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Is refusing job offer after getting it unprofessional? I am currently student and have never applied for a job before. I won't graduation until March-April. Now, I want to see what my skills are worth, like: How much salary I can earn if I start working now? How an interview process actually goes? How much chance t...	It's unlikely to disqualify you but a company may be hesitant to hire you now if you thought it was a poor fit in the past-- that might lead the company to believe that you're only settling for them now and that you'll be moving on to a different position shortly.
How can a candidate sell two degrees in different fields? I have a friend that is planning his career path. He had trouble finding work with a bachelors in civil engineering, and is now considering getting a masters degree in computer science (versus a masters degree in civil engineering). When competing against cand...	You can use your undergraduate degree to differentiate yourself from other candidates for some positions; this will be about tailoring your cover letter to the position in which you're interested, as well as being able to discuss in depth during the interview how your degree makes you a great candidate for the position...
How to handle hostility in interviews? I had attended a Skype interview recently with a pretty known firm in a foreign country. Part of the interview involved a fairly easy task but the interviewer pronounced words that I did not understand. While trying to clarify, there were misunderstandings which caused friction th...	While I tend to blush when I get angry, I try hard to remain calm and completely ignore any hostility I'm sensing during an interview.
Working for two companies at the same time Are there any concerns with working two remote full time tech jobs in the US (one in networking and one in photo sharing)? I understand there might be health concerns, but assuming you are able to complete tasks for both jobs each day and your work does not suffer for each, ar...	If you have told both companies how you plan to work these two jobs (whatever that plan might be), and they have both agreed - then you should be fine. In this situation, it is best to be sure there is no conflict of interest or legal concerns.
Declining entertainment at an off-site interview - could it put an offer in jeopardy? This is a case where a software developer is interviewing for a position requiring relocation to a city a couple of thousand miles from home. The host company is planning off-hours entertainment. Imagine for example a harbor cruise, a...	If every new experience is going to make you uncomfortable, this may not be for you. The company may be interested in how the candidate handles herself in such situations and may ask the provider to take notes and report back. May be the organization does this regularly with other team members and wants you to get a fe...
What options do I have when my team leader is not assigning me any tasks? I am totally frustrated with my team leader because of his attitude. It's not only me, but the entire team is fed up with his nature. He is not assigning tasks to me for the last 2.5 months and if I discussed this matter with senior management...	Let your boss know you are ready to take on tasks and ask when he thinks he can assign one to you. If you're supposed to be writing software, get on Stack Overflow and look for questions that relate to the platform you should be writing things in.
How can I stop a flirting co-worker without damaging our professional relationship? There is a co-worker that is being way overly friendly with me. Nothing that would really be deemed unprofessional, and I am not offended in any way, but it is just that little notch beyond what a normal friendly working relationship sh...	First, make sure you start documenting any behavior from her that is "little notch beyond what a normal friendly working relationship should be".
Should I include education section in resume if I dropout college after K-12 This is my follow up question to the How do I make companies to consider me for the job irrespective of my very young age? After completing K-12 I joined college for graduation but within a month I drop out college and became self guided stu...	Why you chose not to continue your eduction and how you were able to make yourself a qualified candidate should be explained in your cover letter.
Just signed my contract for my first christmas job Today I went in to sign my contract and all related documents for my first job (I'm 16 in the UK). There was a section that had spaces for two references from previous employers however as this is going to be my first job, I didn't have anything to put in there. I did ...	If they did ask for a second reference you could ask a teacher to give you a reference, that's what I did when first applying for work.
Underpaid and overworked, how should I approach my boss? About a two months ago a co-worker and I caught our superior embezzling money from the company. After consideration, we approached our boss and told him the whole story. Our superior quit immediately. Since he left, his responsibilities fell on my co-worker an...	Sit down and state that you'd like a raise. A lot of people have issues speaking with their manager about money.
Are employer's reference letters still commonly asked for in R&D (Central Europe)? I am wondering how important it is to have an employer's reference letter made by your supervisor if he already agreed to serve as a reference person (for your resume/CV)? The circumstances are that I quit working as a R&D intern (softw...	In corporate Germany (academia may differ), you are supposed to have an "Arbeitszeugnis" (job reference/certificate of employment) for each job you previously held.
Is it better to apply for jobs as a new grad or someone with a one-year of work experience? Here's my situation. I've been working for this company for about six months while completing my MS degree. (I'll graduate this December.) My current salary is lower than the average in the industry and it doesn't look like I...	But don't quit your current job until you find the job you really want. First job with a long stretch say 2-3 years add a stability factor to your resume and does make the recruiters feel comfortable about the attrition issue though its degree of relevance is different in different sectors.
What are some effective strategies in implementing a new technical request protocol throughout a large and diverse company? I am trying to institute a technical request protocol throughout my very large and diverse company. The problem is, this protocol has existed for years, yet it has never been implemented effective...	Start by revisiting why you need such a protocol, the benefits for the organization and for the individuals in the organization.
