Working Girl

What are you still going here?

2011-10-11T15:52:00.002-04:00

We've moved! Update your reader here.

Here's what you've been missing:

The Time WG1 Got Laid Off

When You Know You've Hit A Low Point

Procrastination Station

Fall Wardrobe Wants

Pump Up the Jams, Pump It Up: Vol 3

What You've Been Missing...

2011-09-11T20:12:00.002-04:00

How To Make Your Work Trip a Vacation

Sometimes I Just Want to be a Housewife

That Time I Thought I Might be Good at Sales

How Not to Work from Home

Remember why you started reading Working Girl in the first place? We're back to basics on workinggirlblog.com

Updated your reader here!

Don't Forget - We've Moved!

2011-08-17T10:15:00.003-04:00

Hey Working Girls! Wondering where we've been?

We've moved!

Please visit us at workinggirlblog.com and don't forget to update your RSS Feed!

We've Moved!

2011-08-08T12:55:00.000-04:00

We've been a little quiet lately. Did you think we fell off the face of the earth...again?

This time, we have a REALLY good reason. We've finally made the big move to our very own url and have a beautiful new design!

We hope you'll continue to read about our daily adventures in the working world at our new location: Working Girl. Check it out, we've got a fun giveaway for you today!

Meeting Notes

2011-07-26T22:06:00.003-04:00

Stories, news and other important tidbits Working Girls should know. Here are a few things to glean from this work week:

Mean Girls in the office? I believe it. According to the American Management Association, 95% of women say that they have felt undermined at some point in their career by other women. [Daily Mail]

Say so long to the days of just a basic criminal background & credit checks when looking for a new job. Some companies are now requiring candidates to pass a social media background check. The year old start-up company Social Intelligence scrounges the Internet for everything the candidate has done on the Internet in the past seven years. Time to start de-tagging. [NY Times]

This video is almost a year old, but worth a watch. COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg, gives a speech at TED about why there is a smaller percentage of women at the top of their professions. She then gives 3 great pieces of advice for women in the work force. [You Tube]

But I Am Le Tired

2011-07-25T22:14:00.004-04:00

by Working Girl One

Has this summer gone by faster than any summer ever before, or is it just me?

I feel like I'm traveling every other weekend and the weekends I home are spent catching up on errands and life. All of this is making me one tired Working Girl.

Last week, I overslept three times and was late to work twice. I've been passing out on the train and drinking grande iced coffees like it's my job. Somehow, I'm still exhausted.

Every morning, I wake up with intentions of getting home from work, going to the gym, cooking dinner, paying bills, reading, blogging...the list goes on. And every night, when I get home, I usually throw my purse done, grab a spoonful of peanut butter and park on the couch until I realize I should probably make something reasonable for dinner.

I see people I work with, my friends and bloggers I'm obsessed with work full time, keep an active social life and have time to dedicate to a hobby on the side and all I do I wonder how they do it. How do you all do it?

I'm guessing you (and they) probably don't do it by staying up past midnight to watch the Real Housewives of New York reunion and Watch What Happens Live, like I am right now.

Gettin' the Itch

2011-07-21T19:52:00.002-04:00

I feel like I start to get itchy around this time every year. Usually the itch is to change something small - maybe my hair, my wardrobe, the furniture in my apt.

This year, I've started to get itchy about everything. Literally all of it. And I've been particularly itchy about my living situation. As in, do I want to continue living in Chicago.

To people who know me well this probably isn't a surprise. I moved to Chicago almost 3 years ago from New York to be closer to my family. And while I now am closer to my family, I'm also far away from my college friends - and to me these are the kind of friends that know me inside and out. I was back in New Jersey earlier this summer for a friend's wedding and my friends and I had one of the best weekends - no drama, lots of laughing, drinking and reminiscing.

After I got home all I wanted to do was be back out east. I immediately booked a trip to Boston in August to go visit everyone. And really started to consider if I wanted to move back east.

When I moved out here originally, the plan had always been to move back east eventually. Chicago was meant to be a re-centering of sorts - I wanted to get back on track financially, back on track with my family and friends from high school, and back to a good place of mind. And I feel as though I'm at that place now.

But does that warrant a move back to New England? I'm not sure.

But what I do know is that I'm ready to move on from my company. I've been at my current job now for almost 3 years. I love my co-workers to death. They are literally my best friends in Chicago. I love my boss. But I really think it's time I got my career moving forward instead of sideways and unfortunately I'm stuck sideways at this company right now.

So while I try and figure out if Boston is right for me, I've started the job search here in Chicago to help my job itches. Maybe all I need to help satisfy these urges is a new job and new challenges. Or maybe I'll find what I really need is a new city with old friends.

Meeting Notes

2011-07-20T20:54:00.004-04:00

Stories, news and other important tidbits Working Girls should know. Here are a few things to glean from this work week:

Men lost more jobs than women during the recession and now they gaining more jobs in the recovery. 768,000 jobs to be exact, according to a Pew Research Study. Researchers couldn't account for the difference but the Huffington Post has an idea why. [Huffington Post]

We've shared our love for Bethenny Frankle before -- and plan to do so again, soon. The girls at HelloGiggles are also fans, naming her She-Ro of the Week. [HelloGiggles]

Woman fired for not dying her gray hair? Not cool, boss, not cool. [Houston Chronicle]

A few weeks ago on Meeting Notes, we shared 33 Ways to Stay Creative. Here is a fun -- and creative -- video of 29 very similar ways:

Working Girl Wears: Fashion Favorites

2011-07-18T21:00:00.000-04:00

by Working Girl One

If you're anything like me, at least twice a week you stand in front of your closet, throw your arms up in defeat and declare "I hate all of my clothes!"

OK, fine, more like four times a week.

I love shopping and I love buying new clothes, but I'm terrible -- and always have been -- at putting outfits together. I blame this on the fact that most of my time growing up was spent in my Catholic school uniform. I pretended like I hated every moment of wearing that thing, but I loved wearing it. Love, love, loved it.

Unfortunately, my job does not come with a uniform. In fact, my company is known for it's fashion magazines. I thought I knew what it felt like to be self-conscious about your clothes, but it wasn't until I stepped into the elevators at my company and received the up-and-down from a group of girls, that I truly knew.

So, what's a Working Girl to do? Turn to the internet, of course. I have a few favorite fashion bloggers that I love and turn to often for outfit inspiration:

Jessica Quirk of What I Wore:
Jessica has been documenting her outfits for four years, and while her closet is probably 17 times the size of mine, her posts help me to find several uses for one piece and often inspire me to go digging in my closet for a piece I forgot I had.

Maegan Tintari of ...love Maegan:
Maegan's posts not only inspire me to have fun with my clothes and put together outfits for work and play, her DIY posts are fun and easy to follow. I recently followed her DIY to make a long skirt out of a too-short maxi dress.

Anh of 9to5Chic:
What I would give to look this put together 24/7. Anh is a 9 to 5 girl (just like us!) and posts her work outfits along with her more causal weekend outfits. I may just have to copy this look sometime this week:
Tall Girl Tales:
I wouldn't be a savvy Working Girl if I didn't try to catch a sale or two as I try to expand my wardrobe. For an almost daily list of online and in-store sales, I turn to Tall Girl Tales, who also shares her favorite fashion finds and daily outfits.

Those are my go-tos ladies. Anyone else I need to add to my list? I need all the help I can get.

Meeting Notes

2011-07-13T17:31:00.002-04:00

Meeting Notes is our weekly feature where we dish on tidbits, news and other important things Working Girls should know. Here are a few things to glean from this work week:

Service workers in Connecticut rejoice! CT just became the first state in the nation this month to mandate paid sick days for workers. Advocates say this is a big move and that other states are looking to take this into effect. Currently on cities San Francisco and Washington, D.C. guarantee paid sick days for workers. [Reuters]

The head of New Zealand's Employers' and Manufacturers' Association, Alasdair Thompson, has recently been fired after he caused public outrage by linking why women get paid less with "menstruation". Thompson was quoted to saying that women are paid less than men because they take more sick leave and "have children they have to take time off to go home" to care for. [BBC News]

Congrats to the US Women's soccer team who won against France 3-1 today to go to the finals of the World Cup. They will play either Sweden or Japan this upcoming Sunday so set your DVR's! [CNN]

Everybody Make Mistakes. Everybody Has Those Days.

2011-07-12T21:48:00.006-04:00

by Working Girl One

(Name that song!)

Over the course of my short career I have found that in publishing when someone makes a mistake, it is the end of the world. Really. You're either thinking that I'm being super dramatic or you know exactly what I'm talking about.

With the way some people react to things, you'd think I was working in an operating room and was responsible for life and death.

A friend of mine recently told me about a friend of hers, a nurse, who misplaced a human organ at work. A human organ (!!!). It was needed for testing or something, she wasn't exactly sure. One would think this is pretty big deal but all this person had to do was sign some papers and that was that. No yelling, no snarky emails, no CC-ing of your boss and your boss's boss and your boss's boss's boss.

I turned to another friend who was listening to the story and also works in publishing.

"Seriously?" I said. "Someone actually loses a human organ and it's no big deal and when I have a typo in an email to a client, people act like I've killed someone?!"

Often, a huge deal is made of something that is not that huge. When mistakes are made or projects don't go as planned, it's absolutely necessary to review what happened and learn from it.

But wouldn't it be great, if everyone would take a moment to take a step back, think about the situation and remember that most of us aren't saving lives? A lot of time could be saved and stress avoided.

The Subject of Getting Drizzunk

2011-07-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

My company puts on a lot of events. And with these events usually comes a open bar. And with that open bar comes a lot of overservedness (word I just made up so go with it please).

Most work blogs I read talk about not drinking at company events. Or having the one drink and then switching to soda (or pop as we like to say out here in the Ole Midwest). But I will not say that because it would be hypocritical.

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with drinking in front of your coworkers. At our company events, I will drink more than one glass of wine and sometimes I even get drunk. The key to drinking with your coworkers or in front of your boss is to know yourself.

We all know this chat -the chat that your parents had with you before you left for college (or was that just mine?). The chat about knowing your limits and knowing your body and knowing your drunk. I know that after 4 glasses of wine I'm usually at my limit and that that 5th glass of wine will make me go overboard so if I'm with my bosses or people I want to impress then I'm not going to have the 5th glass. Or even the 4th probably.

And honestly I've been at parties where I have had that 4th or 5th glass and then sent myself home. Case in point, the incentive trip in St. Thomas - we had a huge snafu in the form of a Carribbean storm take place on the island and had to cancel our sail over to St. John for cocktails and dinner and instead had a 3-hour cocktail hour at the bar and then my boss invited me and my guest (who just happened to be WG1) to dinner. The 2 of us could barely finish our meals we were so tipsy so after dinner we sent ourselves home instead of sticking around for a nightcap.

So if you have a company picnic coming up with an open bar (like I do in a few weeks) then just stick to my advice and know yourself. Don't overdo it and if you think you're getting to the point of no return, send yourself home.

It's all about knowing your drunk - thanks for the advice Mom & Dad!

Meeting Notes

2011-07-06T09:42:00.000-04:00

Meeting Notes is our weekly feature where we dish on tidbits, news and other important things Working Girls should know. Here are a few things to glean from this work week:

Remember wanting to do everything your friends did when you were young? The Huffington Post analyzes how women do this as adults. Do you let your friends or coworker's choices affect how you feel about the choices you make? [Huffington Post]

Facebook's COO, Sheryl Sandberg, is stirring up a bit of controversy with her views on successful women vs. successful men. Jezebel sums it up for us here: [Jezebel]

Think only powerful men are cheaters? Think again. According to the Huffington Post, a new study shows that powerful women cheat just a much as powerful men. [Huffington Post]

This is a must read: It's not going to turn out the way you thought. [katemoller.com]

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T09:01:00.003-04:00

Is it really The 4th of July already? We hope you all are enjoying the holiday weekend! We are certainly thankful for the extra day off and opportunity to catch up on some much needed sleep.

[image via]

Meeting Notes

2011-06-29T20:39:00.003-04:00

Meeting Notes is our weekly feature where we dish on tidbits, news and other important things Working Girls should know. Here are a few things to glean from this work week:

Don't deny it, you need your daily Diet Coke to get through the day too! But it's an innocent addiction, right? Maybe not. It may have zero calories but it could harm you according to recent studies. [Jezebel]

How do you sign your emails? If you are like me, "Best" is probably your go-to sign-off. I've always liked it but some Working Girls (and Boys) think it's rude. [Thought Catalog]

Bad day at the office? Just be thankful you aren't the rectal thermometer tester at Johnson & Johnson. [via]

Holy hangover. We sure can't drink we like we used. OK, we can drink like we used to but we sure can't recover like we used to. Thankfully the ladies at Jezebel have some tips for sleeping it off at the office. [Jezebel]

Leaving Early Guilt

2011-06-27T11:09:00.000-04:00

by Working Girl One

And by early, I mean I reasonable hour like 6pm.

I hate working late. Hate it. Some people don't mind it, some even like it. I totally get it, at the end of the day, when everyone else has packed up and gone home, you can finally have some peace and quiet to get your work done.

I am not one of those people. I never was. I prefer getting in early or working through lunch. And with an hour or so long commute these days, I am so not one of those people.

Over the last few weeks, I've gotten pretty good at getting my work done at a reasonable hour. Could I stay later and get even more work done? Sure, there is always work to be done. But it's summer and I just want to get to the train and get home.

So, I leave. And I feel guilty about it. I am usually one of the first people to leave and while I know others are only 15 or 20 minutes behind me, I hate being the first. I hate the idea of my boss calling my name from her office and realizing I'm not there. Would she really care if I wasn't? Probably not. She's one of those people who doesn't mind staying late and she knows I have a commute.

I was raised Catholic so I blame it on my Catholic Guilt. But it's something I have to get over. If I complete all my work, I deserve to leave at a reasonable hour, no?

Meeting Notes

2011-06-22T17:56:00.002-04:00

Meeting Notes is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

A new study in the Journal of Management Studies suggests that politically savvy professionals who use "sucking up" as a career aid may also be able to avoid psychological distress. Aka if you are cunning and crafty, you will less likely be picked on. So basically I have to be a Mean Girl to climb the corporate ladder? Sounds 'bout right. [Science Daily]

Need another reason to work from home? Research shows that couples in which one partner commutes more than 45 minutes to get to work are 40% more likely to divorce than couples who don't have to travel for their jobs. The study also suggests that commuting affects your overall well-being leading to obesity, stress and loneliness. Blech. [Self]

Daily Candy is running their annual "Start Small, Go Big" Contest that aims to help small businesses get off the ground. A winner from each category (fashion, beauty, food & drink, and home) will win a trip to NYC, a Daily Candy write-up and a day at the Daily Candy Academy where they will learn from the likes of Isaac Mizrahi & Rebecca Minkoff. Entries need to be submitted by August 5th. So get cracking! [Daily Candy]

Eat Your Way to a New Job

2011-06-13T18:07:00.000-04:00

by PR Working Girl

I'm a fan of chatting with someone and asking questions to learn more about a subject, versus looking it up on Google. So when in the job market, one of the first things I like to do is go through my network and reach out to someone who works at a company I admire or in a similar industry as mine, or in a role that I could see myself doing someday.

While you could send that person an email with several job-related questions, or you could try scheduling a phone call, I would suggest asking that person to join you for lunch (granted you live in close enough proximity).

It's a bit of a bold move compared to an email or phone call, but I think it also shows more confidence and assertiveness.

There's just something about lunches that puts people at ease. It's a great setting for conversation. It's casual. And who doesn't enjoy eating?

The problem with just sending an email is that it can go unanswered, and then what? Do you follow-up with another email? And what if that one goes unanswered, too? Awkward. Dead end.

In addition, a phone call is too easily rescheduled or forgotten, or you can get put on hold, or you might get a hurried, "Can I call you back? I'm in the middle of something," and then you feel guilty for bothering them.

But lunch, well, everyone has to take time out to eat lunch. And, as you busy ladies know, working people always welcome the opportunity to get out of the office for lunch!

When a date is set, come prepared with questions and a notepad and pen. Turn your cell phone off. All the way off. Plan ahead to pick up the tab at the end of the lunch, insist on it, which will imply that you are both professional and appreciative. Ask for their business card. Send a thank you note.

Also, remember this is purely an informational session, not a time to be presumptuous and ask, "Do you know of any job openings?" or "If you hear of anything, can you please keep me in mind?" To me, these questions are incredibly annoying. The last thing you want to do is put off your "guest" by assuming that they like you enough to commit to recommending you for a job at their company right then and there.

There have been a number of great networking and job hunting tips on Working Girl, hopefully this adds another to your strategy. Good luck!

Meeting Notes

2011-06-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

We are bringing back Meeting Notes as a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we thinking Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

Crazy that it took this long, but here's a big congratulations to Jill Abramson who was named executive editor of The New York Times last week! This was long overdue as she is the paper's first woman to reign over the media empire in its 160-year tenure. Talk about girl power. [Marie Claire]

The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology published a new study that suggests jobs have become gender-segregated by how they are advertised. The survey found that women and men reacted differently to the same job when it was written differently. Male workers responded to words like "competitive" and "dominant" while women veered more towards words like "compassionate" and "nurturing". [Jezebel]

For all you self-employed Working Girls - here is an interesting article on how to find the right employees at the right time. It's all about timing! [Design Sponge]

And now for a little inspiration - 33 ways to stay creative below! [Today & Tomorrow]

Foodie Girls

2011-06-06T21:58:00.004-04:00

I consider myself a wannabe-foodie. Cooking and eating are two of my favorite things to do. I wish my job could be to watch Food Network all day and I could spend hours in a Whole Foods or at a Farmer's Market. I subscribe to several cooking magazines and own way too many cookbooks.

So I was very excited to see Gourmet Live's list of 5o Women Game Changers on one of my favorite food blogs, The Kitchn. This is where the wannabe part comes in. The only names I knew, apart from Julia Child, were the women with cooking shows on Food Network and Ree Drummond, a.k.a. The Pioneer Women, who I love (love, love, love!) and will soon have her own show on Food Network.

I've watched enough cooking competition reality shows (which obviously makes me an expert) to know that the culinary industry has been a predominately male for a long time. It's exciting to see a strong list of women in the culinary world. They aren't the top women, they are the game changers, which is important to point out.

Julia Child brought French cooking to the American home and Ree Drummond became one of the faces of well-executed food blogging. Did you know that food-critic Gael Greene (you've probably seen her on Top Chef) founded CityMeals on Wheels? They aren't just part of the industry -- they're changing it.

Heated...Over Mac & Cheese

2011-06-02T19:45:00.000-04:00

Last week, my co-workers and I stalked The Southern's mac & cheese food truck because we had heard the their mac & cheese was all sorts of fantastic.

{via Passport Delicious}

this is the mac & cheese with hot dogs (which is also awesome!)

And let me tell you...that mac & cheese was all sorts of amazing. I got 2 types - the asparagus, ramps & gouda and then a buffalo chicken & blue cheese. Both were great, but I decided to save half of the buffalo chicken and almost all of the asparagus for dinner and then lunch for the next week (truth be told, I was also a little hungover and my eyes were more ambitious than my stomach - whoops!).

Fast forward a few hours, and I decide I have too many errands to do after work so I'm not going to take the mac & cheese home after all. But I see a sign on the fridge - it's fridge cleaning day! So you must label your foods with your name and the word SAVE in large letters. Easy enough. Done and done.

I come back on Tuesday and my mac & cheese - all $18 worth of it - is goneeeeeeeeee. No where to be found. I even looked in the front kitchen just in case. Nope. Gone.

And that's when I got heated about mac & cheese. And the money I spent on the mac & cheese. And how processes at work just don't work!!!! My name and the words "SAVE" were on that bag in very large letters!!! Cue freak out.

To which my one co-worker told me to take a chill pill (so '90's) and just buy McDonald's. Since it's Thursday and I'm still talking about it, I think you can tell I'm not over it.

Wicked Smaht

2011-06-01T21:23:00.003-04:00

Amy Poehler is a smart, funny lady and she gave a fantastic speech at Harvard Class Day a couple of weeks ago.

