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If I accept an offer, but then my company counters with a big increase, can I negotiate an increase with the offer I already accepted? So I have accepted an offer. I was not expecting my current employer to counter with such a big offer. Can I bring that up to the company I accepted the offer from already to negotiate... | What you could do, is mention that you did get a much better offer from your current employer but that you like the new company more and need a few days to think and talk things through with your significant other / a friend before you make a decision.
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Maintaining mentorship with a mentor who has a different problem solving style Background: I'm a recent degree graduate and software developer. The company I work at has a relatively small team with 8 members. I'm the newest on the team and have been here 10 months. I get along well with one of the senior developers w... | Rather than getting caught up in who's right, focus on learning why a suggestion is being made and what the trade-offs are. I would like to suggest you to start the conversation with him in a positive mindset -- e.g., I might learn great things from this senior developer etc.
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What if someone claims to have a degree they don't have? Ok, so the title is not how it's suggested, I know the point of having a degree, I obtained two which I worked very hard to get. The question that I am trying to ask, or, the point that I'm trying to make is that, in the United Kingdom, at every possible avenue... | If you're wondering why it matters to a company whether you have a degree, when it's the competency in the day to day skills that brings success, understand that many companies place value in having earned a college degree.
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What should I ask for when seeking a "more stable" retainer? I have been working on a month-to-month retainer for several years for the same firm, and have been asked to propose changes to my arrangement that would "provide more stability and predictability", partly as an acknowledgement of my contributions (which, it ... | From what you describe I think you may want to talk to them about you getting a lawyer to draft a contract for an ongoing retainer from which # months notice is required from either you or X,Y, and Z company officials unless both parties agree to a shorter term with a penalty of $# dollars should the company initiate t... |
Handing in notice - do I need to tell my boss where I am going? Is there any obligation for me to tell my boss which company I am going to when I hand in my notice? I know that when the new company contacts HR for a reference they will know who is calling, but do I need to say to my boss who the new company is? I'm gu... | You can not tell anything or keep it vague or tell anyone everything. If you haven't made a final decision about which company you are about to join, you can simply say that.
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No responce for applied vacation I sent a vacation request a week a ago, and reconfirmed again via email on the 6th day by thanking the manager for the given vacation day, assuming they will be a response to my email either day is approved or not, but I did not get answer, so I took the said vacation on the 7th day any... | What you did was unprofessional, and the best thing you can do right now is come clean to the manager - apologize for your behavior and think about how you can restore his trust in your professionalism.
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First job - how to ask to postpone starting date? I am a university student and I just received my very first job offer as a software developer in Germany. I wish to take a break (vacation) before I start my professional career so that I start all recharged! This means starting one month later than what is mentioned in... | Just asking for a later date after you have accepted an earlier one can get your offer removed in many places because you are now viewed as unreliable.
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Dealing with a medical absence and accomodations during a co-op work term Note: the specifics of the employer's policies and the university's workterm policies are not the subject of this question. They will be followed. As well, the immediate "I'm calling from the hospital I won't be in today I will let you know when ... | Only the student can answer the first question, so emailing them to ask them how they feel and whether they would like to come back to work would answer the first part.
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Turning down an offer that I knew I would never accept due to relocation I got a very good offer from a company I interviewed with recently, but I will turn it down since it implies relocation to a different city, and this is something that I did not want to do from the beginnining. So why did I interview? I believe ... | The reason I have to decline is because the job, as I understand it, entails me having to move to [name the city].
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Is it reasonable to ask my employer to purchase a software License? I work in software development, and by personal choice (i.e. neither regulated nor required by my workplace), I use the text editor Sublime Text to write code on a daily basis. Sublime Text is free to use indefinitely, but occasionally prompts the user... | If the request is for your employer to purchase the license for your work machine while at the same time you purchase the license for your personal machine, then yes, this would be an acceptable request.
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Is it rude to ask supervisors how an interview went? The management at my company have been doing interviews to fill a few positions, I'm curious to know how the interviews are going, is it rude to ask one of the management about this? <Q> Absolutely not, ask away. <S> It shows curiosity in the workings of the company ... | If there are aspects of the interviewing process that the managers don't want to share with you, they won't.
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Discourage people loitering near my desk I have a desk next to an aisle, on a corner leading to a kitchen, toilets and a meeting room. For various reasons, this corner happens to be a place where people seem to have impromptu meetings, or carry on unfinished discussions after leaving the meeting room. If this was rare,... | If it's senior staff then the best thing you can do is put up with it or ask your line manager if you can move desk. I guess the biggest thing is to not engage in their conversation at all and look busy or in a hurry. It'll take several times (with different people) and some people will need repetition, but if your set... |
How to properly add a technology that I'm currently learning to a resume I am a web developer and am constantly learning new technology. Currently I am heads down on Angular.js but also the pending JavaScript release (JS.NEXT), Node.js and React.js. These technologies would take years to master and months to have a con... | The things that I have mastered and are most relevant to the position, I make sure are at the top of my resume and stand out somehow (bold, bigger font, etc).
