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How can I get my colleagues to stop interrupting me? I am the youngest and the least experienced member of my team of eight. Everyone else has at least six years' experience. I have been observing that, for a long time now, whenever I try making a point in my meetings or want to share something, my team members won't...	Do your speech again, modulate your voice, stress on the important things. Lead with the important thing, then add details, any of which can be chopped. Given that all your team-mates do this, it is likely either triggered by something you do without knowing it, or has become a cultural norm in the team.
Work involves tasks that require waiting - Am I obliged to juggle tasks to spend my time well? My job often involves tasks that puts me on hold - running 10 minute commands for searching, or restarting the server, or generally, any tasks that require me to run a single command then wait for it 10-20 minutes after to fi...	I don't think it would necessarily be bad to just wait occasionally. So, you should concentrate on the current task only.
Should you preemptively explain the reason for your short employment in the cover letter? I will start applying for jobs soon, but my experience will have a recent 3 month long work in a single company (which from what I have learned, is a general bad impression). Should I preemptively explain in my cover letter the r...	Leave it off the cover letter. Just make sure you are ready to speak to it when asked.
Are workers in Japan expected to work overtime daily? I was considering a job offer from Japan as a senior software developer when I contacted a Japanese friend of mine (a customer service agent) who warned me of few things. He told me that in Japan people are expected to work for not less than 10-12 hours daily. Your...	Like others have said I would recommend talking to your potential employer about realistic working hours but also bear in mind the following: If you work in an office with mostly Japanese people, overtime has has become an issue for two of my foreign friends living in Japan. Summary: you have nothing to do by discussin...
Job jumping has happened, how do I save face? My work history is starting to look a bit jumpy. My longest employment is less than a year and a half. I feel like I have good reason for leaving each of these jobs (see below), however it's not that obvious from my resume (first impressions). My question is, am I hurting ...	Certainly there is the possibility that your run of short jobs will hurt you in the long run.
Applying for 2 different jobs in same company? I have registered with 2 recruiting companies few months before. Now I have been called from both recruiting companies for 2 different vacancies, but same Employer. For 1 vacancy my CV has shortlisted & called next week for the interview. For other still result is pending....	If both ask you to come for an interview at the same time - that's the same as applying to two different companies and they ask you for an interview at the same time.
How do I deal with a spat between coworkers that impacts me? So, I work at a smallish company as a full-stack web developer with several other people. The guy who has worked here the longest (" Mark ") has been here for six or eight years, and developed the initial database and system to maintain information related t...	Ignore the two developers, and talk to the company stakeholders - the people who actually USE these two systems, and find out what is important to them. Firstly, refuse to come on board permanently until this particular issue is handled.
How to react to a co-worker who tries to be funny, but isn't? We have a new guy at our office who several times a day makes a funny remark or joke. Unfortunately his jokes are about as funny as small talk is interesting and I am not sure how I should react. I surely don't want to encourage him to go on with his jokes ...	I need a respectful but firm way to speak to him and ask him to change his behavior without alienating him. Give him a tip for fitting in -- think about what might be most appreciated/good in the eyes of his coworkers -- and basically be helpful to him. If he tries to make small talk like asking about your weekend, jo...
Should references in a resume be upfront, or upon request? I've read several posts here about advising NOT to put references in resume, but when I see "Furnished Upon Request" or "Available upon request", it gives my sixth sense a queasy feeling. If I was on the hiring end, I would like to see references right then an...	I would never include the contact information for my references in a resume because resumes tend to get sent all over the place and I would not want my references to be contacted unless it is by a specific company
How does one tactfully express concern over a team member's capabilities? I'm a developer and the person I'm describing has been with us for over a year as part of the Quality Assurance team. They've been trained up by a true veteran of QA and while they aren't exactly the most software literate, they're capable of pro...	If you focus on what you are trying to achieve, and try and be constructive about it (i.e. don't just bring your boss a problem, try and bring suggestions too), this is probably a good way to approach your boss.
Should I attend a job fair even if I'm not currently looking for a new job? I was recently sent an invitation to a local job fair. I am always interested to find out what companies are out there and what they are doing, so I am tempted to sign up for it. My thought is that it is good to get a sense of who I might want ...	You might see what others companies are up to, meet new people and make contacts you may need for your career in the future.
How to be successful under a very very hot tempered & impatient boss? I am incharge of a regional office and trying to set up a production unit for garments. I need more staff under me to carry out & maintain the office & production tasks. My boss is a very impatient and short tempered person. He is the direct owner ...	You should talk to your boss (when he is calm) and explain your difficulties in pulling together a good team.
Told that I qualify for a promotion, but have to wait until January for promotion schedule I had a meeting with my supervisor that I am on a "list" for January promotions. I meet all the qualifications, and do my work as if I already have this title. Other people I work with are sometimes surprised to learn that I do n...	My advice would be to stick around, work hard, and get your promotion and raise in January. I would not wait, especially if you have a competitive offer and are willing to join another company.
