Watch: Marc Bale

To say that running Cubicle Chic is a passion of mine would be an understatement. I have many passions in life: my cats, listening to podcasts, reading, snowboarding, yoga, collecting anything related to the Volkswagen flowerpower bus, learning to surf… the list goes on. But those things I do to experience the thrill, or to escape from reality, or simply to have fun.

Blogging, as it turns out, is something entirely different.

Watch: Marc Bale

For the record, it did start as a hobby. I knew I enjoyed writing and “dressing right” for work. So, naturally, I decided to marry the two and throw in a few photoshoots, a bit of web design, and a lot for social media figuring-out-how – Cubicle Chic was born. On the other hand, this endeavor was also an experiment. I was unknowingly trying to figure out the feasibility of a side hustle. It’s an on-going experiment even to this day! And regardless of how it started, one post turned into 10, one sponsorship led to another, and I just kept at it. Two years and almost 100 posts later, I am still here, painstakingly writing away.

Creating and writing for Cubicle Chic has taught me many, many things. It even helped me land a full-time job. It’s shaped my identity and allowed me to look at myself in new and unexpected lenses. It gave me possibilities that I didn’t know existed before. It changed me for the better in so many ways. But it also forced me to be creative when I was stuck, be relentless in my pitching efforts, learn from my mistakes and failures, and ignore the voice of people out there that are trying to bring my down.  In this post, I want to share with you the many lessons that creating and maintaining a blog has taught me.

1. A passion is nothing without persistence and cultivation.

A passion, at its core, is something that gives you fun and bliss! And if that’s all you expect from your passion, then that is all it needs to be. But if you want to your passion to be more than just “something fun you do”, you have to commit to it. Learn new skills because of it. Sacrifice your free time for it. Take harsh criticism for it so you improve. Keep at it even when it stops feeling “fun”. To make a hobby more than a hobby, you gotta show progress towards it and become better at it over time.

2. Success requires some level of luck. But luck can be created.

Success is a topic I’ve discussed earlier this year, especially around how to define it. They say opportunities come to those who are prepared. It’s true. But to be noticed in hundreds of job applicants, to meet your future business partner at an event, or to be tapped by a brand to work together… all these things require an element of luck.

How lucky you get though, depends on how hard you are willing to work for it. While you can’t control the outcome of a job application, you can control how many jobs you apply for. You can’t wish a great business partner into existence, but you can show up at all the right networking events you can find. You can’t force a brand to work with you, but you can create amazing content consistently to attract ones worthy of your and your readers’ time.

3. “They can do that because they have money” is a thought that kills.

If you read my other post about the 9 ways fashion blogging ruined my finances, you’d know that there are a lot of things an aspiring blogger can spend money on that FEELs like progress. Naturally, people that have more disposable income (or more willing to stack up credit card debt) would seem to have a short-cut to blogging success. Similarly, in life, people that have more wealth, resources, connections, may seem to have an easier time getting ahead – education, place of work, material possessions, knowledge even.

But never underestimate the efforts behind the success people may have. They may have been waking up at ungodly hours every day for years, or they may have taken great risks in their business endeavor, maybe they have worked tirelessly on perfecting their writing… whatever it is, don’t associate success with what people are endowed with. Because that kind of thinking sends a demotivating message. If you accept people’s success as the result of their natural endowment, you won’t be motivated to work hard to get to that level of success.

Think of people as an accumulation of their hard work, and not whatever status, level of wealth, even race they may have.

4. Learn how to channel jealousy & envy.

The digital world is a mini reflection of the real world and designed for flaunting. Keeping up with the Joneses is at a whole new level now. What’s even harder is when you have goals you REALLY want to reach and you see people crossing your finish line left and right (that promotion you want, a car you want to buy, that elusive 10K followerbase on Instagram, or a dream sponsor to work with…you name it. Sometimes that envy and jealous can pull the rug out from under you and crush your soul.

One of the best advice I’ve gotten lately from “the blogger for bloggers” Brittany Grace at Not Another Blonde is when in doubt, stay in your lane and put on blinders and ignore everyone else – just do what you do best and keep doing it. This is the only way that will lead to your own success one day, and not minding how others are doing. I’ve applied this thinking whenever I feel like I am falling behind or that my peers are doing better than I do. I come back to the reason why I started blogging – I love to write and I am building a business for myself. I ignore how everyone else is doing and just keep writing!

5. Leave no room for haters and people who build their following based on negativity.

The more I made myself and my blog available, the more I open myself up for speculation. Anyone who’s seen my profile can say anything they ever want about me, about what I stand for, and about who I am. I experienced first-hand some vicious cyberbullying lately that really opened my mind up to how terrible human beings can be toward others when given the anonymity of the digital world. It took some self-directed pep talk but I brushed it off my shoulders.  And I realize if I don’t change my mentality about haters, it will happen again and it will ruin my day again. I am determined not to let haters have a single second of satisfaction from hurting me. They will not. To all the haters and cyberbullies, go have your fun somewhere else.

Disclaimer: I received this Marc Bale watch for free to review from an Australian company ThePeachBox. I took no compensation in the collaboration.

Photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse.

The post 5 Life Lessons I Learned From 2 Years of Blogging appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Top: Ann Taylor
Jeans: Eujeanco
Sunnies: Karen Walker

Long time no see, friend! I’ve been mostly MIA on Cubicle Chic this month. It’s because we had moved towards the end of June but mostly, it’s because I started a new job. It’s been an extremely busy first month filled with learning the ropes, getting to know the company and the team, and all that good stuff.  If you follow me on Instagram, you’d know I haven’t stopped griping about how this job has taken over my life. Cubicle Chic, as my side hustle, has taken the back seat. Ironically, this side hustle was the very reason I was able to land this new job in the first place. With 2 years of blogging under my belt, I’ve officially ventured into the social media space in a professional capacity!! How did I do it, you ask?

Top: Ann Taylor
Sunnies: Karen Walker

Career Foundation of Marketing in Biotech

I built the foundation of my marketing career in the first 6 years of my professional life. Coming out of school, it made sense that I landed a job in marketing in the biotech industry as I had a degree in biology and another one in psychology. In those years, I learned the foundation of marketing principles and learned the operational logistics of marketing campaigns. I worked under and with professionals from all aspects of marketing like communications, analytics, product marketing, digital marketing, event management, and eCommerce. Somewhere along the 6 years, I became a confident marketer and an expert at navigating the biotech business landscape. I knew I was doing something right as I was highly sought after as a job candidate having gotten 8 job offers in those 6 years.

iPhone 7 case: Ideals of Sweden

The Birth of Cubicle Chic

Two years ago in July I decided to publish my first ever post on Cubicle Chic. When people ask me why I started a blog, I try to recall what I was thinking when I was figuring out how to build a blog. “I knew something was missing in my career”…..well, that’s what all entrepreneurs say, right? For me, I didn’t necessarily think anything was missing. I was simply bored. I had mastered most aspects of my job and things got to a bit of a lull. What I knew was that I love to write and tell stories, and I always wanted a resource for corporate work fashion and career advice all in one place. Additionally, in my work experience, I had learned to craft emails subject lines that get clicked, write web content with SEO in mind, how Google PPC works and the list goes on. I desperately wanted to test out this knowledge outside of work.  So finally rounded up all the resources (blogging platform, photographer, outfits, and well, time to write which I had plenty at the time) and started Cubicle Chic in July 2015.