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Asking for permission to access my personal mails or any other website Will I be unfaithful if I access my personal emails in office free time or have no task to do though it is mentioned in HR policies that we should not use internet for personal use. I want to be very honest and don't want to breach the trust of my ... | If it is already mentioned in HR policies then you should not ask to access.
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3 month notice period in contract... better to negotiate to 1 month? I'm a developer about to take a new position, however the contract states the notice period on both sides in the event of leaving the company is 3 months. I am wondering if I should ask to have this reduced to 1 month, if possible. The role is not '... | 3 months only benefits the employer in this industry.
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Should I tell the client that I am not making any progress because my company didn't pay my salary? I work for a contracting company, developing an application for a client. The company is always late in paying my salary. I always have to ask them to send me the check, sometimes after a delay of a couple of weeks. I ... | There will be a contract between client and the company, and if you don't work because you are not being paid, then the company is likely in breach of their contract with the client. While you think they may deserve it, it is more professional to leave discussions such as that to others. Request the client talk to your... |
Need Help Determining Employment End Date at Previous Employer to List on Resume Every resume, CV, and employment application needs to have the period of employment for each employer. My situation is a little unusual: On 9/30/2013, I was formally advised in writing by my last employer that my job was being officially... | Contact HR, ask them at what date your employment ended according to their records . Without the slightest hesitation I say you should list your last day of work as 4/30/14.
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Transitioning to a new position My company has two offices, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. I recently decided to move to the West Coast city, for personal reasons. I am moving in four months. Each office has different departments and at one point, I had not decided whether I would plan on transferri... | In most companies HR will allow your current manager to start the hiring process now that you have accepted the new job. Make an honest effort to succeed.
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Putting down Current Job in job applications When applying for a new job when you already have one is it better to say you have a current job or to not specify? Would they be more likely to hire people that dont have jobs already? <Q> You should always be as honest as possible. <S> No companies want to hire people who ... | I think you should always include your current job in your job application, for a few reasons:
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Personal problems between employees We are a technology startup, the problem i am facing is that my colleague(same designation as mine) Manager A and a member of his team (Coder A) have become incompatible.. it started out with sarcastic jabs.. i mediated once around two months ago and made it clear to Coder A that he... | Unless we are talking about something illegal, it is not your place to get involved. In this case, in a start-up you don't always have the luxury of giving such a person a lot of space, so a more direct approach may be appropriate: Have a meeting with the employee, explain to him clearly and without emotional aspects w... |
How much weight is given to self-taught programming skills? I was an "IT drone" for about 14 years (tech support, then systems admin). I taught myself how to program, at first just to automate some of my work, then later producing some in-house applications used by regular users in my organization. So by the end of 2... | The value of your time as a self-taught developer greatly increases if you have something to show to the interviewer for those seven years. Experience is experience, regardless of whether you have a degree or not (or the proper degree). In my experience as a developer, go ahead and list that experience. The fact that y... |
Boss suddenly stopped giving me work, and I sit idle the whole day. What should I do? I have been working in a public sector company for the last 29 years. I have successfully managed all responsibilities for the department independently. Now my boss has got a co-worker from another department. All of a sudden, all the... | Don't ask them "why did the work stop coming my way" and avoid mentioning the new colleague at all cost, you don't want to appear to be accusing anyone of anything. Given your level of experience and good track record, your boss and the higher-ups are probably making plans to move you into a different role, where they ... |
My Old team are not happy with their new boss who reports to me I have changed roles in my organization, and in that process hired a replacement for my old role.10 sales people report into that role, and that role reports into me. The team have recently approached me, regarding the team morale and how they are not h... | The other obvious suggestion is that the manager confer with the team and explicitly lay out the manager's expectations. I would at this stage stop making yourself available to your former team members and instead redirect them to their new manager.
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Tell customer politely that interruptions during meetings will not be allowed In previous business meetings with a customer, I mistakenly allowed the customer to leave to see to some task during our meeting and while waited for him. The customer now considers temporarily leaving our meetings to go do something and then... | Consider including in your quotes an amount of time for client meetings. If there's a recurrence of the issue after you've raised the issue, that's the time to escalate the issue.
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Choosing professional name for mail address when the domain is "NameSurname.xxx" I am struggling to find the perfect form for my mail address when I have the domain => NameSurname.fr I currently have NameSurname@icloud.com and NameSurname@gmail.com but in my need to have something more "credible" I would like to use ... | The best ways I've seen it done would be to use your firstname or nickname.
