A reader writes: I was hoping you could help me address a request from my manager. I work on a small team (five of us altogether) where we are all the same gender, around the same age, and have a lot of similar interests — the perfect makings for a traditional “friend group.” ” Except that, of course, one of us is a manager (“Jordan”) so there needs to be some level of distance between us. The trouble is, Jordan has a hard time with this. MORE

In episode 16 of The HR Famous Podcast , I track down Head of HR for Mikron Ed Baldwin for a continuation discussion about return to work plans. we discuss Mikron’s early decision to start working remotely, what changes they have made in their manufacturing plants, and what tactics allowed them to be on top of the pandemic. Listen below and be sure to subscribe, rate, and review (iTunes) and follow (Spotify)! email subscribers, click through if you don't see the podcast player below). MORE

It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager, when I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are four updates from past letter-writers. My boss expects me to share my personal health/diet/spirituality/fitness goals every week. Thanks so much for helping me out when I was dealing with this incredibly weird situation. What happened (thanks to your amazing advice and to sharp fellow readers): 1. MORE

A reader writes: Last fall, I left a beloved job with a nonprofit and assisted them in hiring a new “me” — or, rather, two people to take my place with two different aspects of the job. One was an internal hire, the other required an outside interview process. We received over 50 applications, narrowed it down to 13 phone interviews, then seven in-person interviews, and finally made a very satisfying hiring decision. MORE

Top Resume Questions. We all understand the importance of a resume. Not only can a solid resume help you to land an interview at your dream company, but it can also help to differentiate yourself from the competition and other applicants. With nearly 52 applicants applying to an open position, it is more important than ever to ensure that you have a solid, well written resume to apply with. MORE

A termination letter is a notice to an active employee, normally on behalf of the human resources department, informing them of their termination. And the reasons for their termination. MORE

Choosing to pursue a career in law means that you aren’t choosing the easy route. Straight from the start, this means that if you are the kind of person that does not hold a deep interest in helping people to overcome adversity in their lives, you likely will not find a career in dealing with other people’s problems all too rewarding. Remember, a job isn’t a just job, it’s something you have to get out of bed and drive to work and actually do every day of your career until you retire. MORE

A reader writes: Is it unreasonable to expect applicants to submit a resume, cover letter, and application for a part-time job, even if all three are asked for in the job posting? I recently posted a part-time position, and at the end of the post, I state, “To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and completed XYZ business application found at…” So far, none of the applicants have sent me all three pieces of information. MORE

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. Should I wear a mask to a job interview? I live in a state where masks were mandated in public spaces until recently as we move to limited reopening, but generally everyone is still wearing them in stores. My state has been hit hard, but less so my specific area. I have an in-person job interview tomorrow and was wondering whether or not I should wear a mask to the interview. MORE