Career – Page 4

If it doesn’t fit…

January 3, 2017

Happy New Year!!! Glad to be back in the saddle again. I took a much needed break over the holidays and I’m back! While relaxing and catching up on movies, shows, and documentaries, I watched for the second time, OJ: Made in America. I remember vividly, the actual trial while in high school. One of the most prominent figures of that controversial trial was, Johnnie Cochran. This is not a post to share my specific opinion on the events of the crime, trial, or outcome. I want to specifically focus on the sound bite of Johnnie Cochran.

The most contentious part of the trial, was the famous closing statement of the defense namely, Johnnie. If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit…I remember it like it was yesterday. I want to take that statement out of the vile context of a criminal trial and use it for impact for what I’m about to say. It’s a new year AGAIN and most Americans are still unhappy with their work. How much time must you waste to pursue your passion and do the work that makes you happy and fulfilled?

I want to encourage all of you, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” Johnnie Cochran. Free yourself from the bondage of just collecting a paycheck. All of my posts to this point have been about how you can skillfully maneuver through your career and techniques on how to maximize your potential and achieve success. It doesn’t matter if you have goals or resolutions if you are not complimenting them with hard work and tenacity. If you don’t see yourself growing, becoming an adequate fit for the company culture, maintaining healthy relationships with clients (internal and external), etc. then it’s about time pursue other avenues. I’m all about making things work and being loyal but loyalty doesn’t stand a chance against a company’s bottom line, insatiably, or misguided leadership.

Typically, I’d have a few key takeaways for next steps. In this case, I just want you to be FREE. What are you going to do to create the path to your purpose and not just collect a paycheck?

So nasty and so rude!

December 21, 2016

I hope my readers don’t mind if I pause on the jobs and beauty talks, to discuss a topic that’s so prevalent in Corporate America today…BULLIES! Most people have experienced a bully a time or two in school, but unfortunately it happens in offices everyday. What is a bully, exactly? In most cases, a bully is someone that uses their power or appearance of power to intimidate or coerce someone to do what they want. This behavior is completely unacceptable! One of my biggest pet peeves is watching an insecure and unprofessional person bully a subordinate or peer. Honestly, for me that would be a reason I would strongly consider making some changes. People go to work to pursue their passions and grow as a professional, not to relive high school hallway disrespect.

When you are dealing with a bully in the workplace there must definitely be a strategy to work through the relationship. I don’t recommend having an altercation at work but I know people have limits, so here are a few tips on how to handle an office bully effectively:

Try to speak with the person in a calm, constructive manner (in-person if possible)
Let someone (Supervisor, HR) know, for possible mediation
Document occurrences
Create boundaries of interaction with the person (See 5 & 6 if your leader is the bully)
File a formal complaint
Find another great opportunity!

Have you encountered an office bully in your career? How did you handle the situation? Discuss in the comments.

Horrible Bosses!

November 16, 2016

With all that’s been going on, it’s made me think about leadership and how much it impacts one’s career. Leadership is a HUGE responsibility and many don’t understand how that influence or lack there of, can follow you along your career. I can’t even describe to you my experience with horrible bosses (I’ve had my share, unfortunately). You can have an amazing job and equally awesome co-workers but if your boss is horrible, it can make for a bumpy ride. Being in recruiting for so long, I’ve experience and read numerous studies and articles about people not leaving the company but leaving that “horrible” boss, a subject we can unpack for weeks.

If your boss is condescending, unethical, unaware of your regular contributions, or just unwilling to collaborate with you on a career path within the organization than you should definitely consider some changes. Bosses can encourage you forward or hold you back. If you are a person with ambition and big goals for yourself that is definitely cause for you to have a collaborative boss who can provide support. Here are a few things to consider if you don’t have the greatest boss:

1. Be honest with your boss in regular one-to-one conversations (Ask questions and document)
2. Make sure you are exceptional in your work so those conversations will be positive and productive
3. Practice patience to see if changes occur
4. Seek another environment where your manager/employee relationship can be agreeable

Have you ever had a horrible boss? How did you handle it? Let’s chat in the comments below.

Hotline Bling: Getting Companies to Call you Back

November 3, 2016

I recently attended a scholarship breakfast for a local school of business in the area. A top businessman was the keynote speaker and the topic was “Disruptive Leadership.” It was really interesting to hear about leadership, uncertainty and strategies on thinking ahead and preparing for change and industry advancements. To sum up the talk, sometimes to get things done things have to be disrupted. I thought this discussion could definitely apply to job seekers.

As you look for job opportunities there is a measure of uncertainty, because once you express your interest in a company or position, often times you are left wondering what will happen next. If you want the “Hotline to Bling” you need to implement a disruptive leadership approach to job searching. You can’t just sit there and wait! Let’s think outside the box and be unique. As a recruiter, I love when quality and qualified candidates reach out to me via various mediums it show grit and well, disruptive leadership. In a situation where there is a mound of uncertainty, a candidate took the time to find me and express interest, that’s AWESOME! All of the jobs I’ve had in my career have been because of God and the guts to go out and get what I wanted. Here are some things that you probably already know but that stand as reminder of what you need to do for companies to call you back:

Use Social Media
- There are literally conferences that recruiters go to that teach them how to use social media to find great candidates. Reverse engineer that and initiate engagement with recruiters or hiring managers on social media for your benefit.
Go to Networking Events
- Networking events have become much more results-oriented than those random career fairs at large conference centers. Let Google be your friend and find out what’s going on in your city to network with companies, in person.
Pick up the phone!
- Some online job descriptions say ‘no calls please’ but those that don’t are fair game. Pick up the phone and call the recruiter or hiring manager (don’t stalk them and call repeatedly but you can call to see the status of your application if you hadn’t heard anything in a while).