Intern - how to deal with situation when my current project is on hold and I do not have more tasks to do in software industry? I'm currently a software development intern, and I've been in this company for almost 2 years. I really enjoy the office atmosphere here. My supervisor gives me a lot of space and freedom in t...	This has happened to me on a couple of my past internships this is what I have done: Ask your boss Be aware of the job roles they hire for and try to learn some skills for those roles.
How to handle co-worker's leg shaking? A recently hired co-worker has the habit of almost constantly shaking their legs. My desk is located rather close to said co-worker, and the almost constant vibration is wearing on me. I have tried to separate my desk to minimize the effect, but to no avail. I am considering poli...	Other times, when I simply couldn't focus, I would politely point out to my coworker that he was shaking his leg again, at which point he would stop again (at least for a few hours, or the day). Finding ways to have very stable desks with shock absorption would be great, although I haven't seen products that do this we...
Should I include Cover Letter if not asked I am applying for a job, but they don't ask for Cover Letter. Should I include a cover letter anyway. If I was on the hiring end, I would look straight at the applicant's resume, and if I am interested, invite them for interview. <Q> I use the resume as a general purpose docum...	Unless you are applying through a forms-based website that prevents attaching a cover letter, or unless the job posting specifically mentions "no cover letters", then Yes - include a cover letter anyway . Not all positions are special snowflakes, a good part of openings can be sufficiently covered by a well-written gen...
Patent after leaving a job During my postdoc I work at a large company. This year I came up with an algorithm, and they wanted to patent it. Europe doesn't allow software patents, so they made one of these "it's a hardware device that [insert software patent here]" patents, which is essentially a software patent that ...	You've met your basic ethical duty as an inventor by disclosing to your employer this prior art you discovered.
How to effectively reject a new project assignment? My boss recently asked me to prepare for an interview that will be on a new custom software framework developed by a client. If I pass the interview, I will be deployed at the client's location. I am a project leader and am looking forward to developing my career in...	Once you know that project management is an advantage for the company as well as your personal interest, have a talk with your manager about how this job is not inline with your career goals. Try to not paint the situation as I don't want to do it , rather as a Be prepared to compromise/have an alternative recommendati...
Asking a potential employer about internet restrictions In an interview, how can I ask the question (without significant negative effects on how the interviewer views me) "Do you restrict and monitor internet access of your employees, and if so, in which ways?" The idea behind that is that the answer will give a cle...	You are most likely opening the door to a world of troubles for yourself by asking that question.
How to bring up a bad GPA in a interview Suppose in an interview somebody asks you about your undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) . If it is very low what should you say? Also suppose your graduate school GPA is very high. Could I somehow use this to answer the low undergrad GPA? <Q> You can always try: <S> I d...	I think regardless of the actual GPA score, the important thing is to provide some explanation so the interviewer can put it in the right context. Everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is to acknowledge that it happened and explain how you fixed it going forward. Usually, the grad school GPA counts for a lot mor...
How to stay in the loop when senior managers go above you in external relations? I manage the relationship with one of our key vendors e.g. an enterprise resource planning software such as SAP. As such, I initiate and look after negotiations, issues, new products, opportunities and everything surrounding our work with ...	Try to become one of the good old "boys" yourself; develop a personal strategy to become part of the ERP strategic team yourself.
How to portray responsibilities that are unusual for my title on my resume? To put it very briefly - I am a vendor relationship manager working with software/IT service providers, but our company decided that I and others like me should be heavily involved in areas of IT solutions and programming so that we are more ...	If you are applying for a more tech heavy position simply put more emphasis on the tech responsibilities you had. I agree with including it in the cover letter - but some/many recruiters don't read them (sorry but true - they are a 2nd file in our systems), so be sure to blend that information in the resume itself.
Followup after a phone interview? I had a short phone interview with the head of a small company this morning, it was more of a "see-who-this-person-is" type of call prior to meeting in person. The call ended with us agreeing to meet as early as tomorrow morning for a proper face to face interview. He said he would for...	If you are not getting a response of any kind from them as the next day progresses, forget it. If you know the time of your meeting, but not the office location, then simply check the company website for the address, or call the office, speak to someone at the front desk and get the office address that way. Remind them...
Reason for leaving question -- when there is uncertainty? I've been furloughed now for two weeks and this is until further notice. My boss has encouraged me to look elsewhere given the uncertainty. On the application, the question asks "Reason for leaving" but I'm still technically there. Do I write, "still employed,"...	You should just write "Furloughed". People answer this no when they haven't told their employer they are leaving, or they are afraid a a bad review.
Is it normal to have 4-5 hour interview for junior programmer position ? I have been to a few interviews and the max they have gone is 1.5 hours. But there is this one interview that could take 4-5 hours. I wonder why companies need to interview a junior developer for so long. I would understand if it was a senior posi...	There is a school of thought in interviewing that you don't want to have too many people in the room at the same time. I have worked for a major software company, and even college hires and other junior positions are usually whole day interviews.