How do you stay in touch with people you use as references? I've worked with some people who said it's ok to use them as a reference, but I haven't spoken to them in 4 years. Is this normal? And if yes, is a brief e-mail next time you want to use them as a reference, making sure it's still ok, all that is needed? How ...	You should definitely reach out to them to ensure that the contact information you have is still good, and that they are still willing to provide a positive reference for you.
How do I approach my boss regarding being incredibly bored with my work? I've been working at my current place for about 6 months now. The people are fantastic, the money is fine and it's a 5 minute walk from home. No complaints on those fronts. This company has interesting projects, which they told me all about durin...	Then go talk to your boss about how you can move to the projects you would like to be on and what your career path should be. No one will give you a more interesting task to do if you fail at the boring one. Volunteer for your local user groups and give presentations there. Don't let any of this interfere with the work...
How critical is a minor programming error during an interview? I understand that this is quite a general question and it depends on the company, but I will try and explain. I was given a problem where I had to write some code to verify a sudoku puzzle was solved correctly (inputted using a 2 dimensional array). The in...	For example, if you claimed the code to be flawless and perfect then you could have problems as the company may question your ability to be honest. Syntax is less important than concepts and how you approach the problem at hand. As you're in high school, chances are this isn't likely to be a big deal.
The boss asks to return money? Ok, the situation is: I have just started with a very fresh (6 months-old) company and the source code of the app is not the greatest, the time of few deliveries were missing and I got to the point when the boss asked me "Why things are late?" The next day my boss said, "Oh you know wha...	Ask for proof that the money was in fact sent (from accounting or payroll) and bring proof you never received it (bank statement, etc).
Are workers on holidays and weekends in the US paid more? I live in Israel, here if an employee is working on a holiday or on the weekend, they are paid a double salary by law. So if your salary for a normal work day is 10$ an hour you'll get 20$ (before taxes) for each hour you work on the holiday. There was the rece...	Businesses in the US are not required by Federal law to pay extra for working on a Federal Holiday.
What should I do when I don't have anything to say in daily stand up meetings? I'm not skipping my work, but I have dependencies on other teams' work which block my own. What should I say in daily stand up meetings, if I cannot do any work? I agree that telling I am waiting for dependancy should work. But that cannot ...	But, if I were running the meeting, I'd also want to hear quick thoughts on: What you are doing to mitigate the time lost due to waiting Who on the other Team you are talking with about how to get their part done so that you can start
How to setup a contract position? I have been told that I am going to be laid off at the end of the year but the company would like to make me a contractor for a few months . The company has only asked for my rate and my decision. I was wondering what do I need to do to set up this contract? Do I need to makeup a...	In this case, you'll want to draft up a contract with the company as the others have suggested.
What should I provide as my Current CTC (cost to company) to a Company where I am going to work? I am going to join a new company, so I wanted to give my CTC 1 details to them.In my current company I am getting a salary of sum of Basic & Variable pay, where variable pay depends on how many hours I effectively worked f...	When you provide your salary slips, all the fixed components are mentioned on it, along with the overtime. Having read a definition of CTC and its components, I'm going to say that you have to ask your current HR for an official breakdown.
How to list concurrent jobs on a CV? Normally on a CV I would list previous jobs in chronological order, for example if working as a widget builder I would list each position like so. 2009-Present Senior Widget Builder at Widget Ltd.2005-2009 Widget Builder at Widget Inc.2001-2005 Junior Builder Maker at Widget Co. H...	List it under another section called: Volunteer Work, Other Projects, etc. An alternative would be to mention this experience next to the appropriate item(s) in a skill section, if this does not over-lap your other work experience.
At what point is it appropriate to approach management about an uneven workload distribution? I'm a web developer who works primarily building clients' sites and web apps. At least, that's what I was hired for. There are 3 developers at this shop, and 2 "piles" of work, new development and maintenance. We build sites ...	Acknowledge that you're not doing the type of work you thought you would be doing and try to find out how long this will go on. See if you can speak to clients about the tasks they may be paying a developer to do and see if it is a communication and/or training issue.
Do self-employed also write resumes? If I am applying to contract work (mainly UK, Ireland, but would also want to know how things look like in North America), do I need a complete CV like an employee? Updating my CV is bothersome sometimes (many small projects going on) and clients seem to have different expectations...	As a hiring manager of contractors in the UK, I'd certainly expect a CV showing how your experience is relevant to me and my business.
How do I help my new boss succeed? We have hired someone to be the new boss of my department (the old boss left). I was one of the interviewers for the new boss, and along with other technical peers did some of the boss' tasks while we were without a boss. But my (and my peers) jobs are very tactical. We organize the h...	If users are attempting to guide the delivery priorities you should name those users to the boss, so that he can go talk to them. If you see 'bumps in the road' - issues that might derail the schedule or the project, bring these up right away.
