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Should I clean my PC before leaving? As a programmer, I have a work PC. For some reason I make a lot of things that require my personal account (eg. Google, etc). On my PC there are also a lot of things that are useful for me, but may be rubbish to someone else (like job related personal notes and configurations). Shou...	Personal things (files, images, etc) should not be stored on your computer so you should clean that part As for job-related stuff like SQL queries, if you have good relations with your still-current employer, it would be a good idea to keep them, because they may be useful after you leave, and it would be nice to infor...
Doing an internship after a job How an employer is going to see an internship after few years of stable jobs? Is it going to be seen as a downgrade or just as an additional experience? I'm a full-time worker and in the meanwhile, I'm finishing my MSc. I've seen a really interesting internship with an important compa...	The way you shape your narrative about your internship experience is most likely how your prospective employer will see it, because as far as your prospective employer is concerned, it's the path of least resistance and the easiest way out for them to depend on your narrative for what you experienced and learned.
Put in my two weeks or wait? I recently accepted a job offer which was contingent on a background check, which has finished and came back fine. So now I have to wait on "new hire paperwork." Would this be an ideal time to put in my two weeks or should I wait for the paperwork? I haven't been given an official start da...	Do not leave anything to chance unless you truly have the extra cash to afford a mistake. A few more days are not going to change anything and it will help you sleep at night.
Should one ever admit to being overloaded? My manager is taking on a lot on my teams' behalf and I suppose I have the classic 'I don't want to admit to being overloaded in the fear of being seen as unwilling to do the work or worse, incapable of managing given workloads' syndrome. (I may have just made that syndrome up...	If your manager is constructive, he will work with your team to set achievable deadlines and reallocate priorities so that the critical stuff has a chance to get done and if possible, throw in a few more people into the projects.
When do I apply for a job during my last year of college? (Computer Science Major) I am currently attending a 4-year university in Southern California. This next year will be my final year (Computer Science major). When is the best time to start applying for jobs? Some details: I am looking for a full-time position ...	You can certainly apply sooner, but job fair time is a clear cut time to apply for jobs.
Dealing with noisy neighbors (who don't work for our company)? I work for a small group that rents a few offices from one of those companies that rents out a floor in an office building and then sublets individual rooms. Our group is part of a larger company based in another city. Some of the other renters (our group...	Go to the person who owns the company and detail out that you have tried to ask them to be quiet. Trying to change the behavior of people who don't work for the same company that you work for could get very bad.
How can I get hiring managers to take cost of living into account when they ask for my current salary? I am working in my home town, which is a small city as a developer, and say that my current salary is around $2000. I was applying in the capital for the same position, but this time I am asking for $6000. The reactio...	If for some reason you're determined to tell them your current salary, then the key word you want to focus on is "lifestyle". You need to explain to them the following: To continue living the same lifestyle in the new area as you were afforded in the old area, you would need a salary of $X.
Catch-22? Need evidence of employment from current employer for visa to attend job interviews I have been on phone interviews with a major tech company - an offer would be a significant improvement, both in opportunity for self-improvement, to make a difference, as well as in monetary compensation. Meanwhile, there ar...	You need to ask what your potential employer's process is for setting up Visas.
Is it alright to quit right before a business trip? Several weeks ago, the small company I work for (about 30 people) declared that there would be an "all hands meeting" for all employees worldwide. However, I have recently gotten a job offer that I have decided to accept. I would like to give my two weeks notice, whic...	Tell management, apologise, make clear that you did intend to go before you got an offer you really couldn't pass up.
Which name should I use on an application form when applying for a job during gender transition? I am a person who starting gender transition which includes looking for a job where I will be able to interview and work as my correct gender. I have not yet legally changed my name; I won't be able to do that for at least ...	You should fill in the "Name" field with your current legal name.
Is it unprofessional to listen to music while at work? Even with headphones on with the volume on low, would this still be considered rude or unprofessional? I'd like to listen to music to help me get through my work but don't want to get told off for it. My office can be fairly noisy but on other occasions it's quiet...	Don't walk-around the office with your headphones in jamming-out,people will think you look like a douche . It depends on your position.
How to politely bring up that I need more work I am working a salaried position at a small software firm. Currently I am on a team that is working on a large program that is broken down into small features, which our project lead will assign to one of us to do. Lately I have been running into the problem consistently ...	If there's nothing more in your task to do, maybe ask around to see if anyone in your team needs help with unit testing or peer reviewing.
How to explain to employer that I don't owe him anything due to (lack of) company policy? Follow-up question to: Resignation letter: general tips and what to do if boss is not on site? and Put in my two weeks or wait? . [I would suggest reading these to understand the background.] Yes, I was patient and waited for ...	Don't say anything about you not owing him anything, unless you expect an outcome that's more positive than a verbal fist fight from saying that you don't owe him anything. If you have to say something, say it quick, say it clean, don't start anything and get out of there. You can say "I am very grateful for everything...