Big company or small company for career growth? I did some research in this site to find something similar to my "problem" and I found relevant just this . My current situation is quite similar. I'm working in a small company ( 7 coworkers ) as software engineer since November 2013. I feel very lucky cause, living in ...	If you're in a good work environment and have the right opportunities for growth - ones that match your skills and interests, and that allow you to advance in an organization that you like - the money will come, and maybe sooner than you think.
How to create workplace refrigerator rules when rules did not previously exist? So at my office, everyone had been using the refrigerator responsibly and considerately for as long as I have been there. All of a sudden this year, at least one person has started storing raw meat in the fridge, sometimes in opened contain...	You don't necessarily have to mention specific names of people or get into specific details, but if you mention to HR that you feel there could be a food safety issue in the refrigerator, they should hopefully be able to take it from there and implement solutions to the problem, whether that be hiring someone or just s...
How do deal with a very profitable client whose project is doomed (by his own decisions) I have this client that pays me very well for working in a project that is clearly doomed. I tried to communicate my concerns in the most positive way I could, but he is unable to see the writing in the wall. I can't do more withou...	Tell your filthy-rich client why you think the project is going to fail, and have a (or some) courses of action to suggest, to keep the project from failing.
Should I continue looking for jobs despite having signed a contract? I am a new graduate in engineering. I'm based in the UK and recently applied and was accepted to a job. I've signed the contract and the job begins in a month or two. However, I've been told to apply for multiple other jobs in case the offer is rescin...	Just looking doesn't mean you're moving, or in your case not taking the job. You surely shouldn't stop looking after one offer, especially when it's as tenuous as yours seems to be.
Must I list a previous company in my resume? I was hired for reputed Company A as a fresher from campus recruitment.After five months, I was asked to resign (not terminated or fired) as I could not pass the tests they conduct during their training. Luckily I got into Company B. I chose to ignore my five months with C...	It is appropriate for you to mention company A in the resume for your future prospects as there would be a timeline gap in your resume. In the US, with the privacy laws being what they are, one of the few things a company can ask a former employer, and one of the few things they can answer, is your dates of employment....
Job offer via email, no need for signed contract? I am in the process of accepting a job offer and instead of sending out a written contract that needs to be signed, everything is done via email. Is this legally sound and normal? In the past I have always had a written letter which I signed and then mailed or faxed ba...	Nobody should ever object to your request for signed paper.
What is the best position to keep monitor? The programs work on monitors day in and day out for near untraceable period to time. What is the best position to keep the monitor? <Q> The US Government's Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) provides ergonomic recommendations for computer monitors . <S> There...	The top of the monitor should be at or slightly below eye level. If you can reach out and touch the screen without tilting/rolling forward in your chair, the monitor is too close to your face.
Is it OK to ask colleagues to leave if they're sick? I can't stand it when someone that sits near me comes in when they're sick. All day long I listen to them sniffle and cough and I just sit there and wonder how long until they pass their germs on to me and I get sick. What do I say to this person? <Q> If anything y...	Indirectly - Ask your boss to tell the coworker to go home.
should I put my work experience that is not related to software development on my resume? I graduated from a university 2 months ago with a BS in Computer Science and I made my resume for an Entry Level position in software developer. I did include other jobs I did in the past(retail). Should I include my retail jobs i...	If you are right out of school, and have little to no experience in software development, then it would be best to include your prior, non-software, full-time jobs. If you want to indicate that you acquired customer facing experience and that your learned store operations from the bottom up, then you include your retai...
Are there circumstances where a company could rescind a job even after I accept their offer letter? I had a question about not getting a job even after I sign the offer letter and the company accepts it. Let's say that I accepted the offer letter in emails and they even replied, welcoming me to the company and telling ...	I could imagine that company conditions change and they no longer need your services.
I scored low on the Technical Test, but they offered me a Job? I interviewed for a PHP Developer's position earlier in the week, my experience is in C#, so my knowledge of PHP is extremely limited. But I went for the position anyway, because if I didn't turn up I'd never have the opportunity to at least have a go at g...	They are correctly saying that in the bigger scheme of things, knowing the specific language is far, far less important than being a great worker, with a great attitude, a great work ethic, and being able to learn. I say go for it!
When are hugs acceptable in the workplace? As someone who has had a job before, particularly one in the office, it is my understand that physical touch is high risk. However per the votes on this answer it seems to be enthusiastically received from the workplace.SE community, so I was wondering what the more nuanced ...	If you want to play it safe: never initiate a hug, look around you and see how well hugs are received, and observe how an individual person goes about hugging others before you hug that person. No exchange of bodily fluids at any time, especially if you have the flu :)
When should graduates start applying for jobs? I'm a Master's student in Computer Science, hopefully graduating in October (3 months from now). I'm currently living in Ireland, and I'd like to take advantage of this opportunity to start looking for a job over here or at least have a good idea about the offers over here...	Most universities have career fairs where company recruiters come to interview students that are about to graduate.
