Career development

Nikki Langley

1mo

I’m a junior cook who makes soups at the cafeteria. I really love cooking and graduated from culinary school with honors.
Whenever the soup or cream soup turns out great, the head cook always takes the credit and says he made it. But if something goes wrong, he blames me even when I wasn’t the one working on that dish.
It’s really frustrating. Do you think I should talk to the chef about it?

8

Phindile Mahlangu
1h
As long you are smart at your own task at work that is not a problem. Consider it as a promotion tomorrow that is why you find yourself dragged-in to... other employees inappropriate task. You manager values you and in terms of your career choice I believe is a must. more
Steward Tony Pacheco
1mo
Nikki! Make a formal complaint in writing. A copy goes to Chef, HR & Management. Express The Fact That As A Professional Your Good Work Should Be... Validated With The Same Veracity As Any That May Fall Short. (But Who’s To Say That Every Short Coming Is Actually That, In An Unfair Environment) Invite Chef & management to taste said shortcoming when ever soup is unjustly criticized and when praised too. The Restaurant knows you made it. But without out documentation you have to bear it. I do not miss my restaurant days. But keep learning. Eyes & ears open real world lessons learned! School is just school. Sweat equity is earning credit in the kitchen more

Lora L.

Career development

1mo

We recently had a work party and I accidentally saw something I wasn’t supposed to. Today, they announced that this woman is getting a promotion, she will become the head of a new department. They’ve gathered subordinates for her from different departments, and I’m one of them.
But I can’t work with her. I don’t even know how to look at her now. And constantly interacting with her is going to be... awful. I also don’t know how to explain why I don’t want to be in her department.
Could you please give me advice on what to do? Thank you.

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2

Phindile Mahlangu
1h
Don't mix personal issues with business.
Kegh Ushahemba Gabriel
2w
A lot of things happen in work place. You have job to do in your work place of which things that are not your business as Job description should not... be your business. Your job is to work and if you can't work you have the option to resign and look for another job. The world is not what you think it is and people have things they want or like and as long as it doesn't affect your job, it should not be your business. There are things you also do that people will not want to see that you do and that doesn't meant if accident happen they will judge themselves. more
1

Tom Lockridge

Career development

1mo

Yesterday during an important meeting with some clients, I accidentally broke a glass and ended up spilling champagne on a couple of people.
First, the director practically burned a hole through me with his stare and now our accounting department wants to deduct the cost of the glass from my salary. And honestly, it seems like they’re planning to fire me.
But seriously, can someone really lose... his job over such a small thing? It could happen to anyone, right?

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2

Phindile Mahlangu
1h
Sorry that will be a feeling just be patient with them.
Sarah Toku
2w
This is unfair. It's a mistake not intentionally

Jim Farnsworth

Career development

21h

I’ve been working as an economist in the department for three years and was hoping I’d be promoted to head of the department. But no, they told me they’re hiring some random outsider for the position, someone with no experience, just because he’s “very motivated”.
Am I not motivated? I also have actual work experience. How can I change management’s mind? Thanks.

1

Phindile Mahlangu
1h
You cannot decide on a HR perspective with the line manager. Not a promotion for a period of 3 years working experience there are certain things you... don't need to address on a working deligents they can be vulnerable. Unemployment equity kills more
Priver Prossy
5h
Sometimes your value is seen and felt once you are seen on a different table. 3 years are enough , you can sel your experience somewhere else.

David Cabot

Career development

1mo

I wanted to ask your advice, is this normal practice or am I missing something? A couple of days ago I had an interview for a sales manager position. When we said goodbye, the HR manager told me they would get in touch with me.

Today they called and asked why I didn’t show up to work, because they had sent me a text message yesterday evening. I didn’t see it, of course. Now I’m wondering... whether I should even consider working for a company that handles things this way.

What do you think? Thanks.

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3

Phindile Mahlangu
1h
Wow! Good for you. A text message then a phone call, go to work.
Captain bulemu Ezra
2w
Always be conscious of what you are going to do never try to weigh the place you would like work in before because you might be biased and lose... interest all that is part of interview to check up your capability or seriousness of doing work so please go and take up your job before it is too late more

Mila Penrose

Career development

4w

We’re a small company, and in the kitchen there’s always tea, coffee, sugar, and creamer. If you need office supplies, you can go to the storage room and take what you need.

But I’ve noticed that a coworker often leaves with a jar of coffee, a pack of sugar, or even a pack of printer paper in his backpack. Should I tell my boss about it, or is it none of my business?

Thanks for the... advice.

