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Leaving employer in the middle of a "big project", offering to help part time So, my boss and I have had a rocky relationship from the start. While he recognizes my ability to get what he needs done, he likes to micromanage my progress, which I do not respond well to. It's a small business, and new legislation has crea...	Having a good heart and wanting to help your previous employer are admirable. Focus on the job you have (your new one), and try to live a balanced life.
Returning bonuses received while job hunting So, I'm scheduled for an interview with a company that aligns well with my field. Today I received notification that I was getting a raise, as well as a Christmas bonus. Knowing that I am actively searching for a new job (and have a chance at one) I feel guilty accepting thi...	Given all that, the logical thing to do is to be quiet and take the raise and bonus.
Is it OK to contact the hiring manager of a company that asks for an interview? I was recently asked for an interview (this past Friday) after submitting my resume to a job portal for some company. I got back to the HR with my availability, but she hadn't emailed me back even after today, and I have a pending internshi...	No one likes someone who bugs them about a job interview or offer.
Is it a good idea to tell my programmer colleagues that I actually code for fun? I'm part of a small software development team. It happens that one of my greatest hobbies is actually, software development. In my free time, I enjoy contributing to several open source projects. When I'm at work, we always go out for a br...	I really don't think that any techie type would consider you weird, or even be particularly surprised, that you do some programming on your own time as well. Also, it depends on your perception within the company.
How to resolve an issue with air conditioning at work? At work, the air conditioning grid is quite noisy (55 Db), too much air pressure. I asked to solve this to the technician but he told me there was not a solution since he cannot control air pressure. The only solution I can think is to cover the AC grid. At this p...	You need to get noise cancelling headphones or you need to stop being distracted.
Job offer contingent on continuing education Do situations exist where a position is offered but is contingent on the applicant continuing education (Masters or other)? If not contingent, how is the pursuit of an advanced degree usually handled from a new-hire perspective? <Q> I have seen this in the US, and in fact fo...	Yes, there are many jobs which are offered with the expectation that the new hire continues his/her education.
Submitting resume in microsoft word doc format or a pdf generated by Latex? I am a graduate student and am planning to apply for an internship for Summer 2015. After looking at the websites of various companies offering internships, the most common file-formats acceptable for resumes seem to be .doc, .pdf and .txt file...	You want to be able to generate a good looking document in several formats based on the requirements of the company.
Overloaded, delegated work, now accused of "offloading" my responsibilities. How to address criticism? I am a relatively new manager in a highly matrix'd organization (multiple managers/accountabilities per person) and over the past six months my own functional team has been chronically suffering from over capacity wor...	Tell them that your team is working at capacity, and if they let your team do all the work, your team's productivity will suffer and this will in turn impact their team's ability to meet its own milestones. Whatever, don't escalate it and "don't make a big deal over it" - that may be exactly what they're hoping you'll ...
Do previous, unrelated jobs look bad on a resume once you have had a real job? I'm a software developer who has worked professionally for 2.5 years (5 years total experience). During my senior year of high school and a while after, I was programming for a company as an intern (later full time). Before that, I worked r...	If you learned something valuable and that something is equally valuable and relevant to a prospective employer, you put it in your resume.
When to ask questions during online training - at the very end or at anytime throughout? I am attending training with several other team members. This training is online through Skype. Typically, the trainer talks continuously for, say, 20-25 minutes. After this, he asks if anyone has any questions. I find that I a...	You should ask the trainer when you feel that it's important for you (and other team members) to understand before he goes on to the next point.
My customer comments in English. Should I reply him in our mother language? Because my organization mainly works with Americans, its website is 100% in English although the members are 100% Vietnamese. Before we decide to close the comment section in the website, a person in Vietnam 1 commented in English and we decid...	Having said that, my answer to your question is: use English for the first e-mail reply to the customer.
Is finding a replacement a favor or a duty? A bit more than a year ago, I agreed to do freelance work for a client. There were no contracts or anything, it was on a friendly basis. The client gave me a lot of tasks and I always gave him high quality work. The price we agreed on didn't match what's happening in the mark...	I don't think you are obligated to find someone, but since this is a friendship as much as it is a business relationship, making an effort isn't a bad idea.
I referred a candidate and got difference in our words I referred a friend to a position in my company. When HR asked me how I know him, I told them that he was my co-worker in a previous company. However, I later came to know that during the interview, he(my friend) told them that he was my friend during college. No...	As long as the incorrect information was supplied by your friend, and not by you, this almost certainly won't affect your career in the company. You should probably have a quick chat with your friend and make sure you are both on the same page with future referrals.