Top: Ann Taylor
Jeans: Eujeanco
Sunnies: Karen Walker
Sandals: Topshop Notorious Sandals

How I Went From Marketing to Social Media

Fast forward to 2 years later, I was again at a crossroad. I could continue on the same path of biotech marketing, which was probably going to be the easier and more obvious direction. Alternatively, I could go down a different path, leveraging the 2 years I spent blogging, creating regular content, growing my social media presence, and cultivating the Cubicle Chic brand. In my heart, I wanted to explore a new career path in social media and put all the new skills I learned to test. So when an opportunity presented itself, and I embraced it with arms wide open. Looking back, here are 5 principles I stuck to that helped evolve a side hustle into a change in career path:

1. Treat your side hustle with the same respect and professionalism as with your job

They say dress for the job you want, not the one you have. The message here is that if you elevate your thinking, reality conforms. Similarly, treat the side hustle as if it’s your full-time job and your livelihood depended on it. I’ve always approached my blog as a business, even though I have only recently started to earn some income from it (definitely not profitable yet). A business needs a clear and concise mission statement, a business goal, and a way to scale. So, I made sure Cubicle Chic has all of that. A business’s value is determined by measurable results and impact…and along the way, I made sure I am keeping track of Cubicle Chic’s growth and development so I can present Cubicle Chic with facts in its impact when I need to.

2. Learn the art of positioning

This is one of the most basic principles of marketing. Know the strengths of a service/product the exact unmet needs/pain points it’s meant to address, and find the audience that has these pain points and needs, and deliver the marketing message relentlessly. The key words here are strengths, pain points, and relentlessly. As I grew Cubicle Chic, I was very conscious of what strengths or skills I was developing; writing, content analytics, a little bit of graphic design, just to name a few. I was also conscious of what kind of market value these skills instilled in me. I positioned these strengths and skill relentlessly when the time was right, and got a potential employer interested enough to give me an offer.

3. Scale your operation by setting goals

As a blogger, my eyes are always on the prize that’s coming next. If I hit the 3,000 unique visitor mark, I ask myself “how many more months until I hit 5,000?”  If I got a dream collaboration request, I ask myself “how do I turn it into a long-term relationship?” So by setting new goals every time I hit a milestone, I created a growth-oriented operation for Cubicle Chic. Along the same lines, I also allow myself to dream big. It doesn’t mean I start daydreaming about becoming a celebrity blogger while I binge on Game of Thrones and eat chips (That’s reserved for only Friday nights.) But I allow myself to see the possibility of explosive success and have this possibility baked into my vision. When I elevate my outlook on Cubicle Chic like this, inspiration and motivation ensue. And hopefully, one day, reality conforms.

4. Understand whether your hobby has a place in your professional network

One of my biggest dilemma for the first 18 months of the 2 years of Cubicle Chic’s existence, was whether or not to share this hobby with my professional network i.e. LinkedIn. Some close friends and co-workers knew about it, but it wasn’t part of my professional identity. I was Jessica the marketing gal, not Jessica the blogger. Not yet at least. I had a lot of encouragement to “take it public” but never felt completely at ease about the idea.

The first time I contemplated fusing Cubicle Chic into my professional brand was when The Financial Diet published my article on finding motivation during a long job search.  That was the kind of validation I needed in order to go “public” with my blog. In hindsight, I am glad I waited despite encouragement from friends and professional contacts. You only have one shot at your first impression when meeting someone, and it’s the same thing with your blog. I’d much rather people find out about Cubicle Chic as a mature and well-established blog than a half baked experiment that was in its infancy. Don’t mix up your side hustle with your professional network before they are ready for each other.

Top: Ann Taylor
Sunnies: Karen Walker
Watch: Daniel Wellington

5. Always. Be. Learning.

This is more of a life motto than a principle to stick with. It’s just a fact, so accept it. No growth comes from being stagnant or a dull and unstimulated mind. As a blogger, I learned how to improve my writing, how to better my photography and modeling. I spent countless hours studying how SEO works, how to write a better title for a blog post, how to get my Facebook posts to rank higher. Yes, I also sweated about my Instagram follower base like most other influencers. But because I know my educated mind as a blogger will carry me through the muddied and troubled water, issues like this don’t keep me up at night. My point is that knowledge gives you an edge over others, and combined with a proven track record, is a recipe for how you’re going to win in the end.  By the way, if you’re a blogger, you need to listen to these two podcasts: Marketing School by Neil Patel and Eric Siu, and The Influencer Podcast by Julie Solomon.

So… I woke up super early on this Friday morning to finish and polish up this post. I’m going hit publish now and go get ready for work. The hustle continues and Happy Friday!!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post How My Side Hustle Changed My Career Path appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Most of us know having a lot of debt is a bad thing and being debt-free is a good thing. Yet most of America is in debt and things like student loan and mortgage are as common as having a pet. Just this week, one of my favorite podcasts Death, Sex, and Money did a two-part series on student loan how the massive amount of debt is affecting the lives of Americans. And it really got me thinking.

The misconception about having debt 

It’s common sense that if you borrowed money, you have to pay it back, regardless of who you borrowed it from; your parent, your friend, a shady company, or the government. But conventional wisdom also says “there is good debt and bad debt; good debt is good” or “you need to be in debt in order to build credit”. How do we reconcile these two things, especially in the face of daily advertisement and promotions that bombard us on Facebook, email inbox, even freeway billboards? Going into debt feels so natural, so easy, and normal because “everyone has it.” Not to mention the elusive concept of being debt-free… just how does that even feel?

It’s like a weight-loss program

Much like trying to lose weight, if you don’t know why you want to be in shape or what the benefits of being in shape are, you’re not going to have much progress toward the goal. Yes, we all know being in shape means you’re healthier and your clothes might fit better. But how does being fit change your daily decisions? How does being fit change the way you interact with people? Would it change your self-image? How does being fit change YOU on a deeper level?

Replace “fit” in the above paragraph with “debt-free”, you’ve got a series of questions you need to ask yourself, in order to truly understand why you should become debt-free.

My becoming debt-free

I’ve mentioned a few times (here, and here) about the fact that my husband and I have become debt-free. It was one of our biggest goal in 2016 before we were to get married. We reached our goal at the end of 2016. We kept that debt-free lifestyle for about 6 months until May this year, when we have purchased and moved into a first house together. Yes, this officially put us back in debt with our mortgage. Even still, it’s our plan to have the mortgage fully paid off within the next 5-7 years.

Those 6 months of being truly, completely, and utterly debt free gave me one of the most transforming experiences I’ve ever had. In today’s post, I’d like to share with you how becoming debt-free has changed me, my mentality, my habits, and my outlook on life.

1. It made it possible for me to walk away from a job that was draining me and detrimental to my well-being.

It was a dream company to work at. Getting the job in and of itself was such a milestone for my career. But as fate would have it, this position became one of the worse professional experiences I’ve had. I needed to walk away from it, and I did. I was only able to do that because financially we were able to do that as a household. We had no more bills to pay other than our monthly expenses for the basic essentials

2. It made me NEVER want to go back in debt again.

This was a  very  subtle change in my attitude. So subtle that it took me a while to notice. When you are $2000 in debt, adding $20 on that credit card bill feels like nothing. It’s like finishing up a big shopping trip and adding in another  impulse-buy thingy at the check-out counter. That’s how they get you. Once I was CLEAN from any debt whatsoever, putting $5 on my credit card made me re-think my decision. So then I’d decide to put it on my debit card instead, which made it even harder because now I was spending cash. Did you know that research shows spending cash feels more painful in our head than credit card transactions? All things point toward a credit card-less world for us and that’s how we do it today. Debit card and cash. The only exception is mortgage I guess. In California it’s nearly impossible to save up the kind of cash you need to purchase a decent home.

