by | Nov 23, 2013 | Career
As you are readying your Christmas list (mine’s BEEN ready!), why not combine your corporate needs with your ummm….regular fashion agenda? And what better than a nude pump to address both your corporate and social wardrobe needs…So check out the new line of Louboutin nude pumps, out since October, in shades raging from traditional nude to all our shades of brown for all of us corporate sisters!
The Fifi, Pigalle, Simple, Flo and Vendome styles will leave you wanting for more, elongate your legs and give you that French je-ne-sais-quoi, all the while polishing every single one of your corporate outfits. And yes, while Louboutin shoes may not fit in my definition of “affordable”, they’re sitting pretty on my fashion bucket list (hint hint to dear hubby…)
by | Nov 23, 2013 | Career
It’s the week-end, you have a ton of things to do, items to mark off your to-do list, maybe a family to feed, a Thanksgiving meal to plan, and you still can’t get a hold of your hairdresser (or her calendar for that matter)…In the midst of all the to-dos, to-be-done’s, should-have-been-done, did-I-forget-to-do-that, where in the world did you stash your work phone? And why should you even be concerned? it’s the week-end, after all…
We talked about working on week-ends, and whether that could advance your career. And if I’m not a fan of dedicating my week-ends to work, as many corporate sisters, I believe in the power of multi-tasking, and as part of that, my Blackberry is my best ally. In the era of always being connected, and while some of you may not agree, I think if I have to be connected, well, I might as well use it to my advantage. Whether it’s answering quick emails, providing quick status updates, or updating your calendar on-the-go, there are small ways in which you can still work while not really working…
So sometimes instead of repeatedly checking my Facebook account, while I’m in line at the supermarket or running some mindless errand ( please note that does not include operating any motor vehicle), I can quickly check in to my email, update my professional to-do list, and shoot my boss a quick reply email kindly letting him know that while I may not finish his project by Monday, it’s on my priority list to tackle first thing Monday morning…and wish him a great week-end (hint, hint….)
If we’re going to be multi-tasking anyways (and checking our Facebook and Twitter accounts), why not make mini-investments in our career in the process?
Do you favor multi-tasking on week-ends, or is that Blackberry stashed away in your purse?
The Corporate Sister.
by | Nov 23, 2013 | Career |
It’ the week-end, time to fit in some shopping whether you decide to stop by the mall or log in to your computer…here are the week-end deals you can enjoy:
- Ann Taylor is offering 40% off your full purchase price online, and 50% off all sale items!
- LOFT is also having the same sale, so check them out as well…
- The Limited is offering holiday tops and blouses at 50% off, and statement jewels are also half-off, and you can save 20% off by signing up for their email newsletter;
- White House Black Market is having a Buy One, Get One 50% off full-price styles (Code: 15757), and you can save 10% by signing up for their email newsletter;
- Talbots is having a 30-40% off Thanksgiving sale;
- J Crew is having an online sale only: 25% off winter favorites (Use Code: WINTER);
- And last but not least, New York & Company is having a great pre-Black Friday sale, with 50% off EVERYTHING!
So if you did not get a chance to get your Thanksgiving dress just yet, you know what to do…
The Corporate Sister.
by | Nov 22, 2013 | Career
So it’s Friday, you are buried under boat loads of work, and everything is due like…yesterday!Your boss keeps putting on the pressure, and you’re wondering how you can turn in all these projects anytime before next year this time…If you’re in the financial or accounting industry, month-end close is looming near, which translates into even more work and of course, tighter deadlines! And did I forget to mention, you have a date with the hubby, a hair appointment and last week’s laundry to locate (and possibly wash) somewhere in the house…
So do you just take a deep breath and resign to come in to work on Saturday, work until midnight Friday night and take the week-end off, or just hope that the Work Fairy hook you up with a professional miracle just for this one time? Besides, does working week-ends really have the potential to make or break your career?
The answer is: “It depends!” And that’s where the rubber meets the road, as not only do you have to use your best judgment, but you also have to take responsibility for the pattern you set…Aarrgh!
If you set it, Expect It!: even before deadlines and due dates get set, it is YOUR responsibility to inquire of and agree with your manager as to the timeline of your projects. There are times when you can afford to save your input, and this is not one of them. Since you will be doing the work, and will be accountable for the resulting deliverables, shouldn’t you also participate in the project’s timeline? Coming in to work to address a crucial issue and as a team member is one thing; over-estimating your professional bandwith and undermining your well-being on a constant basis is another. And remember, it is easier to set realistic expectations, than not to meet these expectations at all? As a corporate big sister once told me: “You set up your career, or it will set you up!” Nuff’ said…
Necessity is the Mother of Invention If like myself, you’re not a fan of working on week-ends unless you really really have to(who is, really?), there are ways of working around it. From prioritizing your tasks, to delegating or putting in an extra hour after the kids go to bed, you CAN squeeze some extra time into your week so that your week-end (and your life for that matter) don’t suffer…
In doubt, Keep Calm and Ask! Last but not least, if you’re seriously concerned about whether or not you’re expected to work week-ends, or whether it’s just the situation at the moment, well…just ask! I’ve found that whatever the situation, honesty is the best policy, especially when it comes to work situations. If it turns out to be an expectation, then at least you know. If not, you’ll be so glad you asked you may just gladly take that extra file home…or not…
What’s your view on working week-ends?