Dropping off your resume in person for a job that does not exist In another question titled "Personally Handing a Resume to an Employer", the consensus was follow the correct procedure which normally means do it online. If however the job does not exist there is no clear procedure to follow. In this situation is handin...	Catching people by surprise, putting them on the spot and getting in their faces as a way to make friends and influence people so that you can get hired - that's definitely inadvisable unless you have a persona as a sales person who excels at cold calling.
Is it unprofessional to write "Happy Holidays!" at the end of a cover letter? I plan on sending my application to a library page position at my local library today (Christmas 2014). I was thinking about adding a more personal touch at the end of the letter by writing Happy Holidays! Sincerely, [My Name] Is this u...	For one thing, the person who receives your letter may not celebrate holidays, so it might not be received well.
Can I put an expired certification on my resume? I had a Cisco cert that expired about a year ago. I let it expire because I wasn't working with the technology day to day in my current job, but now I am. I'd like to be able to put it on my resume as expired and then say I'm planning to re-certify. My reasoning is ins...	Yes, you can put an expired certification.
Answering and sending holiday wishes and pictures to all colleagues via e-mail? In the past two weeks my colleagues have been exchanging a lot of Christmas and New Year's wishes and cards through the company e-mail system. I don't mind receiving such email, but I usually don't respond because "thank you, you too" doesn...	Nobody really keeps a score of who has replied to a Christmas card email and/or how many people have sent them Christmas card emails. On the other hand extending courtesy and not being hurtful to colleagues whom you work closely with is a good practice, as it helps build or keep rapport and working relationship with th...
Should a resume include information that you are looking to relocate? I currently live in Philadelphia PA and today I was contacted by a recruiter asking me if I'd be interested in talking about jobs in the area. I am currently looking for a new position, but I'm looking in Seattle and I told him so. His response was...	The purpose of a resume to show who you are and what you can do, not what your goals or desires are, so I wouldn't put it in a resume. You should certainly put on your CV that you are willing to relocate.
How to thank colleagues helped over the Christmas weekend on very big prod issue? Office location: CA, USA Issue started on Last Friday and many had already gone for vacation. Issue started in production due to my code, committed years back. Many colleagues joined the bridge and helped a lot. As production deployment ...	You should contact them as individually as practical to give them a personal thank you. For me, I would take the time to write up a nice email. I would couch it as a report: Over the holiday
Not being paid but not formally laid off / made redundant A friend was recently informed that his project at work ran out of money, and he should not show up for work again. His boss also informed him that he was not "let go" and would have to turn in a resignation letter if he got another job (even though he was not ...	In my opinion, he should go to the unemployment office as soon as he can to get the process started. It may well be that this boss is thinking that if the friend resigns, he can contest the unemployment claim as a result. Unless he has something in writing, keep showing up and clocking in.
What do recruiters mean when asking for an 'updated resume'? I now am looking for a new job. I have my resume posted on sites like dice, monster and so on. This resume contains all my details: contact info, technical skills, working history and education. It omits irrelevant information like gender, age, race, etc. Of ...	If you are comfortable with your resume as it is, you can simply respond that what they see is good to go.
How to find software jobs that require travel? Currently, I work as a C++ programmer in the financial services industry in Chicago (USA). I rarely see software job postings that explicitly state that it requires traveling which I actually would desire in a job. I have searched on sites like stackoverflow, Dice, Careerb...	In conclusion: move somewhere you like or take vacations or work remotely. Look for companies that have contracts with the government.
Would employment abroad after graduation damage employability in home country? I am a student living and studying in Canada, and in the long term I'd like to also work in Canada. However, my girlfriend is studying in Scotland and we've been in a long-term relationship for a long time now, and I'd like to close the gap ...	Work experience abroad is just as good as work experience right next door.
Should I report a colleague that may have broken intellectual property rules? I'm a team leader for a large hi-tech company and I've been given ownership of a new project which we are planning to patent. Recently, a colleague of mine emailed me an article that reviewed the state of current technology as he believed the...	I am sorry to be firm, but there is no way you should be reporting this.
Is it reasonable to mention another offer when leaving my current job? I work as a software engineer with few years experience, being hired on a junior position and having since then getting two consecutive promotions and considerable raises (at least 8-12%) each year. For last year I got a bonus that goes around 45% o...	Rather, let them know what the offer is (again, once you have it), and ask them if they could make you a counter-offer, otherwise you will resign to take the new role. Secondly, you get experience in negotiating a salary , which is always always a good thing to have.
Should a desk cleaning occur before or after two weeks notice? I have found a better opportunity, and I suspect the possibility that my boss may request I do not return for various reasons. This leads me to be tempted to get my desk all packed up and ready to go. On the other hand, such premature packing will tip at le...	This is precisely why it's best to clean out your desk AFTER giving notice. I don't think your boss learning of you leaving from a rumor is ideal, but it's not that big of a deal.
