Ask a Manager

NOVEMBER 9, 2016

Interviewer asked how my family would describe me. I was being interviewed for a job, and the interviewer asked me, “What words would your coworkers use to describe you?” I have another interview in a few days, and I’m worried I’ll be asked this question again. I really feel like saying, “That’s none of your business.”.

Interviewing 36

Interviewing Reporting Legal Small Business 36

Ruby

JULY 3, 2020

Katie Hurst, Ruby’s Director of Strategic Communications, takes the mic in this edition of Business Unusual, interviewing Nalini Prasad, Chief Strategy Officer at BluShark Digital , about the power of local marketing and the importance of Google My Business. Nalini Prasad: Yeah, absolutely.

Small Business 52

Small Business Controlling Legal Communication 52

Ask a Manager

JULY 27, 2021

Is my job at a bathhouse turning off interviewers? I’ve gotten quite a few first interviews but rarely a second round. Thankfully I’ve never had to go into detail during interviews, and simply talk about the booking/cafe aspect of the business. Is it a hobby or a business? If so, try using that.

Legal 45

Legal Interviewing Flexibility Flexibility 45

Ruby

AUGUST 11, 2020

Read the Interview Katie Hurst: Hello, everyone. And welcome back to our small business series, Business Unusual. Whereas if you hired someone full time, you might feel an obligation to keep them employed, or you might actually be legally obligated to keep them employed. You go do your thing. We’re good.”

Software 52

Software Computer Small Business Insurance 52

Ask a Manager

OCTOBER 18, 2021

But in the vast majority of jobs, some flexibility on arrival/departure times would be a reasonable accommodation for someone with a disability who’s dependent on paratransit — reasonable accommodation in both the legal sense and the common-sense sense. The details have not been worked out and she’s in talks with HR and Legal.

Training 38

Training Legal Payroll Interviewing 38

Ruby

AUGUST 26, 2020

Business Unusual: Hiring & Team Cohesion Diving deeper into staff augmentation, outsourcing, and working with freelancers, Ruby’s Director of Strategic Communications, Katie Hurst, continues her interview with Damien Filiatrault, Founder and CEO of Scalable Path.

Software 52

Software Insurance Communication Cleaning 52

Ask a Manager

DECEMBER 7, 2016

Recently, his sister has come up with a business idea that springboards off the current brick-and-mortar store that she and her mom (same as boyfriend’s mom) run together. Offering to take an interviewer on a tour of my current company. That’s an easier relationship to break off if you ever need to.

Interviewing 26

Interviewing Legal Cleaning Planning 26

Ask a Manager

MAY 17, 2016

I want to give my interviewer a portfolio demonstrating my admin skills. I am an administrative assistant and have a second job interview coming up the end of this week. However, I only have a few days before my interview and am not sure how to go about presenting it. Just go and do a great interview and let that speak for you.

Interviewing 21

Interviewing Administrative Assistance Bookkeeping Legal 21

Ask a Manager

OCTOBER 3, 2021

It’s a small business where the owner is very involved in the day to day business, so I see him regularly. Also, do I have to finish out my two weeks notice with someone who’s threatening legal action against me for quitting? Explaining to interviewers why I took the last few months off. Here we go….

Computer 41

Computer Interviewing Logistics Catering 41

Ruby

JUNE 5, 2020

Here at Ruby, we’ve been cooking up a series dedicated to bringing expert insights right to our customers, and the small business community at large. In this installment, Ruby’s own Jill McKenna interviews Katie Augsburger of Future Work Design. Read the Interview Jill McKenna: Hi!

Small Business 40

Small Business Interviewing Sales Legal 40

Ask a Manager

MAY 26, 2020

I sacrificed for my boyfriend’s business — and I might get nothing. In early 2010, I started to date my boyfriend who owned a small business. Two years later, I decided to “partner” with him to expand/re-design his business. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go….

Legal 37

Legal Small Business Onboarding Planning 37

Ask a Manager

DECEMBER 29, 2022

Recently, his sister has come up with a business idea that springboards off the current brick-and-mortar store that she and her mom (same as boyfriend’s mom) run together. Offering to take an interviewer on a tour of my current company. That’s an easier relationship to break off if you ever need to. – 2016.

