Work therapy

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It’s common for there to be a tension between feeling a personal responsibility to confront a person on such an issue and being anxious about potential repercussions

Should I bother applying for a role already earmarked for a colleague?

Just because this open role has a whiff of fait accompli about it, I wouldn’t necessarily say that you should pull out of the interview.

  • Jonathan Rivett

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Recruited for a new job.

How do I know if the recruiters calling me are dodgy, or legit?

Nobody wants to let a good job pass them by simply because a recruiter or hiring team lacked polish, but being wary is also worthwhile.

  • Jonathan Rivett
When it comes to workplace issues, it’s often the case that a larger systemic problem makes a specific situation worse.

Should I have stood up to my boss? Or was it better to trust my gut?

Often, sticking up for yourself (and others) at work is critical, especially if the situation works as a kind of test case or creates a precedent.

  • Jonathan Rivett
Union members sometimes strike in bargaining with employers.

Why do so few people join their union these days?

Most workers today are unlikely to be aware that union members take home a median of $251 more a week than non-unionised workers.

  • Jonathan Rivett
Working out what to reveal to a potential new boss can be difficult.

Do I have to tell a new employer that I was performance managed?

When a prospective employer asks about whether you’ve been subject to any formal process, they’re generally interested in misconduct or wrongdoing.

  • Jonathan Rivett
An official from the Department of Home Affairs was found to have engaged in corrupt conduct by getting her sister’s fiance a promotion and lying about how the pair knew each other.

Could a resume writing service actually help me find a job?

If the advice you received was reflective of what needs to be in a modern-day job application, goodness help us all.

  • Jonathan Rivett
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A longer commute due to a new office location is rough, but there might not be much you can do.

My work moved office. Why won’t they pay for my travel costs?

If you’re being asked to drive from your home to a new premises and back, your options may be limited.

  • Jonathan Rivett
One in six employers believe $300 or more should be paid to the jobseeker for coming in for an interview.

I don’t want a reference from my terrible boss. What do I tell hirers?

If a new employer wants to know why you didn’t include a referee from your former job in your application, I think you can go one of two ways.

  • Jonathan Rivett
I don’t want to do Secret Santa at my office at Christmas.

Will my colleague think my Secret Santa gift is ‘cheap’?

Work Secret Santa etiquette can be fraught, but when it comes down to it, it’s best to trust your instincts.

  • Jonathan Rivett
‘You’ll be too bored’ is becoming an increasingly common rejection for jobseekers.

Can an employer reject me because they think I’ll be ‘too bored’?

Calling someone up and saying not much more than “we don’t think you’ll be stimulated – goodbye” can only lead to frustration.

  • Jonathan Rivett