Moving On Up

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?

I'm a Big Girl Now

Now that I'm the Special Projects Manager, I feel like I need to mature three to five years. Changing from coordinator to manager is a huge step at my magazine. Typically, they'd give someone with two years of working experience an Associate Manager title.

I feel that because I'm a full-on manager I need to act older. Turning 24 helped my mentality a bit. But now, I can't just be a young working girl finding her way. I need to know my way.

While I have a lot of great experience for the position, I know that people who have held the position before more have had more. I know some things and am learning others. I've never worked on a hotel contract before and I've never been in charge of an event budget. But I need to act like I know what I'm doing.

And, is it weird that I feel like I need to improve my appearance? I look pretty put together everyday at work but all of a sudden I want to cut my long hair into a more stylish, easy to manage haircut. I want a better wardrobe. I feel like my nails should be polished everyday.

Too bad I don't have the budget for a great haircut, new wardrobe and weekly manicures.

Happy Promotion!

Last Wednesday, Mom Boss called me into her office.

"Events Promo Manager is leaving," she said.

I was shocked. I had had a feeling that Mom Boss wasn't happy with Events Promo Manager for a while. And I thought that maybe she wouldn't be around for much longer. But I was thinking months from now. Not right now.

What did this mean, I thought. Do I have her job? Was she fired? Do I have to ask for her job (again)? Would I get a raise? Did she want to leave? Would they interview other people? A hundred things were running through my head. The only answer I got on Thursday was "I have a plan. Just sit tight."

I didn't have to sit tight for long. On Thursday morning, I was called into her office again. "I'm assuming you want this job," she said. I did want the Events Promo Manager job. I wanted it for a while. Now, I finally have it.

Well, I will in a week or so. Until then I'm working as the Marketing Coordinator and on our upcoming events. So I'm beyond busy but I'm also beyond thrilled. Thrilled mixed with nervousness and impatience. I wont know until later this week what my exact title is (associate or not) or my salary. Whatever the outcome, I'm excited to work more heavily on projects I'm truly interested in.

So that's how I started my birthday weekend, with a promotion. Not a bad way to start of being 24.

It's About Time I Got Rid of that Ass

Hi, I'm Working Girl One and I am no longer an assistant.

I was, for a what felt like forever, a sales assistant. Then, I switched departments and became a marketing assistant. For the last month or so, I've been a little drained about my job. My work load gradually increased week after week and I was certainly doing more than assistant work. Pretty much from day one, I have been doing coordinator work. And now I am finally the marketing coordinator.

Three weeks ago my bosses informed me that they were changing my title from marketing assistant to marketing coordinator. However, my title was the only thing changing. My salary would stay exactly the same. While I understand that a change to a higher level title is a great thing for a Working Girl, it looks great on a resume, I knew that I deserved more than I was making.

I wanted to ask for more money, something I've done before, but I wasn't sure how to position myself in this situation. How much to ask for? What to say? Thankfully, I was spared the awkward asking for a raise conversation. A week ago my bosses informed me that they would announce my title change this week and I would also be getting a raise!

Today my promotion was announced and there were congratulations all around. While my work load isn't changing (it's already busting at the seams), this promotion is just what I needed to get excited about work again and give me that extra push to be a stellar Working Girl.

Exhausted by the Whole Thing

This time last week I told you I was drained. Too drained to write a post. One of my roommate's token phrases as of late is "I'm just so exhausted by the whole thing." Last night, as I tried to determine what I should write about, she asked if that's how I was feeling about Working Girl. I realized, I'm just so exhausted by the whole work thing and therefore exhausted by Working Girl. Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything crazy and quit the blog or something. 

I'm still drained and exhausted and frustrated but it's about time I just sucked it up and gave you an update about what's going on a work that's draining me then hopefully my creative juices will start flowing again. I typically don't like to talk about things that are bothering me; I haven't even really explained to WG2 what's been going on. 

Three weeks ago our special events manager quit. Not only was she one of my good work friends, she was also my mentor. I've mentioned before that I am interested in working in events and she was helping me learn the business and gave me the opportunity to get more involved in our event planning for the magazine. I was upset that she was leaving but I also realized that perhaps this could mean something good for my career. I got her blessing and she helped me script a conversation with my boss to ask to be considered for her job. Now, as an assistant, going to manager is a big job and it's not one that happens often.

