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Should I abbreviate information on a resume to maintain length/layout restrictions? I'm using the following format for a work experience title line in my resume, and it's causing a formatting issue Dates - Left Justified \| Company Name - Centered \| Address/State - Right Justified Ex: Jan 2000 - May 2012 \| My really...	Since the purpose of the formatting is to highlight the important parts of your resume (only yours, and only with the information you currently include), you shouldn't set rules that are broken by the very information that are trying to guide. If you only need a couple of characters, I'd be more tempted to abbreviate t...
How do I deal with a boss who is not doing her job and gets defensive when asked for her help? I work in a classroom in special ed. We have 9 students with autism, 8 one-on-one aides and a lead teacher. The teacher has the aides do a lot of her work, including writing curriculum programs for students and editing her pr...	I would document the tasks that are her repsonsibility that she has assigned to you. I would suggest documenting the things she does that should not be happening during work hours such as the ebay surfing.
What's a standard productive vs total office hours ratio? So it goes like this: we are keeping track of tasks using Redmine. We log time spent doing tasks, but at the end of the week if we add up all the time spent at those tasks there is no way a person has spent 40hs working. I think that's correct because offices ha...	At my last job we scheduled work based on an "ideal hours" concept; hours spent heads-down, flat-out coding new parts of the project (which from an external viewpoint is "forward progress" aka productivity). I honestly don't know if you'll find a standard that fits your workplace and culture.
Convincing potential employer that my skills are transferable to the technology they ask for I have come across a job opportunity of becoming a web developer. The skills I have fit the criteria for roughly 90% of what they ask for. The employer is looking for experience using technology X, which I don't have, but I do...	One successful spin-tactic that I've used in the past when confronted with an opportunity whose skill-set requirements didn't fully match my own is to emphasize that in almost any job you find yourself doing new and challenging things that were NEVER mentioned in the description.
How do I politely decline contributing to boss's Christmas present? It looks like giving expensive Christmas gifts to bosses is my company's culture.I wouldn't fuss if it is under $20 in total, but they are asking 2 x $30 for the two executives in my company. The organisers never asked if anyone wants to join in, the ...	I would say the best you can do is ignore the email. If HR approaches you, you could ask them, and perhaps suggest that they should find if there is someone working at the company who is truly in need and would be really helped by a Christmas present. However, if someone approaches you about this, I suggest you politel...
Is it okay to work on personal projects in my spare time at work? About two months ago, I started work as a full time server administrator for a small company. I have almost nothing to do. I generally work 1-2 hours a day. There have only been two days where I worked 6-12 hours in a day. I've talked to a friend who use...	Devise a project that you would enjoy working on, and that would benefit your employer. Even if your manager says its ok to "practice programming" in your spare time, some contracts contain a clause stating that anything you create on their machines is theirs.
Should I include a picture on my linkedin profile? Should I include a personal picture on my linkedin profile? I would never consider including one with my CV / Resume, and yet I have one on linkedin (which has only just occurred as slightly contradictory behaviour!). I've asked a few people I know from varying care...	I've been told in several career workshops and by social media experts that I work with that Linkedin gives higher priority in search results for profiles that do have an image attached. Make sure to use an appropriate picture.
How can I politely obtain frequent bathroom breaks during an onsite interview? I have some health issues that make it almost impossible to go more than an hour without visiting the restroom. I'm about to hit the job trail to get a new programming job and probably I will have full day onsite interviewing. How can I ge...	My experience with on-site one day long interviews, is that they are a sequence of about one hour interviews with different people and I usually have been asked at each change if I wanted anything.
Should a cover letter take a page or should it be short? Right now I am writing a cover letter to apply for a job, some people tell me cover letters should be short while other people tell me a cover letter should take up a page. Anyone who works in HR knows which one is the truth? Thanks <Q> A cover letter should show...	While a cover letter may be a page on the high end if one has more than a handful of points to make, the key is to keep the fluff to a minimum in the cover letter and demonstrate how you fit this position so well.
Quitting job on short term notice My situation is a rather easy one. For the last two years I have been working for a company, and they have been giving me short term contracts. Anything from one week to one month. At the end of my contract it is assumed that I will come the following day, because I am actually fulfil...	I would suggest there is a reasonable chance they will offer you a permanent role when you hand in what is effectively your resignation; if the company has been "avoiding" aspects of your local employment laws, it may be wiser to turn them down. Hopefully they want to encourage you to give ample notice.
Is it acceptable to install personally purchased licensed software on company provided laptops? I have changed jobs recently. I am a software developer and I very much love Intellij IDEA , which I think is the best IDE (Integrated Development Environment) for Java. I have a personal license for the latest release of I...	Anything else (accessing non-work e-mail, web surfing, installing other software) may or may not be permitted; it's up to your employer to decide. You can install the software on as many machines as you like, but you can useit only on one of them concurrently.