Can/should I use a personal business card on which I may or may not put my current employer? I've recently started attended seminars and events for my career. The problem is, I don't have a business card to give or to show every time someone asks for it, because my company doesn't issue business cards to temporary empl...	Also you can have two sets of cards if you prefer (one business and one personal), but only give one of those cards to anyone you meet, otherwise they might be confused about how they should contact you.
What should I answer when an interviewer asks to say something "about yourself"? I am a software professional. I have attended many interviews , in 99.99 % of them started with a question like "Tell me about yourself" I start with my name, where I'm from, what I've studied (personal info) etc., then talk about my hob...	"Tell me about yourself" is such an open-ended question that it's a great opportunity to tell them your skills and experience and to sell yourself for the job.
Code Tests as part of the interview Recently I applied to a company that I was really excited to work for. They, like many other companies, gave me a simple take home code challenge. I made sure all my code was clean, had comments, and even included Java Documentation. When they first sent the test, I noticed a few...	Continue applying for more jobs, continue going to other interviews, and continue working on side projects that will boost your confidence.
If I want to emphasize leadership experience, is it OK to highlight jobs outside my functional area where I was a leader? I am applying for middle/senior management positions at younger companies (avg employee age 30) in a function where I am manager since only 2 years. Is it OK to give a lot of weight also to roles I ...	If you have acquired the experience, by all means, mention it.
Is it normal not know minimum pay until the end of the interview? More and more often I am being contacted on various professional social networks by HR people with mail like this: Hi (your name), I'm interested in your profile so I would like to know if you are intersted for an interview. We are (info about the com...	It's never a good idea to go to an interview without an idea of what the remuneration is - be it salary, stock, free meals, etc.
How to decline participation in team building activities I have this situation where I can't figure out what to do. Big team building event is coming up and it is happening at place where my girlfriend loves to go few times at summer time, it is really beautiful place. I asked person, who is responsible for event, if...	Explain to her that this is a company event, not a family-and-friends event, and that you need to pay attention to the team building activities for a while. If you take along your girlfriend, you will change the dynamics heavily.
Is it okay to use an office printer to print personal documents? How bad is it to print personal documents using an office printer? I would do it maybe once every six months, printing around 100 pages on average. <Q> 100 pages? <S> What, are you printing a novel? <S> Every office I've worked in has turned a blind eye...	The costs are, be honest, minimal, so there's no really good reason for the company to forbid workers to print private stuff. It's really rare that the workers will have so much stuff to print that it would generate significant costs. Ask your boss ahead of time I justify it by telling my manager how long it will take ...
What to do when my boss explicitly says he has nothing for me to do? I work in a small office (three people usually) and I am fairly new (here less than three months). In general, I have things to do or can pester my boss to either give me something to do or make the judgement call to send me home (I'm part time). On ...	Write yourself a training plan of things that could/would be useful for your role. As one of my previous bosses said to me, "Don't come to me with problems; bring me solutions." Never stop thinking and brainstorming and never think there is nothing to do.
What to do when previous boss is asking to help finishing failed project? Recently, about 2 month ago, I stopped working to this side project which was planned to launch about now, but because the Mother company stopped financing the project it closed. And few days ago the man who i was creator of this project wrote me...	Explain to him the reasons why, at this time, you can't help but if/when your circumstances change, you'd be more than willing to in the future (if this is indeed the case, which I suspect it is). Express to him how grateful you are for all he has taught you and helped you in the past.
Showing Gratitude for "Free" Carpooling in Germany I grew up in the United States and am still pretty unfamiliar with German customs and social interactions. I am currently working as an intern in a moderately large company in Germany. It's about a 40 minute commute and I usually rode together with a family member who ...	"Danke für's mitnehmen" (thanks for giving me a ride) would be appropriate and a normal saying whenever someone takes you somewhere. Don't sweat this overly. The fact that you're grateful for the efforts they've gone to could go a long way.
Is "company culture" just a set of personal preferences of leadership rather than a professionally developed institution? As a manager with some say in the boardroom, I am interested in proposing a few changes to the company culture for the benefit of the overall company performance. What is still unclear to me is whe...	In smaller organizations/startups a great deal will depend upon the founders' personal preferences and overall approach.
Handling unreasonable demands from other departments I don't want to reveal the field I'm working in, but hopefully my question will be general enough that I don't need to. I've been at my job for a couple of years now. The team I'm on has to work closely with other departments. While I love working with the people in...	The solution is to redirect EVERY SINGLE REQUEST to your closest manager and you tell the people requesting the service that nothing will be done unless directly requested by your manager.
