Most American workers are employed at will, which means that they can be fired at any time, for no reason at all. But what does that mean, really? If you’ve ever wondered whether your boss could really give you the boot with no warning, today’s lead article is for you.
Also in this week’s roundup: an answer to the question, “Do you really have to customize your resume for every job?” and tips on handling that one coworker who thinks he or she is your boss.
Alison Doyle at The Balance: Can a Company Fire You Without Notice?
“…the reality is that employees can be fired without notice,” Doyle writes. “At-will employment is a term used to describe the relationship between an employee and an employer in which either party may terminate the employment contract for any reason and without warning, so long as the reason is not discriminatory in nature.”
But there are exceptions. Find out whether your employment situation is one of them, in this article. (Also of interest: how you’re more likely to lose your job, as opposed to the less likely “firing on the spot” we all dread.)
Donna Svei at Avid Careerist: Do You Really Have to Customize Your Resume for Every Job?
“Conventional wisdom says you MUST customize your resume for every job you apply to, but is that right?” Svei asks. “New survey research (p.24) by Kimberly Schneiderman and outplacement firm RiseSmart shows that customization isn’t always needed.”
In fact, only 20 percent of respondents to their survey insisted on a resume that perfectly resembled the job description. That doesn’t mean that it’s a waste of energy to get it right, of course, but if you’re pressed for time, Svei says this research suggests you’d be better off sending a mostly-perfect resume than not sending one at all.
Learn more about the research and how to increase your odds of getting an interview, here.
Sara McCord at The Muse: A Realistic Guide to Handling a Co-worker Who Acts Like Your Boss
“You’ve got a co-worker who, to put it diplomatically, has a hard time keeping their leadership tendencies in check,” McCord writes. “To tell it like it is: He treats you like he’s the boss. He provides tons of constructive feedback (even when you didn’t ask for it), divides up roles on team projects (giving himself the best one), and quashes any opportunity for others to have a say.”
How do you handle Mr. or Ms. Bossypants? McCord offers four tactics.
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