3. It makes me more vigilant when I spend money.

Along the same lines as the above sentiment, being debt-free makes me re-consider all of my purchases. I talked about how I am so much more vigilant about how I spend money related to the up-keep of my blog.  But even in my life outside of the blog I’m finding myself paying attention to coupons (I was never a coupon clipper), second guessing my urge to purchase something, or abandoning a full shopping cart (online). (Do you guys do that??) Take our new house, for example. I could’ve gone to Home Goods plenty of times and just go crazy on home decor stuff. Which trust me, I totally wanted to. And the backyard… don’t get me started on the backyard. I SO wanted to buy all these patio furniture!! But no. It’s not in our budget right now, not to mention we still have boxes of stuff to unpack. So we wait, maybe next month or the month after we will slowly get to the bits and pieces of new purchase we will need. But waiting is the new virtue I have gained now.

4. It made giving & being generous easier.

My husband and I are both the type to like entertaining friends and family, such as hosting dinner parties or pick up the tab for a gathering. When we were in debt, there was something uncomfortable when we did it and also when we didn’t do it. It felt irresponsible picking up the tab when we knew we still had other debts to pay down. But if we didn’t, something irked at us. Same thing for when I see an ASPCA ad (do they get you guys too?? I am such a wimp. I cry when I see those ads and take my wallet out…). You want to help, and you know you make good enough money. But you can’t. Because you have debt.

Once we were debt-free, it all changed. Because we have a written budget, we put down a certain amount of how much we want to spend on treating our loved ones. Because we have no more car loan or credit card bills to pay, it feels like we have extra money to dedicate to treating family and friends.

5. It changed our relationship by changing our relationship with money.

This is probably the number 1 game changer when it came to how being debt-free changed my relationship with my husband. Finance used to be such a taboo subject, because every time we talked about it we wound up having some sort of fight. He was always the responsible one, and I was the free-spirit. I used my decent income as an excuse, and spent, spent, and spent. When we moved in together and our finances started to merge, there was a really uncomfortable period of time we went through. My husband is has gentle spirit so he never wanted to hut my feelings. But issues inevitably would bubble up and it would force us to have the conversation. I sometimes ended up tearing like a child that realized she did something wrong, or stormed out the door because I felt embarrassed and humiliated.

The solution, came in the form of a financial guru by the name of Dave Ramsey.  In short, Dave Ramsey teaches people how to get out of debt and how to live a debt-free life, and does so with black and white principles that are very easy to follow. He’s funny, sarcastic, very harsh but rightly so. Personal finance is such an important aspect of our daily living but if you think about it, there’s no instituted learning in our education that teaches you anything. What we know we learned from our parents, social media, and our friends. It’s no wonder most of up end up messing up at some point in their life on personal finance.

Since completing Financial Peace University led by Dave, my husband and I are in-sync, speak the same language, have the same expectation, and can talk about any money issues openly and calmly. We have Dave Ramsey to thank. Check out his program… it changed our lives. I hope it changes yours too!

6. It gave us complete financial peace.

This is an intangible and very subtle change in our mentality. It’s very hard to describe, but it’s this general feeling that…you’re okay. There is no fear or anxiety when we look to our future together. We know for a fact as long as we stick to the basics –  a good budget, no-debt, always talk to each other – we will be okay. They say the number 1 reason for divorce in America is finances. We have complete confidence that we won’t have this issue. This kind of peace won’t come from large incomes (trust me, when we had the most fight was when we made the most money as a couple). It won’t come from you guys being math geniuses. It won’t come from some kind of financial windfall like an inheritance or winning the lottery. Because if you don’t have a plan, you won’t be able to build wealth or keep wealth.

Get on a plan today. Get out of debt. If you find what I talked about here foreign… you will have that ah-ha moment when you finally get rid of your last dime of debt. Trust me.

P.S. This is NOT a sponsored post. Victor and I have completed Financial Peace University in March, the same month we got married. It was one of the best experiences ever. Find one near you!!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post 6 Ways Being Debt-Free Transformed My Life appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

First of all, thank you SO much for all of your responses to my last interview with Amanda from Poshmark. I love how some of you asked her more questions and we had more insightful conversation even after the article published. It’s such an incredible honor that I get to chat with these ambitious career women who are doing incredibly challenging but amazing things in their field. I hope to bring you more in the future!

This week’s #GirlBoss on Career Girl Chat

The second Career Girl Chat features Jennie Yoon, who heads up US & Europe Business Development and Marketing at Casetify, a hip lifestyle brand with a focus on tech. Jennie and I actually went to high school together, and reconnected over a blogger conference last year in the Fall. Jennie’s current role at Casetify revolves around maximizing growth and revenue through new distribution channels and strategic partnerships. Jennie’s totally OG in influencer marketing, and has been doing this for years before influencers were publicly acknowledged as a marketing channel. Casetify’s past collaboration includes celebrity endorsements (Hilary Duff, Snoop Dogg), TV placement (Good Morning America, Today Show) and brand collaboration (American Apparel, Pepsi) to name a few. As one of Casetify’s main strategy drivers, Jennie’s role at Casetify has evolved from digital marketing and story-selling in the beginning, to brand building and strategic marketing to her current role. She describes this job at Casetify and herself as a match made in heaven and it’s clear that every fiber of her is dedicated to the success of Casetify. So, let’s get into the question and find out how this #GirlBoss went from interning at a Law Firm’s HR department to holding this much coveted position at Casetify!

Rapid fire questions – what was your college major, your first job, and how many resumes you sent out before you got your first & current job?

I majored in Psychology and Human Behavior, had a minor in business. After working for a few years I went back to school and got an MBA from Pepperdine University which was the pivot point that ultimately led me into marketing.

My first job was at a law firm, I had an internship in Human Resources. I took the job because I saw the the stability of this career path. With my Asian upbringing, stability and access to climbing the corporate latter was important. HR made sense because it’s relevant to every company across different industries. My boss at the time saw my potential interacting with people and reading people, so I focused on recruiting and built the department from scratch for the next 4 years. I found myself enjoying building something in an unknown environment, and mainly, enjoyed the people I got to work with.

Before I landed this job, I probably sent out 10-15 resumes before I got the position in the Law Firm in HR—but the time was probably different. My most recent position with Casetify came out of opportunities I got through traveling, networking, and it was such a match made in heaven so everything just came together within a short time (more on that later).

1)     When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?

Not at all. I always knew career was important, and I wanted to be part of something where I can make a difference. My mantra is that if you choose something, go all in—if it doesn’t work out, at least you won’t look back because you know you gave it all. People have told me to ‘find my passion’ but honestly, I don’t know what I was doing when I graduated. I just knew whatever I chose, I wanted to get my hands dirty and somewhere along the road, passion is something you figure out as you see more things and experience more things (goodness, I sound old).

TIP: Look for role-models, and surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.

