Career development

Chris T

1h

Hi everyone! Can you give me some advice? At our Christmas office party there were different games, and I got paired up with my boss. We had to carry an apple across the whole room together without using our hands. We were fooling around but managed to do it.
Since then, though, I’ve noticed that she’s constantly staying close to me, trying to touch me, and sometimes even leaning against me. I’m... shocked! I really don’t want to start anything with her, but I also don’t want to reject her rudely as I can’t risk losing my job.
How can I gently explain to her that there won’t be anything between us. Thank you

more

Brenda McLaughlin
2m
Maybe it is your imagination and maybe you should just put your head down and get your work done. I am sure your family or bills will appreciate you... focusing back on work. more

Julie Ellington

Career development

2d

I really love reading and I want to get a job in a library or a bookstore. But my family doesn’t understand this at all, they say it’s a waste of time. On top of that, they say libraries don’t pay much.
But spending my days without reading is boring for me. And all my relatives are pushing hard for “career growth.” How can I explain it to them in a way that makes them stop trying to convince me... otherwise?
Thanks

more

Pamela Robbins
1h
I also agree with your family. Like you, I'm an avid reader and chose to train as a librarian. It was something of a shock to discover how seldom... reading came up. I hadn't grasped then that a librarian's chief purpose is to connect library users with information, not to share what is in books. So, nobody cared how well read we were. What mattered was how efficiently we could help people find materials. If your happiness and your sanity depend on doing a lot of reading, I would look into professions that use reading more, such as perhaps research or teaching. For myself, although I didn't regret the skills we learned in the library, I eventually found teaching to be a better fit and ended up pursuing that. But no one should end up mired in a career that doesn't "sing" to them. If you have access to a vocational counselor, it might be good to sit down and get some feedback from them about the type of work they see you in. If you are still determined to pursue library work, it might be good to ask a staff member at your local library what skills they use most in their workday, and how much reading plays a part in it. Good luck and good hunting! more
1
Jullie Wright
4h
Who pays your bills? How much does your peace of mind matter to you? Why do adults care so much about what other adults think? Look at their lives,... their choices and actions. Are they living out their advice? Have they never made a decision based on their own beliefs? more

Anonymous member

Career development

1d

Recently, a woman joined our department, and her desk is next to mine. She’s constantly asking for things - anything from a pencil or an eraser to asking me to buy her groceries when I go out for lunch. It all seems small, but she never gives anything back, and she never pays me back either. I got fed up and stopped responding to her requests, and now she’s telling everyone that I’m cheap.
It’s a... nightmare, it’s impossible to work. I’m nervous and angry all the time. What should I do?

more

5

Jullie Wright
4h
Take it to leadership and ask them for a mediation between the three of you. Bring every receipt from all you’ve done and name names. Do this request... via email and cc all pertinent people. Site any policies from the employee “handbook”, if it exists. more
Mary McClendon
8h
Just say "NO!!!" to things she wants you to do. Eho cares what she says to others.
Tell her that you just don't have the time to help and then... direct her to other resources.
- Let her know that she can ask her supervisor for the supplies that she needs to fulfill her role.
- Tell her about the apps that she can use to order her groceries online and have them delivered to her. more

Career development

14h

How to land a job in 2026

If your New Year's resolution is to land a job, you're up against daunting odds. When you apply to the average white-collar job right now, as I recently reported, you have a 0.4% chance of actually landing it.

So what's a smart job seeker actually to do in this apocalyptic market? The most foundational step in every search today, I've come to believe, is deciding on an overarching strategy that... will determine everything else you do. Given the extraordinary volume of applications that are clogging up the market, do you adapt by applying to as many jobs as humanly possible? Or do you go the opposite way and focus all your energy on a very small number of your dream jobs? It's a choice every job seeker confronts sooner or later: Do you optimize for volume or precision?

I hesitate to give advice in a market where even the perfect approach won't guarantee success. Even if you're struggling -- pretty much everyone who's looking right now is -- it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. But I've spent a lot of time thinking through this dilemma over the last two years, talking to dozens of experts and job seekers. Here's where I've landed.

Assuming I'm catching you at the beginning of your job search, start with the precision approach. To make this work, you have to do the one thing everyone hates: network. Tell everyone you know you're looking. Call up old colleagues; comb through your alumni network; mention your search to friends of friends. Ask them if they know if their companies are hiring, what they think about working there, and if they know anyone else who's hiring.

Eventually, you'll run out of people to apologetically bug. So the next step is to reach out to those you don't know, by looking up the people who have the jobs you want at the companies you want to work for. A lot of these people will ignore you, and I get that cold-messaging strangers feels cringey. But if you don't know anyone inside your dream companies, it's absolutely worth a try (for a sample of such a message, read my job-searching guide from a year ago).

This isn't the market to switch industries, let alone entire occupations, and it's not the moment to chase a big promotion.