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Charging for break time when you work outside of the office. Is it ethical? I just recently switch from working in the office to working from home. I found that I needed to readjust how I manage my time as I was adapting to the new style of work. The thing that seemed to have worked for me is something called the pomod... | If you are clearly more productive at home, then my advice is to let sleeping dogs lie and don't say anything to your management.
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If a phone call ends unexpectedly before everything's handled, who should call back? Suppose 2 people call each other for professional matters and the phone call ends unexpectedly without either of the participants ending the call (be it deliberately or accidentally). Who should call the other party to resume the phone... | The company should call the client back. This is not a situation that should have some formal protocol, you both should try to get the conversation going again.
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Including follow up salary information in a thank you email? During an HR interview over the phone (but this is well into the process, I've met with 7 people already in the past weeks I've progressed to the final round next week) I was asked point blank "what do you currently make?" I deferred and addressed the posted ... | Given the situation you describe, I wouldn't worry about it either way.
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Should I let my manager know I'm considering another offer? I currently have a full time job that is going well, but beginning to stagnate. I received an offer for another job that I'm very interested in, but still unsure if it's the right time to move on. Is there any benefit to sharing this information with my curre... | If your manager is unable to improve your current job now , then it sounds like it's time to take the new job. So no, I would not tell him unless I had already decided to accept the other offer and give your notice.
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Apply through website or directly email director? I'm applying for a job with a large company that uses an online application system. I found the opening through a discussion group specific to the (small) field - posted by the department director himself, not HR. It had a description and said "Go to the website and sea... | Only E-mail the director directly if you have some personal relationship with the director, such as if you worked with the director previously.
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Unavailable for a phone interview and they haven't called back to reschedule. How to remind them politely? I could not attend a telephonic interview since I was in a driving class when they called. I have since sent them an email apologizing and provided a better time at which she could call me (at their request). It h... | I would say do not hesitate, if you can call them it would also show you are genuinely interested and also consider calling them back which is always a nice gesture.
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How to quit when you are the last developer on the team? While my question is similar to this question , my situation is a bit different. I am part of a small development team consisting of two developers, my firend/colleague and myself. There is also a senior developer, but he is mainly focused on the database side,... | I would also explain the situation to the new company (whatever they choose on the start) that your old company may need your help for a certain amount of weeks outside of work hours. The fact that you are the only developer left has probably made management tense, and if they think you might leave they might start exp... |
Is it ok to not put job history in my resume? After I graduated from a university, I had one job for 18 months and quit it 2 months ago. Since I left on bad terms with the management of the company, if a prospective employer somehow contacted my previous company, he/she wouldn't get a positive reference from the last e... | You can request that an employer doesn't contact the former employer without your OK, and you can prep the prospective new employer in advance the reasons why the reference may be less than glowing.
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A recruiter applied for me without my consent. How do I handle this situation? Today, I received a mail from a recruiter about an open position at another company. 6 minutes later, and before I even read the other mail, I received another mail, from the company the recruiter mentioned, asking me to complete my profile ... | You should cut-off ties with this recruiter and notify the company that the application was started without your consent/notification so that the company is also aware of such activities by this recruiter.
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It is OK to leave a new job after 6 months for a new offer? 6 months ago I interviewed at two companies (Company A and Company B), heavily interested in working at both. Ultimately, Company B said I was overqualified, but they'd love to keep me in mind if a more senior position opens up down the line. Company A gave me... | Consider pay and benefits, how much you would enjoy the actual work, and how it will help you progress through your professional and personal goals. I'd say you should check out the details of the new position, go for an interview and do a little research on how they operate to help you decide if it's somewhere
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Explain that job uncertainty is affecting my ability to do work? Should I tell my boss that job uncertainty is affecting my ability to do work? If so, how best to explain? I am a developer working on a contract basis for an organization and manager I like and would like to continue with, and my current contract is abo... | The extension of this contract is a possibility, but not a certainty, so you should be cultivating other leads, now.
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How to prepare for an interview for a different position than I applied for? A few weeks ago I applied for a junior position. Everything went great, from the group interview to the personal interview with the manager.Yesterday they contacted me and told me that they are offering me an interview for a better paying posi... | Know your resume, and practice telling your personal story about your skills and experience -- make a list of why they should hire you and not someone else. Try your best and just be yourself. I would do more research about the company if you can -- find the people who you are interviewing with on LinkedIn if possible ... |
Need a vacation 6 months after starting, when to bring it up? For reasons explained in this question, I am currently looking for a new place of work. I have recently received a verbal offer from a hiring manager and have been told that a written offer will be forthcoming sometime this coming week, for a start date in... | For other companies, you may need to take your two weeks off without pay. Bring it up now. Both you and the prospective employer deserve respect, and asking politely early in the process you are complimenting the company and manager, trusting they will not embarrass you or be dismissive of your honest concern about bei... |
Do I need a vCard in the business environment? I'm about a year away from graduating from university and am considering entering into the business sector, possibly attempting a startup or maybe freelancing as a writer, I don't know yet exactly. But I've read about vCards but I'm not familiar with how often they're act... | Business cards still have their place, and are very "low-friction" - everyone is used to using them, they slip into a pocket or wallet easily and you can write (brief) notes on them (how to pronounce an uncommon name, why you should contact the person later, etc). I don't believe I've ever had someone ask me for a vCar... |
Is it a good idea to put a photo on your business card? Nowadays we have our pictures everywhere: in the email client, on the company website, in phone contacts, on Linkedin, etc. Would it therefore be in good taste to put a professional photo of yourself on a business card? After all most people tend to remember face... | If you are a contractor, then I'd suggest it is a good thing. It's probably useful in a setting where your audience sees a bunch of faces and intros all at once, and so your face helps them remember.