How can one ask for time off when company has policy against time off in December/January? My partner works in a UK clothing store whose policy is to deny ALL holidays during December and January. This means for as long as she is in this job, we can never take a Christmas/New Year holiday. Not knowing if this is a st...	Just asking unofficial to see what possibilities there are is one way to start. It's important to be able to negotiate in these situations. I am a retail manager and I can tell you that's this policy is strictly enforced.
Should I add specific software to my Curriculum Vitae? I am considering adding BlueJ , an integrated Java environment specifically designed for introductory teaching, to my CV. But I am not sure if this is OK or not. In what sort of situations is it OK to add specific software programs like this to my CV? Not sure ...	If the role description includes specific software knowledge, include it into the resume. If nobody recognizes the software, or if it's irrelevant to the industry you're applying for, its pointless to put it on your CV as it will just be extra text that someone reviewing your CV will have to glance through.
How can I say no to a company after being selected? After a couple rounds of interviews, a company has offered me a position and asked me to come in to fill out the paperwork. I was quite ok with the offer, but have come to learn (from friends who have spoken with previous employees of the company) that the company's ...	If you haven't accepted the offer officially, then you should be able to decline without penalty Therefore the best advice to to reject the offer formally, as quickly as possible, and them move on. Perhaps also attempt to negotiate a higher salary. The actual work being done, the working conditions, the corporate cultu...
Displaying qualifications/certifications in my cubicle I would like to be given more responsibility at work but do not feel managers at my work place are aware of my other skills sets. I am a programmer and believe that is all the perceive me as - however I have also undertaken project management courses, scrum master ...	There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a discussion with your manager regarding your desire to take on additional responsibilities.
What is the best course of action when an employee's significant other applies for the same job as him/her? I'm in an interesting situation as a project manager. We've recently hired a promising new employee and told her that we were still looking for applicants for the same job. A few days later someone inquired about...	If you don't trust your team members to make solid referrals, or to act like adults in the workplace, then the hiring manager should probably resign immediately. If you reject referrals from people who know each other, you risk: Reducing your potential labor pool.
Bring printed list of questions to interview Is it OK to bring a list of questions to ask the person that is going to be interviewing me? It is hard for me to memorize the questions to ask the employer and they are important and have to be worded a specific way. I know one solution is to practice, but I am asking if it...	I am never upset by someone appearing organized and well-prepared and having a list of questions you don't want to forget to ask appears organizaed and well-prepared to me. Walking in with a list of questions makes me think that you've actually thought about the company and the position and that you care about somethin...
Requesting that all tasks be submitted in writing I work in a team that does have a workflow management system for submitting work orders within the organization but it is used mostly for requests going from one team to another. While proper specification artefacts are used for larger projects, most small work request...	Sometimes people will come to you with a verbal request or question, because for most people, it's helpful to discuss and issue or concern and get agreement about what to do before they try to write an email about it - so do let people talk to you and discuss with you if that's something you can handle.
Is it out of line to ask for a raise to make up for a tax increase? Many in the US have probably noticed the 2% increase in FICA taxes this year. I realize my employer is not responsible for the tax increase. But neither am I, and now I'm earning 2% less than last year. Is it unreasonable to renegotiate? <Q> No, it's n...	If you have no annual pay raises, then talk to them about a raise but present to them why you are worth a raise. Don't ask for it, especially since I seriously doubt you gave money back to your employer when you got a tax break.
Is it OK to not associate my current employer and title at a industry conference? My Intent: Interested in attending an industry conference to just learn about "other parts" of the same industry but has nothing to do with my day to day tasks at work. My goal: Become aware of other opportunities and positions. Create c...	Bottom Line: When introducing yourself, it's totally up to you as to whether you should associate yourself with your current/most recent company or your profession.
Could my name be misinterpreted? I'm starting my job hunt now and I've realized I might have a problem on my hands. In my country my name is strictly given to males. But in the UK (where I'm searching) my name is mostly given to females. Could this be a problem? Should I address this potential source of confusion on m...	It's a non-issue - It would be illegal in the UK to differentiate between males and females for any job role.
What to do after I finish all my tasks and my manager has no tasks to give me? Sometimes, after I finish all my tasks, my boss has no tasks to give me. So I sit and feel bad I'm not doing anything. Additionally, I'm not sure if I can surf the Internet and mind my own business or look busy? What's the standard thing to...	You could look over things in your organization and see if you can improve them. Offer to help one of your collegues. Learn the codebase, learn the frameworks it uses, learn the language it's coded in. Learn something about another area of your organization.
How can I make wearing headphones at work more acceptable? If I really need to concentrate for a short burst at work (say 30 minutes), I work best when under headphones. However I appreciate that by doing so I run the risk of appearing anti-social and unproductive. To give a little context I’m talking about having mus...	If you're really afraid, drop a message to HR, saying something like look, I'm used to use headphones to focus on my work; please let me know if there's any complain or rule forbidden it . So my advice would be to try it, maybe you can start a trend.