How to Say "No" to my manager if he asks me to take his exams for him My manager is a very good manager, both professionally and personally. He has asked me to do some of his work, such as project management, which I am happy to do. But he has also asked me to use his credentials to take a mandated exam, so that it a...	This is one of the few scenarios where you should not do what the boss asks. Explain to your manager that if this is found out, you will both lose any credentials you obtained through this exam and that you prefer not to take this risk.
How appropriate is sexual language in the workplace? I am a male working for a small company in the USA. Today I heard my colleagues saying "suck 2 d**ks in a conversation. The other day I went to lunch with a male colleague and someone asked who was paying. Its very common to speak of nutsacks and gays and stuff here....	By most professional definitions, this is not appropriate behavior, but you've found yourself in a situation where it is common and probably tolerated if not encouraged. Don't laugh at these jokes, join in or give any indication you think this is appropriate.
How common is it that salaries are made public? In this answer is was treated as unusual that salaries are kept private in the company in question. Frankly, I'd never actually heard of a company making it's salaries public, beyond non-profit organisations. I live in UK which might explain this if it's a culture diffe...	It is extremely rare that a company makes the salaries of its individual employees public, in the sense that anyone can find them out. In all cases it's accepted by the employee that their salary will be made public.
How long is an appropriate wait time before a new hire goes asking for work? I am in my second week of a new software job and have yet to be assigned to a team or even been given access to the code base, because of this I have been sitting since day one with no ability to do any work. A Sr. developer hired on the same ...	As soon as possible, ask your boss, in person, to give you a brief overview of their onboarding and/or training process, and if he indicates that there will be a delay before these activities begin, ask him if there is anything you can do in the meantime.
How to stay in touch with a former manager? My former manager was a good mentor for me. He is powerful in the company and he has a lot of contacts. He also gave me a good evaluation during my internship at the company. I got a job in the same company, but with a different team so I rarely see him and he is not my manag...	Another option would be to see if your company sponsors any networking / professional social events for current employees.
How to respond to an angry client? We have been recently asked by one of our clients to go out to one of their customers to provide technical support for a touchscreen issue. We're a courier company transporting their equipment from place to place, we're not a tech company, but we nevertheless accepted to send a driver...	You need to inform them that it is in fact NOT your responsibility, and that you simply tried to assist them as a nice gesture.
Should I have my own business card if my company has no policy of giving them to employees? Say a company has no company policy for giving its employees business cards, is it acceptable for employees to make their own without telling his company/boss? And if one wants to only use said cards for giving to people of the...	Making non-official business cards that represent your employer is not a good idea.
Are Non-Compete Agreements void if you beat your former employer to market? I have a friend working at my previous company that is something of a domain expert in a very specialized business area of a non-IT related nature. He has been toying around with an idea and doing market research for a groundbreaking idea for ...	A Non-Compete Agreement is a form of contract and sometimes contracts mean whatever they say, sometimes whatever a court says. Bottom line, your friend really needs to get some good legal advice on all of the issues before he makes any decisions or takes any action. From a practical standpoint, considering the potentia...
As a fresh CTO, I'm about to hire a full-stack developer much more skilled than I am I have quite a good experience in startups and consider myself as a perfectly valid full-stack developer . I'm in the process of becoming CTO for a consulting company that is economically viable and who wants to get in the software de...	Make sure that he has the tools that he needs.
Applying for multiple internships with the same company I'm a graduate student applying for summer internships, and some companies have several internships that interest me. If I apply to multiple internships, I don't know if any of the applications will be seen by the same people, or if the reviewers for one position...	Regardless, I think it's relatively safe to apply for multiple internships if they all interest you, the company will sort out where best to place you of they like you as a candidate.
How to discuss a promised raise after the boss who promised it is gone? I'm going to use fake names to make this easier to follow. John = CEO of the startup company I work for. Brad = former CTO and the person who interviewed me. Lucy = current CTO. I've been working for a startup company for a couple of months,...	And the best way to go about that is to contact Brad directly, and talk him through the issue - if he liked your work and he's still an investor, he'll see value in keeping you on board.
How to tell your boss that the project you've been working on will be a failure? A while back one of our guys (Let's call him Andy) stroked up a deal with Company A for getting x y data from them, for a set amount of money. (This was before I started working here) Another previous company (Company B) had offered us a ...	What you can do is tell Andy in advance the news that you are telling the boss, so that you can give Andy the time to prepare. Just state the fact and your conclusions.