Supplies 46

Supplies Interviewing Purchasing Cleaning 46

Ask a Manager

MARCH 29, 2020

As a small business, this is a large expense we have to bear that I find concerning, but at the same time I don’t want to be unreasonable either. The organization has an ethical and legal responsibility to act if this continues, and you should let them do that. I overheard discrimination in a job interview.

Interviewing 33

Interviewing Legal Food Small Business 33

Vantage Circle

OCTOBER 24, 2024

List of 10 Top Talent Management Platform BambooHR : Best for small businesses looking for an intuitive, all-in-one HR solution that simplifies talent management. Some small businesses may find the pricing less accessible as they grow. BambooHR runs smoothly and efficiently exactly as expected. Very user friendly."

Software 52

Software Payroll Onboarding Decision Making 52

Ask a Manager

NOVEMBER 3, 2015

This is a mandatory fun culture, but you bet I’m bringing this up in my exit interview! I have to tell my manager that I’m interviewing somewhere else. I have had a first-round interview with a consulting firm and was invited to a second phone interview with the hiring manager. What the actual F?

Planning 34

Planning Interviewing Consulting Transportation 34

Ruby

JUNE 1, 2021

Maybe you run a consulting firm, and a client has assumed you’re capable of providing not just business guidance, but also legal advice. As Justin Dunham from Ercule recently told us in an interview : “You have to know what you’re doing—that’s what you’re being hired for. I’m willing to bet you’ve experienced this firsthand.

Customer Service 52

Customer Service Problem-Solving Communication Delegation 52

Ask a Manager

MARCH 21, 2017

As for what to say, you could try this: “Jane Warbleworth will no longer be my name as of July 10, legally or otherwise. But if he’s the head guy, and this is a small business that he runs as King Ass, which seems likely, then unfortunately you might be at the limits of what you can try. I’ll let IT know.”. If so, do that.

Interviewing 21

Interviewing Salary Banking Supervising 21

Ask a Manager

AUGUST 8, 2017

Recently I had an interview for a HR manager position with a small organization of approximately 100 employees. The interviewer is a COO and only has a desk even though he deals with confidential financial information. I work for a relatively small business, less than 40 employees. Is it legal? It’s legal!

Payroll 26

Payroll Legal Sales Salary 26

Ask a Manager

APRIL 20, 2020

It’s very unlikely that you’ll get fired, and your employer would be on awfully shaky legal ground if you do. Phone calls to set up interviews while I’m at work. I have no problem taking time off or going to my car for a phone interview, but how do I handle phone calls to arrange interviews?

Creativity 37

Creativity Cleaning Reporting Interviewing 37

Ask a Manager

NOVEMBER 30, 2016

I was a Teapot Maker for three years, and after a lengthy internal interview process have been one of my company’s two Teapot Leads for the last year. All I can really do is focus my effort into my resumes and interviews and try not to let this frustrate me, but do you have any other tips about how to handle a situation like this?

Legal 26

Legal Interviewing Payroll Promotion 26

Ask a Manager

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

Was this an interview faux pas. At the end of a series of interviews, to show how excited and interested in the job and company, I said if I was offered the job I’d definitely accept the offer. I had a phone interview with a company I’d be really excited to work for. Frequent interview-ending answers.

Interviewing 38

Interviewing Salary Problem-Solving Sales 38

Ask a Manager

DECEMBER 29, 2022

As luck would have it, I interviewed four places, did second interviews with three, and got a hard offer from the position I was most interested in two weeks after my layoff. He’s a recent technical school grad who got his first job at a very small business who said he’d be “responsible for his own taxes.”

Promotion 28

Promotion Mentoring Small Business Supplies 28

Ask a Manager

JULY 7, 2020

Let her know it’s illegal to allow people to work while they’re not being paid, and if people are reading and responding to work emails, that’s potentially a legal issue. I have worked for the same small business for 5-1/2 years as an office manager. Arriving early for video interviews. But you can and should try.

Cleaning 30

Cleaning Interviewing Communication Security 30

Ask a Manager

MARCH 21, 2023

I’m looking for perspective on what importance to apply to whether or not a job applicant has ever interacted with my small business. That said, if it’s a paid internship, it won’t be subject to the same legal requirements and they might have the ability to be more flexible.)