Implications of showing promotions on CV? I’m relatively early on in my career, and as such have worked for two companies. A very approximate example of what roles I’ve had is: 2010-2013 Apple Company B 2009-2010 Senior Banana Company A 2008-2009 Banana Company A 2007-2008 Junior Banana Company A And I ...	The opposite is true - you got promoted within the company, that shows that you have what it takes, that others valued you enough to promote you (and probably over others in the same position). A role against a period would indicate that you have done that role throughout the period.
Should I CC the client when transferring an issue to a colleague? I get a telephone call from a client. They explain their problem, I tell them that I don't have a solution ready but I will look into it and get back to them. ( don't call us, we'll call you ) I investigate and find my colleague is an expert in the matt...	If you are transfering the task to your teammate, you should send an email to the client explaining the situation, including your teammate as a Cc, with details about just what the problem is (so a followup to a client email is a good starting point).
Employee with no aspirations I have a employee who recently joined us. I know he has the skills, but unfortunately he seems to be busy gossiping rather than getting actual work done. He has made all the money he wanted to from his ancestors, and has no aspiration to work for. How do I motivate someone who "doesn't giv...	Therefore your employee may not be giving 100% because their autonomy and self-developmental needs remain unfulfilled – I would advise speaking to them to see what on-going development / autonomy needs they have, as this may give you scope to turn their performance around by appealing to their personal motivations. If ...
Should I accept a delayed and nebulously defined promotion? My employer is looking at creating a Media Specialist position. This theoretically would lead to a higher pay grade and hence be a promotion. However there are a couple aspects of the situation that make me rather uncomfortable, and I'm unsure as to what the b...	You can be proactive in this and offer to help with the construction of the role duties and responsibilities, and mention some of the ideas you might have for shaping the role (as long as they have indeed mentioned that you are their best choice for this, otherwise that would be incredibly arrogant!) At the risk of sou...
What do I need to consider before proposing changes outside the scope of my contract? Without exception, when I go into a client's workplace, I notice things that should be changed - many things that are frequently outside of my mission. Sometimes serious things. I struggle with "Should I say something? or "If I say so...	In general, follow the spirit of the contract and once you get a "feel" of the culture of the client, follow that - if people, in general, keep their heads down, chances are good that the client is not open to suggestions that fall out of the specific issue you have come to fix.
How do I ask my manager what my raise is ahead of time? Where I work they do not tell us what our raises are ahead of time. We instead have to wait until we receive the 2nd paycheck in January which reflects our new rate since we are paid bi-weekly. There's no real reason for this, its just what they do. My supervisor ...	To answer your question, I would simply wait and see. If you are close to a co-worker, discuss with them, employes love to gossip about this stuff all the time, which is a double edge sword but nonetheless a way to get more info. And I think a direct request, something like, "I'd like to set a meeting to discuss my com...
What are the impact of a developer when he/she changes technology, like from PHP to Java? I am a software developer currently working in PHP technology for 2 years. I am also pursuing my M.S program. I decided to change my technology to Java in my existing company. When I requested my manager on the same, he said he ...	And those two years you spent writing Java may give you a fresh perspective on PHP, improving the quality of your code. Switching languages may also put a burden on your peers who must maintain your code, and management may decide not to permit that.
How to express that a non-disclosure agreement forbids you from listing work samples in an application When applying for a job, how do you express that a current work contract forbids you from listing those projects in a portfolio (and consequently, there is no items in your portfolio for the time of your current emplo...	Most interviewers are well aware of NDAs and wouldn't push you to break it.
My new colleagues seem too busy to answer my questions. How should I handle this? I recently left my job as a software developer in a company with 2500+ employees, to join a small software development team in a young company in another city. The job is in a completely new domain (finance) which I know very little about...	Find out resources that other developers may use to help them understand the domain. Ask your peers the best way to ask them questions. You need to be able to focus on something specific and actionable and get yourself a 'win.'
How to co-ordinate working hours for a team distributed across time zones? I am working very closely with a couple of other developers across time zones between North America and Europe. We all have flex hours and it's proving difficult to be online together at the same time for calls and chats, etc. We are collabora...	I'm not sure that the answer is to have people working the same hours, more a case of everyone knows when people will be available, allowing them to plan arround it.
Should I tell recruiters who else I'm talking to? Possible Duplicate: Should I share information about positions I have applied for with recruiters? I recently put my resume up on Monster.com and a lot of staffing agencies have started contacting me to try and find me a job. One thing they always ask me, in tones...	If they tell you they need to know in order to know if they can submit you, then you tell them, give me the name of the company and position first HR departments should not have problems with double submissions because recruiting agencies are not allow to submit CVs without the candidates' consent. My suggestion would ...
Is it appropriate to contact a potential employer before they contact you? When applying for a position, I often want to learn as much about the work as possible. A part of that involves looking for organizational charts and determining who does what and who might my boss be. Depending on where you are looking, this ...	There is something to be said for whether or not the higher ups want to play a role in the hiring process as I could imagine to some degree that contacting someone's boss' boss may well be where there isn't much direct influence on hiring someone for a position. it's usually perfectly acceptable for someone in your net...