What should I tell about myself in a interview I faced this question many times earlier. My friends are going for their interviews now. I used to tell about all my schooling, college and family etc in answer to this question. One of my friends said that when he was answering this question the interviewer interrupted hi...	How best to answer this question depends on the specifics of the job and company for/at which you are interviewing. Interests like golf, tennis and gourmet food might have some value if you would be entertaining clients in your new job. Do not talk about your personal life (this may be culturally different in other cou...
How to deal with a pressuring colleague? I have an over-ambitious colleague that keeps pressuring people who work with her. She has a spectacular plan which is in order to please the top management, that I am ok with it. I chose to get out of her way, shut up and let her play. Even that I don't like her "political tr...	Things not to do: first, don't try to 'defeat' her plans. If you and her (as well as others) are in weekly progress meetings with higher level managers, prod her to describe to her managers the demands she's making on her co-workers. Some people need push back in order to respect your boundaries.
Are there disadvantages of having a higher designation at low salary? I have a situation at hand. I have a option to get a higher Designation (Senior Software Engineer) but the remuneration being provided is less then whats average in the market for a SSE. My question is if i take the designation at low salary will i...	New titles are always opportunities to negotiate pay raises beyond what these annual increases would give you, so to situate yourself better for future raises , you should drive a hard bargain to come with a new title (as there is new responsibility involved, too).
How to title my last programming position? My previous job title was 'Senior development engineer'. I was basically a sole developer in a midsized manufacturing firm and the go to guy for programming / supporting any software project undertaken by the company. The firm titled it 'Senior' due to my 8 years experience in...	Tell the truth, use your actual title.
How to reply in a professional manner to emails that I am the wrong recipient for? My current issue: I receive an email asking for my help to solve a system issue, but I'm not the one responsible for it and I don't even know who the right contact would be. Question: How to reply to emails that I may have received b...	If the question is from a high level of management, it's worth asking your manager for who might be the right person or department, and send an apology email back, but cc that person as well.
When should I use a functional CV/resume? I am trying to understand when I should use a functional CV/resume over a standard chronological one. A lot of the advice I've gotten tells me that a functional CV is a good way to hide over gaps in employment, but if that were the only merit then nobody would use them as it w...	Functional CV's are good for those without any job experience.
What should I consider before wearing Google Glass to a job interview when I do development for them? I am not sure if it's okay to wear Google Glass to an interview. It seems like many people are worried about their privacy, but I am a mobile application developer and I wear them pretty much all the time since I got t...	Also individuals may not be thrilled by this violation of privacy. Leaving them on and not informing the interviewer would be a mistake. This is very important: Make sure you let the interviewer know that they are Google Glasses and that you have every intention of turning them off. There's no standard pattern on this ...
Giving two-weeks notice when on maternity/paternity leave? My wife is a nurse and is currently on maternity leave. For reasons with work life balance, she wishes to possibly look at another job for when she is ready to go back to work. She has a promising interview this week that might turn into a job offer. If this...	In the software world, while it might cause bad feelings, it wouldn't cause a blacklist.
Are independent projects appropriate to list on a resume? I am an undergrad student and I am going to sit for placements next semester. I plan to do a project on my own (without supervision by a professor or anyone else) during vacation. Even though it isn't a project officially done for school or work, is it appropri...	Yes if your project has potential it will count.
Staying in company after they offer higher pay than my new job I am currently working in a company which paid only 4% hike. I asked them for more and they clearly said that its not possible, not even 1 % more. So I decided to search for a new job and got one with 25% hike. I accepted the offer and now I'am in my notice...	There's no need to be rude, just say that you've committed to the new job and have already begun the quitting process in your current job.
How should I react to a change in my boss' body language? My boss used to smile at me at work. I do not always feel comfortable smiling, preferring to make sure I produce good work to show my value instead. Recently he has stopped smiling at me. I am worried that this may mean he has a worse perception of me than bef...	If the boss seems disinterested or non-committal toward what you've said, ask to schedule "a couple of minutes" to go over your progress. I would also not read into a single body change.
How can I turn down a promotion gracefully? I am about to be offered a very large promotion, but it would require me to relocate which I don't want to do. I will hear out the offer, but am almost sure I will end up turning it down. When doing so, I want to make sure that the rejection doesn't come across badly, letting...	If you are sure that you don't want the promotion and won't accept it, I recommend that you don't receive the offer. I think if you get on well with your manager she\he will accept your answer and solve the topic.
What does this phrase mean in a job description? "Release night and weekend work occasionally expected and required" This is for a software developer position. Obviously they're expecting night and weekend work "occasionally" but not sure what they mean by qualifying it with "release". Also, is this word "occasional...	By qualifying it with "release" the company probably means "we push our releases at night, and when we do, we expect developers to be available in case something goes wrong."