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Phindile Mahlangu
1h
Unless if they investigate the matter. But it will happen only if the manager had notice the changes within the working environment.
Steward Tony Pacheco
3w
You would be in violation of the code of conduct by not reporting theft. All those little incidentals cost the company, thereby affecting its profit... margin and leading up to pay increases & bonus payouts. Yes, it unethical not to expose it. At least they will get a warning and you (being anonymous) would have done the right thing. more

Obitech Invents

Career development

1d

Honestly its really heart breaking 💔 😪

for over 12 months now i have been hunting for a Job as Full-stack Software Engineer still no luck 😑 . I really don't know what am doing wrong or where am getting it all wrong.

A few couple of months ago I was able to scure a good $10k/mo by AWS as a Software ll. But the offer withdrawn due to HB-1 Visa support.

Honestly, am so excited to... collab and work eh—but I have been at home for a while and i feel like am getting a little bit dusty 🙃 .

Although i haven't been idle, i have had a couple of cool project i have launched with one AI based Fitness App—although this was a Freelance gig 😅.

I can't wait to get back in the game 😩 more

1

prasad r
1h
I suggests you to concentrate on building a business online.. using all your expertise..
Gladys E. Bustos
39
21h
You can get contract work from abroad. Contact digsy

Tim Jacobs

Career development

3w

Do you know what is the "coffee test" in a job interview?
They offer you a coffee. Then they watch what you do with the cup.
What they’re looking for: Do you bring the cup back, ask where to put it, or leave it on the table (Oops, no).
It’s meant to reveal things like: basic courtesy, culture fit, and how you handle the tiny, unspoken stuff.
I hope, you got now what to do with the cup.

14

Phindile Mahlangu
2h
The interviewing agencies usually askvif you do want the tea that is actually the tea test and I can say is part of the queries within an interview... session. It is for the candidate whether he or she respond with a yes or no. Is not really a big deal you are not enforce to drink it. more
Amnon BC
3w
1) Try not to slurp
2) Try not to spill the coffee down your shirt (especially if you are wearing white)
1

Career development

3d

Yesterday, I Got the Job Offer ,After 8 Months of Doubt

This is a personal update reflecting on my job-hunting journey, self-doubt, and resilience over the past eight months. I'm sharing this for anyone navigating rejection, waiting, or imposter syndrome.

Yesterday, I got the job offer.

Before the excitement kicked in, there was silence. Relief. A moment to breathe. It felt like the end of a season I wasn't sure I would survive, let alone learn... from.

For over eight months, I was unemployed.

Eight months of applications. Waiting. Refreshing my inbox. Wondering what more I needed to fix.

This wasn't just a job hunt. It was a confrontation with my confidence.

The Part No One Prepares You For

I redid my CV more times than I can count. Each rejection convinced me there was something missing.

Maybe my experience wasn't strong enough.

Maybe my portfolio didn't meet the standard.

Maybe I wasn't telling my story well.

Or maybe quietly, painfully,I just wasn't good enough.

Imposter syndrome didn't whisper. It took over.

I compared myself constantly. I questioned my growth. I looked at other designers and wondered how they seemed so sure while I felt like I was barely holding myself together.

Still, I showed up.

Not confidently.

Not consistently motivated.

But honestly, and that mattered.

Waiting Changes You

Being without work does something to your identity, especially when your craft is tied to how you see yourself.

I questioned my path. I considered shrinking my ambitions. Some days, I wondered if choosing this career had been a mistake.

Yet, even in doubt, I kept refining my portfolio. Rewriting case studies. Applying again. Believing, sometimes reluctantly,that this season wasn't a verdict on my ability.

Sometimes growth looks like survival.

When It Finally Happened

When the offer came yesterday, it wasn't loud.

It was grounding.

Relief before celebration.

Validation before excitement.

Not because the job suddenly made me worthy, but because it reminded me that the version of me who kept going, even when exhausted and unsure, was never wrong to try.

I didn't become capable yesterday.

I was always capable,I just lost sight of it while waiting.

If You're Still There

If you're in the middle of a long job search, feeling behind, discouraged, or invisibleplease hear this:

Your struggle is not a reflection of your worth.

Your doubt does not cancel your skill.

Your timeline is not broken.

This chapter humbled me. It stretched me. It taught me patience, self-trust, and compassion,for myself and for others fighting quiet battles.

Yesterday, I got the job offer.

But long before that, I proved something even more important to myself:

Even when I doubted myself, I still showed up.

