(This is the first time WG2 has had a day off for the 4th of July so she is ecstatic to be poolside today and WG1 is currently on the beach enjoying the Jersey sunshine with her fam.)
We love having days off to celebrate being American! Yay!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Happy Fourth of July!
We hope you WG's have the day off to celebrate the 4th of July early!
(This is the first time WG2 has had a day off for the 4th of July so she is ecstatic to be poolside today and WG1 is currently on the beach enjoying the Jersey sunshine with her fam.)
We love having days off to celebrate being American! Yay!
(This is the first time WG2 has had a day off for the 4th of July so she is ecstatic to be poolside today and WG1 is currently on the beach enjoying the Jersey sunshine with her fam.)
We love having days off to celebrate being American! Yay!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Summer Job Files: Camp Counselor
In honor of the summer, we have rolled out a new weekly feature. Each week we will take turns to recount a summer job we had back in the day. [Editor's Note: Back in the day refers to when we were in school...sigh...college].
By far the best summer job I have ever had were those two summers I was a camp counselor at a sports day camp.
After being a librarian, I decided that my summer jobs would have a few requirements - which mainly included sun and people my age to work with. So the summer before I headed off to college, my friend May and I decided to get camp cousnelor jobs (it also made sense because at the time I thought I wanted to be a teacher - so to me camp counselor = future teacher).
We ended up both getting jobs at our own former sports camp that we had both attended as youngsters and had loved. I had attended when I was around 11 and kept going until I turned 13 and therefore got to particpate in games like Capture the Flag (which we played in a "forest" by a busy street and somehow always gave someone poison ivy), kickball, and dodgeball. In other words, this wasn't your traditional sports camp. The term "sports" was used loosely.
Since we were so mature and responsible (aka girls who couldn't deal with punk 13-year-old boys), we were placed on "baby duty" aka the five and six-year-olds who played absolutely no sports. And let me tell you - not playing sports with these munchkins all day was the best summer job ever.
Every day, the little ones would show up around 8AM and they'd play on the playground for an hour while the counselors all gathered around to talk about last night's shenanigans (aka going to T.G.I. Friday's and then DQ for dessert - I was such a rebel!). Then we'd play games with them like Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, or a Hot Potato. We'd then retreat indoors for computer class where they would play cheesy computer games and the counselors would play Hangman on the chalkboard. Then we'd go outside for lunch, go back inside for art class, back outside for a snack, and then stay outdoors playing on the playground again and in the afternoon we'd usually play a rousing game of Capture the Flag where the counselors would get wayyyyyyyyy too into it.
There were a few things I particularly loved about this camp. First being the other counselors - we all became buddy-buddy by the end of summer to the point where one of them even took my sister to Prom. They were some of the best co-workers I have ever had.
I also got more excited than the kids for day trips. About 6 times over the summer we'd go off-site with the kids to play mini-golf, go to a water park, etc. And some of the best stories I have from camp are from these days (which would make me seem like I hate children so I will refrain from telling them).
And last but not least, my three favorite campers aka the triplets. The triplets were comprised of two little girls and a monster/devil child with extreme ADD who liked to make my life a living hell. So if we're being honest, I really only liked the two girls Kate & Belle and sometimes we'd call them the twins because their brother never even played or went near them all day. They were seriously the most precious little girls who liked to sit in your lap and play with your hair and they loved to be picked up and swung around (to preface, they were only four when they started at camp). And I most definitely played favorites with those two. They were just too cute!
My summers as a camp counselor came to end when I decided to stay at college my sophomore year to work as a tour guide. But I'll always remember those summers as some of the best times - playing with the kids, being in the sun, and generally having a grand ole time.
By far the best summer job I have ever had were those two summers I was a camp counselor at a sports day camp.
After being a librarian, I decided that my summer jobs would have a few requirements - which mainly included sun and people my age to work with. So the summer before I headed off to college, my friend May and I decided to get camp cousnelor jobs (it also made sense because at the time I thought I wanted to be a teacher - so to me camp counselor = future teacher).
We ended up both getting jobs at our own former sports camp that we had both attended as youngsters and had loved. I had attended when I was around 11 and kept going until I turned 13 and therefore got to particpate in games like Capture the Flag (which we played in a "forest" by a busy street and somehow always gave someone poison ivy), kickball, and dodgeball. In other words, this wasn't your traditional sports camp. The term "sports" was used loosely.
Since we were so mature and responsible (aka girls who couldn't deal with punk 13-year-old boys), we were placed on "baby duty" aka the five and six-year-olds who played absolutely no sports. And let me tell you - not playing sports with these munchkins all day was the best summer job ever.
