#workplace advice

[thatbadadvice]

Help! I'm a Perfect Genius, but This Potential Employer Asked Me a Boring Interview Question!

Ask A Manager, 13 Feb 2024:

I was rejected from a role for not answering an interview question. I had all the skills they asked for, and the recruiter and hiring manager loved me. I had a final round of interviews — a peer on the hiring team, a peer from another team that I would work closely with, the director of both teams (so my would-be grandboss, which I thought was weird), and then finally a technical test with the hiring manager I had already spoken to. (I don’t know if it matters but I’m male and everyone I interviewed with was female.) The interviews went great, except the grandboss. I asked why she was interviewing me since it was a technical position and she was clearly some kind of middle manager. She told me she had a technical background (although she had been in management 10 years so it’s not like her experience was even relevant), but that she was interviewing for things like communication, ability to prioritize, and soft skills. I still thought it was weird to interview with my boss’s boss. She asked pretty standard (and boring) questions, which I aced. But then she asked me to tell her about the biggest mistake I’ve made in my career and how I handled it. I told her I’m a professional and I don’t make mistakes, and she argued with me! She said everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is how you handle them and prevent the same mistake from happening in the future. I told her maybe she made mistakes as a developer but since I actually went to school for it, I didn’t have that problem. She seemed fine with it and we moved on with the interview. A couple days later, the recruiter emailed me to say they had decided to go with someone else. I asked for feedback on why I wasn’t chosen and she said there were other candidates who were stronger. I wrote back and asked if the grandboss had been the reason I didn’t get the job, and she just told me again that the hiring panel made the decision to hire someone else. I looked the grandboss up on LinkedIn after the rejection and she was a developer at two industry leaders and then an executive at a third. She was also connected to a number of well-known C-level people in our city and industry. I’m thinking of mailing her on LinkedIn to explain why her question was wrong and asking if she’ll consider me for future positions at her company but my wife says it’s a bad idea. What do you think about me mailing her to try to explain?

Sir,

You have been wronged in the most grievous of ways by a coven of retaliatory, self-aggrandizing women who have failed in the extreme to recognize your brilliance, your talent, and above all, your general superiority.

Of course you should mail this mediocre "grandboss" on LinkedIn to inform her of the deep offense she caused you by interviewing you in the first place, let alone doing so using a boring question — indeed, you have a moral and professional obligation to do so in order to preserve your honor and the honor of scores of men like you who have never done a single solitary thing wrong in their lives, ever.

But I beg you to consider doing more. A single, private message to one incompetent bitch may not convey to the necessary parties the depth and breadth of the situation. Many, many people have important lessons to learn from your experience, and I encourage you to share it widely. Consider making a public LinkedIn post, and ensure that it is shareable across platforms. Depending on your financial resources, a billboard with your name, professional headshot, and contact information could go a long way toward ensuring that everyone in your industry who needs to know just how you handled the way these women treated you, does know about it. I hope that in your continuing job search, you are able to connect with potential employers who have a much better grasp of all you bring to the table.

#advice #bad advice #ask a manager #workplace #workplace advice #linkedin #bosses #working #developers #coding #fedoras #men #misogyny #workplace misogyny #hiring #job searching #employment

[bitchesgetriches]

Woke at Work: How to Inject Your Values into Your Boring, Lame-Ass Job

If you want to be a good ally in the workplace, I believe that the first and most powerful thing you can do is to be solid and cool to your fellow workers. Be kind and respectful. Don’t be a shitty, judgmental, gossipy, mean coworker. Don’t work unpaid overtime. Take your vacations. Share salary information. Support unions. Expose harassment. Use your privilege for good.

But today we’re going to focus more on what you can do in your job roles.

Keep reading.

If you found this helpful, consider joining our Patreon.

#navigating the workplace #employment #workplace advice #career advice

[kidvoodoo]

Just contacted my workplace HR to request a reasonable accommodation for sound sensitivity and auditory-induced anxiety due to ASD, and I am very nervous about my manager denying it or outright being aggressive with me about it.

I had a coworker who also filed an ADA request for additional time off in accommodating mental health issues, this coworker told me when they were reprimanded about absences and brought up the ADA request, the manager said “It’s just keeping us from firing you.”.

My manager is very cruel and often disregards employees he views as “problems”, meaning anyone AFAB, BIPOC, disabled or neurodivergent. He has gone out of his way to ignore complaints or comments from said groups of employees, and even worse has directly mocked or harassed them for doing so.

I honestly am terrified, he has been reported to HR and upper management so many times and still he is here, for more than 6 years. I don’t know what it will take for him to finally get fired, and even then I think the company would rather just transfer him somewhere else.

If anyone has any advice, or a story to share, I would love to hear about it. I know I rarely post anything personal on my blog anymore but I am truly feeling alone in this fight and am looking for support.

