I'm getting really frustrated with these companies and their rejected form letters. I have 21 years of video production experience, including video editing. I've sent hundreds of resumes over the...

Technology is changing many things. Today we can take good quality pictures and videos right from our phones. The demand for your work is decreasing... and changing. You can look around to see where else you can use your skills or what other skills are necessary for your next endeavor. Staying within your current skill set, you can look around to see how these needs are being met. For example, if you network with party planners at large hotels, you will find they are constantly arranging photographers for weddings, birthdays and meetings. Schools arrange for graduation pictures and hospitals arrange for baby pictures. As suggested elsewhere, you can start as a free lancer and start networking. Practice with a coworker or well-wisher. Refine your presentation to make an impact in a short time.
Think about all these possibilities and determine your priorities. Update your skills. Allow yourself a year or more to succeed. Good luck. more

Hi! I recently became the manager of the courier department and everything has been going well. But last week we hired a new courier and he keeps coming to work with his dad. His father tries to get...

The son is your employee. You should tell him that you have hired him, not his father and the father is not welcome to come in your building and cause... disruption. If it does not stop right away, you may have to consider letting him go. more

I want to pursue a certification for accountant but the microfinance I work for doesn't expect it's employees to have anything that distracts them from work. As a matter of fact, working hours...

You seem to be working much more than 40 hrs a week. Hope you like your work and get paid well. This work environment does not leave you enough time... to properly pursue the studies.
That brings you to a decision. If studies are important, you may want to switch to an employer who encourages self improvement and has more normal hours. It may possibly involve salary cut and you may have to foot the bill.
Think it through. Good luck. more

Hi! Do you trust your gut? I got the job after the interviews, but I feel like the employer isn’t telling me everything. It’s a weird feeling. I’m a bit scared to go to the office on Monday

I trust my gut feeling. First, I do all my due diligence. If I have 2 alternatives, my gut feeling helps me make the final choice. When interviewing... prospects for a position, a couple of times, one candidate stood out after resume and phone interview. I invited this candidate for interview and asked him to bring a suitcase in case he decided to stay. I did hire him.
In your case, you have not invested any time in this company yet. When you start, you may want to make an appointment and ask your questions. If the answers do not satisfy you, you may want to move on, if you can afford to. Good Luck.


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my recent job is offering me a lower salary though i have an experience in the role. calculating my day-today- expenditure means that i can't save. any advise on how to persuade the HR to do something...

Hope it helps.

My CEO complains about upward delegation, yet she wants to be consulted on any matter, including being copied on any email I write. If you dont consult her and act within your profession, she feels...

Many managers have trouble delegating. They feel nobody can do the job as well as them, and they also feel insecure about some actions being missed.... Your CEO will change when she recognizes it herself, which may not be anytime soon. I you like the job, the work environment and the pay, you may need to accept status quo. Otherwise start looking, while holding the current job. Good Luck more

I work as a waitress in a small restaurant. When another waitress job opened, I suggested hiring my 19-year-old daughter. She needs a part-time job while studying. But the manager said no. He thinks...

Many companies avoid hiring relatives. There are several reasons. Collusion and theft is one possibility. When one is disciplined, the other may also... get upset. When one is sick, the other may stay home to help but the company is now short 2 persons.
I am sure you will come up with many other possibilities and the companies prefer to avoid it. Good luck to your daughter. more

Hi! I work in an all-women team and no one has a car. My husband picks me up every day and my coworkers often ask for a ride too. They got used to it and if I say no, they get upset. But I’m tired of...

You have many good suggestions already. It is always easier to give than to take back.
Anyway, you can be honest and tell them you are getting tired... of dropping them at their homes, with no reciprocity at all and from the following week, any rides will be upto your house. They can make arrangements for the rest of the commute.
Some will drop out, others may gripe but they will see reason after a while. Keep this lesson in mind for the future. more

Hello! It’s an open position in my department and we’re choosing between two candidates: an experienced 48-year-old man and a recent college graduate with no experience but very motivated. I prefer...

you are welcome

I haven’t been working at a small company for long and like to give my coworkers small gifts on holidays. It helps make the workplace friendly. Everyone is happy to get my gifts, but no one gives me...