If this sounds exhausting, it is. You can't do this kind of networking with hundreds of companies, so you'll need to pick your targets. And when you do, make sure you're picking the kind of roles and companies you're exceptionally qualified for. Don't overshoot: This isn't the market to switch industries, let alone entire occupations, and it's not the moment to chase a big promotion. You should be able to check pretty much every box in the job description.

Why is this networking important? First, you might find out about job openings before they're publicly posted -- which will give you a chance to stand out before hundreds of other candidates storm in. Even more crucial, having this network gives you a community of people you can turn to for a referral when you see open jobs at their companies. With a referral, you'll be much more likely to get through to the initial screening, and from there, you'll also be much more likely to survive through multiple rounds of interviews. In the third quarter of 2025, candidates with a referral had an average 4.4% chance of landing every job they applied for, according to the hiring software provider Greenhouse. It's far from a guarantee, but that's 10 times better than if you cold-apply.

There are other reasons the precision approach is superior. First, by networking, you learn a lot about the companies you're applying to, which will help you know whether you'd actually enjoy the job (or at least tolerate it). By applying to fewer jobs, you'll also have more time to customize each résumé and cover letter to them. Yes, there are AI tools that help you do this quickly, but they only get you so far. You'll need to spend some time choosing the exact accomplishments in your career you'll want to highlight, based on the specifics of the role. Even better is if you learn something useful about the role from your networking, so you can distinguish yourself further by showing that you have what the hiring manager is actually looking for.

By picking your targets, you'll hopefully improve your chances of getting an interview. That means you'll be seeing fewer rejections in your inbox every morning, and that's no small thing. It sucks to know that 300, or 500, or 1,000 different hiring managers have passed on you. The bigger the number, the harder it gets not to wonder what all those rejections say about you. By being choosier, you can make the process a little more emotionally bearable.

Because of all these benefits of networking, some experts will go as far as to tell you to never cold-apply to a job. I'm not such an absolutist. After all, you only know so many people -- and only so many strangers will reply to your LinkedIn messages. So once you've done all the networking you possibly can, it's worth casting a wider net and applying to places where you don't have any connections. This hybrid approach is one that Alvin Roth, a Nobel Prize-winning economist who's the leading expert on matching markets, also recommends. "I don't know how productive it is," he says. "But it's also not very costly." If it only takes a few clicks, what's a few more applications?

Candidates with a referral have a 10 times better shot at landing a job than if they cold-apply.

Sebastian Snijder, a recruiter, has a good formula for this. You should still put in the extra effort when you're applying to the jobs that are the best fit, he says: Think networking, tailoring your resume, etc. Because the market is so bad right now, it's also worth buying a little extra insurance by creating a generic resume and using that to mass-apply to other jobs that are a slightly worse fit. "It's ok right now to take a job," he says, "even if it's not your dream job."

If you decide to cold-apply, here are a few tips. First, sign up for job alerts at the companies you want to work for, and apply to job openings as soon as you see them. I know a lot of people who see a job posting -- and then hem and haw for a week before they actually pull the trigger. Don't do this! With application volumes this high, recruiters often take down job openings after a few days -- and even if they don't, chances are they'll stop reviewing résumés after the first hundred or so that have rolled in. If you see a posting that's already gotten 1,000 applicants, don't bother. You're not going to get it.

Second, find a way to show the company you're interested. You could follow the company on LinkedIn; recruiters often filter for candidates who do this. You could also use the job-searching equivalent of "the rose" -- a way to tell a company you really want to work there, the way dating apps give you a chance to tell someone you really like them. On LinkedIn, you can mark three applications a month as a "Top Choice," which requires you to pay for a premium subscription. On Greenhouse, you can choose one job a month as a "Dream Job," and you can do this for free (this only works with companies that use its hiring software, and you need to make an account on Greenhouse's website for candidates).

Again, don't expect much from the jobs you apply to with the volume approach. But as long as you keep your expectations low, I still think it's worth a shot. According to Greenhouse, more than half of hires are still cold applicants -- simply because cold applications make up 95% of all submissions -- even though each individual cold applicant has a far lower chance of making it through than someone with a connection.

The best of the hybrid approaches I heard about was from a job seeker I'll call James, who lost his consulting job last year. Initially, he was taking a volume approach, applying to eight to 10 jobs a day. But after the first month, he started focusing on fewer applications -- about three to five a day -- and found that he was getting more callbacks. He put most of his energy into a handful of big-name companies he really wanted to work for, and he had friends at most of those companies who offered to refer him. Some even invited him to their offices so he could get a feel for what it'd be like to work there. With those dream companies, he kept applying over and over again.

That's not to say that he didn't send cold applications: He sent out plenty. Importantly, though, he gave himself a few guardrails when he was taking the volume approach. He didn't bother applying to roles he didn't have direct experience doing, even if he knew he had the soft skills to learn the job. And he only applied to positions that had been posted within the last day or two.

