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2016 Related Topics
my best employee quit on the spot because I wouldn’t let her go to her college graduation
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JULY 5, 2016
A reader writes: I manage a team, and part of their jobs is to provide customer support over the phone. Due to a new product launch, we are expected to provide service outside of our normal hours for a time. This includes some of my team coming in on a day our office is normally closed (based on lowest seniority because no one volunteered). said that if she could find someone to replace her for those two hours, she could start later. She asked her coworkers, but no one was willing to come in on their day off. Then she quit on the spot. I’m a bit upset because she was my best employee by far.
I was fired from my internship for writing a proposal for a more flexible dress code
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JUNE 28, 2016
A reader writes: I was able to get a summer internship at a company that does work in the industry I want to work in after I graduate. Even though the division I was hired to work in doesn’t deal with clients or customers, there still was a very strict dress code. felt the dress code was overly strict but I wasn’t going to say anything, until I noticed one of the workers always wore flat shoes that were made from a fabric other than leather, or running shoes, even though both of these things were contrary to the dress code. We were shocked. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
ask the readers: how can I stop being late?
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OCTOBER 13, 2016
A reader writes: I seem to always be running late and I hate it. I am one of those people who absolutely loves to be early to things, but I can never seem to make it to work on time. Usually I’m only running about 5 minutes late at the most, but at least once or twice a month I run 10-15 minutes late. Nothing I do seems to help. If I set my alarm for an earlier time, I sleep through it or snooze it a bunch because I just can’t seem to get up. Every time I’m early is wonderful and I love it, but it never seems to last. What can I do to get better about this? Readers, what’s your advice?
I got into a fight with my husband’s coworker over their affair, stressed out over a volunteer group at work, and more
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OCTOBER 10, 2016
It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. I got into a fight with my husband’s coworker over their affair. My husband works at a restaurant, I caught that he was having an affair with one of his coworkers. I saw the all their text messages and confirmed some of it from their friends. Though I don’t know if they have a sexual relationship, I do know that they were hiding it from me and the coworker’s husband (part of the messages were “delete this conversation” or “you can’t text me right now because I’m at home”). confronted my husband. Fast forward a few months. short answer
2016 Training Program Best Practices
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Can you hear the collective groan when you launch that new compliance course? Do you get complaints both public and private from trainees about the uselessness of the training courses you've launched? Is there anything that can be done about it
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how should your resume list a bunch of different jobs at the same place?
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OCTOBER 7, 2016
A reader writes: I have just over three years of work experience with the same organization. Within this time, I’ve been promoted internally (very similar position, with “senior” in the title) and then transferred to an international office (very different job responsibilities, but with the same title I had following my promotion). I am applying for graduate programs for fall 2017, and almost all applications ask for a resume. How do I format a resume so that it both showcases my achievements but also makes it clear that I’ve remained with the same organization. resume
whoever told you to be creative in your cover letter has led you horribly astray
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AUGUST 16, 2016
A reader sent me this real-life cover letter that she received from a job applicant: Hi. This very professionally-beginning cover letter should immediately alert you to my easy-going and comprehensive approach to task completion while making it strikingly obvious that I am both interested in and capable of performing HR duties with sophisticated exactitude. Clearly my efforts are oriented always toward mutually-beneficial understanding(s). This, my friend, is how your life will feel every day we work together, except better. Not invoking the sensual feeling of her wrist is another.
weekend free-for-all – May 14-15, 2016
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MAY 14, 2016
You may also like: my coworker relies too much on my help interesting perks and random kindness why you should ask for feedback, even if you’re scared weekend free-for-all – May 14-15, 2016 was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand.
we’re not allowed to bring coffee to work, my coworker is faking his expertise, and more
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OCTOBER 30, 2016
It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My coworker is faking his expertise for the promotion he’s applying for. Our director of IT gave notice this week. Two internal people have expressed interest in the job. We are a small company, and the director of IT is the only IT professional on staff. We are a financial institution, so IT security is super important. John and Mary both expressed interest in the job. John is well liked and already in a comparable level job. John and Mary both have degrees in IT. Mary has used hers in the workforce prior to working here. Is this legal?
Leaving performance reviews behind: Where to start [Guide]
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1Making Dynamic Performance. Development a Reality eGuide 3Introduction Does your organization want to adopt. more dynamic approach to managing. performance and developing employees? We see a stampede of organizations. moving in this direction. At the same. time, we also see that, all too often, managers in such organizations are simply. not prepared to follow through because. Without clear. Maybe.
