Anyway,  as I was saying, we’ve all had embarrassing moments. For some people, it unfortunately happened in the worst place possible: the interview.

If you’re sick of recounting your embarrassing interview moment in exchange for nothing more than a bunch of laughs from your friends and family, now you can tell it for a good reason: You might be able to win an 8-GB iPod Nano with built-in video camera.

BriteTab, a resume writing service, just launched InterviewFollies.com, a site that encourages users to post their embarrassing or funny job interview moment that they may have experienced, seen or heard about. Just by sharing your story, you’ll have the chance to win an iPod Nano with built-in video camera. Plus, you can promote your story however you want — through your Facebook page, Twitter account or your personal blog.

Visitors to the site will be able to vote for their favorite stories; the person behind the story that received the most votes win. There is a winner every two weeks for six weeks, which means you can submit your story up to three times for a chance to win.

From all of the things I’ve heard from hiring managers, I have about 100 stories I could enter in this contest. But, I’ll leave it you guys.

Before you share your embarrassing interview moment on InterviewFollies, share with us here. You won’t win an iPod Nano, but maybe if you’re story is funny enough, we can use it an upcoming article.

In the meantime, here is some reading on interviewing to keep you busy:

The Worst Interview Faux Pas
7 Ways to Wreck Your Interview
10 Signs Your Interview Went Well
You Said What?!

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As regional blog Torontoist explains, publishers at newspaper Toronto Star recently announced editing positions–possibly as many as 100–would be outsourced. This news naturally upset the editors. As a result, one editor decided to take his or her red pen to the memo announcing the outsourcing and make a point. The editor marked up the outsourcing announcement to show why editors are necessary in-house members of the paper’s team. [I should point out that the pen-wielding editor sent this memo directly to Torontoist anonymously--or at least they're not printing his or her name. So we don't know who did this.]

The bleeding memo is here.

We can all learn a few lessons here, I think. Though I’m sure you can add even more (and please feel free to do so in the comments). The lessons aren’t just about leaving a job gracefully, either–they’re about dealing with workplace conflicts and conversations with your boss.

1. Keep discussions in-house
   I’m not taking sides in this debate, but making your case to a third party and in public can backfire on you. This person’s goal might be to pressure the boss into rethinking his decision, but few people give in to public embarrassment.
2. Quantify your contributions
   Public airing of grievances aside, this editor did successfully make the case that he or she and presumably the rest of the editors know their trade. When you tell the boss you deserve a raise or a promotion, don’t just say, “I deserve it.” Have proof.
3. Keep the focus on the job, not on the boss
   If you’re frustrated with your boss because you’re not earning as much as you think you deserve, you haven’t received a promotion in a couple of years or you’re experiencing some other disagreement, don’t take it out on him or her. While this memo’s intent is about preserving editing jobs, the decision to choose the publisher’s letter to mark up makes it more about attacking his writing skills than about the outsourcing. As stated on the Torontoist, the union leader described the benefit of on-site collaboration between editors, writers and other staff members. That point gets lost in this example.
4. Don’t ruin your reputation
   Again, without taking sides, I can say that the eager proofreader was smart enough to remain anonymous (or at least remains anonymous thus far). When we feel jilted, we all say some pretty crude things. Haven’t most colleagues complained about their bosses during happy hour? But we also know that when we’re interviewing for a job, we don’t badmouth our previous employer. Had this editor proudly signed his or her work, you can assume few employers would’ve ever wanted to hire someone willing to publicly bash the company.
5. Don’t be afraid to make your case
   As explained in the above post about connecting with your boss, you shouldn’t be afraid to talk about what you want at work. If you’re confused or concerned about a decision that affects you, have a discussion with the boss. If you approach the conversation with a respectful attitude, your boss won’t view your concerns in a negative way. You might even be seen as someone who is proactive in his or her career, and that could benefit you in the long run. If you always keep your concerns to yourself, you could end up regretting your silence for the rest of your career.

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Everyone likes work breaks. You like them because  they give you, well, a break from your job — they’re a chance to get coffee, update your Facebook status, pay a bill, watch the latest Funny or Die video or smoke a cigarette. Employers like them because downtime has been shown to help productivity, relieve stress and even build camaraderie among employees.