How can I appear as a contractor to customers in the stores I service? I work for a gas station chain as their IT Manager. I travel from store to store, fixing issues, doing upgrades, etc. When I'm the store, customers can't differentiate between me and the clerks (the clerks don't wear uniforms and neither do I). I'm...	My basic thought is do anything you can in each store you work in to make getting to the real clerk the most obvious path. Well, you can wear a shirt and a tie.
Networking with people who are not from the HR If you're networking with people who are not from the HR, how can you benefit from knowing them? For example, as a college student, if you reach out to those who are not from the HR but employees in the companies that you like, how can you use that to improve your odds of ...	You can use it by finding out more about a possible opening that you could use to tailor your resume and cover letter to fit that niche.
How to deal with a sneaky competitive colleague? As a member of a small team of six communication professionals, I value working independently while being a strong team player. I enjoy training colleagues and in particular mentoring younger team members on using various software. However, I have recently been on the re...	There would be some value in giving her some space to relax - while you demand that she show that she knows what she's doing, create some room for her to land 'softly', rather than maximize embarrassment. If she is an adult, then start treating her as an adult.
Conflict of interest for unpaid work? I work for a funeral home as full-time vocalist. When not working on a weekend, very seldom, I am asked by a family to sing at a local church for the funeral mass. Is there any possible conflict of interest with my employer if they are not paying me? How should I address this ...	If you contract doesn't preclude you from performing outside the funeral home, there is no problem. The issue is your employment agreement / contract.
Get colleagues to use the phone instead of instant message/email in high priority situations How do you encourage your team members to pick up the phone when a high priority situation arises. They tend to always use email/instant message and assume the recipient has got the message, no follow up phonecall or heads up ...	Having clear cases for what is urgent and making it clear on who should take accountability will help eliminate that quandary of whether to interrupt others to get help.
Email etiquette to boss: formal or informal? What should the email formality be towards one's boss? For example, is there a need to leave a "Thank you," or "Sincerely", at the end of each email? I feel that doing Thank you/All the best/Best regards[name] at the end of every email is sort of superficial, and that its ...	Most communication these days is very informal, and emails even more so. I think you need to display situationally appropriate formality.
Should you treat recruiters and employers differently when looking for a job? Earlier I asked this question about how forth coming you should be your career development plans. Now moving forward, I notice that a lot of IT jobs are advertised through recruiters. I'm considering ringing them and telling them straight...	Whether they are an internal recruiter or someone working for a recruitment agency, if you describe to them exactly what you're looking for, they will be better able to help you.
Should freelancer and self-employed workers disclose for whom they were working? Freelancer and self-employed workers don't really have an employer, but clients. Since it could be in their interest to keep the client list secret, how should they proceed when applying for jobs as a potential employee? Putting the compa...	First, it should be explicitly understood with your clients that you will use your relationship with them for your own marketing purposes.
Telling my manager that he made a huge budgeting mistake I have a very good relationship with my manager but he is clumsy and takes details for granted. Today he sent me a spreadsheet and - by accident - he sent the budgeting allocations for 2014 in it (I was not supposed to see it as I'm a consultant/contractor and no...	Simple, save yourself and manager, it was sent to you so take the assumption that he intended to send and check the numbers and give him the feedback asking if he wants you to revise.
Is the amount of work really a workplace culture? I recently moved to a large bank as a consultant and looking at the strategies, I understand the projects I'm working on are NOT mission critical and have less priority. but what I'm observing is millions of dollars are being spent and nothing is getting done. Everyone ...	What you're experiencing is working for a business, really any business, who's core competency is not software/technology.
Dealing with rude senior colleagues I have a colleague who holds a higher position than myself and is very very abrupt and rude, in particular to people who are in lower positions than she is. I believe the management dont really see this because she treats them in a different way and makes sure she always looks good. ...	If it's personality related - you could try making polite small talk with her. Always keep your calm and try not to be reactive, even when it's really hard. There could be things going on in her personal life which are causing her to be come across short tempered. If you feel you are having any sort of issues, I would ...
What is the best way of listing technical skills in a resume So far, I've been listing the skills mentioning technologies related to the field: Networking: subnetting, DHCP, DNS, IPv4, DLP, IDS/IPS, NAC. Programming: C++, Java, Python, Perl. However, recently, I have seen a couple of resumes in which the writer ex...	From a reading perspective I would recommend to put the related skills against the block of work experience area (again just the keywords).
What is a professional way to inform clients about missed deadlines? I am supposed to send a monthly dashboard to a client by the end of the day. I have not been able to get it done but will send it in the next two days. I have to let the client know that the work will be delayed, but want to do it without getting the ...	Be short, sweet and clear - have a new deadline, if there is a serious and unexpected issue that the client could help with - describe it, or outline a way for resolving it (for example - "it's complicated, let's book a meeting"). Use the client-preferred or most reliable/most timely communication mechanism - for examp...