If this resonated with you, feel free to leave a comment or share it with someone who might need it today. more

12

ALBERT NGUNJIRI
2h
Congrats - Quite reassuring, encouraging and inspiring to many who are about to give up.
Sabina Morgan
20h
Congratulations!!!!

Billy Whitcomb

Career development

1d

Hey! I had two interviews at the same company and both seemed to go fine. But then their HR person called and said they’re not moving forward with me because of a couple of my social media posts. Apparently they think I look “inappropriate” in them (even though there’s honestly nothing like that).
So I’m wondering, is this even normal? Photos from a party are my own business. Why does a company... think it gets a say in my personal life?

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4

Walter Godette
3h
I used to have a second persona on social media that was strictly professional.
1 reply
Yahaya Ibrahim
18h
Change afere cosntan Iam vary good contains career & so all

Jane Tilden

Career development

1w

Hi everyone! I’m a college student and I’m thinking about getting a job as a waiter in a cafe. But my parents are against it, my dad says that kind of job will ruin my resume, like no decent company will ever hire me afterward.
I’m tired of always asking my parents for money and I want to earn my own. How can I convince them?
Thanks

9

Victoria Restrepo
15h
I wish many young people would have that drive to work and earn their own money. You are still a student. There have been thousands and thousands of... college students who have waited tables. Do they know all the networking you could be doing while waiting tables? All the people you will meet? You could even find a better job by waiting on a CEO and them seeing you being that hardworking person and may offer you a job. Do they also know all the skills that are needed when waiting on people? You have to pay attention to detail, be attentive, patient, remember to comeback to them several times to check on them, be empathetic, be a team player, role model, the list goes on and on… if anything, it tells your future employer that you are willing to do anything and don’t consider yourself someone who needs to start at the top. You are a hard working individual. As a mom myself, I am proud of you. Tell them you respect their opinion and you love them. But you hope they also respect your decision and if you make a mistake, it’s yours to learn from. more
T E K Iribom
1d
I like your determination. Keep yourself busy and rewards will come out of it. Tell your father that not everything one had done enters CV.
Secondly,... the experience of a waiter will useful to you in future. more

Career development

2d

The interview's on Zoom. Here's how to actually stand out.

Virtual meetings and job interviews are no longer the exception, but we're not all spiff and polished when presenting ourselves online.

This requires a skill set not naturally in many people's wheelhouse.

Nancy Ancowitz, a career strategist and author of the new book "Zoom to Success," has some coaching tips.

Here are edited excerpts of our recent conversation:

Kerry Hannon: Why did you write... this book right now?

Ancowitz: This is the book I wish I had to help me navigate the virtual world. There is so much that goes into all of this before we even open our mouths -- the lighting (two light sources from the front or sides for balanced, flattering light), the hair, the makeup, the camera, your background, what you are wearing, the tech checks. I show people ways to make it simpler and more accessible to bring your best face forward online.

What are the biggest challenges of virtual presentations?

Speaking to somebody 12 inches from their face, and where their face and your face are so big and filling up the whole space, is really tough for many people. And if you are presenting, looking at 20 or more of those faces in little boxes is truly abnormal.

Another big one is that you can't make real eye contact with anyone since you're looking into your tiny camera. Nobody knows where to look when they are speaking. Maybe you look at yourself. You get distracted by your hair out of place. Also, not everybody's blessed with a great voice, and your voice matters even more on Zoom and other virtual platforms because there's not as much of you to see and to experience. Finally, one of the hardest things, of course, is that you have to be your own tech person and when things go wrong, be calm and cool.

You need to carve out an hour ahead of time to get mentally grounded and ready.

A virtual presentation can create more jitters than in-person for many folks. What are some of the good techniques you can do?

My favorite technique is self-talk, or speaking to yourself in the second or third person. Instead of saying, 'I've got this,' say 'you've got this.' Reframe nerves as excitement. Think 'I feel most alive when I'm tackling things that are a little bit challenging.'

I remind myself to slow down and breathe deeply, which sharpens my focus and clears my head when things get bumpy. Start with a two-minute reset: Inhale for four counts, hold for four, and exhale for eight.

It's a mindset matter. Remember that you're not there to impress people. You're there to share something, to share information, to inspire, to educate, to persuade. But you're not there for their judgment. That's a super important way to manage jitters. more

2

Varaidzo Mavetera
19h
Many thanks for sharing
T E K Iribom
5
1d
Whatever is motive for the presentation, your audience will definitely redefine your presentation.

Career development

22h

Nail Your 1:1 TPM Interviews

2025.31 - There are common mistakes that show up again and again, not just with Technical Program Managers, but with Product Managers as well.

