Archive for December, 2008

Interview Tips

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

A lot of job applicants are unsurprisingly confused about how much and who to tip on an interview. As an aid, here’s what my scouts tell me are the prevailing rates in the US. Keep in mind, these may vary by industry and region, so take caution:

  • For the primary interviewer: 15% of desired salary. 20% if they’re an especially helpful interviewer, or you really want the position.
  • For anybody else who you talk to for more than 10 minutes, and the receptionist: 10% of desired salary for each. (more…)

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Quick Tip #2: Coffee

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

If after pouring your coffee, there’s not at least than one more cup in the coffee pot, it’s always a good idea to brew another.
Unless nobody saw you pour it.

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Quick Tip #1: Singing in the Office

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

If you feel the urge to sing in the office, try livening it up by making use of a tune. It may seem conformist, but you’d be surprised how much further your career will go without your neighbor’s stapler embedded in your skull.

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Welcome to Help Unwanted – Free Advice, Cheap at Twice the Price

Tuesday, December 16th, 2008

If you follow a lot of career advice blogs, books and gurus you’ll notice that their key advice boils down to “do what you love, market your unique skills and the universe will make a path for you.” Which is rather unhelpful on account of it being a fat steaming load. Of course once you move past this sort of fundamental career guidance into more mundane considerations the gurus tend not to unanimously parrot bad advice. They just start contradicting each other.

Help Unwanted is (more…)

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