What to list under a job where I achieved nothing (and the business went bust)? I spent about one year - my first job out of college - at a quasi-startup company, which went bust soon after I left. I believe my contributions were negligible and had no major influence on the company's success. I worked on the bare mini...	Instead of looking what you have achieved for the company, you can explain what you've learned from that period. If you're in the situation where you really can't brag about any actual accomplishments, then sadly, you're going to need to just relate a bland list of duties that your job involved. Any experience in corpo...
Asked to use CCTV to check fellow employee's hours I am the only employee with access to the CCTV system but I have never been certified in CCTV operation and we do not have a CCTV policy. I inherited it as I am the IT Systems Administrator. HR have asked me to confirm if an employee was at their station as their over...	You have no way of knowing whether the ask is legal and whether your employer has followed all the legal requirements for doing so.
Does lacking social media (facebook, twitter, etc) look bad to hiring managers? Years ago I made a decision to stay off of Myspace. Fast forward several years and I've applied that same decision to Xanga, LiveJournal, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and (as much as I can while still owning an android phone) Goo...	Some small companies are so extremely social media friendly that they will likely have trouble communicating with you if you're not there. Some jobs will be just as happy that you ardently maintain your privacy. There are some recruiting sites that are evaluating software developers based on their online presence (blog...
As a contractor, are on-site perks for you? I was hired as a contractor by my former employer almost immediatly after my resignation. I worked from home as much as I could, but they preferred that I worked on-site. The company in question has some office perks. Mainly, there's a food buffet at noon every day which is ...	Unless someone specifically indicates that you have not access to those perks, and subject to any provisions in your contracting agreement, I would take advantage of them.
How should I approach my manager that I want to move to another team inside the same company? I joined my current company a year and a half ago and I've had the same manager since then. My manager has been stressing out in our one-to-one meetings that I am not performing adequately, even though both my team colleagues ...	Assuming you have Manager A blessing, contact Manager B and tell him that he can initiate the transfer.
Being a freelancer in an office I've always thought a freelancer had the right to choose when ever to work, where to work and how long to work for, as long as deadlines are met. Or so I thought. Recently, I've noticed a trend at offices I've worked (I've been working in office for freelancing roles as a UX Designer). P...	Sit down with your manager and let him know that as a freelance, you don't just work for them (if that's true) but you want to make sure that you are working well for them. If you want to be the type of "freelancer" that can choose when ever to work, where to work and how long to work for, as long as deadlines are met,...
How can I handle a situation where my manager is verbally abusing someone else? We are a small team who performs software development and support services for other teams within the organization. My manager is the leader of this team. One of our "clients", another team lead in the organization, was in a meeting with my...	Unless you are in HR, or you are the Manager of one of the participants, or there is obvious imminent physical violence about to take place, then stay out of the fray. Jumping in to attempt to defuse the situation has several perils: You aren't the manager of either party, so it's not really your role to play the go-be...
Negative reference from former employer I resigned without notice from a job of 10 months recently due to questionable billing practices through Medicare for services not rendered. They were suddenly under investigation by the OIG/FBI and I was concerned for my professional license. I even put in a deposition as a witn...	This is unlikely to be the result of anything relating to your prior job - they simply wouldn't have hired you if it was.
If a potential employer's name is unisex, should I guess a title (Mr./Ms.) or use their first name? A while back it was asked if a title (e.g. Mr./Ms.) should be used when e-mailing a prospective employer . The accepted answer stated that, at least in the United States, it's best to err on the side of conservatism a...	Familiarity (use of first name) is a courtesy extended once mutual respect has been established. The best approach is to not risk offending the person.
Being a college dropout how can I explain my two internship to HR? I dropped out of college earlier in my first semester. I later applied to a internship using that college ID card which I successfully completed. This year I again enrolled in a cheap course to get a college ID card (legally). I am planning to get some ...	List the internships on your CV like you would any other job, truthfully listing the correct job title.
Company is going to relocate and my commute will double Even more than double taking into account very busy highway near a big city. I'm considering to resign, but I don't want to find myself without unemployment insurance. However I'm not sure about resigning yet - may be the commute won't be that bad. So, what are m...	Often you can get out of a lease if your workplace has moved. Another option, depending on your position, could be to ask to be allowed to work from home all the time or even one-two days a week.
What tense should I use for current job duties on my resume? I am searching for a more stable job but I have not left my current position yet. In my resume, I have listed duties in my former jobs in past tense, but that seems awkward for things I am currently doing. However, I'm concerned that it looks non-standard if ...	If you're citing things you have accomplished, that would be past tense.
How to convert to a work-from-home position I've been at my current employer for just about 2 weeks shy of 1 year. At first, I was in the office 5 days per week but as winter rolled around many of us started working from home with the bad weather. Spring and summer came and most of us kept with the new-found perk of wo...	Talk to your boss and listen carefully to his concerns or what he thinks his supervisor's/company's concerns may be. Having already worked remotely 3-4 days per week gives you a demonstrable remote work history to help your manager decide.
