Comment by Jacob G on When is it appropriate to stop an interview early?
@JoshuaDrake Definitely a valid point and one that every interviewer should be cognizant of in all interviews.
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on Benefits during two weeks notice
It doesn't appear that these provisions are governed by any insurance law that I can find. My last three job changes had benefits covered through the end of the month containing my final day.
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on When should you form a union?
Just as an aside, here's a first-hand account from a union, Hostess employee that may shed some alternative light on the 'tensions triggering liquidation."
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on How can I encourage a culture of punctuality in a...
@JimG. That was merely potentially relevant information that someone may have used to formulate a productive solution to 'encourage' not 'impose' a culture of punctuality. Feel free to participate in...
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on What to say when a customer asks if you know something...
@JonPurdy - That's where knowledge and familiarity with the participants and their expectations come in to play. In effect, the answerer is kind of dodging the question. The trick is to dodge it in a...
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on How do I instill meeting request email etiquette in my...
While I didn't downvote it, it's a pretty snarky answer with no explanation as to how that would solve the problem.
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on How do I find a recruiter that's actually worth working...
Also related - workplace.stackexchange.com/questions/3120/…
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on How to "disarm" dominative gestures of a colleague
@suslik And that is exactly the reason why the OP should ask why it really matters. If OP sits in his cube all day slinging code, then it probably matters a lot less than if he's competing for the...
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on Using "offered a promotion I don't want" as a selling...
My point is to not focus on the "offer" aspect of anything in your history and only focus on what you've actually done. It sounds like you've been offered this job twice. Once you accepted it and once...
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on How do you manage a mass chair purchase?
@DanNeely Is that because the top of the chair is curved and doesn't support your shoulders? I also have not seen a chair that has that adjustment. The Aeron has lots of adjustments for the lower back,...
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on Post interview etiquette
@thursdaysgeek: There are a number of factors about a person's life that, if explicitly factored into a hiring decision, could be considered discriminatory. It's safer to say nothing than to run the...
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on Skill- rather than employer-driven resume
@JonofAllTrades That's why you specifically call out the technologies used with each project/employer as well.
View ArticleComment by Jacob G on Why do potential employers need to know my current salary?
Also possible dupe of workplace.stackexchange.com/q/2123/75
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Do employers visit online resumes/websites for extended...
If I'm evaluating candidates I first narrow down the list based solely on resume content. After that first pass, I'll begin looking for other information that may or may not help me make my decision....
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for What to highlight as a new developer in an interview?
Just like any interview, you need to focus on you and the value you can bring to the company. Be yourself, don't lie, relax, don't ramble, relax and end every answer to every question on a positive...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How can I encourage a 'software development' culture...
Well, first I think you need to evaluate if the responsibilities of your department vis a vis interacting with the rest of the company can actually support some of the more traditional software...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Is it risky to invite a senior member of the company to...
I would make sure you recognize that different people will interpret this request differently. You're likely to get a range of interpretation from earnest naivete all the way to blatant sycophancy.Like...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Should I list the ability to remember a shuffled deck...
I would agree with others and say no as well, with one caveat. If you are presenting your cover letter and resume with some personality, as is relatively common in Design fields, then this is something...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Why would recruiters ask "How much would you like to...
Typically these pay levels are a range and are attached to the position being filled. So, a 'Junior Widget Flipper' could have a range of 10k to 20k while a 'Senior Widget Flipper' could have a range...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Is it my job to convince my manager that my report is...
If your manager is asking you to convince him/her that the report is right, then it is your job to convince your manager that the report is right.The way you do this is to say the following:Here are...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How to behave during notice period
The communities in which we work throughout our lives are generally pretty small. You never know when you might come across some of the same folks you're working with now. And you can't predict if...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Customer thinks that I'm female due to a name mixup....
I wouldn't bother and instead let them come to the realization themselves. When you correct someone on this, it eliminates the possibility for them to recover gracefully and save face. Continue signing...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How blundererous are spelling and sentence mistakes...
At a glance, I count 7 spelling or grammatical errors in this question (prior to all the edits). I think that, when composing an email, people are generally forgiving about an occasional typo....
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Implementing Peer Review System
Honestly, I think that this is a really bad idea. The first time someone disagrees with the peer evaluation they've been given, what happens? Each of your developers are going to have different skills...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Is it appropriate to be asked during an interview about...
This is to understand the full scope of your current compensation package. Most people, when asked "how much do you currently make," don't factor in much, if anything, beyond salary/commissions. HR...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Team building activities for a fast growing team
I think that you have two things working against you here - The size of your group and your budget. Doing an effective team building event that includes everyone and is positive for < $200 is going...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for What kinds of questions should I ask a recruiter?
If you're establishing a relationship with a recruiter, then the questions you want to ask should initially cover their representation of you:Will you modify my resume without my approval?Do I get...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How can I convince my management of the importance of...
This is really all about how you position the request.If you have a Project Manager, then I would ensure that they have a "transition period" on the books for the tail end of the project. If this has...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Human Resources Complaint About Hiring Process
If I were in your shoes, I would likely schedule a meeting with the hiring manager and say something like - "I'm not going to lie, I thought that I was in a good position to fill the full-time position...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How do I instill meeting request email etiquette in my...
It's not clear what your relationship is to the team, but here's what I would do.1- Sit down with each person individually and have a frank and open conversation with them. 2- Explain to them the...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for Bring printed list of questions to interview
It's absolutely acceptable to have a prepared list of things that you'd like to cover. As a candidate, I like to have them hand written, personally, and cross them off as we discuss them during the...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How should I interview a technical candidate for a...
When I am interviewing technical candidates, there are a few specific things that I'm looking for:Personality-- How will they fit in with the team? Is their personality compatible?I first do my best to...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for My new colleagues seem too busy to answer my questions....
I think that half of your problem may just be culture shock. The disparity between a 2500+ company and a small development team at a startup is pretty significant. I think that you may have been a...
View ArticleAnswer by Jacob G for How can I prioritize and Organize my tasks and then...
You need to normalize the requests as they come in before you even concern yourself with priority* or the specific action items involved. If you're getting requests from 3+ different avenues (phone,...
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