In the meantime, I will continue to make art for people to enjoy, and I thank you for your kind words, reblogs and likes, they truly warm my heart and make my day. 🖤

-KV

#personal #workplace drama #looking for advice #actually autistic #autism #auditory processing disorder #workplace advice #disability advocacy #neurodivergent #anxiety

[themirokai]

Hey here is your friendly reminder to not tell your nice boss stuff.

I’m at the executive management level for my very small company and I have 4 people who report directly to me. I am a nice boss. I’m friendly with my employees, I treat them like professional adults, I actively try to create a positive work environment, and I mentor them and make sure they’re advancing in their careers. I do my best to shield them from the rest of management doing stupid shit. My employees like working for me.

The other day one of my employees came to ask if she could change her hours on Mondays. I said yes immediately because it’s helpful for me to know when she’s here and when she’s not, but as long as she gets her work done I don’t care when and where she does it. She then proceeded to tell me that it was so she could attend therapy and like … I will never use this information but … as a general rule don’t fucking do that.

Do not tell your employer shit about your mental or physical health except for the bare minimum needed to request a reasonable accommodation. Even your nice boss can fire you, even your nice boss can unfairly change your working conditions, and even your nice boss at some point is probably going to face pressure from their superiors.

I’m not saying don’t trust your boss with anything ever. I’m just saying that anytime you are in the workplace you need to keep your private information private. You can still have a good relationship with your boss. Your workplace can still be pleasant. But if it ever feels like disclosing private information is required in order to have a good relationship with your boss, please see that as a red flag.

#workplace advice

[inthemoodforwords]

Things I'm trying to teach myself #1

I am a professional in my chosen career and everyone around me are my peers. When I don't know something and am learning it from a teammate, it does not make me less skilled nor should I feel like a kid being taught something from a teacher-figure. Switching to a learning-zone is fine; switching to a student-zone is not. Be confident, be eager, but not subservient.

#lessons to learn #workplace advice #we are all professionals here #honestly 3 years in and i still feel like a kid #the trouble with being the youngest in the team #honestly though my teammates are nice #it's my brain that makes me feel like I'm back in school with a student-teacher dynamic

[journeytoleadership]

Quote Of The Week #285

View On WordPress

#journeytoleadership #Failure #Hard Work #Healthy Work-Life Balance #Life Quotes #Quote of the Week #Success #Workplace Advice

[jewishnightvale]

I posted something to r/advice on Reddit, pretending I was Martin in early season 1, and people are taking it seriously..

#the magnus archives #tma #tma season one #tma s1 #martin blackwood #magnuspod #rusty quill tma #guys i’m actually losing my shit #the people responding thinking they’re giving real advice #like girl i’m lying through my teeth rn but thank you #office job roleplay time #casually dropped the part abt workplace deaths in and somehow no one has called me on it

[samijey]

#jey uso #wwe #wweedit #kevin owens #the usos #stuff i made #kevin is 100% me in the workplace #loose shirts bananas water bottles unwarranted advice #it me!!

[ahb-writes]

(from Inside Job, S1E04: "Sex Machina")

#writeblr #bechdel test #inside job #shion takeuchi #reagan ridley #novel writing #writing tips #writing advice #fiction writing #writing #workplace comedy #test passed #paranoid fiction #science fiction #adult animation #netflix #cognito inc #shadow government organization

[corvase]

workplace romance prompts

feel free to use :)

character a starts at a new firm and lo and behold the person in the office (character b) over is a childhood friend/high school ex

them racing each other to the office every morning

them walking in together and splitting up reluctantly to start their work day (esp if they work in diff departments or are keeping the relationship a secret)

them eating lunch together in the cafeteria

“have you eaten?” “no.” “be there in two.”

one leaving roses and lilies at the others desk every morning

office enemies to lovers !!! must i even say anything i have like a million enemies to lovers posts

rather than competing to make the other fail, challenging each other to work harder and become better at their job

“do you think we should tell anyone?” “i’m okay with whatever you want. i’m just glad you’re mine.”

them sending little sticky notes to each other during work

both of them sick of the job, huddled together in a corner, faces inches apart like “no, don’t quit. if you quit, then i’ll quit.” “if we both quit then our full time job can be loving each other.” “God you’re corny. i love it.”