How can I prevent my employer from finding my resume on job-hunting sites? Resume-posting sites like Monster.com have options to hide contact information and the name of a current employer. Even if I hide that information, someone familiar with my experience from my company would be able to identify me even with that i...	Whenever a recruiter contacts you, you simply tell them that if it is your company that you are not interested because you are looking at other options and they have no reason to tell your company because if they do, they loose a client. You want to get into the game as close to when the position became available.
Is it ever a bad idea to let a potential employer know you're talking to other potential employers? It seems like every once in a while a potential employer will get a little irritated with me when I let them know I'm talking to other people, typically because they asked or because they ask me about availability at a t...	If you are looking for a new position and you have several opportunities on your plate, be honest about that as it may cause the recruiter to "sweeten" the deal if their client is looking for someone with your experience and skill sets.
How can full-time telecommuters overcome feelings of isolation? I've been working 18 months in a telecommute position. We moved to a new part of the US that is lacking any after work activities and I left all my friends 1,500 miles away. Any ideas out there for keeping what little of my mind is left? Feeling really is...	I occasionally made a point of visiting local pubs/restaurants at the time other businesses kicked out so that I would meet people working locally. An important thing to remember is that you are working, so you need to focus.
What types of medical conditions prevent employment on a cruise ship? I am applying for a job on a cruise ship and was asked to take a medical exam as a condition of employment. What sorts of information that comes up on a medical exam would prevent the cruise company from hiring me? <Q> Just a guess <S> but I'll throw...	If you have a serious condition that can't be treated on board the ship, such that time away at sea without quick access to a hospital poses a meaningful risk to your health, it's not ideal to expose you (and as a consequence, themselves) to that. One is that you could have an alcohol problem that has caused liver dama...
Conflict of knowledge with a colleague An experienced (but in no way senior) developer has joined the same project as myself. He seems to know vastly more about the programming language we use, but on the other hand I feel I know more about our client, how to deal with clients in general, and importantly how the estab...	When your colleague needs your advice and is hopefully ready to accept/consider it, he'll approach you himself.
My job duties do not match the job title/description. How do I approach my boss about changing this? I graduated with a BS in CS in late 2013. I began working my first job as a 'programmer' almost three months ago. Since hire I have not seen or worked with code, and my impression is this won't change in the near futu...	The thing to ask for first is programming work of some sort, even if it has nothing to do with the product you're supporting. Your employer has evidently structured the role so that no programming is even remotely possible - this is a bad idea for various reasons.
Training a direct supervisor I've been asked to train my newly hired department head, and it feels a bit like being stuck between a rock and hard place. Basically I'm expected to train my direct superior, which occasionally requires me to tell him what needs to be done and worse still correct him when he has done it p...	By letting him give input into the teaching process, you let him be the boss and have a say in the flow of how he's learning things. If you don't have enumerated responsibilities that this person is supposed to be undertaking, it will be impossible to train him anyway.
Should I tell my full-time boss that I'm considering additional part-time work? I graduated 8 months ago, got hired full-time a month later under a good boss. I enjoy the work and my co-workers (the company as a whole leaves something to be desired, but that's beside the point.) I was recently contacted by a recruite...	Not telling your boss means that you are quite certain that there will be no issue at all.
Migraines/How to handle coworkers wearing strong perfume? I suffer from chronic migraines and am currently taking a prescription medication with the hope that it will help relieve them. The medication doesn't seem to be working yet, but I will not be able to take the full dosage till next week so, till then, I will not...	You should make your boss or HR aware that you have to take medication to alleviate migraines when someone wears too much scent. Of course should talk to the coworker; you can't pass him/her. Smell/Fragrance Triggers: •Implement a fragrance-free policy •Request that employees voluntarily refrain from wearing fragrances...
Mention spouse in international interviewing I've started interviewing abroad (United States so far, but applications exist for other countries as well), and I'm curious about the protocol for dealing with my common-law spouse. Should I mention her only once an offer occurs, earlier, or not at all? Cursory reading ab...	You'd have to get a marriage license. Frankly, I don't see any reason why you would NOT bring it up.
Addressing social anxiety disorder in the workplace? I am 19 and work in a large office with many coworkers. As it stands I suffer from severe social anxiety and am currently in therapy to address this. I've had to quit college twice now as I have panic attacks there and am unable to attend. My relationship with my cow...	If you need consideration for taking time to collect yourself in case of a panic attack, let them know what that entails. It's important that your boss understands your personality.
Is it a good idea to tell my colleagues that I sometimes have depressive spells? I work in a team of about 10 people, in a large office in a large organisation. I sometimes get into bad spaces, where I stop exercising, eat badly, sleeping habits get shot etc, it's a self-destructive cycle. These spells are very much ...	" My initial feeling is that the answer is no, there are sick leave days given for times when we aren't fit for work, talking about it is a bit obvious and would be weird to me personally.