The video, posted on Harvard Magazine's YouTube page, has been making the rounds on the internet but if you haven't watched it yet, I recommend you do.

In addition to her usual humor, she gives the Harvard Class of 2011 some useful, simple advice that definitely comes in handy, even after a handful of years in the working world.

Confessions of a Travel Junkie

2011-05-28T23:20:00.003-04:00

Site of my next vacation - Costa Rica

{DCR News}

I want to confess to you all that I am a travel junkie...which is unfortunately an oxymoron in the US since we Americans get basically zero vacation time in comparison to other countries around the world - in my case, a measly 10 days (and 2 personal days woo!).

Let's look at the basic facts. In addition to a few national holidays, the average American gets two to three weeks off per year. But (and there is always a but), a recent poll from Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 57% of workers use all of their vacation days, compared with a 89% of workers in France. [CNN]

This concept BOGGLES my mind. Here are my facts. I get 12 vacation days and a handful of long weekends off from work. I'm going to use all those days to get to as many places as I possibly can. In 2011 alone, I have traveled already to New Zealand and just purchased a ticket to Costa Rica. Why? Because I have vacation time and I plan to use it.

To me, it's all about time budgeting. I'm lucky enough to live near my family so I don't need to take time off to fly anywhere for Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. But my family and I do sometimes go away for the holidays. In which case, we usually don't take time off to do so. Holiday weekends are perfect for traveling around the US, Canada or Mexico. Just this past Thanksgiving, my family and I went to Toronto for 4 days just to explore the city and do something different than sit at home and carve a turkey. Last Memorial Day weekend, my Dad and I took my sister to Nashville for her birthday.

We save the big vacations for taking time off work. My trip to New Zealand cost me 5 days of work, my trip to Costa Rica will be 4, and then I will take an odd day off here and there for weddings.

And at the end of the year, I will have zero (maybe even some negative) hours left to take off. But it will be worth it because I will have seen new parts of the world and taken days away from my desk. Because honestly it's not just about seeing the world and experiencing new things. It's about taking time away from the people, the office drama, the work piling up on your desk. It's about getting away for a while and not thinking about it. And everyone needs time to do that.

It is your right as an employee to take your time off. And even if it's just to sit at home and watch TV, I seriously get heated when I hear people say they have time rolling over to the next year because that means that they spent almost the entire year chained to their desk. And that's just not healthy.

WG1 actually sent me this article from CNN on why America is the "no-vacation nation". And it quoted John de Graaf, the national coordinator for Take Back Your Time, a group that researches the effects of overwork and he is quoted as saying, "There is simply no evidence that working people to death gives you a competitive advantage." Apparently the US came in 4th in the World Economic Forum's 2010-2011 rankings of the most competitive economies. 4th! We were outranked by Sweden - a country that offers workers 5 weeks of paid vacation!

This to me is proof enough that we need to take back control of our vacation by simply taking vacations where we don't need to answer the phone or check our email or be in touch with people at the office.

Either that, or move to Sweden.

Cruel Summer

2011-05-24T22:52:00.000-04:00

by Working Girl One

Remember summer vacations?

I don't think I've had a proper summer vacation since the summer between my junior and senior years of high school. But even when I was working my Working Girl tush off to earn money for college, I at least had a full week off to spend at the Jersey Shore with my family.

(And no, where we go is NOT AT ALL like Jersey Shore you see on MTV.)

This summer, no such vacation will be happening for this girl. At my new company, I have two weeks vacation that earn over the course of the year. And I haven't earned much of it yet. At my last company, I had earned three weeks. I tried to negotiate for another week but being unemployed and all didn't really give me the upper hand. To top that off, at my new job we have two busy seasons and one happens to be during the summer.

So instead of enjoying a full week off, I'll spend the two weekends that cover my family's trip with them and the boyfriend and I have a wedding to attend and a short weekend trip planned. A few mini-vacations in better than nothing, right?

Working Girl Travel Tip: Express Lane

2011-05-18T07:54:00.003-04:00

Now, I don't know how true this is or if the airlines have caught on but I spotted the below travel tip on Tumblr yesterday and had to share. It's worth trying, right?

From Simply Jess on Tumblr:

How To Cheat The ‘Boarding By Zone’ System

A friend of mine recently taught me this genius trick and it’s worked every single time I’ve flown. Ya’ll have to try it.

Let’s suppose you have a carry-on size bag that you don’t want to check. Baggage fees are ridiculous, waiting 30 minutes at baggage claim is annoying, and you risk the possibility of the airline losing your bag. Problem is, if you carry the bag on and you’re in boarding zone 4, all the overhead bin space will undoubtedly be full by the time you actually get on the plane, and you’ll be forced to check your bag. Not cool. Here’s where the trick comes in.

When you check-in online, be sure to have the boarding pass sent to your mobile device via text or email. It will look like the picture above. Then, when they start to call boarding zones, just board with the rest of the zone 1 people (even if you’re boarding pass says zone 4 below the QR code). Put your phone under the scanner and walk on confidently. The QR code cell phone images are not integrated with the airline zoning systems. The gate agent will NOT stop you and tell you to board with your own zone and you will NOT have to check your bag. It’s fool-proof.

Let’s just hope the airlines don’t start to catch on.

Corner Office Dreamin'

2011-05-16T14:35:00.004-04:00

by PR Working Girl

I would love a corner office in a gorgeous high rise building. My corner office neighbors would be stalwart, admirable, yet friendly people who I can't believe I get to call my peers. I'd have a shiny wood desk with silver-framed pictures of my family and all the exotic vacations we've been to over the years. I'd have an unlimited supply of letter-pressed business cards that boldly stated my title: Chief Executive Officer.

A Working Girl can dream, right?

Well, we are still young and we can certainly prepare ourselves to make this kind of dream a reality. But how? What sort of characteristics should we be working on to be considered CEO material, say, about 20 years from now? It's never too early to start thinking about this!

According to Adam Bryant, author of The New York Times "Corner Office" column, there are five main qualities that current CEOs agree make a good employee (which I'm sure we think we already are) really stand out as someone who's got the potential to GO PLACES. Below, I've outlined them briefly adding a few of my own thoughts.

Passionate curiosity - Well, I always knew "passion" and "curiosity" were good qualities to list on your resume, but put them together and bam! They have a whole new meaning. I like how Bryant compares those with passionate curiosity to a 5 year old, someone who is truly interested in how the world around them works. That's how we should be about our industry, our clients, our roles, the strategy, the processes, our competitors.

Battle-hardened confidence - Here is another combo description, it's not just confidence anymore, but it has to be battle-hardened. Makes me feel like I should dress up as a Braveheart warrior or something. Good old fashioned confidence just isn't enough anymore, it's not the kind of confidence that will carry you through failure and adversity, which are two things hiring managers love to quiz you on during interviews. Personally, I hate thinking about my failures, let alone talking about them. Talk about a confidence bust. Yeah, I need to work on this one.

Team smarts - This has got to be one of the hardest traits to come by. There are so many smart people out there who are hard workers, but terrible team members. And honestly, I think we all fall in the terrible category every now and then, no? And we blame it on somebody else on the team. Bryant quotes Susan Lyne, CEO of the Gilt Groupe who I think says it perfectly: "The people who truly succeed in business are the ones who actually have figured out how to mobilize people who are not their direct reports."

A simple mind-set - So often we complicate things because we think it will make ourselves appear smarter, when in reality we are frustrating those around us and wasting precious time. I think it's funny how older generations often give younger ones a bad rap for texting and using Twitter, but I think it's kind of a good thing. Consider this amazing op-ed article, also found in The New York Times, by an English professor. He proposes shorter, simpler (not to be mistaken with "easier") writing assignments instead of always assigning the standard 10+-page term papers; think photo captions and eBay descriptions. Interesting, huh? He says, "Rewarding concision [and may I add, simplicity] first will encourage students to be economical and innovative with language."

Fearlessness - Not me. Ha. I can't kill a spider. I hate sports because I'm afraid of getting hurt (a black eye from playing softball during junior high P.E. class is a completely valid reason, right?). In this case, fearlessness is more about smart and calculated risk-taking in the workplace, so how would you rate yourself in this area? Bryant says entrepreneurs are a good example of embodying a type of fearlessness. Well, I do consider myself entrepreneurial since I currently work from home running my own PR business. OK, I feel a little better now.

So, do you think you've got CEO potential?

I'm Sorry I'm Sorry

2011-05-11T10:06:00.000-04:00

by Working Girl One

Do you ever feel like you're being a huge annoyance to the people you work with? Like you're stalking people via email? It's the story of my life recently and I always feel bad about it.

At work, this never used to be a problem. Maybe because I was at my last job for so long that I was very comfortable. I knew my role and the roles of the people I worked with. Sure, every now and then an email started with "apologies for..." but everyone does that. Right?!

Lately, I feel like I'm always apologizing. I've been working on a big project in an area that is new to me. There have been a lot of growing pains. A lot. I've been apologizing to the vendor who is executing the day-to-day of the project, the internal people in my company of whom I've asked dozens of questions, my co-workers, my boss.

There is no reason for me to be apologizing. Especially to the vendor working on the project. The vendor is working for me and I might be a PIA but isn't that pretty much a pre-req for being the client?

This was something that came up at my last job. Working on events, you sometimes have to be a bit stern and harsh with the vendors you're working with. It's something I've always had a problem with. Maybe it's because I like being liked or don't want to be a bitch or that I let sympathy take over.

Too often I put myself in the vendors' shoes and think "they are working really hard, if it were me I'd want the client to be nice to me." But I should be thinking "if I were in their shoes, I'd be doing x, y and z to make this perfect for my client." Over time, I think, I hope, I've gotten a bit better (and I definitely still have some room for improvement).

For last week or so I've stopped myself every time I've typed "I'm sorry" or "apologies for" because really, I'm not sorry. I'm not sorry I didn't get to your email yesterday, I was swamped and it wasn't a priority. I'm not sorry I'm following up for the third time on something that should have been completed by now.

I still have to make a conscious effort not to apologize, but hopefully, I'm on the right track.

Mixing Coworkers and Chasers

2011-05-09T21:04:00.000-04:00

by Editing Working Girl

Another Cinco de Mayo has come and gone as have the celebrations that come with it. Add on other 'American drinking holidays' like St. Patrick's Day and really anything having to do with sporting events and there is the potential to be a Working Girl Mess.

I attend a lot of networking events as a freelancer, and as I am representing myself, I usually only drink one glass of wine (and instead double up on the business cards). Then there are times when I am representing my company at blog conferences or events like SXSW with the parties and cocktail hours and concerts and the lines between coworkers and friends are blurred, along with the amount I may have had to drink.

As a runner, I don't usually get into awkward alcohol situations, because I am usually training for a race and avoiding it altogether. Even so, there are times where I do drink in front of coworkers. Next week, for example, we have a team outing scheduled involving a tour of the city, on a "bus" of sorts that is powered by us - by pedaling - while drinking beer and wine.

Here comes my question for fellow Working Girls: what is the appropriate amount to drink on this afternoon excursion? What about at Happy Hours or other company networking events?

I usually avoid this situation by simply keeping my relationship with coworkers professional. Personally, I don't want my coworkers to know how much I drank the other night or how I look when I dance downtown or even what my drink of choice is. Have any of you had an embarrassing Working Girl story that involved alcohol?

So I Moved

2011-05-03T10:46:00.001-04:00

by Working Girl One

In college Working Girl Two and I were of the first of our friends to intern and live in the big city. We thought were so cool because, well, we were. OK, we probably weren't.

Spending the summer living and working in Manhattan immediately established us as city girls. We were going to graduate, get awesome jobs at magazines, live in awesome apartments and soak up each other's awesomeness (name that movie).

Instead, we moved to a not-so-awesome apartment in Hoboken and were working as assistants in Manhattan. Not exactly the city and not exactly glamorous jobs. Still, we were honorary city girls.

A year later I moved to the city and thought I was there to stay. Another year later, the boyfriend and I moved in together to a lovely fifth floor walk-up on the Upper East Side. We were on the track to stay in Manhattan forever. And by forever, I mean, until my first kid had to go to preschool. I had no intentions of dealing with the shenanigans of getting a 3-year-old into glorified day care on the Upper East Side.

I thought I'd work my way up in the publishing world, make a decent living and gallivant around like a real New Yorker.

Then, I lost my job and the boyfriend got a new one in Connecticut. After I started working again, we decided the right thing to do was move out of the city and closer to his job. I couldn't believe myself when I said the words: "we should move to Connecticut." My friends couldn't either. "I can't picture you anywhere but New York!" was the reaction I received from most of them when I broke the news.

Cue mini quarter-life identity crisis. Thinking of myself as a "city girl" for a few years, I expected to feel different as a "Bridge and Tunneler," -- like I didn't belong in the city anymore or had lost my New York street cred. But apart from maybe being more tired, I feel the same and am not-so-secretly enjoying my suburban life.

Sure, my commute is longer but I have time to read again and I come home to a spacious apartment with a dishwasher AND a washer/dryer. I no longer have a bodega across the street to pick up milk (and Ben & Jerry's) but I have a huge supermarket and I can pack my groceries in a car. Despite having a longer commute, I feel like I have more of a life, an adult life here. It's hard to explain. Maybe it's the nice apartment or that we made a (relatively) big life decision together, but I really feel like a grown up.

I do missing living in Manhattan but I still get my daily fix of the city Monday through Friday and with occasional weekend trips. And yes, it is sometimes frustrating to leave happy hour early to catch the train but, I must say, I'm happy with our choice and my "Bridge and Tunneler" status.

Saying Yes to Time Management

2011-04-28T17:05:00.005-04:00

By Social Media Working Girl

I'm a people pleaser. If someone needs help, a ride, advice, an errand, a favor...they usually come to me - mostly because they know I'll say yes.

You see, saying no has never been one of my fortes. The art of saying no in the workplace is especially hard for me since I'm not the gal in charge.

I have bosses. I have several of them. People give me assignments, hand over projects, designate tasks and without fail, they all wait for the, "yes, no problem, absolutely, you betcha, happy to help, you got it" complete with a thumbs up or high-five in response. They simply expect that you will manage your time in such a manner to just get it done.

But clearly we can't always say yes. With only 24 hours in the day, it's simply impossible for us Working Girls to take on every task and assignment that crosses our desk or inbox. So how do we say no?

Plain and simple--we don't.

We don't say, "nope, no can do, sorry, no thanks" and that's the end of it. Instead, we prioritize. We learn how to stay organized, on task and most importantly - we master the art of time management.

If you're like me, you're a 20-something Working Girl who's early on in her career, eager to learn and be challenged, and someone who really can't afford to say no to anyone. I need all the help, advice, projects and experience I can get.

Why say no when there's no reason you shouldn't say yes?

Lauren Fernandez perfectly addressed this topic in her recent "Single PR Pros: You Suck at Time Management" post. She writes:

“Time management is an art that few excel at, although many claim otherwise. Work duties, family, dating, networking and friends all have a place in your life during the week. It’s not about how much time you devote to each entity. It’s about the type of routine and habits you develop to fit it all in.”

And while Lauren discusses time management in terms of work-life balance, the same holds true in the workplace. It’s not about being superwoman. It’s about learning to balance the to-do list, prioritizing which line items take precedence over others.

So, say yes.

Chances are you won't get to every project today, this week or even this month. Instead, you'll show that you are ready, willing and fully capable of balancing a busy work schedule while also producing quality work.

And who knows... that determination, hard work and diligence might land you a future gig that let's you assign all the projects.

And Then There Was One

2011-04-27T08:50:00.000-04:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

Last week was a good week and a bad week. The good news is that one of my friends/colleagues got a new job making more money and with a better title. The bad news is that she left me and now I'm all alone! *insert tears* Let me back up a bit...

Not too long after I started working here, I became good friends with three women here. Not only did we chat at work, but we also hung out after work and on weekends. Then it happened. One of my friends got a new job. Then it happened again. Another friend transferred to an office in a different city. And last week it happened yet again. The last friend put in her notice and now she's gone. *insert more tears*

It's funny how when one person leaves others start to get the itch to leave. I'm going to be honest. I've got that itch REAL bad. Ok, let me be really honest. I've had the itch for a while, but now I feel a sense of urgency about it. And I'm not the only one.

Why am I ready to leave? Well, one reason is that I'm so ready to do something that makes me happy. I've talked about it before so I will spare you guys a little. I envy those who enjoy going to their jobs everyday. I want that to be me! The second reason is that I miss my old city. I'm ready to move back. Whenever I go for a visit, it's always hard to come back.

So, now I'm on a mission to find the perfect job for me (of course, working for myself would be the BEST, so the perfect job for me that involves working for someone else). I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things happen for me pretty quickly.

Working Girls, are any of you job hunting? If so, how's it going?

Would You Rather...?

2011-04-22T09:23:00.003-04:00

by Working Girl One

Good Work & Good People. What a world it would be if we could always have both! If you HAD to choose, would you rather do work that you love with people you dislike or do work you dislike with people you love?

{image via}

Get Your 'Tina Fey' Glasses

2011-04-19T10:19:00.001-04:00

by Working Girl One

Most of my commute last week was spend reading Tina Fey's Bossypants. If you happened to be on Metro North (oh yeah, I moved...more on that later) last week and noticed a girl in stitches reading an iPad and nearly spitting her coffee on it, you probably saw me.

Rather than providing a full review of her memoir, I thought I'd just share just a few of my favorite quotes. Because, really, if you like Tina Fey (and who doesn't?), you'll love, love, love Bossypants...even if the cover grosses you out a bit.

There were so many gems of advice sprinkled throughout the hilarious stories of Tina Fey's life that I nearly highlighted the entire book. These are a few of many career-related nuggets that I just had to share.

"Some people say 'Never let them see you cry.' I say, if you're so mad you could just cry, then cry. It terrifies everyone."

"Contrary to what I believed as a little girl, being the boss almost never involves marching around, waving your arms, and chanting, "I am the boss! I am the boss!'"

"This is what I tell young women who ask me for career advice. People are going to try to trick you. To make you feel like you are in competition with one another...Don't be fooled. You're not in competition with other women. You're in competition with everyone."

"So my unsolicited advice to women in the workplace is this. When faced with sexism or ageism or lookism or even really aggressive Buddhism, ask yourself the following question: 'Is this person in between me and what I want to do?' If the answer is no, ignore it and move on. Your energy is better used doing your work and outpacing people that way."

And finally, this might be my favorite because we all know someone like this at work:

"There was the Program Director, who talked exclusively in nonsense business language 'We are attempting to pro-activate the community by utilizing a series of directives intended to maximate communicative agreeance.'"

Am I weak?

2011-04-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

by In Transition Working Girl

I have been dying to write about this for over a week and would like to pose a question to all of you Working Girls. But first, let me set up the situation for you.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to go to lunch with two of my co-workers. The first is someone who, I think, finds a reason to yell at me on a weekly basis and the second, is the person I replaced. It was sort of an odd lunch, but the person who always yells at me thought it might be nice to get to know the "old me" since we are around the same age. It was really great, the "old me" and I hit it off right away.

After the get-to-know-you conversations, the conversation quickly turned to how my boss is non-confrontational and how the person who yells thinks being non-confrontational is a sign of weakness. I stopped in my tracks, this is why I get yelled at! This had me thinking all week, since I would rather talk through the issue, this makes me weak? What do you think?

I think that in the workplace there are many different styles of management and dealing with issues in a confrontational manner can only escalate the situation. To me the word confrontation has negative a very connotation. I would rather talk through the issue, let both people state their point of view and come to a resolution. I do understand that there are people who run from any sort of confrontation, but that does not make them weak, it just means they need to be communicated to in a different way.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Trash Talking the Boss

2011-04-12T19:59:00.000-04:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

The past few weeks at work have been long and stressful. One week I worked Monday through the next Sunday. I was getting very little sleep and it was taking a toll on my mood. Yes, Working Girls, I was moody, but I can tell you that I was not the only one. I've been feeling the stress level rise around the office for the last few weeks. Smiles have worn off people's faces, colleagues are getting confrontational with each other, and employees are snapping at their superiors.

