Hello! Could you please tell me what to do, there’s a guy sitting next to me at work who eats garlic every day (he’s afraid of catching the flu). But it’s impossible to sit next to him. Should I tell...

I can empathize. My most difficult partner was a heavy duty carrot and apple cruncher. I just made a joke of it and we both had a few laughs over it.... I liked the individual and ultimately it wasn't an issue. Garlic is more challenging. If you decide to approach him, approach it in a spirit of good will. That said, I have been in public spaces and setting where eating fish for lunch was forbidden. And while it's for different reasons in many cases, perfumes are forbidden in various settings. You really have nothing to lose by having a good humoured adult conversation with him about it. There's probably nothing stopping him from taking his medicinal shot of garlic at another time of day at home. There may also be odourless garlic supplements for those who wish to be kind to their neighbours.  more

My girlfriend has been working for free at a big bank reception for two and a half months. They say they will hire her, but for now she’s just gaining experience. It feels like they’re taking...

Even voluntary work implies there is an understanding or an agreement of one form or another between the two parties. It's perhaps time to review the... terms of the agreement in play at this time. If the terms are formalized and the parties are in mutual agreement it would safeguard against anyone "taking advantage". If the terms of the arrangement were not articulated, perhaps it's time they were. For example, did the party your girlfriend agreed to work for commit to provide an evaluation of her work upon her departure?if not, your girlfriend you may wish to make this part of the "letter of understanding."  more

Hey everyone! I work at a small company and don’t make much — honestly, I can barely get by. What really drives me crazy is that every month we all have to pitch in for coworkers’ birthday gifts. At...

The office gift pool process can be either be a fun, flexibly-run, relatively low cost feature of office life or a joyless and potentially burdensome... ritual. It depends on the culture, rules and how it's run.

Is the gift amount one is expected to give per B-day prescribed or left up to the donor? Is the amount one donates "published" or private? Is an individual free to opt out of the pool (and take a pass on both giving and receiving) without any social stigma attached? Is the collection envelope landing on your desk one or two times a month or twice a week? (If it's twice a month and one contributes $5.00 per birthday, that's $120 for the year. )

Finally, does the giving and receiving contribute to genuine joy on the part of givers and recipients or is it simply one more office "ritual"? Personally, I enjoyed the funny group office cards I received with my colleague's signatures and congratulations more than any trinkets.  more

Hi everyone! I’ve been managing a small department for two months now and still can’t fill one position. There are two energetic girls, but they don’t quite meet the required level and one smart guy,...

It's impossible to advise you from this distance of course. That said, beyond what you already know about these candidates, I'm sure you can design an... interview process and sample job assignment that reflects the job requirements and will enable you to gauge their respective job capabilities. Among other things to consider of course is a candidate's ability to maintain a dignified and respectful social media presence.  more

I interbiewed with a company on Friday through an agency A Line Staffing who I thought was this employers specific use gor employment. I called the account manager to see if he could get feedbavk. I...

"The account manager ... tells me 'the employer gound a spplicant themselved'" What language does the account manager speak?

Hello, I always feel like I have no one, despite having friends and all, and now I unintentionally offended some influential people in my set, and now I feel hated

Are you implying you are chronically depressed? Are you referring to your personal life or work life? You question has a high "feelings" quotient.... Feelings are subjective and can distort our perception of reality significantly. I'd encourage you to sit down with an older mature individual outside your circle with some coaching/counselling experience and have a candid, fact-based conversation.  more

Hi! I work at a big company and have always wanted to run my own project with my own team. Recently, a manager quit, and his project is being given to me. BUT! I think it might be a “sinking ship”. If...

"Evaluation" is distinct element of the project management cycle. His departure is a logical juncture to seek an updated evaluation of the project. ... That way, you're at least establishing the baseline situation at the point you were given the project.  more

I had a job interview and the guy who interviewed me seemed okay. But now he keeps messaging me and asking me out. Do you think I should go along with it to help get the job or just forget it? The...

I'm sure when you ponder that proposition -- dating for (potential) job dollars, you'll realize it's not be foundation you wish to build your job and... career on.

