s manager, and more

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should graduating students prioritize interviews or schoolwork? I’m responsible for hiring at my company, and we have a lot of opportunities for graduating seniors — roles that are truly entry level and not “entry level but we still want 1-3 years of experience.” As a […]

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weekend free-for-all – November 23-24, 2019

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.) Book recommendation of the week: The Baby Thief: The Untold Story of Georgia Tann, the Baby Seller Who Corrupted Adoption, by Barbara Bisantz Raymond. This is the horrifying true story of […]

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