Removing smell of paint in the office My room at work is currently being redecorated (repainted, new carpet and desks). We are about to move back in and the place stinks of paint. How can I get rid of the smell, are there any office plants that could help remove the smell faster? I'm in the UK if that helps. <Q> The p...	Apart from that, placing glasses of vinegar will also help dissipate the smell, provided you don't mind the smell of vinegar... And get some plants to cheer up your employees :-)
Cleaning lady may have taken fruit from my work desk Yesterday in my office was weekly fruit day. As always, I took a few, and did not eat them all. I left two on my work table. The fruit were in perfectly good condition, and I have done this more than a few times. Today I came to work and realised that the fruit was ...	That said, I don't think it warrants a phone call to her boss at this stage, simply, tape a note on the desk stating that any fruit on the desk will be consumed at some point and should not be tossed in the trash.
Should I explain that I am quitting because of another coworker? I work for a very small startup software company. Just over a year ago, a close friend of mine joined our team. At the time I was very enthusiastic about working with them, but now after getting to know them in a professional capacity I have learned that ...	You need to make it clear to the manager, that you do not want to have to do this person's work and/or fix their problems. Let him know you can't keep this up.
Following up with references after an interview Before a recent interview, I asked a few former colleagues if they would be willing to be a reference for me. The interviewer hadn't requested me to bring them, but I thought it would be good to be prepared. The interview went well, and I was never asked for references so...	You can continue to use a person as a reference until such time they are no longer relevant or they explicitly ask you not to. If you are pursuing several jobs you should probably call the reference just once and let them know they might get a call or two, and what sort of job you're pursuing.
Giving employer extra notice - Am I entitled to severance if they ask me to leave on the spot? I've been working with the same technology company for a half-decade now. I have developed some solid contacts and professional relationships with my colleagues, and get along with the whole of the office. This office is base...	They can ask you to leave immediately, and send you the two weeks pay owed. It depends on your local labour laws and your current contract. Unless you have only been working there a year or so, the severance would be at least several weeks, so that's pretty much never worth it, even ignoring the fact that firing employ...
I have a software engineering job interview but no related work experience I have a entry level software engineering job interview this Friday but no related work experience to mention on my resume . The interviewer(s) sent me two forms for me to fill out and there is a section on the form where I need to fill in so...	If you're interviewing for an entry level job, right out of school, they don't expect you to have a significant amount of work experience in this field. So I would put down your programming experience with some detail so they can use it to probe you on exactly how knowledgeable you are on a subject.
Enforcability of Non-Compete Agreements In Another Country I currently work for a somewhat large technology company in Canada. As part of the documents required before I started with them, I had to sign a very broad non-compete agreement. It basically says I will not work, within one year of leaving the company, for an...	There might be a US law that forbids foreign countries from stopping you taking a job in the USA. With two countries: There may be Canadian laws that make it illegal to force you to stay in Canada. You need to discuss this with legal counsel.
Recruiters are very strongly encouraging me to be a full time employee instead of a contractor. What is their motivation? I've been working with some 3rd party recruiters to find my next job. Originally, they were looking for full time positions for me. But in the process of my job search I decided I'd like to try to...	Personally, I would think it is more difficult for those working full-time to switch to being a consultant/contractor than the other way around. Personally, I would look into doing what's right/best for you, and not what's the 'best' for the company!
How would applying for a scholarship sponsored by employer affect my employer's perception of me? I am a second year masters student in Computer Science. I also work for a software development company which sponsors a scholarship that I want to apply to. I was concerned about the ethical aspect of applying to this sch...	Any CEO worth his salt will recognize that a skilled employee can potentially equate to more profits for the company, so you may find that they're all for you applying for the scholarship.
My boss's behaviour seems unethical and possibly illegal. What should I do? I'm a web designer and I've been working at my current company now for about 6/7 months and I've witnessed many questionable things. Some of which I know are against the law but some of which I really don't know. I think I'll start with the li...	With respect to recent development in this particular case (leaving the job without notice and subsequently facing legal issues), one thing should be said: run for your life after all legal obligations on your side have been fulfilled.
I finish the project too early, what should I do now? I have been given a project deadline with a total duration of 1 month, but I finish the project for just 2 weeks. Now, what should I do? Past Experiences: What I experienced before when I chose to tell it to my boss is he wants me to do jobs that are not related to...	So go to your manager and tell him you finished the project and are available for new tasks.
How to explain to "clients" of a free service that they should adjust their expectations since its free? I work at / co-founded a non profit organization that provides a free service pro bono (something like free lessons/consultations, often in groups). Obviously, since it is free, there are aspects to it that make th...	Simply remind them that the service is free to them and is provided by a non-profit organisation that is doing the best it can with the resources it has.