The guy should be reporting his non-professional conduct to HR. Assuming he doesn't, you may wish to consider it. more

Hello. Could you please tell me, is the phrase “Thank you, we’ll call you back” during an interview a real cringe? Because after that, there’s just silence and not once have they actually called...

The comment invites a follow-up question from the candidate; Can you tell me approximately the time frame wherein I should I expect a call.

What I would like to know is, How do Transformational leadership behaviours influence employees motivation?

Short answer: by inspiring example and the associated coaching: In my estimation, transformational leadership is soul deep. I suggest that... transformational leaders inspire because they bring authenticity, humanity and passion to their role that says they see themselves as called and their contribution aligned with their divine purpose. They have "hills"they are actually prepared to die on (figuratively or materially). Because their example inspires imitation , they are remembered long after they leave the job and often after leaving the planet.  more

Can you advise if it’s even worth answering the “What are your weaknesses?” question in an interview? For me, it feels like such a cringe question.

Are they still asking that one? If they are, they can expect the same formulaic response. A dozen year ago, the standard advice was "take one of your... attributes and turn it into a weakness." And demonstrate what you've done to overcome the weakness.

For example, "I have a leaning toward perfection in terms of my work output. I've since learned that perfection isn't always called for. Depending on the situation, sometimes 'good enough' is good enough"  more

I’m 46 and have spent the last 20 years working as a technician at a factory. Now I want to switch to a sales job. My family is in shock, they say it’s too sudden and I should stick with the stability...

In an turbulent political era, a declining economy and an era of accelerating automation, a risk assessment is definitely in order. That said, we... lack any of the information that would allow us to stand in your shoes and provide any advice beyond that.

Clearly, your risk assessment would need to take the size of your buffer fund in your bank and you career-life goals for the next five years into account. Beyond that, the health and prospects of the organization and the sector you wish to become part of should be considered. Unless you're single, your spouse would also have a stake in your plans. There's also the matter of your health. Do you have any conditions which could be exacerbated by the expectations that would come with a sales job like travel or extended hours? Tip: ageism could affect your job prospects in some fields after you hit fifty.

If you've demonstrated you've done your homework in terms of opportunity - risk assessment (and you don't see family members as your back up if your plan fails), they shouldn't have any concerns.

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"I know I'm not the only one. There are millions of us stuck in the liminal space between unemployment and invisibility." I handed in a job application at a sandwich shop last week. There was a...

Disclaimer: I'm not familiar with the traditional job niches open to folks with your training. That said, I'm not convinced you are the sandwich maker... I would hire.

The overall tone of your inquiry is one of near desperation (I know it's hard to not look or sound desperate when one feels like that, but please remember that you are marketing yourself)

In the age of AI and robotization, you may need to retrofit your education and training and offering to employers. It sounds to me like someone with your degree and background should best understand issues at the employee-machine interface (a different kind of sandwich).

Yes, get your basic J-o-b, and then turn yourself into a specialist capable of helping organizations manage the human and organizational adaptations they must inevitably make in the AI Age. Research the organizations that are doing it right and the failures and determine what value-adding insights you can bring based on your research and education. And then work on your new elevator pitch. (The novel is too much).

Finally, the resume may get you an interview, but ultimately, it's often networking contacts that tip the scales. Get to know the people working on the inside of the sector you wish to break into on a first name basis.

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Hi! I have a question- I try to be myself in job interviews and don’t hype up my skills or achievements. I thought being honest was best, but the results haven’t been great. Should I try “selling”...

False advertising of any kind is a big turn off.

Hi! I have a question- I try to be myself in job interviews and don’t hype up my skills or achievements. I thought being honest was best, but the results haven’t been great. Should I try “selling”...

About midway through my career, I adopted the approach that I would avoid over-telling as a means of selling, but I would focus on showing and let... others do more of the telling and selling. (As the saying goes, "talk is cheap".

At that point, I built a portfolio using an attractive binder to hold copies (not originals) of my credentials, course certificates and samples of my work including those with positive comments from previous bosses and colleagues. Whether I opened the binder or not during the course of the interview or not, I found that just having it sit by my elbow knowing I had "the receipts" gave me more confidence. (At the end of the interview, I would offer to leave the portfolio (with copies not original documents) with the interview panel for a couple days to review. Graphic artists use portfolios as standard practice.