Does the company call me in a Skype interview or should I call them? I'm having a phone interview in a little bit and I'm unsure: Does the company call me in a Skype interview or should I call them? Is there a convention in that sense? Unfortunately, no agreement was made, and it was more like "We'll speak then". (...	I used to support HR doing Skype interviews, and our established practice was this: Up to 24 hours in advance, locate the user ID and connect (share contact info) on Skype. If the interviewee called first, it was no big deal.
At what point is it unacceptable for a company to not have anyone in a human resources role? I work for a small company that is part of a closely-related group of small companies that are owned by the same handful of people. Between these 3-4 companies, there are maybe a total of 20-30 people. We all work in the same...	There is no number or timeline at which it is absolutely necessary to have HR, if ever.
Is doing two part-time internships and studying simultaneously ethical? I am a student currently in the last year of my degree course. So this year many internship opportunities approached me via my college. I had applied for many internship programs last semester and went ahead with company A, which I thought was the ...	Therefore, select multiple internships if they are within the parameters of your (realistic) career goals. I don't think there is much in terms of an ethical issue here, but there may be some legal repercussions depending on what types of non compete agreements you may have already signed or will have to sign (which I ...
To complete tasks at work I have to ignore new email, yet still reference old email to get the task done I'm having a time management issue. To complete my technical work, I find it helpful to close my email tab. This gives me quiet time to get work done without feeling compelled to look at my inbox and deal with inter...	Alternatively, stop using your email as a place to find things.
Boss IMs my private email account at work My boss sent me an email today asking me to keep my IM chat open while I'm at work. My boss supervises me from another city, so I understand why the request was made. This way, my boss can quickly communicate with me without having to call or send an email. The problem is th...	Open up a new account to use at work and tell your boss that having your private account open at work reduces your productivity because of the private messages that your friends are sending to your personal account.
What is the precise definition of working independently? I am software developer. I have heard a lot of managers say that one of the virtues they seek in a good engineer is "Independent execution of tasks". Assuming that there is a mature definition of this virtue, considering the fact that so many managers keep tellin...	I think the phrase "independent work" refers to problems we face alone, and work we do ourselves without the help of any other person.
Is it appropriate for my manager to give me an expensive item for free? My manager showed me a (relatively) new smartphone. I estimate it to be 1-2 years old. It's used, and he said it was a company phone that has been replaced. He asked if I want it, because my own phone is (kinda) old and this would be an improvemen...	Companies giving old property to employees saves them the costs of disposing of it and keeps it out of the landfill for a bit longer.
How do I renegotiate my salary after I have been hired How do I write a renegotiation letter, after I have been hired for the job. I realize that I will be doing two full time positions not one. I was told in the interview what my position would be, also I was told that I would help out another employee with her load. ...	Renegotiating your salary now will be quite hard, although you could try and make your case with your boss.
Invoice for services as a contract employee I recently graduated from graduate school and am currently working in a firm under a contract with a staffing agency. Technically, I would be considered a contract employee under the staffing agency but my 'supervisor" would be my immediate manager at the client site. I was t...	You need to contact the staffing company regarding the format of the invoice.
Submitting resumes and taking interviews when only half considering leaving current position I work in a position I am fairly happy with and am also reasonably happy with the location and pay, but I have this inkling I might be happier somewhere (physically) else and get paid more (including cost of living changes). ...	Even better would be to let prospective employers know your real motivations for interviews.
How can I reduce communication gaps with a colleague who has different working style? I am working as a Tech Lead for a team. We have a Architect who has joined in our team recently. Some how I have noticed his working style, communication style is different. Because of this most of the times we are unable to see each ...	Try to come to a agreement on the format the notes should be in prior to having the notes being merged. Over time, you will get more familiar with his communications style and vice versa.
Negotiating the use of speech recognition at work I am applying for summer internships as a software engineer intern (the typical duration is around three months) in the USA. I need to use speech recognition for medical reason: I have some temporary issues with my right wrist, which makes the use of the keyboard painfu...	You may require paperwork documenting your need for a particular accommodation.
I'm a slow learner, how can I speed up? A bit of background: I'm in the software industry. 90% of the stuff I'm working on is/was completely new when I started in August 2014. I need to make the same mistake two or three times before I can really learn from it. When I repeat a mistake, my manager usually lets me kno...	There are people who say that this sort of thing can be improved with mental exercise, or better study/practice techniques. If you are making the same mistake two or three times - this is not a sign of a learning problem, this is a sign of a working problem. I write just about everything down, that helps me remember.