Should I add my photo to CV if I get benefit from it? I think everyone will agree with this statement: "A picture is worth a thousand words". It should also be applied to CV too. Searching on the internet, I find many advices tell me to avoid this, most of them are opinions. I don't understand this. The only one articl...	So if you are not model-beautifiul, it doesn't work in your favor to have a picture. By having a picture, you can show all the things you didn't mention, and allow the potential employer to rule you out without actually talking to you. It is true there are some jobs where a photo would be expected.
How to present a job where the company was bought out while you worked there? I'm working on updating my resume and came across this issue. The company I work at was bought out almost a year ago, while I continued working there during that time. To further clarify, timeline would be something like: 1 year at Compan...	So in short: Former company name in brackets behind the current company name. If your role or responsibilities significantly changed between these companies then possibly they should be listed separately or explain the situation in your cover lever if it relates to the position you are applying to.
Is there a conflict of interest if a close relative works at a competing company to the one I am applying for? I am applying for an internship in a tech-related field. I am applying to Company X, and hopefully will get an internship. One of my parents though works for Company Y, a direct rival to Company X. I am hop...	Ask HR after the interview if they have any conflict of interest rules that apply to interns. There is a customer relationship between the two corporations and you or the relative would benefit from a strengthening of that relationship.
Do internship and part time counts when company says certain number of yrs of experience requirments? I have total of about 2 years of internship and part time job experience. Do these count when companies require a certain number of years of experiences? Also would I still count as entry level or experienced? Thank yo...	If you've done things as part of a job in a relevant work environment, then yes I would say that counts as experience.
Should a software company's "scotch menu" be a red flag to not apply? I've been a big fan of a software company for a couple years now - I've bought their tools, brought them to my employers, developed a couple plug-ins, and recommend them when I can. Recently, I met one of this company's devs at a conference, and she...	Expectations are the same as they would be at a work party; that you don't drink to excess. Only you can decide whether or not you would ultimately be able to fit in.
Can it be seen as unprofessional to have an avatar as your LinkedIn profile picture? I have created an identity of myself on the internet, with the following image: I'm using this image on almost every site I use: Twitter, Gravatar, Stack Overflow, blog, ... My question is the following: As a CS engineer, can this i...	A unique avatar servers as a form of signature and helps link your different sites together.
How a manager should correct himself How should manager a correct himself after giving a wrong advice to a team member, in order to avoid possible loss of trust and confidence in front of the team? And in this particular context, the mistake happened in the first day as a manager of the team and there were just two o...	The next step is to admit it to the people affected by the error and to take corrective action.
How do I highlight my portfolio when applying to jobs that just ask for cover letter and CV? Stack Overflow careers for example, has a form for the cover letter and a place to upload my resume. Lots of other job aggregators are the same. I've spent a lot of time developing my portfolio and I feel it's the best and qui...	You may have links to demonstrate your accomplishment as well or a link to your personal website presenting your portfolio.
Are salary and benefits usually balanced? I am a contract employee for a multinational manufacturer. I have been here for just over 6 months and have a review scheduled with my supervisor next week. I am trying to work towards a permanent position. When I was hired on contract I didn't get any benefits but my salary...	What you need to do is consider the total salary you were getting paid vs the new salary + value of the benefits and where you land.
Should a CV/resume be customised or just the cover letter? Since a cover letter will already include the highlights of the CV that are relevant to that particular company and job advert, is it necessary to tweak the CV as well? <Q> Ideally, yes, you would customize the resume for each position so that it emphasizes the...	If you're doing it right, that sort of customization can make it more likely that your resume stands out from the crush of resumes the company is reviewing.
Employer won't accept resignation, demanding that I finish projects outside my duties Question: What are the things that I could do if my current employer does not accept my resignation, simply because he wants me to finish the job which I don't think is really my job? Background: Before I decided to resign to this ...	Simply find another job and give the customary amount of notice (2 weeks here in the US).
Dealing with a senior colleague not pulling his weight I'm fresh out of college working in an IT company. I'm really enjoying myself and am working on a small project with 5 others. However one of the other developers (all senior to me) is really bad at his work, unfocused and does not perform. I know it's really not...	Be constructive too, so the underperforming employee can learn how to better improve their performance.
Is mentioning having a disorder in a cover letter a bad idea? I am currently a university student applying to companies for internships. In my first two years at university, I was experiencing symptoms of an autoimmune disorder that went misdiagnosed as something completely different (I was receiving incorrect treatmen...	I see no point in telling it during your interview. Saying that you have a disorder early during your interview can make your interviewer turn off. However, at the same time I am worried some companies might see a chronic disorder as a negative thing.
