Breathe Life Into Your Career

This is motivational Monday, so this post is intended to inspire and motivate by presenting you with tips on how to keep your job. It may be hard to get a good job and get your career going but it is very easy to lose a job by committing career suicide. What is career suicide? It is the act of poisoning your work relationships among your supervisor, big boss, and/or colleagues that is beyond repair. Sometimes people mistakenly do things like reply to an email with a misunderstood response or refuse workload because they’re already bogged down with a lot of work or express their opinions when not asked. Then there are others who intentionally do things like piss of their boss, show up to work late often, take extra long lunches, wear inappropriate outfits, take too long to complete tasks and assignments, etc.; the list could go on but the point is find ways to avoid killing your career before it even starts; and for those set in your job, you can still benefit from these tips.

1.) Speaking of starting off, when you start a new job, usually you are asked to review the employee handbook and learn more about company policies such as attire, computer & email use, lateness, work ethics, division of power and authority, conducts, vacation and sick days, etc. There are some places that will either quiz you within a few days or weeks, there are some that will quiz you randomly and others assume you just know. This book is your bible, please review this book immediately and learn how you can do your job better and align with the mission of the company. If your place of employment does not have an employee handbook, ask the hiring manager everything you need to know about:

• Dress Code
• Computer Use Policy (You don’t want to get caught on Facebook)
• Use of email, phone, fax, Internet (Don’t get caught on Facebook, reading personal emails, or on personal calls
• Compensation
• Benefits
• Organizational Culture (The way the office operates to ensure productivity and efficiency aka the office politics)
• Safety and Security

The reason for studying the employee handbook or asking for this information is to better prepare yourself when you run into a problem and you need to know how (by office law) things are dealt with. Plus, you always want to show how engaged you are with the company and understand how it works.

2.) Now you have read your employee handbook, what’s next? Get to know the people you always need in your corner. In case anything goes wrong and you need someone to vouch for your good work and help keep your job. Don’t piss off the gatekeeper because they hold the keys to the many doors that could be opened for you if you play your cards right.

You are thinking why should you have to stroke someone else's ego even if you don’t like them. Have you noticed the people liked the least are the ones that have the most influence? You are thinking why waste your time on these people but it’s not about wasting time, it’s about keeping your job and enlisting the help of those who can help you keep it. You don’t ever outgrow these people as you move up in the ranks, you just play by their rules but keep your own needs in mind. Unfortunately every work place has those people and those rules.

Your skills, talents and your best experiences will take you far but you have to understand office politics play a big role in your work performance as well so pay close attention.

3.) Though you need to really know the gatekeeper, get to know about all the people at your job and their roles and responsibilities. Knowing the chain of command is crucial because you don’t want to step on anyone’s toes and you really want to ensure the most productivity with working with the right people on special tasks and projects. To get to know people at your job, follow these steps:

• Introduce yourself to all your immediate colleagues and ask if you could setup a time to get to know them better. Either take them to breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a regular meeting. Ask them about what they do, how they do it and how you can make their job easier.
• If this person has an assistant, get to know that assistant and how they operate so in case you ever need something you already know their preferences.
• Volunteer to work on committees such as Human Resources, Office Management, Special Events and Projects, Research, etc. Be an active employee but do not take on too much extra workload.

4.) While you are networking with your new colleagues, do not fall prey to office gossip or drama. You do not want to be sucked into this or known as the office gossip because people will never trust you or try to squeeze information out of you for their own purposes.

• If you have a colleague that comes to you and ask for advice on how to deal with trouble with another coworker, refer them to the handbook on how to best deal with the situation or tell them to just find ways to either confront or avoid the situation on their own because they know what is best for them in the end. Do not get drawn into the he said she said business.
• Do not form cliques or hang out with a certain group of people to much because you do not want a bad reputation; remember that your reputation aka “personal

5.) Besides avoiding drama and gossip, do not try to be standoffish or seen as you don’t want to be bothered. You can be engaged and interested without having to take sides. Neutrality is always great but hard to come by so just try to be as professional as you can be in the workplace.