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Why is a company pushing me to start without results of background check? A company wants to rush a start date without having results of a background check. This is the second time it's happened to me. It makes me feel uncomfortable. They want me to put in my two weeks notice at my current job without knowing the res... | Nothing is compelling them to wait for the results of the background check. You can push back, telling them that you don't expect any problems with the background check, but you'd still feel better waiting to give notice until there are no caveats in the job offer.
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How can I find out from an interview if the manager is a micromanager? I am about to go into an interview in a few days for a job in the IT field. My current employer is a micromanager and I am wanting to make sure this new employer is not. What kind of subtle questions could I ask that would give me the answer withou... | I would just ask about the methodology for managing the projects - how is work assigned, how are deadlines determined, where do requirements come from, how much freedom to choose tools and problem solutions do individual devs get etc.
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Referring someone I don't know, but recomended by someone I trust One of my close friends has asked me to recommend someone for a position (posted online) in my company. While I do not know that person, his CV states that he has many of the right qualifications, and my company also has a referral policy. Also, I have... | This is a fairly normal occurrence - people will often send their friends a posted position that might be a good fit for them, in the hopes that the friend will do the same if a similar opportunity occurs in the future.
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How to recruit an honest candidate? I am planning to start a retail business soon. As such, my business will have a shop, and a cashier for collecting fees from customers. I would like to recruit someone to open the doors each morning or lock the doors in the evening. This person would also likely be responsible for t... | Benefits/compensation they are happy with (people who think they have a good job are less likely to do something that could cost them their job).
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Small Company Postpones Final Interview, should one be cautious? I recently had a phone interview, followed by an in-person interview and assessment with a small software development company (less than 20 people), the company itself is less than three years old. All of my interviews, according to my recruitment agent, ... | I wouldn't worry too much about financial trouble, if the company had the budget to hire an additional employee it's unlikely that their finances suddenly turn so bleak that this is no longer viable. It's much more likely that someone fell ill or things simply got a lot busier than expected leaving no time to complete ... |
What makes an image safe for work? After reading Sexy desktop wallpapers in the office I was wondering what makes images safe for work. At my previous job, I used this image as a desktop background for a while: I didn't get any comments on it, although I did sometimes wonder myself how appropriate it was, with the... | Just don't use anything that may disturb others or may start an argument.
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Rejecting request to do work of different company I work in the technical division of an online business in India. My company got acquired by its direct competitor in last January. After the acquisition my ceo and another manager started a new company. The second manager already resigned from company and CEO is also ... | Be aware they are asking something that is entirely unreasonable. If you believe something is important to the company, make that argument to the company, with as solid a set of supporting arguments as you can find.
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How to respond to internship compensation offer? I am a student who will be graduating this August from Carnegie Mellon University. I was offered a full time internship for the next 6 months with a big company. However, the compensation offer was really low.I really like the job and the work environment, however the sa... | I'd assume that is, indeed, their final offer and look for another job or internship.
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What is the etiquette for working with recruiters? A recruiter contacts me about a direct hire in city X. He is eager to move forward, but is difficult to work with. The next day a different recruiter from a different staffing company contacts me about the same position. I can now if I really want to work with 3 di... | If one has a better reputation with you than the other, it is perfectly advisable to go through that recruiter.
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Is having a resume with color/design ok if you are not a designer? I'm wondering if it's ok to spice up your resume up with a bit of color as someone who isn't a graphic designer, or will this make people take you less seriously? Of course it would have to be tastefully done; I was thinking something like... as op... | There is nothing wrong with adding color or making yours stick out As a hiring manager I'd say no, don't do it. If you know for certain that the hiring manager themselves will see the document, and you have reason to believe that this will impress them, then go ahead - but be wary that impressing them with your graphic... |
Multiple interview dates offered. Should I choose one or let the company decide? I have been contacted for an interview. The company has proposed 2 different dates, and stated that they wait for my response to define the interview date. If I am available on both the days, should I tell them so and let them decide, or... | Simple answer: Just choose which one you prefer, and tell them! It will honestly make no difference.