Accepted offer at Job A, now got e-mail back from job B I'm in a [potential] pickle here and perhaps SE can give me some good advice on this. These are both IT related jobs. Ok ~ 1.5 months ago I interviewed at company B which was for a remote position. We had several interviews (on video chat) over the course of a ...	Just make sure that whatever happens, you'll at least have the job at A which in the end you were willing to take. So I'd suggest to inform B about the situation, that you have verbally accepted an offer at A, that you would prefer starting at B, but a decision has to be made quickly for obvious reasons. What you need ...
Very wary boss keeps the team away from empowerment, how to deal with it? Brief description of me I am in the electronics department of a medium sized engineering business, among my other five co-workers. I've been working for 4 years here in the same position, but the mileage in the team is 8 years average, with no p...	You are in a no-win situation, if your goal is to change his ways: your boss's approach works just too well for him, so he's got no incentive to change. Also it sounds like he might have autism/aspergers and is just not realizing that it comes over rude, so try talking to him and explaining that it is in everyones inte...
How to handle interruptions/distractions by colleagues at work? I work in an organization where my job is usually a Desk job. Many a times when I am busy, some of my team members seeks for some help related to work. Being a professional, I always leave my work/task in-between and at once look into their queries. Somet...	If the time commitment for the interrupting task is essential and it could affect my deadline, I'll tell them that I have to clear their request with the person who gave me the deadline and the priority for the Task A that I am working on There are other people who would find it very rude to interrupt a colleague, and ...
How to offer a good apology This morning I ended up missing a teleconference that I regularly host with two peers on another continent. I was doing research and lost track of time. I rely heavily on my Outlook notifications but I turned them off at some point for this series of occurences. Regardless of the reason t...	Your apology needs a little work.
5 - 10 minutes spent on a "safety topic" before every meeting My company recently started requiring this 5 - 10 minute "safety topic" be performed by an employee before every meeting. It is presented as a way of making our workplace safer. In reality, they are probably getting an insurance price break by doing it. Aft...	If you are out of ideas for workplace safety, maybe look at general life safety like "the importance of carefully using knives", "how and why to inspect a ladder before use", or "call the utility company before you dig".
Dealing with attire mishaps mid-day Let's say a few minutes before a meeting, you spill coffee on your shirt -- or worse, catsup. In addition to staining, dampness itself can be an issue; even if I only spill water, there's a huge discolored spot until it dries. What's the best way to recover rapidly so you don't loo...	There are also stain remover sticks that you can keep in your desk. If you spill something on the shirt, you can button the outer layer. If you're a mature adult, it should be very infrequent, but if it's not characteristic of you, your coworkers will forgive the faux pas. Carefully blot it up, don't press the mess int...
How to address a Dr. who I just met, when others address them by first name? I made a new connection for a potential job offer, and let's say is name is Dr. John Smith (he has a PhD). He refers to himself, and others refer to him, as "Dr. John Smith" on his website, blog, and LinkedIn. I made the connection through his...	It's not going to kill you to address him as "Dr. John Smith" until he tells you how he wants you to address him. As long as your initial impression is to show them respect, I wouldn't believe they'd look down on you by including or excluding the first name.
When (if ever) in the interview process is it appropriate to recommend a colleague? I am early in the interview process with a company, which is hiring for multiple roles. I suggested one role (not the same one I am interviewing for) to a former colleague of mine as I thought he would be a good fit and I know he is l...	I'd say that your colleague should initiate contact with the company on his own, and mention in his cover letter that he is interested in applying because you are saying some nice things about the company, from your good experience of interviewing with the company.
Boss angry about having to review my tickets with me, but doesn't let me communicate in tickets; what to do? We use ticketing software at work to track tasks that need to be completed. My old boss allowed me to enter updates to tickets before they were closed, so that he/she could review my progress on various tick...	Shim the workflow and the ticket tracking system to meet your needs There may be legitimate business reasons why this is discouraged, particularly if it involves notifying third parties of information that they shouldn't have (such as clients finding out confidential information).
How to put something on your resume that is hobby-like but is incredibly relevant to positions you're applying for? I saw this question ( How should I show relevant volunteer work on a resume? ) which answers half of my question, but not the other half. I'm a programmer that does some open source work (above), but als...	Time spent would amount to experience and you should write it up like a part time work experience and list out your milestones and accomplishments in knowledge as they progress. Hobbies with rare exceptions should not go resumes (in my own opinion).
Prospective employer requests references specifically from current/past managers So I've been fairly passive about job seeking, but recently a recruiter from a company contacted me. Thus far I'm 3 or 4 interviews into the process and I would accept an offer from this company if it was offered and I think I'm 1 more int...	Talk to the potential employer.
How to justify switching research disciplines after Ph.D for a fresh recruit? Consider engineering disciplines A and B. Assume that the mathematical skills required for A and B are same. Let us say I am a fresh Ph.D pass out in A and say I did a reasonable one compared to the standards. My experience in B is limited to...	They're more likely to be interested, and to make you an interesting offer, if you can explain how you intend to bring your knowledge of A into B's field and develop something new from the combination.
