by Solange Lopes | Jun 22, 2015 | Career |
During my time in Big Accounting, I had the opportunity to experience and enjoy (or not exactly look forward to) many different industries, from commercial to financial, not to mention the joy of performing inventories in a morgue one day (yes, an actual morgue) and a gas station another. Yet, even in Big Accounting, these opportunities to float between various industries and actually have the choice to pick one over another get slimmer as one advances in their career. Most often, by chance or by early (and often premature) choice, we find ourselves in a certain type of industry, at a certain type of company, where we remain for a while, specialize a bit, and start believing like everyone else, that that where we are to stay and develop professionally. What happens then when we want to change industries? Does it mean we must lose our professional edge, start at the very bottom, or forget the idea altogether?
Although changing industries may be considered by many to be a risky career move, it may actually help boost a previously dormant (and maybe sterile) career. It may even help you change careers altogether, and start fresh in a field that actually interests and motivates you. Moving from the retail to the banking industry after many years terrified me. Although banking and its highly-regulated, highly-detailed environment excited me, it took me a while to actually put pen to paper and actively work on switching industries. Once I did, not only was I pleasantly surprised by the outcome, but I also wished I had done it sooner. To ensure your industry change will not make you lose your professional edge, here are a few tips to ditch the fear and take (smart) action:
1. Clarify your vision: The first step in any change process is to see it clearly. Visualize your dream job, write down specific characteristics about it, and start mentally moving towards it.
2.Start taking action! Start networking within this new industry, call on to professional contacts, join industry groups on Linked In, subscribe to trade journals! Move forward with your plans, get involved with the industry of your dreams, and watch things get into place! Don’t be discouraged if this process takes a few months, it is best for you to learn as much as you can and make as many contacts as possible early on!
3. Last but not least, update your resume! Your resume must always reflect your professional persona at the moment. Prepare for upcoming interviews in this new industry by matching your resume to corresponding job descriptions. Scour job boards on networks like Linked In, or The Ladders, to identify positions that most closely match your desires, and reflect the positions’ attributes in your resume. Use similar keywords and phrases to stand out!
What other advice do you have to switch industries without losing your professional edge?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 18, 2015 | Career
Cap Sleeve Dress – Photo credit: jcrew.com
Summertime is dress time for me. Nothing easier, fresher (and more flattering) than slipping on a dress and heading out the door. Hence today’s pick, this double-stripe cap-sleeve dress from J. Crew. Loving the easy, flattering silhouette of this daytime dress, that can easily transition to cocktail hour in a cinch. This dress is on sale for $149.99 at J. Crew.
I would pair it with these exquisite Amelia leather sandals from Ann Taylor, for a perfect, summery look.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 18, 2015 | Career |
How to make your work environment work for you
If you’ve held a few different positions throughout your career, you know how important your work environment is. Literally everything from the amount of lighting in your cubicle or office, to the ventilation system, not to mention the smiles (or lack thereof) of your teammates. While we often think there is very little we can do to influence our work environment, there actually are a few ways to make your work environment work for you:
by Solange Lopes | Jun 17, 2015 | Career
How to get better at your job every day
Back during the days when I was studying for my CPA certification and used to stay at work after-hours to practice a gazillion questions around amortization and accounting ethics (please empathize), I befriended one of the sweetest and most driven, ambitious women I’ve ever met. For our purposes, I’ll call her Maria. Maria was the office cleaning lady, and she might as well have been the CEO of the office cleaning company. She single-handedly developed a method of folding bags into the dustbins that allowed her to get an exact count of how many bags she used, and helped her improve her process on a daily basis, literally. Maria was also a hairdresser on the side, practicing her side business on week-ends, and applying whatever customer service skills she would acquire to her current office cleaning job.
Maria was literally getting better at her job every day. Watching her dedication, punctuality, unbelievable customer service, and commitment to improve the process of cleaning dustbins all throughout the department, would inspire me to get better at whatever I was doing. So what is it that really separates anyone from being effective and fulfilled in any type of occupation, from those who drag along the bottom rungs of productivity (and satisfaction)?
1. Have A Vision (and use it)! Your vision for your life and career is what ultimately drives and defines your success! And it’s not enough to just have a vision, you have to practice it! Start applying it and visualizing, in detail, how successful you can get. The means to do so will start manifesting.
2. Think in advance! Anticipate your department’s needs before they are actually communicated. Think in ways processes can be improved and share those improvements with the rest of the team.