Rather than seeing the precision and volume approaches as binary choices, it's more helpful to think of them as opposite ends of a spectrum. If you mark total precision as a 1 and total volume as a 5, where you fall on that spectrum depends on a few factors. One is experience. The farther along you are in your career and the more specialized your skillset, the smaller your universe of appropriate jobs -- which means there aren't that many to mass-apply to in the first place. That means you should lean more toward precision: a 2 on the scale. If you just graduated from college, you have less experience to distinguish yourself from everyone else, and you can still take your career in all kinds of directions. You also probably don't have that many professional contacts yet. So it makes more sense to opt a little more for volume: a 4 on the scale.

Another factor is how long you can afford to hold out for the right role to come along. The more time you have, the more you should lean toward the precision approach. You don't want to hold out for so long that your skills end up going stale, but if you can afford the potentially longer wait, it's generally worth going all in on the jobs you really want (a 1.5 on the scale). If you're maximizing for the shortest possible search, go for a fully hybrid approach (a 3). If you land one of the random roles you mass-applied to, take it for now and start looking again when the market improves.

In the end, that wasn't a compromise James had to make. After submitting 400 applications over the course of five months, he was offered a job at one of his dream employers, a large bank, around the 10th try at the company. Part of that was luck: He happened to have friends at many of the companies he wanted to work for, including the bank. But the rest was being thoughtful about his game plan and executing on it. He invested most of his energy in the places where he had strong connections, and he applied elsewhere, too, to hedge his bets.

"I wouldn't say I was perfect," he says. "But my strategy was to keep iterating." more

Career development

14h

How to land a job in 2026

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in.

If your New Year's resolution is to land a job, you're up against daunting odds. When you apply to the average white-collar job right now, as I recently reported, you have a 0.4% chance of actually landing it.

So what's a smart job seeker actually to do in this... apocalyptic market? The most foundational step in every search today, I've come to believe, is deciding on an overarching strategy that will determine everything else you do. Given the extraordinary volume of applications that are clogging up the market, do you adapt by applying to as many jobs as humanly possible? Or do you go the opposite way and focus all your energy on a very small number of your dream jobs? It's a choice every job seeker confronts sooner or later: Do you optimize for volume or precision?

I hesitate to give advice in a market where even the perfect approach won't guarantee success. Even if you're struggling -- pretty much everyone who's looking right now is -- it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. But I've spent a lot of time thinking through this dilemma over the last two years, talking to dozens of experts and job seekers. Here's where I've landed.

Assuming I'm catching you at the beginning of your job search, start with the precision approach. To make this work, you have to do the one thing everyone hates: network. Tell everyone you know you're looking. Call up old colleagues; comb through your alumni network; mention your search to friends of friends. Ask them if they know if their companies are hiring, what they think about working there, and if they know anyone else who's hiring.

Eventually, you'll run out of people to apologetically bug. So the next step is to reach out to those you don't know, by looking up the people who have the jobs you want at the companies you want to work for. A lot of these people will ignore you, and I get that cold-messaging strangers feels cringey. But if you don't know anyone inside your dream companies, it's absolutely worth a try (for a sample of such a message, read my job-searching guide from a year ago).

If this sounds exhausting, it is. You can't do this kind of networking with hundreds of companies, so you'll need to pick your targets. And when you do, make sure you're picking the kind of roles and companies you're exceptionally qualified for. Don't overshoot: This isn't the market to switch industries, let alone entire occupations, and it's not the moment to chase a big promotion. You should be able to check pretty much every box in the job description.

Why is this networking important? First, you might find out about job openings before they're publicly posted -- which will give you a chance to stand out before hundreds of other candidates storm in. Even more crucial, having this network gives you a community of people you can turn to for a referral when you see open jobs at their companies. With a referral, you'll be much more likely to get through to the initial screening, and from there, you'll also be much more likely to survive through multiple rounds of interviews. In the third quarter of 2025, candidates with a referral had an average 4.4% chance of landing every job they applied for, according to the hiring software provider Greenhouse. It's far from a guarantee, but that's 10 times better than if you cold-apply.

There are other reasons the precision approach is superior. First, by networking, you learn a lot about the companies you're applying to, which will help you know whether you'd actually enjoy the job (or at least tolerate it). By applying to fewer jobs, you'll also have more time to customize each résumé and cover letter to them. Yes, there are AI tools that help you do this quickly, but they only get you so far. You'll need to spend some time choosing the exact accomplishments in your career you'll want to highlight, based on the specifics of the role. Even better is if you learn something useful about the role from your networking, so you can distinguish yourself further by showing that you have what the hiring manager is actually looking for.

By picking your targets, you'll hopefully improve your chances of getting an interview. That means you'll be seeing fewer rejections in your inbox every morning, and that's no small thing. It sucks to know that 300, or 500, or 1,000 different hiring managers have passed on you. The bigger the number, the harder it gets not to wonder what all those rejections say about you. By being choosier, you can make the process a little more emotionally bearable.

