As We Work

The Wall Street Journal

Work smarter and advance in your career with the As We Work podcast. With actionable steps grounded in WSJ reporting, As We Work gives practical advice to help you improve your work life. Hear compelling conversations with everyday people, experts and WSJ reporters as we focus on the workplace topics that are top of mind and offer tips and tricks for handling the thorniest of situations.

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51 episodes
Updated Jun 6, 2023

Episodes51

Newest first

Jun 6, 2023 · 15 min
Your Boss Is Checking Your Social Media. It’s Not As Scary As You Think
Worried that your boss – or soon-to-be boss – is checking your social media? Some employers are screening social media as part of background checks, and what you post can make a difference in whether you get a job. But that doesn’t mean you have to scrub your online history. Background check executive Dan Shoemaker tells us what companies are really looking out for when they eye your social media feeds before hiring. And social media consultant Rachel Karten offers some advice for promoting your
May 30, 2023 · 15 min
Having a Productive Summer While Your Team Is Out of the Office
Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of summer. It’s also the unofficial start of summer vacation season, when your team starts jockeying to take time off. But what happens to your big project when your manager, and co-workers, are out of the office? We hear how some companies are trying to tackle the issue by offering more flexibility. Then, productivity consultant Julie Morgenstern offers some advice on how to get your work done even when you’d rather be at the beach. Hint: it’s all about e
May 23, 2023 · 18 min
Co-Workers Getting On Your Nerves? Here’s How to Handle It Better
Are your co-workers' quirks driving you crazy? From the cubicle-mate who talks too loudly on the phone, to the person who always microwaves fish for lunch, to the supervisor who’s never on time for a meeting, every office has people who get on your nerves. But you don’t have to let that get in the way of doing your job. Allison Gabriel studies relationships at work and what makes us stressed, and explains why those quirky co-workers sometimes get on our nerves. And conflict resolution consultant
May 16, 2023 · 19 min
Why Your Side Hustle May Actually Be Good for Your Main Job
Are you one of the 44% of Americans who say they have a side hustle? Worried that it could get in the way of your full-time job? Don’t be. Hudson Sessions, who studies side hustles and their impact on worker happiness and success, tells us how a side hustle can actually help make you better at your main job. And Dorie Clark, who studies entrepreneurship, shares the right way to tell your boss that you want to take on some outside work. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@
May 9, 2023 · 14 min
Laid Off? How To Land Your Next Job
Many big-name companies are cutting staff, restructuring or pausing hiring. Getting laid off, or facing the prospect of it, can be very scary. But it doesn’t have to be. In this conversation from the WSJ Jobs Summit, LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher, Rora CEO Brian Liou, and Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda tell you how to navigate layoffs and put yourself in the best position to get hired for that next job. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a
May 2, 2023 · 18 min
Technology and AI are Changing Jobs at Walmart: Here’s How
Walmart is one of the world’s largest retailers. With 2.1 million workers, it’s also one of the world’s largest private employers, and it’s hiring, including for tech jobs you’d expect to see in Silicon Valley. Walmart is investing billions into major tech upgrades that could change how many of its employees work, and investing millions of dollars into training its team for what comes next. In this conversation from the WSJ Jobs Summit, Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris tells the WSJ’s C
Apr 25, 2023 · 26 min
When AI Comes to Work: How to Evolve, Thrive and Keep Your Job
Worried that AI is coming for your job? From ChatGPT writing emails to Midjourney making up images, it’s easy to think that AI could replace many of us at work. But the reality is, AI’s been part of some workplaces for longer than you might realize, including in call centers. WSJ’s Lisa Bannon takes us inside one call center where the AI bot, nicknamed Charlie, is getting mixed reviews. And researcher Stephanie Bell gives us some advice on using AI as a tool to do our jobs better. Spoiler: it’s
Apr 18, 2023 · 26 min
Nancy Pelosi, Samantha Bee On Finding Success and Throwing Punches
What do former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, comedian Samantha Bee, business executive Alicia Boler Davis and Grammy award-winning performer Samara Joy all have in common? They found success in fields traditionally dominated by men. In this episode from WSJ’s Women in the Workplace Forum, they share lessons about how to lead and stay focused on your goals, build a strong team and put your people first. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a voicemail at
Mar 14, 2023 · 18 min
Confused About the Job Market? Join the Club. Here’s Some Help
The headlines seem to come out every day: another big tech company is laying off big chunks of its staff. But at the same time, the U.S. created more than 800,000 jobs so far this year, and some employers are desperate for workers. If you’re one of the many Americans looking for a new job, but confused about how mass layoffs and a hot labor market can both be possible, you’re not alone. We speak to WSJ reporters Sarah Chaney Cambon and Lindsay Ellis to cut through the chatter of this confusing t
Mar 7, 2023 · 17 min
Yes, There's a 'Right' Way to Brag at Work. Here's How.
Despite what you might have been told, your work doesn’t always speak for itself. That’s why it’s necessary to toot your own horn and brag about all the good things you’re doing on the job. But, how do you do that without annoying your boss or alienating your peers? Meredith Fineman, who helps people learn how to brag better, gives us a crash course in suave self-promotion. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Readi
Feb 28, 2023 · 21 min
Skipping That After-Work Happy Hour? Why It Could Hurt Your Career
What do you miss when you skip out on that after-work happy hour? How will your boss, and colleagues, treat you if you say “no thanks” to that company retreat? Those sometimes-obligatory work events that fall outside work hours – often called “mandatory fun” – can be no fun to attend. But, if you don’t go, experts say you may be passing up opportunities to build connections that will help you later in life. Producer Charlotte Gartenberg checked out pre-holiday gatherings in New York City to find
Feb 21, 2023 · 17 min
Back to Work: Ensuring a Smooth Comeback after a Leave of Absence
Leaves of absence are on the rise. In fact, leave requests were up more than 21% in 2022, according to a survey by the HR software company AbsenceSoft. And whether the leave is to care for yourself, a relative or a new baby, for military service or for a much-needed sabbatical, coming back to a job can be complicated. The same job may feel different. You might have trouble getting back into the groove. You may even have new co-workers or a new boss. We hear about one worker’s fears around a mult
Feb 14, 2023 · 20 min
Love on the Job: A Valentine’s Day Guide to Office Romance
Looking for love this Valentine’s Day? Many people are finding it at work. According to the Society for Human Resources Management, around a quarter of U.S. employees are romantically involved with someone at work right now, or have been in the past. But navigating a consensual office romance can be risky both emotionally and legally. We hear from people who’ve navigated romance on the job – from those first butterflies to post-breakup. Then, employment lawyer Joshua Goodbaum tells us why he thi
Feb 7, 2023 · 19 min
The Value in Being Invaluable at Work
Many of us were taught that the secret to workplace success is making yourself indispensable. You can’t be fired if you’re the only one who can do the job, right? But leadership expert Liz Wiseman says being indispensable is actually a trap that sucks up your time and keeps you stuck without any room for job growth. She wants us all to focus on a different goal: becoming the person who steps up when needed and helps others do their jobs better. She calls it being invaluable. And with an uncertai
Jan 31, 2023 · 20 min
The New Manager Manual: How to Get on Your Boss’s Good Side
Did you get a new boss for the new year? With turnover still high, and many people seeking out new jobs, it’s not uncommon to walk into work and find out a new person is leading your team. Wall Street Journal reporter Chip Cutter tells us about the challenges these new bosses face, and why some are struggling. Then, teamwork doctor Liane Davey gives us the tips to figuring out what makes your new boss tick, and how you can help them while also helping yourself get on their good side. Send us yo
Jan 24, 2023 · 23 min
How to Nab a New Job…Without Tipping Off Your Current Boss
Tired of your current job? Scared the layoff headlines are headed for your industry? It might be time to apply for a new job. But, how do you secure a new position while you’re still at your old one without your boss finding out? We talk to career coach Cara Heilmann, the president of the International Association of Career Coaches, about the importance of staying in stealth mode for nabbing that new job. Then, Michelle Reisdorf from staffing services company Robert Half walks us through the how
Dec 6, 2022 · 23 min
Work, Life and Layoffs: Your Questions on Jobs and Careers Answered
The economic picture is complex right now. There’s still more than 10 million job openings in the U.S. and relatively low unemployment. But some companies have begun layoffs, and high inflation has many Americans worried about an economic slowdown. So, what does this all mean for you? We sit down with two of the Wall Street Journal’s Life & Work columnists, Callum Borchers and Rachel Feintzeig, to answer some of your most pressing questions about building your career in a time of uncertainty. Pl
Nov 22, 2022 · 22 min
Giving Thanks: The Right Way to Show Appreciation At Work
Thanksgiving is all about showing gratitude, but sometimes we forget to do it with some of the people we see every day: our co-workers. Sara Algoe, who studies social interactions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is director of the Love Consortium, gives us a crash course in the best practices for showing appreciation and explains why saying thanks is as important for the person giving it as it is for the person receiving it. And we hear from Jacob Coite, who has made an ar
Nov 15, 2022 · 21 min
Heading Back to the Office? How to Love Your Commute
How much do Americans hate commuting? Four-in-ten would rather clean their toilets than undergo the daily back-and-forth to the office, according to a survey by communications platform RingCentral. Now more workers are returning to the office, and time spent in cars, trains and buses is unavoidable. But Julia Lee Cunningham, professor of management and organizations at The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, says that we can use our commutes to make our workdays – and our lives – b
Nov 8, 2022 · 18 min
Gig Worker or Employee? What the Biden Administration’s New Rule Means
Last month, the Biden Administration proposed a new rule that could put more gig workers on company payrolls. It’s the latest attempt to clarify just what separates an independent contractor from an employee. We look at the last three administrations’ attempts to answer these questions and then move beyond the political football to find out how workers will actually experience these changes…if they go through at all. Mark Gough, professor of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State, explains