I have a couple of colleagues with whom I can bad talk the job or the people we work with only because I truly trust them and they trust me enough to be honest about how they are feeling on the job. I know some of you think that's probably a bad move--trash talking with coworkers--but I think some trash talk is expected at work amongst employees, right?

I also find myself tweeting my feelings some days. I'm never specific, never name names, and I've never tweeted the name of my company. It's usually something very generic like, "My patience is wearing thin" on a day when someone was trying to tell me how to do my job. If my boss read my tweets, I don't think he or she would find anything pointing to him or her or the company, but I have wondered if anyone monitors our personal online activities.

I recently read an article that discusses this very thing. There was a case in Connecticut where the National Labor Relations Board ruled that a company cannot fire its employees for complaining about their bosses on Facebook. I'm kind of for this ruling and against this ruling (just like a lawyer, huh?).

On one hand, I believe that employees should be allowed to live their personal lives without the company butting in; but on the other hand, if someone is out there bashing the company's image or disrespecting the boss, I don't think that should be tolerated. I mean, it's one thing to talk about your boss (which I never do because I actually like my boss a lot) or company or colleagues amongst your colleagues, but when you start bad-mouthing to the outside world that's different. You're possibly damaging your company's image. I think of it as most people think of their families--it's ok for you to talk about your family members, but as soon as someone outside of the family says something, it's not ok.

Working Girls, what are your thoughts on this? Do you find yourself venting through social media? How do you ensure that it doesn't affect your career?

E-mail Errors

2011-04-11T19:33:00.000-04:00

by Editing Working Girl

I can be reached by e-mail at all times, both business and personal. I love the fact that though a few years ago this would seem obsessive behavior.But with the bounds and leaps of smart phones, pretty much every one of you can claim the same fate.

With all of this constant connection, something is bound to go wrong. Like that e-mail that you thought you only sent out to a coworker calling your boss' bluff but didn't realize you hit "Reply All". Maybe even that draft you keep to rant in that accidentally was sent? That e-mail to a customer that was meant for a coworker? Sometimes, it happens.

Luckily, I have only had this experience in a very mild manner. I was forwarding an e-mail to a coworker so he could see my prior conversations with a customer he was on the phone with and accidentally sent it to the customer. No harm, no foul. But what if I had said something bad in the e-mail? What would I have done?

I think the best way to handle that sort of situation, is to be completely upfront and claim responsibility. This can go further than you think. Instead of blaming it on the e-mail system, computer, internet, distraction - admit fault. Yes, you did accidentally send a horrible e-mail out, but trying to hide behind the computer further will only make things worse. Secondly, depending on how bad the e-mail actually was, make sure to throw the appropriate apology in there. Maybe it will open up discussion between you and your boss? Maybe your coworker will forgive the things you said? Hopefully, you will get the issue resolved.

As Editing Working Girl, this is where I plug the great habit of editing every e-mail. If you make it a priority to glance over your e-mails before you send it (starting with the Send To line) there is a good chance you can avoid this situation. I do it now for every work e-mail I send after that mishap with the customer. I take it to the next level and after I forward an e-mail I check my Sent folder to make sure it did, in fact, go to the right person. Be proactive.

As the woman in charge of Twitter at my office, I have, on more than one occasion, sent out a personal tweet on the work account, and vice versa. Luckily, I have always caught it right away and Twitter has a delete button.

Has this e-mail snafu happened to you? What advice do you offer Working Girls who may be going through this situation (or may go through it in the future)?

Image Source

The Generation Job Switch Factor

2011-03-31T10:00:00.000-04:00

by In Transition Girl One of the things that I find interesting about my new job, even though I still feel in transition now more than ever, are my colleagues' knowledge about generational marketing. I find the trends and behaviors that define generations, especially mine/ours, the millennials, so interesting. In a meeting earlier in the week, my boss had mentioned an article about the millennials as it pertains to jobs, moving and careers in our 20's. I am not sure if this was the exact article, but thought this was too good not to share with you all. After reading this article, right away, I went back and counted how many times I have changed jobs to date since graduation! How does this article below make you feel about switching jobs? Twenty-Somethings: What You Risk by Switching Jobs Too Often By: Christina Vuleta

Millennials can't catch a break. They are criticized for not paying their dues (leaving a job that doesn't fulfill them), yet advised to find their "passion" (leaving to find a job that fulfills them). Before the recession it was career "suicide" to stay in a job too long, so flipping jobs was by choice. Now, with the job market yet to fully recover and unemployment for 20-somethings still outpacing that of the general population, it's by default. Today's millennial goes through an average of seven job changes in their 20s, and according to Pew Research, six in 10 have already changed careers at least once. But what happens when you haven't built up any experience that prepares you for the next level?

While interviewing 40-something women across the country about their 40:20 Vision hindsight on career, I ran across a few who learned the hard way that switching careers too fast in your 20s can leave you in the slow lane in your 30s and 40s. Their career roulette may have been for different reasons than the 20-something today, but their hindsight on the downside of too much switching provides valuable foresight on the risks of jumping jobs too often for 20-somethings today:

Risk One: You Miss Out On Your Prime Earning Years

Some of the 40-somethings I've talked to tried on one job after another in search of cool. Career options in the '90s had expanded from the mainstays of education, law and accounting to include media, marketing, the Internet and more. Many college-educated women back then grew up believing that having a career was a given, but now we had to find one that was creative, and anything but the path most followed. We grew up with "What Color is your Parachute?" so we wanted some color! Yesterday's search for cool is today's search for fulfillment. The problem is, as you start one job, it's not cool (fulfilling) anymore. Then you wake up in your 30s being un-promotable at a time when you often need start being responsible for other people.

This 40-year-old woman left her first job as a software tester because it was too "dorky." She went from gaming to photography to restaurants to fashion, only to wish she had stuck with the program:

I was quitting jobs left and right because I thought all my friends had cooler jobs, and I had that idealized 20s perception that I should be treated a certain way. It was ridiculous for me to think that way. Now I think, "Why I didn't stick with it?" I was really good at it. Instead, it set a pattern of switching in motion for me that came to haunt me. In my 30s I was still at entry level when I should have been in my prime earning years. Meanwhile, my friends were managing things, getting promoted and earning more money.

Risk Two: You Miss Out On What's Now

Similarly, this woman reflects on the opportunities lost. When you're young, you're constantly thinking about what's next, often at the expense of missing what's staring you in the face:

I was never satisfied with the job I had because it was always about what's next. I didn't realize the record label I worked at in the 90s was the place to be because all I could think about was how much I wanted to be at another record company doing a Nine Inch Nails video. I was blind to the fact that hip-hop was changing the world and I was part of that. Instead I kept thinking I had to get to this other thing. Then as soon as you get the other thing, you want to move onto the next thing. --40-something, producer, Los Angeles, Calif.

Risk Three: You Miss Out On Getting The Job You Want

One woman I recently spoke with had just interviewed a 20-something who had 20 jobs on her resume. She'd only been working for 3 years. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, the woman asked the 20-something why she left some of these jobs. Unfortunately, the answers all started with, "I didn't like (fill in the blank)." Suffice it to say, one her better answers was "the schedule." This did nothing to diminish the reputation today's 20-somethings have earned for being fickle, but even less for getting the job at hand.

There's a fine line between exploring what you want to do and following the road to nowhere. It's the difference between fulfilling yourself and filling up your resume with empty jobs where you don't learn anything. The risk is that you end up with no foothold to step up the ladder, or even start your own thing. This 40-something woman who now hires 20-somethings recommends pursuing passion, but only up to a point:

"Get as much experience doing different kinds of jobs until you find that thing you're really passionate about and then pursue that. But try not to do too many things in a period of time because it limits your choices to a degree. Eventually that bouncing will hurt you unless you are someone who's very gifted and learns new skill sets quickly."

It's a tough call. Without fail, 40-something wisdom says to explore, and not narrow down on a career path too quickly. But after a few years, try to do it in a way that builds on a set of skills and passions that can apply to many directions. Some final thoughts from the 40:20 Vision journey:

Don't switch only because of things you don't like.

Do switch if you aren't learning anything.

If you do switch jobs a lot, don't burn bridges. Always be able to take a good recommendation with you when you leave.

Look at other parts of the company to see if there is room to fulfill the need to explore and grow.

Reframe your skill sets to reflect an internal growth path, even if you can't show a "formal" growth path. For example, you were in a band, but you learned money management, event planning and you will never suffer stage fright while giving a presentation.

If you have 20 jobs, don't put them all on your resume -- choose the 5 that you learned something from.

Try not to leave a job before you have another one. Use your job to learn about other opportunities. Talk to everyone, from customers, to clients to co-workers, about what they do and what their path has been.

Of course, today's job market is not the same as it was 20 years ago but it's easy today to get lulled into the thinking that switching today is all good. But before you do, give a little thought to what you've "got" and what you've gotten out of it.

Original article via Huffington Post

What's In Your Closet?

2011-03-26T14:03:00.007-04:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

Hey Working Girls guess what? Spring is here! Do you feel it yet? I have definitely gotten a case of spring fever! Are the days getting warmer where you live? By the way, real big sorry to those of you still getting snow this time of year - eek!

This change in weather sometimes makes picking out what to wear to work difficult. And since I walk to work I have to pay particularly close attention to the weather. Some days I want to wear a skirt or a dress, but it's not quite cold enough for tights and not quite warm enough for bare legs. Other days, it will be warm during the day and borderline cold in the evenings on my walk home, so I have to be sure to carry a jacket or coat. I long for the summer where I just have to deal with warm days and warm nights.

There is one thing though that keeps running through my mind each morning as I'm looking through my closet and trying to decide what to wear: it's time to go shopping. I feel like it's time for a brand new work wardrobe.

Some of my shirts are too small and some pants are too tight. I've got so many suits that I used to wear to court everyday that I don't even wear anymore. At my current job, I never wear suits to work. In fact, I don't think I've had a reason to wear a suit in almost 2 years! Also, I sometimes feel like I'm wearing the same things over and over again. It is definitely time for some new clothes!

As I sit down to make my list of must have pieces (cardigan, button down shirt, light gray pants, etc.), I would love your help Working Girls in figuring out some essential pieces for a new spring/summer work wardrobe. Also what are some fun colors that you plan to incorporate into your work wardrobe for the spring and summer?

(Photo)

Balancing Work and Working Out

2011-03-24T14:22:00.001-04:00

By: Editing Working Girl

As a fitness freelance writer, I constantly have running on the brain. I am training for my first half marathon now, so usually at work I am planning when I will get out on the road for my medium-long run, or yawning from the tough speed workout the day before.

Working out and working is hard.

At SXSWi two weeks ago, I made a point to go to the GeekFit panel. There, we discussed working out in the workplace – everything from getting your company to help promote fitness in the workplace, learning to stock your kitchen with healthy snacks and even quick workouts to perform at your desk – and we were all there because we have a desire to not only keep ourselves fit, but help others achieve this goal too.

I am definitely one to sit at my desk and eat lunch on occasion, which according to Shape magazine isn’t a good thing. I read yesterday that people who eat lunch at their desks are likely to eat more during the day, because without a break while having lunch they are less likely to remember what they ate and more likely to snack later because of it.

With my race about 22 days away, I am running an average of 20+ miles per week. Although the majority of these miles are put on during the weekend, it still takes a toll trying to have the energy to get out there for a 6-miler after a full day of work.

Because of this, I needed to change the way I thought about running. I needed to look at it as “me time.” Though I run with my training group on Wednesdays and Saturdays, those other runs are for me. They are a time where I can put my music on and sing, dance, think or clear my head. It is when I can focus on my goal and have control over my pace and breathing – when I may not have finished a goal or had total control at work.

Working out shouldn’t be work.

What about you, Working Girls? Do you juggle a fitness schedule with your work schedule? What is your favorite time to work out? On the weekdays, I am a total afternoon worker-outer. If I get up early to run, I am a mess (I really, really enjoy my sleep). On the weekends, I like to get up early and get my run out of the way, so I have the whole day to go to brunch, write and spend time with my boyfriend.

What is your favorite form of exercise? Do you run, take pilates or yoga, swim, etc.? Me? I am obviously a runner. Something I hope to be forever.

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Oh hey, new business cards. Good to see you.

2011-03-17T20:47:00.000-04:00

by Social Media Working Girl

Hey there working girls! Sorry for being a little MIA. There have been a lot of changes on the work front lately. No, I don't have a new job. Yes, I'm at the same place, doing the same thing.

But my job title finally reflects all that I've been doing for the past several years. Hooray!

You see, the title "social media working girl" on this blog is very accurate. I run all the social media for the company that I work for. I manage the social media initiatives, contests, outreach, etc. I'm THE social media gal. But up until about a month ago, that was nowhere to be found in my professional title. It reflected my editorial responsibilities, which for a while, was sufficient. Yet there just came a point when I had to be like, "Listen up, people. I deserve a title change, stat."

In the midst of this realization, I gave quite a bit of thought toward the title I suggested. I came up with three options that:

a) Didn't sound entry-level;
b) Encompassed what I do in a concise manner; and
c) Made me feel accomplished and proud.

Thankfully, the response was positive. I now have two titles--one for the editorial stuff and another for the social media. Updated e-mail signature. New business cards. Success.

I'm glad that I can now add a title to my resume that accurately describes the many hats that I wear day in and day out. And while I'm not much for the whole corporate-bureaucracy-title thing, I do think that this updated will catapult me to new, exciting heights.

So my question to you is, in this ever-changing working world, do job titles really count for anything? Do they even matter?

Where did my confidence go?

2011-03-16T19:31:00.000-04:00

by In Transition Working Girl

Two months.

This is how long its taken to lose all confidence I had going into my new job. I have lost it all-I feel completely lost and helpless. I feel like I know nothing and everything that I have ever learned has been stripped away from me, literally.

When I made my move a few months ago, I went in feeling so confident and ready to prove myself. I had set goals and expectations of myself and now I find myself feeling weak and powerless. I feel I can't do anything right and everyone is sitting back watching me flail, even perhaps getting some satisfaction out of it.

I have tried to pinpoint whats happening and have some general thoughts. Mainly though they all related back to no one training me or showing me historically how things have been done and then criticizing and making me feel bad when I step up on my own and fail.

Its been a rough transition. Now I know that there is always a learning curve, but making me feel stupid should not be a part of it. This is a major confidence downer. The three former working girls whose job I took over were not here to train me when I started so its my own ball game, starring ME! Which in some regards is a positive because I get to create my own program.

I had a pep talk with my father last weekend and his advice was of course to stay positive (don't let the gremlins get you down), but also learn the people's soft spot who are making me feel bad and learn (not necessarily "be") to be friendly with them. Everyone has them and I need to make it my mission to break the wall down.

How have you handled new job transitions and confidence busters?

The Connectivity of Writing

2011-03-14T08:40:00.000-04:00

by Editing Working Girl

Writing helps bring people together. It really is as simple as that. Whether it is the relationship between the reader and the author, the author and their work or all of the people reading that piece of writing, there is a connection being made.

I am attending SXSW Interactive this year (yes, I do consider myself lucky) and had the chance to watch a panel featuring Tim O'Reilly. If you aren't a techie you may not have heard of him, but he is the founder of O'Reilly Media, which publishes books on various computer technology topics.

When discussing how he got started in the publishing industry, he talked about how it just started as a venture that he did between his consulting projects. He would notice the lack of documentation about certain types of coding, for example, and decide to put out his own, honest materials. If something didn't work as it should, he wasn't afraid to say it in the book. People really took notice when he crashed a conference one year and sold copies of his latest book outside of the conference - he had a book on a topic people were interested in and could connect with, that they couldn't find somewhere else. They wanted more - and he was able to provide it and establish himself in the publishing world.

This is not to say you can't write about something that already has been written about, but make it your own. Make it speak to someone else and you will find a following. As he continued to talk about communities, he said a great three-line slogan to sum up communities, "Harnessing collective intelligence." Are you a blogger? Don't be afraid to utilize the ideas of your readers? Author, maybe? Bounce some ideas off of your editor.

Your community does connect with you via your writing, but also via your ideas within that writing. Find what connects you to them and harness it.

(Image Via)

So, How Am I Doing?

2011-03-10T20:55:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

It's that time. I've been with my company long enough to have my first evaluation. I haven't been here a year yet so it wasn't the big yearly evaluation, but it was my initial, post-grace period evaluation. So, how did I do?

When I first got the calendar invitation for my evaluation it wasn't a surprise. I had to fill out a self-evaluation recently so I knew the evaluation was coming. There were several thoughts going through my head. Will my boss's opinion of my performance differ from my own opinion? Will my boss have any negative comments? Will he say I can get a lot more done if I wasn't writing blog posts at work? (Ha, ha. Just kidding, boss.) What questions should I ask?

One thing that I went back and forth on was whether this was the time for me to talk about other opportunities within the company. I have been thinking more about my strengths and weaknesses and what I enjoy doing and how I can incorporate that into my full-time job. I once heard a professional say that you should think of your strengths as the things that make you feel strong and your weaknesses as times when you don't feel so strong. I feel strong when I'm in front of people speaking and when I'm writing. I feel strong when I get to use my leadership skills and interact with other people. I feel weak when...well, you didn't really think I was going to expose my weaknesses to you, did you?

Well, I decided that this probably wasn't the time to talk about other opportunities when I've only been in my position for a few months. I should probably master this position and prove myself before I start throwing out suggestions for new positions.

Back to the actual evaluation. It went very well I'm happy to report! Whew! I ended up only asking one question and that was what can I do to help myself advance? Which areas should I focus on strengthening? And the great thing is that some of the things my boss talked about for my future with the company involve some of my strengths.

That had me thinking about how I'm doing here. Working Girls, I think it's time for my blogging evaluation. Am I writing content that you're enjoying? Is there anything about which you would like to hear more? How can I help you? I believe that blogging should be about an experience for me and for you, so, how can I make your experience more enjoyable?

Taking a Risk

2011-02-24T11:02:00.000-05:00

by Social Media Working Girl

While it may seem that I have fallen off the face of the planet, rest assured that I am here and well! Things have been quite crazy in my life lately but I promise I haven't forgotten about you.

This week, I wanted to take the opportunity to discuss a topic that we've briefly touched on before. Last Wednesday I attended a luncheon and while sitting at the table, I got to chatting about social media and magazine publishing--two passions that, as you know, are very near and dear to my heart.

To my left side was a girl who has embraced social media completely--she's on Twitter and Facebook, and blogs regularly. The girl sitting to my right was the exact opposite. She's on LinkedIn purely for professional reasons. No blogging, no Facebook, no Twitter and--this one really shocked me--no texting.

The social media debate continued throughout lunch and ties very well into the ongoing topic of self-censorship.

Do you post personal and professional content through the same account?
How do you know what to post and what not to post?
Are you presenting yourself in the light in which you wish to be received?

In the various social media sessions that I have presented throughout my working girl career thus far, these are common questions I receive from the audience. And without fail, I always give the same answer.

Combining your personal and professional lives online is a risk you should take if (and only if) you understand the risk involved and are up to the challenge.

It's about merging the two into one--putting the face and personality with the professional life you have developed for yourself in the working world. And while a key piece of the puzzle is transparency, it's also important to remember that TMI (too much information) exists online just as IRL (in real life).

IRL, you wouldn't want to publicize or gloat about your crazy weekend antics in which you got so drunk that you had to call your parents to pick you up. IRL, you probably wouldn't call your boss to let him know that you are about to take a relaxing, hot bubble bath with your boyfriend.

So clearly, the same applies online. It's all about proceeding with discretion, making wise decisions about the personal online brand you create and knowing what qualifies as TMI.

Remember, not all social media outlets are for everyone. Just as the girl to the right of me at the luncheon has chosen not to jump on the social media bandwagon, it's perfectly okay to pick and choose the outlets you feel comfortable with.

As I said in my previous post on the topic... The most important thing to remember is that discretion and thoughtfulness are key to being a successful social media user.

(Image via)

The 1 Year Itch

2011-02-23T10:33:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

I'm starting to get that itch. No, not the 7 year itch, as I am not currently in a relationship. I'm getting the itch to start cleaning out my closets and start throwing stuff away. I'm getting the itch to start saving boxes. I'm getting the itch to move! I shared with you guys in my first post that I'm a chronic mover. I feel that while I'm young, single and childless I should have many different experiences, including living in different cities and different states.

