It’s 5 solutions to 5 questions. Here we go…
1. Is my answer to “tell me about yourself” too impersonal?
I have been working underneath the idea that discussing private info is not acceptable throughout a job interview, and as a consequence each time somebody says “tell me about yourself,” I take it within the skilled sense, outlining my job historical past and saying nothing about my life outdoors of labor. However, it’s just lately come to my consideration that doing so is perhaps actively dangerous. Instead of coming off as skilled, it may as an alternative be seen as distant or distrustful, and may clarify why I’ve been having such a exhausting time touchdown a job provide. Could you please verify whether or not this is case, and perhaps present some recommendation on what sort of private information to present?
Most interviewers are in search of precisely what you’ve been providing (“tell us about you as a professional”), though some are hoping for one thing a little more expansive (though typically not a ton more — simply one thing like “I grew up in Florida and moved here after college” or “and outside of work I do a lot of volunteering with homeless armadillos” — actually simply a sentence or two, and nothing terribly private).
But in the event that they’re inquisitive about a broader answer than what you gave, any competent interviewer would merely say, “Tell us a little about you as a person outside of work too.” It’s extraordinarily unlikely that not providing up something private initially is dropping you presents or coming throughout as distant or distrustful. I suppose it’s doable that you just’re coming throughout as distant or distrustful in different methods, however it’s not since you’re confining your answer to this query to the skilled sphere. That’s a actually regular factor to do.
Related:
how to answer “tell me about yourself” in a job interview
2. My associates say I’m bribing colleagues by being good
I strive to be further good to the service people at my job: custodians, IT, delivery/receiving, and many others. Mainly I do that as a result of they’re people who deserve the identical respect because the engineers/scientists I work with, but additionally partially as a result of I need them to like working with my staff, which could get us higher service sooner or later. I was telling this to some associates and they accused me of attempting to “bribe” these staff to get higher service. Some examples I informed them had been:
– Our AC was getting fastened and I informed the HVAC crew in the event that they wished any sodas or snacks out of our snack bar, they had been welcome to them. (I handle the snack bar, so I have the authority to do that.)
– We had been having a cookout at my constructing and the custodian occurred to arrive whereas we had been grilling. I informed them to be happy to seize a burger/hotdog/sides/soda. We had loads of meals and a number of other people informed them the identical factor.
– I wanted one thing shipped out on tremendous quick discover and when I introduced my bundle to the delivery workplace, I gave them a giant bar of chocolate to inform them sorry for the push.
– I had a very tough laptop drawback and when it was resolved I wrote a very good electronic mail to the IT division praising the 2 individuals who helped me by identify. Apparently they had been each given a $60 customer support award from their staff as a result of I did this.Maybe this is bribery, however I really feel like that time period can get blown out of proportion in a short time. I am torn as a result of whereas nobody at my work has mentioned something, my associates informed me I may get in bother if administration begins listening to about it.
Your associates are being ridiculous. All the examples are you simply being a variety particular person and recognizing different individuals’s humanity. I assume the half your pals latched onto is that a part of your motivation is that your staff may get higher service sooner or later — however all you’re doing is being considerate about your work relationships and being somebody individuals could have good will towards sooner or later, which is a actually normal, sensible, and emotionally clever manner to function (as well as to making you somebody your colleagues in all probability like working with).
It could be completely different should you had been covertly sliding money their manner. But you’re simply treating them kindly and letting their managers know you recognize their work. That’s not bribery, and that’s a actually weird lens on your associates to be placing on thoughtfulness and kindness.
I’m dying to know what your pals’ work relationships are like in the event that they suppose there’s one thing nefarious about being variety to your colleagues!
3. Should I rent somebody to end a facet venture that a coworker provided to do without spending a dime?
I’ve been engaged on a dream I have had for a whereas, a small meals enterprise (suppose catering like apps, meat and cheese boards, venetian hour setups, and many others.). I have been doing this casually for fairly a whereas now and I have in all probability two dozen repeat prospects. I by no means meant this to be something more than a monetized interest as I have a full-time job in an unrelated subject I love.
After a very profitable vacation season final 12 months, I determined to provide you with a formal identify and ultimately create enterprise playing cards, a web site, and many others. Yay!