Is it safe to use an idea that was conceived by a previous employer? I want to implement an idea that was discussed as one of many potential ideas that a company I used to work for might take once the project we were currently working on had launched. However, the project never launched and the company has been disso...	Part of what will matter is how much work was put in to fleshing out this "Idea." As Chad suggests you really need to consult an attorney before investing time and money in a concept that someone else may own. Even if a contract isn't signed stating IP rights, if you discussed the plan with your previous employer while...
Is it unreasonable to ask for a letter of recommendation from current employer without quitting? My friend works for a small company and recently applied to an opening with a prestigious employer in a semi-related field. Having little relevant experience outside his current job, he asked his current boss (the CEO) for...	Most employers and managers would take asking for a letter of reference as an indication that you are, or are seriously considering, seeking other employment. If the employer is slowly sinking then the request may well be quite reasonable.
How to structure a cover letter for new grad positions Since I am going to graduate in May I have started to apply for different software engineering positions, especially titled with the suffix New Grad. Although my cover letter has already undergone many rewrites, I feel still a lot insecure: The cover letter is rea...	Explain why you are a good fit for this specific position Having a section for things like open source contributions and side projects might be a good idea.
Should I report a previous coworker's arrest to management? A previous coworker of mine was charged with aggravated assault last night after he had gotten into a fight with another female coworker(his girlfriend). The coworker had worked in a position that reported to me at a previous company, and I'm still friends ...	In my personal opinion, it's also not up to you to raise this in the workplace. An arrest is a private issue until it enters the public domain of the courts and that person is convicted or not, until that point the law (uk) presumes innocence not guilt.
Found a fantastic job but just don't have the experience; should I still apply? Possible Duplicate: How can I tell which job requirements matter in software offerings? How can I overcome “years of experience” requirements when applying to positions? I've come late to coding, been doing it under 2 years and trying...	If your goal is to try to get that job, then (as others have said) go ahead and apply.
When applying for software development/programming internships, is this "Co Op Status" an important part to have on my resume, or kludge? I have a "Co Op Status" section on my resume that our Co Op education department recommended we include for our applications for internships. I'm curious if this is that necessary. ...	When you have co-op experience just add it in the section where you put work experience but add the co-op info by the group title, e.g. (co-op).
How to refuse an interview invitation with a bad company? I'm currently on the market and my CV is opened to the public on multiple job search sites. I have sent my CV to multiple companies and some have found me online and contacted me. One of the companies though is a one for which I don't want to work. The company...	It's your call - you can also say "I'd prefer not to disclose this information", or "I'm simply not interested" and leave it at that.
How to respond to a "Thank you" email from the management? Some companies send a "Thank you" to an employee for accomplishing certain tasks or when they want to offer him a bonus for his hard work. Should one respond to such emails and how? For my case specifically the company's CTO himself sent me a "Thank you" emai...	However, in the case of receiving a bonus or gift of some sort, I think you are obligated to reply with a "thank you." If he had sent you a letter through physical mail, then it would be more complicated: responding on paper isn't wrong, but if this is someone you interact with regularly, via email or face to face, you...
This Recruiter wants my Social Security Number? There's this really aggressive recruiter trying to get me for a job that sounds pretty good, is local, pays about right... and has sent me two voicemails and an email in the last 24 hours. Okay, whatever, he's trying to do his job. So, I go to fill in the stuff he wants, ...	Recruiters will need to know your SSN if you are working through them as an agency and being contracted to the employer. You might ask why your Social Security number is needed, how your number will be used, and what law they think requires you to give your number, if they push you on it, and determine you final answer...
How to acknowledge project failures but still emphasize my technical abilities in job interviews? In my previous job I was working on a client-facing project for the first time. This new role added many extra challenges related to communication on top of the usual technical and cultural challenges one might face. As a...	The answer that they expect is something that shows: That you accept your own mistakes and/or failures.
What can I do about my transfer to a new position being blocked? My company has posted a position in another department. It looks like I am qualified for the position. Before applying for the position I talked to my supervisor and was encouraged to apply. In a few days I will have an interview for the new position. I...	Explain your reasons for wanting to move and that of course you don't want to leave your current team in a lurch, so let's talk about a transition plan Talk to your direct manager and get him on board with talking up the chain.
What heading should be written in a resume instead of "Technical Expertise" when I am not an "expert"? Technical Expertise: Languages & Frameworks: C, C++, QtDevelopment tools: GCC, GDB, Valgrind, SVNOS: Linux (OpenSUSE)Concepts:: UML, Design patterns, Soc...	The most accepted sections for that title would be either "Skills", "Technical Skills", "Technologies", or "Technical Experience".
What are the repercussions on my career of quitting a contract job before it expires? I have almost 9 months left in my contract and I have an interview with another company next week. I am considering terminating the contract earlier if the company gives me an offer, however I am not sure what sort of repercussions ...	It is also important to note that depending on the laws where you are, certain parts of the contract may be unenforceable. It may prevent you from being rehired by your current employer, but that's about it.