So how do I cure this itch? I guess the only reasonable answer is to move. However, that's not so easy anymore. When I worked as a contractor it was a lot easier, because I could do contract legal work just about anywhere. Now that I have a permanent job, I can't just pick up and move on a whim. So what are my options?

One thing I could do is start looking for a new job in the city of my choice. The only problem with that is that I don't want my next job to be a legal job. The one I'm at now is going to be my last legal job. I'm ready to dive into my passion full-time and I promised myself that I would stay with this employer until I'm ready to do that. While I'm not financially ready to work for myself yet, I would work for someone else doing something I love as long as it pays as well as my legal job. I'm not sure that I have as much experience in that area yet to command such a salary, so that leaves me with option number two.

My other option is to ask to be relocated to one of our offices in a different city. Luckily, my company is growing and opening new offices so transferring is a very real possibility. I know you're probably asking why I want to leave my current city. Well, my move to this city wasn't of my choosing really. As I explained previously, I was offered a good job here so I moved. It's a little slow for my liking, but it isn't bad. I just think that I really want to be in a larger city with a lot happening. I want to be with the movers and shakers (as I consider myself a mover and shaker on the rise). It's something that's weighing heavily on my mind.

Working Girls, have you ever had the desire to pick up and move? If so, how did you handle your job situation?

(Image/Bing)

Are You Using Your Degree?

2011-02-17T16:05:00.011-05:00

By: Editing Working Girl

Image Source

I am one of the lucky few to actually be using my college degree. But it wasn't always this way. I majored in Communications and minored in Literature/Writing and my first job out of college was as...a Medical Transcriptionist.

There were so many times that I was frustrated because I got that position not because I knew medical terminology, but because I could type fast (thanks Mavis Beacon!). Every month while I was paying off my ridiculously high University of California system student loans, I would find myself angry that my degree wasn't being utilized, that I wasn't prepared for the 'real world' and that my four years in college were a waste.

It looks like many women feel that way. In the U.K., Dailymail.com is reporting that many women are seeing university as a waste of time, because the time spent working toward a degree outweighs the actual benefits. "Tuition fees and little chance of landing a good job make higher education an unattractive prospect for them, a study shows."

Luckily, the time spent at the job I hated motivated me to really try to find something that I loved. Not only have I put my experience as an Editorial Intern to use in my freelance writing, but I now do marketing for a software company, utilizing many things I studied in college such as skills I learned in my Writing for Digital Media course.

At the same time, I am actually thinking of enrolling into my alma mater's Extension Program to earn a certificate in copy editing since we didn't have Journalism classes and I feel I can use it to help further my freelance career. So though I am using my degree, I always feel continuing education is a viable option to not only brush up on my skills, but help learn specific skills that may not have been included in my degree program.

What about you Working Girls? Was your degree worth it? Would you ever go back to school?

Picking the Long Distance Route

2011-02-17T10:24:00.001-05:00

by In Transition Working Girl

Happy week of love! Or, in my case, happy reminder that the one I love lives three hours away.

I am going to let you in a little more on my personal life. For three and a half years I have been in a serious committed relationship and feel he is the One for me. Right now, we are in a long distance relationship.

A little history, the first six months we were together, we were apart. But then his job brought him to the area in which I live so it worked out perfectly. For the last three years, we have pretty much been attached at the hip, enjoying our quite evenings in and weekends together.

About a year ago, I started feeling restless in my career and wanted a change. I went through several stages of thinking I knew what I wanted to do. At the end of the day, I realized to accomplish what I really wanted in my career, I would have to move, affecting us both. Being a planner by nature, moving was always "our" plan, but not for a few more years so I was to blame for this change.

My boyfriend played a super supportive role at first. But after a few months of talking about the possibility of me moving, he suddenly wasn't so supportive and our relationship took some hits. I found out he was confiding in others about his frustrations over me wanting to move. It all was difficult for me to deal with, especially while trying to make a career change. It all came to a head on the weekend I was offered the first of my two job offers. We had hours of long conversations and lots of crying trying to figure out what was best for us personally and professionally.

Throughout the conversation we pin-pointed many things, but it came down to one word we both wanted to avoid, resentment.

We are both young, motivated and focused on our careers. We both feel the need to excel and push our limits now but also selfishly wanted the other one to be right by our side. However, we realized that by not letting the other one fly, they would resent the other one later on and would have far worse implications on our relationship. And that was how we decided long distance was better for us in the short term. We did make a promise, as I am sure all couples do, but our relationship is first and if changes need to be made, they will.

We put a plan in place to be together. And, fingers crossed, by the end of the year, I will not only have my career, but my man back too.

How have you handled long distance relationships? Any tips for this Working Girl?

(Image via)

Mid-Week Inspiration

2011-02-16T08:15:00.004-05:00

For most of us, work is a job. Some days we like it, some days we love it and some days we wish we could be anywhere but there.

Whether it's your nine to five gig or what you do for fun on the side, sometimes we all need a little inspiration to keep us going.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled on Work Is Not A Job on Tumblr and their prints, which they post on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook are a nice reminders to stay inspired by whatever it is you do. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Show Me The Money

2011-02-10T19:49:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

As most of you may remember, a few months ago I got a promotion. When I was in the boss's office being given the news all kinds of thoughts were running through my head, but mainly I was thinking "How much is he going to offer me??" When he told me, even though I was hoping for a little more, I didn't ask. There was something about the way he said it that made me think, "They are not budging from that number, so don't even ask." For weeks afterwards I kicked myself for not at least asking for more. After all, I will never know until I ask. Turns out though, that another (male) colleague who was promoted to my same position did ask and they flat out said no, so my intuition was right. They weren't budging. That made me feel a lot better.

Over this next year I plan to work hard so that when my next evaluation comes up I will have several reasons for why they should give me a decent raise. Next time, I'm quite certain that I won't hesitate to ask for what I think I'm worth...at least I hope. A Washington Post survey reported that women are 85% less likely to ask for a promotion than their male counterparts. In order to prepare myself and to build up my confidence to go in and ask for the raise I deserve, I think the best thing is to know exactly what goals the company has for me for the year and then exceed expectations and beat those goals. I think if I meet the goals they have set, then they have the upper hand and are more likely to deny my request for more than the standard raise. If I beat their expectations, I think I have the upper hand to say, "Look at what I did this year. I deserve more."

I'm not stranger to asking for more money. At the first firm I worked at after law school I also settled for the initial offer they gave me. Once I got in and had worked their for 9 months, I realized that I deserved more (and my bank account NEEDED more). So I sent an email to the partners stating that I wanted to meet with them regarding my salary. I wrote down a list of points as to why I deserved a raise, such as already assisting and mentoring some of the newer associates when they went to court (and I had only been at it 9 months), as well as covering my own cases and sometimes covering others cases too. I was honest with them, I just needed more money to be able to meet my expenses. At the end of the meeting, they said they would consider everything I said and get back to me soon. I thought that meant I would never hear anything about it, but surprise, surprise, about 2 days later, they sent me an email saying that they were giving me a raise. And the amount of the raise surprised me even more! It was more than I expected. I actually convinced them that I was worth them investing more money in me. I can't tell you how great that felt, and not just because I would have more money, but because it meant that they felt that they needed me and that they wanted to keep me happy. Three months later on my one year anniversary, I received another raise! I think that was a first in firm history -- getting two raises within the first year.

So now it makes me wonder, was it easier for me to go to my partners back then and ask for a raise because they were fellow Working Girls? Will I be as confident going to my current male boss with a demand for a raise? Working Girls, have you ever had to demand a raise from your boss? Did you find that it was easier to ask a boss of a particular sex? What tips do you have to offer other Working Girls who might be ready to ask for a raise?

I'll Cry If I Want to...

2011-02-03T20:08:00.000-05:00

by In Transition Working Girl

This week has been trying and stressful; and there were several moments where I wanted to burst out crying in the office. Yes, I am going to admit it on Working Girl, I am an emotional person. There was even a point in the week when an old friend called to get an update and I just explained I couldn't talk work stuff because I was at work and I didn't want to have a break down. Let me just say this, moving and starting a new job has been beyond stressful.

This got me thinking though, how many of you have cried in the workplace? Seen a colleague cry? And how do you handle it?

Stress is my major point of weakness when it comes to wanting to burst out into tears. It may be long hours or a pending deadline that goes off track, but crying is a source of release for me. In the beginning of my Working Girl career, managing this kind of stress was so new to me that it lead to many crying sessions and more than I would care to admit. However over the last several years I have gotten better about managing this stress and have learned how awful it really is to cry in front of my colleagues and bosses. I makes me feel weak and less respected, so now I avoid it all costs.

For me, learning to manage my tears has come with time and I know there is still lots to learn when it comes to stress management. Here are several things that I do:

Take a short 5-10 min walk
Take a coffee or lunch break
Do something personal (check email or Facebook) to clear my mind off of work
Walk outside and make a phone call
Make a to do list to map out how I am going to get everything done
Take deep breaths
Turn on my iPod for a little bit

One thing I learned not to do unless I have a friend working with me that I trust, is to go crying to a colleague. If my tears are about to come when I am talking to someone, I quickly end the conversation and head for a private location.

Now reversing roles, what do you do if its someone else who is shedding tears? When this happens to me, my number one thought is get them out of sight of everyone else who might be able to see that they are crying. I usually suggest we get out of the office to continue to address what is going on. Then from there I make sure they know I am there for them and this session will be between us only. If its stress I try to unburden them and see what I can do to take a load from them, otherwise I just listen and try to be a good listener-and that's all.

What are some other tips and suggestions to manage your tears in the work place?

I Have the Perfect Excuse ....

2011-01-29T21:21:00.018-05:00

.... for being so tardy and MIA from Working Girl.

Um, I'm about to pop out a baby!

I know you've all been waiting and dying to hear all the preggo updates from me since I first announced my pregnancy on Working Girl. Right? Actually, you should be glad I didn't. Pregnancy is no fun. Dislike. Anyway, my little baby is due one week from today, so I'm betting I won't be coherent enough to blog for the next few months. This isn't good-bye, just the beginning of my Working Girl "maternity leave." I'll miss you, and I'll be back.

Anyways, how's work been, you ask? Can't complain. I'll admit it's been amazing to work from home and to fit in work around napping and constant nomming on chocolate chip cookies, brownies and McDonald's hamburgers ...

But probably the best thing to happen work-wise is hiring my first intern. Yes, my little at-home PR business is actually thriving (one year in business this March, wow), and it was kind of a shock when I first realized I would need help to manage my clients during maternity leave.

(And I say maternity leave lightly, it's not like an official time off or anything since this is my business. But for those wondering, I'm giving myself 12 weeks "off." Running your own gig is full of so many unknowns and surprises.)

Anyway, I was really worried about what to do. Do I recommend the services of another PR provider? But then what if they don't take me back when I'm ready to work again? Or should I tell my clients "Sorry" that I'll be unavailable for three months, so ... hope you don't have any PR plans you want executed during that time. That'd be lame. Bottom line, whatever I did, I couldn't risk losing any clients.

Luckily, there was a girl who had approached me several times while I was still working in the corporate world to chat PR. It was her major in college, and she wanted to learn more of what PR was like in the "real world." I was always happy to share my experiences with her. Well, she just graduated in December, right around the time I realized I would need help with my business. I approached her about the opportunity, and she eagerly accepted.

We've been working together since mid-January with me teaching her about the work I'm doing, the clients, etc. and although she tells me all the time about how much she is learning, I have to admit I am learning so much from her.

She has reminded me why I work.

First of all, she is so full of enthusiasm. So eager to learn. She's like a sponge, soaking in every bit of information I give her. She's excited about every little thing. She's positive about our plans. She can't wait to get her hands dirty. She can't wait to work.

Remember when you were like that? Remember when you were fresh out of college and the world never looked brighter? When blossoming into a real-life Working Girl was the epitome of adulthood, independence, success and happiness?

It's so easy to get into a rut now that most of us are a few or more years in and to think of work as merely, "It pays the bills." Remember, you love to work! Back in the day, you couldn't WAIT to WORK. Can we bring that back? Revive that inner intern that still lives inside all of us? I'm betting good outcomes can come from this.

Thanks to my intern, I am remembering that I love to work. It stimulates me. Working tells me, "Hey, you've got a pretty good brain in your head, good job for putting it to use!" Although I'm going to be a mom soon, I'm determined to still do what I love: WORK. I know I'll love being a mom too, and really, being a mom will be very similar to taking on a new working role and responsibility. It'll be a challenge, a pretty awesome challenge, but like my intern, I can't wait to get my hands dirty in this new job. New adventures are a-coming.

Wish me luck!! And we'll chat again soon.

Weekends Are For Living

2011-01-28T07:53:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

Working Girls! Can you believe that the holiday season is over? To me, it's officially over once the MLK Day holiday has come and gone. Between Thanksgiving and MLK Day we get several days off so there's always a long weekend just around the corner. If you're a Government Working Girl, you might have another holiday coming up soon (President's Day), but for those of us in the private practice, MLK Day was the last holiday until Memorial Day. I don't know about you all, but that's a long time to wait for another long weekend (lucky for me, I have a trip planned between now and then to break up the long weeks).

Since it doesn't look like my idea of Corporate America moving to 4 day work weeks and 3 day weekends is going to be adopted anytime soon, I started thinking about ways that I can maximize my time on the weekend. Since the weekdays are so structured with work hours (for a lot of people 8 to 5) and kids school hours and after school activities (for you Mommy Working Girls), no one really wants their weekend to be so structured. If you're like me, when the weekend comes you just want to unwind and relax and enjoy every single second of your free time. And I would do exactly that if I didn't have other stuff to work do. No, lounging on the couch from Friday evening until Monday morning for me. I've mentioned before that I have what I call my Passion Project and I spend a lot of time on weekends working on that; however, I do want to make sure that I'm not all work and no play. So I started to think about how I can divide my weekend so that I can enjoy some me time (watching TV/movies, reading magazines, sleeping in late) and still be productive.

Friday evenings are usually my day of rest. When I get home from work I plop on the couch and get in my "me time." It usually involves watching TV and catching up on social media. And call me lame, but it usually includes me being knocked out fairly early for a Friday night. Saturday mornings, I tend to do more of the same. I generally take a couple of hours to catch up on magazine reading or to read a book. I might watch a movie first thing in the morning too so I can give it my full attention before I get distracted by other things. From there I'm pretty flexible with the rest of my Saturday. I try to get in a few solid hours of working on my Passion Project, but I'm also flexible to meet up with a friend for lunch, get my hair or nails done, or meet friends for dinner and a movie (notice I did not say meet my boyfriend). Then on Sundays, I generally start my day of with church and then I'm back home watching TV the rest of the morning. By the afternoon I'm out the door running errands, such as the always necessary trip to the mall and Target. On Sundays I do my grocery shopping and start thinking ahead to what I will take to work for lunch for the week (I try to bring my lunch everyday, but sometimes treat myself once a week or grab lunch with co-workers). I like to be back home by early evening so I can thoroughly enjoy the rest of my weekend before the work week starts. I think the way I map out my weekend allows me to make the best use of my 2 day weekends so that I'm prepared and well-rested for the new work week. If I didn't have a general plan, I would do one of two things: be a couch potato the entire weekend or work all weekend.

Working Girls, how do you make the best use of your weekends? If you're a Working Girl who doesn't work the typical Monday through Friday, 8 to 5 schedule, but instead have other days of the week off, how do you make the best use of your free time?

(Image/Google Images)

Finding the Happiest Version of Yourself

2011-01-27T05:07:00.000-05:00

by Social Media Working Girl

The other day, I was chatting with some friends, weighing the pros and cons of our current jobs--a fairly normal topic of conversation for 20-something working girls, I'd say.

Are we truly happy? Are we following our passions? Are we finding value and joy in the careers we have chosen? Should we go back to school? Should we ask for a raise?

For some, these questions remain unanswered--which, to be fair, is completely understandable for this time in our lives. I mean, it's hard enough to remember the items on our to-do list, let alone deeply reflect on our chosen life path, right?

Nonetheless, this conversation put a lot of things in perspective and made me evaluate my current status as a working girl. As I've mentioned before, I am hoping for lots of exciting changes this year. And with that comes the opportunity to look inward at my career path and answer some of those questions.

Where do my passions lie? What do I excel at? Where can I improve? Am I the happiest version of myself? Where will I be in five, 10, 20 years?

Obviously, there are a few things I must consider:

I'm extremely passionate about social media.
I love technology.
I'm a good writer.
I'm slightly obsessed with AP style and grammar.
I enjoy a flexible work schedule.
I like telecommuting, when possible.
I must have good benefits, including a 401(k) and health insurance.
I like being challenged in my career.
I thrive on a busy workload.
I need to know that there are opportunities for upward movement.
I like having a fancy coffee machine in the office.
I need a parking spot (preferably a free one).
I like a hefty paycheck.

(Among other things, of course. But you get the point.)

And while I don't yet have the answers to the aforementioned questions, I am now starting to come to terms that these are the kinds of things I need to address--especially before the job hunt takes full swing.

So for now, I leave you with one last thought.

What are your career pros and cons? Are you the happiest version of yourself? If not, what will it take to get there?

Tips for Freelancers

2011-01-23T18:53:00.006-05:00

By: Editing Working Girl

Freelancing takes a lot of patience, and persistence. It also takes courage to face rejection. Most writers know that it is possible to turn writing into a career. The mistake comes from thinking it will happen overnight.

I am currently freelancing for two publications. I have probably sent my resume and pitched articles to 200 (alright, less than 200, but you get the idea). I have had success, but also have had some failures - all of which I have learned from. I hope what I have learned not only helps some of you who are currently looking for freelancing, but encourages others who have thought about it to give it a try.

1. Know not all of your queries will be answered. Some of them may not even be read. Good news is , the more times you send out your resume and pitch stories, the more possibility that someone will see it and give you an assignment. Also? Usually publications have multiple editors. Find the one who edits a section that your article would fit best in and get in touch with them. Researching the editorial structure can go a long way.

2. Check websites for submission guidelines. Magazines don't always have submission guidelines, but the ones that do have them there for a reason. Before you send in a pitch or article, make sure you have check and re-checked for the guidlines, and if there, read and re-read them. Doing things right the first time not only makes a good impression, it saves the editor time (which may get you another offer from the magazine in the future).

3. Read staff bios online. Not only do these staff bios give you a sense of who the editor is outside of the magazine, but it also may give you a lead. Check out where staff members have worked in the past and see if there are publications you may not have heard of before.

4. Find your niche and embrace it. Just as bloggers usually like to have a central focus for their blog, it is good to have that as an author, also. The more you are interested and involved with your topic outside of your writing, the more engaging your writing is likely to be. Topics can be as broad as food, fitness or fashion, for example or can be more specific, such as cycling or runway reviews. Whatever the case, sticking to a niche will help you build your portfolio and keep things consistent.

5. Network! Interested in writing for a certain publication? Get involved, even before you freelance! Magazines often have events such as luncheons or charity happy hours. Go and meet the staff - introduce yourself - and get to know other atendees. These "atendees" are probably fellow readers and will help you get a good sense of the audience you would reach at that publication. It can all also give you the upperhand while pitching stories as the editors can put a face your name on the pitch.

The rest is all trial and error. You will learn what works for you and what doesn't work for you personally, all relative to the city you live in, publications you are pitching to and niche you are writing for. Most importantly: don't give up! Remember that freelancing takes courage. The more you try and learn from it - the more tools you will have to succeed!

Do you have anything to add to the list? What have you all learned as writers/editors?

Being Sick in the Workplace

2011-01-23T11:41:00.000-05:00

by In Transition Working Girl

I am in week two of my new job, I am loving every minute of it and my workaholic ways have returned. I have already turned in several 11+hr days and am so happy to be stimulated again!

That being said as I was filling out my new hire information and learning about the work policies, it got me thinking about sick time and how to handle it, so I thought I would open the discussion up on Working Girl. How do you handle being a working girl and getting sick? Do you call in? try to pull through?

