Ask a manager

Paragraph One: Dear hiring manager, please hire me for [specific job]. I’d like working [specific job] because of [specific things related to that job’s description]. This is maybe three or four sentences that I rewrite every time I have a cover letter. Paragraph Two: Here is some experience that is relevant to this job.Jan 25, 2018 · In most industries, this will come across as an outdated and stuffy salutation. If you know the hiring manager’s name, use that instead, but if not, simply writing “dear hiring manager” is fine, and won’t make you appear to be from an earlier century. * “My name is…”. This makes you sound young. Like under-15 young. Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. A friend of my ex-boyfriend verbally attacked me at work. I’m the one who asked you about a new hire who blew up on me because he is friends with my ex. The day after you posted my question, I went on a week-long business trip out of town.by Alison Green on December 8, 2023. It’s your Friday good news! I had two huge professional milestones this year, and both of them were aided by AAM. In late 2022, I pushed for and received a title change that I felt I truly deserved, based on the work that I’d been doing for over a year with a lower title and salary.Oct 29, 2018 · Ask a Manager. Need expert advice on handling workplace dilemmas and dramas? Alison Green, founder of the popular website AskAManager.org, is here to help you resolve your toughest, most frustrating, or just plain weirdest work predicaments. Each week, she takes calls and talks directly with listeners about how to successfully tackle clueless ... Dec 15, 2021 · Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. My employee keeps criticizing my food. So, I really appreciated the commenter’s perspectives about the opportunity costs involved – in finding a nanny during COVID and finding trusted, qualified childcare in general. I also appreciated your feedback about jumping to termination without ... Ask a Manager * April 28, 2023 at 11:01 am. A request: Since I debuted the new commenting rules last week, there’s been a lot more “backseat modding” going on — people telling others they’re violating the commenting rules. This is fine when something is really egregious and a clear black-and-white violation (like armchair …open thread – March 15-16, 2024. by Alison Green on March 15, 2024. It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to talk about (that includes school). If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance ... Subscribe to all comments in a reader. Follow me on Twitter. Connect on Facebook. Report a problem with an ad, a technical problem with the site, or a typo. If you’re interested in display advertising, paid sponsorships, or brand partnerships, please email [email protected]. You can... Email me a question. by Alison Green on September 18, 2023. A reader writes: I’ve worked at my current company for six years. In that time, I befriended a coworker (Rebecca) who, to be honest, seemed very lonely but was sweet. We had some things in common and she sat with me at lunch sometimes.Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Is my manager the problem … or am I? After being fired, my job search was hard, but about six weeks and four interviews with different companies later, I was hired in a new role! The new role has a 20% raise, fewer hours a week, more vacation, and better benefits.Ask a Manager * April 11, 2016 at 11:47 am. Nope — this is the full email and there was nothing else in the exchange. I still think it’s real though. Some people think like this. Katie the Fed * April 11, 2016 at 11:56 am. When you’re in the throes of outrage, it’s really, really hard to think about a situation objectively. That’s how this letter …by Alison Green on December 8, 2023. It’s your Friday good news! I had two huge professional milestones this year, and both of them were aided by AAM. In late 2022, I pushed for and received a title change that I felt I truly deserved, based on the work that I’d been doing for over a year with a lower title and salary.Feb 2, 2024 ... This will give your manager time to also prepare for the discussion. Test the waters. If you have a friendly relationship with your employer, ...by Alison Green on February 26, 2024. A reader writes: I recently went through a lengthy interview process (five interviews, one of which lasted over two hours, plus two assessments) for a position, and after the final interview, the company asked me to join them for a feedback call. Interestingly, the feedback call was an opportunity …One of the most effective ways to get detailed, constructive feedback from your manager is to use your existing 1-on-1 meetings. These meetings are already on your calendars, so …Ask a Manager * April 18, 2022 at 8:30 pm. These examples and my advice more broadly is always U.S.