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the new overtime pay rules are here — if you earn less than $47,476, read this
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MAY 18, 2016
The new overtime rules that we’ve been talking about here for the last month were finally released by the Department of Labor today. This is no longer speculation; these rules are now final and will go into effect on December 1. The changes will require an additional 4.2 million American workers to be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours in a week. Specifics on the new rules: Employers must pay overtime (time and a half) for work beyond 40 hours in a week to all workers earning up to $913 per week or $47,476 annually. Previously, there’s been no provision to count those.).
my husband emailed my boss about our decision for me to resign
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OCTOBER 10, 2016
It’s Columbus Day and I could use a break, so here’s an old post from 2012 that I’m making new again. reader writes: Recently, I accepted a part-time RN position, but resigned within the 90-day probationary period due to several personal and professional factors. I had tried to re-enter the workforce after being a stay-at-home mother for 9 years. I had mixed emotions about leaving the position, but overall it was not meshing well with our family needs. felt like an RN number rather than a respected individual. He was fed up with the financial burden the job had become. Oh dear.
former cofounder is trash-talking our organization, new boss quit right before my new job starts, and more
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JANUARY 13, 2016
It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Former cofounder is trash-talking our organization. The cofounder and initial executive director of our small nonprofit was fired a few months after we launched for gross failure to carry out responsibilities and in no small part because of the way she treated the staff and other board members. As we were just starting out, we didn’t have the paperwork or foresight to have her sign an NDA. Is there anything we can do? We’d also like to know how to handle inquiries should anyone contact us to check her credentials in the future.
company is planning a secret overnight trip, lying to clients about freelancers, and more
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OCTOBER 24, 2016
It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go…. 1. My company is planning an overnight trip with secret activities. My company (a young tech start-up) is planning an overnight company trip. They’ve been keeping the details secret, which has caused a lot of anxiety, especially since teasers implied that we would be going camping. have a health condition where hours of team sports will be miserable and potentially make me feel really unwell. Do you have any advice for how to approach this? Don’t work for a young tech start-up. Yes, talk to your boss. And happy birthday! 3. Am I off base?
Skill based learning – How it drives an organization’s performance
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Training and learning organizations today play an active role in contributing to the bottom line of any organization by aligning their objectives to the immediate business objectives. This provides a solid ground for cost justification and encourages businesses to place training groups right where they should be, at the heart of a growing, thriving, learning culture
weekend free-for-all – October 29-30, 2016
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OCTOBER 29, 2016
You may also like: update from the reader whose boss started a mandatory book club interesting perks and random kindness if you’re self-employed or want to be, this post is for you weekend free-for-all – October 29-30, 2016 was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. This one is truly no work and no school. open threads
my company wants me to return a gift from a client, interviewer said I need a better answer, and more
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FEBRUARY 18, 2016
It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My company wants me to return part of a gift from a client. work for a large, well-known organization in the United States. recently finished up a job with a client who I’ve worked closely with for the last two years. He sent me a very kind hand-written note thanking me for all of my hard work on the project and enclosed four one-day tickets to a major theme park (owned by his parent company) as a token of his thanks. I was surprised and delighted by both the note and the generous gift. But frankly, I’m upset. Come on now.
how to reject an internal job candidate
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FEBRUARY 19, 2016
A reader writes: I was just promoted at work, into a position that comes with an assistant. The hiring process for the assistant was already underway. really like one of the candidates and I was ready to hire her. But at the last minute, the person who is temporarily in the assistant role applied. like her, too, and she has done a good job. But she is out-competed by the other candidate, who has better technical skills and seems more adept with software. She also generally seems more enthusiastic. But I think it is the right thing to do. hiring
holiday weekend free-for-all – July 2-4, 2016
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JULY 2, 2016
my employer banned books in the break room holiday weekend free-for-all – July 2-4, 2016 was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. 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: Never Let Me Go , by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Innovation Buster: How Losing Your Best Employees is Killing Innovation
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Employees at the front lines often have better ideas for innovation than others within the business, but when they walk out the door, they take those ideas with them. Want to innovate better and faster than the competition? You need to hold onto your best employees and the ideas they have.
how can I keep my star performer, without being able to pay or promote him (while his less competent coworker earns double)?