You are reading a free post from my newsletter -- The Art of Doing Technical Program Management. I write with an aim to demystify the art of technical program management and deliver proven real-world strategies, practical advise and tips, and actionable... frameworks to help you level up as a Technical Program Manager.

If you already are a subscriber and found this essay helpful, please share it with your colleagues and network. I am sure others might find it useful as well.

Share

💰 LIMITED TIME OFFER Until DEC 31, 2025 - To continue my mission to help TPMs grow, I am offering a 30% discount on my annual subscription () which gives you access to microguides, premium content and more.

Annual Subscription for $56 For 1-Year

Whether it's the time of year or the added anxiety from recent layoffs, I've been reflecting on a pattern I consistently see during interviews. There's one common mistake that shows up again and again, not just with Technical Program Managers, but with Product Managers as well.

If you're preparing for 1:1 interviews, this is worth your time.

A typical 1:1 TPM interview lasts 30-45 minutes. On average, that time breaks down like this:

In a 45-minute interview, you might get one or two additional questions but not much more.

It's wild when you think about it. Your career trajectory may hinge on a short interaction with someone who only knows you through your résumé. That means your objective is simple but demanding:

Maximize the interviewer's time to ask questions, and deliver strong, focused answers every time.

This isn't about luck. It's about strategy.

If you take more than a minute to introduce yourself, you're already off track. This is not the time to walk through your résumé.

"My name is Aadil. I've been a TPM for 15 years across both IC and people management roles. I've worked on highly complex, cross-functional programs spanning software, hardware, cloud, and AI. Currently, I'm a Staff TPM at Airbnb, leading AI-powered customer experience products."

Clear. Concise. Done.

If a question gives you 7 minutes and you spend 3-4 minutes explaining background, it's game over.

Historical context rarely matters. Your role, decisions, and impact do. Maximum focus on those. Set enough context to make your role pop even more but don't walk me through the politics unless it matters.

This is your interview, not your team's.

If you spend most of your answer describing what "we" did or the "team" did, the interviewer cannot assess your contribution. Use "I" deliberately and unapologetically.

This advice is common, and still widely ignored.

Long-winded responses dilute strong signals. Time your answers. You're not memorizing scripts; you're training your pacing so you can land the point quickly and clearly.

Many candidates limit themselves to large, formal programs. That's a mistake.

Complex bugs, production outages, incident responses, or messy cross-functional problems between projects can make excellent material for both behavioral and technical questions. If it was ambiguous, high-impact, and required judgment, it's fair game.

These insights are drawn from my interview guide, which also includes a deeper framework for tackling technical questions. Use discount code TPM2026 to access the Microguide.

Annual Subscription for $56 For 1-Year

No interview advice is truly prescriptive. Some people benefit from structured playbooks; others prefer collecting multiple perspectives. Think of this as another data point, one designed to help you be more intentional with the most constrained resource you have in an interview: time.

💰 LIMITED TIME OFFER Until DEC 31, 2025 - To continue my mission to help TPMs grow, I am offering a 30% discount on my annual subscription () which gives you access to microguides, premium content and more. more

Berta Harkness

Career development

1w

I work from home and take my 2.5-year-old to my mother-in-law for half the day (she lives just down the street). That was the plan from the beginning and both she and my husband agreed to it.
Now my mother-in-law doesn’t want to watch her grandson anymore. She says I can just work and take care of the child at the same time.
My husband agrees with her. I even offered to pay my mother-in-law like... a babysitter, because I really don’t want to lose my job or get stuck doing only house stuff.
What should I do? I’d appreciate any advice.

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4

T E K Iribom
1d
Working from home shows the industrial work norm and culture would not apply to you. At your convenience you embark on the tasks assigned to you. ... Interference of a baby is material here. You can still hold your baby and be doing your work. That's typical of work norm.
2. Giving your baby to your mother- in- law because you are working is not a good one. Mama took care of your husband and now you want to abandon your responsibility for her? Please leave Mama to rest. Her grandson can visit her but not to make Mama babysitter.
3. The money you want to pay Mama, give it to baby homes to take care of your baby for you. Even this option is not better. Your sacrifices for the baby is a National service. Who knows if you are being given the opportunity to grow the president of your country?

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1
biny
1d
i'm dealing whit something very challenging. my husband job now is basically working whit mental health problems people. but at the moment we don't... have that much, INCOME he decided to take in a normal buy whit ADHD problems!! he sleeps in seperate entrance but weekends he is whit us.
and im moved from Europe 2 years ago did not yet went back to visit my hometown.
you guys thing its normal to live like that?
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