Can your Stack Overflow Careers profile be used as an official resume? Like the title says, can your Stack Overflow Careers profile be used as an official resume? Is it professional? <Q> can your Stack Overflow Careers profile be used as an official resume? <S> Yes you can. <S> You can choose to use anything you li...	The question isn't whether it's "official", it's whether potential employers will accept it.
Demonstrating working to a high level with minimal supervision Some job ads ask for something like "Undertake main duties to a high level with minimal supervision". How do I address this in a letter addressing selection criteria? I can describe that I receive minimal supervision, by indicating that my meetings are not...	Most interviewers are able to get a fair idea for themselves of the level of supervision I require for the positions I apply for from my work experience, skills set and how I come across at interviews.
speculating on applicant's national origin and gender I have noticed colleagues, when reviewing applicant resumes together, sometimes speculate on the national origin and gender of the applicant (usually based on their name). This seems to be harmless curiosity and does not seem to be affecting hiring decisions, but I...	The North American perspective would be that nationality/ethnicity is completely out of bounds in the hiring process and this would be a very touchy subject.
Would it be ok to ask supervisor to help micromanage me? I am currently working as a research assistant in a lab. In my previous work and academic experiences (along with consulting a psychologist), I basically learned that I am most productive when I have accountability, deadlines, and consequences for not meeting de...	"Micromanaged" has certain negative connotations[1], so I would not ask for that per se. Instead of asking someone to manage, or micromanage you, you can list tasks and have goals to complete them at a certain time. I would stress that you want to make sure that you're working on the right things to achieve the project...
Asking my manager why I was not promoted I have been working with a IT company for 3 years with the same title and salary. This year I was supposed to get a promotion but it did not happen. How can I ask my manager for the reason behind it? <Q> This year I was supposed to get a promotion <S> but it did not happen. ...	Try to get your manager to set a time to review your progress on the things needed to get promoted. If something in the business environment has changed such that your promotion is no longer viable, then you might need to resign yourself to the fact that you won't be promoted.
I quit my job and now my boss is threatening me with court (UK) So I left my job on friday. I did so after a lot of thinking and basically I wasn't happy with the working environment and the ethical manner things were being done . I didn't give a notice, I simply just wrote a two page letter detailing why I was leavi...	If you haven't signed any contract then (as I understand it) there may be a de facto contract of some sort between you and the employer, and it may be your employer is in breach of it due to some of the other problems you've described which might let you off the hook in respect of any breaches you could be accused of, ...
What can I do when another employee is sick? I am in the situation where I am sitting at a cluster of desks. My fellow employee opposite me is sick as a dog (coughing, sneezing and wiping his nose on his hand.) For some reason he never takes his sick leave. I really don't want to catch a cold/flu and I find it terri...	Your argument should be that it's better for the firm that the boss send that employee home with instructions to take an appointment with a medical provider than to have a situation where several employees will be calling in sick over the next few days.
Politics - Employer put a sign up in our yard for someone I don't support I work at a small office with about half a dozen people. My employer just put a sign in the yard supporting someone running for City Council. I don't support this person and don't like that the sign is there. I'm thinking about mentioning this t...	If it's not really that important to you (and that's the way it seems based on what you wrote), you are probably best off by just ignoring it. If the yard is the employer's and there are no city ordinances or lease rules against this then your only real avenue for any change is through your boss.
Is it appropriate to ask for internal interview tips? I've been working at my current job for 6 months. I was hired on as one of three temps to work through the rest of the year. However management has decided to open up a full-time position that I plan on applying for. I have a pretty good idea of who will be on the...	Some companies even give you documents on how to prepare for their interviews, because they would like to interview the candidates who are best prepared. You should not be giving them instruction on what is and isn't fair.
Does it look bad to quit a job after a month? Suppose a person has accepted a job offer thinking that the work would be closely related to what he wanted to do. Instead it is a dull boring job. If he gets another job offer in a field that is closely related to his background, does it look bad for him to quit his curren...	If you have a history of short term jobs it is more of a concern than a single short term job, but that single short term job will draw attention.
Email etiquette, is it appropriate to bold my questions? When I write emails I try to keep them as short as possible. Having said this, to prevent a protracted back and forth exchange I still think it is important to give all relevant context. In some cases I break my email into short sections with headings, however ge...	In a general case, when you are sending an email and you are segmenting and bolding some parts of it means that you have taken much care when writing the mail. In general communication mails where the politeness of the sender is disregarded the preferred way is bolding and segmenting. A lot of people equate bold text w...
Are plain or attention grabbing résumés more effective? Here are some example résumés. Example 1 , most attention grabbing. Example 2 , styled but subtle. Example 3 , most standard. Is a plain or "attention grabbing" resume more effective? Or perhaps in between? <Q> on average which of these two LaTeX Résumés i...	In my experience, you are far more likely to put off a reader by unusual formatting choices for your resume than you are likely to gain.