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Do out-of-state interviews do drug tests on site? I've been unemployed and job searching the past few weeks. I have a medical marijuana card which I stupidly utilized during this break. Now that I have hit my final interview, I'm a little concerned. I've quit for a while but know it's still in my system. I know excuse... | I would not expect them to surprise you with a urine test at the interview, but I wouldn't entirely rule it out either. The answer though is it depends on the company you are applying to and the state where you are interviewing. Some states are more lax on drug testing while others make employers give you a conditional... |
Negotiate contract work during full time interview What's the most effective way to negotiate contract/telecommute work in a full-time job interview? Location is 3000+ miles too far from where I love living now (0% chance of me moving) The job is an awesome software designer position There are no obvious constrai... | Once you have established that remote work is viable for the hiring manager, then you can wow them with your skills, and convince them how you can be both trusted and effective working remotely. Make sure you bring up your need to continue to work from your current location in your first interview, so that you are not ... |
I'm updating my CV and wish to omit some old and less respectable items. Should I? I'm about to begin working on my old résumé which has been gathering dust for some years. With a fresh look at the things I find myself willing to get rid of some of the old items I believe to be no longer of any value. I'd like however ... | Keep the stuff which isn't important for your current application short.
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Ethical to accept job offer I may not start Is it ethical to accept a job offer if I may accept another position before starting? A company extended to me a job offer; they offered median compensation for my field and area. I am also a candidate for a second position which would open new career opportunities and offer... | Its much more ethical to simply say "thank you, but I am waiting to see what the outcome of another interview is before I can accept or decline your offer".
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How to urge the top management about resolving washroom crisis in office This may sound funny, but in our country, this is a very common phenomenon, i.e. temporary shortage of water supply and the water supply line remaining closed for several hours. However, in a software firm, this scenario is not common, and in no w... | I suggest you all present management with a petition requesting that management does whatever it takes to make all washrooms 100% operational. If they keep on asking you about it then let them know gently that you are not going to come down to their level.
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How do I politely refuse to participate in smalltalk? I am not antisocial; I will happily say hello and have a conversation if there's one to be had. I am not interested in talking for the sake of filling space, sometimes I would be required to share the minute details of a boring week/month with a stranger just to an... | One of the best ways to prevent people talking to you when you don't want to is to make yourself inaccessible. Failure to participate or reciprocate in a (culturally-dependant) reasonable degree may lead to your being branded as grumpy, weirdo, or indeed antisocial. Remember that most such questions are social noise, a... |
Should I mention programming skills in a resume? I'm a fresh grad in civil engineering, I have to apply to write my first resume. I don't know if I should add "Programming Skills": At first, it seems really irrelevant to the job and it is more of a "hobby". On the other hand, programming has reached all aspects of ... | Extra office appropriate skills will (should) never hurt your resume.
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Employee seems to cut me off and talk over me I supervise a very small team of 5 guys. One of my employees seems to constantly talk over me or cut me off and it certainly gets annoying. This especially happens when I want to deliver a speech about a new or upcoming feature. For instance, I might say we've got X task... | Have an agenda that everyone gets a copy in advance. Ask everyone to not interrupt.
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How can I address my boss's concerns about my abilities? I started a new job and from reading between the lines I sense a tension in that my manager is not sure if I have the technical skills. I didn't lie or misrepresent my abilities in the interview. My manager asked if I had used Python at work before to which I rep... | Ask for some regular review of your code and get your boss to commit to an evaluation.
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Is it a violation of workplace ethics if employees do R&D and personal projects in their free times during office hour? Managers always put emphasis on R&D and technical competence. Normally, employees are expected to do R&D and personal projects for skill enhancement purposes outside office hours and preferably, in ho... | No they don't - if what you are doing is considered "Gross Misconduct" then they can sack you on the spot for it, but most reasonable companies would give some kind of warning if what you are doing isn't excessive or unreasonable! If you are going to do anything that's related to your own personal projects, pick an act... |
What (if anything) is polite/customary to do when leaving a company in the USA? I am leaving a company where I have worked for a few years on friendly terms, as I got a job with another company. In the past I worked in the same kind of role in a couple of companies in the Netherlands and both had an 'office tradition'... | If you want a suggestion, you could mention to your current boss that you'd like to give the office a going-away present to thank them for the many happy hours you worked there, and they might be able to suggest something (baked goods, a new coffee machine, et cetera) but they're just as likely to say 'that's not neces... |
Is it illegal to offer my services to a friend for below minimum wage? I'd like to tutor my friend for $5 an hour. To me, this is a reasonable price because I'm getting more out of it than just the money (practicing my skills, spending time with a friend, doing a favor for my friend). Is this ok? <Q> Yes, you are fine... | If you are strictly concerned about minimum wage as a whole, you don't have to worry about that either - minimum wage applies to what you pay an employee , and as a tutor not affiliated with any company, you are your own employer, and you are not legally required to pay yourself a minimum wage.