In my opinion there are really two schools of thought. One, you call in the moment you aren't feeling well or two, you show up to work until someone notices how sick you are and sends you home. I feel from my experiences rarely is there a third when its somewhere in between.

For me personally I am guilty of working until I get sent home. I feel there are so many people in the work place that take sick days often and without merit many times, but I want my employers to KNOW I am sick. Bad thinking? For me I feel it shows dedication to my employer and they know that if there ever is a day where I am sicker than a dog-I must be telling the truth! Is seeing really believing? Its a little weird to be forced to go home, mentally it makes me feel better having them acknowledge it rather then question me.

On the flip side though, I know that I get annoyed when people come in coughing all over me so if I am really not feeling well I try to let my boss get the hint early in the day.

This is just how I personally handle the situation-What is your take on sick days? Do you call in or wait to be sent home?

The Skinny on Savings--Tackling Finances in 2011

2011-01-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

by Social Media Working Girl

I'm not very good at saving money. Don't get me wrong--I try to save. It just seems next to impossible sometimes to save money as a 20-something Working Girl trying to get my career started and make ends meet.

Like many of you, I don't have tons of time to regularly stock up on grocery items and thus end up eating a lot of meals out. I tend to get sucked into sales at my favorite stores and boutiques. I always offer to drive whenever my friends or colleagues want to go somewhere. I enjoy going out and being social. I have lots of bills including rent, car payments, utilities and credit cards. And I always seem to ask myself, "Where did the money go?"

But with hopes for lots of excitement and new adventures in 2011, saving is a must. Thankfully, there are many online tools available that can help facilitate the process of saving money and making smarter financial decisions.

Mint - With more than 4 million users, Mint is one of the most popular and widely respected (and free) online budget planners. You simply plug in all of your data--credit cards, checking accounts, investments, loan information, etc.--and have the ability to set a budget and keep track of your personal financial goals.

One of the biggest perks of using Mint is the easy in use. I don't know about you, but I have a tendency to get confused with numbers. I'm a journalist by trade--not a mathematician. With Mint, you don't have to be a math whiz. Instead, it does all of the calculations on its own and you hold the reigns for setting goals and tracking success.

SmartyPig - Next up, I want to introduce you to SmartyPig. Think of SmartyPig as your free online piggy bank. Whether you're saving for a new car, your wedding, that great pair of shoes you've had your eye on, a gift for a friend or your dream vacation, this site is a great tool to help you save and reach your financial goals.

How does it work? All you do is create an account and set up automatic transfers from your existing checking or savings accounts. You can also have friends and family help you achieve your objectives by sharing your goals with others through social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter.

Wesabe - Lastly, let's take a look at Wesabe--a community-based online personal finance management site. In other words, you create an account and contribute to conversation, post questions and join groups regarding debt, savings, financial experiences and more. With Wesabe, it's about getting advice from people just like you.

This year, the focus must be on tackling my finances. I fully intend on using free online resources like Mint, SmartyPig and Wesabe to help me achieve my financial goals and save, save, save.

Do you have financial goals for 2011? What other online tools do you use to budget and save?

(Image via)

Co-Workers vs. Friends

2011-01-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

My company recently hired a new employee. Since the new hire was a woman and since she was new to the area, I was sure to introduce myself to her. We started talking and she asked if I wanted to have lunch one day soon so she could pick my brain about work and the city. Absolutely! After all, as much as I move, I'm usually the "new kid on the block" and I always welcome insight from others, so this was my chance to help someone else.

So we had lunch and it was cool. I didn't really think too much about it or the new hire after that until the following weekend when she sent me a text asking if I wanted to have lunch. It was a busy day for me so I told her that I couldn't, but maybe some other time. To be honest, I said it in the same manner that we say to people, "We'll have to get together soon" or "I'll call you" but you don't really mean it. It just somehow slips out of your mouth before you can stop yourself from saying it.

That next work week she asked if I wanted to have lunch again and inquired about my New Year's Eve plans. At this point it hit me. She wants to be friends. She's new to the city and doesn't know anyone outside of work and she wants to be my friend.

For me, if I'm going to be friends with someone I work with it just has to happen naturally, like with any friends I make. I don't force friendships to happen. I'm friends with about three people at work (actually, I should probably downgrade one person, but that is a post for another day), meaning that I hang out with them outside of work (that's a key part in me calling someone I work with a friend), but none of these friendships were forced. We got to know each other by working together and talking at work, and then it eventually led to "hey, let's all grab a bite to eat after work" or "You want to have lunch?" After a while, we started hanging out away from work. We didn't go from "Hi, it's nice to meet you" to "Let's hang out this weekend." I don't do instant friendships.

I feel bad that I don't want to hang out with her outside of work...yet. I mean, I still don't really know her. We had lunch, I shared a little about work and the city, and we learned a little bit about each other. Cool. I'm just not trying to hang out regularly, until I get to know someone and determine that they are someone I would be friends with. Does that sound harsh? Do you get what I'm saying? I don't know her personality yet, I don't know what she likes to do, I don't know...well, I just don't know her.

Working Girls, are you friends with any of your co-workers? Did your friendships just happen naturally? How do you handle a co-worker wanting to be your BFF?

Eliminating the "9 to 5"

2011-01-08T16:00:00.006-05:00

by Editing Working Girl

I am not a morning person, so the first trip I make in the morning is to the coffeemaker. When 4 p.m. comes around, I start to get tired and by time dinner is over I am ready for bed.

What I hate the most about this schedule is that I constantly feel like 'real life' passes me by - I get off work and am a zombie until bed and then wake up to work all over again, the weekends are spent catching up on sleep and I can be grumpy sometimes because of this feeling (I'll admit it).

In the Netherlands, they have implemented a successful part-time work schedule that started with women, and is now transferring over to men also (See the article from Jezebel here). Not only do people have time for things such as exercise, they can spend time with their families and traffic is even lessened, as some people can work from home in the mornings, which is high traffic time here in the U.S.

The thought of only working part-time is exhilarating - now if only it was financially feasible. Besides the financial aspect, though, I believe the United States could easily benefit from this transition. Families would get to spend time with one another, lessening the amount of time children spend in childcare. As stated, traffic could possibly be lessened and people may even be more productive if they know they have less time to get things done in the office. It is possible job opportunities would open up - especially if more employees could be brought on and shifts were implemented.

But is this something the U.S. will do? Probably not. Our economy is still in recovery mode enough to be enforcing drastic changes on the workforce of America, some who are struggling to support themselves and their families on their current salary, let alone cutting their hours.

What do you think about this article? Is a part-time work schedule feasible in the US (and is money really the only thing that could hold it back?

Image Source

Being the Ex

2011-01-06T20:29:00.000-05:00

by Working Girl One

Working at a company that rewards and promotes its employees is a great thing for Working Girls. It shows that your managers respect you and want you to succeed. Not to mention internal promotion keeps employees happy. When a job opens up and an internal candidate fits the bill, it makes the most sense to offer the position to the internal candidate.

On the flip side, interviewing at this type of company as an external candidate is not so great. That is of course, if you get in the door. Some companies don't even post job openings or reach out to external candidates. They go right to the internal candidate.

Others like to see what is out there. They bring you in, bring you back and maybe even bring you back again. Then they thank you for interviewing and tell you the position has been offered to an internal candidate.

This has happened to me once during my recent job search. It's happened to my boyfriend. It's happened to plenty of other Working Girls I know. And am I right that everyone's reaction is "C'mon, really?!"

Part of me understands why a hiring manager would like to see what is out there. Another part of me knows that much more often than not the company hires the internal person if it comes down to the internal candidate and external candidate. For the internal person it's great, but the flip side is so frustrating.

A New Year and a New Goal

2011-01-04T12:26:00.014-05:00

By In Transition Working Girl

Happy New Year Working Girls. I hope you enjoyed the last several weeks as much as I have, although I am ready to get 2011 started. How about you? Its my last week at my old job and part of me still feels like its 2010, come next Monday though when I walk into my new job, 2011 will be officially here in my book.

Because of the all the craziness of the holidays, combined with a pending move, I hadn't really thought about New Years resolutions until this week. A few days, late, but oh well. Since I spent most of last year trying to figure out what the next steps were for me professionally, this years goals are simple. I have one and its to spend the next year pouring myself into work. For me this means that my new job is numero uno and everything else for the next 365 falls after.

When thinking back about what was missing from my life in 2010 and how out of balance it was, it was clearly the professionally aspect that had everything out of whack. So looking forward now that I have my dream job in hand I want to do everything to prove who I am, to not only to my new employer but to myself.

Just saying I am going to pour myself into my job is not enough and hard to measure results, so here are just a few of the things that I am going to do to attain this goal:

Attend networking events (2-3 times a month)
Arrive before and leave after my boss
Bring in new clients, which is not something I am tasked with, but feel its is important for my new company
Obtain additional education certificates/or attend trainings
Become the "expert" on something in my new company

So there you have it, while "pouring myself into work" isn't the prettiest goal, for me its everything I didn't have in 2010 and can't wait for in 2011.

Open 5 Days A Week

2010-12-28T23:49:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

I hope all of you Working Girls had a great holiday break. I had 5 wonderful days off from work (including the weekend) and I enjoyed every second of it. However, all day Monday all I could think of was, "I sure don't want to go back to work tomorrow" (but in the same breath, I did give thanks for having a job to go to). Do you guys do that too? Usually, it's Sunday evening when it hits me that the weekend is almost over. Since I was off Monday, I just knew that I would have the post-holiday blues this morning. Well, imagine my surprise when I walked into the office today and I was in a very cheerful mood. It's funny that I thought that having 5 days off would put me in a bad mood upon my return to work, when in actuality, it was the exact opposite.

This made me think about how much we work in the U.S. I think we work WAY too much and I think that more days off would do wonders for productivity and moral (I personally found myself a lot more productive today than I'd been the last couple of weeks). On average, Americans get 17 vacation days a year. 17. The French get the most vacations days a year, averaging about 37.5. Wow! At first I thought, "we should be given more vacation days." But then, I remembered always hearing how many people don't use all of their vacations days because they are too busy at work or because they feel like things will fall apart without them. (Let's be clear. This will never be an issue for me. I'm taking every day that they give me.) So, giving more vacation days doesn't really help if people aren't going to take them.

So, what's my solution, you ask? I say we should have 4 day work weeks. 4 days to work, 3 days to rest. Think about our current weekends. We get off Friday evenings and have that evening and night to rest and unwind. I tend to find that I'm exhausted when Friday comes and enjoy an evening at home. Saturday comes and you try to cram a lot in that one day (errands, cleaning, etc.), because it's the only true full weekend day that you have (Sunday night you have to get in bed at a decent hour for work the next day). When Sunday comes you're already thinking about work on Monday. Am I right or is this just me? I think the 3 day weekend would allow workers to truly rest, relax and stay mentally sharp for the work week. Working Girls, what do you think? And who do I talk to about implementing this idea?

You've Lost That Christmas Feeling!

2010-12-28T21:48:00.003-05:00

I started listening to holiday music immediately after Thanksgiving. Okay, fine. I started a few days before Thanksgiving. I had a tree in my apartment and decorated by the first weekend in December. But somehow, Christmas really snuck up on me this year.

It's always fun to receive gifts but I truly love to give them. This year, due to my unemployed status, I knew the giving part would be a little difficult. Thankfully, I landed a temporary freelance gig and started right before the holiday. Sure, it's only temporary but I'm thrilled.

After my first day, what did I do? Shop you say? No, I went home and cried to my mom on the phone. I was exhausted after working a full day. It had been months since I'd gotten up at 7am and worked all day. I was overwhelmed by the work. I knew I could handle it but I forgot how overwhelming is to learn a whole new set of processes.

And then I realized Christmas was just days away. At my old job, I always took a few days before Christmas off. My favorite days are the ones leading up to the holiday. (In fact, I had asked for a few of those days and they weren't immediately approved. It was the first thing that tipped me off that I might get laid off.) I was thrilled to be working again but a little part of me wished for a few more days of unemployment. After all this downtime, I was back at work during my favorite time of year.

I was worried that working would take away from the feeling of Christmas. The office was closed Christmas Eve and I was able to get out a bit early the day before and head to my Mom's house. As soon as I my sister picked me up, it started to feel like Christmas because we headed to the mall, of course! Had to get that Christmas shopping done!

Hope you all had a happy and safe holiday!

Editorial Resolutions

2010-12-27T11:36:00.003-05:00

By: Editing Working Girl

It has been one heck of a year - both personally and career-wise - and if 2010 treated me this well, I can't wait for 2011.

This year I not only got a new full-time job, I was also able to kick butt in the freelancing world (by entering it). All of this change and success I have found has me ready to keep it all going full force in 2011, and with that, comes some resolutions.

Embrace the unknown - This year I was given more than one writing assignment that I wasn't too sure of, whether it be a topic I didn't know much about or needing to learn a new blogging software or even learning new style guides. That being said, I managed to pull it off in the end and have learned so much more than I would have imagined (especially at the software company I work for). Successfully writing about a new or foreign topic gives me a huge confidence boost. I want that all year long in 2011 - and just think of all the new things I will learn!

Focus on social media, really focus - At my full-time job I am in charge of social media and blogging initiatives and I want to kick it up next year! We have been working on a lot of brainstorming on ways to maximize our social media efforts to reach customers and I am ready to implement them all in the New Year!

Decorate my office - One of my tasks in 2011 will be to transform my office into a cozy place I am excited to go to everyday (though I love coming to work, my office is a bit lacking in color and playfulness). I want pictures! Posters! Frills and pink everywhere!

Blog, more - In 2010 my personal blogging kind of went kaput and took the back burner to all of my freelance writing and contributing. Not only am I ready to start my blog back up - I am currently applying for even more contributing!

Most importantly:

Don't think of work as a job - I've been inspired by workisnotajob. I hope you get inspired too.

What are your Working Girl Resolutions? Did you keep your 2010 resolutions - and are there any that will carry over to 2011?

2011: The Year of Change

2010-12-23T22:24:00.005-05:00

by Social Media Working Girl

Just as Lawyer Working Girl posted about her New Year's resolutions here, I'd like to take the opportunity this week to share some of my wishes for 2011.

To be completely honest, I hope 2011 includes a lot of change for me--both personally and professionally.

Let's dive right in and start with the personal stuff.

I'm currently in a long-distance relationship. While my man is only a 3-hour drive away, this can certainly get in the way of living the life we want to live. A lot of our free time is spent driving to see one another or cramming a thousand things into a short period of time. I'm praying that something changes here... and soon.

Of course as a working girl who has a career, I have a few prerequisites that must be fulfilled in order for that long distance to shorten (aka, one of us moves to be with the other). Note: My man is currently in graduate school for the next 3+ years and thus, he won't be the one moving.

Which brings me to the next bit--professional change.

While I have been "mostly" happy with my current job, I would love the chance to further my horizons, explore my skills, challenge myself, have more opportunities for growth and learning, and most importantly--love what I do day in and day out.

Several years ago when I began this job I was ecstatic. I saw room for upward growth and the potential to truly challenge myself professionally was easy to see. But lately things have been, well, stagnant (to say the least) and--probably like most of you out there--I'm overworked, underpaid and completely undervalued.

All of this coupled with the fact that the love of my life lives 150+ miles away makes my life as a 20-something working girl pretty unhappy. So what do I hope for in 2011? Lots (and lots) of exciting new changes.

Fingers crossed.

What are some of your hopes, wishes, dreams and goals for the New Year?

"Get Introduced" to LinkedIn

2010-12-22T16:28:00.009-05:00

Last week Social Media Working Girl wrote about how to use social networking to find a job. Read her post here. It was full of great information and having just attended a professional coaching session where there was a section on LinkedIn, I thought I would expand on why its so great when trying to find a new job. Prior to this coaching session, I thought I understood LinkedIn, but its functionality is beyond that of just looking people up and viewing their profile.

Here is my version of getting introduced to LinkedIn:

When networking there are really three different levels of people you know and are trying to network with:

Inner circle: those you already know

Middle circle: the people those people know

Outer circle: the people the middle people know

So when looking on LinkedIn they conveniently have a system that mirrors a network with letting you know who is your 1st connection (inner circle), 2nd connection (middle circle), and 3rd connection/everyone else (outer circle).

Now that you can see through the networking system on LinkedIn, its time show you how to virtually network.

Search for someone you are looking for specifically or look at one of your 1st connection contacts who has contacts you are interested in meeting

If you are doing a search for a person, notice what level of connection you are with the person. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd? If you are looking at a 1st connections page and connections, notice if the person you are looking at knows any additional contacts.

Now on to the important part, on the right, there will be a "Get introduced to a connection" button. Click this and it will bring up the connections you have in common. Select a contact.

Here is the important part, the introduction. There will be two sections for you to write in, one for the person you are hoping to meet and the other for the person you already know. Ask the person you already know if it would be okay if he/she introduced you. Once both sections are filled out with messages to both, it will email your contact asking for the introduction. All that person does is accept and then the email you wrote to the connection you are hoping to make will be sent to them. Easy as that!

Some of the other tips that this coach gave were to make sure your profile is at least 90% complete and be sure to add a summary. It won't look very good it its only half filled out!

I hope this helps some of you in your job serach as we get ready to enter the new year. Hope you all are having a Happy Holiday season!

In Transition Working Girl

New Year, New Me?

2010-12-21T10:41:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

I don't normally do New Year's Resolutions. I mean, let's be real. I figure that if I wasn't doing something on December 31, the calendar now saying January 1 isn't going to make me start doing it. You know what I mean? But I completely understand why people do them. It's not only a new day, but it's a new year! It's a fresh start! It's a great starting place to make necessary changes in your life. I just believe that you have to come to the conclusion within yourself that it's time to make those changes and not just say you're going to do it because it's January 1.

Well, with all of that being said, I know that there are some things that I need to commit myself to doing, so I'm starting now mentally preparing myself so that hopefully but January 1, I will be ready to implement these changes. So I guess, what I'm really saying is that I am doing some New Year's Resolutions this year. Go figure.

So, what are my resolutions? I will spare you any personal resolutions and go straight to career resolutions (after all, this is the Working Girl blog).

First, I plan to utilize my evenings and weekends a lot better so that I can work on my passion projects. In a previous post I shared with you all that I also blog outside of Working Girl and I am engaged in other social media. Blogging and social media have given me an outlet to pursue my passions. I don't intend to be somebody's employee for the rest of my life, so I need to dedicate myself to working on my passions so I can build my own empire (insert evil laughter...ha. Just kidding.) How am I going to do this? Well, if I want it to one day be my full-time job, then I must treat it like it is a job. I must set aside "work" hours in the evening and on weekends, specifically setting aside 1 hour each evening and 3 hours each day of the weekend where I focus on my passions. That means, shutting off the TV, putting down and phone, and carrying my laptop to my desk to work (not that kind of working, mostly watching TV stuff I do now).

The second one involves the bread and butter job. You know. The one keeping the lights on and a roof over my head. We have specific targets and goals given by the boss that we should aim for each year, but I want to set my own personal goals. This upcoming year I want to...(silence). Hmm. Well. I'm kind of at a loss for a resolution related to my job. There are some things that I want to do, but they aren't really resolutions (and I don't want to share those prematurely, but hopefully, I will be able to share them with you soon!). Honestly, I can't really think of any resolutions. There are things that I should probably do like cut down on personal stuff/Internet usage during work hours, but that's a HARD one to stick to. Ok, ok. I know. Resolutions aren't supposed to be easy. If they were, we'd already be doing them, right? Ok. That will be my resolution, and hopefully, I will truly stick to it.

I guess that's about it career-wise. Anything else I want to do is more personal, but I must say, that if I can do the personal things, I'm quite sure that I will be a better person in general, which will carry over into my work life.

Working Girls, do you do New Year's Resolutions, and if so, what are they?

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa to all you Working Girls and safe travels during the holidays!

Is 'Title' Everything?

2010-12-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

By: Editing Working Girl

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about titles and how they affect us. Not only do they delineate your position with the company, but also your responsibility. And ultimately, title can affect your future positions and opportunities.