How and where to show inexperience on a resume? I am currently transitioning from one field to another. Network administration to web development to be precise. While my CV will show my record in IT, I don't want to be misleading about my lack of experience in web development specifically. I thought about being very i...	Your experience in the field you're leaving, in the form of abstract things accomplished (teamwork, projects, generic improvements, etc.), leaving specifics of that field completely out.
Would it be a good idea to bring a cheatsheet to an in-person technical interview? This question got me thinking. Preventing cheating in a phone interview In IT often a technical interview will require you to write a bit of code to solve a problem, or implement an algorithm, or a question like 'What would you use XY...	That being said, I never bring a cheat sheet to an interview because I know what I am doing. The notebook should be out as part of the initial interview set-up.
Contract ending - Should I wait or should I speak up My contract as an application developer is coming to an end in a week from now. The company has expressed that they really like me and need me and they would like to convert me to a permanent employee. At some point they also expressed they are looking for a second ...	Make it clear that you are not looking to push for a decision just that the lack of response so close to your contract end date is making you anxious and that you need to start looking at alternative offers should their decision be a negative one. Simply send an e-mail to your project managers, with your manager CC'd, ...
How to gracefully decline a job interview when a family member works for the company? My wife and I recently changed towns and had to switch jobs also. I'm currently searching for a job while my wife was hired at a company and is currently undergoing her probation period. We work in the same line of business as my wi...	I'd thank whoever invited you to interview but politely explain that you'd rather not work at the same company that already employs your wife.
Liability for company development equipment I'm two months into a job as a software developer, building mobile apps. I received a new desktop a few days ago, value around US$1K. Today the company asked me to sign an 'Asset Lending Agreement' (I haven't signed yet). The agreement states that I should compensate the comp...	Very unusual in my experience, and totally unacceptable. This is a normal cost of doing business, and everyone knows it. If you cause damage accidentally, then you're not responsible and shouldn't sign any paper that says otherwise.
Looking for the first job and no experience at all. What to do? First of all, I would like to explain that I live in Brazil and English is not my main language. If you find something that doesn't make sense, or its wrong, please correct me. And our school system is different from US, UK or other places, so I will try t...	Apply for jobs using your diploma certificate as a reference. But since Brazil has a constraint that an intern should also be studying, it would be better if you start learning some technology that is trending in your area or something that you really want to see yourself specialized in.
Convincing my manager to let me work from home My manager wants to hire me for a full-time position in a big IT company. My job is mostly programming / fixing bugs / developing features.. software engineering to cut to the cheese. During the last months I noticed that this job can successfully accomplished at home by ...	Try to find out what kind of setup they have, and how it came about that they are able to work from home. I think it's important for you to maintain face to face personal contact with the people you work with/for. The company cannot protect their code, data or network if they allow your personal machine to connect dire...
Ways to encourage employees to be proactive? Unfortunately, the developing country in which I reside seems to have a culture of "follow orders unquestioningly", and I rarely see people take proactive steps to solve problems. Instead, it's common for people to simply do nothing and wait for direction if something is not...	If you are at all in a managerial position, then one thing you could do is simply to tell people to be proactive. The simplest way I feel would be to simply give people bonuses where proactive actions benefits the company. Praise can go a long way. Do some kind of team building exercise, that requires participants to t...
How to adjust to working 8 hours a day without watching the clock constantly I used to work quite hard for my master thesis and later, as a research assistant at a university. I would always finish my job on time and then go off to do something else. Now that I am working a full time job as a developer, I am having tro...	Ensure there's a system in place (software or business process) for you to receive new tasks 'on demand', as you complete work. Alternately you may want to see if you can set up a system where you can "pull" work, rather than have your manager "push" it to you. See if any of your colleagues need help. When all else fai...
(How) can freelance work count towards "years of experience" on resume, online/Linkedin profiles, etc? Although it's not mentioned explicitly on the resume, we sometimes write something like "ABC professional with N years experience" on Linkedin or other online professional profiles or career development websites - som...	Speaking as a hiring manager, "years of experience" means "years performing this task professionally (for pay or otherwise), outside of a learning environment."
What to do if a mistake happened while I am on holiday? A serious mistake happened while I am on holiday, which could have led to missing out on a major potential client for the company as a whole. I am responsible for the task, but my direct manager (who initially designed the task) agreed to handle it while I was on...	If your immediate superior (whom I presume is responsible for your day to day activities), was aware of your absence, it becomes his/her responsibility to plan for a backup in case of your absence. Address this as a problem with a solution. If you avoid pointing fingers, you stand a much better chance of keeping finger...
Is it ok to ask former colleagues for feedback after being terminated? I was recently fired from a job, and am struggling to understand why. The reasons given were unclear and contradictory, and management were defensive when I asked for detail - this was also my experience of management during the job. I'm concerned ...	If any of them hesitate to share their understanding, you may not have made them feel safe about such a conversation, and you may need to back off. The hard feelings that result from this difficult conversation may reduce the chance that your ex-coworker will recommend you for future employment at another company. In s...