Can boss introduce company handbook and make employees sign? I have a contract with the company i work for and have been with them five years. Recently the boss wrote a company handbook, many of the points in it I have to disagree with - they also contradict my contract. Do I have to sign? <Q> You clarified further tha...	You should make your boss aware - if possible, before you sign anything at all - that specific passages in the handbook are in contradiction with various terms of your contract, and let's hear what he says about how he intends to resolve or reconcile the discrepancies
startup etiquette: employee and supervisor meeting without me I am the cofounder / CTO of a very small startup, ~4 people. We recently had to let go 2 people for differing reasons. As a result, we moved one engineer from working mostly on metrics to work on our web server. That employee is a direct report to me but is ...	As things stand I wouldn't worry about it. Take the attitude as the CTO, anything that has to do with technology and that affects the firm - that anything has to go through your review and approval. Hopefully you hire people you can trust to discuss things without your presence - otherwise your venture can never scale....
Is it ethical to know a colleague's salary? Let's start with some clarifications: The colleague in question is at a different company than mine I directly interface with him on a current project, and will likely to continue to for a while His salary (and everyone's at his company) is openly published Is it ethic...	Not only is it ethical to look up his salary in public records, it may even be unethical to not look it up.
Does "senior" in a job title like "senior software developer" denote educational attainment? In my performance review, my manager told me that he compared my salary against prevailing market rates by searching salary data for "Software Developer" and "C++ Developer". He said salary results for "Senior Software Develope...	I haven't ever seen a job description where the prefix "Senior" meant only "holds a degree".
Is it okay to recommend a friend as a recently hired employee? I was recently hired in a rather famous company as a senior developer and have been working there for a bit more than 3 weeks now. Even if 3 weeks isn't a lot, I can already say this company is by far the best place I've ever worked at and not a single day ...	If you've worked with someone, and your friends with them, you can recommend them on both a personal and professional level. Unless you are recommending an individual that you know to be a poor performer, this is unlikely to reflect badly on you.
How to deal with a colleague who is making complaints? I am working as Dev team lead for an US based Organization.The requirements for the project has been written but those have many gaps. And also due to some Organization level decisions the requirements under gone changes and impact of those changes are discussed a...	Try not to be confrontational as much as possible. The best outcome is if you can create an atmosphere that you are working with him improving the existing document.
How does one title a resignation email? I am in a situation where I need to tell my current employer that I am leaving. This will be the first my manager hears of it; for reasons I don't want to discuss here, we have not had a meeting about this. I know what I want to say in the body of the email I am using to do so, a...	Something like "Letter of resignation" sounds too harsh, but I want to make it clear as well that from the outset, this is not a negotiable thing, but merely me making it clear that I am taking the steps to move on from this place of employment to my next opportunity.
How can I make a CV worse? I am asking this question for somebody else. Anyway, he is 16, and has just started 6th form. He has been looking for jobs all summer and still is, and has not been successful. He has applied to over 100 jobs and has excellent exam results: GCSEs: 2 A*s in Maths and RS 7 As in Geography, H...	What you need to do is: Write the kind of CV that makes the employer want to hire the person. Having an A does not make you a better McDonald's worker than someone who got a C or an E. Give the minimum amount of information on the things they won't care much about, like grades. This person might want to try and network...
How to keep scrum times minimal with a large dev team My company has always used a sort-of-Agile process. We do scrums three times a week. The development manager is basically the Scrum Master(SM), while the Team Lead is the alternate/backup SM. We used to be a small team of about 5 or 6, and the time spent on scrum w...	One quick and simple way is to adopt the "30 second standup" template. Also, as an employer, I'd be happy if a staff member spoke up and suggested that a discussion be had outside scrum so that the rest of the team can get to work.
How do I get a recruiter to stop bothering me? I have a probably 3rd party recruiting for a respected firm who is too disorganized to leave me alone. He sent me six increasingly nagging emails to which I eventually replied saying I wasn't interested. (I get too much recruitment email to not ignore.) Three weeks later h...	There's no need to schedule a call, or have any further conversations with this recruiter, if you really want him to leave you alone.
Is leaving career suicide? I've been working for my current employer for over 1.5 years. This is my first role as a UX/UI guy, previously I was a developer. Recently, our team structure and the way we handle new work has changed and I find myself doing a lot of grunt work which I don't enjoy. Further, the team lead, t...	Your financial situation may mean you don't need to worry how long you are without a job. Make sure you spend atleat an hour a day searching all websites and linkedin for possible jobs. No, it's not career suicide.
Should I request a letter of reference from my employer or manager when I am leaving? I work in a large multi-national. For personal family reasons, I have a need to quit work for 3 - 6 months to deal with a personal matter. At the same time as considering this, a voluntary redundancy program was announced and I applie...	Having a list of people who recommend you, their position and their contact information will probably benefit you, and your future employer, even more. Whether letters of reference are useful or not depends a lot on where you are and what kind of work you are doing.