Because of all these benefits of networking, some experts will go as far as to tell you to never cold-apply to a job. I'm not such an absolutist. After all, you only know so many people -- and only so many strangers will reply to your LinkedIn messages. So once you've done all the networking you possibly can, it's worth casting a wider net and applying to places where you don't have any connections. This hybrid approach is one that Alvin Roth, a Nobel Prize-winning economist who's the leading expert on matching markets, also recommends. "I don't know how productive it is," he says. "But it's also not very costly." If it only takes a few clicks, what's a few more applications?

Sebastian Snijder, a recruiter, has a good formula for this. You should still put in the extra effort when you're applying to the jobs that are the best fit, he says: Think networking, tailoring your resume, etc. Because the market is so bad right now, it's also worth buying a little extra insurance by creating a generic resume and using that to mass-apply to other jobs that are a slightly worse fit. "It's ok right now to take a job," he says, "even if it's not your dream job."

If you decide to cold-apply, here are a few tips. First, sign up for job alerts at the companies you want to work for, and apply to job openings as soon as you see them. I know a lot of people who see a job posting -- and then hem and haw for a week before they actually pull the trigger. Don't do this! With application volumes this high, recruiters often take down job openings after a few days -- and even if they don't, chances are they'll stop reviewing résumés after the first hundred or so that have rolled in. If you see a posting that's already gotten 1,000 applicants, don't bother. You're not going to get it.

Second, find a way to show the company you're interested. You could follow the company on LinkedIn; recruiters often filter for candidates who do this. You could also use the job-searching equivalent of "the rose" -- a way to tell a company you really want to work there, the way dating apps give you a chance to tell someone you really like them. On LinkedIn, you can mark three applications a month as a "Top Choice," which requires you to pay for a premium subscription. On Greenhouse, you can choose one job a month as a "Dream Job," and you can do this for free (this only works with companies that use its hiring software, and you need to make an account on Greenhouse's website for candidates).

Again, don't expect much from the jobs you apply to with the volume approach. But as long as you keep your expectations low, I still think it's worth a shot. According to Greenhouse, more than half of hires are still cold applicants -- simply because cold applications make up 95% of all submissions -- even though each individual cold applicant has a far lower chance of making it through than someone with a connection.

The best of the hybrid approaches I heard about was from a job seeker I'll call James, who lost his consulting job last year. Initially, he was taking a volume approach, applying to eight to 10 jobs a day. But after the first month, he started focusing on fewer applications -- about three to five a day -- and found that he was getting more callbacks. He put most of his energy into a handful of big-name companies he really wanted to work for, and he had friends at most of those companies who offered to refer him. Some even invited him to their offices so he could get a feel for what it'd be like to work there. With those dream companies, he kept applying over and over again.

That's not to say that he didn't send cold applications: He sent out plenty. Importantly, though, he gave himself a few guardrails when he was taking the volume approach. He didn't bother applying to roles he didn't have direct experience doing, even if he knew he had the soft skills to learn the job. And he only applied to positions that had been posted within the last day or two.

Rather than seeing the precision and volume approaches as binary choices, it's more helpful to think of them as opposite ends of a spectrum. If you mark total precision as a 1 and total volume as a 5, where you fall on that spectrum depends on a few factors. One is experience. The farther along you are in your career and the more specialized your skillset, the smaller your universe of appropriate jobs -- which means there aren't that many to mass-apply to in the first place. That means you should lean more toward precision: a 2 on the scale. If you just graduated from college, you have less experience to distinguish yourself from everyone else, and you can still take your career in all kinds of directions. You also probably don't have that many professional contacts yet. So it makes more sense to opt a little more for volume: a 4 on the scale.

Another factor is how long you can afford to hold out for the right role to come along. The more time you have, the more you should lean toward the precision approach. You don't want to hold out for so long that your skills end up going stale, but if you can afford the potentially longer wait, it's generally worth going all in on the jobs you really want (a 1.5 on the scale). If you're maximizing for the shortest possible search, go for a fully hybrid approach (a 3). If you land one of the random roles you mass-applied to, take it for now and start looking again when the market improves.

In the end, that wasn't a compromise James had to make. After submitting 400 applications over the course of five months, he was offered a job at one of his dream employers, a large bank, around the 10th try at the company. Part of that was luck: He happened to have friends at many of the companies he wanted to work for, including the bank. But the rest was being thoughtful about his game plan and executing on it. He invested most of his energy in the places where he had strong connections, and he applied elsewhere, too, to hedge his bets.

"I wouldn't say I was perfect," he says. "But my strategy was to keep iterating." more

Career development

15h

Presentation as part of job interview?! | Mumsnet

Hi all, a little advice please! I have a job interview on Friday in marketing for an agricultural company and as part of the interview, they want me to give "short presentation related to our industry and help illustrate why you should be the successful candidate". I've never been asked to do this before and I've no idea where to start! I'm so desperate to leave my current job and really want this... job, so any advice on what TF to put in this presentation would be appreciated more

Annie

Career development

3d

What in your opinion is work? What therefore becomes my workplace?