Is it appropriate to cite percentages as opposed to numbers when asked about salary history? I'm eighteen years old and I'm working at my first job. I have been here for six months. Understandably, I was initially offered a "less than market value" salary due to my lack of experience/education. Well, we're now seven m...	There is very little harm in saying: After being given a 20% raise recently, I am earning X which I believe is below market value.
Is it considered a good idea to bring along a programming portfolio to an interview? Is it considered a good idea to bring along a programming portfolio of your previous work when attending a programming job interview? By portfolio I mean a collection of screenshots, brief description of the product and maybe a couple...	From the interviewer's perspective, seeing an image depicting the work can really help to quickly get an overall picture of what the interviewee is talking about. Yes, I think it's a great idea.
How to follow-up without being bothersome? Recently, I was hired to a retail position. I was told that I would be getting a call to come to the store in order to complete the rest of the paperwork. I did not receive that call. Then I was told again that I would be getting a call, I did not get any call. I then vi...	That they've already told you that you have a job, and to expect training suggests that communicating with them to clarify the organisation/details is a good idea. Find out when the assistant manager will next be at the store, and if possible, go there at the beginning of his/her shift to ask about the paperwork.
Is it possible to make leaving a PhD look good on a CV / Resume? I am in the process of leaving my PhD programme in life sciences at a top university in the UK. A PhD is simply not for me and I find the work/life balance to be intolerable; in addition, my PhD so far has included an industrial placement at a fortune 500...	Be honest and let them know why you quit. Try to leave your PhD group on the best terms possible. Academia is a little different, but in most industries, leaving a phd program would not be looked at too negatively.
What kind of email address should I use in CV? I have read "What should a professional email address look like?" . My problem is somewhat similar to this but not all. At first when I was creating my gmail username (age of 15) I got frustrated with already taken usernames and made a terrible long username like <my l...	Do not put more that 1 email address or more than 1 mobile number as it confuses the person handling it. For me, having a separate email for work / professional stuffs is important.
What factors should I consider when deciding whether to create separate StackExchange IDs for work/non-work? With StackOverflow and Careers 2.0 it's becoming easier to use the SE network as a professional profile. Yet at the same time there are more and more sites on the SE network, some of which you might not want you...	Having to always log out may be enough hassle to justify creating a work-specific account. Anything you connect with your name will affect your actual reputation. My advice, as someone who interviews software engineers (and I do check them out online), is to remain entirely anonymous for any activity that you don't wan...
How to answer questions about past bad performance at the same company in a job interview? I did an internship at department A of a company about four years ago. It lasted one month and it was horrible. I was given nothing to do and felt very out of place. As an intern, everybody was my superior, and they were very str...	In conclusion, don't lie, but don't say anything negative, especially about your coworkers at the time. Basically, keep it all very glossy and positive. Take some time to think about what you would have done differently now that you've had more experience.
How can I decline business-lunch invitations due to strict dietary restrictions? I don't eat out at restaurants, I'm a strict vegetarian, and it's part of my faith. However, recently my manager invited me and other colleagues to a lunch. I don't want to be disrespectful and say no. These are the things I can do: T...	Or if food is just going to be a difficult sticking point, you can try to swap out business lunches for after-lunch drinks or the like so that you can still have the semi-social atmosphere without the issue with food.
What are the signs that an interview went well ( or badly )? I have been attending lot of interviews recently as a new graduate. What are the signs that one can get from HRs and interviewers that the interview well ( or badly )? <Q> It is easier to tell if it went badly than if it went well. <S> The best interviews you...	The sign that it went well is when you get a call back for another interview or a job offer.
Starting a new job for only a short time My situation: I am in a position with my current job where I would like to be looking for a new job (company has bought a pre-made system to replace our main IT system, so in March my job is going to change from being a Java developer, to configuring this new system by editing x...	You might want to consider becoming an independent contractor, or using a recruiter to find a short-term job that will end at the same time as your partners. In the end if you are really confident in your skills, then you ought to believe in that and stay with current firm for the next few months enhancing your knowled...
How to overcome 'cold war' in a team? I am a software developer with 3 years of experience. I recently joined a new company as a "Software Engineer". They put me on an offshore team with 4 other developers. We don't have a Lead dev/Team lead, and report individually to the client. My management hardly knows what we do....	To be honest, if the two people competing for the same role are creating that atmosphere neither are suitable for leadership at this stage and are unlikely to be able to settle things directly if you approach them about it. Go directly to the management team and tell someone in a position of responsibility what is happ...
