by Solange Lopes | Oct 13, 2014 | Career
Working on your day off – Photo: http://image.naldzgraphics.net
So you’re off today, and guess what, you’re on your Blackberry and on your computer, plugging away…Or even better, you actually get called in by your boss to work on your day off because an important deadline is looming near…
Granted, some of us admittedly love our jobs so much we actually don’t mind working on our days off. Yet, how many of us really do it out of a sense of obligation, to fit in, or just because we’re scared we’d lose our jobs if we didn’t?
My $0.05: Back in Big Public Accounting, working days off and week-ends was a given. It was part of the job and paying your dues. Yet it’s only one of the major reasons why Public Accounting has such a big turnover. While working on some days off and week-ends is par for the course at work (month-end, important company filings, last-minute emergencies), it should also not be a constant. As with everything, balance is key…
What do you think? Are you working on your day off?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 13, 2014 | Career
Ellen Tracy Belted Notch Collar Dress – $55.99 – Photo credit: saksoff5th.com
I’ve had my eyes on this Ellen Tracy belted notch collar dress for a while! Loving the modern take on this dress, with its notched V-neck, cap sleeves, and tie-waist belt. It looks like a very comfortable and classic dress, with extra oomph to go along!
I’d pair it with minimal jewelry (I’d pass up on the necklace to let the notched V-neck shine). However, I’d seriously consider merchandising it with a wow! pair of kitten heels like this Mallory pair, or depending on whether I’m in a splurging mood, this pricier Pipepinot pair of pumps from Stuart Weitzman.
And to boot, this notched collar belted dress is currently on sale for $55.99 at Saksoff5th.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 13, 2014 | Career |
Do you need office street-smarts – Photo: essence.com
My friend F. is a successful banking manager. When I asked her how she managed to get her last promotion, and do so well at work while raising two kids, maintaining her marriage and never losing her biting sense of humor, she simply replied: “Girl, you’ve gotta be street-smart, degrees are all well, but you’ve gotta work it smart!”
According to the Free Dictionary, being street-smart means “having the shrewd resources to survive in an urban environment.” Well, I would slightly disagree with this definition. In my book, street-smarts does mean having the shrewd resources to survive not just in an urban environment, but rather in any environment, especially in this corporate jungle called work. It makes the difference between those who are ready to successfully tackle the job market, vs. those who really need more office preparedness. Just last year, according to the Wall Street Journal, while nearly 80% of college students said they were “very” or “completely” ready to put their organization skills to work, only 54% of hiring managers agreed with the assessment.
Wall Street legendary trader Ace Greenberg was himself a perfect example of the fact that “degrees and pedigree aren’t a substitute for hard work and street smarts“, as “Greenberg was rejected from a few Wall Street firms before landing at Bear”. Does a formal, even prestigious college education, matters for career advancement? Certainly, yet what matters even more, is what you do with it. Many are the examples of successful moguls who never made it through college, from Dell computer founder Michael Dell to Microsoft founder and Harvard dropout Bill Gates. They made it with the insight, intuition and resourcefulness they possessed, and frankly some of that is seriously missing from the workplace these days.
As the pressure to obtain more and more degrees and engage into more and more continuing education mounts, not enough emphasis is being put on cultivating career street-smarts. From shrewd networking skills to creativity in solving problems at work, to how to navigate the political landscape of our careers, not enough resources are readily available to help.
So do you need career street-smarts more than book-smarts to advance your career? One does not necessarily need to outweigh the other. Yet as you further your career and get ready for your big break, keep in mind you’re going to need just as much street-smart material than book-smart to make it….
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 12, 2014 | Career, Find Your Purpose
Are you ready for your big break – Photo credit: madamenoire.com
Are you feeling like you are this close to your breakthrough, yet not quite making it? Do you keep facing the same obstacles, only to realize more and more work is required of you?
Many a times, we put in the work, step out in faith, awaiting the big promotion at work, better health, a successful entrepreneurial outcome. And then, crickets, nothing, nada, ziltsch…Nothing happens, the promotion never comes, or even worse, gets given to that co-worker you really don’t like. That book never gets written, the business doesn’t get off the ground, and disappointment sets in…
And of course, you inevitably wonder why…Do you need to put in more work? Is the Universe against you, or are you just destined to being average? Or maybe, only maybe, could it be that you’re just not ready?