I spoke to my (female) boss. I told her that my interest is in events, that I'd like to be considered for this position even though I'm just an assistant. My biggest argument is that I've been doing coordinator work from day one and that I know for a fact that I've helped improve our department. We're a big magazine but at the end of the day, we just don't have that many events. I could handle it. She told me that my title would be changing to coordinator soon and that once they post the events position as open, we can discuss further.

Last week I met with both of my bosses for my newly implemented weekly meeting with them. They told me what a great job I have been doing and they said that they want to keep me at the magazine and keep me happy. Then they told me they were changing my title to marketing coordinator. They said this was a step in the direction I want to go and they are right. I was happy about this until I realized I want more. 

First, it would have been nice to also get a raise. Second, I want the events job. Third, I'm so over the work I've been doing. I manage monthly programs which was fun when I started because they were mine and I could see the finished product and be proud. Then they became a challenge (in a good way) to improve and master. Now, they are repetitive and boring. 

My "promotion" hasn't been announced and that's frustrating me too. Can a Working Girl get a little recognition? But the most frustrating thing about it is that nothing but my title is changing. My job description is the same as it was when I started; I don't even have new projects to get excited about. I'm ready for something new and I'm not getting that. I thought, for a few days, that I was just in a funk. Unfortunately, I can't chalk this up to a funk and hope to wake up feel better about the situation tomorrow. I'm truly frustrated, drained, bored and I don't know what to do about it...

One Motorcycle Ride Away from a Promotion

Today was a Working Girl first for me. I had to make a decision that could make The CEO like me a teensy bit more, but also had the possibility of compromising my comfort levels at work. 

Let's go back to the beginning of this story, which is when The CEO graced us with his presence around 10 a.m. 

"WG2, are you there?!" The CEO likes to bellow at me from his office like I'm not in reality only four steps away from his desk. I replied that of course I was there. His reply, "Good, I don't know what to do when you're not here." 

So, I might have to back up here for those of you who don't know me well, but I have always been under the impression that The CEO hates me. For real, up until this point I thought he hated my guts. In the past he has insinuated that I have no personality, yelled at me on numerous occasions about trivial things, and I'm under the suspicion that he has questioned my usefulness to The Boss a few times (a.k.a. he wanted to fire my ass).  

Ok, back to the story. His reply caught me a little off guard since I thought when I wasn't in the office he did a little jig in my absence. He then told me he had a project for me, which did not excite me because projects to The CEO mean doing things personal assistants are paid good money for (and I'm not paid good money). 

It turns out I was correct. The CEO had driven his motorcycle to work today and had parked it at a meter. My task for the day was to go fill the meter with quarters every hour so he didn't get a ticket. Yes, this is what my career has come to. 

I was pissed. Now, I know that we all have to start somewhere with our careers. As interns and entry-level drones we expect to do the dirty work. The bottom of the food chain often comes with horrible tasks that we have to take on to advance in the work place. For most, these things include expense reports, data entry, and a lot of complicated hours making spreadsheets no one uses. For me, it's sitting at The CEO's new apartment waiting for the cable guy or the repairman to fix his stove. And I'm sick of it. It's been a year and even though I was promoted out of my assistant level job I am still being treated like an assistant (even like an intern sometimes). 

I vented my frustrations to my co-worker, Small Fry (we call her this because she is really short and has freakishly small hands), who told me that The CEO has always become a smitten kitten with employees who take an interest in motorcycles. If you take a look at the evidence, this is true. The guy who runs our European office is a motorcycle fanatic. Small Fry earned points for noticing his bike had alligator seats. And there is one employee at work who should have been fired months ago and she just got promoted...and we're pretty sure it's because she took a ride on The CEO's motorcycle last fall. 

This afternoon, The CEO asked me to take a ride on his motorcycle. Even though I know he wasn't trying to be slimy, it certainly came out that way. He even winked when he asked me. But the whole thing still made me feel dirty.

And even though I almost vomited in my own mouth when he asked me, a tiny part of me considered doing it. It's just a motorcycle ride, I reasoned. How bad could it really be? A quick scoot around Union Square and back to the office and then maybe The CEO would like me more, pick on someone else for once, maybe even promote me. 