Resigning during Interim between contracts I work on a series of 3 month contracts for Big Corp.. Each contract has had the same terms as the original contract had (pay, vacation, etc.) and each has been renewed for the last 27 months without a gap in my work. My most recent contract expired December 31st. I had ask...	You should absolutely continue to pursue the other job, and take it if you get it.
Selling software (Service, not acquisition) to my own employer I'm a software developer, and like most I work on side projects in my personal time. In theory, one of these may one day be relevant to my own company (especially since I'm more likely to get a good idea based on my own experience). This got me to thinking...	Eventually, the company could feel this product is theirs since you, as their employee, have worked on it. Generally speaking this is a bad idea. Many companies strictly prohibit employees from also being vendors or subcontractors.
How to handle coworker who breaks my Do Not Disturb signal (opens my closed office door) I rarely close my office door, but when I do, it is usually for a reason (I am busy or stressed or need to focus, and closed off environment helps me do just that). There is a coworker who consistently (2nd time so far) completely...	Consider attaching an actual sign to your door saying "please do not disturb unless the building is on fire" (a little humor can't hurt) rather than relying on people reading your mind.
How to avoid aspects of workplace culture that are dealbreakers for me but minor to others? I have a specific situation but I think maybe it can be generalized to many types of situations. The other day, I visited a friend from college (we work in the same field) at his office. It is an open plan, casual office with ...	In the best of all possible worlds, management should be aware that not everybody likes dogs and should ask for people's opinions before allowing this. If you have the chance, ask to have a look at the office (or at least some part of it) after an interview. Just be up front about it and ask about their policies. Ideal...
How to state in the cover letter that I left a job for a reason After graduating I worked in my home country for one year to gain experience. Then I wanted to improve my English, so I went to Ireland for a 6 month internship. I didn't enjoy it there, so I didn't accept a long-term contract with that company. I found a...	I suggest that you explicitly state in your cover letter the reason why you had to interrupt your tenure at your last job.
Should I talk with my boss about my recent underperformance? When I was first hired, I was a model employee. I'm a smart guy, and I can work my ass off. I worked the extra time to make up for conversations I had, and I would often come in on nights. I never browsed the internet, and I rarely looked at my phone. I got ...	If however, the issue is you lack skills to outperform, then by all means you need to seek help outside on your own and also from the company (as much as they're willing to invest resources in you at this time). No one stops you from discussing your performance with your boss.
Do you skip resignation announcement if you are advised to do so? I am quite on a predicament here. So I resign on my current job. My immediate supervisor asked me if I plan to announce it with my workmates. At the time I was nervous and very careful with my words, so I said I haven't figured what to do about it yet an...	Leaving unannounced gives the impression you were fired, which while not burning bridges, causes your coworkers to view you negatively (though it might cause your boss to be viewed more positively). In a corporate world announcements usually apply to senior management only and issued by hire-ups of the departing manage...
How do I turn down an offer, if I have already signed an agreement? I got a job offer from company A, thus I have tendered my 2 months resignation notice to my current company. I still have one more month to go till I join the new company. But today I have received my long awaited scholarship offer to a masters program...	You may consider to have this conversation in person with your future employer. Either you will not be filling the job position, or you will not be accepting the scholarship/Masters program. You will have to notify the school and the scholarship board that you will not be accepting them.
Should I send a "goodbye" email to client's employees who I worked with? I am employed by a consulting company (let's call them Initech), and have been deputed to work for a client (call them Acme). I have been working out of Acme's office, almost since the time Initech hired me. I am the only Initech employee working ...	It should not be a problem to send an e-mail to your colleagues to let them know that you are moving on.
Submit internship application on the web and then also ask for referral? I am a graduate student and am interested in internships. I submitted a couple of applications two days ago, but found out today via LinkedIn that I have some friends who graduated last year, who work for those very companies. Given that I hav...	Asking for the referral is in the best interest for both the candidate and the company, because: The company should hire the best fit for the position.
Mentioning minor disabilities in "equal opportunity" section Many larger companies have "equal opportunity" policies for employment and ask if you are Aboriginal, handicap, disabled (I've seen some include women in this list). I have been diagnosed with dyslexia by a psychiatrist and this technically is a learning disa...	If you anticipate asking for special accommodations for your dyslexia after being hired, then you should indeed select "disabled" in the application, and expand on that in the section that is usually provided for comments.
How to set up resume applying for 2 jobs at same company? I would like apply for two different positions at the same company, that I can easily cover. Let's say that I am a mechanic and in my current job, and previous jobs, I repair(ed) motorbikes and cars.They are looking for a guy that can fix motorbikes(A) and for a...	If the next day you attempt to apply for another position and you use the same profile/account to apply for the second position your new resume/cover letter will replace the previous one.