Why is that in some companies being above-average efficient is considered "out of place" or weird? I just started working for a big, international company that has branches in every state. I am in the Italian one. It's my first job after leaving school. In the past months my job consisted of consulting on behalf of my...	It is fine to be innovative, but there is a time and a place and you need prior approval.
Customary to ask for references from new grad with no work experience? Is it customary for entry-level software engineering/tech jobs to ask recent graduate for references, even if they have no work experience? If references are required, I am assuming that academic references would then be the only option available --...	One of the things university professors do for work is answer requests for references from students, so don't be embarrassed about asking for a professor's reference. Yes, it is customary to ask for references when hiring for any full time job. When they ask for references, they should spell out who the references shou...
Should I put an internship I left unceremoniously several years ago on my resume? I'll be a freshman in college this year, and I'm looking for a computer science internship. I've had 2 CS internship experiences in the past, one this school year/summer, which was very positive, and one the summer after my freshman year,...	If you think putting an internship there would harm your chances of getting hired, then don't do it.
why do employers want you to fill out an employment app after they have your resume? Often times when I interview for a job I provide a resume and am often asked to fill out an application for employment wherein I pretty much transcribe my resume. Sometimes this only happens after I've been given an informal offer. My...	By making you fill in your info in THEIR format, they hope to bring out inconsistencies and information that you are not volunteering in your resume.
Negotiating relocation compensation after starting work I live in a major UK city, and accepted a graduate job offer from a company in a tiny town 25 miles away. As it is a graduate job, I thought relocation packages are not normally offered and didn't even ask. At the moment I am commuting by train but it costs plen...	You can ask for almost anything, as long as you ask in the right way.
Letting employee know he's too comfortable ("cavalier")? One of our more senior workers is very comfortable at work. So much so that a lot of very small mistakes are being made that when they cascade turn into pretty big issues. Other workers are starting to get a bit angry or annoyed since this one worker is causin...	Make a point of cc:'ing the manager on each of his mistakes and the impact of that mistake on your time.
How are tough introspective or behavioural type interview questions assessed? An example of a tough introspective question must be the classic "what's your greatest weakness?". Behavioural style questions can also be tough to answer: "tell me about the worst coworker you've ever had and how you dealt with him or her". ...	If you answer these questions in a way that shows the real you, the answers will be nuanced,more realistic and give the interviewer a level of comfort about what you are as a potential team member and coworker - Yes, managers are team members and coworkers, too. If you spell out traits that mirror things they value as ...
How can I make meetings more interesting? While we were presenting our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, the head of the department seemed uninterested in the details of the system. This resulted in a boring meeting and lead to the rejection of the ERP system. I believe that this is because the system seem...	The key to presenting to management is keeping it short and to the point. Make the content match the audience need oh, and ask them what they want to see For example, when presenting a new system to: devs - you might go into detail on APIs, Storage, Function calls, etc. Find out what is interesting for your manager (an...
Under what circumstances should you try to bypass a 3rd-party recruiter's rejection? I would like people to tell me under what circumstances, if ever, it can make sense to bypass a 3rd-party recruiter who has rejected you for a position and try to contact the hiring managers directly.It would be particularly relevant t...	If you go around the recruiter, you'll probably only end up annoying the hiring manager. If its your dream job then I think you should at least try. If the team is hiring again in a year, the two XYZ newbies will likely be up to speed so the team may be in a position to put less emphasis on XYZ experience and more emph...
How do people typically arrange health care coverage for the weekend between two jobs? I am not sure if this belong here or on personal finance. I am leaving my current position and starting a new position with a different employer. There is a two day gap (Saturday, Sunday) between my last day in the job and first day ...	Some employers pay premiums at the beginning of the month and you may be covered until the end of the month which would cover those days. If you're in the US, you would generally have the option of using COBRA to continue your current coverage.
What is the professional thing to do with money I found at my new desk? I moved desks and now I sit in a desk that previously belonged to a contractor. The desk had been vacant for a few months, since the previous employee was fired. While rummaging through the drawers, I found some money - about $50. Should I pre...	If I were you I would try to track down the former contractor through social networking websites, explain the situation to him/her, and offer to mail the funds to them. Tell your manager that you found money in your new desk.
What is the point of a video call interview as opposed to a telephone interview? Why is it some employers want to do video calls, such as Skype, for interviews instead of just a phone call? The only reason I can think of is so they know how you look, but what difference does that make? <Q> Lots of reasons. <S> First, t...	They want to see your body language to assess your reactions to the questions beyond just your words. On the whole, video calls provide a much better experience and clearer communication between both parties. And depending on the job, appearance might be important as you might have customer contact and they want to ens...
How to handle last minute work deadlines that I cannot meet due to personal schedules? Scenario/Background: I have two bosses, with one of whom I manage variable daily processes (priority 1), while the other one gives me longer term projects (priority 2). Due to the extreme variability of the daily processes workload,...	Your bosses have options available to them at their level such as assigning someone else, getting more people assigned to projects, de-escalating less urgent priorities. One of the only ways I've found to deal with having two masters is to make them sort out the issues between themselves.