3. Bring solutions not problems to the table! Learning to think proactively about solutions to every problem is what makes you better at any job. For each problem, make it a habit to offer at least two solutions.
4. Focus on effective communication! Find effective ways to communicate your thoughts and challenges in a productive, proactive way.
How do you get better at your job every day?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 16, 2015 | Career |
Use your natural talents at work
My daughter is graduating from kindergarten this week as one of the top students in her class (proud mama beaming on the other side of your computer screen). Yet, as much as I would be proud of her even if she had been a frequent detention resident (at which point we would have to have a little person talk), I can’t help but think her success matters more to me if she is happy while achieving it. Seeing her come back from school with all manners of happy grins on her face is success enough, knowing she loves it precisely because she’s able to be herself and use her natural talents in the classroom…
Wouldn’t it just be simpler if work were just like kindergarten? If you could graduate/get promoted based on doing stuff you love, and doing it so well it would actually make you happy, thus pushing you to strive even more and be even more successful?
What happens in the time and space between small classes full of enthusiastic laughter, and cubicle farms filled with disgruntled, enthusiasm and productivity-starved professionals? What happens is somewhere in between gulping our morning coffees and logging out of our corporate systems, we forget what we’re really good at and how using our own talents is really the key to success...
So you want me to write a novel at work? Or use my amazing cooking skills to impress my manager (who by the way is still waiting on that quarterly sales report)? Ok, I get your drift…Yet how about using the essence of those talents, the organization and focus that make you such a great cook, the communicative abilities that make up your writing gifts, the passion you have for learning, to take you to new heights at work?
Achieving one’s dreams doesn’t always occur at the location and time we expect, but rather builds itself up over time through practicing the essence of our gifts right where we are, with what we have.
So how can one use their natural talents to succeed at work?
1. Stop hiding! This over-the-top professional, no fun, “strictly work” persona, please ditch it! Share and show your interests in a subtle yet honest way. People will love you for it, and will be much more able to appreciate the true “you”…as long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, of course!
2. Seek work where you can use your talents! The key to professional fulfillment is being able to offer the best you can, while enjoying the process. Even if your day-to-day tasks couldn’t be more ordinary, volunteer for projects that appeal to your natural gifts. Seek positions that are a better fit for your personality, and don’t be afraid to add your personal touch to your work.
3. Keep learning! Our natural gifts evolve with each environment, task, or work you’re exposed to. Keep learning, keep growing and developing your natural abilities right where you are. The same technical abilities that make you excel a website building are also those that will help you put together amazing presentations or build new products at work. Keep developing yourself!
How do you use your natural talents at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 14, 2015 | Career
Happy Sunday! Today’s Dear Daughter’s birthday, and we’re preparing to celebrate this afternoon with enough cake and princess-themed stuff we’ll all be ready for a day off tomorrow…In the meantime, here are the news that made our week:
- Are you a fan of The Voice? Business Insider reveals companies are using the same model of blind auditions to hire top talent (and we’re liking it);
- Speaking of powerful negotiations, the Harvard Business Review tips us off on how to negotiate nicely without being a pushover;
- And a pushover you will not be, with these tips from Inc on how to deal with a difficult co-worker;
- The Muse advises us on how to stop obsessively checking email (and oh could I use this);
- Summer vacation time is upon us, and the Harvard Business Review advises not to obsess over everything before going on vacation;
- SheKnows lists 6 non-scammy ways to work from home;
- Mashable tells us why signing your email with “Best” is jut about the worst thing you can do;
- In not-so-great news, US News reveals Intel and Apple money are not enough to boost diversity;
- Fortune Magazine writes about how women can restore America’s middle class;
- Last but not least, You Tern uncovers the one word that can stall your entire career.
Happy Sunday 🙂
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jun 11, 2015 | Career
Full skirt – Photo credit: nyandcompany.com
Skirt weather is here, and oh am I glad! Hence today’s Work It pick, this Eva Mendes Collection full skirt from NY&Co. Loving the feminine and romantic look of this skirt, with its embroidered overlay and trim. It can easily go from the office to after-hours, and even on the week-end for a romantic date! It’s $64.95 at NY&Co.
This skirt can be effortlessly paired with an easy blouse or shell, like this inverted pleat blouse, also from NY&Co, or this chiffon overlay shell.
Happy skirting!
The Corporate Sis.
