by Solange Lopes | Jul 30, 2014 | Career
Fitted Boyfriend Oxford stripe shirt – $54.95 – thegap.com
Love love this fitted boyfriend stripe Oxford shirt from the Gap. Simply put, it’s the version of your most comfortable and stylish boyfriend’s (or hubby’s) shirt, made just for you. The smooth Oxford print is preppy enough, while the patch pocket on the chest just earns you a “cool kid” mention.
Loving it paired with your favorite pair of jeans (as pictured), or with an easy pair of slacks for work. And if your office is open to it, you could just rock it with your favorite jeans (please know your office)! It’s available for $54.95 at the Gap!
Pssst….The Gap is offering 35% off regular prices, and 40% off for card members (use Code BTSAVE online and in stores, orBTS40 if you’re a card member).
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 30, 2014 | Career |
Building tough skin at work – resourcesfortyouth.ca
Happy Wednesday!
I’m a Cancer, I tend to err on the emotional side of things, and I also prefer my skin soft (no pun intended). In high school, I was a nerd (albeit a stylish one), and although I was no punk, I was busier defending my grades than my tough kid reputation. Fast forward a few years (emphasis on a few), turns out thick skin as an ambitious, driven career woman is just as important, if not more, than brains (albeit pretty ones)…
Growing a tough skin at work is not just important, you won’t survive without it, let alone strive. Put in more realistic (and somewhat graphic terms), if you wanna make it as a career woman, you’re going to have to learn to dish it and take it right back, all the while maintaining your professionalism, composure and perfectly tight bun on Developing a thicker skin at work is not just for those of us who strive in more male-dominated fields, such as STEM fields for instance. Neither is it reserved to those at the top of the corporate game. From the administrative assistant to the CEO, women’s career paths are paved with minefields of all kinds. For most of us, it’s a fight-or-flight scenario, except the second option is no longer viable:
1. Get your facts straight! A large portion of the criticism you’ll face at work is merely someone else’s subjective opinion of you. Learn to distinguish fact from interpretation. Any criticism, remark or attitude not objectively based upon the quality of your work or character is NOT based on fact, and thus should not negatively impact you!
2. Check yourself…before you wreck yourself! Building a tougher skin also has a lot to do with knowing oneself. What sets you off? What types of remarks or attitudes cut you to the core? What do you react to, and what leaves you indifferent? Know your triggers, both internal and external, and build a strong barrier to negativity!
3. Feedback is Queen! In the commercial world, the customer may be king, but in your career, feedback is the Queen Bee! Learn to value and receive feedback as a positive enhancement to your performance. Think of it as a competition with yourself! If you can work on every item of feedback you receive and improve on it, you’re better off for it!
Got tough skin at work?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 29, 2014 | Career
Modern Classic Linear Ring – $39.50 – anntaylor.com
I love an elegant statement ring. It’s imposing without being overwhelming, and is a timeless, classic piece that can go with just about anything! I’ll never forget this lady partner at one of the Big 4 Accounting firms I worked at; she had no other jewelry on than a single statement ring, and did it make a statement!
Hence our coffee break pick, this modern classic linear ring. Loving the modern, architectural build of this ring in goldtone. A nice addition to an elegant suit or sheath dress! It’s $39.50 plus 30% off at Anntaylor.
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 29, 2014 | Career |
Sleeveless wrap blouse – $49.54 – asos.com
For our Work It feature today, we are in a colorful mood, with this joyful sleeveless wrap blouse from ASOS. Loving the wrap front of this bright top, and the elegant V-neckline.
Depending on the office, you can wear this top as is, paired with a sleek pencil skirt or elegant slacks. Or you can opt to have it as a nice layering piece under your favorite suit. Either way, this top is sure to leave a great impression, at work or on the week-end. It’s available on ASOS for $49.54!
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 29, 2014 | Career |
Diary – dreams time.com
Happy Tuesday! I always kept a personal journal, from the time I was a young girl on. It was my secret place to record my feelings, my victories and also my most crushing losses. The crumbled, chocolate-stained pages were filled with accounts of juvenile heartbreaks, parenting snafus and friendships ups and lows.
Yet as the years went by, my journals taught me the untold sides of my own mini life stories, the lessons to be learnt, the mistakes to avoid (or innocently repeat). As I started facing the challenges of the grown-up world of work, I also realized how much of a powerful tool a career journal really is….
A career journal will help you put the good and bad in perspective, by sharing in a safe space what is working and what is not really going so great in your career. According to one of Harvard Business School‘s recent working papers, employees who keep a journal at work perform significantly better than those who don’t.
1. Take time everyday to reflect on your accomplishments…or on the things you wanted to do that you didn’t! Setting aside some time every day for personal reflection increases your focus and self-confidence, in addition to putting things into perspective!
2. Write it all down…the good, the bad, the ugly and…the straight-up unspeakable (which is exactly why this is a safe place). Most times we learn more from our mistakes and losses than from our glorious moments…plus in retrospect you could always get a good laugh at your own expense!
3. Take action! It’s not just enough to keep a running tally of your career highs, lows and everything in between! Decide to act on those areas where you need the most improvement. Mortified during your last presentation? Seek to improve your public speaking skills. Feeling like your accomplishments are being overlooked by your manager? Learn to speak up on your own behalf.
Do you keep a career journal?
The Corporate Sis.
by Solange Lopes | Jul 28, 2014 | Career
Bye – dailymail.co.uk
I don’t like good-byes. Any kind of good-byes, in life or at work. And I’ve had my fair share of not-so great good-byes, what with awkward hugs, disorganized farewell get-togethers and running mascara stains (don’t judge me)…
However, when it comes to wishing a colleague farewell at work, there are a few unspoken, more or less flexible, rules to abide by:
1. Show you care! Whether your co-worker has decided to pursue other opportunities, has been laid off or fired, honor the relationship you’ve had! You may look into organizing a get-together at lunch or after work, or passing a farewell card around to be signed by everyone. Even if you haven’t interacted with this colleague much, or the initiative of sending them off with a gesture of some kind has already been taken by someone else, inquire about how you can participate and contribute!
2. Help them transition! Is your co-worker struggling to finish a project prior to leaving? Are there loose ends s/he is trying to tie before their final day? If you have the availability, offer your help, or point out to useful resources they could use. Your gesture will go a long way towards minimizing the work flow disruption, and will certainly get you brownie points in the team (not that that was your primary focus…)
3. Stay in touch! The corporate landscape is not as vast as one may think. You will probably run into your colleague in a different company, at an industry conference, or…in the natural products aisle at Whole Foods. So as much as possible, try to stay in touch. Exchanging Linked In or email information can do wonders towards preserving a good relationship. And who knows what the future may bring?
The Corporate Sis
by Solange Lopes | Jul 28, 2014 | Career |
Midi pleated skirt – $241.50 – nomia.com
Our Work It fashion feature today is this midi pleated skirt from Nomia. It combines two of my favorite fashion trends, the midi length and the pleats!
Love the elegant and comfortable length of this skirt, and the refined touch of the pleats. It makes for a great addition to a crop button-down or embellished tee for work or pleasure! It’s on sale for $241.50 at Nomia.com!
Work It, Girl!
The Corporate SIs.