How to handle aggressive, negative, incorrect criticism in a positive way The company i work for has a customer that we provide several software solutions for. They run various events and we provide them with an admin system for them to run their events and a windows application for them to keep track of things as they...	Being defensive is unlikely to help things at all - try to be helpful instead. Work with your boss to determine what to do next. Increase the logging and error trapping on the app, so you can get more information. When they call asking why things don't work the way they want, politely bring up the requirement from a fe...
Send resume when not fulfilling the requirements Is it ok to send a resume for a position when I have half the working experience the position requires, although I believe I could be a good fit? I understand if I don't get a call back, but would it harm any future attempts for other positions in the same company? Upda...	So, if you like the position, and are technically qualified, send a resume, follow up, and let your positive exuberance be the reason you get the job.
How to gracefully decline your own farewell party? I have quit my job due to various reasons, including office politics and overall inadequate reasons. Because of this I am not interested in having a farewell party or celebration for my leaving. How can I gracefully say "no" to this sort of event? <Q> Funerals aren'...	Therefore, you should try to contact the person who is most likely to arrange such a party beforehand, and let them know you would rather not have one at all.
Is it common for a (small) software project teamleader to receive a profit participation? I think it is necessary to explain my current situation here in general, because the context is probably important: I am the youngest (25) employee in my company (a small IT consulting company with ~15 employees). I got a bachelo...	Maybe you can convince them to sign a document with goals for your team, and depending on the results expected vs what you have achieved then you can negotiate (for you and your team) a performance bonus .
'Failed' take home coding test - should I resubmit? I was given an opportunity to apply for an internal Junior dev position within the company I am working at (they would not have considered me due to my degree otherwise) I come from a non-CS/SoftEng degree (but related) thus no exposure to C++. I 'passed' the intervi...	Either apply for roles to which you're more suited, or spend more time improving. I'm sorry to say, it sounds like you should accept this rejection. It seems that your lack of experience was the main factor, rather than the incorrect algorithm, and that won't change overnight.
I'm helping interview for a technical position for which I don't have direct experience; what to ask? My company is hiring for a technical specialty which is quite different from my own. I really can't speak to candidates' specific skills, but I can ask more general questions about preferred work environments, methods...	If you have been in the company/department for a while, you may be able to provide answers to the candidates that will show them what a great company you have and why they should want to work there. Listen to what the candidate is saying. Someone suggested that you ask the candidate to explain something about their tec...
How do I sell to the company I'm employed something I have previously made I am a software developer and as such my productive output is easily repurposed. Some background A few years ago, long before I was employed at my current job, I made a piece of software in an attempt to persuade a client to upgrade their busi...	If it makes their life easier and speeds up development, then yes, you should. Say you'd like to be compensated for it for a fair price, then negotiate.
Dressing for an interview based on who is interviewing I am currently going through the interview process with a digital agency. The role I am interviewing for is that of a Lead Developer/Analyst whose core responsibilities would be to: Represent the development team by acting as a liaison with the internal design te...	You can always relax your dress if you notice everyone else is wearing a more relaxed attire once you get the job. Some people are old fassion, if you know everything, but don't dress the part (as an interviewer), you won't get the job.
How to apologize for and address failures in areas of responsibility I have moved on from ages ago? Recently a manager at my company started uncovering some critical mistakes in projects I had supervised a very long time ago. I have since advanced in level and taken on more teams/projects in higher areas of responsibil...	Let the other manager do their job and if their manager is that good at uncovering your mistakes, have faith that they will be more than competent enough to fix them. Not sure you should apologize. What you did is done and is no longer your area is responsibility.
Should I report to HR and involve others if I am being wrongly accused of theft? Today something weird happened to me at work - I was accused of stealing a ring by my company's security personnel. Of course, I didn't do it; I even helped my colleague to try to find the ring. My question is at the end, but first I wan...	Report the matter to HR like she suggested notifying your manager. I'd do it just to make sure nothing could be used against you later.
Do employers really mean it when they say No experience? I have a 1 year cashier and customer service experience working in a coffee shop. Now I'm looking for a similar position in Tim Horton's or McDonald's. Some of the job advertisements say in the experience part: "No experience" but not "not required" afterwards, d...	"No experience [required]" and "[Experience] not required" mean what they sound like.
How to respond better to criticism or challenge? My line managers are in agreement that I present a natural flair for sales, marketing and personal relationships. I can present engagingly to an audience of 400 persons or more and I can build strong rapport with stakeholders and team members and (dare I say it) am well...	Anger and aggressiveness are valid debating strategies, but only if used very sparingly. The more you listen the better your chances of prevailing. So, one deflecting tactic is to ask for their remedy to the issue/problem/obstacle.