Having conflict with my own manager So here is the scene : My manager got hired in my company 2 months ago (full time). Before that he came here as a consultant. The company he came from, I used to work over there until I got laid off. The CEO of that company told my manager something negative about me. I know this f...	First, if he says anything negative to you that you don't appreciate, bring it up immediately - "John, I don't really appreciate it when you say things like that."
Should I be sincere - in an interview - about the reason for leaving my previous job? I find myself in a situation similar to the man who wrote this post Lack of recognition in role and career development within role , that is to say I feel: I'm doing much more work with respect to what I'm paid for I'm doing wo...	Always state your reasons for leaving in positive terms - "I want a new challenge, I work hard at my job, and I'm looking for opportunities for advancement. So be pragmatic and don't forget the interview is not a shrink session, not a chat with your BFF, not a place to be overly honest
If you provided an incorrect answer to a technical question on an interview, should you respond with a corrected answer? Consider the situation where you've applied for a technical position (i.e. in Software Engineering) and on a phone interview you were asked a technical question. Regardless of the reason, you respon...	Telling an interviewer how you would go about finding an answer is always better than a simple 'I don't know'.
Should I inform my employer of additional certifications I obtain that are not directly related to my position? Should I inform my employer of additional certifications I obtain that are not directly related to my position? Background: I am a software engineer. I graduated with a bachelor's degree within the past two ...	If you want to start doing that sort of thing as a career, by all means, inform your employer, they might have work along those lines.
Freelancer - Proof of work hours How do you document or proof the hours you were coding when on an hourly paid freelance job? I normally use timesheets for in-house consulting, but if a customer would question the billed hours that I was working on my own in my office, I couldn't proof anything. Is there some typical...	Any documentation would be helpful if the client questioned your invoice or refused to pay for all of the hours you billed. There are also lots of time tracking tools online that you could use to track work hours. Most accounting packages (Quicken Professional, Freshbooks, ...) offer basic time tracking and invoicing. ...
How can I convince my boss that we need better machines? Possible Duplicate: How do I request new equipment for the office? My boss strongly feels that if we keep the machines clean which to him means: not installing any unnecessary programs and formatting the computer routinely, there is no need to purchase a new...	So you need to show that the machines will pay for themselves better then what you currently have.
When should I consider myself to be at work? This may seem a strange question, but my workplace isn't an easy access building. The place I work is a large (several hundred acres), fenced off, limited access campus. There are only a few gates, with guards checking identification at these entry points. Also, random ins...	If you don't, I count myself as being at work when I am at my desk. Firstly you need to be absolutely sure what the company policy on this matter is and follow it.
How should I tell my boss/peer that I do not want to lend him my gadgets? I am possessive about nearly all my things. I do not want to lend my camera/headphone to anyone since they are delicate items. My boss and peers know what gadgets I have and they tend to ask me to lend them the same for some hours or days. I...	So sometimes you do just need to be firm and say no (still politely) and more importantly don't feel you have to give in to the pressure from these types of people. If you bring them in to work because you do need them then you can reply with "Sorry, but I need it". I have a sign hanging in the garage that clearly comm...
How to deal with a colleague who wants to be a personal friend and not just a work colleague? I have had to work closely with a colleague on several projects. I am a very easy going, open and friendly person so when discussions got side tracked sometimes to personal life I went along with the conversations. Prior to go...	So I suggest that be a friend to her, but maintain your distance too when it is needed. Book some face to face, one on one time with her.
When should I call a member of my team that is late arriving with out a phone call? I am a team lead and also an early riser, I am usually the first person in the office so I am already working by the time everybody else starts rolling in. Occasionally somebody on my team will not show up near their usual start time i...	I would just communicate to your direct manager about the situation first and explain your concern. Where you have responsibilities to deliver and the absent team member is part of the delivery path, it's important that you are informed when they're not in the office.
Why would a company remain confidential before an interview? I recently got a call from a recruiter who said that he was trying to find a good fit for a company's open position. The recruiter asked me some questions about what I am looking for but said that the company wants to remain confidential until they decide if...	Some "spook" agencies in the government (defense and espionage) may not want job candidates to know who they are until they are reasonably sure the candidate can be hired.
Sent an email to a wrong person. How to correct myself and recover from the situation? I used to be a contractor PM for a small outsourcing company. One sunny day, I was discussing with my colleague, a branch head, some unpleasant issues about how we optimize our expenses, shifting people, etc. Not a cheating, not a f...	Again, since you can't get electronic info 'back', your only option here is to email them again, tell them what happened, and ask if they wouldn't mind deleting the email and forgetting about it. Ask yourself whether your reaction to this mistake is causing more harm than the mistake itself.
Does knowing the potential salary range for a position change how much you should ask for? I am in the process of interviewing for another job within my company. I am not yet guaranteed a job offer, but it looks promising and I don't believe there are any other candidates. I do expect to need to negotiate a salary so...	By taking the top value right off the bat, in future years at that organization, you may be limited in terms of raises by starting out at the top for the position you'd have.