If you’re in college, do take multiple internships to help find out what you like and don’t like. Study abroad if your school lets you. My realization came a bit later in my life, but I got a chance to study abroad during my MBA program to Hong Kong. Through a few networking events, I found my way to connect with Wes Ng, the Co-Founder and CEO of Casetify. I instantly connected over our common interest: Instagram.  I positioned my talent in content building and my interest in Instagram as help, and offered to just help him out. And the rest was history!

2)     Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they?

I abso-fucking-lutely love what I do. This is a dream job that anyone could’ve wanted. But this position didn’t just land on my lap – I’ve earned it by working hard and pressing on through difficult times. Here is what I think are important for me to be happy in my career:

1)      A good mentor. I always talk to people that are more experienced than me. This could be your boss, your boss’s boss, your colleague, or someone outside of your office. If it’s someone outside of your organization, ask for an introduction through your contacts.

2)      A good team. In any company (startup or corporate), the work we do is very much a team effort. Everyone has a role to play and they’re the best as a team, in a way, it’s like a football team. You win as a team, never as an individual person.

3)      Growth. Personal growth. As long as you’re learning and you have a boss that’s interested in your growth, it’s a good environment.

3)     What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?

I have both work mentors and life mentors. Work mentors have always been my direct boss (maybe I got lucky with my bosses haha), and I have some in the industry that I’ve asked my friends to connect me with. In terms of people I mentor, I welcome with open arms to anyone who wants to chat.

4)     If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today? These could be lessons you learned from failures, being part of a special project, or pursuing (or not pursuing) a passion you really have.

Travel. Traveling exposes you to see things you’re not necessarily comfortable with. It’s very true in business that you won’t find growth in comfort zones. Traveling forces you to meet people that are not like you and don’t operate like you.

As an extension of the same point, do things that are foreign to you, like going to networking events. Talk to people you don’t know. You just don’t know what opportunities will come from a contact you made, a trip you took, or a conversation you had because you stepped out of your comfort zone.

5)     Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this?

I’ve never loved this question because so much can change in just a year. I’ve never thought in million years I’d be where I am today. Professionally, I’m confident that Casetify will be a huge brand, and I hope to continue to grow with it. Running my own company doesn’t sound too shabby either. I also do hope that I can be a great role model and a mentor to people and pay forward the fortune I’ve been blessed with here at Casetify.

6)     If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience?

Their attitude. It’s one of those things that a good leader can sense right away. I prefer to hire people with willingness to learn, and someone who is genuinely excited about the brand, rather than a know-it-all. Many times, the technical skills are trainable, but the attitude isn’t. Secondly, I’d see if you’ve done your homework. In order for you to stand out, make sure you’re prepared, including doing some stalking work around the company and the people you’ll be meeting with. And lastly, don’t forget the thank you note after the interview. It’s a good way to be on top of the recruiter’s inbox, and to be reminded of who you are.

7)     Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?

My wardrobe is a lot of black, white and tan. Tech founders like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg wear outfits that almost look like uniforms. I’ve read that they stick to a standardized outfit so they don’t have to spend time thinking about what to wear. My go-to office outfit is all black ensemble – black jeans with black top. One piece of clothing that I can’t live without would be my black jeans.

One thing I’ve learned is that you can never be overdressed for a work meeting and you don’t get a second shot at first impressions. Just because we’re in the start-up world doesn’t mean we can be sloppy. So develop a routine and minimize the time spent in putting things together.

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post Career Girl Chat || From HR Intern to Director of Biz Dev at Casetify – How did she do it?! appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Hi you! Thank you for tuning in from your busy schedule. I promise you this is a good one!!

I’m launching an exciting new series called Career Girl Chat on Cubicle Chic (# CGCCC, possibly??), where I interview #GirlBoss who are passionate about their career and love what they do. Together, we’ll probe them with challenging questions and get them to spill the secret ingredient to their career success!

First #GirlBoss On Career Girl Chat

This week, I’m taking you guys with me to peer into the career profile of the one and only Amanda Weiss (@theamandaweiss), Marketing Manager at Poshmark. If you’ve interacted with Poshmark in any way, shape or form on digital media (like their hilarious Facebook page), you’ve probably seen Amanda’s work. She heads up Poshmark’s social media and brand marketing team which includes influencer marketing, events and community management. She’s even Emcee’d at the annual PoshFest conference four years in a row, if you can believe it. Yes, it’s no secret that she’s devoted to a very demanding job that blurs the line between work and personal time. Yet, if you’ve met her at Poshmark events, read her quirky and cheeky Tweets, or seen those high energy/fast pace Facebook Trend Report Live videos, it’s clear that she enjoys what she does and is absolutely passionate about it. So how does she do it??? Let’s dive in and find out how she got to where she is today, and if everything’s always been peaches and cream, as one may think.

First off, a round of Rapid-Fire Questions –

What was your

1)     Major in college?

2)     First job?

3)     Lastly, how many resumes did you send out before you got your first and last job offer?

Amanda: I went to FIDM and got an associate degree in Fashion Merchandising/Marketing then went on to get a bachelor degree in business with a focus in marketing. My first job out of school was being a server at a restaurant to pay the bills, but I spent every minute of my down time job searching for a fashion relation position. In my free time I was also working for free at places like LA Fashion Week and steaming clothes and coordinating details at these events. Before I got my first job offer, I sent out at least 10-15 resumes every week.

When you first graduated from college, did you know that you’d end up where you are today, why or why not?

Amanda: I’ve always wanted to work in “fashion” since I was in high school. But didn’t understand what the industry was like and what it took to work in fashion. For a while I thought I would end up in fashion merchandising and styling because of my experience and degree. But with blogging, social media and all the changes that we’ve seen, the industry is a very different place today. So I had no idea this is where I’d end up. I have just grown and developed and rolled with the punches and using everything to my advantage.

Are you happy with where you are in your career? If you were to name three things you have to have in your career/employment, what are they?

Amanda: I am so passionate about what I do and it’s led me to where I am today. I love Poshmark as a company and also everything that comes with it, the people I work with but also the people I’ve met because of Poshmark. At the same time I think work/life balance is very important, even though I am a workaholic. But for me, what makes me good at what I do is the fact that I love what I do, so a lot of times it doesn’t feel like work. Along the same line, being able to have fun when you work is very important. Fun always makes work easier to do!

What’s your experience with mentorship like, who were your mentors and are you mentoring anyone now?

Amanda: Generally speaking I am an open book and I let my guard down very easily. As a result, I feel like people really respond to that, so I actually get a lot of people reach out to me about how I got my job, to critique their resume, or chat about their job search process. I am very community oriented, so I love connecting with and helping people.

In terms of people that mentor me, at Poshmark I am surrounded by very talented people that are always elevating me. They saw potential in me early on and really value what I do personally and professionally. I’ve been given the chance to shine here so I am very appreciative of that.

If you look back in the past 5-10 years, what were the most important experiences that propelled you to where you are today?

Amanda: A turning point in my career was when I was laid off from my last job before Poshmark. I had already accumulated decent amount of experience, and decided to take a chance at another start-up. When they laid of me off, it definitely made me feel lost, especially when they did it right before the holiday that year and I had an apartment and bills to pay. Someone else would probably have been so devastated and just give up. For me, I picked myself back up right away and let this experience fuel me to find the next opportunity that I really deserved. And I did! Because I was familiar with Poshmark, I saw they were looking for a fashion intern – and although I was way overqualified for the position, I sent in my resume because I just had a feeling Poshmark was for me and that they were going somewhere and I had to be part of it.