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AUGUST 29, 2016
A reader writes: I am a partner in a small engineering firm. Six years ago when I was brought on, I was allowed one staffer. hired a new grad, Fergus, who turned out to be great. He knew or could adapt to any design software out there, wasn’t lost in the world of theory, and turned in work that was actually able to be constructed. He’s almost never missed a deadline or has been over budget. He has been one of the main reasons my department has grown. have compensated him with raises every year. needed to hire additional staff. know that he left disappointed. being the boss
weekend free-for-all – August 13-14, 2016
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AUGUST 13, 2016
interview with a lab worker at the Arctic Circle weekend free-for-all – August 13-14, 2016 was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. 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: You’ll Grow Out of It.
can I just send employers my LinkedIn page rather than a resume?
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APRIL 4, 2016
A reader writes: When applying for a job, why can’t we send a link to our LinkedIn page rather than a traditional resume? There’s more information on my page than I could ever fit on a one-page resume, and it looks great. Well, because they’re not asking for that. And they’re not asking for that for many reasons: * Most employers want your resume in their applicant tracking system, and most systems aren’t set up to take LinkedIn pages. resume gives the amount of information they want at this stage. You may also like: how long can your resume be? resumes
weekend free-for-all – June 18-19, 2016
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JUNE 18, 2016
You may also like: update from the reader whose boss started a mandatory book club why you should ask for feedback, even if you’re scared entry-level out-of-town job seeker: a success story weekend free-for-all – June 18-19, 2016 was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. This one is truly no work and no school. open threads
Ditching the formal performance review? Kineo shares 3 Elements for Success
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From Performance Management. to Performance Development eGuide 2Part 2: A Roadmap. for Change In Part 1 of this eGuide, we explored the confluence. of factors that’s driving change in how performance. is managed and how organizations are moving. away from the traditional annual review process to. more real-time dynamic approach. This all sounds. very logical, of course, until an organization starts to. push forward with change then finds that there may. be some very real barriers to moving forward. successfully transition from a traditional performance. management approach to a more dynamic.
how can I get out of our awful Staff Appreciation Day?
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AUGUST 12, 2016
A reader writes: How do I get out of our Staff Appreciation Day? Sounds more like Staff Punishment Day to me, with activities including traveling together to an inconvenient location outside our city, a “one-hour bike ride,” mandatory potluck, and ball games. hate bike riding (I’m in great shape, so it’s not because I feel intimidated… I just hate it). Also, I would rather harpoon myself through the eye than participate in a potluck–I eat very healthy and would rather starve myself than eat whatever horrible foods other people choose to cook and bring.
is employee taking too much sick leave, I keep getting surprise raises, and more
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MAY 10, 2016
It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Is my employee taking too much sick leave? I’m a relatively new manager and I’m struggling a little with how to handle one of my employee’s use of sick leave. work in an industry that has a public-facing desk that needs to be covered when we are open. If somebody calls out sick, I have to pay an additional person to cover that desk. My budget for that is quite limited. One of my employees, I’ll call her Jane, is an exemplary employee. However, she calls out at the last minute at least once every other month. Thank you!
an employer asked me the lowest salary I’d accept, rejected me, and then refused to keep talking
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OCTOBER 19, 2016
A reader writes: This is a puzzler for me: I recently had a third party recruiter get me in touch again with the hiring manager of a position I had applied and interviewed for but got passed over for earlier this year. I was excited for the second chance since this was my dream company, albeit this time it was gonna be contract to start. And even though they found out I had interviewed previously, they still phone screened me and had me come in for another face to face, and I believe and felt it went well. But of course, by that point, they’d been told it was the lowest you’d go. Other salary
a member of our professional group is making people feel excluded
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JANUARY 19, 2016
A reader writes: I belong to a group of mid- to upper-level professionals that meets several times a year for networking and a presentation (usually by one of the members) on a topic of interest in our field. Organizational duties rotate every couple of years; I’m currently in charge of organizing the meetings. There are usually 10-20 people at these gatherings. One of our members often arranges for a dinner out at a restaurant after our meetings, only inviting some people and often choosing an expensive restaurant. hate that! How can I approach this with him? Or should I not bring it up?
Learner motivation explained! Learn how to use an LMS to motivate your learners to upskill
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Training and development professionals often bemoan the lack of apparent initiative in their trainees. Learning professionals spend huge sums of money creating or acquiring skill aligned libraries of learning content, only to watch almost helplessly as learners refuse to engage with any training available that isn’t mandatory
you are reading way too much into things employers say to you
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APRIL 28, 2016
Most job seekers have a terrible habit of reading way more into things employers say than what’s actually meant. That’s understandable — job seeking can be anxiety-producing, and it’s natural to try to find clues about your candidacy. But this tendency to try to read between the lines or take things far too literally can make job searching much more frustrating and disappointing. A few years ago , I did a round-up of ways that people commonly misinterpret things their interview might say. Here are some additions. What the employer says: You’re a really great fit for this job.