1

SIMATWA LUCAS
17h
Work is making our bodies and minds productive, working is an healthy exercise we do for our bodies and minds, even though we are paid or we pay... ourselves for the work done but our life depends on making our bodies work for good health and long life. more
MUSTAPHA B. OTHMAN
1d
Ability

Career development

2d

Mastering Your Strengths: A Guide to Impress in Job Interviews

When preparing for a job interview, you'll likely encounter a question about your strengths. Knowing how to answer "what are your strengths" effectively can set you apart from other candidates. This guide will help you craft insightful and compelling responses that demonstrate your value to potential employers.

Understanding How to Answer "What Are Your Strengths"

Answering the question about... your strengths isn't just about listing your skills. It's an opportunity to showcase your self-awareness, align your strengths with the job you're applying for, and give concrete examples of how these strengths have benefitted previous roles.

Identify Your Relevant Strengths

Start by reflecting on your skills and experiences. Which strengths have consistently helped you succeed? Choose attributes that are pertinent to the position you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a managerial role, strengths like leadership and communication are crucial.

Provide Real-Life Examples

Concrete examples can make your strengths more convincing. For instance, if you claim to have excellent organizational skills, recount a specific project where this trait was instrumental in your success. This approach not only substantiates your claim but also makes your narrative more engaging.

Align Strengths with Job Requirements

Review the job description carefully to align your strengths with the employer's requirements. This not only shows that you are well-suited for the job but also that you understand what the role entails. Employers appreciate candidates who can draw direct correlations between their strengths and the company's needs.

For a broader understanding of aligning your capabilities with career goals, consider reading about crafting the perfect personal statement for scholarship success.

Practice Makes Perfect

Rehearse your response to ensure you communicate clearly and confidently. Practicing in front of a mirror or recording your answer can help you refine your delivery. Consider seeking feedback from a mentor or friend who can provide constructive criticism.

Examples of Strong Answers

There are several ways to effectively answer the question "what are your strengths." Below are some examples:

Example 1: Leadership and Initiative

"One of my greatest strengths is my ability to lead teams effectively. In my previous role, I led a project team that improved departmental efficiency by 20%. By fostering open communication and motivating team members, we met our goals two weeks ahead of schedule."

Example 2: Problem Solving

"I excel at analyzing situations and coming up with creative solutions under pressure. For instance, during a critical systems failure at my last job, I spearheaded a problem-solving session that restored full functionality within hours, minimizing downtime."

Example 3: Adaptability

"Adaptability is one of my strong suits. During a company merger at my former workplace, I quickly adjusted to new systems and protocols, which helped maintain continuity of service and ease the transition for my team."

Why Answering this Question Well is Important

A well-thought-out answer can demonstrate your suitability for the role and how you might fit into the company culture. Employers are not just evaluating your skills, but also your ability to self-reflect and grow. Demonstrating these abilities suggests potential for long-term development within their organization.

What Not to Do

Avoid generalities like "I'm a hard worker" without specific examples. Also, don't undersell your strengths or apologize for qualities you believe might not align with the role. Stick to strengths that genuinely represent you and are relevant to the job.

For more educational resources on job preparation, visit this comprehensive guide on education practices.

Conclusion: How to Answer "What Are Your Strengths" in a Job Interview

Knowing how to answer "what are your strengths" is a critical part of interview preparation. By identifying relevant strengths, providing concrete examples, and aligning these with the job requirements, you can give compelling answers that resonate with interviewers.

* Identify and understand your unique strengths.

* Provide real-life examples to substantiate your claims.

* Align your strengths with job requirements.

* Practice your delivery for a confident presentation.

* A well-structured answer showcases both your skills and self-awareness.

FAQ

How do I identify my strengths?

Reflect on past experiences and seek feedback from colleagues to discover your core strengths. Look for patterns in tasks or challenges you handle exceptionally well.

Should I mention weaknesses when asked about strengths?

Generally, focus on your strengths during this question. If asked about weaknesses separately, be honest but frame them as areas for growth and learning.

Can I prepare a script for my answer?

While it's helpful to have key points planned, avoid sounding rehearsed. Aim for a natural and conversational delivery that can adjust to the flow of the interview.

How many strengths should I mention in my response?

Limit your answer to two or three strengths. This keeps your response focused and allows you to provide detailed examples.

What if my strengths don't fully align with the job description?

In such cases, focus on transferable skills and demonstrate how you've applied these successfully in different contexts. more

1

Kholofelo Regina
18h
Very helpful.

arnold ntimani

Career development

3d

The Hard Truth About Running Your Own Business

Everyone talks about starting a business ideas, funding, excitement but very few talk about what comes after you’ve started:

The real challenge isn’t working in the business it’s working on the business.