Can I delete all my professional e-mails after resigning my job? I recently resigned from my job where I worked for more than 5 years (we parted on good conditions). What should I do with my professional e-mails (both sent and received)?There are some e-mails that are not for everyone to see (e.g. my paycheck stubs, ...	Talk with whoever handles your corporate email and ask them if you can expect that all your email will be purged from the system or not. In all scenarios it's worth taking a moment to ask your employer what to do with these emails, depending on your location and market the company may have a legal obligation to retain ...
How do I motivate slackers (who are not on my team) to work? I worked at the IT department of a company. This IT department hires 3 university students every 8 months. When I was working, one of the students (sat in the cubicle behind me) used to slack quite a bit - he'd just sit there with his eyes closed in his cubic...	To lead peers (which is what you're trying to do): Lead by example. Don't chase anyone, let them come to you for guidance. You are not in a management position, so motivating these co-workers is none of your business.
Can workers be expected to share fleece jackets without laundering between users? My workplace has over 15 people doing the same job. It can be a very cold environment. The management has provided 3 fleece jackets and expects the staff to use these when on duty, without laundering between users. Just take the jacket, w...	It probably is acceptable. Chat to your manager about it.
Contacted by a Company's Client to do a project - should I inform my company? I work in a small/medium startup with 9 people total.I have been recently asked by a Company's client, asking me to do a small project to him, outside the company (and Android app, and my company does mobile development). He specifically ask...	All things considered, I'd suggest you take a pass unless the money on offer is sufficient to pay your wage if and when you get fired.
How to consider a second interview when salary is too low? So, I am in a weird situation. I am currently employed, however the current project I am working on is coming to an end. The current company is promising me a completely different position, however the timeline keeps on getting pushed into the future. I have he...	If you are sure that you would not accept the position at $36,000, contact whoever is coordinating your recruitment process and tell them that $36,000 is too low, and you would only be prepared to come to a second interview if there is the possibility of a higher offer.
How to describe a minimally related consulting position on a resume: Should I list my billable hours percentage? I am trying to strengthen my resume, and I hear it is important to support job descriptions with hard facts or direct results of one's performance. I am listing my experience as a consultant, which I left 1...	The percentage of billable hours does not prove much. In your resume, a list of tasks and responsibilities as you have stated should be sufficient.
Does one apply to both an intern and entry level job at the same company for the same kind of work? I'm attending a career fair with several dozen employers. Many of the companies offer entry level jobs and also internships. The description of both of these and their requirements are very similar (sometimes exactly t...	In my experience, the difference between an internship and an entry-level job is a piece of paper(the degree) and compensation.
Recruiters asking me to find candidates for them? I have received a couple of these types of recruiting mails on Linkedin or by email every now and then and I'm just kind of stumped as to what's the point of them. Here's a snippet from the latest: Title: Help with search for POSITION(higher seniority than me) Body: Y...	The other idea is that if you can pass along some good people then you may become a future recruiter that may be a better job than what you are currently doing or something you do as a side project and collect referral fees or build up a network.
Would it be possible to work for a client? My client has asked me to work for them. I see there's a clause in my contract like this: The Employee agrees that during the term of the agreement and for a period of three months following the expiry or termination of this agreement for any reason, the employee will not, dir...	No future employer will see you going to your client as anything but disloyal and indefensible.
How can I unify a team of people working remotely? I’m currently on a team with people who work in different countries. This question makes the assumption that it is better to have some level of interpersonal connection among team members; we are seeking an increase in camaraderie. There’s nothing any of us can do ab...	Google Hangouts are really good for multiple people sharing the screen. In addition to answers above, I'd say it's important (not to say necessary) to meet together in person regularly. Set up a wireless microphone and attach it to your shirt, let the sound go through (moderately) loud speakers.
Rise salary expectation during interview I've recently interviewed with a company, at the end of the interview, they asked me what my expected salary is. I made the mistake of saying a somewhat low range (somewhat bellow average for that location). I'm currently finishing a MSc program and the position is in a differen...	Before you go into an interview, research the position to see what the common pay range is.
Is an unpaid internship for web development at a startup legitimate? I'm a new grad of a web design/development certificate course with very little experience and I've begun applying for jobs. I have received interest mostly from places offering internships. I have an interview set up for one of these internships at ...	In the United States, many unpaid internships are not legal!
Should I list the bachelor's when I have higher degrees? For someone who has one or more higher degrees than the bachelor's, under what circumstances (if any) should they omit their bachelor's degree from their resume? As a concrete example, I have a master's degree and part of part of a PhD (i.e. it's incomplete). ...	The only time I perhaps wouldn't list it would be if I did a Bachelors followed immediately by a Masters in the same subject, ie in 4 consecutive years (or I would always list it, even as a single line. The only thing employers (should) care about is whether or not the program and college are accredited, and whether or...

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