Another belief I’ve cultivated over the years is that you’re never too good for a job, and it’s important to pay your dues when you start out. In your career, things don’t get handed to you on a silver platter no matter how many followers you have on Instagram. No matter how much small the task you’re assigned to, if you’re dedicated and give it your all, it will show the kind of person you are and the potential you have.

This quote may be a cliché but it is nothing but true: “Work hard, stay humble, and be kind.”

Now the dreaded “what do you want to be in 5/10 years” question…how do you typically answer questions like this?

Amanda: I 1000% want to grow the team I’m managing now and at the same time expand the different areas in marketing for Poshmark such as more videos, influencer programs, events, creative content, and all the new digital channels that are out there.

Aside from work though, I would like to get to a point where I have a better work/life balance. I want to get to a place where I can also reward myself for all the hard work I’ve put in.

Every 6 months I do a review and look back on what my team and I had done, but with all the changes like Insta-stories sometimes it’s hard to predict the future. The point is that a lot of times growth comes from unexpected places and we should embrace the unknown and dive right in!

If you have experience in interviewing/recruiting new employees, what do you look for in candidates for positions that don’t require years of experience?

Amanda: It’s almost funny, but I can spot a good candidate before meeting them. It’s very important for the candidate to be mindful of the hiring manager’s time and show that they’ve really done the homework to understand their potential employer. Take the cover letter, for example. If 9 out of 10 sentences are about the candidate and nothing about the company, that’s a red flag to me.

Think of your cover letter as an opportunity. Even though it’s not always required, it’s an opportunity to show your personality, connect with the person reading it, and that it could let you stand out. Just like on social media where authenticity is key, your cover letter is just the same – are you showing who you really are and your true interest in the position/company you’re interviewing for.

During the interview process, it’s also very important to have at least 3 solid questions to ask the interviewer because it shows that you really took the time to study the company and understand what the job requires.

Lastly, what’s your go-to office outfit, and what is one piece of clothing you can’t live without?

Amanda: Lucky for me I’ve always worked in the start-up environment so I’ve been able to wear whatever I want. Most of the time it involves something bold, colorful, and makes a statement. Sneakers are the piece that I can’t live without. I re-buy multiple pairs of the same pair of sneakers if I know I would wear a lot. Adidas Superstars and Converse are my go-tos.

The post Career Girl Chat || Work hard, stay humble, and be kind. Opportunities will follow. appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

From me to you

Maybe it’s the new year, maybe it’s the 1.5 years under my belt in the blogging world, or maybe it’s me wanting more out of what I’m doing in my life… regardless, I want to really speak to YOU, yes, my Cubicle Chic reader, whose eyes are crawling these text right now. Thank you for your continued support. I will keep writing, bringing you more useful and relevant information!

My promise in 2017

I hope this blog has been somewhat interesting to you in the past year. I have swayed in different directions out of wanting to venture out, but also out of lack of focus. I have done different sorts of office-related writing, wanting to show you various aspects of my working life, but I’ve also having committed my number 1 blogging faux-pas – talk about outfits for the sake of talking about outfits. This, I promise you, will not be in my blog posts in 2017.

 Dress:  Maison Jules Lace Trim A-Line Dress (also on sale for $54..99 at Macy’s!) Bracelet: Gramerci Design

When I look back on 2016, I’ve really accomplished a lot on Cubicle Chic:

• 8 collaborations (product sponsorships)
• 11 photo shoots with 4 different photographers
• 43 blog posts (wow, really??)
• 2 sponsored event attendance
• 2 speaking engagements
• 2 featured articles
• new logos for Cubicle Chic (thank you Michelle @ EM Branding & PR!)

Even in my own professional life, I’ve accomplished quite a lot. I got a new job, became more strategic in my role and responsibilities. I’m still getting acclimated in my new environment and learning a lot, but I am in an even better place compared to last year this time. I’ve also traveled for work to Germany, Boston twice, San Francisco, and DC, and I am incredibly grateful for all of these opportunities.

And People Matter

I’ve also met a lot of amazing people along the way… Natalie, who has become my go-to photographer (Stylenfuse), Sangyay who has essentially blown up over Instagram (ItsSangTime), Lisa (Everyday Elevated) whose questions make me feel SO worthwhile and always reminds me of why I started this blog in the first place, Jennie (xoyoonicorn), my high school friend who’s taking Casetify to new heights, and many many more people that I’ve met in 2016 that made it that much more special.

 Blazer: Tobi Adriana Boyfriend Blazer (ON SALE For $35, originally $105!) Dress: Maison Jules Lace Trim A-Line Dress (also on sale for $54..99 at Macy’s!) Boots: Marc Fisher Justice Suede Boots (On sale for $79.00!)

My Focus and Direction in 2017

Because of your response and feedback, the one post that turned Cubicle Chic on its head was 7 Pieces of Career Advice I’d Give to My 20-Something Self. This was what gave me the inspiration to write more about my professional journey, the trials and tribulations, and all my lessons learned.  This is a topic I’d be exploring more on, as I adapt and learn in my new role at the new company. I invite you guys to share with me any challenge you encounter, whether be it salary negotiation, interview tips, or of course, how to dress for any business occasions. Let me hear what your everyday challenges are, and I will be your pocket consultant and see if I can offer some help!!

 Dress: Maison Jules Lace Trim A-Line Dress (also on sale for $54..99 at Macy’s!) Boots: Marc Fisher Justice Suede Boots (On sale for $79.00!)

Coming up on Cubicle Chic in 2017

I have exciting stuff coming up in the pipeline. Many interviews with career women who are slaying and loving what they do. I will also be featuring more office appropriate outfits, if not exclusively office appropriate outfits. Lastly, for those of you who know that I am getting married in March, I also have some wedding planning snippets to share with you. So STAY TUNED!

 Dress: Maison Jules Lace Trim A-Line Dress (also on sale for $54..99 at Macy’s!)

This Outfit Though…

Just really quickly.. I can’t tell you how much I love this dress I found off of Macy’s during the holiday shopping frenzy. I already know I’ll be wearing it to work, date nights, birthday parties, or just girls night out! It’s SO comfortable yet super flattering because of its structure. If you don’t know Maison Jules yet, you’re missing out big time! This is not a sponsored post AT ALL (I wish) and I am such a big fan of their pieces. They’re highly affordable and designed JUST for career women like me who need professional but chic options at the same time!

All Photography by Natalie Alvarado @Stylenfuse

The post Looking Back So I Can Look Forward appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

I am inviting you to come backstage to Cubicle Chic, and see what it’s like to be a blogger with a fledgling blog and all the struggles and inner demons I deal with on a daily basis.

I’ve been blogging for a little over a year now and I am JUST starting to feel like I have a good handle on it. Things like photo shoots, editorial calendar, the collaboration with brands, and the writing can get really overwhelming sometimes, but having had a whole year’s of  experience now really gives me more confidence now.

 Necklace: Purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Dress: Banana Republic Tux Dress Lip: Mac Ruby Woo Backpack: Coach Billie bag purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here

But the internet being how vast and unending as it is, I’m constantly reminded by how much more I could do, how much better I should be, and how much more amazing things would be if I just did that.

