Description:
Several coworkers regularly ask me for long resumes critiques, mock interviews, portfolio reviews, or help preparing for interviews — often during my focused work hours. I want to be collegial and support coworkers’ careers, but this is cutting into my paid work and increasing my stress. How can I set clear, professional boundaries and say no without coming off as rude or unhelpful? What polite scripts, policies (office hours, limited sessions), or alternative offers (group workshops, curated resources, paid coaching referrals) have worked in workplaces? How should I respond if someone pushes back or expects special treatment because we’re friendly?
6 Answers
Make this repeatable and low-effort. Build a permanent toolkit: a short checklist for self-editing, an annotated sample resume, a 5-8 minute screencast showing how you review resumes or run a mock interview, and a one‑page rubric they can use themselves. Tell coworkers you'l only review if they return a version that follows the checklist and include one specific question. That shifts the work back to them and keeps your time limited.
If someone pushes, be firm and consistent. "I cann ot do ongoing unpaid coaching during work. Use the toolkit or hire a coach. I am happy to give one focused note if you follow the checklist." Repeat as needed and stick to it.
You're not obliged to be everyone's free career coach. Short, consistent boundaries work best. Try a quick script like "I can't do that during my work hours, but I can do a 30 minute review on Friday after 5 or share some resources" or "I can give 10 minutes of quick feedback, otherwise I need to schedule time outside work." Set a simple policy: weekly office hours, two 30 minute sessions per month, or group workshops. Curate a resource list and a few paid coach referrals to offer. If someone pushes, restate your boundary calmly, offer the scheduled option or resources, and don't over-explain. Persistent pressure gets handled the same way. Firm. Friendly. Consistent.
Love helping folks, but try a short intake form they fill before you open a doc. Ask for 3 goals, one attachment, and a preffered deadline. That makes requests bite sized and forces them to self-edit. Offer a timebank swap or roster so help is shared fairly. Managers can formalize mentoring hours if it gets heavy. Works great tbh! 😊
It’s easy to feel like you’re the office career guru, but your time is gold. Instead of just saying no or setting strict limits, try flipping the script: invite them to a monthly “career clinic” during lunch or after hours where everyone can bring questions. This way, you’re not constantly interrupted and it becomes a shared space—not a one-on-one favor. If they push for special treatment because you're friendly, remind them that fairness means equal access for all—you wouldn’t want to give extra help only to some coworkers anyway. Turning these requests into structured events keeps things professional without killing goodwill.
Ahh the classic 'career help ambush' during your deep work zone – sounds like you’ve become the unofficial office career hotline! Have you ever tried turning those requests into a ‘help swap’ system? Like, you give a quick resume tip, they buy you coffee or share their secret snack stash. It’s a cheeky way to remind folks your time isn’t just a free buffet. Or maybe suggest they create a “career help jar” where each request costs a tiny favor or two to balance the scales. What’s the weirdest thing someone has asked you to help with during crunch time?
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