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Is it okay to tell the preferred company that you have received other job offers? I have recently applied to Company A. I have gone through the 1st and 2nd interview and everything seems to be going well. In the 2nd interview, the senior manager told me that HR would get back to me in a week. After a week, I haven't re... | Do not jeopardize the offers you have if one is not forthcoming from your preferred employer.
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Accidentaly organized two job interviews for overlapping, how to communicate to minimize loss? Thus, the problem is that I mistakenly changed a week row in my calendar. And now, I have two job interviews (by different companies), on the same time. Unfortunately, I acknowledged soon my presence by both companies. What... | You do not need to mention that you are rescheduling because of another interview - just pick a company and tell them you have an appointment you can't miss, and ask them to reschedule.
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Should you announce you have a stutter before an interview? I've had a mild stutter/stammer since my childhood and occasionally it'll show during a phone interview. I can be completely calm & relaxed during an interview and still stutter and there isn't really anything I can do about it. Anyway, I'm wondering if it's ... | If it is more than just a nervous tic, and you feel it would negatively impact your interview, it is better to be up front with it and let them know - if it is part of a general condition that they should know about, better still to let them know about that as well.
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Asked a raise, how long should I wait to hear back? Premise: The company I work for doesn't have an automatic salary raise policy (like x% each year) During my last yearly review I asked for a raise to my superior (I felt was the appropriate time, the review is a talk, nothing written, we simply discuss how was the pr... | Wait long enough that he will have had a chance to talk with his superior.
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Are there tax breaks (U.S.) for hiring new university grads? I had my friend interview for a professional role on my team (software engineer II) - he didn't quite meet the expectations during the interview. Later, it was announced that we're going to start trying to fill SE-I positions instead. I brought it up that my... | There was a tax break for hiring workers who were previously unemployed.
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Addressing or greeting people in a rapidly growing email thread Some days ago I received an email from my business owner regarding an issue. She started with writing 'Hi my_name' then she described the issue, in response I wrote 'Hello her_name' and then I wrote the solution to the issue. She tried the solution and iss... | My own preference: Generally in that kind of thread you are either replying to a particular comment -- in which case the a-few--lines-and-reply mechanism is enough to maintain context -- or you particularly want the attention of a specific individual, in which case you use their name at the start of a paragraph as an e... |
How honest to be in a resignation A similar question to this one , but obviously with different personal circumstances, I'd be grateful of people's ideas on this: The basic situation I've worked for around a year for an employer developing software for them, and recently the workload has at least tripled, with promi... | I would NOT vent my spleen, simply state in general terms why you feel the need to leave, do a clean handover and leave at the end of your notice period.
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Unclear how to interpret what manager says I started a new job where the main person I interact with is my manager. Sometimes I can't tell if he's mad, joking or asking a rhetorical question. For example he was showing me how to do something with the database and when I clicked on the table it said "permission denied".... | Perhaps he is looking for an answer from you on how you would solve this problem so that he may see how your thinking process works.
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Master degree student with equal salary to bachelor degree - what should I write to my manager? I am a master degree student and I have been working in a company for about 8 months. I recently found out that the pay for bachelor's degree and mine are same. It's my fault that I didn't negotiate during my interview. Now ... | Don't under any circumstances - tell your direct supervisor/HR that you found out that Bachelor degree position holders are getting paid more than you, for a number of reasons but the few that jump immediately to mind are:
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When talking with a client, what should I do with my hands? When talking with a client, what should I do with my hands? Should I put them in my back pockets? Let them hang? Put them over my pockets? This may sound stupid, but it is an important component to keep a professional look. Also, I don't want to look silly o... | If I'm stood up I would generally have my hands to the side of me (which I don't always feel comfortable with) or clasped in-front of me like this picture If you are totally focused on communicating with the client and doing a thorough job of telling the client what the firm can do for them, the last and least thing yo... |
Should I get a reference from an employer with a negative reputation? I work as an intern at a large scale company and am coming to the end of my contract. I sacrificed a lot to take this placement so put a lot of effort into making a name for myself in the company. Some of the ways I have done this is volunteer to lea... | A good reference from a boss is a good thing.
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New team commonly goes for a drink on Friday lunchtime - could attending this event negatively effect me? I have recently moved to a new team in my company and they often go out for a drink during lunch hour on a Friday. It's only a single drink, but I'm not sure what the rules are regarding this. In previous teams, I... | But if they're just going out for a drink and nobody is socially pressured to drink alcohol if they don't want to, then in most British workplaces this would be considered a good team-bonding thing to do. Check your company's policies.