Honestly, a lot of these ‘what if” and “only if” thoughts wind up having these crippling and paralyzing effects on me. I stop having new ideas, I stop being able to just write freely, and I stop feeling comfortable hitting that “publish” button. Today on Cubicle Chic, I’m sharing with you my very real, mostly negative self talks that send me in downward spirals. But also, the positive self-talks that I’ve learned through experiences that can have a countering effect to my inner demons.

The format below is structured as follows: My inner dialogue, explanation of my concern, and my countering positive self-talk. Sorry if I sound a little schizophrenic -this is the backstage, after all!

 Necklace: Purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Dress: Banana Republic Tux Dress Lip: Mac Ruby Woo Backpack: Coach Billie bag purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here

1) Is where I am ever going to be enough?

When I look at what I’ve been able to accomplish (close to 3K followers on Instagram, 350 fans on Facebook, and close to 400 followers in Twitter – it’s taken a lot of hard work and hustling to get to where I am. But if I look ahead, the road to 10K, 50K, or 100K (if that’s ever obtainable in my life time) is a complete black hole with no end in sight. Is there even a path forward?

Remember why you started this all: You love to write, and you like to share with people your passion in styling office appropriate outfits as well as tips and tricks when it comes to career development. You started doing this for fun. And as long as you are having fun doing this and that you are helping people along the way,  it’s all worth it! 

2) What is my end goal? 

How would  I ever know I’ve “made it”? Is it going to be a certain dollar amount or is it a certain number of followers? And even if I reach those numbers, what comes after that? And if i can’t even get this one blog post to get the traffic I need, how is the blog ever going to reach the audience I want to reach?

Think back on all the rewarding moments you’ve had from the inception of this blog; what do they all have in common? Yes, making a positive difference in people’s life. When you know what you do has made an impact on someone, you feel like all your hard work is worth it. When someone takes up a product recommendation you’ve made, or try a trick you’ve taught them and end up with an interview, or practice reducing the amount of “up-talk” in their speech and become more confident in the process… that’s all that matters. That is the end goal. 

3) How am I going to get to the next level?

I know how I got from zero subscribers to where I am today – continuous production of content, reaching out to people who need my help, and networking with the right talent and meeting the right people. But is this what I need to do to get to the “next level”, whatever that means, anyway?

You are where you need to be. Live in the present, and focus on the now. Acknowledge the future, and understand your path, but don’t dwell on either. Everything I have done put me where I am right now, and that’s all that matters. Enjoy meeting the people you are meeting, appreciate every single comment, and pat yourself on the back for having put in all the work you’ve put in. You know you have a voice, and that voice is going to be the one that carries you to wherever you’re going to end up. Sometimes a little faith comes a long way.

4) Why are my stats not improving? 

They say that analytics is where the crux of your improvement will come from. They say to monitor and dissect your traffic like a hawk. I do it with an almost obsessive attention and I’m still just left wondering – if I know a type of content just isn’t resonating, what is it that I should be doing instead? Or if I keep trying to create different content, and nothing seems to stick… how do I change my approach? Does nobody care what I have to say?

You have a niche, so know that your rate of growth when it comes to follower base is just going to be slower. Also, at your current level, content distribution is limited by your own personal network. This mean you have to think about new ways of branching out. Think about re-structuring collaborations, and ask for guest blog posts, or volunteer to guest blog. Get out there and grow your network. And remember the people that have left you comments, paragraphs of comment, because they were touched by what you wrote. Never forget them, because they care about what you have to say. 

5) Between collaboration and un-sponsored content, how do I balance? 

I don’t want to be a sell-out. But the truth is that feeling when you receive a free product in exchange for review, it’s really hard not to take that as a form of acceptance and compliment. So on the one hand, I want everything I write to be completely un-biased and authentic, but I can’t help wanting to accept free products and sponsorship just so I can get that validation. So then, what is the right mix, 50/50, 20/80?

As long as you are still writing about what you love, and that you feel a true sense of conviction about what you have to say. The moment when you are struggling for words and doubting yourself on the points you have, you know you are losing authenticity. You’ve always considered yourself a maven of information, so spreading words about a great product isn’t selling out. But writing a post on false feelings or results from a product, very much is. So as long as you stay clear of the latter and always provide your most genuine and honest review, you are not a sell-out. 

All photography by Natalie Alvarade

 Necklace: Purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Dress: Banana Republic Tux Dress Lip: Mac Ruby Woo Backpack: Coach Billie bag purchased from Poshmark; similar here and here Shoes: Valentino; similar here

The post The Crippling Thoughts That Consume Me As A Blogger appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

The truth is that most people have some form of fear of public speaking, We’ve all been there: dealing with the knot in our stomach, the sinking feeling of doom, and that the world is going to end when people find out about your deadly fear of speaking in front of a crowd.  For those of us that want to become better speakers, we try to find articles on how to improve presentation skills, find resources to get practice like joining a Toastmaster group, or going through paid trainings like the Dale Carnegie programs. Here is my confession: I have tried them ALL. I’ve even seen therapists for my stage freight. My fear was THAT real.

What you’re about to read next is not written by some expert or experienced speaker. It is written by yours truly, who’s had a severe, diagnosed form of public speaking anxiety. After a lot of trial and tribulations, I am proud to say that I can now finally give presentations and speak to a crowd well. However, the road to this blissful destination was no walk in the park. I lived and breathed this debilitating fear for years. First, there were 2 years of business school, where presentation was required for almost every single class. After that, I entered into the workforce in the field of marketing, where I regularly had to report-out business analytics to teams of 5+ people, often involving upper management. I’ve had countless moments where I contemplated faking a car accident or wondering what would happen if I just dashed out of the meeting room door and never came back. “Is it better for people to think I’m weird/crazy/unreliable, or that I’m bad at public speaking?” was a constant question in my head, whenever I was tasked to speak publicly.

Preface: Here’s My Motivation To Become A Better Speaker

For most of my 20’s, the idea of being a poised speaker one day was an eternal impossibility to me. I knew the problem was in me: that fear was in my head, deeply rooted based on traumatizing experiences and negative self-talk. I read and read, researched and researched; I even sought help from therapists about this anxiety. For years, I was trapped in this cocoon of “I’m just destined to be bad at it”, despite my outward effort in trying to get better. Yet, I kept at it. There was something in me that kept pushing myself to be a better speaker. In hindsight, I attribute it to the people that I was surrounded by. They believed in me and they constantly told me that I DO have what it takes, that I do have a way of garnering attention when I DO speak without anxiety kicking in, and that I always had unique and distinct points to share. This mirrored my internal drive of becoming a successful businesswoman, having my own ground to stand on, and the ability to realize my own aspirations and inspire people to do the same. So, I never stopped attempting to better my public speaking skills.

After having said all of that, I want to share with you the things that I’ve done that helped me along this journey. I am not where I want to be yet, but recent experiences have shown me that I can at least be comfortable in speaking in front of a crowd. But there are MORE, oh SO MANY MORE areas that I can improve on. So here it goes:

7 Things That I’ve Done To Curb My Deadly Fear Of Public Speaking:

1) Find out what the root case(s) of your anxiety is (are)

This may sound really abstract at first, but here’s what I mean. Psychologically speaking, our emotional reactions, especially the more extreme ones, often have external triggers. These triggers are usually associated with life events where we may not even be aware of their effects.