-specific. For example, cover letters apparently aren’t used at all in the UK, and pretty much all the advice here is apparently way too over the top enthusiastic in tone for Australia. Work advice in general is incredibly culturally …Here are all the open threads from Ask a Manager — posts where readers discuss the work issues that are on their minds and get answers. weekend open thread – March 9-10, 2024. by Alison Green on March 8, 2024. This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. …employee keeps trash-talking her own work. by Alison Green on March 6, 2024. A reader writes: I’m working a large project with Hank, another manager who is my peer. We have divided our workload, and I am primarily supervising three of our staff, while Hank is supervising the remaining two. I have a friendly relationship with Samantha, one of ...Editor’s Note: we’ve also rounded up the 29 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2022. When you hang out with your pals over Zoom, it’s only natural to ask what they’ve been up to. While T...my constantly available coworkers keep commenting on my healthier work-life balance. my boss is unavailable and it's driving us all mad. my boss expects me to be available 24/7 since we're stuck at home. Posted in advice about your coworkers. Evan Þ* September 18, 2023 at 1:02 pm.Learn how to communicate with your manager effectively and get the most out of your position. Find out what questions to ask your manager about expectations, …Lissajous * December 8, 2021 at 8:12 pm. Ditto my cat, who loves to chew, with a special focus on anything string shaped (see also: shoe laces, blind cords, skinny electrical cables especially Apple charging cables – the softer rubber they use in combination with the wire inside is just *chef kiss* al dente perfection, apparently.As another pandemic January comes to a close, it seems like a good time to check in on our New Year’s resolutions. The Ask writers and editors got together via another virtual roun...can I ask for a salary cut, I don’t want to share a bed with my boss, and more; weekend open thread – March 2-3, 2024; open thread – March 1-2, 2024; is it OK to flirt at networking events, coworker spies on me, and more; how to ask for a disability accommodation for a job interview; update: recovering professionally after an internet ...the Ask a Manager guide to preparing for job interviews. If you’re like most people, you struggle with preparing for job interviews and feeling confident going into interviews, so I have a free guide to help you. How to Prepare for an Interview: Boost Your Confidence, Impress Your Interviewer, and Get a Job. Including things …I found my boss’s highly critical notes about a coworker. by Alison Green on July 21, 2021. A reader writes: After 10 years of working together, my direct manager — our director of operations, Jessica — was let go from our company a few months ago. There were apparently some behind-the-scenes issues between …the Ask a Manager guide to preparing for job interviews. If you’re like most people, you struggle with preparing for job interviews and feeling confident going into interviews, so I have a free guide to help you. How to Prepare for an Interview: Boost Your Confidence, Impress Your Interviewer, and Get a Job. Including things …However, ask your manager's permission beforehand and ensure your note-taking doesn't hinder the conversation flow. Remember, one-on-one meetings are a valuable opportunity for both you and your manager. Use these questions as a starting point, adapt them to your specific needs, and prioritize …Ask a Manager * April 18, 2022 at 8:30 pm. These examples and my advice more broadly is always U.S.-specific. For example, cover letters apparently aren’t used at all in the UK, and pretty much all the advice here is apparently way too over the top enthusiastic in tone for Australia. Work advice in general is incredibly culturally …1. My manager seems hesitant to answer some questions directly. What should I do? Remain calm and professional. Briefly rephrase your question for clarity. If …I’m grateful for everyone at Ask a Manager who offered advice, coworkers who helped or pointed out when I could have done better, patient and not so patient supervisors. Many commentators expressed sympathy for the supervisors and coworkers who had to work with me through the years. I have a great deal of sympathy as well! I’m …My discussion with my manager also led to them deciding that the whole team should do remote work on Fridays. In the end, both my coworkers and I benefited from it. Thank you so much for the advice! 