✅ You suddenly have to think strategically, not just complete daily tasks.
✅ You’re making decisions that affect people, money, and your... reputation every single day.
✅ You realize that your vision won’t grow the business alone—you need systems, processes, and a team.
✅ And yes… you’ll face lonely moments where you feel like you’re doing everything yourself.

Starting a business is fun. Growing it? That’s where the hard work, patience, and courage really show.

Tip: Block out time every week to step back, plan, and improve the business otherwise, you’ll always be stuck putting out fires instead of building an empire. more

7

Ivan C
1
20h
Very true. The best advice I can pass along is have a detailed but flexible plan of subsequent baby steps and always plan according to the scale of... your operation. After each little expansion, solidify what you have and don’t stretch yourself thin. Keep track of issues that become bottlenecks or jeopardize your operations. Optimize processes and give your team time to adjust before introducing new ones or changing existing ones. Especially if you have a team, always take into account how much they can realistically handle and encourage eye level feedback. If you don’t, they will stop informing you of mishaps and issues to avoid the extra workload, costing you valuable time in which a little spark can cause a massive wildfire. You don’t want to be too late to the scene where the damage is already too big. Build trust and a sense of ownership and responsibility by systematically rewarding accountability. more
1
Joseph Chitu
1d
Strategic truths in empire building

Career development

23h

Interview Red Flags: How Companies Reveal Their Toxic Culture

A job interview gone wrong highlights how a company's behavior can expose a toxic work environment. This article analyzes interview red flags and offers insights to help job seekers.

Job interviews, ostensibly about qualifications, often reveal much deeper issues within a company. Many professionals now view interviews as a sneak peek into potential workplace dysfunction, and real-life... experiences shared on platforms like Quora are proving this to be accurate. One such instance, recounted by a Quora user named Thea, highlights a particularly egregious example of a company's flawed approach. Thea described her second-round Zoom interview for a marketing position.

The interview was progressing smoothly until the very end, when the hiring manager abruptly inquired about other job opportunities. When Thea truthfully mentioned she was also interviewing with other companies and was in later rounds with them, the manager's demeanor immediately shifted. He stated the company preferred candidates genuinely interested in their company and terminated the call without further discussion. Thea expressed her bewilderment, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. She questioned the manager's reaction, pointing out the commonplace practice of job seekers applying to multiple positions during their search. This interaction immediately prompted a flurry of comments from other users, all of whom highlighted the concerning red flags this behavior exposed about the company's culture and practices. The consensus was clear: The company's actions spoke volumes about its internal workings.\The user responses on the Quora thread provided insightful analysis of the situation. Commenters quickly pointed out the underlying issues that triggered the hiring manager's reaction. One commenter succinctly stated that the company likely couldn't compete with other offers and viewed Thea as a waste of time. Another user emphasized that Thea had dodged a bullet by witnessing the company's true colors before accepting a position. The prevailing sentiment was that the company's behavior indicated a lack of competitiveness in the job market and a potential inability to attract and retain talent. Companies that cannot compete for talent often struggle to fill open positions, which negatively impacts their existing workforce. Several commenters offered advice to job seekers, suggesting they honestly state their interest in the company while acknowledging their pursuit of other opportunities. One commenter pointed out the importance of avoiding the perception that a company is the only option. Another perspective considered the potential reasoning behind the abrupt termination. Some suggested that the company might assume it has to offer more money to lure the candidate away from other options. The user asked why the company wouldn't try and convince the candidate to accept the job rather than ending the call. The overall message was one of caution, emphasizing the need to be wary of companies that exhibit such possessive or dismissive behavior during the interview process. The incident served as a powerful illustration of how easily a company's negative aspects can be revealed through interview interactions.\The discussion surrounding Thea's experience naturally broadened to a general consideration of red flags to watch for during job interviews. Many users contributed their insights, highlighting various behaviors and practices that should raise concerns for potential candidates. Some of the most frequently mentioned red flags included aggressive questioning about other job opportunities, unrealistic expectations regarding the candidate's commitment, and a general lack of respect for the candidate's time and experience. Other red flags involved the company's lack of transparency about the position or the company culture, unprofessional behavior from the interviewers, and a failure to provide adequate information about compensation and benefits. These signs suggest that the company might not value its employees and may foster a toxic work environment. The article encouraged readers to share their own experiences and insights regarding job interview red flags in the comments section, fostering a dialogue about how to navigate the job search process effectively. The overall goal was to arm job seekers with the knowledge and awareness needed to identify potentially problematic employers and make informed decisions about their career paths. This story highlights the importance of thorough evaluation of a company beyond the basic job description. It emphasizes that the interview process is not only a means for an employer to assess a candidate but also a critical opportunity for a candidate to evaluate the potential work environment and decide if it aligns with their expectations and values

Job Interviews Company Culture Red Flags Toxic Work Environment Hiring Practices

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Brianna Hollister

Career development

1w

A young, attractive woman just joined our team and immediately started dating a guy from IT. I get it, she’s young and has a personal life. But she basically doesn’t work. She’s always on her phone or disappearing, and when she does do something, it’s full of mistakes.
We’re the ones getting in trouble from management because of this. Now we’re not sure, should we just keep an eye on her work... ourselves, or tell the boss this can’t keep going?