6.) Being professional means

• Expressing your ideas and opinions with a sense of humility. Do not put others down and always listen to what others have to say. Don’t show anger in person and definitely not in writing.
• Knowing what battles to choose and those to avoid.
• Clean and fresh appearance
• Hardworking attitude
• Being a team player (Don’t be the yes person but show you are down for the cause)
• Showing time management efficiency
• Managing your workflow by priority
• Not upstaging your boss in public
• Not embarrassing your boss in public

7.) Not embarrassing yourself and your boss in public in extremely crucial. Learn more about dinning etiquette on business meetings or about ho to network with clients according to the way your place employment approves.

8.) Last but not least, do not talk about your personal business to every Tom, Dick, and Harry! You can be open about something’s in your life; do not deny or lie about who you are but show some couth. Do not talk about drinking games you played over the weekend or the wildest nightclub experience you had…don’t give people a reason to use things against you in the event something goes wrong.

Sites to visit about personal branding and career management:
http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/49-personal-branding-questions-to-ask-yourself/
http://www.mscareergirl.com/2010/03/10/how-to-apply-the-rules-of-dating-to-your-job/
http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/19/news/economy/survival_jobs/index.htm
http://www.noahmasterson.com/2010/02/specialization-is-career-suicide.html

Recommended book: Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets To Success, One Relationship At A Time by Keith Ferrazi.

Breathe life into your career by making the right choices on and off the job. You represent your job everywhere you go but you must also stay true to your brand and ethics as well. Learn how to become a better employee by becoming a better you first! More tips to come in the future.

Desiree Frieson, 24, is the communications manager at Odyssey Networks, a non-profit interfaith media production company in New York City.

Motivational Monday: Look the Part

Work attire is different from those college days of wearing pajama pants and sweats to class or work-study. Though everyone likes to dress comfortable, what you wear to work reflects on your personality. Let’s face it, what people think of us does matter-even if we say it doesn’t. However, there is a way to dress chic-comfy but you must follow your employers’ dress code, as well as industry guidelines.

For example, do you work in advertising, media and/or public relations? Most professionals in these fields dress very trendy and fashionable! Suits are okay but you really want to shop for:

• Funky outfits
• Cute and sexy shoes
• Funky but chic accessories.

Most people who work in advertising or related fields are flashy but classy dressers.

Speaking of classy dressers, accessories are important…especially depending on what field you work in. I don’t care if you are a lawyer, accountant, marketer, clerk, teacher, professor, etc; do not wear clunky or offensive jewelry to work. When I say clunky jewelry, I am talking about Wilma from Flintstones clunky!! Funky accessories are great but be very wise in your choices. Coolcat in Brooklyn, NY has great and inexpensive accessories. Casual accessories are great and you don’t have to wear them but they make outfits stand out.

Employers have problems with “casual Friday” because there are some employees that feel they can wear whatever they want as long as they are hygienically clean. I never wear anything less than jeans, slacks and sometimes a nice dress to work. But from what I’ve seen around me, I would advise others not wear:

• Sweat pants
• Jogging suits
• or clothes that are too little or too tight to work.

Once you do this you ruin it for all. I would suggest:

• Wearing a nice pair of jeans with a cute top with flats or kitten heels.
• Dress down but you can still be cute and casual.
• If you are not sure what constitutes casual, ask your human resources director or your supervisor.
• There may be others that do not follow the dress code but don’t follow in their footsteps.

I would also advise others not to dress casual every Friday; maybe dress up a one or two Fridays a month. Reason being you don’t want to seem too comfortable and you want to show that you are a fantastic employee. Just because the “casual Friday” policy exists doesn’t mean you have to exercise your option to dress down.

The last bit of advice is to be a trendy but thrifty shopper. I am not a fashionista but I know the basics. If you want to learn more about style and fashion, visit http://www.womensmafia.com/. Also, find out more about dress code policies or guidelines in your industry—each employer has a different overview so check with both.

Tell us your thoughts! What are work attire dos and don'ts?




Desiree Frieson, 24, is a marketing and PR manager at Odyssey Networks, an interfaith media production company located in New York City.

