In this day and age, anyone can have their own website. It’s not limited to giant corporations and tech-savvy computer engineers anymore – anyone from your school-aged neighbor to your adventurous great aunt can set up and maintain a website. The barriers have come down, and there’s no reason you can’t set up your own online space. More than standard …
The #1 Guide You Need to Answer Tough Questions
For better or worse, we all encounter some surprisingly tough questions from time to time. How do you answer a curve-ball question in an interview and still get the job offer? What do you say when you and your boss don’t see eye to eye on an important matter? Both Lynn and author Tikiri have been there, and they know …
How to Answer Tough Questions and Keep Your Cool
We’ve all encountered some surprisingly tough questions from time to time. How do you answer a curve-ball question in an interview and still get the job offer? What do you say when you and your boss don’t see eye to eye on an important matter? Both Lynn and author Tikiri have been there, and they know how it feels to …
How Should You Get a Friend’s Helpful Job Referral?
I am interested in a position at a company where a friend of mine works. How should I initially reach out to my friend on the inside for some help to be considered for the role? Can I get my friend’s job referral? – Vanessa in San Mateo, California Answer: Amanda: Vanessa, how I would approach my friend depends on …
Have It All: Achieve Rich Work & Personal Lives
We’ve all heard that we can have it all. The house, the kids, the career… they’re all yours if you know how to juggle it all. But, how do you achieve better work-life balance? Start by setting clear boundaries and sticking to them. Make sure you keep your weekends for yourself, your friends, and your family. We all need us …
What Should You Know Before You Start a Business?
So many of us have amazing ideas that we want to turn into lucrative careers. But starting your own business takes a lot of work! What should you know before becoming an entrepreneur? Our first tip in learning about this career path is to listen to our new podcast interview with two guests who know a thing or two about …
Be Revolutionary and Reject Unpaid Internships
Why is it that talented, educated, and well-informed people are willing to consider and accept unpaid internships? Or, even worse, pay college tuition while they work for a company? Talk about adding insult to injury. Is it that everybody is doing it, so it’s okay? Or is it because your college advisor is promulgating this swill? Here’s the deal: it’s …
Who Are You? Knowing You Are Way More Than Your Job
At social functions, people like to start a conversation by asking, “What do you do?” Many of us automatically respond with our occupation. This is typically because corporate America has conditioned us to organize people into a social hierarchy based on their job title. However, usually your job doesn’t define who you are as a whole. You might also be …
What Unique Obstacles do Women Entrepreneurs Face?
I am considering branching out on my own. What unique obstacles do women starting their own business face? What should I know before getting started? – Nanea in Wailuku, Hawaii Answer: Nanea, fear and financing are the two of the biggest obstacles women face when starting their own business. While these may not appear unique, they are. Financing is pre-loaded …
Myriad Meetings Driving You Mad? How to Create Balance
Meetings. They’re part and parcel of many an office job, and talk at the water cooler likely includes jokes about them. Oftentimes, the jokes center on there being too many meetings within an organization or department. While meetings offer a great forum to exchange ideas and clarify projects, they can become time-wasters as discussions turn into long-winded, meandering explanations that …
Working Moms – This is Your Greatest Edge to Thrive
How can working moms find more balance and thrive in all parts of their lives? Here I am, a single working mom, and this question had me stumped. I’ve been doing the working mom juggling act a long time. And in many ways, the last couple of years have been easier. It sounds horrible to say, considering my husband died …
How to Win as a Working Mom Without Longer Hours
I was recently asked to work longer hours at my job despite the fact that I need to leave on time every day to pick up my kids from school. I feel like my company is trying to push me out as a working mom. How do I explain to my manager that I simply can’t stay longer than we …
My Passionate Journey of Creating a Successful Business
How do you combine your passions with an opportunity to turn them into a business? What if your passion is, say, food? You can find out in our new podcast interview with Angela Shen, a food-loving entrepreneur who got the idea for and started her own successful culinary touring company, Savor Seattle Food Tours. From a daughter of immigrants running …
How to Succeed as a Female Entrepreneur in New City
I am a female entrepreneur. What factors are important to consider when moving to a new city? – Martha in Port Orford, Oregon Answer: Martha, this is a complex question and deserves a comprehensive guide for consideration. However, I will touch on key components to review. The number one factor is the fit for your business. Does the city have …
What to Do When Your Job Isn’t Worth the Pay
Except for the fortunate few, all of us need an income. We have bills to pay and mouths to feed, and cash needs to be flowing. Many of us also want to find fulfillment in our jobs; dream careers and high ambitions are things many women hold, but sometimes finding that perfect position takes time. These two things mean that …
How to Reevaluate the Conversation in the #MeToo Era
Recently I had a conversation about work with a friend that gave me pause. During our discussion, we came to the topic of the changing dynamics in the workplace in light of the #MeToo movement. My friend, let’s call her Nancy, said something that initially left me bereft of a response. Nancy felt that the movement was creating a negative …
How to Develop Best Practices in the #MeToo Era
Sexual harassment has come to the forefront of the conversation in the last year. The #MeToo era has already led to a closer look at this pervasive issue, efforts to better protect employees from sexual harassment, and more dialogue about what is and isn’t harassment. As this conversation continues, it’s important to take a step back and revisit your company’s …
How to Overcome the Job Hiring Age Blacklist
What can you say to someone who is 63+ and not able to secure a new role in doing what I do best – supporting execs. I’ve worked for 2 consulting firms 30+ years of experience and have been unemployed since October 2017. I get a few interviews, but none have turned into an offer. Am I on the secret …
How to Break Out of Your Shell and Network Like a Pro
Learning to network can be overwhelming. Being shy can make this professional endeavor especially challenging. Just walking up to someone and introducing yourself might seem tough for you, but we’re here to help! As with all things, the key to getting better is through practice, practice, practice. Introduce yourself to your barista, the IT woman at your company, and members …
10 Simple Ways to Improve Your Daily Commute
How many of you have had to endure long, stressful commutes to and from work? Nearly all of us can relate, and most would agree that the daily commute can be a drag. However, there are ways to make it tolerable and even fun! Melissa Addey is an author, speaker, and Creative Writing PhD student at the University of Surrey. Her …