Every day, the little ones would show up around 8AM and they'd play on the playground for an hour while the counselors all gathered around to talk about last night's shenanigans (aka going to T.G.I. Friday's and then DQ for dessert - I was such a rebel!). Then we'd play games with them like Red Rover, Duck Duck Goose, or a Hot Potato. We'd then retreat indoors for computer class where they would play cheesy computer games and the counselors would play Hangman on the chalkboard. Then we'd go outside for lunch, go back inside for art class, back outside for a snack, and then stay outdoors playing on the playground again and in the afternoon we'd usually play a rousing game of Capture the Flag where the counselors would get wayyyyyyyyy too into it.
There were a few things I particularly loved about this camp. First being the other counselors - we all became buddy-buddy by the end of summer to the point where one of them even took my sister to Prom. They were some of the best co-workers I have ever had.
I also got more excited than the kids for day trips. About 6 times over the summer we'd go off-site with the kids to play mini-golf, go to a water park, etc. And some of the best stories I have from camp are from these days (which would make me seem like I hate children so I will refrain from telling them).
And last but not least, my three favorite campers aka the triplets. The triplets were comprised of two little girls and a monster/devil child with extreme ADD who liked to make my life a living hell. So if we're being honest, I really only liked the two girls Kate & Belle and sometimes we'd call them the twins because their brother never even played or went near them all day. They were seriously the most precious little girls who liked to sit in your lap and play with your hair and they loved to be picked up and swung around (to preface, they were only four when they started at camp). And I most definitely played favorites with those two. They were just too cute!
My summers as a camp counselor came to end when I decided to stay at college my sophomore year to work as a tour guide. But I'll always remember those summers as some of the best times - playing with the kids, being in the sun, and generally having a grand ole time.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Summer Nights In Front of the TV
We all know that summer nights are meant for happy hours on verandas, decks, porches (really anywhere outside), playing in summer sport leagues, and generally enjoying the fact that it's not snowing or below 40 degrees. But sometimes you just can't drink one more Bud Light Lime or attend one more happy hour function or your liver will fail.
In the event that this occurs, I have put together a little list of TV shows that are debuting this summer that I think we should watch out for since they feature some strong Working Girl characters.
Hung
Sundays @ 10PM on HBO
Granted, the main character of this show is a male, but hear me out on this one. The show centers around how Ray (Thomas Jane), a man down on his luck, decides to earn extra cash by using his special gift aka his large penis (eek - just writing that makes me laugh - hi, I'm a 7-year-old). What intrigues me about this show is that he picks up a female pimp, Tonya, who is a poet also down on her luck. I think this show will not only be seriously interesting just because of the topic, but I can't wait to see if Tonya is gonna turn into a kick-ass WG (despite it not being the best of professions).
Blonde Charity Mafia
Tuesdays @ 9PM on The CW
This reality show is marketed to be The Hills but for the Washington DC socialites and follows the lives of the most influential 20-something girls on the social circuit. For me this seems to be a no-brainer (as in I can shut off my brain and watch). Plus since I, as a Working Girl, have recently begun networking by getting involved in charity boards and the like, hope this show is less about the drama and more about the events (I love picking up tips!). Yea, I'm sure I'll be disappointed but it's worth a try.
Hawthorne
Tuesdays @ 9PM on TNT
Jada Pinkett Smith has scored one of TNT's complex female character shows (think: The Closer and Saving Grace). She plays Christina Hawthorne who is the Chief Nursing Officer heading up the nursing divison and widowed working mother to a teenager. I've heard bad reviews of this show so far and to be honest it sounds kinda boring, but I think it's worth checking out for the eye candy that is Michael Vartan who I have loved since Never Been Kissed.
Nurse Jackie
Mondays @ 10PM on Showtime
The reviews I've read of this show do not paint veteran nurse Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco) as a super strong Working Girl. I'm guessing taking too many pain meds and cheating on your hubby makes her a little less than perfect, but it is said that as a nurse she's kind and really cares about her patients. In other words, she cares about her work and the complexity of her character makes me want to order Showtime stat.
In the event that this occurs, I have put together a little list of TV shows that are debuting this summer that I think we should watch out for since they feature some strong Working Girl characters.
Hung
Sundays @ 10PM on HBO
Granted, the main character of this show is a male, but hear me out on this one. The show centers around how Ray (Thomas Jane), a man down on his luck, decides to earn extra cash by using his special gift aka his large penis (eek - just writing that makes me laugh - hi, I'm a 7-year-old). What intrigues me about this show is that he picks up a female pimp, Tonya, who is a poet also down on her luck. I think this show will not only be seriously interesting just because of the topic, but I can't wait to see if Tonya is gonna turn into a kick-ass WG (despite it not being the best of professions).