What's the difference between paid time off, vacation, personal holiday? On various websites in the U.S. I see a distinction being made between personal holiday and vacation . What is the difference? Some examples: Wisconsin Jobs lists Annual Vacation Hours Schedules and states that additionally, the State of W...	Personal Holiday: A form of paid time off that is simply a flexible holiday.
How to motivate your boss to let you spend time on tasks that won't generate any immediate revenue, but will pay off in the future? A while ago my company started a blog. Only a few articles have been released until now, all working hours being focused on lucrative stuff. And that's fine, as a start-up company it's no ...	Step 1: be absolutely awesome at your job and accomplish your work effectively.
Loud keyboards and coworkers How can I solve the problem of loud keyboards? I like my keyboard a lot, I've been using it since childhood and it's the only keyboard I feel comfortable using. But it's rather loud, so it may be disturbing to potential coworkers. I know it disturbs me when somebody else is typing somethin...	Other people might not notice nearly as much as you'd expect (after all, your keyboard noise is several times louder to you than it is to them due to the "inverse power law" business). while you're debugging, researching, testing or otherwise NOT heavily coding, headphones and some tunes of your choice can bring the so...
Changing the culture of overtime to efficiency I work at a very young start-up company. We have had turn-over rates (mass resignation of staff, thrice) in the past but changes in the system have led to a more a stable employee retention and better technical-skilled employees. We do games, and I don't know with other so...	If you are already burned out then 40 hour weeks probably won't make a difference, so keep working your 60-90 hour work weeks. To change from a culture of overtime to efficiency you will have to stop the death marches.
What are your options in dealing with an employer who does not pay for your gas when doing errands for him? I have a friend who works for a company part-time (paid hourly) doing marketing/website work. Occasionally, his boss will have him make trips to the store to get office supplies or go do some marketing task somew...	If the company doesn't reimburse at the IRS rate, you can claim the difference on your taxes. - have your friend track his mileage each day.
What to say about my goals with a company when the honest answer is "leave" It's time for annual evaluations and setting goals for the new year. The boss wants to talk about the career path I'd like to take. The problem is, I don't think I have a future here, as my title and salary don't reflect the work I'm doing; i...	I wouldn't suggest mentioning that you are considering leaving to achieve these goals but it does give your manager a clearer picture of what you are about overall and opens the dialog with them.
How can a self taught programmer beef up the education section on a resume? I'm a self taught programmer with 6 years of professional development experience. Due to only having an Associates of Arts degree, the "education" portion of my resume is bare. I already have a professional skills section so I think including t...	If you have several years of experience already, your education is becoming less and less important by the year. Use friends and coworkers to recommend you for positions.
On a resume, how can I explain self-taught software? I took on the bookkeeping position at my former job, just prior to the firing of the bookkeeper. I knew nothing about the bookkeeping software and had to teach myself the A/R, A/P, payroll and tax payment functions in QuickBooks immediately to stay current. In my o...	I am an autodidact and therefore automatically procure the knowledge to update and improve my skill set.
As a contractor Is it inappropriate to invoice meetings? I'm a developer and i'm working on a particular php project. As a contractor, Is it inappropriate to bill for meeting time? Meetings that consist of clarifying scope and intent of work? Or is it not an issue at all? If so why is this? <Q> Meetings are part of t...	Any meetings AFTER you have signed the sales contract would be billable if your contract has provisions that allow you to treat any meeting/travelling/etc time as billable.
Is okay to spend time learning at work? New (6 months) junior software developer in a .net shop. Haven't finished college yet.Only briefly touched on .net during the degree (Java degree). There are many parts of the .net framework (along with 3rd party libraries) that may be useful to the tasks to which I have been a...	But over time, the time you've invested in becoming more efficient and better at your job starts to accumulate to the point where you can decide for yourself what the appropriate balance is between doing the work and learning to be better at the work.
Is It Bad Form to Remove a Deceased LinkedIn Connection? I feel kind of insensitive for asking about this. I am connected to a guy that suddenly died about a month ago of natural causes. I was just looking through my connections on LinkedIn, and apparently his family never deleted his account or whatever happens to...	Where possible, if you know that a 'live' account on social media belongs to a deceased person, you should report it to the site. You can only do what you feel is right, and I, for one, see no problem with removing this contact.
Should I list an on-call job where I barely ever work? I've been working at a company on-call overnights for about 6 months now, of which I've only actually worked with them for 3 months, and during those months only worked less than a week. I'd estimate that my overall experience here is only about 50 hours total. ...	If it is not your primary position, and there is nothing to be gained by adding it, there's no reason to add it to your resume proper. If you are currently employed there, you may have to disclose that to a company that makes an offer.
Training position after one year of full employment I have been offered a 6-month software developer training position. I've been working for one year as a software developer employed in another company. The company after the training period, if the experience is positive, will hire me for a full employment position. ...	As to your resume, if you make it through the 6 months it won't matter one bit what your status was during those 6 months.
