can I turn down a networking request? by Alison Green on September 13, 2018 A reader writes: I am three months into a great job at a huge organization in my field. A friend and former manager who helped me get the job (my first out of college) just reached out to me with a friend of hers who is trying to set up informational interviews for when she’s […] Read the full article →
we have a plague of overly aggressive networkers by Alison Green on April 30, 2018 There are people who get legitimately excited about the prospect of broadening their professional circle—and then there are the rest of us, who shudder and blanche when we contemplate “networking.” Part of the reason for this visceral unease is the scourge of overly aggressive networkers: those people who, once encountered, loom large in our memories […] Read the full article →
I’m being mentored against my will by a dude who’s my peer by Alison Green on March 26, 2018 A reader writes: I’ve been in my chosen career for about 10 years now. About three years into my career, I struck up a collegial friendship with someone who worked for a competitor. He’s maybe five years older than I am, but we were at a similar point in our careers. Fast forward to the […] Read the full article →
I hate the idea of networking — it feels slimy by Alison Green on March 13, 2018 A reader writes: I’m a college student, so I’m very early in my professional career, but so far I’ve already had trouble overcoming my aversion/distaste/ineptitude for networking. I’ve only done one summer internship, but I’m always hearing that the only real way to get jobs and find success professionally is through “networking”—a challenge for me, […] Read the full article →
what can I say to job candidates who are stalking me outside of work? by Alison Green on March 12, 2018 A reader writes: I work for a company known for its unbelievable perks and benefits. Every time a job opens up, we get thousands of applications. Candidates are becoming increasingly aggressive to stand out. Hundreds of them (literally) have purchased Facebook ads or LinkedIn promoted posts to get their information in front of current employees. […] Read the full article →
how many times can I ask a networking contact for help? by Alison Green on February 22, 2018 A reader writes: I was wondering how many times it is appropriate to reach out to networking contacts for informational interviews, referrals, connections, etc.? I have been searching on and off over the past two years due to being laid off and then moving to a new city for my spouse’s job opportunity. I don’t […] Read the full article →
how can I explain why I went to a for-profit school? by Alison Green on February 14, 2018 A reader writes: I graduated from DeVry in the late 80’s. I earned a four-year B.S. there. I was heavily recruited (high test scores) by many colleges and ultimately it came down to a UC and DeVry. DeVry was on a trimester system, so I would graduate in three years vs. four years, and I […] Read the full article →
are my mentors taking advantage of me? by Alison Green on January 22, 2018 A reader writes: I have two people from undergrad that I would consider sponsor/mentors and, today, friends. They were not professors but were employed in my department and I got to know both of them very well throughout my four years. I volunteered for every open house and outreach event for the school, was hired […] Read the full article →
how to say “stop following me” at an event by Alison Green on January 3, 2018 A reader writes: I was wondering if you could help me with a professional problem that seems to be coming up more and more lately. I am fortunate to be fairly well-known in my field, and attend a lot of professional events. I try to meet as many new people and existing contacts as possible […] Read the full article →
my CEO wants me to send his relative’s resume to “all my contacts” by Alison Green on September 7, 2017 A reader writes: My first job out of college was in Washington, D.C. as an analyst in a three letter agency, a highly sought after experience. I don’t talk about it much anymore because inevitably, now that I am on the outside and in the private sector, I get asked to forward along resumes of […] Read the full article →