I’m terrified of making mistakes at my first job by Alison Green on June 19, 2019 A reader writes: I am a big fan and long-time reader of your blog. I am thrilled to say that after following your tips I have been able to land my first real job! I am very excited as I am just about to graduate from college (tomorrow!) and I couldn’t imagine a better position […] Read the full article →
how to shut down gossip at work by Alison Green on June 18, 2019 A reader writes: My workplace is a generally nice place, but there is a lot of gossiping and complaining. Voices carry and we have a lot of people coming through, so there’s a risk that if people are gossiping, other people could end up overhearing colleagues talking about them or someone they know. It doesn’t […] Read the full article →
I’m the boss who’s always late by Alison Green on June 17, 2019 A reader writes: I’m part of the senior management of a small nonprofit organization (about 25 employees). I’ve been with the company for several years and have consistently been a stellar performer, which is why I’ve been promoted several times since joining the company. I do have, however, one major flaw — I am always […] Read the full article →
I’m in trouble for re-sorting a coworker’s trash — and I’m enraged by Alison Green on June 4, 2019 A reader writes: I’ve worked at a medium sized tech company as a software engineer for the past two years now. Our city has an ordinance requiring all businesses to compost and recycle. I fully support this ordinance, as I’m a staunch environmentalist and care deeply about the future of our planet, for my sake […] Read the full article →
I think my bad personality is sabotaging my good work by Alison Green on May 28, 2019 A reader writes: I just had my one-year anniversary at a company I love, doing a job I enjoy. To say the road hasn’t been bumpy, though, would be an understatement. I work remotely (they needed a person to be in the city I’m in), so I’m often a little stressed about what’s going on […] Read the full article →
do you have to control your emotions to be professional? by Alison Green on May 13, 2019 I’m taking today off, so this is a reprint of a post from April 2016. A reader writes: I recently got fired from a job of four years. They told me I could stay until the end of the fiscal year (several months from the time of firing), and that I’m going to be replaced […] Read the full article →
is it unprofessional to show accidental cleavage at work? by Alison Green on May 7, 2019 A reader writes: What do you think about unintentional workplace cleavage? Unprofessional or innocuous? For context, I work at a tech company with a fairly casual culture, in a large, non-conservative city. I happen to be the only woman who works from this office (though we share space with our sister company, which has a […] Read the full article →
is it ethical not to ask for more work when you have room to do more? by Alison Green on May 2, 2019 A reader writes: Is it ethical to not ask for more work, even when you could do it, if it’s more than others at your level are doing? I’m a high-achieving secretary at an education organization. This is just a job for me to pay the bills while I go to school, which it does, […] Read the full article →
my boss says I’m too much of an “open book” emotionally by Alison Green on April 17, 2019 A reader writes: I work at a medium-sized pharmaceutical company. I have direct reports and also work with associates who don’t report to me, but carry out work I create. I have had problems with Lola, a talented associate who can be (by many accounts) thin-skinned. She has a way of speaking as though she […] Read the full article →
should I pretend to be bad at work I hate? by Alison Green on April 10, 2019 A reader writes: My partner offered me some surprising career advice the other day and it’s been weighing on my mind since. I had been venting about a bad week at work. I have ended up with a really tiresome and time-heavy task that has nothing to do with my actual role in the business […] Read the full article →