In the editorial world, Editor-in-Chief is a title I have been striving for, and it looks like I am thisclose to getting my dream and dream title at a small, local newspaper. At the same time, it looks as if my Regional Editor title with another publication I work for may be changing into a regional contributor position, as the magazine is re-working their editorial priorities and structures. The writing world is an unpredictable one, and I have always been leery of transitioning into the world of newspapers. But to have the title of Editor-in-Chief, I would immediately make that transition and eagerly.

It is funny what titles do to us. Now that I have been Regional Editor, I have been wondering if there will be future implications if and when I have to change my resume to say Regional Contributor. What if I don't have a chance to explain the magazine's transition and it looks like I was demoted? What if they think I couldn't handle the responsibilities of Regional Editor? Then I move on to thinking about the future Editor-in-Chief role. What if I don't get to play as much of a role in shaping the news as I would like? Are people automatically going to come my way if they don't agree with an Opinion piece, or the writer?

Most importantly: will all of these title changes affect how I work or my writing style?

I have always prided myself on my ability to take on any writing assignment, put in the research necessary and have the finished product on time for deadline. I don't want titles to change how I write or why I write or where I am headed.

Do you have a dream "title"? Do you feel the title you hold now will affect you in the future? Have you met someone who has judged you or placed you in a certain category based on that title? And most importantly - is title everything?

In Transition No More

2010-12-16T06:00:00.003-05:00

Guess what working girls? I am no longer in transition!

I can hardly believe it. Just last week I was writing about my frustrations and this week I received a formal job offer, accepted and resigned. My new position is exactly what I have been looking for and meets my goals and objectives and then some. The position is at a marketing agency and I couldn't be more thrilled. Plus my new company is woman owned-how cool is that!?!

Being in transition has been a long process and I want to give others hope that even in this economy there are jobs out there and they pop up when you least expect it. I started this process about a year ago when I realized I wasn't happy. Then spent most of the spring time telling others I was going to start looking, then summer rolled around and I finally told myself I was ready and then this fall I actually put the wheels in motion.

As I have mentioned I am a huge fan of networking so began the process of reaching out to others, asking to meet them and get introduced to their friends. And it worked! This is actually the second job offer I received as I turned the first one down and both were contacts of a contact of mine.

I look forward to sharing more about my current job and my new one!

So working girls, I am going to leave you with this: network, network, network.

Have a wonderful Thursday!

"No Longer" In Transition Working Girl

Social Media and the Job Hunt

2010-12-16T05:30:00.002-05:00

by Social Media Working Girl

When I was a senior in college, I sent my resume everywhere. The last thing I wanted was to graduate and be jobless--and the idea of living at home was not an option. Thankfully, I had some PR contacts from my interning days and was able to use them to network and connect with others in the industry. But my personal experience was much different than today's job search.

In fact, with the advent of so many exciting social media tools, there are a variety of resources available online to take advantage of and using these sites throughout your job search can help you tremendously along the way. Two sites that I find particularly helpful are LinkedIn and Twitter. And here's why.

LinkedIn

We've all heard the spiel. LinkedIn is the "professional" social media outlet. Consider it your "online resume," if you will. And believe it or not, this is absolutely true.

By posting your resume on LinkedIn, prospective employers and contacts can search your qualifications, background, skill sets and knowledge base, and garner a basic understanding of who you are as a professional working woman. You can join discussion groups, network with professional associations and view job listings. It's a great resource for your career--before and after the job hunt.

Twitter

In addition to LinkedIn group discussions, there are a number of chats that occur regularly on Twitter. These are hosted by various moderators and are open for anyone to join. By participating in these online chats, you begin to engage a niche audience that will quickly recognize who you are and become familiar with what it is you are looking for and interested in. Check out the many great Twitter chats available.

Additionally, by actively participating on Twitter by posting relevant and interesting content--via chats or simply by tweeting regularly--you will most likely gain a following of some sort. Continue the conversation further and use these followers as potential resources on your job search.

A couple notes...

Maintaining professionalism while also staying personal is what makes for an effective social media experience. Sure, these tools are entertaining and can oftentimes be an outlet from our working girl lives, but it's important to think carefully about how you market yourself.

What kind of personal brand are you creating? How do you want to be perceived? What do you want people to know (or not know) about you? Remember to be mindful of how you want to be heard.

Lastly, I advise you to embrace these tools on your job search. The career world and business arena as we know it have drastically changed. And this is only the beginning.

Have you used social media tools to land a job? What was your experience?

The Office

2010-12-15T10:47:00.000-05:00

by Lawyer Working Girl

As this year starts to wind down, I have to take a moment to reflect on all of the great opportunities that have come my way career-wise this year. One of those, which is the biggest, is the promotion that I received a couple of months ago that I've already shared with you all. I believe that this promotion is really just the start of more great things to come with my company and I am excited about the possibilities. (Another truly awesome thing is receiving my first bonus with the company! WOOHOO!)

Another thing that happened for my company this year was our move to our new office space. For about a year and a half my company was in a smaller building and smaller office space. Then we began to hear talks about moving to a bigger office space, which was the first sign that the company was growing, and that got everyone excited. Now that we've been in our new space for a few months, I look back at our old space, and I'm telling you, it's like going from a Pinto to a Mercedes. Our new space is so much bigger and better than the old office and has new technology integrated in that helps us to stay connected to the outside world (hey, we spend a lot of time at the office) as well as connected with our colleagues in the various offices. I think the new office has even had an effect on everyone's disposition. After all, when you spend a majority of your day at a place, don't you want it to be nice and one that you enjoy?

That got me to thinking about the pros and cons of working in an office. I often think that I would LOVE to be able to work from home where I could stay in my pajamas and post up in front of the TV while I work (especially on COLD days like today). How great would it be to just walk to my kitchen for lunch rather than the breakroom to heat up the lunch that I brought or running out and spending money on food? Although that sounds nice, there are things that I would miss about working in an office.

I read this interview with the co-founder and President of a web application company, whose main issue with the modern office place is also high up in my "pros" column: that it is structured for interruptions. Well, what he calls interruptions, I refer to as the social aspect of working in an office. I love socializing with my colleagues. That's one of the things that makes going to work fun. And the camaraderie, which goes hand in hand with socializing. We build these relationships that are unique in that if we had not worked together, we probably never would have met and would ordinarily probably never be friends (and here I use the word loosely as I do not consider my "friendships" with all of my colleagues to be equal). Also, for some, but not for me, a pro of working in an office means "the office hookup." That's all I will say about that one.

Aside from those two things another pro of working in an office is that you have people to bounce ideas off of. I wonder how many multimillion dollar ideas came from two people sitting around brainstorming? Also, having to go to an office gives me set working hours. If I'm at home it seems that it would be a lot harder to separate time for work and time for personal. Another personal pro is that I get my daily exercise in by walking to the office and back home everyday. Maybe if I worked from home I would carve out gym time, but at least this way, I'm guaranteed to get in some form of exercise everyday.

So, aside from the con in the interview that I flipped into a pro, what are the other cons of working in an office? Ok, maybe he is right that there are a lot of interruptions throughout the day. And there are always meetings. Also, there are the colleagues whose personalities clash with yours, which is really only a problem if you have to work closely with them. There's also gas money/public transportation fare/parking fees involved with commuting to work.

I really can't think of anymore legitimate cons to working in an office. Now, that's not to say that if I were offered the option of working from home that I wouldn't take it, but I guess coming to an office really isn't that bad. So tell me, Working Girls, what are your pros and cons of working in your office?

Work Relationships and 'Real Life'

2010-12-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

by Editing Working Girl

At my last job, most of the staff was either a daughter of our boss or close friends of either those daughters or of our boss. This led to drama galore. With everyone seeing each other constantly in and out of the workplace, non-work and personal issues were constantly being brought into the office, as did the gossip that goes with it. As soon as I got my new full-time job and put in my two weeks, I vowed to personally never let that happen to me in a future work setting.

I do have one close friend at work, and she is actually the one who helped me get my job. She has the office next to mine, and it is nice to have a familiar face around and someone to grab coffee with from the second floor break room, get lunch with or just sit and talk with when things are a bit slow. Though her boyfriend works at our company also, along with most of the staff hanging out constantly and being close, there is very little drama brought into work. This may be because we are all divided between the three floors, or into different departments, or everyone is just able to separate work from their personal lives. That or I am too out of the loop to notice the drama, because my coworker is really the only one I have allowed myself to get close to, mostly because of the vow I made at my previous job.

I do wonder, am I missing out? Is keeping myself at a distance hurting me? I have plenty of friends outside of work to hang out with. I live with my boyfriend and I consider him to be my best friend. I have a running group I meet with twice a week. Almost all of my best friends from high school and college are still some of my best friends today and I set aside time to call them and catch up (as they are over 1,300 miles away from me in California). With all of these groups of people I get to interact with daily, am I missing out because I don't want to let my work friends into my personal life?

Though we are all Facebook friends and they can see my Facebook status updates and photos and many can see my Twitter, I still feel like it is a nice barrier to have as they aren't directly able to have actually seen the whole night of dancing Downtown last month or my whole visit home with friends - they are getting to see the person I want to present myself as through that medium.

Do any of you Working Girls have this issue? Are you able to take the break room talk further and turn it into Happy Hours or Girl's Nights? Have taking work friendships outside of work caused professional drama? Have you ever mixed personal and work relationships and hung out with a big mixed-up group? I want to hear from all of you!

Taking a Step Back to Breathe

2010-12-09T19:25:00.003-05:00

Like every working girl out there, I desperately need a break and am anxiously awaiting the holidays like there's no tomorrow. All I need is just a few days off to wind down, refuel, take some much-needed R&R and enjoy a little "me" time.

Thankfully ladies, I'm this close to taking time off and couldn't be more thrilled about spending it at the beach. Yep, that's right--bring on the sunny vacay complete with an endless supply of frothy beverages, beautiful sand, reading, lounging, sleeping in, staying up late, and lots and lots of fresh towels.

While I'm away, I fully intend on weaning myself away from technology. For those who know me, this is quite a feat. In fact, I always promise that travel is not the time to tweet, check e-mail, blog and surf the Web... but it never actually happens.

And I know I'm not the only working girl with this terrible problem. Why don't we take the time we need to relax? We are constantly working our little tails off without taking a step back and breathing.

So this time, I'm going to focus on me and my vacation. No phone, e-mail, blogging, tweeting, Foursquare-ing, etc. And although the holidays are about spending quality time with family and friends, we working girls also must concentrate on ourselves.

This holiday, I am making the promise to keep my promise. No technology. Just the beach and me.

What are you going to do to rewind and relax during the last few weeks of 2010?

Put yourself first. You deserve it.

Why am I In Transition Working Girl?

2010-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

I know to this point I have been rather vague as to why I am in transition. I apologize about this as I mentioned when I first started blogging, I felt until I moved on it was best to keep these details on the DL for obvious reasons. I am looking forward to the day when I can share all the amazing stories (being sarcastic) regarding my current position as I think many of you will be able to relate to me.

However, this week has been especially challenging for me professionally and I wanted to share with you more of the "why" I am in transition. There are many events that have lead me to where I am. It's been roughly a years worth of frustrations that have lead me to being in transition. Mainly there are two things that when I pinpoint my unhappiness seem to be common themes. Are you ready for them. Lack of direction and poor leadership.

How many of you working girls have the same frustrations?

In terms of lack of direction, I feel there is no vision for where the company I work for is headed. It seems to have all these ideas, but no idea how to accomplish them, thus the wheels are spinning and no movement forward occurs. It's as though the company I work for is in the same spot it was when I joined, perhaps even going backwards. We have nothing that we can say we have done or accomplished. Since I am a goal oriented person, this has been eating away at me. I feel I express my thoughts on goal setting only to get shut down.

The second item, poor leadership, is a tough nut for me to swallow. This is because my boss is actually a really nice person, but does not posses the knowledge for the position they are in. Integrity is very questionable and, last but not least, motivation to focus on company items is minimal.

As you can see I am frustrated. At first I thought maybe I was the only one seeing this, but recently a door opened and someone else let me in that they are feeling the same way. I feel very lucky to have the position I do right now, but the more frustrated I get, the more it motivates me to work on the next opportunity, which I hope happens sooner than later.

So what are some of the reasons that have lead you to be in transition either now or in the past?

New Normal

2010-12-09T00:08:00.008-05:00

by Working Girl One

A while back, I wrote about my boyfriend's crazy work schedule. Back then, I dreamed of him having a "normal" schedule - working nine to five(ish), Monday through Friday.

This week, he started a new job and some of my dreams came true. He now works Monday through Friday but there is a catch.

He was approached by contacts of his at another newspaper to be a morning news editor for a handful of local newspaper websites. It was an offer he couldn't refuse.

So in the time since I was laid off, he found and a started a new job and he wasn't even looking. That sure made this unemployed Working Girl feel awesome. But that isn't what this post is about and I'm honestly so thrilled for him. He has deserved this for a long time.

As an unemployed Working Girl, my schedule has changed drastically. Back in my working days, I was almost always in bed by 10:30pm and up at 7:30am. I really like to sleep. These days, I haven't even looked at the clock in the morning until 9:00am, let alone get out of bed, and I stay up until at least 1:00am. Before you get jealous, remember that I'm unemployed and it's really not as glamorous as it sounds to not have to work. I take that back, it is glamorous to not have to work but I do have to work.

Before his new job, my boyfriend would sometimes get home to our apartment in the city at 3:30am and sleep until 1:00pm. Now being the morning editor, he's up at 4:00am to be at work by 6:00am (he has to commute an hour outside of the city) and his shift is over at 2:00pm. This is much closer to a normal schedule because I get to see him everyday when he gets home from work now and also whenever I start working again.

I'm looking forward to this new "normal" schedule for us but I must admit it's going to take some getting used to. As I draft this post, it's almost 1:00am and I'd love nothing more than to snuggle myself in bed and read a book for half an hour. But he's asleep and has been since 9:00pm. Reading on the sofa just isn't the same.

Now instead of him coming home and waking me up in the middle of the night, I'm going to bed late and in the middle of his night waking him as I get into bed. I feel bad but I make up for it. I've set the coffee machine, poured a bowl of cheerios, ironed his shirt and made him a sandwich for his lunch. I'm fully aware that I've turned myself into a 1950's housewife. I'm really bored, okay!

Help Us Out!

2010-12-08T15:04:00.003-05:00

Hey Working Girls!

Working Girl Two and I are working to make the blog better and we could use your help. We've put together a little survey to get your feedback. Tell us what you'd like to see more of (or less of), what you like and don't like, etc. Just click the link below to take the survey! It's only 10 short questions!

Working Girl Survey

Thanks!

- WG1 & WG2

One In A Million

2010-12-07T09:06:00.000-05:00

The legal industry has had a problem long before the recession. Yes, we've been hurt by the recession too, but long before that our industry was saturated with lawyers. For years, law schools have been herding students into their classrooms. That's great for students who aren't quite ready to enter the working world and for those who really want to practice law, but maybe wouldn't have the credentials to get in if the classes were smaller. But the problem lies when all of these students graduate. Now what? You've got a JD. Congrats. Now it's time to study for and take the bar exam. Good luck. If you don't pass, I hope you have a bachelor's degree that you can fall back on while you study and retake the exam. Or maybe you were one of the lucky few to secure employment and even luckier that your employer is going to stick by you while you take it a second time. When you pass, CONGRATS!! I know what a relief that is (I passed two different state bar exams on the first try each time *patting myself on the back*. Hey. Sometimes, it's ok to toot your own horn. *Toot toot*). If you don't have employment lined up then what?

Unfortunately, the sad reality for so many graduates is that there are no jobs available for them. This is frightening when you've just racked up thousands in student loan debt to attend law school. When I graduated from law school, I didn't yet know where I would be working. Luckily, just before I took the bar exam, I got word that I landed a clerkship. Whew! But I know several attorneys who graduated the same year as me who never landed full-time, permanent legal positions. And I'm talking, we are some years past graduation. Instead, several have gone on to pursue non-legal careers, while others have gone back to get Masters in other areas of study or are preparing to go back to school. I wonder if they wish they had skipped law school and gone to grad school instead. And underemployment is real for lawyers. No one enters law school thinking that they will graduate only to find themselves struggling to make ends meet. It makes people wonder, "Was going to law school the wise thing to do?"

Working Girls, how's the market in your industry? Do you find that there are just too many people in your industry vying for the same jobs? Have you had any experience with this in your industry?

Home Offices in Little Spaces

2010-12-06T11:03:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, PR Working Girl showed us her GREAT office - which just served to remind me of my lack thereof.

I used to have an amazing 'cloffice' (closet+office=cloffice - it really is more fun to say), which I have abandoned because I am in the process of moving in with my boyfriend. It is a great change and a much needed move, but it brings up the issue of office space.

We have a bedroom that we have designated as the office, but with a recliner and his large desktop computer/desk/bookcase (which we needed badly once we combined our libraries), I am in a bit of a limbo. The other two bedrooms are pretty full with our bedroom furniture and with my old bedroom set completing the guest room. So just where do I choose to sit and write my freelance articles or perfect my editor letter?

I guess the real question - is a personal desk in the home office necessary? We both have full-time jobs (and I have my own office I retreat to there), so why shouldn't I be able to write at his desk or at the kitchen table?

I don't know if it is just the fact that I am worried about not having a consistent space to write in, or if it is really that I just want a bit of space in the house to make my own and keep separate from the whirlwind that is combining our things.

Have any of you gone through this same thing - trying to find office space in a house that is already complete? What did you do? I have been slowly gathering ideas from Tiny Ass Apartment (a GREAT resource for decorating and developing small spaces) and want input of other editors out there!

Space

2010-12-04T14:43:00.015-05:00

Here I sit in my brand spankin' new home office. Oh, how I love it. My husband built it for me utilizing some leftover closet space upstairs. How nice of him. I'm going to thank him with his favorite dessert this weekend, a banana cream pie made from scratch. This recipe looks amazing.

So you may remember my complaining over the summer about how being a new Work-from-Home Working Girl was super tough and how I was losing my mojo because I didn't have a dedicated work space? Oh my gosh, what a difference this little office makes. I feel like a real Working Girl again, not a pj's girl pretending to be a Working Girl. In fact, I can't seem to tear myself away, I love this little nook so much!

One of my girlfriends made the cute "cheerful" banner to help me decorate the new space, since cheerful is an attribute she knows I love to (try to) incorporate into both my work and everyday situations. Because a little cheer isn't just for the holidays, you know.

And don't laugh ... but yes, I may have a mild obsession with The Plain White T's. Well, more like with their lead singer Tom. I know, I'm twelve.

Decisions, Decisions...

2010-12-02T09:38:00.005-05:00

As working girls, we are forced to make decisions all the time--from what shoes to wear with an outfit to how we effectively communicate and collaborate with others in the workplace. No matter what kind of working girl you are, these decisions happen constantly, whether we realize it or not.

Think about the last time you booked a flight or looked into buying a gift for a friend. You probably wanted to do a little research or compare prices before making this kind of decision. And chances are--you turned to the Web for a little guidance.

But as we all know, being a working girl leaves little room for hours of Web browsing. We hardly have time to go to the grocery store, let alone make a cost comparison chart complete with graphs and statistics to help us make the "right" or "best" decision on which computer is the better deal.

There are a number of online sites that help make our lives easier, and as Internet users and working women, we depend on these tools to help us compare and contrast without the hassle of spending tons of time perusing the Internet.

Earlier today, Mashable featured an article about a brand new Web tool that claims to make our decision-making much easier.

FindtheBest.com is a comparison engine that helps users make faster and better-informed decisions when looking for products and services--no matter what the topic.

So instead of worrying about which cookie you should make for the holiday bake-off, which e-Reader gives you the most bang for your buck, or where you and the hubby should travel for a little New Year's getaway, consider using this site (or others like it) as a way to simplify and ease your decision-making stresses this holiday season.

Happy December, working girls!

Office Parties

2010-12-02T08:30:00.002-05:00

The holidays are just around the corner, and you know what that means working girls...office parties! This is always one of those times of year when people at work come out of their shell and let loose.