Blonde Charity Mafia
Tuesdays @ 9PM on The CW
This reality show is marketed to be The Hills but for the Washington DC socialites and follows the lives of the most influential 20-something girls on the social circuit. For me this seems to be a no-brainer (as in I can shut off my brain and watch). Plus since I, as a Working Girl, have recently begun networking by getting involved in charity boards and the like, hope this show is less about the drama and more about the events (I love picking up tips!). Yea, I'm sure I'll be disappointed but it's worth a try.
Hawthorne
Tuesdays @ 9PM on TNT
Jada Pinkett Smith has scored one of TNT's complex female character shows (think: The Closer and Saving Grace). She plays Christina Hawthorne who is the Chief Nursing Officer heading up the nursing divison and widowed working mother to a teenager. I've heard bad reviews of this show so far and to be honest it sounds kinda boring, but I think it's worth checking out for the eye candy that is Michael Vartan who I have loved since Never Been Kissed.
Nurse Jackie
Mondays @ 10PM on Showtime
The reviews I've read of this show do not paint veteran nurse Jackie Peyton (Edie Falco) as a super strong Working Girl. I'm guessing taking too many pain meds and cheating on your hubby makes her a little less than perfect, but it is said that as a nurse she's kind and really cares about her patients. In other words, she cares about her work and the complexity of her character makes me want to order Showtime stat.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
To the Stockroom
In middle school, Abercrombie & Fitch was the place to shop. If you weren't wearing A&F, you weren't cool. Done and done.
My mother hated it. Hated that I wanted to shop there. Hated that I was so concerned about being cool. Hated the loud music. Hated the bratty employees. She let me shop there but only with my money.
Years later, I realized how ridiculous the store was. And how ridiculous it was that my classmates and I all wanted to look alike. That is was Abercrombie is about: uniformity. It doesn't take long to notice that most of the employees are young and attractive. You wont find much diversity.
Twenty-two year-old Riam Dean is young and attractive. She also has a prosthetic arm. The British student was working at Abercrombie & Fitch to earn extra money while she was in-school. According to her, when her employer became aware of her prosthetic arm she was told she'd be working in the stock room until winter, when their uniforms would cover her arm.
Dean is now suing Abercrombie & Fitch for disability discrimination.
Abercrombie & Fitch has been criticized in the past and according to Jezebel, hiring managers at the store are given a guidebook of mostly photos of examples of the "look" minority employees should have. Their tipster said "all of the minorities, by the way, are as white looking as a person can be without actually being Caucasian."
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Dean's case. Regardless, the allegations against Abercrombie & Fitch are appalling.
[source, source]
My mother hated it. Hated that I wanted to shop there. Hated that I was so concerned about being cool. Hated the loud music. Hated the bratty employees. She let me shop there but only with my money.
Years later, I realized how ridiculous the store was. And how ridiculous it was that my classmates and I all wanted to look alike. That is was Abercrombie is about: uniformity. It doesn't take long to notice that most of the employees are young and attractive. You wont find much diversity.
Twenty-two year-old Riam Dean is young and attractive. She also has a prosthetic arm. The British student was working at Abercrombie & Fitch to earn extra money while she was in-school. According to her, when her employer became aware of her prosthetic arm she was told she'd be working in the stock room until winter, when their uniforms would cover her arm.
Dean is now suing Abercrombie & Fitch for disability discrimination.
Abercrombie & Fitch has been criticized in the past and according to Jezebel, hiring managers at the store are given a guidebook of mostly photos of examples of the "look" minority employees should have. Their tipster said "all of the minorities, by the way, are as white looking as a person can be without actually being Caucasian."
It'll be interesting to see what happens with Dean's case. Regardless, the allegations against Abercrombie & Fitch are appalling.
[source, source]
Monday, June 29, 2009
A Whole Lotta Heartbreak
Last week, it was officially announced that my boss (aka the best boss ever) would be leaving our company. And I have probably been more heartbroken than I should about it.
It's hard to describe why my boss leaving is so heartbreaking. And try as I might, explaining it to my friends and family always leaves me coming up short. My explanations are never on point, or do the situation justice. And I think unfortunately this is something only my co-workers can fully understand.
But I'm going to try and explain to the best of my abilities.
The news came really suddenly. I had no inkling or women's intution that this news was about to hit the airwaves (or in this case I guess hit the fan). And my boss told me first so that I wouldn't hear it from someone else, which was really considerate but also horrifically painful. Now, I'm pretty good at keeping secrets, but when it affects me in some way (aka my job description changing drastically) then it's hard for me to keep it in. And that's what I had to do for 5 days while my boss and the rest of the higher-up's were away on a management retreat.