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My ex-employer wants me back? My reporting manager never liked me Today my ex-employer asked me if I am can join company back. I am not sure how to evaluate. I was the second employee of the off-shore branch. I was liking the job and learnt a lot of technologies. I was growing with the company, until the new manager w... | If you have some idea that you were just collateral damage (rather than the intended victim), you may be able to repair the relationship with the manager.
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Working overtime in Germany I am about to start my first job as a software developer in a well reputed company in Germany. I have heard plenty of times that one is not allowed to work overtime regularly unless its highly important. Even during my internship at another established company, my supervisor used to tell me ... | Usually, management will only allow this if there is urgent need for you to work extra. Talk to HR to find out what kind of "Weiterbildung" they offer.
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Changing work shift from 9-5 to 7:30 - 4, will I be looked at as a slacker? I've been thinking of changing my shift times from 9am-5pm to 7:30am (or 8) to 4pm, to allow time to do yoga/therapy after work multiple days a week. My question is, will I be looked at as a slacker? I am trying to move up at work and the only ... | So "come early and stay late" leads to stress, anxiety, and less productivity just by itself.
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Volunteering for more responsibility: proving oneself vs being taken advantage of Similar questions have been asked, but none seem to be exactly what I'm looking for. I'm looking to move into management or similar in the relatively near future. My current position does not include any real supervisory responsibilitie... | You should begin by explaining your interest in this position and why you think you are a suitable fit.
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Should I resign before or after an important meeting? I've decided to accept an offer of another job from a different software company, and have an offer in writing. Tomorrow, I hand in my resignation but also scheduled for tomorrow is a product planning meeting to discuss how we will progress with our program. Do I:... | If you've made the decision to resign, the best practice is to inform your company immediately after you've decided to accept the new offer, but before you actually accept the new role.
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Can I bill the client for my time learning his system? I'm working on some bug fixes on web project for a client/friend. He has everything set up and working, but called me to fix a handful of bugs. I've never used his system, I barely know how it runs, how it's organized etc and how everything works together. I'm goi... | I would discuss the complexity of using unfamiliar systems and explain that you would need to time to investigate and debug the code that you would need to charge for. Spend some time with the client, allowing him to take you through the bugs, taking as many notes as you can (steps to reproduce, functional areas etc). ... |
Should I provide my boss with a list of reasons why I'm quitting? I submitted my letter of resignation earlier today to my supervisor. He forwarded it to our boss and shortly after the boss wanted to meet with us for a discussion. Basically he wants me to provide a list of reasons why I/other people are leaving the com... | The best thing that you may be able to do is: at the exit interview, follow the advise of "leaving for employment that better matches my long term goals" or what every polit reason that you have; then after you have left - then send an anonymus note with issues that you experienced as well as those that preceeded you.
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Is it normal to ask for reading material before starting a new job I will be starting a new job next month and am a bit worried about the probationary period. I have never worked in this field (financial services) since I have done most of my life in academia (mathematics). Till now I have only met the HR people who h... | You could also ask your to-be boss if there are any books they'd recommend for you - pointing out that you'd like to improve your skills as part of being hired onto the new job
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As a new graduate, how can I make myself a stronger candidate? As a new grad, I have nothing in my resume that anyone couldn't do and I feel like I will never go beyond average. My job and even money are just means to allow for a good life and I will never take it beyond that, but I still really care about programming... | Meaningful internship experience is probably the best way a new grad can show their ability to do the above.
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What can companies do to uncover fake diplomas such as those purportedly sold by Axact? So I was reading this article in New York Times about Axact, a Pakistan-based Company that seems to be in the business of selling fake diplomas. The case of Axact is also not some small operation involving diplomas with just one ... | You simply find what state the alleged institution of higher learning is, you go on the appropriate institutional accreditor's website and you check the name of the alleged institution against their list of accredited institutions.
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Is my Linkedin profile for personal use or work use? My employer insists that everyone's Linkedin profile list their business email address, not their personal email address. Is this typical, standard, or generally accepted practice? <Q> As an individual who is not involved in the recruitment or hiring practices, beyon... | If you feel that not complying puts your job at risk, or you simply don't care that much, you may choose to comply. All of my profiles, including LinkedIn, are representative of me as an individual and not as an employee of my company.
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Should I tailor my resume for each job application? I have skills as web developer and a graphic designer, and when advertising my strengths, traits such as "innovative" seem to be good for software design, but not really important for graphic design. Furthermore, my resume currently lists both my web development and... | The short answer is that it is always good to tailor a resume and trim what is irrelevant to the position you are applying to.