Then I snapped back to reality and reminded myself that if I wanted to have him respect me and in turn if I wanted to respect myself, that I needed to impress him with my work ethic and not my willingness to wrap my arms around his mid-section. I had to concentrate on work and not about what would get me out of the dirty work -- especially if that 'what' makes me uncomfortable. 

Despite my Working Girl breakthrough, I'm still pissed I had to put quarters in a meter all day. So, I took The CEO's leftover quarters from my 'meter project' and bought myself a Diet Coke. 

Hi, I'm Working Girl One and I'm a Marketing Assistant

I'm not quite a marketing assistant yet, but I'm going to be soon.

Recently, our current marketing assistant gave her two weeks notice and recommended me for the job. For some time, I'd been contemplating sales versus marketing. I think I was almost trying to convince myself to like sales because it's so lucrative, but marketing is just more fun (at least for me). I can plan events, create promotions and gift baskets, and I find that very enjoyable.

When Facebook Friend Boss left and I began doing her job, I started to look at what I was doing everyday more analytically. What I found out: my heart is not in sales. When the marketing assistant told me her news, I started jumping up and down (figuratively not literally). This told me something, told me that right now my heart is in marketing.

I spoke to the associate publisher of marketing, who I had interned for during the summer of '06, and she was thrilled that I was interested. I was basically told that if I want the job, it was mine.

It was hush hush for a while and I couldn't tell my current bosses (awkward!), but last week I was officially offered the job. This means I'm going to be an assistant for a little longer than I thought I'd be but the offered me some monetary incentive, the possibility of a promotion to coordinator after six months, and a sweet business trip to South Africa.

Chicken Soup Boss thinks I'll end up in sales, she thinks I have the personality for it. I think she's wrong.

Promoted and It Feels So Good

All you Working Girls readers might remember my horrible, no good, very bad interview, my hatred for the Working Girl blues, and my mention of asking for a promotion.

Things were looking down - a frown permanently painted on my face kind of down. I had been looking for another job for almost seven months and then a job opened up at my company and I saw an out of my assistant woes. The position wasn't exactly my dream job description, but it involved a lot of HTML, learning how to traffic impressions and clicks on online ads -- all things I thought might come in handy later on (maybe even for this blog!). 

Last week, I approached my boss about the open position and it seemed like it was going to be a no-go. She didn't see me in the position, she didn't want to lose me as her assistant, but wanted to know if I was bored because she would definitely give me more work if I was. Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! I'm bored and I want out of these assistant shackles, that's what I want. 

This past Monday, while suffering from my Sunday Funday hangover, my boss called me into her office. I was so sure I was going to get yelled at for not making enough headway of my newly assigned project. Apparently I was all wrong. 'I was getting my wish,' my boss said. She told me the girl above me was getting transferred to another position in the company, and I was being considered for her old job. 

I walked out of her office with a new set of responsibilities, a slight increase in salary, and the 'ass' taken out of my title once and for all. 

Let's Play a Game...

It’s called…’Guess When WG2 Was More Accomplished: In College or In the Workplace?’

1. In college, WG2 was an editor at her college newspaper where she edited up to 10 articles a week (and even wrote some too!). In the workplace, WG2 secretly edits her own blog posts (and sometimes thinks writing two a week seems like a daunting task).

2. In college, WG2 dutifully attended five courses each semester and took lengthy notes. In the workplace, WG2 falls asleep at meetings and doodles on her to-do list.

3. In college, WG2 barely had time to roam the Internet unless it was to research papers on Irish politics or Native-American literature. In the workplace, WG2 spends most her time reading Perez and scoping out other sites that will help her avoid doing work.

4. In college, WG2 went to class hung over or still drunk, and while she was not a pleasant sight, it did not affect her work. In the workplace, WG2’s co-workers have ridiculed her for days on end for her inability to complete work after a night of wine-tasting.

Answers:

1) In college

2) In college

3) In college

4) In college

In college, I was an accomplished editor, student, and more importantly could drink WG1’s boyfriend under the table.

In the workplace, I’m lazy. Which I blame on boredom and a lack of tasks to do daily. So, it seemed fitting that I ask for a promotion.