My attitude on gifts is simple. I give gifts because it makes me happy and, since I do not expect anything, any gift to me is a pleasant surprise.... Since it is no longer making you happy, you can taper them off and replace with having cookies or candy on your desk. Anybody can come and get it from your desk and will also talk to you. more

Hello! It’s an open position in my department and we’re choosing between two candidates: an experienced 48-year-old man and a recent college graduate with no experience but very motivated. I prefer...

you are welcome

Hello! It’s an open position in my department and we’re choosing between two candidates: an experienced 48-year-old man and a recent college graduate with no experience but very motivated. I prefer...

Interesting situation. Boss prefers an experienced person, because he may get up to speed faster and might stay longer. The young person has a good... personality but lacks experience. She may need a lot of hand holding and may move on sooner. If the department is small, I would go with the man. In a larger department, training the new recruit may not appear to be a big burden and you could go either way. Do not be swayed by personality alone. more

Hello! I love baking and often bring cakes or cookies to share with my coworkers. At my last job everyone liked it. But at my new job some women in my department are upset. They say I’m trying to...

You have a new job and a new environment. You just found out that old traditions do not work here. You do not have to go through baking for people... that do not appreciate it. You can still eat your cookies and, if someone joins you, ask them to help themselves. more

Did I do something wrong by asking my boss for a raise? I’ve been doing the whole project alone for two months since my coworker left. But instead of answering, my boss said I should just be grateful...

It appears that the project is still a work in progress. Once it is finished and gets accolades, you become more marketable and your boss will have to... promote you or give you a raise if he wants to be able to keep you. If you mention now that you might quit, be prepared to be fired. It is generally best to have an offer in hand, share it with your boss and, if you like the company and would rather stay, let him know that you are not keen on leaving. Then the ball is in his court and , even if you quit, you would still have amicable relations. more

I just got back from a job interview and have mixed feelings. They kept trying to confuse me and make me feel bad. At the start, they asked me to tell them about myself. I began talking about my...

While I respect Steward's insights, the interview basically lacked respect for human dignity. I have been in an interview which started badly but the... HR person quickly brought me back on track and I ended up getting hired.
And ending the interview with those obnoxious comments is totally uncalled for. If they felt it was a waste of time, they could have wrapped up earlier. To me, they sound like people who get perverse pleasure in someone's agony. more

My boss wants to take away my monthly bonus. She says I already make enough if I can afford flowers on my desk. But I just like having fresh flowers, they make me feel better at work, so I buy...

This sounds unprofessional and petty. Are you sure there is nothing else behind this story?
In any case, taking the bonus away means she is willing to... lose you. Do you like the job enough to put up with this uncertainty. In any case, whatever time you stay, please do not aggravate the situation by bringing flowers. more

I had a job interview at a small company. The director said he was going to lunch and asked me to go with him. He bought me a coffee, we talked calmly and then he said I got the job and could start on...

Congratulations. I have a feeling that the director had been impressed by your resume and the interview was a mere formality. Enjoy your good luck and... as somebody said "I would rather be lucky than smart".
It is not uncommon to find the employer being favorably disposed towards you. When I was interviewing somebody and I needed to fill the position quickly, I asked the candidate to bring a set of clothes in case he decided to stay.
Now get down to work and prove his instincts right. Good luck. more

my recent job is offering me a lower salary though i have an experience in the role. calculating my day-today- expenditure means that i can't save. any advise on how to persuade the HR to do something...

It seems you have already accepted the job. In that case the negotiation window is closed for now. If it were open, I would look at job ads and salary... surveys to show that I am worth more. Whether I can save or make ends meet is my problem and may not influence HR.
You can bide your time for 3 to 6 months, try for excellent reviews and then make a case for a healthy raise. Long time ago, I was able to show I was underpaid and most likely underpaid relative to my lower performing coworkers. I did receive two 10% raises one week apart. Good luck. more

Hi everyone. It looks like our company is planning layoffs, and now they’re secretly testing all the employees. For example, the boss “accidentally” drops a pen and waits to see if someone picks it...

My first reaction is that you may be paranoid. If the boss does engage in such antics, may be I should consider moving to a more professional... organization. Too much time is wasted in trying to catch such antics and discussing the intrigue. more