How to be taken seriously when presenting recommendations to senior colleagues Tl;Dr As an intern, if your recommendations are being ignored should you try a different approach or give up? If yes, what is the best approach? Context I'm an intern for the summer in a small high-tech business. It's my second internship...	It may be that people are ignoring you because "I've been doing this forever, so I must be right" or because "change is scary". No, but you're probably going to have to canvas the entire company for someone that will listen to an intern, and then canvas it again for someone who is actually will to change.
Interview: Should I admit to a typo on my resume? I realized I made a typo on my resume after submitting. Instead of writing: Engineer in Training I wrote: Engineering in Training Luckily the typo is on the second page of my resume so it may not be caught. Unfortunately, the online application process doesn't a...	It's unlikely to be noticed, and most likely isn't fatal even if caught. Don't mention anything about typos on your resume unless the interviewer brings it up first. If someone brings this up, you can immediately admit it.
Two onsite interviews, how to handle travel expenses? I have been invited for on-site interviews by two companies, A and B, in different but not too distant countries. I don't really know how to take care of the travel expenses. Should I explain to both that I will be visiting two companies and only request one way tic...	One thing you could do, is to order the tickets yourself, and have them reimburse them later.
how to deal with a colleague who doesnt tell me about my mistakes in person, but always does it in front of other people I have a colleague who has one year more experience than me and probably from other bigger companies. When she joined our team, I thought I would learn a thing or two from her. When I told her that s...	If your co-worker continues to talk behind your back, you then have a perfect opportunity to talk to her about it and say "Let's not waste time talking about it secretively, let's address it as a team. Never argue with her - ignore what she says, and if she tries to start an argument, say "I think we should take this o...
How do I put into a resume if I left/fired under probationary period I would like to know if it is a good idea to put on my résumé a job I had for two or three month and for which I was fired or resigned from during the probationary period. If so, how do you include it on your résumé or cover letter? If not, would it ...	If it was only a 2-3 month job, I wouldn't disclose it. If you choose to include the job, you'll have to disclose why you left.
What benefits do companies gain for hiring contract employees instead of hiring directly? I was told that some companies usually seek help from manpower agencies (and in particular when it comes to hiring programmers). However, I wasn't able to ask why. I also noticed in some companies that for some specific teams, th...	Additionally, hiring a contractor is safer from a given manager's perspective - if you've made a mistake and you are unhappy with them you can get rid of them easily.
Renewing contract/employment, when should you ask for a raise I'm currently working as a programming and developement coop student for a large FI in Canada. At the end of the month my contract will end and I will be 're-hired' as a part time employee while I finish my degree. When should I ask for a raise? For exam...	Further, ask your boss to suggest a percentage raise that you could request - the accent is on 'request' not 'demand' and have a fair chance that the request will be well received.
Under what circumstances is it OK to tell your colleagues where you will be going after a resignation? Is it ever a good idea to tell which company you will be moving on to? to your boss? your colleagues? Many of them will know soon via social networking (I.E. linkedin), but those aren't the ones that I would be concer...	The answer would be determined by the personalities of the people you work with and the relationship with the company you're moving to. It's pretty normal to tell the people who you're close to where you're going, one-on-one. I am of the opinion that it's always okay to ask .
How to deal with a rude and bully Boss? I work as a software engineer on contract basis for a big IT company in London. Couple of months back our team manager got changed. Our new manager is very rude and impolite. Her reputation as being obnoxious is well known within the company and I don't know why the higher manage...	You should be able to get into contact with her boss and discuss your concerns. Getting your workmates together to corroborate on these issues would also help. It would also behoove you to start making a point to communicate by email whenever possible and archiving 'over the line' conversations to a flash drive because...
Listing 'soft skills' on a resume I have been told a number of times that it is important to list some soft skills on your resume especially since, as a software developer, it is really easy to fill all the space with hard skills. While I do have soft skills I think I could list, I always feel kind of silly listing thi...	I think it is good practice to list some soft skills on your resume. So, don't put skills on there which you don't have! How about detailing a project where your leadership led to a positive outcome.
New Manager Starting - What Should Be My First Questions? I've been working in my current Company for about 5 years. Over the course of that time there has been a lot of staff turnover - including in managerial positions. There's a new manager starting soon - what questions should I ask that will: Get off to a good...	I think the best may be simply to sit down to a friendly chat with the new hire.
How to politely change what people I spend lunch break with When I started working at this company, I was told the person who normally is in my position plays cards with a certain group of people at lunch. I have been doing so for the past several months and it has become a very regular thing. For example, if one of th...	I would simply pick up other habits for lunch. If you decide you have no practical use for them professionally, and that your disgust outweighs any real benefit you could gain, then you'll need to break-up with them.