3. Our new entry-level coworker thinks he’s our boss. I wrote to you a few months ago about a project manager …my coworker is too personally invested in her job. by Alison Green on March 30, 2021. A reader writes: I have a question about going over someone’s head to raise concerns to their supervisor. This isn’t a concern with her quality of work, nor anything she’s done wrong — it’s more out of concern for her as a person.my store is doing great because I’m breaking all our policies. by Alison Green on February 15, 2024. It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I have been the manager of a clothing retailer (think along the lines of Forever 21, H&M, etc.) for two-ish years. Unfortunately, the brand at large is not doing very well.my job makes me feel like I’m the worst kid in gym class. by Alison Green on May 24, 2023. A reader writes: I work a job that is typically considered high-stress in a low-paying industry. My workplace and the satellite offices will get together on days the workplace is closed to clients and take us for a (paid) day of team-building fun.However, ask your manager's permission beforehand and ensure your note-taking doesn't hinder the conversation flow. Remember, one-on-one meetings are a valuable opportunity for both you and your manager. Use these questions as a starting point, adapt them to your specific needs, and prioritize …a behind-the-scenes look at how Ask a Manager runs. by Alison Green on February 6, 2023. Recently I answered a question about the behind-the-scenes running of Ask a Manager, and readers said they’d be interested in an opportunity to ask more. So last week I asked people to post questions they were interested in, …Ask a Manager speed round. by Alison Green on April 14, 2021. It’s the Ask a Manager speed round! Until 4 pm ET today, I’ll be answering as many questions as I can live, in the comment section below. How to ask questions: Submit a comment below with your question.About Ask a Manager. From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager andNew York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.”.Jul 11, 2019 · The worst people I’ve seen in leadership positions span both sides. There are the “You don’t need nor want you to like me, I’m in charge, jump when I say jump and ask no questions.” and then there’s the ones who are unreachable, constantly “too busy” and just you know, perma-out to lunch it seems. Having a smile with missing teeth can affect your confidence as well as the health of the other teeth in your mouth. Perhaps your dentist has recommended a tooth implant to remedy ...Ask a Manager speed round. by Alison Green on September 20, 2022. It’s part 2 of this year’s Ask a Manager speed round! ( Part 1 was last month .) Until 4 pm ET today, I’ll be answering questions live (using some of the questions that were submitted but not answered in part 1). Last month I answered 78 questions …can I ask for a salary cut, I don’t want to share a bed with my boss, and more; weekend open thread – March 2-3, 2024; open thread – March 1-2, 2024; is it OK to flirt at networking events, coworker spies on me, and more; how to ask for a disability accommodation for a job interview; update: recovering professionally after an internet ...Eh, I think it’s very normal for managers to refer to the people they manage as “my employee (s).”. Similar to saying “my manager” instead of “the person who manages me” or “my company” instead of “the company I work for.”. Ha – I deliberately say “my employer” instead of “my company” because I don’t own it.Jul 8, 2018 · a pain-free guide to writing a resume. by Alison Green on August 22, 2023. No offense, but your resume is probably a mess. It’s not that you aren’t skilled or accomplished, but most people’s resumes are middling at best. That’s understandable – resumes aren’t something you write on a regular basis, and most of us feel weird about ... Dec 4, 2023 · Here are four updates from past letter-writers. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. 1. Misbehaving dog rampages around the office. I didn’t quite follow the advice. Honestly, having a conversation with any of the owners about the dog seemed the most uncomfortable thing to do, even more so ... Dec 8, 2022 · The Foundling, by Ann Leary. A young woman in the 1920s gets a job at an asylum for women and begins to unravel the dark truth of what’s happening there. Peter Darling, by Austin Chant. A transgender re-telling of Peter Pan, in which Peter returns to Neverland as an adult and forges a surprising connection with Hook. Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. My employee always gets other people’s help on his work (#3 at the link) After I wrote, I followed your advice and asked him to complete the next project on his own or only come to me for help, explaining that I wanted to assess his conceptual knowledge.Eh, I think it’s very normal for managers to refer to the people they manage as “my employee (s).”. Similar to saying “my manager” instead of “the person who manages me” or “my company” instead of “the company I work for.”. Ha – I deliberately say “my employer” instead of “my company” because I don’t own it.May 22, 2021 ... Career Conversations; Asking for something; Opinions, Feedbacks & Concerns. Before going deeper into these, I would like to reiterate some well ...It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and for the rest of the year I’ll be running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. My younger employee doesn’t know professional norms. Thank you to Alison for your advice and to the commenters as well. I …Aug 30, 2021 · Ask a Manager * August 30, 2021 at 2:01 pm For people taking issue with the letter-writer’s statement that Miranda quit with no notice: This is a 2-part update . That part was written the day her letter was published. Ask a Manager * April 