How to negotiate a salary with a known pay scale with steps I have been offered a position via email that is covered by the US government General Schedule pay system. Basically, the system has 15 grades each of which has 10 steps and the salary of each grade and step is publicly available. Moving up grades is difficu...	You could ask HR politely, but know that if they have many candidates they will be unwilling to negotiate. You could accept the advertised grade, and apply for a promotion when a higher grade position opens, but there can be minimum time in grade requirements.
How to encourage employees to keep their data up to date? I work for a large company which is beginning to make better use of the employee data held in Active Directory (e.g. contact information). Manually finding all of this information and updating it is a huge task. There is an employee portal which allows users t...	I think you should identify what problem you're trying to solve and ask everyone for their help.
Dramatically different salaries for two locations within same company - how do I negotiate? I have received summer internship offers for two locations within the same company. One offer is roughly 2.3x the salary of the other, but I would prefer to work with the people at the lower paying location. Personally I don't c...	The local regulations might differ and dictate what can be paid to interns; especially if its considered something other than an internship (for example, if its called vocational training due to regulations). If you want to earn more, and have choice, choose the location that pays more.
How do recruiters see multiple concurrent jobs (1 permanent, 1 freelance in my case) in portfolios? I was wondering if some recruiters would see it as negative, thinking I might not be focused or committed to my permanent job if I had a freelance project on the side. Obviously, more showable work experience is an adva...	Employers (and therefore recruiters) may also see it as a potential conflict of interest .
Mention studying leaked documentation in interview I am interviewing in a few days for a position requiring some skills I am currently missing. This can be solved by reading one of their manuals, which are supposed to be for sale as far as I understand but the full pdf appears in the very first google page when I searc...	When the question comes up, just say that you would like to learn the skill, researched it, and found that it could only be learned within that company. The obvious way to legally and gracefully deal with this is to purchase the manual, study it well, and convey what you have learned during your interview.
How much time can you ask before joining a new company? How much time can I ask for between joining a new job as a software developer in the Bay Area? My RSUs will vest by April 15th and should I be upfront and tell my new employer that? I would have to ask for 2 months if the offer is made on Feb 15th. <Q> You can ask...	Having been in this situation before, I can say that it is best to just tell the new employer your situation: that you have RSU's that vest on a particular date and that you can't announce you're leaving before that date. The other alternative is to use your stock vesting as leverage when it's offer negotiation time: i...
When to tell my employer about me working somewhere after end of contract I have freelancing like agreement that says that I work on project for 3 months. I am start working somewhere else just after this project. My boss wants to hire me after this project. When and How do I tell my current employer about that? I wou...	Explain how valuable your time there has been, but that you won't be extending because you've already secured an exciting new opportunity.
What do I do about programmers abusing power? Should I do anything? Our programmers have given themselves "god mode" accounts in the online game we develop, and just fly around the world following people around. Players do not, nor have they ever had access to flight. Obviously, this is weird and a bit unprofessional,...	If employee actions are causing this to happen, then their boss should have the good sense to put a stop to it. Create a a written policy around it.
Is it ethical to cancel an interview if the company has already paid for my travel expenses? If I've agreed to do a final interview where the company is flying me out, but I've decided that the company is not a fit for me and that I am certain to reject any offers. This company has been very proactive and bought my tic...	Having agreed to the interview, you owe them the opportunity, if they want to take it, to try to convince you. Companies have found that it's often cheaper on average to buy a non-refundable airline ticket and risk losing the money if plans change, than to pay the surcharge for a fully cancelable ticket. I don't see an...
Possible reasons for coworkers keeping files off our server? In my department, call it dep. A, we have a policy of keeping everything that might be important on the company server. For a while now, we have dep. B in the company - at start only new hires - who have very different culture. While you may find information ...	The team might feel that holding off until something is asked for is safer than putting it there right away. They may just be in the habit of keeping the files local or if they use laptops, the may need to take them with them when they are no longer connected to the network.
Gracefuly backing out of an onsite interview My question is slightly different from this one: How should I phrase an email and/or conversation that I need to back out of an interview? I have an onsite interview with a company (Company A). They approached me and I did two phone interviews with them. I also am in conta...	It often works in your favor to be up front with a company or a recruitment firm that you have decided to stay in your position.
How do I help my teammates grow? I consider myself a senior software developer, I have lots of experience and so forth. Some months ago, I've started a new job . The project itself is interesting and has potential, but is not challenging (in the sense that there's nothing innovative on the software-side). The only ch...	As the lead you need to ask yourself, what can you and your team do to result in better outcomes for your project or software. If you look down on your colleagues they will indeed resent you rather than respecting you.