Here is my dilemma. I did an occasion for a coworker, James, on the finish of final 12 months that went rather well. The success of this occasion, and the variety of individuals asking for a enterprise card so they might rent me sooner or later, is what spurred my resolution to get my butt in gear and flip this into a legit facet enterprise. I talked about that I didn’t know the place to begin, and James provided to assist create the emblem and web site. He graduated from an artwork college with some form of diploma in digital advertising and design. Awesome! I thought about it for a few weeks and then introduced him a identify and a basic concept about the emblem. I informed him to ship me his charges so I may pay him for his time, he mentioned that he didn’t need any cost, and despatched me over a first draft of my brand inside 12 hours. I was so blissful!
I requested for one small change to the design, concerning coloring. I by no means heard again. I adopted up a few instances to see if my concept was believable however it was radio silence. This was again in April. Since the season was ending and I knew my facet work would disappear for the summer time, I left it alone and figured I would comply with up as we approached the season (which begins in mid-November). I was beginning to really feel like a pest and since I didn’t pay him, it felt improper to primarily demand his time.
A extremely good pal of mine, Jessie, simply began a enterprise doing the identical factor and has provided to end up what James began and more. I actually preferred the emblem he got here up with, simply not the coloring, and Jessie has been doing this work efficiently for years with nice opinions so I belief she may make one thing I love with the bones of James’ design.
Can I take that brand James began and have Jessie end it? I reached out once more a few instances this previous month in anticipation of rolling out every part for the season, however by no means heard again from him. Our in-person conversations trace that he doesn’t suppose I ought to change something and I am beginning to really feel like he thinks his concepts are too good to be modified in any respect. That leaves me with a basic design I like, however coloring that primarily feels … so not me. Should I provide to purchase the present design from him once more so I can have Jessie do no matter I need with it? I am uncertain of how copyright may play into this (if in any respect). Alternatively, his silence since then has been so bizarre to me that I am questioning if I dedicated some form of fake pas by asking him to change the coloring though he didn’t need cost for his time or work. Should I have simply been proud of what I received?
Last query first: Nope, undoubtedly don’t settle for a brand that isn’t what you need. It’s fully affordable and regular to have a number of rounds of tweaking after a first design. It could be shocking should you didn’t!
As for the remainder: Who is aware of what occurred with James — perhaps he received caught up in different issues, perhaps he’s too sensitive about his work to be designing for individuals, perhaps he realizes he shouldn’t have provided his time without spending a dime and doesn’t know the way to backtrack. But regardless, you shouldn’t use or change his design with out his okay. He owns the copyright to it except you will have a written settlement to the opposite, and it might be a huge mess (in addition to simply unhealthy manners) should you modified and then used one thing he legally owns. The most secure factor to do is to begin over from scratch with Jessie (who may choose that anyway, slightly than tweaking one other designer’s work, and who may provide you with one thing you want higher anyway).
Also, be sure to signal a contract with Jessie specifying switch of rights, and many others., though she’s a pal and even when she’s doing it without spending a dime!
4. How lengthy do I have to wait earlier than including my new job to LinkedIn?
After years of working jobs that had been crushing my spirit, I just lately began a new job that is a nice set-up in my profession, doing work I get pleasure from, with a corporation that appears to have a wholesome tradition. I simply completed my first week and it appears to be a nice match! I’ve learn that you just’re not supposed to replace your LinkedIn profile till a few weeks (and even months) into a new function — in your opinion, how true is this? I’m actually excited to replace my profile with my new place … however is it too quickly? Does it even matter?
Nah, replace it now if you’d like. That recommendation has at all times appeared overly cautious to me. The pondering is that the job won’t work out and should you’re not there in a few months, you don’t need to have to take care of it being in your LinkedIn … however you could possibly simply take away it at that time if you’d like to. It’s not a huge deal, and only a few individuals are monitoring modifications to your LinkedIn profile that intently.
I do agree it doesn’t make sense to add it earlier than you truly begin the job — however you’ve began, it’s been a few weeks, and it’s high-quality to add it now if you’d like.
5. Employee working 4 hours, then taking the remainder of the day off
If an exempt worker works 4 hours and then takes the remaining 4 hours off, are they paid for the complete 4 hours?
Yes. If exempt workers work any a part of the week, they should be paid their wage for the complete week. (Starting and ending weeks are an exception to this.) The employer may deduct the time from their PTO, however they have to legally pay for it.
Employers are allowed to stop abuse of this, in fact; they will require X variety of hours of labor a week even you’re exempt, and can tackle it like every other efficiency situation if somebody isn’t doing that. But even when that’s taking place, they’d nonetheless want to pay exempt staff their full wage for the week.