How do I mention I have carpal tunnel syndrome on an interview? I am a software developer. Unfortunately, many years ago I started to develop carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. I have successfully combated this by wearing a wrist brace any time that I am typing, by using ergonomic keyboards and by using a thumb...	I like saying it when I accept an offer, because at that point I can tell them that I need a keyboard tray, and here's what kind, and I need this kind of ergonomic keyboard, and they can order them and have them ready for my first day at work.
How do I deal with a company who has stopped replying to me? As a student, I don't have a whole lot of industry experience; however, I did manage to find a company who is "always hiring", and who said I would likely be a good fit in their teams. I interviewed with them last year, but was told--despite their enthusiasm...	In any company you want to join however, no one would really want to entertain persistent demands, especially regarding job search.
When facing a low salary offer, should I ask for more than my desired salary in order to "negotiate" down to my desired salary? I have received a salary offer from a company that I am very interested in working for.However the salary is only just over half my expected salary for my education level, though I am still in...	Usually, I base the lowest I'll settle on a particular job and consider other benefits, perks, length of commute, room for advancement, or some sort of personal satisfaction gained from working for this particular company. If they negotiate then you take what you can get as long as it is at least your minimum.
Contacting Recruiter after turning down their initial interest My question is somewhat opposite than most people would expect. So here it is... Last year, I was thinking to make a career transition into some very specific management kind of roles from an Engineering background. During the same time, some recruiters fr...	So I think the recruiter will be thrilled if you let them know you are intrested now.
Would my CV 'Suffer' if I transfer into a Smaller Company? I am facing a dilemma right now. I am currently working for a very big company with good pay, but I don't really like what I am doing, both as far as my daily activities are concerned and as far as the stress I undertake every day. On the other hand, I know tha...	The size of the company you work for doesn't count as much careerwise as the skills you develop in it, so forget about the big company vs small company dilemma. However, you are also more likely to get fired much faster if you do not perform up to par.
Job ad with no "number of years" specification I'm a graduating master's student in engineering with 2 years of professional work experience. I find some positions without any information about what level of experience employers are looking for in their candidates, e.g., "X+ years of experience", or "intermediate leve...	It is often better for a company simply to list the skills they're asking for and then choose the candidate based on roles/projects available and then train them on any skills they may be missing or light on.
How can I convey expertise on my CV? I'm writing a curriculum vitae, and got to a certain impasse. Aside from the obvious Expert in XYZ , How can I say that I'm a "super expert" in a certain skill, but still remain humble in the sentence? <Q> It's actually the obvious "expert in <domain>". <S> Why wouldn't you use th...	Instead list your skills in a way that will let people correctly conclude that you are an expert, or better than expert. If you're a farmer, you list the awards your farm or animals or produce have won.
Staying awake in meetings with projectors? I have this reoccurring problem. It is 9/10/11am and I am at a meeting where I sit either one chair or two away from a large projector screen. With the fluorescent lights off, the screen is bright in a dark room. I get drowsy and my head feels heavy. My eyes go off in their ow...	Bring a glass or bottle of very cold water with you , and make a conscious effort to sip from it constantly Sit forward in your chair If it doesn't matter to you, feel free to sleep or zone out. In other words, attack it from multiple angles: even if one alone doesn't help, several together should.
Only using years for employment ranges on resume I am trying to cut out all the unnecessary decorations on my resume and make it as minimalist as possible to give more weight to the skills and experience. One of the considered line items within that initiative was to knock out the months from the employment ranges and...	I don't think the minimalist approach you're taking is going to make a noticable difference, but everyone appreciates the effort to have a cv that gets to the point.
How to handle time off for surgery? I've got a major surgery coming up, and my company is just as aware of it as I am, and I'm covered for the time off, but what I'm wondering is how is a longer term leave like this typically handled? What kind of notice period should you give for a major surgery? I let them know as s...	My Canadian firm has both short term and long term disability coverage which provides some or all of a person's salary while they are unable to work.
E-Readers for office library instead of hard copies? In my department, we are floating the idea of replacing our library with a few E-Readers as often a handful of people will be researching a particular concept at the same time and sharing books becomes an issue. This was originally cited as cost prohibitive, but it ...	I would research whether the books you want to have digitally are available that way and, if so, by whom and in what format.
Should I tell the company I'm interviewing with I've been laid off I was working for company A when I submitted a resume to company B last week. Company B just spoke with me and decided to bring me in for an interview next week. However, company A just laid off 75% of our office, including me. I know company B will ...	However, if Company A has given you the relieving letter: Then there's no sense in altering the facts. Company may know and not appreciate dishonesty Prepare a nice way to broach the subject. The interviewer ought not inquire. Personally I'd just get it out of the way ASAP and clear the air.
In a job interview, who should extend his hand first: the recruiter or me? I'm heading for my first job interview within an hour and I have this critical question: Who should extend his hand first: the recruiter or me? No cultural or religious cases, common interview. <Q> Keep cool, it depends on each situation. <S...	Since you'd rather avoid a negative at the start, let the other person initiate the first handshake.