Should I tell interviewing company I got laid off when between two sets of interviews with them? I had a few interviews with a company which were very promising and then I got laid off at my current job which I had for 4 months. I have another set of interviews with the interviewing company this week and now I feel I a...	I'd say it's OK to say that you've been laid off during your interviews but only if they ask and if they ask, make sure to say that you are willing to throw your former bosses under the bus - er, provide them as references :)
Are "Reference Lists" a thing of the past? Without being asked to, I provided a list of three references at an interview I recently had and they told me they were surprised, because most people don't provide references anymore. I am only 29 and I can't imagine that in the last 7 or 8 years things have changed that muc...	So, no, "reference lists" or "referees" are not a thing of the past. It is customary, when you quit your job, to ask for a written recommendation from your nearest boss. At the end of the day, I believe asking for references is pointless and my personal experience has been that very few others actually bother to ask fo...
Participating in Annual Review WHILE in negotiations for new position elsewhere. Make unhappiness known? My current company has no idea I'm looking for other opportunities and quite honestly, I think they'd be blindsided if I resigned, mostly because this is the type of company where people stay for 10+ years and I am ...	I think basically my viewpoint is let them know about issues, but don't harp on it. It may be that your manager has their hands tied and can't help.
Documentation - is it an assumed part of the job? So I was told from higher-ups that a software engineer that left the company didn't document his processes and he should have as part of his duties. My gut reaction was to say - "you don't get what you don't ask for", this is more a project management issue. The estimat...	If specific processes are required to make your work transferable to others then it's within reason that a company should expect you to document them .
Should I sign a non-compete as I'm leaving a company? I've recently accepted a position at another company, and given my notice to my current employer. As part of my offboarding process, my current employer has asked me to sign a non-compete agreement (which I did not do when I started at the position), including a non...	Having been personally stopped by non-compete agreements in the past, there is usually nothing to gain as an employee by being restricted by one of these. If you intend to recuit co-workers (and it sounds as if you do), you most definitely don't want to sign this.
How to convey I'm innocent when client thinks I'm responsible for missing data? I have a remote client that I'm contracted for adding new features to their training website. Half way through the project, my client notified me that some data was missing for a two month period (I was contracted during this period.) The c...	It usually helps if you give credit to others, instead of defending yourself.
Developing an application voluntarily for my company in my free time - Do I own it? I often find myself with free time at work, and our e-reader (I work for a small town newspaper) is not user friendly in the least. So in my free time, and sometimes off the clock, I began developing a better web application for viewing...	As for you owning it, it all depends on what you do with it: how you sell/market this thing and whether or not it competes with or harms your employer and whether or not anyone at the company is actually watching or cares.
Is it offensive to talk about non-discriminating hiring policies I'm opening a game development business and I have a page on my web-site with open vacancies. On the page I had a statement that basically says that we don't discriminate people by race, nationality, handicaps, sex, age, sexual orientation or religious b...	You are not stating it in a professional manner, and they are reacting to that. It's actually a common practice to list things like this. "We are an Equal Employment Opportunity company" and avoid explicit lists of factors you do not discriminate against.
How to prepare throughout the year for an annual review? Work journal? I just went through my first annual review at this company. And while it seemed fair enough, I'd like to be better prepared for next years review. This time I ended up trying to go through a years worth of old emails to cull a list of accomplishment...	When you come to prepare for your appraisal, you have a list of successes, actions against any action points, and evidence, all pre-discussed with your manager, so no surprises from either side, and what you need to support your self assessment. This is exactly what I am doing for my 1st annual review come October - I ...
How do I professionally respond to questions like "how do I get a well paying job?" or "how can I create a social network?" As a young director at an IT company which develops apps (people consider me well paid and good in app development), students and recent grads around my age (I'm still in my early 20's so I meet a...	Refer them to the many resources available in their public library and on the web... such as the appropriate Stack Exchange area... unless you have a professional or personal interest in teaching them directly.
When negotiating salary, does it matter who sought who out at onset? I'm wondering if a candidate's salary negotiation leverage diminishes if the company was not the one to reach out to the candidate, but the candidate applied for the job independently. In my case, I found an ideal position at a growing company, but t...	If you're desperate to change jobs, and they know it, then that does affect your leverage since they know you're willing to take a loss. Personally, I think in most cases, when a company approaches a candidate, the person feels she is in a position to say no.
School education in CV I have recently submitted my PhD thesis and am currently updating my resume. I known that school education is generally omitted after some years. I attended several international schools* (7) where I learned my non-native languages and got my GCSE and German "Abitur". I feel this "international...	I wouldn't make a thing about the "international schools" in the CV, but I would instead mention that in the covering letter if you feel it adds to your application.