But breaks can be also a point of contention around some workplaces. While you barely can pull yourself away from your desk most days to heat up your Lean Cuisine, your co-worker seems to be constantly ducking out for coffee, stamps or a quick smoke.

What’s fair and what’s not? Here’s what the Labor Law Center’s Human Resource blog says: 

The best practice in HR is to give employees an unpaid meal break of 30 minutes or more, per 8 hour shift. Most employers give an additional meal break if the employee has to work 12 hours or more.

In addition, the best practice in most industries is to give workers a 10 to 15 minute break at approximately the mid-point of each 4-hour work segment. Usually this translates into a mid-morning and a mid-afternoon break. Under the federal FLSA or Fair Labor Standards Act, rest breaks of less than 20 minutes must be paid. (Meal breaks that are longer than 20 minutes may be unpaid if the employee is relieved of all duties during this period.)

Which brings us to the subject of smokers and their break times.

It’s one thing if you are using break time as stated above, but what if you are taking four breaks a day or one break an hour? I’m not saying all smokers do that, but there are many non-smokers who complain about this. What are they supposed to do if they don’t relax with a nicotine fix? Aren’t they entitled to the same break time as smokers?

Hard-hitting reporter Pat Tomasulo, sports anchor for WGN TV’s morning news in Chicago, recently took a look at this very topic. Watch here as he takes his own version of “smoke breaks” — he might be on to something.

What do you think? Tell us below; no login required.

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OK, the reason I bring this up is because last night’s episode had a good lesson for workers (and employers, too). Let me summarize what’s going on in this show:

Rachel Zoe is a fashion stylist and she has two assistants. Taylor’s been there since the beginning and Brad has only been with her for a year. Taylor and Brad don’t always get along–naturally, because if they did, the show would be boring. Well, Rachel tells Brad and Taylor that their schedule is open and all three of them will be going to Paris Fashion Week, which is basically the Super Bowl of couture. Then some clients need Rachel’s services during that scheduled trip and she has to leave one of the assistants behind. Who will go to Paris? (Insert dramatic stares and camera cuts here.)

Rachel first sends an e-mail to Taylor and Brad telling them what’s going on and that the two of them should figure it out themselves. She secretly wants Brad to say, “Taylor has seniority. I’ll stay; she can go.” Taylor knows this, too. Brad doesn’t do that. Taylor tells Brad what’s going on. He gets mad at Rachel. She sends an e-mail to Taylor saying that she should decide who goes and who stays because she has seniority. Brad’s reaction is what most viewers were probably thinking: Rachel has the most seniority–she’s the boss. Throughout this entire ordeal all three players mention the fact that Rachel has issues with confrontation. She even says that her least favorite part of being the boss is doing the things that a boss has to do.

Ultimately, Taylor decides Brad should go and that she wants to deal directly with Rachel to discuss the issue. Rachel knows it’s all coming. Everyone agrees that Rachel royally messed up and should’ve made the decision and been unafraid of angering her employees. That’s what happens when you’re the boss.

Now, for me and you, the regular people who don’t have our own shows and who don’t have the luxury of worrying about who gets to go to Paris and who has to stay home and deal with celebrities, there are still some valuable work lessons here. Here are some things to do when your boss relegates a little too much responsibility to you:

• Be nice to your co-workers
  If your boss wants you and your co-worker to tackle a problem, try to do it. Bickering back and forth and getting passive aggressive won’t advance the situation. It’ll just escalate tension and eventually you’ll end up running to the boss sounding like a whiny baby because the other person was mean to you.
• Think about office politics (sometimes)
  I’m not saying you should get involved in the gritty side of workplace politics, but recognize that seniority, tenure and titles play a role in how (many) companies operate. In some cases, deferring to the senior member of the team shows that you respect their time at the company and that you’re cooperative.
• If you are senior, act senior
  Pulling rank can often be annoying and unnecessary, but sometimes the boss looks to the second-in-command to step up and show leadership. Take the opportunity and run with it. Acknowledge that your role might be strange for everyone because you’re not the boss. It will diffuse some of the tension while telling everyone that you are embracing the role and will be the decision-maker.
• Politely confront your boss about the issue
  If a boss handled a situation in a way that affected daily operations and relationships, you need to address it. Be respectful and remember that he or she is the boss–so preparing a fiery 20-minute speech isn’t the way to go. But feel free to ask to discuss the situation and then explain that the group needed a little more guidance. Use it as an opportunity to step up by saying, “I felt that I should take control because of my seniority, but I didn’t want to appear as though I was undermining your authority.” Or, if you aren’t one of the highest ranking people on the team, tell the boss that there was some confusion and that, “We wanted to be certain that we were staying on track with your goals, but we didn’t know if plans had changed and we were supposed to listen to [so-and-so] instead.” Word it however you want, but while showing respect and not whining, voice your concern. Sometimes bosses are so busy they don’t even realize there was any misunderstanding in their directions.