26, 2023 at 1:51 pm. I think you are thinking of one very specific type of job but there are many others, especially as you become more senior. For example, if your job is to lobby legislators and I’m your manager, I will work with you to jointly agree on goals and overall strategy, but then I need you to figure out tactics, adjust on the fly when …If you’re experiencing issues with your vehicle’s differential, you may be searching for “differential repair near me” to find a qualified mechanic. However, before you entrust you...There are a few reasons why you ask your manager about their thoughts on delegation and empowerment. First, delegation is an essential skill for managers to develop, as it allows them to focus on higher-level tasks and goals. Second, if employees are empowered, they take ownership of their work and be more …Mar 10, 2023 · Like the question about their goals, asking about your manager’s past achievements can give you insight into their leadership philosophies. It can also give you inspiration for steps to take for your own career. Their major points of pride shows you what your manager’s strengths are and how they gained or use them. 8. Kids, teenagers and even soon-to-be parents all have questions about pregnancy. However, some people ask questions that are hard to believe. They have zero clue about how babies ar...The authors’ research points to twenty-eight questions that can drive the best conversations. When she started a new role, Brianna was told she would be having regular one-on-one meetings (1:1s ...I love Ask A Manager and I find both Alison's voice and her advice very soothing. One thing that really ticks me off though is her advice on apologising for things like lateness, or resumé typos, which tends to be along the lines of, "I'm neurotic about punctuality so I'm mortified" or "I'm a neurotic proofreader." …Dec 8, 2023 · by Alison Green on December 8, 2023. It’s your Friday good news! I had two huge professional milestones this year, and both of them were aided by AAM. In late 2022, I pushed for and received a title change that I felt I truly deserved, based on the work that I’d been doing for over a year with a lower title and salary. Apr 7, 2015 · 1) Everyone gets one. NO exceptions. 2) It’s to develop the employee and grow the company. 3) We will be discussing my productivity. (not optional) If changes are necessary those will be noted and my progress on those changes will be discussed at the next review. Ask a Manager * September 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm. Anonymous, for use on a resume, I think in this particular example, the answer is somewhere in the middle. "Responsible for all communications-oriented operations for external audiences" is way too jargony, but "runs the show" would sound a little full of …Over the past few years, the owner/boss has made a consistent series of stunningly bad business decisions that has led from an environment of “high achieving lunacy” to “wow, quite dysfunctional” to “flaming dumpster fire of the highest order.”. This past year has been particularly difficult. She yells and cries and curses, then ...When it comes to conducting interviews, hiring managers are faced with the daunting task of selecting the best candidate for the job. To make this process more effective and effici...Feb 2, 2024 ... This will give your manager time to also prepare for the discussion. Test the waters. If you have a friendly relationship with your employer, ...Nov 27, 2023 ... TL;DR - There's no harm in asking. However, use your best judgement to express the ask with a professional wrapper, not to appear as nagging.Nov 30, 2021 ... In this video, we will discuss 15 questions to ask your manager during your 1:1. These 15 questions will facilitate conversations around ... the Ask a Manager guide to preparing for job interviews. If you’re like most people, you struggle with preparing for job interviews and feeling confident going into interviews, so I have a free guide to help you. How to Prepare for an Interview: Boost Your Confidence, Impress Your Interviewer, and Get a Job. Including things like: by Alison Green on February 26, 2024. A reader writes: I recently went through a lengthy interview process (five interviews, one of which lasted over two hours, plus two assessments) for a position, and after the final interview, the company asked me to join them for a feedback call. Interestingly, the feedback call was an opportunity …Nov 14, 2023 ... ... managing up appropriately and effectively. 1️⃣ Clarify expectations… ask for the principles and parameters 2️⃣ Ask for what you need ...This generally involves scheduling some meetings, and I have an email “Personal Assistant” bot that does this for me. It has a female name (which was the default), and does not announce that it is a bot (though I don’t think it’s hard to tell). It gives a standard salutation and signs off with “Thank you, <bot name>.”