ask the readers: how do I get people to remember me? by Alison Green on July 19, 2018 Per Thursday tradition, I’m throwing this letter out to readers to weigh in on. This is an interesting one: How do I get people to remember me? Today, my colleague and I attended a meeting to finalize a work program we had negotiated with an external organization. The meeting followed six months on from an […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: what have you seen go wrong while living or traveling with coworkers? by Alison Green on June 28, 2018 Earlier this year, I told the ridiculous story of the intern house I was in charge of, and how the interns living there made tea for a burglar, who then robbed them when they left to go to the beach. I want to know your own tales of ridiculousness that you witnessed or perpetrated while living with […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: should I date my boss’s daughter? by Alison Green on June 7, 2018 I’m throwing this one out to readers to weigh in on. Here’s the letter: Last summer, one of my coworkers told me that she likes me. Unfortunately I was in the process of starting a (failed) romance with another woman so I turned her down. Well, that was half of the reason. Flash forward to […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: do I tell my oblivious colleague why he’s not working as much as he’d like? by Alison Green on May 3, 2018 It’s Book Week for me, so I’m throwing this one out to readers to weigh in on. A reader writes: I’m in a freelance profession that’s very close-knit. One of my colleagues moved to my area almost 2 years ago. He tried to break into the scene right away, and because of his attitude and […] Read the full article →
bitterly fought office coffee wars: share your stories by Alison Green on April 19, 2018 On a post last week about coffee wars, someone left this amazing comment: Without thinking hard, I recall the coworker who made herself a fresh pot every morning then dumped the contents so no one else could have any. The coworker who charged people for coffee the company supplied (she kept the money). The coffee […] Read the full article →
when attempts to recognize employees go horribly wrong: stuffed bears, birthday snubs, and more by Alison Green on April 5, 2018 On last week’s post about the person who received a stuffed bear for her 10-year work anniversary while other people received spa days and overnight trips, commenters suggested we talk more about “recognition fails.” Here are a few of the stories shared in that thread: “I once received a coffee cup from an employer as a […] Read the full article →
what are the strangest things you’ve ever seen on a resume? by Alison Green on March 29, 2018 I want to hear about the weirdest things you’ve seen on resumes. To kick us off, some highlights from past commenters: “The person whose description included only their entire astrological profile. I mean, sun sign, moon sign, rising sign, and midheaven sign. AND NOTHING ELSE.” “I received a resume for an IT Help Desk Technician […] Read the full article →
knowledge swap! share your expertise with people here by Alison Green on March 22, 2018 Are you good at something and willing to share that expertise with others here? Here’s what I propose for a change of pace: 1. In the comment section below, name something you’re really good at that you’d be willing to answer questions about. It could be Excel, or financial planning, or make-up recommendations, or resolving […] Read the full article →
ask the readers: makeup and work by Alison Green on March 1, 2018 Makeup and work: Do you have to wear it to look professional? How much is too much? Is a smokey eye inappropriate for work? Is it weird to apply it in the office bathroom on mornings when you’re rushed? Should you discreetly suggest your junior colleague stop wearing body glitter? The comments on this post […] Read the full article →
let’s talk about differences in office culture by country and region by Alison Green on February 1, 2018 A reader write: On a recent post about interrupting coworkers with headphones, I was charmed by some UK readers’ accounts of their offices’ tea-related rituals. I thought it might be fun to have an open thread about idiosyncratic aspects of readers’ office cultures and any differences people have noticed between one country/region and another. One […] Read the full article →