Sell Yourself

As an unofficial part 2 to Desiree's post, let's continue the conversation about networking:

"Your network is your net worth"

While at the GW Monthly Networking Event, I was once again reminded of the value of networking. While it is honestly not my favorite thing to do, I have certainly learned to appreciate the value of forming relationships that can undoubtedly help you progress further than if trying to do it alone.

Here are a few tips that I've learned so far:

-Be prepared- You definitely want to have an abundant supply of business cards, flyers, brochures and whatever else can not only vividly represent you and/or your business but also leave a lasting impression on your new contacts. It is always better to have more than to run out prematurely. (VistaPrint offer great deals on business cards and other promotional items.)
*Attention job seekers: Giving someone your resume may not be appropriate in all situations, but having personal business cards with your contact information (and even a brief objective) is a GREAT investment.

-Be passionate- Passion is contagious, and it will boost your confidence. Even if they don't remember all of the details you share, they will certainly remember your energy and the feeling you left them with.

-Smile- Some networking situations can be aggressive and somewhat intimidating. However, simply smiling will invite others to approach you. It will also contribute to your confidence in approaching others as well. Plus, it will leave a good impression :-)

-Always seize the opportunity- any and every situation can be seen as a networking opportunity. There is always an opportunity to meet a new person, who could potentially hold something of value to you. Be willing to strike up conversation and find common ground in nontraditional settings (i.e. the airport, elevator, nail salon, etc.).

-Follow up!- it may be hard to remember every single person you meet. Following up with new contacts within 24 hours of meeting them is a great way to make sure they remember YOU and to take that connection a step further.

NetParty, The Phenomenal Women Group and Girlfriends Get-Together are known for hosting great networking events, and I recommend making it to one of their next events.

The first step is to go out there and sell yourself!

Professional Development: Joining Membership Organizations

So you finally got the job or accepted into the academic program of your dreams! It was hard work along the way but you have finally achieved one of your goals. Well, don't think that the hard work is over. You have to show your employers or professors why they chose you to fulfill the mission of the company or education program. After all, they could positively impact your working/academic life.

During your interview or candidacy review, you submitted a plethora of supporting materials that exemplified why you were best for the job. You must show on a continuous basis why you are a fantastic hire/candidate. At work, you could work longer hours, take the initiative where warranted, work efficiently and productively across silos, show mastery in your craft or offer ideas for growth. Sometimes, it’s just as simple as doing all that they ask of you and beyond. In an academic environment, you could express interest in your professors’ work and look for opportunities to work closely with them.


All the aforementioned ideas are great but sometimes you need a little help from outside development groups and/or associations. Professional member organizations are great extra curricular activities because they offer members outlets to:

• Cultivate leadership skills
• Acquire news skills by working on various committees, events and programs
  
• Apply existing and new skills that boost marketability in the workplace
• Build network of mentors and like-minded individuals
• Host workshops demonstrating work in career field
• Conduct seminars with industry professionals
• Unearth job opportunities through selective recruitment processes. Many employers work solely or in conjunction with membership associations and groups.
• Stay abreast of industry breakthroughs, trends and research

There are professional member associations for your career field—for example American Marketing Association, Public Relations Society of America, National Association of Black Journalist, etc. Likewise, there are academic groups—for example, National Student Nurses Association, National Association of Student Personnel Administration, Society of Human Resource Management, etc. Speak with your professors, supervisors and colleagues to find out what associations they belong to or groups they feel you should join. Search LinkedIn.com and other online professional networking sites for associations or groups in your field.

I would challenge you to consider how you want to grow as a professional or as an academic student and search for associations or groups that fit your needs and offers you opportunities to develop personally and professionally. Joining associations or groups can be expensive but the benefits outweigh the expense; look at it as an investment in your future. Many join associations because it looks good on a resume-- and it does -- but the real take-away is knowledge, contacts, expanded networks, new skill sets and a healthier outlook on life and the workplace.

Desiree Frieson, 24, a marketing & PR coordinator at Odyssey Networks, is a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, American Marketing Association (AMA) and the New York Chapter of the AMA.

You can read more of Desiree's thoughts on books, movies, television series, social media and much more on her blog Desi's Random Thoughts: "I have a lot of thoughts and ideas fluttering around in my head and this blog serves as my release!"