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June 19, 2009, 11:58 am

Trading a white collar for blue

Many cubicle dwellers are finding new life in skilled trades, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her June 19 Ask Annie column. If you’re thinking of changing careers, would you consider learning a skilled trade? Why or why not? If you’re currently working in a field that required technical training instead of college, what do you like (and dislike) about it? Hiring managers, what job skills are most difficult to find now?

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June 12, 2009, 10:57 am

Dare you ask for a raise now?

Believe it or not, two-thirds of U.S. employers plan to give pay hikes before the year is over, according to a new survey, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her June 12 Ask Annie column. Has your company cut or frozen pay in the past few months? Have you asked for a raise lately? Did you get it? If so, what do you think helped you the most in persuading your boss you’re worth more? Did asking help or hurt your relationship with higher-ups? If you’re in a position to give raises, how do you decide who gets one?

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June 3, 2009, 5:28 pm

Keep the job-search blues at bay

The number of “discouraged workers” — those who have not actively looked for work in the past four weeks, primarily because they believe no jobs are available for them — shot up 70% between the first quarter of 2008 and 2009, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her June 4 Ask Annie column.

Have you or a loved one endured a long, discouraging job hunt? What have you found to keep your spirits up and help you stay motivated? If you’ve gotten hired after a long search, what do you think was most helpful in landing your new job?

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May 28, 2009, 12:59 pm

Get a great job after graduation

The competition for management-track jobs is more ferocious than it’s been in almost a decade, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her May 28 Ask Annie column, so it’s now more important than ever to work hard at preparing for interviews.

How did you get your first “real” job after college? Is your company hiring new grads? What impresses you most in candidates and why? If you’re a new or soon-to-be grad, are you seeing job opportunities? What’s your job hunt strategy, and how well is it working so far?

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May 18, 2009, 12:22 pm

Don’t let ID thieves hijack your job hunt

As if looking for work weren’t tough enough in this economy, here’s one more thing to keep in mind: Every three seconds, someone’s identity is stolen, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her May 18 Ask Annie column. And ID thieves often prey on job hunters, she writes.

Have you ever applied for a job that turned out to be a scam? Has anyone ever attempted to use information you revealed in a job search to steal your identity? Ever run across any “recruiting” tactics that seemed fishy? What’s the best way to avoid being scammed?

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May 8, 2009, 10:44 am

When e-mail comes back to haunt you

“Employees are often genuinely shocked when a casual e-mail comes back to haunt them, especially as evidence in a lawsuit,” says Andrea Bernard, a partner in employment law and litigation at Warner Norcross & Judd in Grand Rapids, Mich. To avoid problems, it’s helpful for companies to have a written e-mail policy, writes Anne Fisher in her May 8 Ask Annie column. Does your company have a formal, written e-mail policy? How detailed is it? Do you follow it or ignore it? Do you ever see inappropriate e-mails come by your desk?

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May 1, 2009, 9:37 am

Just-in-case prep for swine flu at work

Nobody knows what to expect, but companies and employees are taking some common-sense precautions against swine-flu, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her May 1 Ask Annie column.

What do you say? Is your employer taking any steps to protect its workers? What are you doing on your own to stay healthy? Tell us what you think.

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April 28, 2009, 9:47 am

How to work better with Gen Y

Not all members of any generation are alike, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her April 28 Ask Annie column. Still, “there are broad trends and patterns of behavior that can be useful in understanding what makes someone in a given age group tick,” says Bruce Tulgan, a consultant who’s made a career out of counseling companies on how to attract, motivate, and keep young employees.

If you manage Gen Y employees, do you think they differ from other generations? What do you like and dislike about their work? Any tips on communicating effectively with them? Gen Yers, what do you like or dislike about the way your boss deals with you? What motivates you (or doesn’t) to do your best work?

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April 13, 2009, 10:12 am

Out of work 6 months. Now what?

Most senior managers have to job hunt 10.1 months these days, a recent survey finds. So if you’ve been unemployed half a year, it can seem like an eternity when you’re on pins and needles, but chin up, advises Anne Fisher in her April 13 Ask Annie column. Have you been out of work for six months or longer? What are you doing to cope? How long can someone be unemployed in this market without it being seen as a black mark against their candidacy? Can changing resume styles really help cover an employment gap?

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April 1, 2009, 6:02 pm

Will your references sabotage your job hunt?

If the people you ask employers to contact as recommendations are anything but easy to reach, and highly enthusiastic, you could lose out on an offer, writes Fortune’s Anne Fisher in her April 7 Ask Annie column. Do you have good references? Has a reference ever surprised you by saying something negative? Ever said anything not-so-nice when asked for a reference? What’s the worst reference you’ve heard or gotten?

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Anne FisherAnne Fisher, Fortune magazine senior writer, answers career-related questions and offers helpful advice for business professionals. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here.
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