So I sat here and got more and more depressed because while I had been told my job wasn't in jeopardy, I still felt weary about the whole thing. Not to mention this is the best boss I have had ever. In the existence of bosses, I don't think anyone could do much better than the one I have now. He is fair, kind, hard to make angry, self-sufficient, and treated me with a lot of respect.
So last week was a pity party. And the party was for 1.
Eventually my new boss sat me down and we had a heart-to-heart about she wants me to grow in the company. She also let me know that she has no use for an assistant, so really my new job description will be of the make-it-up-as-we-go variety. (I will still get to do events, but my special projects will all be different).
So this convo lifted my spirits for about a minute and then I went back to depresso mode. All my friends and family tried to make me see the light. "This will be good for you" and "there's a silver lining in this change". I would get to move up in the company, not handle calendars and schedules. I would pretty much get betting a better job by default. And yet this didn't make me feel better.
When the news was officially announced to the rest of the company, everyone came over to give me their condolences like he had died and wasn't just moving on to a better job in the suburbs. Which made me depressed all over again. But at least now I had people to comiserate with. His old assistants (who still work at the company but have been promoted) came over crying. See! That's how great he is!
I think a part of me is just really depressed because he was such a great boss, but I know I'm also sad/depressed because I've never been left behind. I always did the leaving. At my last company, I left them. At internships there was always a time limit. And I don't like being left behind.
A part of me really wishes he had asked me to go with him to his new company, but I know I should be happy about the changes and advancements that I'll be able to make under my new boss. This just wasn't in the plan (aka how I thought this job would pan out for me).
I've always been really great about handling change, but this has been extremely hard for me to stomach.
Tonight is his going away party (that I planned of course!) and it's going to be a lot of fun - people are even flying in for it from other offices around the country. And right now instead of being depressed, I'm going to try and be happy for all the changes and to celebrate having a really superb boss (even if it was just for eight months).
It's hard to describe why my boss leaving is so heartbreaking. And try as I might, explaining it to my friends and family always leaves me coming up short. My explanations are never on point, or do the situation justice. And I think unfortunately this is something only my co-workers can fully understand.
But I'm going to try and explain to the best of my abilities.
The news came really suddenly. I had no inkling or women's intution that this news was about to hit the airwaves (or in this case I guess hit the fan). And my boss told me first so that I wouldn't hear it from someone else, which was really considerate but also horrifically painful. Now, I'm pretty good at keeping secrets, but when it affects me in some way (aka my job description changing drastically) then it's hard for me to keep it in. And that's what I had to do for 5 days while my boss and the rest of the higher-up's were away on a management retreat.
So I sat here and got more and more depressed because while I had been told my job wasn't in jeopardy, I still felt weary about the whole thing. Not to mention this is the best boss I have had ever. In the existence of bosses, I don't think anyone could do much better than the one I have now. He is fair, kind, hard to make angry, self-sufficient, and treated me with a lot of respect.
So last week was a pity party. And the party was for 1.
Eventually my new boss sat me down and we had a heart-to-heart about she wants me to grow in the company. She also let me know that she has no use for an assistant, so really my new job description will be of the make-it-up-as-we-go variety. (I will still get to do events, but my special projects will all be different).
So this convo lifted my spirits for about a minute and then I went back to depresso mode. All my friends and family tried to make me see the light. "This will be good for you" and "there's a silver lining in this change". I would get to move up in the company, not handle calendars and schedules. I would pretty much get betting a better job by default. And yet this didn't make me feel better.
When the news was officially announced to the rest of the company, everyone came over to give me their condolences like he had died and wasn't just moving on to a better job in the suburbs. Which made me depressed all over again. But at least now I had people to comiserate with. His old assistants (who still work at the company but have been promoted) came over crying. See! That's how great he is!
I think a part of me is just really depressed because he was such a great boss, but I know I'm also sad/depressed because I've never been left behind. I always did the leaving. At my last company, I left them. At internships there was always a time limit. And I don't like being left behind.
A part of me really wishes he had asked me to go with him to his new company, but I know I should be happy about the changes and advancements that I'll be able to make under my new boss. This just wasn't in the plan (aka how I thought this job would pan out for me).
I've always been really great about handling change, but this has been extremely hard for me to stomach.
Tonight is his going away party (that I planned of course!) and it's going to be a lot of fun - people are even flying in for it from other offices around the country. And right now instead of being depressed, I'm going to try and be happy for all the changes and to celebrate having a really superb boss (even if it was just for eight months).