I have worked at companies big and small-and they have held parties to that matter as well. My most memorable holiday party though is from my first job out of college. Its not a story of someone hooking up with someone else or dancing on the table, no a superior got a freshly cooked platter of fish (juices and all) spilled on him from an Italian place. He was one of those people that just took it in stride and laughed it off with the rest of us. The rest of the night he smelled pretty fishy though! Guess you had to be there to think it was funny. Poor guy! :)

What is your funniest office holiday story?

Here is a little "how to" guide on how to not embarrass yourself at this years company party. Click the picture to see it larger.

Working Girl Holiday Gift Guide

2010-12-01T22:15:00.009-05:00

Happy December Working Girls! It's officially holiday season so we thought we'd put together a little Working Girl Holiday Gift Guide. Really, it's little. But hopefully it will help you with some of your shopping or maybe even your own wish lists.

Personalized Stationary

"Not only is the stationary cute but this is a no-brainer. Everyone loves stationary with their name on it (proving that we are all narcissists)." - Working Girl Two

I Am Not A Paper Cup

"This is the perfect coworker gift and it helps

save our earth! It doesn't hurt that it's on sale at Amazon.com for $14.89" - Working Girl Two

School Pride

Holiday Cookie Tin

For your male coworker. "Guys can't resist cookies, especially if it comes in a tin with their favorite college teams logo." - Lawyer Working Girl

Linda & Harriett 2011 Calendar

"Typically calendars are quite boring, but Linda and Harriett's

calendars are beyond cute and I don't know any Working Girl that wouldn't want this hanging near her desk." - In Transition Working Girl

Shoe Pom-Poms

"Help a fellow Working Girl take her shoes from day to play with these adorable clip on pom poms by ban.do!" - Working Girl One

Headlines and College Sports

2010-11-29T11:35:00.000-05:00

Having never worked in the newspaper world, I never have had the experience of creating the headlines, editing a story that is rushing to be printed or designing a layout. To be honest, I never truly thought about headline placement until moving to Texas.

The subject that brought up the topic? Football.

Don't get me wrong, I love football, or at least the NFL. But it wasn't until recently that I realized just how different growing up in California was from growing up in Texas (partly understood by a marathon viewing of Seasons 1-4 of 'Friday Night Lights'). I went to a High School where you had to play sports to fulfill your Physical Education credit and attended a UC that doesn't have a football team. This plays a role into my outlook on the obsession with college football in Texas.

But, when I have a hard time actually finding the news on a newspaper's website because the webpage is splattered with headlines about the latest loss or win of the college football team, I get a little frustrated.

Who decides that football is still important enough four days after the game to still be a headline? Why is the score of the game in bigger letters than information about the latest robbery or crime or even scandal within the police department? When did sports start to overshadow investigative journalism and reporting?

This can't be said of all newspapers, I realize, as I am an avid reader of the LA Times and rarely see news about USC or UCLA football, and if I do, it is in the Sports section, where it belongs. I understand the need to report about sports, but if it is going to be a headline, do we need to see the score of last Saturday's game the next Thursday? If everyone cares so much - don't they already know the outcome?

What do other Editing Working Girls feel about this issue? How do we decipher what is headline worthy and what isn't? Do you deal with college sports taking over the headlines of your local paper? Does it affect you positively or negatively?

To Pay back or Not to Pay Back?

2010-11-25T12:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all are enjoying your day and have plans to eat lots of yummy food today. I can't believe it, but I am cooking my first thanksgiving meal EVER today. Wish me luck! Are any of you cooking your first one EVER too?

During this last week leading up to Thanksgiving, I have been giving a lot of thought about giving. Giving as it relates to many things but mainly when you are the beneficiary. Fellow working girls, I am talking about being on the receiving end in these tough times with so many unemployed or working paycheck to paycheck. It may be a loan from your parents or other financially well-off family members. The question I would like to pose is: How should we handle this: take it and be grateful OR pay it back?

I will start by letting you all know that I have borrowed money from my family before so this is something that I can relate to. My personal belief is that no matter how big or small the amount you should always pay it back, even if it is from the Bank of Mom and Dad or a wealthy Aunt.

Yes, I know that times are tough, and yes finding a job right now is even tougher. Our families are here to love and support us and have given us the tools to succeed. All too often I think people rely too much on these handouts. They don't understand that there is more to it than just paying back the money. It's about trust and showing those who we have borrowed from that we mean business, are motivated and understand this is their hard earned money, not ours for the taking.

An example of this is when my parents, who were young and in love, wanted to buy their first house. They borrowed a significant amount from my grandparents. At the time, my grandfather reluctantly said soemthing along the lines of "those kids will never pay us back". Well a few years later my parents paid back every penny they borrowed, much to the shock of my grandfather of course. But there was a trust built that if they ever needed to borrow money again my grandparents would be there to help out.

For me personally, I want to show my family that, yes I needed the money, but now I am ready to pay you back and show you I am a responsible hard working person. I know that if I am ever in a situation again where I need money, they will be more than willing to let me borrow it again because they know that I will pay them back. Again it's their money, not mine. It is simply a loan.

All too often I think young people rely on money flowing their way when times get tough. However, family members that continiously give money without ever expecting anything back are just enabling the situation. Sure we all go through hard times, but the more honest we can be with ourselves and pay back what we borrow, the less sticky everything gets.

So my advice is, borrow what you need and come up with a payment plan to pay back what you owe. Once you write that last payback check, walk away and hold your head high knowing that if you ever need to borrow money again, someone will have your back.

What is your take on this situation? To pay back or not to pay back?

Are you a thoughtful social media user?

2010-11-25T12:04:00.004-05:00

As a social media working girl, I get pretty excited when a new social media tool or tech gadget hits the market. I've come to the realization that I want and need to experience these tools firsthand to discover how they function and what they can add to both my life and the business arena.

When I first heard about Foursquare, I immediately thought to myself, "Is this something I want to look into?"

Thanks to the wonderful world of apps, I was able to download Foursquare in a matter of seconds and get started. Since then, I've been hooked. I check in often (minus my home, office and other chosen places) and have turned my friends--and boyfriend--on to Foursquare.

Then not too long ago, Facebook introduced Places. And there are now a number of other location-based social networking sites that serve similar purposes.

But there's some skepticism about the safety of these sites. Why do you want to tell people where you are? What's the point? What if people rob your home when they see you check in elsewhere? Are you asking to be stalked?

The most important thing to remember is that discretion and thoughtfulness are key to being a successful social media user.

Not only will being careful and smart about your online presence help you in a professional scenario but it can also help prevent serious (and scary) situations that many skeptics stress over.

We'll talk more about self-censorship and good judgment as the social media conversation continues. In the meantime, I'd like to get your juices flowing on the subject.

Do you use these location-based social media tools? What's your stance on the issue?

These Shoes Are Made For Walking

2010-11-23T22:33:00.000-05:00

Working Girls, I need your help. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching I want to make sure that I have a list of things to keep an eye out for. I haven't decided yet what to get my family and friends so for this Friday and Monday the items at the top of my list are for yours truly. (Do you guys buy yourselves holiday gifts too?)

One thing that I don't think I've shared with you all is that I walk to and from work each day. (I love city living!) Well, with the days getting a little colder, I need to find a good pair of closed toe comfortable walking shoes. I know some of you are probably saying, "Just wear sneakers." Uh-uh. I want some cute walking shoes that would go with what I'm wearing. Maybe some flats, but nothing too expensive because these shoes will primarily be used for walking to and from work only.

Another thing that I'm looking for is a new work bag. I have a nice leather bag that I was carrying for a couple of years until the strap broke on my walk home from work one day recently. I think I could probably take it to be repaired, but I would really like a new work bag. My requirements for this bag are that it should be large enough to hold my shoes/boots that I will change into once I get to work and as well as hold my workday snacks (that might be a whole post for another day). My previous bag was a short strapped shoulder bag. I think I would like another bag like that; however, a small part of me is interested in looking at some cute messenger bags as well simply because having a bag that I can wear across my body seems so effortless for my walk to and from work.

That's it. Those are the 2 work related items that are on my list. (I'm not counting clothes because new clothes never really leave my shopping list.) If you run across something that you think is cute, let me know. Also, I would love to hear if you all have any work related items on your shopping list or your wish list for this holiday season (and if you plan to get up early Friday morning to grab a great deal on any of those items).

Print Journalism vs. Technology

2010-11-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

Anyone who took any sort of writing class in college has heard it: "Print journalism is on its way out." Anyone who actually majored in Writing/Journalism definitely heard it: "Good luck finding a writing job; this is a bad time for you to be graduating."

The source of these quotes? My college professors. Yes. Plural. Multiple professors.

We all know that newspapers are definitely struggling and that many are trying desperately to revitalize their image. What I find interesting is the way most of them are doing so: their websites.

Can technology save newspapers? In their print form, probably not. But just because newspapers in their print form start to dissolve, doesn't mean there won't be the need for journalists and that the news is dead.

Mashable says it best: Newspapers Are Still Dying, But the News is Not Going Anywhere. They discuss how newspapers will always be of value to those communities without access to the Internet, but soon the cost of printing papers will outweigh the benefit. This means more papers moving solely online.

What will the move to the internet mean for us in the industry? Will there be a strict distinction between journalist and blogger if everything moves to the web world?

What about magazines? Many are creating iPad versions, but still remain in print. I hear very little about the magazine world being in the same boat as that of newspapers, and am grateful to work in that world. Once I started interning for magazines in college, working for newspapers immediately was eliminated from my mind. Does this make me one of the lucky ones, or will magazines someday reach the same fate as newspapers - even if it is years later?

Can we look at this in a more positive light - is technology help saving print publications - both newspapers and magazines? Is technology helping a broader audience find the news? If newspapers and magazines were to stop being printed tomorrow, would technology help them survive?

I don't have answers to a lot of these questions, though they are always on my mind. What do you think, Working Girls? Even if you aren't in the Publishing industry, do you think this affects you?

Fitness in the Work Place

2010-11-18T08:30:00.002-05:00

I grew up doing every sport imaginable. You name it, I probably did it. When I got to high school it got worse because there were times when I was doubling up on sports along with going to school. Then college started and I was burnt out on fitness and the thought of setting foot in a gym to get my workouts seemed so foreign. So I took the proper measures and avoided the gym most of college. Then I got my first working girl job and became so focused on proving myself in the workplace, once again my fitness lacked big time. Sure there were short stints of working out, but they were short-lived and I returned to hitting the snooze button in exchange for an extra half hour of sleep before work. This continued until last year when I stepped on the scale and realized my weight was quickly creeping up and my stress levels at work were going through the roof. While I was still within a normal weight range, I was not satisfied that my clothes didn’t fit properly.

So I made the decision to do something about it and stop making excuses. It’s now been a year and I feel amazing. I can even slip into those skinny jeans from college that I am sad to admit I held on to that long. What worked for me may not work for you so I will spare you the details of my many hours at the gym and focus more on finding the balance between my overachieving working girl habits and fitness.

Looking back, I realized it was essentially a time management issue that was causing everything to seem unmanageable and daunting. Yes, there have been trade-offs but now I am more efficient at work and throughout my day. My body understands the importance of exercising and actual craves it.

I started with baby steps and found a hole here and there that worked for my schedule. Soon I was actually taking 30 minutes at lunch to go for a quick run rather than working through lunch. Now I am actually one that gets up prior to work to go to the gym just because I realize how much of a difference it really makes in my day. There are days that I take off from the gym, but I feel so lethargic at work and the day usually drags on.

The other aspect of my fitness was what I was consuming when I was at work. I am a stress eater so the less I worked out, the more stressed I was and as a result the more food I ate. I have read about logging your food and started doing this as well. My plan wasn’t to be obsessed with logging what I ate, but to become familiar with what I was eating. I was shocked to realize I was eating meals that a 200lb man should be consuming. As a result I started packing lunches and bringing snacks to keep me full throughout the day and avoiding the cookie shop down the street.

A year later with the fitness and nutrition goals being met, at work I feel more on top of my game and have that balance that I used to crave.

To further the discussion on how fitness really does lay a role at work, I was flipping through the November Women’s Health and came across this article and wanted to share it with you. The article gives some validity to what people have been saying for years, working out makes you better at work.

Professional Skill/Attitude Improvement Compared With A Day You Don't Exercise:

Motivation 32%
Time management 28%
Concentration 26%
Stress management 26%
Productivity 25%
Accuracy 15%

*Taken from Women’s Health Magazine

More than Just a Pretty Ballet Flat

2010-11-18T08:20:00.000-05:00

When was asked as a little girl what I wanted to be when I grow up, I don't think I ever had the answer. I probably considered everything under the sun--teacher, basketball player, artist, mommy... you name it. And now at the ripe old age of 20-something, I can safely say that I've found my niche (for now) and feel pretty comfortable with where I am and who I've become.

Throughout my life and working-world journey thus far, I've admired a lot of women. From Katie Couric and Ann Curry to Julia Roberts and Rachel McAdams, I look up to quite a few leading ladies.

But if I had to choose one woman from the Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women who has influenced me the most at this point in my life and career, it would have to be Tory Burch.

I know, gasp. I chose a designer. Here's why.

I wouldn't call myself a fashionista. I'm more of a traditional gal with a little bit of spice. I shop at places like the Gap, Nordstrom, Banana Republic, Kate Spade, Ann Taylor Loft and Neiman Marcus. I wear classics like cashmere sweaters, black slacks, ballet flats and clean, easy-to-mix-and-match items. But I also own red patent leather pumps, trendy jewelry, knee-high boots, leggings, tunics, belted dresses and paint my nails purple.

And I love Tory Burch.

Tory Burch isn't just about providing women with chic clothing and fun-colored shoes. She believes in philanthropy, education, forward thinking, remembering your roots and the willpower to accomplish your dreams. She's an inspiring entrepreneur who cares deeply about the integrity of the product she produces.

Of course, it helps that her product is multi-generational. You'll see toddlers, teenagers, 20-somethings, 50-year-olds and grandmothers all wearing Tory Burch. Her look is timeless and sophisticated with pops of color and energy. The appeal is extraordinary.

But there's one other thing about this leading lady that makes me swoon. She's on Twitter. Now granted, she may or may not have a ghostwriter tweeting on her behalf, but she's there. Tory and her brand are connecting with stay-at-home moms, aspiring designers, nonprofits, the general public, charities and celebrities through the use of social media.

From tweets about her travels to Twitpics from the catwalk, Tory Burch makes both herself and her brand available, engaging the audiences and telling a true life story.

You see, Tory Burch isn't just a bright colored boutique in the middle of a crowded mall.

She's a woman who--like the rest of us--works hard day in and day out. She followed her heart and let her passions lead the way. But most importantly, she believed in herself and her dream. I'm tremendously inspired and greatly influenced by the beauty of Tory Burch as a working woman and as a brand.

Who inspires you in your career? Is there a woman you look up to and admire?

Working With The One You Love

2010-11-16T22:28:00.000-05:00

So last week, I wrote about the different types of personalities in the office (feel free to revisit and add any personalities that you think I missed). Well, there is one group that I specifically left out, because I feel that they deserve a post all to themselves: the office couples.

Yes, ladies, in my office we have at least four confirmed, "it's all out in the open" couples. Let's take a look at these couples, shall we?

The Married Couple: The Husband has worked at the company for a good while and about 6 months ago, his Wife joined the team. Before his Wife came, he was constantly surrounded by other women in the office, one of whom my colleagues and I had labeled his Work Wife. Lucky for the Work Wife, she didn't have to suffer being dethroned because she left the company just before the Real Wife came to work with us. I rarely see the Husband and Wife together during the day, except maybe having lunch together. I think this is the way it should be. Most people who don't know them probably don't even know they are married.

The "We Met On The Job" Couple: We have two of these (possibly more that haven't been confirmed). As the label suggests, these couples met each other at work. They didn't know each other existed before walking through the doors of the company. They started working closely together and BAM! Next thing you know, they are sleeping over each other's houses, riding to work together, and listed as each other's emergency contact. I kid you not. To these couples I say, BEWARE. What happens when you break up? Will there be break-up drama? How will you keep from bringing that drama to work? Will you guys be able to continue working together after the breakup?

The "We Tried To Hide It But We Were So Obvious" Couple: This couple was "hooking up" long before they were an official couple. They thought that no one knew, but it was so obvious. Most never thought that they would actually make it to coupledom. Well, they fooled us all. They are now the office super couple - when you see one, you see the other. They are practically joined at the hip. We are all awaiting the day she comes in with a ring on her left hand.

So that made me wonder, "Could I work with my boyfriend or husband?" (This really isn't even something that I have to concern myself with since there is absolutely no eye candy at the office, in my opinion.) If we worked closely together, probably not. As I've said in previous posts, I like having my space and a life apart from the guy in my life. I wouldn't want to work alongside him all day and then go home and spend our evenings together as well. I think that's too much "us" time. On the other hand, I guess it could be comforting to know that you've got at least one person in your corner at work. You've got a permanent lunch buddy. And when it's time for those company events/outings/happy hours, you've got someone you actually enjoy talking to to keep you company.

But what happens if your significant other gets promoted to a position above you? This would obviously change your working relationship, but would it also change your romantic relationship? If this happened to me, I would be afraid that others would think that I'm receiving special treatment because of the romantic relationship and not on my own merits. Why would I think people would think that? Because I think that sometimes of one of our office couples.

Working Girls, what do you think about working with the one you love? Have you had a romantic relationship with someone you work with? Are there office couples where you work? (Better yet, are you lucky enough to have eye candy at your office?? Do tell!)

Counting Sheep

2010-11-15T10:41:00.001-05:00

It is no secret that stress and worry can effect your sleeping habits. According to this article about sleep deprivation around the world, "Monday-morning anxiety prevents 78 percent of workers around the world from getting a decent sleep on a Sunday night." What are we all worrying about?

I know that it is rare that I don't wake up at least once during the night, but what factors is this tossing and turning attributed to? The noises in the new house we moved in to? My boyfriend occasionally snoring? How early I always fall asleep? Am I stressed?

I will admit that my sleep habits have gotten much better with the new mattress I get to sleep on every night, but I also will admit that I am the poster-child for the part of the population that finds ways to worry about everything. Did I lock the doors before bed? Is the stove off? Is the washing machine making weird noises in the garage? If I don't either make my boyfriend get up and check at least one of these things or get up myself to check (which happens at least twice a week), I definitely have a harder time getting myself to drift off into sleep.

So how do I manage stress? Nine months ago, I couldn't have told you. My first edit deadline was a mess. I was up until all hours of the night re-reading copy sentence by sentence making sure each word was perfect. I thought I could handle writing my first feature with complete ease until I realized that 1,400 words is a lot of words. I hadn't yet mastered the interview and realized there were still questions I had that I didn't have time for. I was a newbie.

Now, I'd like to think I handle edit deadlines with a bit more grace. I usually have my edit in a day early and have built an excellent list of freelancers to take care of that feature for me. I am more prepared going in to each month as I now know what each section requires and what I need to do to get it completed. But editorial isn't my only responsibility in life.

I met with a friend of mine about a month ago and she helped change my weekly routine in the best kind of way: she taught me how to plan more effectively. Now I carry around a little Moleskin notebook wherever I go and it not only has a calendar, but it has my ever important to-do list. This list is split up into categories - i.e. my full-time position, my magazine, freelance and personal - and then I make my list based on this structure. It not only helps me see what I need to accomplish based on what position I am fulfilling, but gives me an idea of just how much I have to accomplish each week. I find myself doing tasks more efficiently and quickly because I love the accomplishment of crossing them out once finished.

It is impossible to avoid stress and worry completely, but as I have learned, it is possible to deal with it. Dreading Monday morning? Treat yourself to a pedicure or massage Sunday afternoon to help relax. Take a bubble bath. Even more drastically, try disconnecting from the internet world sometime mid-Sunday and see if the break from the busy world of social media helps you focus on only what you personally interact with that day, allowing for more focus on the immediate. Even work on setting up your plan of attack for the week. Seeing what I need to accomplish on Sunday night vs. right when I get into work on Monday morning helps me go into the week a little more prepared.