Why do recruiters try to rush into a Right To Represent (RTR) contract? This is a curious case for me as it seems to be split into two camps. There are recruiters who will work with me on opportunities, even go so far as to setup a preliminary screening with a potential position before discussing a RTR contract which ...	What worries me about the RTR is, it may be possible that the recruiter wants to hold your resume to nominate someone else for the position.
Is it generally okay to work from “home” for a week or two in another country? am a software engineering student who happens to be working in the industry already. I have a lot of traveling experience but I lack any work from home experience. I am currently considering an offer from a company who would have me work fro...	Companies differ, but I think most companies view working at home as an reasonable option because they have the expectation that you have established a reliable working environment at home.
How handle a situation in which a domain-expert has fabricated his history of expertise? I work in a large multinational which is experimenting in new forms of project management. We have invested a great deal of trust to an individual who is training members of staff. He was hired based on his achievements in a part...	If the claims aren't going to cause any problems, then perhaps the best thing to do is just to let it be. Bring the issue up with an appropriate person in your employer's management hierarchy.
As an Employer do I have to compensate a recruiter if they give me information about someone I already know? So, I met a developer (call him "John") through a job posting we put up on Careers 2.0. It didn't work out when we met, because he was late in the process and accepted an offer the same day that we met. Since w...	Based on this, I would say yes, you do owe the recruiter . Several companies I have worked for offer employees a bonus if somebody you provide a resume for is hired, and stay a specific number of months.
Should the photo in CV be attached with a paperclip or inserted electronically? In French culture, should the photo (passport size photo) in a CV be attached using a paperclip or be scanned and inserted electronically (via Word for example) and then print the CV in color? <Q> If you include a photo in your curriculum v...	So, except if you absolutely know what you are going with this: insert your picture electronically!
If your reference changed jobs, what should be the job title? When listing references in your CV/resume, if one of them changed jobs recently (within same organization or to another organization), should you use their former title (through which you got acquainted with them) or current title? To be more specific, I'd ...	Their current or former job title is neither here nor there.
My circumstances have changed - I'm now unable to do on-call hours i'm a junior IT support engineer and recently i was asked to start an on-call out of hours rotation. our senior engineers currently do on-call duties however in my work contract it stipulates that i can be asked to work out of hours. recently my circu...	On-call means you are promising to be available for work for an extended period in case of emergency.
Managing conflict with coworkers to relieve a hostile work environment I work for a small software development team, and recently things have started getting extremely uncomfortable for me at work. We have a couple of girls who seem overly dramatic for no reason at random. I've been with the company for a little less ...	Be cordial, say good morning, don't ask them for anything unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Everything else: If you are quite young and your supervisor older and presumably more experienced, you can go to him and not complain about your female colleagues, but ask him for advice how to cope with this work-related pro...
Why can't many teams be self-organized and how to help them to self-organize? Note: although the question talks about programmers, I imagine it applies as well to many other professions where self-organization is suitable: scientists, visual designers, etc. I remember from my psychology course a few illustrations sho...	To my mind the single biggest problem with self organized teams is that they don't work unless you have all outstanding performers and no real conflicts.
Damaging reference from current employer I work in UK for a software company.I applied for a job at two other companies, 1 and 2.I accepted the offer from company 1 (after 2 months and 3 interviews) and returned the signed contract, resigning from my current job and telling company 2 I was not interested. When I resig...	It may seem like your former employer is going to ruin you, but if you explain to your new prospective employer that things were copacetic before you resigned and that after giving notice the relationship soured, they may be understanding.
My manager used my colleague to tell me I was moving jobs I will be moving teams within my company in around 6 weeks. I am happy with the position that I will be taking, from what I have heard of it. I am also content in my current role however. I was told this news by a colleague in my current team. My manager told t...	Perhaps your manager is grooming your colleague for a more supervisory/managerial position and was simply using this information exchange as a training opportunity. I would imagine (though I have couldn't say with certainty) that your colleagues do not have the authority to grant or direct any change in your status, an...
what to do when there are rumors of firing employees on their increment day I am working for a company which opened its regional office in my country since last year. I started 11 months ago and I was told by HR that company has bright future and it values its employees by giving them bonuses and market competitive yea...	If I was you I would try to move to another project/department, or prepare myself for new opportunities.
two weeks after interview I applied for a position online, and got a call from the HR manager from the head office three days after for a telephone interview. This went well and two days after I was invited for a face to face interview. I was interviwed by two senior staff members, with one person in the room and the o...	Either way, I would suggest sending a hand-written thank you note to the senior members/hiring manager that interviewed you.

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