Friday, June 26, 2009
The Summer Job Files: Shop Girl
In honor of the summer, we have rolled out a new weekly feature. Each week we will take turns to recount a summer job we had back in the day. [Editor's Note: Back in the day refers to when we were in school...sigh...college].
For three summers, I was a shop girl. A book shop girl.
Shortly before my senior year of high school, my mom drove me (cause I was awesome and still didn't have my driver's license) to our local book shop and forced me to go in and ask if they were hiring. By forced, I mean threatened. She wouldn't let me drive my new hand-me-down car to school (when I eventually got my license that September) if I didn't also have job to drive to.
I went in, I asked and they took my name and number. I left dejected and worried that I'd be the only senior taking the bus. Talk about LOSER! As we drove back to home, I got a call from the book shop. We turned around, I spoke to the owner and I had a new job.
For the last few weeks of that summer, I organized shelves, help other students find their summer reading books and got to know my coworkers. I was the youngest...by more than 25 years.
I never thought, at that time, that I'd become close friends with women older than my mother. The women I worked with became my friends. I spent three afternoons a week, every Saturday and every other Sunday with them.
One women, Linda, and I became very close. She was like the Aunt I never had. Not my mother bossing me around and not my grandmother worrying about whether or not I'll meet a nice Catholic boy to marry.
She listened to me stress over my fights with my mother and listened to me worry that I'd never find a boy to even date. She'd buy me lunch every Saturday and I became the daughter she never had. She even considered, very briefly, setting me up with her son (he was a little too old for me)
I was probably closer with Linda than I was with any of my friends in High School. She had wonderful advice and great life experience to share with 18-year-old Working Girl One.
I cherish those summers (and falls and winters and springs) at the book shop. As stressful as working in retail can be at times, I miss it. I miss telling a customer about my favorite book or picking out a colorful picture book for a cute little munchkin but most of all I miss the women I worked with.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ask Working Girl: Cliques, Motivation and Pants
We are back with Ask Working Girl. We are only tackling a few questions in our first week back. If your question is missing, don't worry. We thought a few warranted posts of their own so be on the look out.
Mrs. Beautiful asked…How do you keep your spirits up when you start a new job and your co-workers are very clique-ish and very passive aggressive? I'm having a hard time wanting to come to work in the morning.
Your new coworkers may not know they are cliquey or passive aggressive. My coworkers and I have been called cliquey in the past and we honestly had no idea we were acting in such a way that would make someone feel like an outsider.
I would suggest getting to know each coworker individually. You don’t need to try to join the clique but it will certainly make you feel better if you feel more comfortable at work.
It’s great to be friends and get along with coworkers but at the end of the day, it’s just work.
@vesari asked...how [do you] find motivation when work overall morale is low?
When I’m feeling unmotivated I create lists. When I first get in, I’ll make a to-do list for my morning. After lunch, I’ll make a to-do list for my afternoon. It helps me feel accomplished in my day-to-day tasks and motivates me to keep checking things off my list. Once one person starts feeling motivated, it can really catch on.
Ana from far away! asked...are leggings appropriate to go to work?
I love leggings with the right dress for work. And I think they can work in a business casual setting. But I strongly believe that leggings are not pants, your tush should be covered while you're at the office.
Have a work related question? Send us email, tweet (WG1, WG2) or comment below.
Mrs. Beautiful asked…How do you keep your spirits up when you start a new job and your co-workers are very clique-ish and very passive aggressive? I'm having a hard time wanting to come to work in the morning.
Your new coworkers may not know they are cliquey or passive aggressive. My coworkers and I have been called cliquey in the past and we honestly had no idea we were acting in such a way that would make someone feel like an outsider.
I would suggest getting to know each coworker individually. You don’t need to try to join the clique but it will certainly make you feel better if you feel more comfortable at work.
It’s great to be friends and get along with coworkers but at the end of the day, it’s just work.
@vesari asked...how [do you] find motivation when work overall morale is low?
When I’m feeling unmotivated I create lists. When I first get in, I’ll make a to-do list for my morning. After lunch, I’ll make a to-do list for my afternoon. It helps me feel accomplished in my day-to-day tasks and motivates me to keep checking things off my list. Once one person starts feeling motivated, it can really catch on.
Ana from far away! asked...are leggings appropriate to go to work?
I love leggings with the right dress for work. And I think they can work in a business casual setting. But I strongly believe that leggings are not pants, your tush should be covered while you're at the office.
Have a work related question? Send us email, tweet (WG1, WG2) or comment below.
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