CareerContrarian
@careercontrarian.substack.com
Challenging conventional wisdom and conventional career paths
How to make the most of your furlough time besides taking a well-deserved break open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
Push the shutdown blues away; you got things to do
How to use furlough time to improve your job security and sanity
open.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:21 PM
How to make the most of your furlough time besides taking a well-deserved break open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
“Fired for throwing a sandwich” is hard to say in an interview. Try: “colorful civil disobedience to which I readily admitted guilt. I then let the law — which I deeply respect — play out.”
No need to hide tough truths in your job history. Admit mistakes and share how you reflected and grew.
No need to hide tough truths in your job history. Admit mistakes and share how you reflected and grew.
The man accused of throwing a sandwich at a federal agent patrolling Washington this week, after calling him and others “fascists,” has been fired from his job at the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Thursday.
Man Charged With Assaulting Federal Agent With Sandwich in D.C.
www.nytimes.com
August 14, 2025 at 9:24 PM
“Fired for throwing a sandwich” is hard to say in an interview. Try: “colorful civil disobedience to which I readily admitted guilt. I then let the law — which I deeply respect — play out.”
No need to hide tough truths in your job history. Admit mistakes and share how you reflected and grew.
No need to hide tough truths in your job history. Admit mistakes and share how you reflected and grew.
Sweating your next interview? Here's how to make it hard for employers to pass you up. Part 4 of my series on how federal employees can navigate the job market.
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
For your next interview, put the employer in the hot seat
Don’t just answer their questions; evaluate your prospective employer too! Part 4 of a series on finding a new job amidst the federal government turnover.
open.substack.com
July 28, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Sweating your next interview? Here's how to make it hard for employers to pass you up. Part 4 of my series on how federal employees can navigate the job market.
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
If you've had the same job for years (or decades), it's hard to move to something different. But, if you strip out your work's jargon, you can find something new. open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
Help! I'm pigeonholed in my job, and I can't get out.
How to escape, translate your skills, and find a new job. Part 3 of a series on finding a new job amidst the federal government turnover.
open.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
If you've had the same job for years (or decades), it's hard to move to something different. But, if you strip out your work's jargon, you can find something new. open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
For those RIF'ed last week, many firms would be lucky to have you. How to find them: careercontrarian.substack.com/p/few-job-pr...
Few job prospects? How to expand your search.
You never know what you are going to find. Part 2 of a series on finding a new job amidst the federal government turnover.
careercontrarian.substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
For those RIF'ed last week, many firms would be lucky to have you. How to find them: careercontrarian.substack.com/p/few-job-pr...
The federal government might be letting its workforce go, but the workers will bring an array of skills to their next position. How to make the jump: open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
You've been DOGE'd. Here's how to prosper.
It’s tough looking for a job.
open.substack.com
June 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The federal government might be letting its workforce go, but the workers will bring an array of skills to their next position. How to make the jump: open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
Don't take the first offer they give you -- no matter how tight the labor market is. If they can't give you a raise, they can likely give you something else you want, like a different title, remote work privileges, a sign-on bonus, or extra vacation days.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
The ‘Best and Final’ Job Offer Usually Isn’t Final. How You Can Negotiate
Job hunters can talk their way into a better deal, even if the salary is set.
www.wsj.com
June 4, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Don't take the first offer they give you -- no matter how tight the labor market is. If they can't give you a raise, they can likely give you something else you want, like a different title, remote work privileges, a sign-on bonus, or extra vacation days.
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/ca...
Could a consular officer land a job with medical researchers, universities, or investment firms? YES.
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
Help! I'm pigeonholed in my job, and I can't get out.
How to escape, translate your skills, and find a new job. Part 3 of a series on finding a new job amidst the federal government turnover.
open.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Could a consular officer land a job with medical researchers, universities, or investment firms? YES.
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
Even if you are not facing layoffs, it is worth learning how to proceed when you are back to the drawing board. Technology upends jobs. You may find yourself in a new town. Or you are re-entering the market after a few years off. open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
Few job prospects? How to expand your search.
You never know what you are going to find. Part 2 of a series on finding a new job amidst the federal government turnover.
open.substack.com
May 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Even if you are not facing layoffs, it is worth learning how to proceed when you are back to the drawing board. Technology upends jobs. You may find yourself in a new town. Or you are re-entering the market after a few years off. open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
You've been DOGE'd, but you can pivot and prosper. Introducing Career Contrarian, insights from someone who has changed job sectors many times.
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
You've been DOGE'd. Here's how to prosper.
It’s tough looking for a job.
open.substack.com
May 18, 2025 at 11:46 PM
You've been DOGE'd, but you can pivot and prosper. Introducing Career Contrarian, insights from someone who has changed job sectors many times.
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...
open.substack.com/pub/careerco...