Remember, the resume may get you an interview, but it's often the informal influence of someone in your network or your references that tip the scale in your favour over other candidates. Taking the time to equip your references so they can affirm your qualifications is important.

The issue isn't your perfection of lack of it, it's a matter of your "fit" with the job and the organization. more

We have a new colleague in our department and she’s been trying to boss everyone around. She doesn’t really know how to collaborate, it’s all just orders from her. Apparently, she’s the same at home...

I don't know what "boss everyone around" means in practice.
What source of power or influence does this individual really have? If she has no... organizational authority over you, then all she has is the power of her personality. So perhaps she is being loud or aggressive and not cooperating with others. Most mature adults aren't going to respond positively to that. So, if you and your colleagues choose to not reward her negative behaviour, it will likely be just a matter of time until she discovers the law of diminishing returns in her relationships with colleagues. And that should become evident when she sits down for a performance review with her supervisor, assuming her supervisor is paying attention. It's unlikely that manipulative tactics that work with family will get a free pass at the office (unless she is being protected by someone higher up the office hierarchy.) If the message isn't getting translated to her by her supervisor -- who should be coaching her on a regular basis during her probationary period, perhaps your supervisor will consider having a chat with her supervisor.



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I’ve been at my company for a year and have always been motivated to build my career. I go the extra mile, work overtime and even come in on weekends. Lately *though* it feels like I’m just being...

Promotions are never a given. It's time to look at the bigger picture in terms of a) your employer, b) the sector and industry your employer is part... of. How are they faring? Is the sector or industry your employer represents growing or in decline?

Pardon my use of metaphors, but let's assume you told us you're working on a beautiful cruise ship with all the latest features and amenities. You tell us you go above and beyond in your work and are wondering if you have a great career prospects. The truth is we don't know, because it depends. Perhaps you're serving on the next Titanic.  more

hi everyone I have been working for my company for 5 years has gotten promoted twice but now its been almost 3 years since i have grown in this company. im a very hard worker. im flexible. im always...

You raise multiple issues in your description of your situation. That aside, perhaps you can clarify the meaning of "almost 3 years since I have... grown in this company." What is your measure of "growth"? Do you mean it's been almost three years since you received a promotion or a raise? Do you mean it's been almost three years since you developed new competencies or acquired new skills?

What is the corporate context? Has your employer adopted a performance management system? Does it conduct annual or semi-annual performance reviews?

If so, it's the "natural" context for discussing the matter of your "growth and development". This is because it's the one supervisor-employee conversation that puts corporate goals and objectives, employee performance, wins, losses and emerging corporate needs and requirements all on the table.

In the absence of a uniformly-applied performance management system, evaluations of employee performance/contribution can be haphazard and subjective and leave both employee and supervisor without common reference points.

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Hello, I work at a small tourist base. In our village it’s hard to find a job, so everyone tries to get hired here. The pay isn’t much, but the main thing is that the manager has repeated three times...

Looking back on a 40 + years career in the private sector and government in Canada, the prospect of a "disruption" in employment was a constant. The... disruptions included salary freezes, reorganizations, downsizings, layoffs and organizational wind-up/bankruptcy. So one lived, worked, saved and planned accordingly.

The intriguing question in this case is, What is the definition of "loyal employees"?  more

Hi! I’m in my second week working as a fourth-grade teacher. So far, everything is fine, but all my colleagues feel sorry for me and warn me that the parents of my class have already forced two...

There may well be an intimidator or two among the parents of your students (It would help if your colleagues were more forthcoming.)

I have four... thoughts on the subject:
1. Ensure, to the best of your ability, that your principal is on the same page with regard to classroom management practices and grading and standards.

2. Present and pursue a collaborative approach with parents regarding student performance and progress.

3. Develop a transparent grading system and set of standards for student behaviour that that you can share with parents.

4. Bring the joy of teaching and learning to your classroom every day.

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