Legal 31

Legal Flexibility Flexibility Onboarding 31

Ask a Manager

AUGUST 17, 2022

On Demand Interviews as a screening tool. Are on demand video interviews (where the applicant recounted themselves answering questions in some kind of portal) a good initial screening tool? I had several of these in my last search where I was sent an email to interview this way. bathroom emergencies during an interview.

Computer 50

Computer Food Interviewing Problem-Solving 50

Ask a Manager

JANUARY 3, 2017

Is that even legal? Legally, yes, they could. First of all, they should have done their due diligence in hiring her — interviewed her thoroughly, checked references, etc. Not every small business is a mess — many are great — but there’s a definite correlation between size and level of organization/professionalism.

Insurance 26

Insurance Legal Small Business Work Ethic 26

Ask a Manager

MAY 16, 2017

I’ve previously worked for much bigger companies where management has been quite hands-off, or for very small businesses where everyone tended to know what was happening with each other. I’m working for a startup in London, which is an unfamiliar environment for me, and in a brand new area. Head over there to read it.

Legal 20

Legal Small Business Interviewing Security 20

Ask a Manager

MARCH 13, 2018

We are not legally married. Can I ask an interviewer how much of the day I’ll spend on the phone? The only job I’ve ever had was a part-time position in a very small business — and by “small,” I mean eight employees max, counting myself and the owner. It’s five answers to five questions.

Mailing 20

Mailing Retail Interviewing Finance 20

Vantage Circle

NOVEMBER 18, 2020

Leasing is particularly beneficial for small businesses that don't have much workforce in their HR department. The PEO's take care of the legal requirements while hiring, employee health and risks associated, etc. Having no burden of these aspects can free up an HR department to a vast extent. Saves Hiring Costs.

Controlling 52

Controlling Manufacturing Advertising Construction 52

Ask a Manager

MARCH 12, 2023

My company interviewed a man to celebrate International Women’s Day My company has been around for over 100 years and is one of the big ones in Australia. and came up with the answer “Interview a man!” Is there any way I can bring this information up in a cover letter or interview, and not sound like I have horrible judgement?

Interviewing 23

Interviewing Legal Healthcare Consulting 23

Ask a Manager

JUNE 24, 2019

I was wondering about a piece of interview advice my father and I recently disagreed about (for context, I am a college student who most recently interviewed for internships, and my dad is a small business owner who regularly hires for office positions). My dad says I should offer to work for free to prove myself.

Interviewing 40

Interviewing Project Management Legal Communication 40

Ask a Manager

FEBRUARY 3, 2021

I am a writer with a day job at a small business that employs a small but proportionally substantial number of other writers and bookish people. My interviewer’s friend died right before I was supposed to interview with them. The first interviewer was friendly and I thought it went great. Here we go….

Promotion 44

Promotion Interviewing Sales Insurance 44

Vantage Circle

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

The hiring process, however, isn’t just about checking resumes and conducting interviews—it’s about ensuring your candidates are reliable, qualified, and trustworthy. In 2025, businesses need fast, accurate, and compliant background checks to make confident hiring decisions.

Software 94

Software Legal Transportation Healthcare 94

Ask a Manager

MARCH 11, 2021

Some of this is targeted to interviews specifically, but much of it works for non-interview conversations as well.). • “I would suggest keeping some freelance work as a side gig. And being mostly self-employed avoided the interview questions and resume gap concerns.”

Real Estate 31

Real Estate Advertising Bookkeeping Interviewing 31

Work Life

JANUARY 16, 2024

Sophia Danner-Okotie has ambitious plans for her Nigerian-inspired clothing line, but a sense of dread has punctured her optimism as she watches a legal battle being waged against a small venture capital firm that has provided funding instrumental to her boutique brand’s growth.

Legal 111

Legal Retail Pharmaceutical Transportation 111

Success

MARCH 8, 2022

Business owners often complain, “There aren’t any good salespeople out there.” The first problem most small-business owners have in hiring salespeople is that they start with faulty assumptions. During a job interview, you want to elicit information to determine that these attributes exist.

Sales 105

Sales Coaching Leadership Training 105

Ask a Manager

JUNE 25, 2015

I interviewed 2 months ago, and since then, have just been waiting for bureaucracy to grind along. She quit her job to be a “coach” and described herself as an entrepreneur and small business owner – neither of which was even close to true but she swallowed the company line, hook and sinker.

Salary 34

Salary Customer Service Sales Interviewing 34