Accepting a job offer without paper documentation? (with final update) FYI: The person to whom I refer is a recent college graduate. Someone who is close to me is currently pursuing an Administrative Assistant position at an unnamed company. She had a first interview with one of the "office manager[s]" of this company...	She should talk with the manager who made the verbal offer, indicate if she tentatively accepts the offer or not, then ask for the written details.
Dealing with a noise-sensitive co-worker One guy in my office seems to be extremely noise sensitive. He is an older man and I suspect may be starting to suffer from poor hearing, which is known to make people more sensitive to general noise (it's harder for them to pick out individual sounds, and sudden noises are more...	I would talk to your manager and explain him that loss of hearing needs to be caught early and counteracted with a hearing aid.
Cannot enjoy working for any company Basically, I am a developer with 5 years experience, and I am 25 yo, I have worked for a big companies and for a small company. When I am at home I use to work on personal projects. The thing is no matter what kind of company, salary, etc., after let's say 6-8 months, I lose all my ...	The difference between a professional and an amateur is that the professional gets the job done no matter how bad their morale is, and the amateur quits as soon as the passion is gone. Once you know how you would like things to change, work out how you can begin to affect that change: see if you can propose a useful ne...
Is it professional to take a job offer with a competitor after receiving a promotion and a bonus? I have been working at the same company for the last two years, and although I have generally enjoyed it, I feel that I need a new challenge. Since I was recently promoted and given a bonus for my performance, and as the c...	Unless both you and they believed that this promotion+bonus was designed to keep you around for a long time, the answer is probably "No." You didn't ask, but I'll point out, that my experience in different lines of business is that competitors in a locality often optimize for the same basic outcome, which makes the wor...
Colleague not working the hours he's scheduled I work in end user support at a very small company (less than 10 people). We have 1 supervisor for everyone, who is also the owner of the startup. Another end user support agent is scheduled to come in from 8:30-5:00, but always comes in at 10:00am and often leaves at 5:0...	He is showing disdain and disrespect for the efforts and the priorities of the team, the firm and the firm's clients.
Is it ethical to run benchmarks on the clock? In the spirit of these questions : I work as a research assistant on a few projects for PhD candidates at my school. One of the projects involves optimizing a piece of code that does some of their analysis. I record my hours and get paid a wage on completion of the pro...	It's work no matter how you look at it.
How can I deal with senior colleagues constantly getting my name wrong? I work in the UK and I have a fairly normal "British" name. Having worked in my company for three years with my name plastered all around my desk, my person and my email, some senior colleagues still don't get my name right. This has led to serious...	If the error is made in person, speak up right away. Please do your best to get my name right from now on. You might even go for the over-the-top humorous approach, and wear a large tag for a few days saying "Hello, my name is Jane Doe. I would forward the client's e-mail that requests Jill Bloggs to the person who sen...
Smoking with the front door open I work in a relatively small office. It's got a main room which has the call center, and a bunch of little offices with their own doors, and I have one of the little offices. The front door to the office is in the call center room. All of the call center employee's smoke, while myself,...	Your smoker pals are in violation of the state law just referred to, and the law requires your boss to enforce the "no smoking" provision. Then you can start asking from people who are closer to you in the workplace I still wouldn't go 'snitch' to the boss, first thing. This would alert the smokers that the phone is ri...
Advancing to a senior position in my software career This is admittedly a pretty short post asking a pretty big question. I'd be willing to provide some details if that would help to stimulate some discussion, but hopefully the following can at least get things started. I am experiencing a "career midlife crisis" in t...	I would focus on building a rock solid résumé that highlights your experience as a senior developer.
What is a professional way to stay in touch? I am just about to finish an under graduate work placement that I have been on for the last few months. During my time I have been working on a project with someone as a supervisor (he was not my line manager though) who is quite high up. It is a large company (about 1,500 e...	You can also check (ask) in what LinkedIn groups he is active and join those as well.
Is it bad to offer alternative solutions without recommending them? Sometimes in a meeting where a problem is being discussed I'll say something like "Perhaps we should consider frobnigating the widgetron instead of hexterpating the frampilator. I'm not saying that's the right solution, just throwing it out there for...	If you think your suggestions might be viable, but you need the group's input to reach your recommendation, then your approach is reasonable.
Are verifiable MOOC program's of study recognised by employers? I've recently started a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) specialisation track with coursera. This is related to building upon my existing skills to take me to another performance level. I'm already a qualified professional at masters level but this stud...	I suspect there are employers who value verified MOOC-acquired knowledge, although I don't know of any.
How do I advise my boss about my colleague's work, which I don't believe is useful for the company I work at a small startup company, comprised of mostly technical people. Our company is currently undergoing a tough time (we just had to lay off 3 people) and we're under a lot of pressure to finish off our product and s...	If you think that your boss is unaware that there is a lot of work to do, by all means bring that up to him. Don't talk about who you feel is redundant - that's not your job. ; Your colleague is obviously not doing the same type of work that you do, but then he was most likely not hired to do the same work as you.

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