Are you one of the 78 percent of the population with sleep issues Sunday night? How do you handle stress and deadlines and making sure that you are refreshed when your alarm goes off, instead of dreading the day?

The Dating Game

2010-11-11T15:13:00.004-05:00

I'll admit it, I have just about zero experienced dating. My boyfriend and I have been together for nearly four years. We are celebrating our anniversary next week and it's not the anniversary of our first date or when we officially became a couple, it's the anniversary of the first time we drunkenly made-out at a party. Oh, college.

However, if I have learned anything from my favorite chick flicks and friends who are out there in the dating world, it's that the interview process is strangely similar to dating.

I've been lucky that I haven't experience the heart-wrentching break-up. Sure, there was that time when I was about 13, but I'm pretty sure that doesn't count. When I was laid off, I was terribly upset. I said to a friend "this is what it's like to have an awful break-up, isn't?" It's definitely similar. You are upset, you wallow around your apartment and eventually you get back in the game.

It's easy in the beginning because you are just writing cover letters and sending out your resume. But when the interview process starts, it's really game time.

You dress to impress. You get nervous before (what should I say?), during (omg, did what I just said make any sense at all?), and after (I hope I didn't say anything stupid).

After the interview, you spend a great deal of time writing and rewriting a follow-up and then reading and rereading before you finally press "send."

If you're lucky you get a second date, I mean interview, and you might be a little more comfortable and have a little more confidence because they must like you a little bit if they called you back, right? Then other follow-up, maybe a bit more creative this time to show them how much you want the job.

And then you wait and wait and wait for the call. Carrying your phone around with you every where you go.

Labeled

2010-11-11T09:13:00.003-05:00

Being an In Transition Work Girl has provided some eye-opening moments for me. There have been several to date, but the biggest one seems to be how I am labeled. I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished since I graduated college, but there is one little label that seems to be holding me back.

What is it? I am being labeled based on the industry I am in rather than my skill set/degree. I have to admit, I feel a bit stuck. My background is in marketing and I have held various positions within both agencies and industries. However, the one thing that seems to keep defining me is the industry I am currently in. I might add I have held this position for only two years and it sticks out like a sore thumb.

Am I the only working girl facing this problem?

Here is an example: A few weeks ago I contacted a friend who works at a big company in the city where I hope to relocate to see if she knew of any openings. Given that her company is one of the fastest growing in the world, she immediately sent me the postings for the area of the company that fits my current industry. I felt helpless because how am I supposed to say thank you for your help, but you have it all wrong.

When I accepted the position I am in currently, it was because the word “marketing” was attached to my role. I viewed the position based on what I would be marketing not because I loved the industry. There are many that would probably see the industry I am in as amazing, but I just don’t have the passion for it at this point in my life. I am young and crave more of a corporate environment.

So over the last several weeks, I have tried to put on my thinking cap and figure out how to market myself. I am trying to overcome this label that has me pigeonholed and I see as a major road block for the next step in my career.

What are some of the labels you are experiencing as a working girl that you would rather get rid of?

Let's Be Friends.

2010-11-11T07:50:00.000-05:00

Hello readers! First and foremost, I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I'm now the new social media working girl around this part of the blogosphere and will be writing to you every Thursday from here on out.

To give you a little preview of how I got to where I am today... In 2007, I graduated with a journalism degree and got a job working in PR. After about a year, my job transitioned into a full-time magazine career in which I am now the senior associate editor of an international trade publication.

Shortly after, the company needed someone to "man the social media ship" and of course, I jumped at the opportunity. It's been a tremendous learning experience and one I'm truly grateful for. The vast amount of information available at the click of a button ceases to amaze me and my passion for technology and the Web continues to expand by the second.

From my grandmother on Facebook to my obsession with tweeting, you'll hear firsthand how social media influences my life--from both a personal and professional perspective.

Despite my 8-to-5 day job, I'm also a 20-something writer, blogger, AP style fan, friend, daughter, girlfriend, sister, shopper, mama to the cutest miniature schnauzer in town, wannabe foodie and OCD Post-it lover. I thrive on organization and list making, and my life wouldn't be complete without a good steak and cheap wine.

Oh, and I love all things Mac.

I'm uber excited to join the lovely ladies of this blog and hope that you find my content and ramblings both engaging and entertaining. After all, social media is honest and real, and I'll do my best to bring that to all of you--with of course the occasional hilarious story thrown in the mix for comic relief.

Thanks for welcoming me to this community. Let's be friends.

What Type Are You?

2010-11-09T00:10:00.016-05:00

I like to think that I'm a very pleasant person to work with. Although I try to always keep a good attitude, I will admit that occasionally I can be a bit moody. I mean, who doesn't have an off day every now and again? Once I realize that I'm in a certain mood I try to check myself and force myself to smile. After all, I'm a pretty positive person so I try to remind myself of reasons why I shouldn't be in a bad mood, but more importantly, I don't want to be labeled by my colleagues as Moody Working Girl.

This got me to thinking about how I look at my colleagues and I realized that there are so many personality types in our office. So here's my list of the Office Personalities where I work:

The Busy Body: This is the person who always wants to appear busy. Most people see right through the act and realize that she's just shuffling papers around and not doing any substantive work. Shuffling papers will not help you move up the corporate ladder.
Mr. Important: This is the person who not only thinks that he is super important, but wants everyone else to believe that he is super important. (insert eye roll) This person is probably in middle management and wants those not in any sort of management position to know that he is somebody. This person is closely related to The Busy Body.
Super Stressed: This is the person who lets every single thing stress her out. Bosses beware of putting this person on a project with Mr. Cool.
"S" On My Chest: This is the person who always wants to save the day. You know, the one who wants to be involved in everything and volunteers anytime the boss needs someone to do something, even if it's something that has absolutely no bearing on their performance evaluation, like picking up donuts for the office meeting.
The Check Collector: This person comes to work for one reason and one reason only--to collect a check. He isn't giving any extra. He's not staying late. He's not volunteering to do anything. In fact, he's doing the bare minimum to avoid being fired. He will not do any more than is required, so don't ask.
The Loner: This person is usually seen eating lunch alone. She rarely socializes with any of her coworkers. She is not part of any office clique and likely will not attend any office social function. She comes to work to work, not to make friends.
The Social Chair: This person is often planning the next after hours function. Birthday, Happy Hour, Monday Night Football? He's got it covered. But don't expect him to be the one to buy the birthday card for everyone to sign. He will let The Den Mother take care of that.
The Den Mother: This person is the one who handles all of the things your mother would do if she worked with you. Is there an office birthday? Not only will she bake the cake, but she will also slice it and hand it out to everyone. She will buy the card and make sure everyone in the office signs it. When the party is over, she's the one in the breakroom cleaning up the mess. This person is often known as The Busy Body as well.
Mr. Needy: This person is the one who acts helpless anytime they are given a task. He always come to you with a lot of questions when the answer is usually right in front of his face. He's always at your desk or in your office wanting you to help him with something. He needs you to hold his hand through everything. Bosses beware of putting Mr. Needy on a project with Ms. Independent.
Ms. Independent: This is the person who would rather work alone than in a group. She feels that if something is going to be done right, then it's best that she do it herself. If put on a team with people, please do not put Mr. Needy on her team. It will drive her insane.
The Office Gossip: This person knows everything that's going on around the office--who's having marital problems, who's dating who, and who's looking for a new job. If you don't want your business to become part of the conversation, stay far away from The Office Gossip.
Mr. Cool: This is the person in the office who is very laid back. Nothing seems to bother him and he's never stressed about anything. His motto is, "I will do what I can today and what doesn't get done today, I will do tomorrow." Deadline? Performance evaluation? Presentation? He won't break a sweat. Bosses often think that pairing this person with Super Stressed will have a calming effect on Super Stressed, but they are wrong. This will only make Mr. Cool lose his cool.

Which one am I? I'm probably a little Ms. Independent and a little Ms. Cool, but I would love to know how my coworkers would describe me. Well, now there is a way to find out what your coworkers think of you. At Honestly.com , you can give and get candid reviews of your boss, coworkers, or business partners. You can even take control of your business reputation by creating your own profile (although I personally think what others have to say about you is more telling than what you have to say about yourself). If someone asked for my personal opinion on my colleagues, would these labels be the main thing that stands out in my mind about them? It's very likely. If one of my colleagues had to give a personal reference on me, what would they say?

Working Girls, do you have any of these types on your office? Are there any that you would add to the list? Would you use a service like Honestly.com to rate your coworkers?

*Please note that these labels are not gender specific. He/she, him/her, and Mr./Ms. are interchangeable.

The Truth About My Control Issues and Deadlines

2010-11-08T12:12:00.008-05:00

I'll admit it: I like being in control. I first noticed this back in middle school when assigned partners for dreaded group assignments. I would often designate myself leader because I didn't trust my group mates to get their portion done well enough to ensure my good grade. This is a trait that continued throughout high school (even when I ended up writing a whole one act play by myself for my group) and is something I still see emerge every once in awhile.

Mostly? My controlling nature appears whenever deadline is approaching and I am waiting for quotes for an article.

I get anxious. I get eager. I send multiple follow-up e-mails and spend a lot of time searching the internet for any contact number I can find. Then I realize I need to be patient and remember my articles always get completed.

Working for the magazine as a regional editor has really helped me learn that I can't do things alone. I have a wonderful designer who takes my edit and photos I receive and, with very little direction from me, makes magazine spreads I am proud to have my name on. I have a Managing Editor who gives incredible feedback and helps me brainstorm whenever necessary. I have an Editor-in-Chief who is involved in all of our monthly edit meetings and always follows up with us to make sure we have everything we need. And I have a great Senior Copy Editor who taught me everything I needed to know to get this position in the first place. The staff I work with on a daily basis is incredible.

Most importantly, I have a great state of readers and runners who are at my disposal for information and features and I need to remember sometimes that though this magazine can easily become priority in my life, they have training and races and lives. They always come through and give me my interview and quote and actually take the time to pick up the magazine.

My controlling nature fights the urge to remember these things on a daily basis. This post will be bookmarked for future deadline havoc.

Keep me in line, readers. What trait(s) have you seen in yourself during your time as an editing or publishing Working Girl?

Grandpa as a Client

2010-11-06T15:33:00.010-04:00

A couple weeks ago I landed a new PR client. As most of you know, I'm a Work-at-Home Working Girl as well as a PR Working Girl. So anyway, this is my most unusual client yet. For one thing, my point of contact for this new client, the CEO/Founder, is 72 years old. He's a sweet, old man. Can I add maybe a little crazy/cooky, too? Sigh.

Over the last couple weeks, I've been struggling to work with him. It's always hard to combine two personalities in a new work partnership so that things work smoothly. Sometimes there are clients who are easier to click with, but others, it takes going over a few bumps and humps, a misunderstanding here and there, to get to where you're like, "OK! I think we've got this figured out!"

I think the main reason for difficulty with this new client is the age difference. I'm 28 years old, he has a daughter who is 30. Yeah, so automatically, he thinks he's a little smarter than me because he can't help but think of being and acting fatherly when speaking with me. And with that age difference comes the hardest part, how we communicate. In our world of email, text messaging, IM, etc. I had no idea I was confusing this guy from the get-go. For example, I had sent him within an email a link to a video I wanted him to watch, and he didn't realize that that blue underlined text was something to click on. He didn't know what a link was! Oh, my. And then, he was annoying me with all his phone calls that seemed to drag on ... oh, his life stories, just what I need to hear. Should I bill him for this time? haha.

Before we made our work partnership official, there were several phone calls. Not a problem, this is normal, except each call lasted 45 mins. or so. OK, old man likes to talk. A lot. I made it a point to clearly spell out my preferred method of communication in my proposal to him: email. I hoped this would lessen the number of phone calls. Nope.

Anyways, sorry to ramble, but I've learned that instead of throwing in the towel like I had wanted to after the first three calls in the first 24 hours of him being my client, I needed to learn a few things. I can't always work with people who are like me. I need to work with people who are unlike me and learn from the experience. So my preferred work style is to communicate via email and his is via phone, why can't we compromise? Of course I could accomodate him, I mean, look at this guy. He's 72 and hiring a young PR girl to help him re-introduce his product to consumers. How cool of him. And this new business for me is coming from a referreal who is helping him build even further exposure through social media. Would your everyday 72 year old man even know what social media is? It's impressive and admirable.

Do you ladies ever struggle with communicating with someone you work with, someone who seems to be on a completely different planet from you? How did you overcome it? This has been such a huge learning experience for me, I can't wait to hear your stories.

May I Have Your Attention Please?

2010-11-02T09:00:00.008-04:00

Some years ago I self-diagnosed myself with ADHD. What are the symptoms, you ask?

Often fails to give close attention to detail or makes careless mistakes (sometimes);
Often has difficulty sustaining attention to tasks (often);
Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly (rarely, only when I'm not interested in what the person is saying);
Often fails to follow instructions carefully and completely (no, not really);
Losing or forgetting important things (very rarely);
Feeling restless (all the time!);
Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming (YES!);
Runnng or climbing excessively (um, no);
Often talks excessively (please. I can't stand when people talk too much);
Often blurts out answers before hearing the whole question (no);
Often has difficulty awaiting turn (maybe, but not really).

Ok, so maybe I don't technically have ADHD, but I feel like I do. My attention span is very short. I'm one of those people who needs to have multiple things going at once. If I don't, I just might start fidgeting and squirming. When I'm home, I'm usually on my laptop, watching TV, tweeting and texting from my phone, and eating. At work...well, I will only share this with you if you promise not to tell...

At work, I work. I do. Seriously. But I also, read my favorite blogs, check personal email (I have 5 different personal email accounts), tweet, check my blog stats, draft blog posts, hop on Facebook, send text messages, make personal phone calls (gotta make my hair and eyebrow appointments), browse the Internet (I'm always checking to see if I can find a great deal on Amazon), chat with friends via instant messenger, chat with colleagues via instant messenger...hmm, what else? Oh, snack at various points throughout the day. Ah, and yes. Listen to my iPod. Not only do I listen to music, but I also listen regularly to a few podcasts (ranging from sports to NPR to a not safe for work after hours show).

Again, Working Girls, I do real work too. Despite, what I just said, most of my day is actually spent doing real work (real meaning the work I'm paid by my employer to do). But you can understand, right? My work days are LONG. If I don't do some of this stuff when I'm at work, it will never get done.

So Working Girls, what are you doing during your work day (besides reading Working Girl, of course!)?

The Editor Letter

2010-11-01T11:21:00.003-04:00

The hardest thing I have to write every month is my Editor Letter. To give myself some credit, I have gotten much better, but when I started with my publication earlier this year, I was at a loss.

I write for a running publication and at the time of starting the position, had yet to even run a race (if you don't count my single year doing Track and Field in high school). Therefore, my first letter said I was a spectator of running. Seriously.

The amount of pressure I put on myself every month was ridiculous. I would save the letter for last, hoping the need to write it would disappear or that some idea would magically appear out of thin air and I would write the most prolific 400+ words I have ever written.

It took awhile for me to realize that it didn't matter that I didn't have years of experience under my belt or had yet to run a 5K. What mattered is that I was trying and planning. It was in my Editor Letter that I declared I was going to run a 5K and a half-marathon, and here I am today getting ready to run my second 5K this upcoming weekend and have my half-marathon training program starting December 1.

The Editor Letter isn't where I am supposed to spout off all of my knowledge about the sport - it is where I get to share my stories and set goals myself in a space readers can see I am just like them. It is where I can relate to the rest of the Texas running crowd and hope they'll look for me if they attend the same races.

I never used to pay attention to Letters from the Editor much. Now I try to pour through all different magazines reading them at the store or Barnes & Noble when I get the chance. I have become fascinated with all of the different personalities that shine through and all of the different writing styles and layouts. The Editor Letter is really the place to be you.

Do you read the Editor Letter in magazines? Do you have to write one? What is your favorite - and least favorite - part about them?

What Are Your Strengths?

2010-10-28T08:00:00.003-04:00

I was helping my best friend earlier this week as she prepared for her bi-yearly review. One of the questions on her questionnaire was, what are your strengths? She was struggling with what to write. I don’t blame her…that is such a tough question to answer without sounding like you are gloating so I shared with her this amazing little book called StrengthsFinder 2.0. Have any of you read this book?

I was lucky enough to stumble across this book about 4 years ago when I was interviewing for a position where it was required of all candidates. Initially I thought it was just another test, but as I read through the first few chapters, I realized how much validity it really had. The book talks about strengthening your strengths rather then trying to strengthen your weaknesses. It makes so much sense. There are 34 unique strengths, all of which are great!

It’s a short read. You take the test (code in the book), it gives you your top five strengths and then you get to read in detail about them. It was scary how spot on the test was for me! So now when I get asked this question, I am able to talk with confidence.

If you have time, I really recommend it!

Here are my top five strengths in no particular order:

Responsibility-People who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.

Discipline-People who are especially talented in the Discipline theme enjoy routine and structure. Their world is best described by the order they create.

Arranger-People who are especially talented in the Arranger theme can organize, but they also have a flexibility that complements this ability. They like to figure out how all of the pieces and resources can be arranged for maximum productivity.

Achiever-People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

Futuristic-People who are especially talented in the Futuristic theme are inspired by the future and what could be. They inspire others with their visions of the future.

Moving On Up

2010-10-26T08:54:00.000-04:00

Very recently, I received a calendar appointment from my boss for a sit down meeting. Before I could accept it several thoughts went through my mind: Have they noticed my excessive Internet use? Are they down-sizing and I'm being laid off? Did I totally screw up some big project and cost the company millions?? I nervously hit "Accept" and mentally prepared myself for the meeting, which would take place just after my normal lunch time (but of course I was too nervous to eat). When the clock neared the appointed time, I made my way to his office. When I entered, I noticed that he was smiling so I knew it couldn't be too bad. In fact, his smile relaxed me and the first thing I said jokingly was, "I'm scared." He laughed and offered me a seat. He started talking about changes in the company and opportunity and my performance in the time that I've been there. I was trying to listen to him and at the same time listen to the thoughts in my head: WHERE IS HE GOING WITH THIS?? Then he said it: "We would like to offer you a promotion." YES!!

Since receiving the promotion I started thinking about the people in the company who have been my biggest cheerleaders. I wanted to be sure to thank them. Then I started thinking about one in particular whom I've worked with a lot. I knew that she probably had a big voice in the room when my name was brought up for promotion. So I sent her a message telling her thank you for any kind words that she may have said on my behalf (and if she didn't to disregard that message). It then occurred to me that she's the one person within the company that I want to be like. So I let her know. I told her that I consider her my mentor within the company and that there is a lot that I can learn from her (I have two mentors outside of the company as well). She was extremely honored and said that I made her day.

Why did I pick her as my mentor, you ask? Good question. Well, the very first time I met her I actually wasn't too sure about how we would get along. You see, she's a "take charge, I'm running things, and if you aren't on the same page as me, we're going to have problems" kind of Working Girl. At least that was my first impression of her. Now, looking back, I think she gave off that vibe because she was new to the company and wanted to make an impression on people. After a while, I realized that she actually isn't hard to work with at all and that's she's pretty easy going and willing to work with people. But the main thing I saw in her was how quickly she seemed to be climbing the corporate ladder. I want that to be me.

Since I told her she is my mentor, I've noticed that things have changed between us and that we are on the path to developing a great working relationship. She now takes me aside and shows me things that other colleagues haven't shown me. She wants to teach me everything she can, and believe me, I'm willing to learn. I want to move up the corporate ladder right behind her and I truly believe that she will do what she can to take me with her as she continues to move up within the company.

This article summarizes a study that found that mentoring for women does not seem to be effective. I think that having a mentor within the company can be a bit tricky, particularly if you work closely together. I don't want to get too comfortable with her and let some of my professionalism go out the window, but I do want to get to know her better. My fear would be disappointing my mentor, but one of my greatest hopes is that we can develop a friendship in addition to our working relationship (because she seems like a pretty cool Working Girl).

Working Girls, do you have a mentor within your company? Is your mentor a male or female? Is your mentor proactive in mentoring you? Are you proactive in staying connected to your mentor? Any tips to help me make the most of my new mentor/mentee relationship?