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Work in Progmess

Join us if your career path feels like a sitcom without the laugh track. Expect sharp satire, snarky tips, and all the career truths nobody else will tell you.

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Issue #6 ... Ohhhh - what did your letter of recommendation (really) say?!

The Work in Progmess Team April 15, 2025 💌 From the Editor’s Desk Where strategy decks go to retire, “alignment” is a spiritual practice, and innovation is whatever the consultant says it is this quarter. This week, we’re tracking: A corporate initiative with the energy of a motivational screensaver The quiet power of laminated onboarding lies Why “This is how we’ve always done it” deserves its own Slack emoji And a visionary CEO who accidentally screen-shared his consultant budget...
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Issue #5 .... What fresh mayhem awaits?

The Work in Progmess Team April 15, 2025 💌 From the Editor’s Desk Where emotional labor is billable, footnotes hold secrets, and someone just got promoted for “being upbeat on camera.” This week, we’re spotlighting: The jaw-clenching power of a Zoom smile A suspiciously glowing letter of recommendation (👀) Leadership books that should not exist And one reader’s realization that “We’re a family” is not a compliment—it’s a red flag with snacks. If you’re reading this with a fake grin, slightly...
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Issue #4 .... Not Burned Out, Just Lightly Toasted

The Work in Progmess Team April 15, 2025 💌 From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to Work In Progmess Issue #4—where we don't chase dreams, we schedule them in five-minute increments and still show up two minutes late. This week’s issue covers: 💵 emotional salaries (spoiler: yours bounced) 💻 unhinged AI prompts from the résumé trenches 🥒 shocking career pivot powered entirely by...pickleball. Because if we're all going to build the business of ourselves, we might as well expense the tennis elbow. —...
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Issue #3 The newsletter equivalent of forwarding your résumé to yourself “just to check formatting"

The Work in Progmess Team April 8, 2025 💌 From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to Issue #3 of Work In Progmess — the only newsletter bold enough to ask: "What if your inbox could roast you and coach you at the same time?" This issue contains: ✅ 0% career clarity ✅ 100% personality ✅ A surprising number of Zoom metaphors Inside, you’ll uncover: 📎 The generational job advice showdown no one asked for 🤖 Proof you’re human (bonus points for crying in Trader Joe’s) 💼 A Slack-heavy saga called...
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Issue #2 April Fool’s? Not You, Smarty Pants

The Work in Progmess Team April 1, 2025 💌 From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to Issue #2 of Work In Progmess — the April Fool’s Day Edition, where the only trick is how we’re still getting better. In fact, this issue is approximately 26% better than our first one (don’t ask us how we measured that — just trust the vibes). At this pace, we’ll be the #1 newsletter in the world by… let’s say… mid-April. Bold? Maybe. Foolish? Definitely not. Here’s what’s inside this (marginally more brilliant)...
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Issue #1 Wake Up! You asked for this!

The Work in Progmess Team March 24, 2025 💌 From the Editor’s Desk Welcome to Work In Progmess—a satirical newsletter for anyone who’s ever tried to grow as a person and immediately given contradictory advice on how to make that happen. We’re glad you’re here, even if you’re not totally sure why you subscribed. In this issue, you’ll learn: How to stand out in a sea of “hardworkers” How to wield your power without needing a cape or a podcast Why “excellent communication skills” isn’t a...
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