How to know whether reassignment to different team/project means criticism of my current performance? I work at my company since three years and have been promoted to manager of the team I started in. I have brought a lot of innovation and efficiency to the team and always received top performance reviews and was consi...	If you've done such a great job in improving your current team, there may be a perception of how great is the value you'd bring to the new team by doing the same thing over there.
Is it okay to use a template for a portfolio? I'm getting ready to start my job search for a User Experience Design or Research position. Can I use a template for my online portfolio describing my relevant research and wireframing experience? Or will I be automatically rejected for using a template for any UX design po...	Actually I'd suggest to use a simple template featuring you and your work.
if a prospective employer asks for transcripts, do you give both your bachelor's and masters? I had poor grades for my bachelor's but turned my study habits around and got serious for the masters and graduated with high honors. Now, my prospective employer asked for my transcripts, and I cringe at the idea of my bach...	In general, you need to give employers the transcripts they ask for.
Correct way to ask for better computer? I have been with my current employer for about 2 months. I am a PHP developer, although the job invariably involves some front end work as well. I feel that the computer I have been provided is not up to scratch, to the extent that it is reducing my productivity (requires restart...	Explain that you'd like to be able to use your own machine (assuming it's up to the spec you expect) on the company network, because it provides more suitable performance for the work you have to do, and it has all your tools etc.... Keep track of how often your computer is causing you to be delayed in completing your ...
How can I request to see company travel policies during an interview? I am interviewing for a position that requires weekly overnight travel. How can I ask to see a copy of the company's travel policies for employees? At my previous company we had per-diems that varied depending on the city we were in which I think m...	You should be given a copy of, or at least a chance to review all policies you will be expected to follow before accepting an offer.
Is 401(k) vesting period an acceptable (or possible) negotiation point? In American business, can the length of time before eligibility in a 401(k) matching program be negotiated? If so, is this considered to be an acceptable line of negotiation for a senior management position, or is it considered a faux pas? <Q> I'...	If it is for a larger company, the vesting period may be a company-wide policy, spelled out in company documentation and handbooks, that they can't change per-employee. If the company is motivated enough, any exception can be granted.
Submitted Rate On Contract Position My recruiter will submit my resume to a potential position with a rate to the hiring manager. If an offer is in place is it a good idea to renegotiate on the rate even though an initial rate was submitted? My hope is not to burn bridges. My goal is to find a current competitive rate...	Sure, everything is negotiable, always.
Is it best to tell your boss that you are quitting via email or in person? I have found a new position and need to let my current company know. What is the most professional way to tell your boss that you are quitting? Is it via email, in person, or something else? Is there anything I should consider when making the ...	There may be questions from your boss that are best discussed in private face to face. In person would be best as there may be changes in the terms of your departure.
How should I dress at a university job fair? I recently attended my university's job fair. While I was there I could help but notice the wide range of clothing that people were wearing. Probably about 40% of people were wearing sports coats or suits, 59% in slacks/dress shirt and the rest...well I did see a few people ...	For men, a suit is fine, as is a sport coat and nice pants, or a dress shirt and nice pants. As a software engineer from Silicon Valley, I'm going to be wearing jeans at your career fair, since that's representative of my employer and our corporate culture.
Re-applying to a company after declining a job offer A year ago I applied to a company, went through the entire interview process, and was given an offer. I tentatively accepted the offer, but then turned it down due to the possibility of my wife being relocated to another city. The same company is still expanding and...	When you applied in the first place, they saw something in you to offer you a job, If they want you and can still see that potential, they will still offer you a job. It is likely you would just need to discuss the situation that happened before and re-assess your interest now.
Informing customers about the death of an employee If you have an employee who has an impersonal, but professional relationship with some of your customers (say, an account manager or a sales representative) and the employee passes away unexpectedly, should you inform your customers that they have passed? Or should you...	If the employee in question played a major role in solving problems for your clients and has built a relationship with those clients, you'll most likely want to let everyone know in a timely manner.
When working with multiple programming languages at the same time, how do you measure experience with each technology? I am currently working with four different technologies as a programmer: Java C++ PHP Python I am not working on only one technology at a time, as I may be assigned to a PHP project while being ...	Most of the time, once you have begun to use a programming language for serious projects, then your cumulative life experience with that language starts counting from that point on. For skills, I merely listed the languages used.
How can I professionally offer to accept a previous wage after they rejected my proposed counter-offer? I was offered a job in healthcare for $X + benefits. The pay is less when compared to my current job, but I wanted to move to be closer to family. I didn't want to leave money on the table so I made a counter offer t...	Out of respect, I would not re-negotiate, especially if I heard the final tone.
Is a prospective boss with a history of quick hirings and firings a "proceed with caution" or "do not proceed"? I have been contacted about a position in which the boss hired a recent college grad at a mid-range salary, fired him as unacceptable, increased the salary a bit and hired then fired someone else, and now wan...	Be sure in the conversation that you and the job agree on whether or not this is a senior position with senior expectations and senior pay or not.

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