Regardless of our natural tendencies as introverts or extroverts, what were your experiences like growing up when it comes to public speaking? Were your parents and close ones not supportive and encouraging of you to express your opinion? Are there people around you that are afraid of public speaking or just expressing their opinion? These are all factors that could contribute to us having fear or anxiety in speaking publically.

Perhaps you’re like me in that English wasn’t your mother tongue or native language. For those of us who learned English as a second language, we may have beliefs in our head that we just don’t’ have as good a command of English.

Or maybe, you actually have a lot of good public speakers in your life as positive influence. They are great examples of what good speakers should be like, but they make you feel like it’s an unreachable goal and that you could ever be like them.

All of these could contribute to your anxiety toward public speaking. If you can’t figure this out on your own and you REALLY want to find out, find an anxiety specialist to talk to. I have seen a few in my late 20’s and I have learned different things from each and every therapist. Oftentimes when our anxiety kicks in, we’re not able to stop it because each thought is so closely associated with the emotion it triggers; seeing a therapist can sometimes help you learn how to slow that thinking process down which is the first step in taking control of your anxiety.  

2) Know what is driving you in wanting to become a better public speaker 

For me, it’s the fact that that I have this intrinsic belief that I have the potential to be a great speaker; it’s an identity that I feel the urge to realize. On top of that, being a marketing professional, I know the power of persuasion of a great speech. Therefore, all my efforts has been toward aligning my external behavior to this internal belief.

What is your motivation to become a better speaker? Is it a good grade you need in a class? Is it to impress someone? Is it because it feels like everyone else is a good speaker and you’re not? While all of these could be legitimate reasons to fuel you and keep you in your efforts, they’re not lasting motivations. Because they’re not aligned with your internal values and are not based on things that define who you are. Find out what your intrinsic motivations are by asking yourself this question:

o   If I don’t master public speaking, I will feel ____, because I won’t be able to ____.

Take some time to think about it if the answers aren’t immediately clear. But you should be able to complete the sentence with clear words to fill in the blank if being a good public speaker is aligned with your intrinsic values and motivations.

3) When you’re not confident, try memorizing your script and practice endlessly. 

You will likely hear mixed opinion on this suggestion, but it worked for me. The fact is that if you’re shaking and not able to even speak, it’s better to sound like you’re reading from a script than just freezing in front of the crowd.

Also, practice your speech/presentation till you have nothing left to practice. Practice it so well that when you’re saying one sentence you already know what’s going to follow next. Just face and embrace the fact that when you’re less skilled in public speaking, this is what you have to do to make up for the lack of experience.

4)  Pay attention to your body language.

If you haven’t yet, watch Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk on the power of body language. It changed my life, and it could change yours. The science on this method is controversial, but I know for a fact that it worked for me. More importantly, it gave me something to work on when I’m dealing with the jitters. What I used to do 10 minutes before I had to give presentations was to lock myself in an empty conference room or even in the lady’s room, and just spread my arms, stand tall with my chest up, telling myself “You’re going to OWN that audience.”

A more advanced tip along the same line is to watch your body language during your presentation. This also applies to when you’re in a business setting in general.  I’ve included a few good ones here:   

A.     Sit in the front of the room

B.     Don’t play with your hair

C.     Speak UP when you are speaking

D.     Speak TOWARD your audience and not the computer screen or projector screen

Remember that great mentor I talked about a few weeks ago? I learned all of these tips from her.

5)  Seek help. Seek professional help.

Go to a Toastmaster meeting. I have gone a few times and the format of my local meeting didn’t work for me so I didn’t necessarily benefit from the Toastmaster group. But thousands of people have. Give it a try… it can’t hurt.

If your company has development funds set aside for employees, take one of those public speaking trainings. They typically last 2 days, and you are required to give presentations based on particular topics. The best (or worst) part is that you are taped and a professional speaker will then review the tape with you to find out ways you can improve for your next speech. I know Dale Carnegie and American Management Association both offer classes like this.

And if you feel like you’ve tried everything and you still find the fear overwhelming (which I did), find a psychologist or psychiatrist to talk to. Not all psycho-therapies are made equal and everyone needs different levels of interference.  I am simply making this recommendation because it worked for me, so take it with a grain of salt.  

6) Learn how to channel your jitters and re-process it as excitement instead of nervousness

Research has proven it again and again that the the way our body reacts in response to fear and excitement are very similar, if not identical. Learn techniques on how to convince yourself that you are positively excited for the event, as opposed to being scared and wanting to escape. It’s reported a lot in research that when people are told they are “excited” about something, that are much more likely to report higher rate of success than people that are told they are “nervous”. 

I personally make little flash cards (very little for ease of storage and carrying around) that helps guide my thinking and keep my thoughts going in the positive direction. Notes on these cards include “You’ve prepared for this for so long. You are ready” or “No one is as much of an expert as you are on this topic. They are here to learn from you.” or “This is your chance to knock them out with your awesomeness and preparedness. You are going to rock the audience!” Yes, they borderline sound hypnotic, but this is the nature of our thought processes: very malleable and so easily influenced by our surrounding. Learn how to take control of it. 

7)  Lastly, volunteer to speak publicly.

This is the last step for a reason – do this ONLY after you’ve done all of the above, and know what you have in the tool kit for dealing with the queasiness and jitters. Then, look for those opportunities where you’d be able to put all the skills you’ve acquired to use.

I recently started volunteering to speaking engagement and it has been incredibly rewarding. 2 months ago at Taiwanese American Professionals, I was part of a panel of 8 and spoke about my heritage, cultural shift as an immigrant, and my views toward the future as an immigrant young professionalt. Just this past weekend, I was invited to speak at PoshFest as a panel of 2 for a workshop on sales and marketing tactics for how to improve your Poshmark closet.

In both events I was able to share my personal stories, my perspectives on various issues, and provide information to educate, inspire and empower the audience. Both times I had people that came to me after the event to tell me that they learned something new from me and that I have inspired them. Yes, it’s an ego booster and huge compliments. But more importantly, it made me realize that what I have to say is valuable and worthwhile, that my life experiences haven’t been for nothing. All the ups and downs I’ve gone through have put in in the position I’m in today and someone else benefits from my experience as a result of my speaking engagement. It’s so, so, so empowering.

What’s your public speaking story?

The post How I Conquered My Deadly Fear In Public Speaking appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

There are the obvious benefits of having a mentor – someone who shows you the ropes, helps with career planning and guidance, is there to offer advice when you encounter problems. But…

But if this is all your mentor provides for you, you might have what I call a “basic mentor.” Finding a basic mentor, or any mentor for that matter, is not an easy task. Finding a great mentor, though? Flat out difficult.

Here are some signs that your mentor is more than basic.

5 TRAITS OF A GREAT MENTOR

1) THEY HELP YOU DISCOVER YOUR PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS

If your mentor knows you well enough and happens to work in the same organization as you do, they should be able to observe you, your performance, and your impact. Over time, this gives them the advantage to pinpoint where you’ve made the biggest contribution, and guide you on how to hone in on those skill sets involved. Even if they don’t work in your office, they should regularly ask you the kinds of pointed, critical questions that force you to assess your own work and professional style. A great mentor won’t tell you what to do—they’ll help you think critically.