The whole situation was kind of bananas, to be honest. But it doesn’t have to be if you act like an adult and talk things out.

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Last week, e-mails from the scheduling assistant of Rep. Jim McDermot popped up on political blogs. Big whoop, right? Well, it’s noteworthy because apparently this assistant, Elizabeth Becton, does not like to be referred to as Liz. AT. ALL.

Here’s a summary of what happened:

1. Another assistant sent Becton an e-mail referring to her as Elizabeth. He [not sure of the gender, but we'll go with he] didn’t hear back.
2. He sends a follow-up, referring to Becton as Liz. Eek!
3. Becton responds, “Who’s Liz?”
4. Then for 17 additional e-mails, Becton lectured him on the use of nicknames and familiarity in Washington.
5. The blogosphere caught wind of it and, well, laughter ensued.

You can read the e-mails here. (Politico)

The ordeal is funny, frightening and bizarre. But it’s also a learning experience for several reasons.

1. Being informal in an e-mail isn’t so bad. After all, wouldn’t you rather receive a “Hi!” e-mail than one that begins “Salutations” or “To Whom It May Concern.” As long as the content is professional and courteous, I prefer a casual correspondence.
2. But don’t assume anyone goes by a nickname. James isn’t necessarily Jimmy. Catherine isn’t automatically Cate or Cat. Some people don’t care. Some do (obviously). Maybe they go by a full name to avoid confusion or they just really hate nicknames. Whatever it is, at least be familiar with someone before assuming their nickname.
3. Curt e-mail replies are never welcome. The “Who’s Liz?” reply was just snarky for the sake of it. She could’ve answered the assistant’s question and included a p.s. of “I’d prefer if you called me Elizabeth” or something tactful.
4. If you made a workplace snafu and realize your  mistake, apologize for it. Like the assistant did.
5. If someone apologizes to you and it seems heartfelt and the transgression wasn’t that grave, by all means accept it and move on.
6. As you’ll note in the last e-mail of the chain, Liz -I mean Becton- reprimands the assistant for calling while she was away. Calling someone if they haven’t replied to your e-mail for a few minutes is annoying. Calling to settle an issue and avoid, oh, I don’t know, a 19 e-mail correspondence is not a bad idea.
7. Generally speaking, I’d avoid lecturing someone who’s not your subordinate (and even if they are, be considerate). The last e-mail where Becton wags her finger at the assistant is downright rude. Granted, that’s the last in a long line of other offenses.

See, you don’t need School House Rock to learn something from Capitol Hill!

You can even see Keith Olbermann’s staff reenact the whole exchange here. (Politico and MSNBC)

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Whether bittersweet or bitter, here are some ways people are saying farewell to their future former co-workers:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-farewell-emails23-2009feb23,0,2828454.story

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It made me realize how mixed together the media is in our personal and professional lives. You could be watching the ceremony and see your co-worker’s Facebook status pop up. The two worlds are mixing together whether or not we like it.

And then I came across this story in the Calgary Herald about a boss who fired her employee via a Facebook message. From the story:

The former spa worker, who concedes she was also hired via Facebook, had only been on the job for two weeks when she was let go with an electronic pink slip after failing to show up at a staff meeting on her day off.

It’s hard to say online communications are good for a hiring and bad for a firing…but it’s also hard to say that online termination is socially acceptable or preferable. Imagine opening your inbox expecting a funny forward with kittens in crazy hats, only to see you’re no longer employed.

So, as President Obama accepts his new job, I’m wondering how our job hunts will change in the future.

Is e-mail already a popular way to get hired that I’m unaware of?

Are people getting let go via Facebook and this is just the first time it’s made the news?