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Telling my boss I can't stand to hear him eat near me I suffer from Misophonia, meaning that certain sounds cause me to experience irrational irritability, anger, frustration and nausea. My trigger is the sound of people eating or drinking. Often my boss will sit next to and work with me, and often he will be eating h... | If you choose not to disclose your condition and make this request you run the risk of being viewed as picky or eccentric. I don't know if your job requires you to be able to hear what is going on around you, but is there any possibility that you can use headphones (either with music or sound cancelling). Have a plan t... |
Working at home and breastfeeding When I get my PhD from college I will be working at home as a research scientist. This might require online conferences with my co-workers and my boss. Sometime in the future I am planning on having children. I want to exclusively breastfeed them until 6 months and continue breastfeed... | In terms of early days, when newborns need round the clock care, if maternity leave isn't an option, you can either move jobs before starting your family to a place that does have maternity leave, or take a leave of absence, or perhaps take a sabbatical where you can work more at your own pace. You need to know what yo... |
Are managers reviewed on their own performance or their teams? An employee who is not a manager gets reviewed on the work they produce, where very little of it is dependant on other people. They might be part of a team but usually they will have tasks that only they have been assigned to. Failure to complete their part... | A manager's teams performance IS their performance.
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Do companies see having employees who live close to the office as an advantage? I was just contacted by a company whose offices are two minutes walk from my flat. Now let's assume that I am interested in the job and get to the interview stage. For me the location is obviously a bonus, but do they care? I don't know whe... | I would say that living close to work is more of the employee's benefit than the employer. Being close doesn't really get bonus points.
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What to do if you're asked to break industry regulations? The company I work for has to comply with certain regulations regarding the software it uses, one of the terms being that a certain number cannot be higher than 3%. If it is the company can be heavily fined. Regularly this number is at 30%-40% and I am asked to ... | You might want to consult a lawyer, or perhaps contact the regulatory agency responsible for this, to inquire about whistleblower status. Although the top rated answer is fine (Contact a lawyer), I suspect that may well be easier said than done.
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My boss forwarded a confidential email - what is an appropriate course of action? Recently i sent a very personal email with a list of grievances to my boss. The start of the mail was a request not to forward that mail to anyone. My boss has not yet responded to the contents of the mail, although he acknowledged recei... | Do not quit on the spot. You can request that your boss not forward your email, but receipt of email is not a contract, and your boss is under no obligation to honor your request.
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Periodically taking time off work for awkward medical reason I recently started a co-op job through my university. My boss is the only one I report to and I don't work with anyone else. In the next few weeks I'm going to have to take some time off. I don't know how to put this but I've got to go see a psychologist (pos... | On a side note, I believe you are doing the right thing getting regular professional treatment for whatever issue you are working through.
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Is it normal to have to CC all emails to my boss? My boss does not allow the programmers and artists to communicate outside of email and without CCing him so he can keep an eye on it. I am new to Indian culture, is this normal? <Q> It is not normal. <S> "Not communicating outside email" would be normal if you work i... | It's normal ccing your boss ONLY if you are doing something out of your current level of delegation, so she can confirm it. When I worked for a place where we were creating COTS (commercial-Off-The-Shelf) software, I only rarely had to copy my boss in communcations to other people.
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How to handle duration of my learning curve in new short-deadline project I am very experienced in the technology which I have worked on and finished in another project. But recently I have been deployed into a new project where the existing code is written in a technology that is new to me and I am taking time to und... | First, take a step back and make a realistic assessment of how long you will actually require to complete your tasks.
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Is it common to be asked to perform a 48-hour "development exercise" during the interview process for an IT job? In the early stages of interviewing for a web UX/UI developer position, I've been informed there will be a "development exercise" which is to be completed over 48 hours and returned to the company. I don't k... | Reputable companies use these exercises to evaluate how you work on a real, extended problem. As a developer I've seen (and given) exercises like this. Unscrupulous companies use these exercises as a way of getting free work.
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What can I conclude from interview length? I've been interviewing for a couple positions lately. The industry is much in favor of the employee in my country: there are far more positions than specialists and wages are sky high compared to other industries. Out of the 5 companies, 4 interviews were about 45 minutes lon... | It is not surprising that companies invest a lot of time in the interview process, considering the high cost of a bad hire . In reality, the length of the interview might be significant, but it might not. They have enough people doing real work, and will have full-time H.R. people
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Is it reasonable to ask for an employer to pay off a student loan, and take a pay cut to compensate? I work for a small company. My salary is such that I can pay off a student loan in a year or two. But I'd like to pay it off now, to avoid interest and things of that nature. Is asking the company finance officer to ... | You'd be essentially asking your employer for a loan/advance to cover debt you incurred in good faith. It's always reasonable to ask; sometimes it's not reasonable to expect a positive answer :-)
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To interview at another company (B) after accepting an offer from company (A) I am in a little bit of fix. Recently I had been interview by a company "A", and received a job offer from them, which I formally accepted by signing. As with desperate candidates, I had applied to other positions too, before being interviewe... | If B offers you 30% more than of what A is offering you, however, no one in their right mind would blame you for reneging on your intention to work for A. Personally I feel that it is ethically not correct, or unprofessional to get an interview at the other company. There is nothing ethically or legally wrong with goin... |
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