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7

תיווך לפיתוח- גולדה
1d
שלום. משעמם לי. מי מכיר קבוצות לפטפוטים וכו'?
NISHYIRIMBERE Cesalie
1d
Give her advice on being where she needs to be at the right time in business, if it's time of job is job without any other reactivity, and her time of... dating is a break time, if this is not possible, report her if she doesn't show any improvement, give her a warning letter, then after remove her from the job. more

Career development

1d

Functional Resume & Application Help

I'm a recent graduate stepping into the job market for the very first time. What I need most right now is hands-on job-application assistance, starting with a strong functional résumé that makes my academic credentials the star of the show. Because I don't yet have a long work history, the résumé has to lean on my education, certifications, relevant coursework and any transferable abilities those... credentials suggest. I want each line to demonstrate value to a hiring manager, while still reading naturally and professionally. Here's how I picture our collaboration: * You refine or build my functional résumé from the ground up, structuring it so the Education & Certifications section stands out and ties directly to the roles I'll be applying for. * Alongside the résumé, you guide me on tailoring applications -- keywords, ATS-friendly formatting, and brief positioning statements -- so I can confidently submit to multiple entry-level openings. Everything should be delivered in an editable format (Word or Google Docs) and ready to adapt for different roles. If you've helped other freshers land interviews and can show before-and-after examples, that will be a big plus. Once the documents feel solid, I'd also appreciate a short walkthrough of how to tweak them for each posting, just to ensure I can keep things up-to-date on my own. If this sounds like your wheelhouse, let's connect and get my job search moving. more

Career development

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People Are Saying This Is The Number One Red Flag To Beware Of When Interviewing For A Job

Job interviews are supposed to be about qualifications, but sometimes they expose much bigger problems. Many people say interviews have become a preview of workplace dysfunction, and Quora user Thea is proving this to be true after sharing their recent experience: "I told HR I was interviewing elsewhere, and he ended the call. Why?"

Thea went on to share that this was the second round of Zoom... interviews for a marketing position. "Everything was going super well until the very end, when he asked, 'Are you interviewing elsewhere?' I said yes and mentioned that I was also in later rounds with other companies. And boom! His face instantly changed, and he said, 'Oh, we prefer to focus on candidates who are genuinely interested in our company.'"

"...Then he adds, 'In that case, we'll let you pursue those other opportunities.' Call ended. Just like that! He didn't even give me a chance to explain that I was genuinely interested!!! Like, isn't it normal to talk to multiple companies when job hunting? It's not like dating one person at a time guarantees commitment, lol. IDK," Thea concluded on Quora.

Right away, people in the comments pointed out why this kind of behavior is a red flag about a company:

"It just means that they can't squeeze you to accept their lowball salary offer. So, it was a waste of their time. They're off to hunt other poor souls. Lucky you!"

-- Ian, Quora user

"You dodged a bullet there by finding their true colors before it was too late. Maybe the right way to answer is something like, 'While you're certainly my first choice because of XYZ, I do believe in managing risk in any project/endeavor and therefore have been interviewing elsewhere as well.' But, really, anyone who acted as you describe isn't someone I'd work for anyway."

-- D.E.B.S, Quora user

"This company is under the probable delusion that there is no competitive market for your skills. The moment they found out that you have possible choices of where to work they know they can't compete, and so they ended the call (rudely, it seems). It might not feel like it, but you came out ahead in that call. Companies that can't compete for labor will find themselves struggling to fill their open jobs, and their existing workforce suffers as a result. (If asked, I'd advise any job seeker to honestly respond that they're interested in this company...and some others. Any employer who thinks they're the end-all and be-all doesn't deserve your candidacy.)"

-- u/Joel Winter

"Some companies know that their offers are not competitive and don't want the competition. It is best to keep that information close to the vest. If you are asked about applying to other companies or interviewing elsewhere, turn it around on them and ask if they are ready to make an offer. It's not their business what you are doing in your job search, and it would be foolish for them to think that you are only waiting on them. The fact that they are asking such an ignorant question should be a flag worth noting regarding the company."

-- Randall Parker, Quora user

"This has always been very interesting to me. On one hand, I can see that it would be more 'insulting' that you are interviewing at multiple places, especially if/when you make it past the first round of interviews. Maybe it could also be seen as 'we don't offer enough, so you are looking to get the best deal wherever' (which is probably true in most cases, but besides the point). Another part of me wants to believe that they might also think they have to offer you more to get you on board, so others in those second-round interviews might be better options financially. However, I really wonder why they don't try to jump at this. If you can make it past the first round of interviews, you obviously stood out to them in some way. So, why don't they see this as a positive and try to 'snatch you' from the other jobs?"