The Corporate Sister.
by | Nov 22, 2013 | Career |
So it’s Friday, casual Friday to be more exact…And as exciting as the prospect of not having to wear your traditional corporate gear is, I’ve come to find that there are rules to casual Friday that can make all the difference between still looking professionally appropriate, and looking….well, you know, less-than professionally appropriate. And for a corporate sister on her way up, the difference between arriving at a meeting in ultra-tight, ripped jeans, as opposed to casually appropriate dress, can literally contribute to making or breaking your career. I’ve learnt the hard way, after attending an impromptu meeting with the Company’s Controller in my low-rise jeans inappropriately sticking to parts of my body that I would have preferred to keep disassociated from any financial forecasting discussion…
So how do you reconcile casual Fridays with professional workspaces? How do you draw the line between too casual and casually appropriate for work? Really, the question is, how casual should casual Fridays be?
- Mind Your Jeans: As you have probably noted, there are jeans, and there are…well, jeans…After working in various environments, I’ve experienced different versions of the concept of “business casual“, and made enough mistakes to know that you should mind your jeans. For more conservative professional settings, I favor trouser jeans, which are a nice compromise between jeans and traditional pants. My favorites are from Express and Ann Taylor. For less conservative environments, your regular, slightly boot-cut, tailored jeans are the next best alternative. Just make sure that, unlike myself a few moons ago, your hem is not ripped as you delicately (and unconsciously) cross your legs for senior management to enjoy the desolate status of your casual wardrobe…
Express Trouser Jeans
- Mix trends with classics. As casual as casual Fridays may be, it’s still work… It’s not quite the week-end yet, and believe me, until 5pm or whatever time you actually cross the office’s doors (the other way, going outside), you are still at work. So refrain from digging out your bell-bottom pants and showing off your patterned shirt from the last vacation in Hawaii…If you’re going to give in to trends, please keep these moderate, and counter-balance with classics. You can pair a nice shift dress with with trendier booties, for instance. In any case, you can never go wrong with a blazer on top of your casual jeans, at least it may cover up enough of that loud patterned Hawaiian shirt….
Photo: anntaylor.com
- AnnTaylor – Photo: Ann taylor.com
- Dress one step up…Always! Remember the old saying “Dress for the job you want, not the one you have”…Well, it does not apply to Monday through Thursday only. Even on casual Fridays, and maybe especially on casual Fridays where the line between professionalism and lack thereof can appear even more blurry, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Ann Taylor Ensemble – Photo: anntaylor.com
TGIF!
The Corporate Sister.
by Solange Lopes | Nov 21, 2013 | Career
Many are the career sins that we all commit on an almost daily basis. From overt arrogance to destructive ruthlessness, to excessive pride and lashed out anger on the job, there are definitely more than 7 career sins out there…
Yet for corporate sisters, and all women in general thriving in the corporate jungle, there is THIS one sin that we seem to repeatedly commit.
You can catch us committing this sin in meetings, when we unconsciously deny ourselves the right to contribute otherwise innovative ideas. Or as we’re presented with new projects and endeavors that could make us noticed throughout the company, and we just remain quiet. Better yet, many of us are caught red-handed and guilty, as we share our brilliant ideas with others and allow them to take credit for our work.
It’s the sin of SILENCE, and it may just be our biggest corporate downfall…
Are you guilty?
The Corporate Sister.
by | Nov 21, 2013 | Career
One question that you’ll often hear at interviews, and which frankly should be the topic of entire college courses, is the following:” Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?” Basic translation for corporate sisters like you and I: You need a plan!
The corporate jungle is just that, a jungle. Here, and for many a corporate sister, there are limited road signs, speed bumps or GPS on how to take your career to the next level. Some of us do get on the right path through hard work and dedication, others luck out and find the right mentor or sponsor (we’ll discuss later how these can propel your career to the next level), while for the rest of us, we’re not always sure whether to keep straight or bifurcate at the next exit…
In corporate as in many other areas of life, we need a P-L-A-N, if only to better re-adjust it as we go…
Throughout my years in the corporate jungle, and after weighing the pros and cons of even having a career plan, I’ve found for my own unconventional reasons, that I needed one:
1. A career plan just gives you a general direction. It need not be ultra-specific, or detailed to the T. However, you do need to have a meeting with yourself at some point and ask the much dreaded question: “Where the heck am I going?”
2. A plan DOES create growth space. Contrary to popular belief, having a plan does allow you space to grow. By delineating where you’re headed (or at least where you think you’re headed), it gives you the time and freedom that you would otherwise dedicate to keeping afloat every day. Now that you’ve charted your potential career trajectory, you have more time and clarity to think about other avenues you may be taking to reach your life goals.
3. Last but not least, a plan, and I mean, any plan, can lead to a BETTER plan. So even if you are not sure of your initial plan, or have no idea what you want for that matter, laying down the foundation may lead you to your BEST, ultimate life plan.
Do you have a career plan?