I was fired for taking initiative (and undermining my manager)
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APRIL 11, 2016
A reader writes: Last summer, I decided to re-enter the workforce after five years of raising my kids. applied to a bunch of jobs that I thought I could do, and got an interview at this one very small company (~20 employees). The people I interviewed with – my future manager and her boss/the COO – were upfront with me that I didn’t possess the exact qualifications that they were looking for, but I interviewed well and they decided to give me a few (paid) one-off assignments to see if I would be able to learn what I needed to do the job. Clearly this was the right thing to do!
I have an awful summer intern, and I can’t fire him
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JUNE 20, 2016
A reader writes: I’m reaching out to request advice on an intern problem. As background, I’m a young-looking woman with a professional degree who works in the charitable arm of a prestigious, for-profit teapot firm. have three interns this summer, one of whom is in a professional degree program, and the others are still in undergrad. I’ve worked with many interns in the past, and I like to think that I do a good job exposing them to the professional world and helping them to build important skills and connections. I’m still in contact with all of my past interns.
my dad says I shouldn’t have asked for time to think over a job offer
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MARCH 1, 2016
A reader writes: Recently I had a second interview with a company where I met with the other owner and learned a lot of new information, including salary and schedule. At the end of the interview, I was offered the position and I said I would like a day to think it over and talk about it with my family. They said of course and that they would always expect that. Later, when I was talking with my parents, my dad got mad that I would even think about asking them for a day. Ignore your dad. It’s very, very normal to ask for some time to think over an offer (and a day is nothing).
HR's Critical Role in Creating Productive and Meaningful Workplaces
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Today’s workplace is characterized by chaotic forces—low employee engagement and productivity levels, and declining employee well being. HR Leaders have a critical role in defining the vision and strategy to transform and create a more productive and happy workplace
5 things that will send your resume straight to the rejection pile
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AUGUST 1, 2016
Your resume is the very first impression that an employer will have of you, and it’s usually the determining factor in whether you move forward to an interview or get rejected on the spot. That means that it’s crucial to get it right – and yet lots of people put more energy into picking out an interview suit than they do into writing an awesome resume. At U.S. News & World Report today, I talk about five common mistakes that will virtually ensure that your resume goes straight to the reject pile rather than getting further consideration – but are easily avoided. You can read it here.
no, group work in school is not “just like in the real work world”
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JULY 25, 2016
A reader writes: I’m starting a business graduate program now and all of the administrators are practically giddy proclaiming, “There’s going to be a lot of group work! Just like the real business world!”. I’ve always struggled with group work because I’m a (recovering) perfectionist and was the type of kid who dominated group projects and only allowed my groupmates to do token pieces. I’ve worked to reduce this tendency and I know that other people have strengths that I don’t but as soon as the pressure is on, I start getting twitchy about other people being “slackers.”. Anyway.
I had to share a bed with a coworker on a business trip
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JUNE 29, 2016
A reader writes: Some coworkers and I recently went on overnight travel, and the plan was to have us split two hotel rooms. Sharing a room with people I work with is less than my favorite thing, but we’re a nonprofit, and it has been decided that this is what we’ll do to save money, so I grit my teeth and vent later if needed to friends and family. expected this trip would follow the standard room sharing format, and that I would probably be the one who ended up sharing a room with my boss. Those last two points I did not realize until the moment we walked into the room. But to share a bed?!
can you say you’re looking for a new job because you want “a new challenge”?
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OCTOBER 26, 2016
A reader writes: When being asked by a hiring manager “why are you looking to leave your job,” one of the common advised response is “I’m looking to take on a new challenge.” ” Do you think that answering with “I’m looking to take on a new challenge” can be interpreted as admitting that the candidate (me) is not qualified or lacks the experience? I’ve always struggled with responding with this answer. Here’s the deal with “I’m looking for new challenges”: Most interviewers understand that it’s used as a polite catch-all for all sorts of things.
The Performance Management Storm: Four Macro-Trends Driving the Change
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1Why Your Company Will Need to. Rethink Performance Management eGuide Part 1: The Argument. for Change 2 3About this Guide Organizations are increasingly. moving from traditional performance. management systems (organized as. an annual review process) to newer. performance development systems. organized around real-time dynamics). Here, in Part 1, we describe why. happening now. As you’ll see, the.
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