How do I respond to an apology? In a meeting yesterday, one coworker was unproductive and, for lack of a better word, sulky. The issue did not get resolved. Today, he sent an email to the team apologizing for his unprofessional behavior and listing some more helpful comments along with some suggestions for moving forwa...	People generally like having useful suggestions acknowledged. Just tell him (if you can be alone together).
How important is a recommendation letter for the employer? I applied for an internship opportunity with several private companies, and one of them got back to me over the phone. During the conversation, the HR manager mentioned in passing that they were willing to take me in as an intern largely due to the endorsement ...	Once you get into the professional realm, the recommendation letter may not carry as much weight, but should still be considered a positive addition to your application package.
Why do recruiters ask for ID and/or references? I am applying for jobs through a recruiter, and have just been asked to provide ID and/or references before being put forward for a role. If I get the job and the company wishes to have reference and Id then fine, but recruiters asking for Id and references even before y...	Some recruiters want your references so that they can determine how good you are and what kind of jobs to suggest you for.
How can I help a team member who feels threatened by collective code ownership? I run a team of software engineers where I try to instill the practice of collective code ownership. One team member is continuously threatened by an individual he feels is meddling in 'his code'. Both people contribute greatly to the team,...	Educate or counsel the individual who feels is meddling in his code so that he should not feel like meddling . Set up an individual one one meeting and listens to their concerns and their problems about this responsibility.
What criteria should one use to determine the optimal distance and height of the monitor on his or her desk, to ease back conditions? What criteria should one use to determine the optimal distance and height of the monitor on his or her desk, to prevent chronical back injuries? I suppose that there are some "formulas"...	And the monitor should be slightly tilted back (about 10° - 15°) so that when you are looking at the center of the screen your line of sight is perpendicular to the surface of the screen. I just requisition blocks of (sealed) printer paper from the supply cabinet to get my monitor to the right height. I found the bigge...
Reinterviewing for a job after 15 months after not passing initial phone interview Beginning of last year, I was selected for the interview process for a position that I really liked. A recruiter (employee of the company) who use to work for the company contacted me for the position. My interview process ended after fi...	There are always a lot of unknowns in the interview process, and the thing you would hope is that it is the skills of the applicant that determines whether you get the job or not.
Releasing conference tickets in a fair way for all timezones The organizer for a programming conference is wondering how to release tickets in a way that's fair for people in all timezones. He's wanting people from all around the world to attend (and there's already speakers from the Americas, Europe and Asia), and is...	If less than 30% of the places are sold on the first day, you can release all tickets at once.
How should someone respond to sudden small gifts after a promotion? After a promotion or reorganization, people invariably try to curry favor with the new management. But how should the newly promoted respond to sudden small gifts? [Small gifts might include: a box of gourmet chocolates, a bottle of moderately-priced ...	I think if it is a gift that can be shared, then sharing it among the workers or using it as a prize/incentive for performance would be a good way to both accept the gift and also dispel any sense of bias.
Male wearing earrings in workplace (South Asia) I'm a male working in a medium sized company as a software developer. I am wearing ear rings on both ears for spiritual and religious reasons. I find this change in me has been taken negatively as one of my colleagues mentioned to me that it looked arrogant. I also pers...	I would say use your company's dress code as a guide line, but don't use it as a be all and end all.
Agreed price for agreed work to be done, but now asking for more work to be done? About 2 months ago I was asked to make a charity website for a friend, it was only going to be a html/css website ie. No need for PHP, JavaScript etc, being a friend I offered £60 for the website, we decided the look of the website and I ...	Just explain him that the job was underpriced at the beginning, that you were happy to help with his project, but that programming costs a lot of time (like other jobs do) and you cannot continue working on that without any extra money, that you want your money now.
Interviewers doubt my freelance work due to no proof as my friend / coworker passed away recently I worked from November 2011 as a free lancer with a friend but he recently passed away in December 2012. Now when I interview for a job I have a gap in my resume that I have no proof for as my friend cannot vouch for me. ...	With the truth: You can mention that your co-worker passed away (supposing that there is a way to prove it) and you should also be able to produce evidence of the freelancing work you did together
I'm critical to the company, but underpaid and seeking new employment. Should I tell my superiors? I am in a critical niche position at a medium sized (~300 person) company and I am not respected and grossly underpaid. My daily operations are required in order for the company to function and there is not even one othe...	If you are performing mission-critical operations that affect the company's bottom line, but feel you are not getting the respect or compensation you are due, then you should absolutely look for ways to communicate your achievements. If you have a boss or boss's boss who is at all reasonable, approach them and meet abo...
Jokingly told my boss "I quit" on April Fools, and I think I just got fired I jokingly told my manager "I quit" via email (it was longer than that) as an April Fools joke. We get along pretty well normally. Well, it seems my joke was taken a bit too seriously as I just got an automated email from HR with checkout proc...	Slapping people at work is pretty common and will help make it more clear you were only joking.

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