.my boss wants a “guide to getting the best out of me”. by Alison Green on January 10, 2024. A reader writes: My boss, the head of a foundation with 10-15 employees, switches up annual review questions each year. The past three years, the questions have been reflective and mostly for staff’s benefit, according to him, and which I mostly ...As you do this research, keep in mind that you’re looking for patterns. You’re unlikely to come out of this with a single figure (“I should be paid $83,000”). You’re looking for a general range, and from there you can tweak it based on things like your experience and accomplishments.Need expert advice on handling workplace dilemmas and dramas? Alison Green, founder of the popular website AskAManager.org, is here to help you resolve your toughest, most frustrating, or just plain weirdest work predicaments. Each week, she takes calls and talks directly with listeners about how to …Alison Green runs the Ask a Manager blog, where she answers readers' questions daily on office and management issues. She also writes the workplace advice column Ask a Boss for New York magazine's The Cut, and is the co-author of Managing to Change the World: The Nonprofit Manager's Guide to Getting …1. My manager seems hesitant to answer some questions directly. What should I do? Remain calm and professional. Briefly rephrase your question for clarity. If …Listen to Alison Green, founder of AskAManager.org, as she answers your questions on how to deal with tricky work situations. Learn from her tips and insights on topics like lying, micromanaging, …Ask a Manager * May 6, 2020 at 11:07 am. This is like getting a second chance at a cover letter once you have a lot more information. YES! Exactly, perfectly said. Marie * May 6, 2020 at 11:08 am. Agreed! Your last sentence nailed it, and is a great way to think about thank-you letters. Junior Assistant Peon * May 6, 2020 at 11:16 am. I hadn’t considered …Ask a Manager * April 20, 2023 at 12:31 pm. For anyone curious, these are the new additions: Within Rule 1: ” If you wouldn’t say it to someone while you were a guest in someone’s home and still expect to be invited back, don’t say it here” and “If your comments are unkind, crabby, or snarky, or if you seem to be working out anger …Need expert advice on handling workplace dilemmas and dramas? Alison Green, founder of the popular website AskAManager.org, is here to help you resolve your toughest, most frustrating, or just plain weirdest work predicaments. Each week, she takes calls and talks directly with listeners about how to …by Alison Green on August 17, 2022. It’s the second-ever Ask a Manager speed round! (The first was last year and it’s here .) Until 4 pm ET today, I’ll be answering questions live. Last year I answered 76 questions in two hours; we’ll see if I can match or beat that this time! How to ask questions: Submit a question using the …Aug 30, 2021 · Ask a Manager * August 30, 2021 at 2:01 pm For people taking issue with the letter-writer’s statement that Miranda quit with no notice: This is a 2-part update . That part was written the day her letter was published. Oct 12, 2015 · 3. Assistant manager says I need to wear different socks. I’m currently in the running for a promotion, and my assistant manager has been giving me tips on how to make the manager think I’m ready for the part (start wearing makeup everyday, stop asking questions when I’m receiving instructions, etc). Ask a Manager * March 12, 2019 at 12:51 pm. It’s a lot of work. It’s not half time though. It can be done in 3-5 hours a week if you spend those 3-5 hours really focused on the right things and are willing to move swiftly if you see you’re not getting the results you need. That’s still a lot of time though! But it’s part of the job.Ask a Manager * April 28, 2023 at 11:01 am. A request: Since I debuted the new commenting rules last week, there’s been a lot more “backseat modding” going on — people telling others they’re violating the commenting rules. This is fine when something is really egregious and a clear black-and-white violation (like armchair …Ask a Manager * April 28, 2023 at 11:01 am. A request: Since I debuted the new commenting rules last week, there’s been a lot more “backseat modding” going on — people telling others they’re violating the commenting rules. This is fine when something is really egregious and a clear black-and-white violation (like armchair …Dec 8, 2022 · The Foundling, by Ann Leary. A young woman in the 1920s gets a job at an asylum for women and begins to unravel the dark truth of what’s happening there. Peter Darling, by Austin Chant. A transgender re-telling of Peter Pan, in which Peter returns to Neverland as an adult and forges a surprising connection with Hook. One of the most effective ways to get detailed, constructive feedback from your manager is to use your existing 1-on-1 meetings. These meetings are already on your calendars, so … Understanding your manager’s approach to conflict resolution will help you navigate any disagreements that may arise and foster a healthier team dynamic. Navigating Company Goals Aligning With The Company’s Vision. Asking your manager about the company’s vision is a great way to ensure you stay on track and prioritize the right tasks. | Crqhwr (article) | Mpcnap.