-- Johnny Q, Quora user

So, that being said, we want to hear what YOU think are red flags to look out for during a job interview process. Let us know in the anonymous comments form below, and your response may be featured in a follow-up post!

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I moved to the US from India. Here's how I landed a job at Microsoft after first misunderstanding the Big Tech hiring process.

He suggests tech hopefuls build a public presence and continually develop skills to stand out.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Rishab Jolly, a 37-year-old senior product manager at Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington. Business Insider has verified Jolly's employment history with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Before moving to the US... in 2015, I studied engineering and computer science in India, where I worked as both a software quality tester and an engineer.

I was always interested in the business side of technology, so I left my job in India to pursue an MBA at the University of Arizona. My goal was to gain business acumen to complement my engineering background. I saw firsthand how much innovation takes place in the US and how many opportunities exist to work on cutting-edge products, which inspired me to build my career here.

One of the most valuable parts of the MBA program was its partnerships with Big Tech companies. As part of the curriculum, representatives from Microsoft, Amazon, and Google brought projects to campus.

Students formed teams, worked on deliverables, and were graded by company representatives. In 2016, I was team lead on a Microsoft project, and we did an excellent job. That gave me a chance to network and to demonstrate my skills to an actual Microsoft product manager.

I applied to about 200 jobs, sending the same generic résumé without referrals. I received only three calls back and passed two interviews, but both offers were subsequently rescinded: one company considered my visa too risky without a STEM extension, and another cited budgetary reasons.

I needed to secure a job within 60-90 days after graduation, or I would be forced to return to India. I ran out of money, asked a friend if I could crash on their couch, and felt a constant sense of anxiety.

During that time, I stayed in touch with the Microsoft contact I'd met through my MBA project. When an opening came up, I asked if he would refer me.

He agreed, and I rewrote my résumé to match the specific role. The hiring manager liked my application, called me in, and I got a shot. That referral and tailoring my résumé made all the difference.

I was hired by Microsoft in July 2017 and started as a product manager. I became a senior product manager in 2021.

First, you have to get the interview, and second, you have to pass it. For the first step, referrals are critical. Big Tech companies receive tens of thousands of résumés every month. A referral can push yours to the top of the stack.

To prepare for interviews, I relied heavily on mock interviews. I reached out to peers who had been in the same boat and asked them to test me. They helped me refine my storytelling, practice answering metrics-driven questions, and pinpoint areas for improvement.

When I finally interviewed at Microsoft, the feedback I received was that my stories were authentic and clearly based on real experiences. That authenticity resonated far more than rehearsed answers pulled from the internet.

In today's tech world, showcasing your skills outside work or school, whether on LinkedIn, GitHub, or through personal projects, demonstrates passion and initiative.

I started posting more consistently on LinkedIn during the pandemic. I shared lessons from my career, thoughts on product management, and observations about the industry. I wasn't trying to "build a following," I just focused on topics that genuinely resonated with me.

Over time, those posts resonated with others, and a community naturally formed around them. The growth happened gradually and organically, simply because people connected with the ideas and conversations.

Recruiters notice when you go beyond the curriculum to learn new tools or contribute to open-source projects. In a fast-changing industry where AI and new technologies emerge every six months, demonstrating your ability to adapt and self-learn is as important as the content of your résumé.

While a small percentage of jobs may prefer an MBA, I know successful product managers who came from accounting, English literature, or completely different areas. Microsoft values diverse backgrounds because innovation thrives when teams bring fresh perspectives.

Even with this knowledge, I would still pursue an MBA because it was not just about academics; it was also about gaining practical experience. It provided me with exposure to new perspectives, helped me transition into product management, and connected me with mentors and peers who have shaped my career in meaningful ways.

I don't think an MBA is mandatory for everyone. It depends on your goals and whether you're looking for a career pivot, a network, or structured learning.

Visa restrictions, financial pressure, and cultural adjustments can make the experience stressful. I had moments when I felt defeated, but staying focused and working smart eventually brought everything together.

After over eight years at Microsoft, I plan to continue contributing to the technology and innovation ecosystem. I'm exploring the appropriate pathways that align with my career goals, but nothing is finalized at this time. My focus is on the work itself and continuing to grow professionally.

My advice to anyone following a similar path is straightforward: network strategically, prepare thoroughly, stay authentic, and continually build your skills and presence. Things may look uncertain now, but persistence and the right relationships can open doors you didn't think were possible. more

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Obayomi Israel
1d
Nice read.
Hope you meet people of Great influence!
grant mwaba
2d
Nice read especially on remaining authentic and continually building skills. We need to adapt to the changing environment.