Now that I’ve reminded you of “disruptive” things to do, what are are you going to do to get your hotline to bling?

If you asked me to…

October 26, 2016

I just love having my own website to express myself the way I want. You’ll notice that my blog titles often relate to music, movies, or pop culture and this week is no different. I’ve had conversations over the years and just this week, which have prompted me to talk to you all about asking for what you want in your career transactions. Patti LaBelle said it best, “If you asked me to, I just might change my mind and let you in my heart forever!” Sometimes all it takes is an ASK, to a future employer or a client even. A question that is posed to me more often than not is, “They offered me this amount, can I ask for more?” Are you kidding me!? Why yes you can ask for more. At the table with a client and prefer something in the contract that they haven’t offered? Just ask!

When you’ve taken steps to build your education, experience, and a track record of amazing work, you can literally ask for what you want. I’ve experienced so many times in my career, extending an offer to a candidate and they come back to negotiate (money, vacation, relocation, etc). Sometimes companies may not have the resources to accommodate, but in a lot of cases employers will exceed their initial offer to acquire a candidate with a ‘hot’ skill set or knowledge to get them to the next level. Now this is definitely not to say this happens for everyone, you need have something going for you that employers can’t live without. Whatever that is in your specific field, figure it out. If you’re stuck in the same technology and haven’t gone to get training or gain experience in the new stuff, do that now! Make yourself irresistible so that when you put the ASK on the table the employer just might consider. Here are some tips to prepare for the ASK:

Educate yourself
1. Research the market and gather facts
2. Make sure you’ve prepared yourself throughout your career to build a case for attaining the things you want
Have confidence
1. Know your worth in the marketplace
2. Build your confidence by improving and gaining new skills that separate you from others
Be tactful
1. Chose a proper time to ask for what you want
2. Be courteous
Possess finesse
1. Have some subtly about yourself
2. Be strategic

I’ll leave you with a little Patti to end your day!

Style Resume Thursday: LaNise Walker

October 20, 2016

Excitement is overflowing, as we have the super smart and fashionable LaNise Walker in the salon today! The Detroit native is hipping us to a little about herself and the awesome Goody2shoes Mobile Boutique. While others may scroll through Instagram liking Beyoncé’s latest video, LaNise Walker found a lucrative obsession for fashion trucks and essentially her calling as an entrepreneur. In 2015 she established Goody2Shoes Mobile Boutique and dawned a new era of convenient, fashion on demand in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Goody2Shoes delivers the flyest shoes, handbags, and other accessories to various venues by offering a revolutionary on-the-go approach to shopping. Fiercely fashionable, this young innovator is following her passion ensuring every customer leaves with a smile from finding just the right accessories to slay.

Experience:
What’s your current occupation and how long have you been in your career?
I have two careers- Learning Specialist most days and shoe lover EVERYDAY! I have been in the education world since 2003. I started as a middle school Math teacher and transitioned into teaching adults for corporate America in 2008. While my love for fashion and shoes started in my childhood years, I became an entrepreneur in 2015!

Education:
Where did your style originate and who or what are some of your influences?
My style came from the women in my family. They were creative, original, ahead of their time, and fearless! These women entered rooms and owned them with their charisma and eye catching presence. I like to say it was something I grew up loving and learning. Besides them, I am influenced by food. I know that sounds weird, but if you can imagine a picture perfect plate, there’s probably lots of color, the right amount of each ingredient (proportions), a great foundation, and a some extra. That’s how I dress; I love mixing colors and basics with a popping shoe and statement jewelry!

References:
Who are some of your favorite designers? What stores do you prefer to shop?
From St. John’s classic knit staples, to Nicki Minaj’s über trendy leggings, I have so many! As you can tell, I like to mix brands- high with low, so I shop anywhere from Neiman Marcus to consignment shops! My go to places for something to wear right away are Zara, Forever21, JCPenney, and TJMaxx.

Do you think personal style is important as it relates to your work? If so, how? I believe that you should dress in what makes you feel good. We do our best work when we feel our best. Yes, to a degree I think personal style is important because we should be comfortable with who we are and that should reflect in how we present ourselves and in our quality of work. At the same time, I am a firm believer that everything isn’t work appropriate. There are heels too high, skirts too short, tops too low and clothing fitting too close.

If you had a dream career/occupation what would it be?
It may sound cliché, but I have started working on my dream, helping other women showcase their personal style and feeling confident while doing so! 🙂

What’s the best career advice you could give someone seeking a new career?
Be yourself. Be prepared. Remain humble yet honest. Always ask questions. Be coachable; no one likes a know-it-all!

Quote that keeps you motivated?

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This keeps me grounded and helps me remember to take the good with the bad because everything is working out for the good! God is always taking care of me.

To keep up with LaNise and Goody2Shoes Mobile Boutique follow her Instagram @goody2shoesbtq or shop her website for great fashion finds! If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you can meet LaNise this Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the Fashion Truck Takeover.