“what do you need from me? i don’t need this job. i don’t need any of them, okay? i just want you.”

both of them just being passionate about their work together

working in the same office for years but never really running into each other until one meeting

“i am so tired i could sleep in lava.” “come, my love. i’ll carry you to the car.”

unfortunately, character a works with their ex. when they’re unwillingly arguing with them off to the side, character b happens to overhear and defends character a while pretending to be their current partner to shoo the ex off… but now the whole office thinks they’re dating

“maybe if you could do your job i wouldn’t have to correct you.” “maybe if you stopped correcting me you wouldn’t be getting fired.”

rather than working in the same office, one works in the actual office and the other works in the cafeteria, or the janitorial, or the front desk, or the print office

both of them snuck away and are hiding together, trying to keep their laughing fits as quiet as possible

^^ “stop laughing, i really have to get back to the conference in like five minutes!” “we can make it quick.” “STOP.”

“wait… you like ME??? i thought you liked (other colleague)???!!?!(“ “HELLO???? I LITERALLY SWITCHED TO YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR YOU!!!”

“i can’t believe we worked together for five years and i’ve literally never even seen you.”

both of them being able to rant about colleagues or bosses they can’t stand

“i admire you so much.” “stop.” “no, i’m serious. you do your job so damn well, i’m in awe of you.” “we have the same job.” “and you do it better!”

“race you to the cafeteria?” “always.”

disagreement on whether or not they should tell their other colleagues

i also caution everyone who wants to write a boss/colleague story! not that i’m saying it never works, those often get tricky with power dynamics and can ruin the romance aspect. otherwise happy writing :)

#workplace romance prompts !!!! #workplace romance #workplace prompts #office romance #office prompts #office romance prompts #writeblr #writing #writing tips #writing advice #writing romance #writing prompts #romance prompts #dialogue prompts #romance writing prompts #imagine your otp #otp romance prompts #otp prompts

[femmefatalevibe]

Femme Fatale Guide: How To Reset From A Toxic Work Environment

Give yourself ample time to reset and indulge in basic self-care. Get a full night's sleep every night, eat a balanced & nutritious diet (most of the time) with meals you enjoy, incorporate daily movement & a consistent exercise routine into your week, read books, listen to music and podcasts that inspire you, hang out with loved ones/people who energize you, indulge in beauty routines/"spa" days and movies/TV shows you love

Once you feel recharged/not burned out anymore, take a step back and reflect on what your values are, your interests, desired lifestyle/workplace environment that best suits your personality and work style. Consider what you want out of your next opportunity instead of letting hiring managers decide for you once your interviewing processes begin. Remember, a job at a company should feel like a mutual fit. Decide to work as an employee, not a corporate slave.

Reassess and decide on your future workplace boundaries ahead of time. Once you're more emotionally distant from your current toxic work environment, allow yourself to act as a neutral observer of the interpersonal dynamics that played out while you were working in your (soon-to-be previous) toxic work environment. Consider any warning signs/red flags you might've ignored early on or certain ways you allowed yourself to be a pushover/people-pleaser to keep the peace while getting to know your co-workers. Looking back, how would you have handled these situations if you had the clarity and self-confidence you have now? Use your answer to this question as a roadmap to decide how you can show up as your best self before/while working in your next role.

Determine ways you can forge workplace connections early on in your next role. Embrace the "new job, new you" mentality here and decide how you want to show up as a sociable co-worker from your first week onward. Greet your team in the morning, engage in some small talk over a break to get to know each other better – try to find mutual interest/express interest in what they're saying, make it a priority to schedule one-on-ones with all team members/close collaborators within your company over the first month, invite co-workers to get coffee/lunch with you a couple of days per week, etc.

#workplace wellbeing #workplace culture #work life #career tips #career advice #professional growth #social isolation #socializing #social interaction #social skills #workplace drama #toxic work environment #toxic workplace #toxic work culture #boundaries #self concept #success mindset #networking opportunities #networking #self improvement #femmefatalevibe #high value woman #high value mindset #female excellence #feminine power #it girl #dream girl #queen energy #female power #the feminine urge

[bitchesgetriches]

Dear bitches, I have a question that may benefit the class: I'm lucky to have a job that has a very generous 15 day sick leave policy, and no health issues that would make me take it - except that I also have the copper IUD that gives me horrid cramps on day 1 of my period, for just about 24 hours exactly.

What is the business speak for 'I'm taking a sick day today because of my period'? What is the general business speak for 'I won't be here for a day for health reasons' that doesn't imply contagion or invite questions about how I'm feeling when I come back? Thank you and I hope you know JUST how appreciated you are (seriously, who else would I ask this to)

Sweetie pie... we LOVE that we're the ones you choose to ask this of. This is all we ever wanted--for strangers on the internet to talk to us about their periods!

(Sidenote: I, Piggy, also currently have an IUD, and it leads to practically ZERO symptoms of menstruation. I don't bleed, I don't get cramps, I don't experience mood swings. About once per year my face breaks out in zits and I bleed a small amount for a few hours. That's it. I fucking love it. So readers, just keep in mind that everyone's body is different and your symptoms may vary on any medication. I DIGRESS.)