My grand-father always used to say ” to whom much is given, much is expected”. As much as we long for success, we often forget it comes with a price. As we look at the icons of success of our world, from Oprah to Beyonce, we often only see the outer facade, omitting all the hard work, sacrifices and compromises along the way.
And just as we fail to see others’ hard work and sacrifices, we often fail to foresee the work and sacrifices that will be required of us as we achieve success. Are you ready to face the criticism that inevitably comes with positions of influence? Are you prepared for the ups and downs of success, the self-doubt, the challenge of managing others?
Many a times when success seemed beyond my reach, I realized I wasn’t ready. That I was not mentally prepared to face the hardships and challenges of Achievement. That the difficulties in my way were actually there to prepare me. And that most often, it was when it seemed the darkest that success was actually around the corner…
Are you ready for your big break?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 12, 2014 | Career
Weekly news update – Photo credit: k8.picdn.net
Happy Sunday! For those of us who are enjoying the long week-end, the prospect of Monday at home is pretty exciting! This week-end was quiet, enjoying movies at home on a rainy Saturday at home, and as we start Family Sunday, here’s a look back at the news headlines that made us smile, laugh, and shake our heads this week:
- October is here! Levo League shares with us their October checklist of 10 things you must do this month;
- Got a dream mentor? The Daily Muse shows us how to be awesome at shadowing him/her, and in case we’d lack creativity, here are we 12 ways to instantly boost our creativity, and why writing could mean a higher salary;
- If you ready for some retail therapy this week-end (check out my top 10 sales for Columbus Day week-end), Forbes teaches us the science behind when we really need retail therapy;
- SATC fans! Alert, alert! Marie Claire reveals Sex and the City 3 is a go, repeat, SATC3 is a go, get your cocktails ready!
- Not enough hours in a day? Enterprise teaches us 4 ways to max out the 40-hour workweek;
- Worried about sexism at your company? Inc. writes about 4 ways to stop sexism at your company when sensitivity training just doesn’t cut it;
- Thinking about quitting? Lifehacker advises to tell your manager first;
- Too busy at work? Fast Company lists 5 ways to get your life back when work is cray-cray;
- Ask and you shall receive; the Wall Street Journal reveals women don’t ask for a raise as often as men do;
- Last but not least, read all about my blogger profile in Guidestar Professional Connection, and enjoy this week’s post on how to simplify anything at work, decorating your office space (and how much), oh and some work fashion here and a networking app there.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 10, 2014 | Career
vibevixen.com
It’s a long week-end, and it’s sales times! Whatever our feelings about this holiday, we all pretty much share the same feelings about long week-ends and sales, and it’s generally a good one! So here are some of my 10 favorite sales of this Columbus Day week-end:
- H&M is having its big mid-season blowout, with up to 60% off deals;
- Old Navy’s Fall-static sale is on, with up to 50% off discounts online and in stores;
- AnnTaylor is offering 40% off your entire purchase this week-end only;
- LOFT is offering 50% off discounts on Fall favorites, and an additional 50% off on sales items;
- Forever 21 is offering 30% off discount (use code TAKE30)
- Aldo is having its huge mid-season sale, with discounts as deep as 50% off;
- Banana Republic is offering 40% off your entire purchase (use code BRWEEKEND);
- J. Crew is offering 30% off full-price styles (use code WEEKENDPLANS);
- The Limited is offering 40% off everything, including sales items, plus 60% off select sweaters online!
- Last but not least, Nordstrom is offering discounts as deep as 60% off!
Enjoy your week-end, and shop away!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Oct 10, 2014 | Career
What are your Friday rituals – Photo: popsugar.com
It’s Friday, end of the week, and many most of us cannot wait to get out of work…As for me, it’s been a looong week (doesn’t it just feel this way lately), and I’m ready to sit down somewhere and relax…And no, it’s not out of sheer laziness (maybe only partially). How you end your work week is not only how you start your week-end, but also how you roll into the next work week. At least, that’s what some of the most successful among us will tell you…
If you’re an entrepreneur putting in crazy hours, celebratory rituals, especially at the end of the week, may be a must! And if you’re just glad you won’t have to see your boss for a couple of weeks, that also may be the cause for celebration!
In any case, what are your Friday rituals? Do you even have any? How do you end your workweek?
[polldaddy poll=8366002]
The Corporate Sis.