(Can we make it a rule that watching TV at work is always OK?)

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A lot of companies are forgoeing the office party this year thanks to shrinking bottom lines, but that will never do away with our favorite part — canoodling co-workers.

C’mon, you know you relish the stories that circulate the day after. Who was spotted flirting near the DJ booth? Who was standing just a little too close to each other beside the chocolate fountain? Who left together after the gang went to the bar for some post-party cocktails? If there’s anything we’ll miss about the company party, it’s this.

In a new survey of thousands of singles nationwide, Avalanche, LLC, owner of leading online dating sites Date.com, Matchmaker.com and Amor.com, asked about its users work crushes: “With the recession many of you won’t be having office holiday parties this year. But, if you were, whom would you end up hooking up with?”

Here’s what respondents said:

Among women, the majority (63.3%) named the hot male co-worker, while 23.3% said the single boss.  This was followed by the sexy female worker at 6.7% and a tie at 3.3% each among the married supervisor, someone they supervise, the receptionist and the mailroom guy.                                                   

Among men, 60.7% said they’d go for the sexy female co-worker, 21.4% said someone they supervise and 17.9% said the receptionist. Another 10.7% said the single boss would be the target of their affections, while a married supervisor, hot male co-worker and the mailroom guy tied at 3.6%.

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For some workers, the word “boss” sends a shiver down their spine. Others have a great working relationship with their supervisors and managers.

I’ve been pretty lucky in my last few jobs to have some really great, approachable bosses.

All of them had a very balanced approach to managing me – giving me information and guidance, but empowering me to do my job and fix any issues along the way.

But in my career, I’ve also had a few scary bosses. The scariest was when I worked in retail some years ago. My boss was quite unpopular; she would pit workers against one another and had a poor grasp of who the key players on the team were and whose work should be rewarded.

Ironically, she was promoted to an upper management position. And you know what? She did a phenomenal job there, because she made an adjustment to her career that was a far better fit for her talents: she was supervising processes, not people.

That made a lasting impression on me – that the worker/boss relationship is a two-way street. If you need something from your boss that you’re not getting (training, communication, flexibility), it’s important for you to let them know.  Many of us get an annual review from our boss, but when was the last time you gave a boss feedback?

Take a minute today to say thanks to your boss. And if you need a fresh new approach to the relationship you have with your supervisor or manager? Wish them a happy bosses’ day anyway, and break the ice.

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And probably no workplace etiquette subject is as controversial as restroom etiquette. Some workers can get very irritated at how those “facilities” are used by others.

I thought we’d share a few simple requests that we’ve heard. If you’re in the midst of a job search, make sure you remember this when you land your new gig, so your new co-workers don’t have a reason to regret your arrival!

Workplace restroom rules to remember:

• Timing is everything.  Unless you have a key to your own executive washroom, chances are that dozens, if not hundreds of workers are sharing the same facilities. Visiting the restroom should be sort of like going to your dentist: Do what you have to do and get out – other people are waiting!
• This is not a library. Reading a newspaper or magazine cover to cover means you’re monopolizing loo time and denying someone else access. Make sure any reading materials you DO take with you aren’t left behind.
• It’s also not your desk. You shouldn’t be conducting business in the john. This means using your cell phone, PDA or Blackberry.
• Make sure you leave the facilities as you found them. Or in other words, don’t leave anything behind. (Ahem.) Don’t assume the automatic flushing devices will do it for you, either.  
• Wash your hands. A recent American Society of Microbiology survey indicates that 77 percent of us wash our hands after using the bathroom. (Which means almost a quarter of us are NOT!) Interestingly enough, this article says that the spread of germs happens most frequently not from shared use of a toilet, but from unwashed hands spreading germs to your eyes and mouth.
• Don’t be social. Though a quick “hello” acknowledging a co-worker is fine, now is not the time to strike up a lengthy conversation. And if the facilities are full, don’t hang around waiting for them to open. Come back later or seek out other options.

And my two cents? One thing I know workers look for at any workplace is a ”quiet zone.” Even the best job can get us frazzled, and sometimes we need a place away from ringing phones, full inboxes, or the grind of an assembly line. When workplaces don’t have those quiet zones around, workers seem to take refuge in the bathroom – perhaps the only quiet, calm place they can find!

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