The #1 thing to keep in mind is that your employer is not entitled to any confidential medical information. If you have cancer, they don't have a right to that information. If you've got a headache, they don't have a right to know. If you're considering a cosmetic surgery, a gender alignment surgery, or any other surgery... they don't need to know. So if you're menstruating and it hurts, they definitely don't get to know.

So my preference would be to go with the direct approach. If you're cramping and you want to take a sick day, just tell your employer "I'm taking a sick day." If they press for details, say "I'll see you tomorrow. :)" If they keep pressing, remind them that they are not legally entitled to your confidential medical information.

But if you'd rather not be direct (and who could blame you?) just tell them you "got food poisoning from the mussels at that place off of i70--you know the one? Yeah last time I'll make that mistake, even if I do have a Groupon. I didn't know puke could even BE that color!" Food poisoning is gross and temporary and tends to dissuade further questions.

Blood Money: Menstrual Products for Surviving Your Period While Poor 

Workplace Benefits and Other Cool Side Effects of Employment 

If we just helped you out, tip us!

#pto #sick time #workplace benefits #navigating the workplace #career advice #sick days #paid time off #menstruation #period

[angie-j-kay]

So how's YOUR week going, Angie?

I started a new job, at a warehouse that is a huge local employer. I'd worked there before, and it had been DISMAL, but I heard that things had improved there and I needed some dough so I reapplied.

NOPE.

Orientation was Friday morning, and by Friday night I had emailed HR expressing my concerns. Our OSHA trainer, between weird complaints about "wokeness" and the Second Amendment, had skipped over some government-mandated safety training. Among these, and the one I was most concerned by, was the Hazmat training. Said training was just a one-page multiple choice test, which he handed us and then gave us the answers to. "Number three, A. Number four, D. Number five, false... Okay, now sign them and hand them back." When I said that I'd like to actually READ the test at the very least, he started using me as an example to the rest of the orientation class that "I'd better not see you making fun of people who can't read!"

You know that advice you read online where you should follow up and document EVERY interaction with managers and HR on email, to cover your butt when things go wrong? Yep.

By Wednesday, I had an email chain with HR recorded, including the details of an HR rep telling me that I would never ACTUALLY be exposed to hazardous materials on my floor, so that mandatory training wasn't going to be a big deal anyway, so no worries.

My floor dealt with alcohol-based perfumes, aerosol hairsprays, aerosol insecticides, and portable phone chargers with lithium-ion batteries. All of these have to be packed in specific ways for shipment or they're a huge safety hazard to everyone in range, and they are NOT getting packed in those ways. I know, because I managed to get a photo on my phone of said dangerous packing, and it's not the warehouse packers' faults because if they went through the same orientation I did, THEY WERE NEVER TOLD NOT TO DO THIS.

Anyway, I just learned that there's a government OSHA office less than 45 minutes away from my house. Guess who I'm taking this email chain and photograph to next Monday!

#osha #workplace safety #employment advice #DOCUMENT EVERYTHING EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS INNOCUOUS

[snowddeong]

Fuck JYP

#snowdd.txt #no wonder a disproportionate amount of these idols have to take mental health breaks #this is the worst fucking advice and the fact that he's saying it so casually like it's so normal #then again they casually aired itzy going through workplace mistreatment so are we surprised this shit is normal in that company

[elliotgraysstuff]

Need advice from my fellow autistic/ adhd peeps.

I'm starting work again after years of being unemployed. It's in the recovery work field and I am excited. However, due to my autism/adhd I'm finding it a bit overwhelming with all the intense information load. I'm going to be a trainee recovery worker and I have let my team leaders know I am autistic and adhd. However I'm really struggling with intense anxiety about starting this new job. I take longer to process information and especially when im anxious I can't concentrate on what's being said or reading information. I tend to panic and not understand instructions properly and often need assistance.

Can I ask, what do you do in your line of work to make sure you feel calm and not overstimulated and overwhelmed?

I said in the requirements I may need more time to process things and people to repeat themselves.

I'm sure its all going to be fine, however I do have some trauma with my last job where I was slower and catching onto thing and I was treated differently and somewhat bullied for it.

Any advice would be so appreciated because I am so unbelievably nervous.

Thank you in advance

#autism #actually autistic #autism in the workplace #advice #self development #self love journey #overwhelmed #self care #self compassion #mentalhealth

[bearfoottruck]

Hey, I could use some advice again: so, I love my job, but a bunch of my coworkers suck. As a matter of fact, I was having such a bad time today with one coworker that I ended up calling him a dickhead. How do you folks deal with asshole coworkers at work?

#advice #need advice #what do I do #job #jobs #career #careers #employment #coworkers #coworker issues #workplace #workplace interactions #I've actually been buying pencils to break whenever I get fed up #it's not perfect but it'll do