As We Work

Your Boss Is Checking Your Social Media. It’s Not As Scary As You Think

Having a Productive Summer While Your Team Is Out of the Office

Co-Workers Getting On Your Nerves? Here’s How to Handle It Better

Why Your Side Hustle May Actually Be Good for Your Main Job

Laid Off? How To Land Your Next Job

Technology and AI are Changing Jobs at Walmart: Here’s How

When AI Comes to Work: How to Evolve, Thrive and Keep Your Job

Nancy Pelosi, Samantha Bee On Finding Success and Throwing Punches

Confused About the Job Market? Join the Club. Here’s Some Help

Yes, There's a 'Right' Way to Brag at Work. Here's How.

Skipping That After-Work Happy Hour? Why It Could Hurt Your Career

Back to Work: Ensuring a Smooth Comeback after a Leave of Absence

Love on the Job: A Valentine’s Day Guide to Office Romance

The Value in Being Invaluable at Work

The New Manager Manual: How to Get on Your Boss’s Good Side

How to Nab a New Job…Without Tipping Off Your Current Boss

Work, Life and Layoffs: Your Questions on Jobs and Careers Answered

Giving Thanks: The Right Way to Show Appreciation At Work

Heading Back to the Office? How to Love Your Commute

Gig Worker or Employee? What the Biden Administration’s New Rule Means