2) AND POINT YOU TOWARD CAREER RESOURCES THAT WILL CHALLENGE AND DEVELOP YOU

As a continuation of knowing your strength, a great mentor will regularly suggest how and where to find resources to develop yourself. Working on public speaking? “Try Toastmasters or Amy Cuddy’s latest book.” Need help with manipulating large amount of data that Excel can’t handle? “Look into Tableau.” Part of what makes a good mentor is the mentor’s own ability to keep up with technologies and latest resources for refining a trade and continuous self-improvement. Look for someone who’s eager and curious about their work and industry and who loves to share.

3) THEY’RE YOUR DEVIL’S ADVOCATE AND BIGGEST CHEERLEADER (AT THE SAME TIME)

One of the most valuable things a mentor can do with is to help you evaluate your options when you hit a “fork” in your career path and need to make a decision. A good mentor will help expand your thinking and make sure your thought processes cover as many aspects of your life, professional and personal, as possible. They’ll ask the toughest questions. And when you’ve made a decision, they will support you and cheer you on.

4) THEY GIVE YOU HONEST AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Receiving and giving criticism is an art form, to say the least. We all have cringe-worthy memories of giving or receiving criticism. If done well, though, it takes mentorship from good to great. This step requires a mutually trusting relationship between you and your mentor—it takes you being open and vulnerable, and your mentor being honest and tactful.

5) THEY GROW WITH YOU

This is probably the most difficult aspect to cultivate in a mentorship if it doesn’t spontaneously develop over time. The truth is that people change. We hear the same thing about romantic relationships, in which two partners have to be open and honest about the changes in their thinking, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. A good mentor has to be aware of your growth and his or her own growth. This means there may be a time, when your needs as a mentee evolve beyond their capacity as a mentor. Or there may also be a time when your mentor is taking on new challenges in their life, where you can reverse the roles and for you to offer up advice. Again, this takes a strong foundation in your relationship and a ton of trust. The goal here is to evolve with each other.

MY PERSONAL STORY

Why do I know all of this? It comes from years of having a great mentorship. This mentorship started with me being hired into my first job right after graduate school in 2011. That was the first time this mentorship changed my career—actually, it essentially started it! My mentor was my then boss and hiring manager. Two years into this job as a temp, after pushing mountains (i.e. a 6-month hiring freeze) for me, I was converted to a full-time employee. This was the second time my mentor “saved” me. And earlier this year, I was given the opportunity to take on a new role, and this opportunity was offered by the same mentor. In hindsight, if it wasn’t for this opportunity, it’s highly possible that I would’ve gotten laid off. Needless to say, I am extremely grateful.

HOW TO FIND YOUR OWN GREAT MENTOR

Much has been written on the topic of how to find a mentor (by Huffington Post, LinkedIn, and Refinery 29, to name a few), and they’re certainly a great place to start. But you also have to consider why you want a mentor, and how having a mentor will change you and your career.

This brings me to a very critical component of mentorship—your effort. A great mentor goes out of their way to ensure the success of their mentee. But that relationship can only exist because the mentees seek and prepare. Like most things, the amount of energy you invest will contribute to what you actually get out of your mentorship. Without preparation and effort, mentorship devolves into a series of handshakes and stiff meetings—nothing more.

SOME TIPS

• If you’re on track with your career path, start with who you know. Do you have a more senior coworker who you admire or a boss? See if they’d grab a cup of coffee with you to discuss their own career.
• If you’re not sure where you want your career to go—consider informational interviews. They’re a great way to network and learn about an industry that interests you.  [link to our informational interviews 101 piece]
• Attend networking events, then actually follow up with people who you found inspiring. See if they’ll meet you for a drink or coffee. If it’s a good fit, stay on top of communicating with them regularly.
• Try Career Contessa’s Hire a Mentor platform. This is kind of a cheat, but hey, there’s nothing wrong with finding a shortcut. You can pick the mentor that best fits your professional path and interests, then book a one-on-one session to kickstart a job search or plan some career goals.

(This article was published on Career Contessa on 9/5/2016)

I’d like to hear about your mentorship stories! Whether you are a mentor or a mentee, share away!

The post 5 Hidden Benefits of Having a Great Mentor & How to Find one on your own appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Experiences in the past have indicated something about my personality, and it’s that I may have a more serious demeanor, especially at work. I even had one person that told it to me directly, that I am an intense person to work with sometimes. Having been an outspoken person my whole life, I’ve taken comments like that as a compliment. That sentiment changed slightly in a recent incident. I had a 1:1 teleconference with someone I was trying to make a really strong impression with, and in the teleconference the video capacity was enabled. For the first time, I was watching myself as I spoke, in a way that I thought exuded confidence. I was mentally gasping at the image of myself on screen – I looked SO serious and definitely intense!

 Dress: Kit And Ace; similar here Vest: Boutique; similar here Mules: Asos; similar here  Dress: Kit And Ace; similar here Vest: Boutique; similar here Mules: Asos; similar here

Needless to say, there is a bit of a gap that exists between the internal visualization of myself and, when I get the chance to get a glimpse of, the way the world actually perceives me. It’s uncomfortable to face this realization, and quite honestly, a bit unsettling.

Working in Corporate America for half a decade has taught me a thing or two. Number 1, 2, and 3 are as follows: Your image is everything, your image is everything, and your image is everything. Yes, in case I didn’t make it clear, your image is everything. For me, the ideal image consists of the following adjectives: strategic, conscientious, and poised. The challenge, though, is that I am human and made of flesh. So while I can be strategic, conscientious, and poised, I am also passionate and dogged, and I really do care. So at times I have to be dial up certain qualities, in order to balance out the way I carry myself. As a result, I deliberately try to behave more assured, authoritative, and firm. This is reflected in the following ways: 

1. I am very conscious of something a lot of women fall victim of, something called “Uptalk” – where you raise the end of your sentence with an upward inflection to make it sound more like a question/suggestion, rather than a statement or a demand. (It’s a thing, officially called High Rising Terminal, look it up!) I do everything in my power to avoid it.
2. I pay attention to body language. Twirling the hair, sitting in the back of the room, crossing my arms, or sitting in a “minimizing” posture (including slouching, looking down, folding your arms) all indicate the lack of confidence. I do the opposite – I sit in the front, sit back and try to relax, make direct eye contact, and speak up toward the front of the room.
3. I keep small talks to the minimum. I have a select group of people that I would consider friends at work, and outside of this circle, I don’t engage in small talks too often. I prioritize being professional and effective over being someone’s pal to chat about the weekend with.
4. When the circumstances are so that I have to pick between making progress and keeping the peace or that “good feeling” environment, I usually default to the former. There are good ways, tactful ways, to create a win-win situation and achieve both, it’s true. But when deadlines are real and decisions need to be made, something’s gotta give. For me, making progress usually wins out.

 Dress: Kit And Ace; similar here Vest: Boutique; similar here Mules: Asos; similar here

So maybe, just maybe, in the process of upholding that image as a professional woman, I lost touch with the core of my being – the warm, open, caring, and easy-going side of me.

Or maybe, just maybe, in the corporate world, room for an individual to exhibit these characteristics is just limited.

Or maybe, just maybe, could it be because I am a woman, therefore the trade-off exists?

I would definitely be re-visiting this topic soon. What are your thoughts so far?

All photography by Natalie Alvarado (Stylenfuse)

The post How I Came to Be an Intense Woman at Work appeared first on Cubicle Chic.