Disclaimer: I have partnered with BetaBrand to show you a few different office friendly workwear pieces that I was given. I have been a long time fan of BetaBrand (for about 2 years) and I am incredibly excited to work with them! Use my code JESSICA15 to get 15% off your order!!

What I write about on Cubicle Chic is very often a direct reflection of what’s going on in my life. On that note, I am happy to report that, after 4 months of funemployment and blogging full time, I’m going back to working full time this week! As I prepare for my first day of work on Monday the 23^rd, I have been thinking about all the different aspects of how to make the best impressions on the first day.

The first day of work is often nerve wracking because it has a lot of unpredictable elements.

You don’t always know if the day is going to be filled with meetings, or cranking out trainings and signing agreement alone at your desk. You don’t know if you’re going to have a lot of tasks already or have a lot of time to soak up more knowledge.

One element you can control on the first day of work, however, is the way you dress.

Remember what you wore to your interview? Wear something similar on your first day of work.

To your employer, the first day is a bit of a “moment of truth”. They get to learn more about you, know what you’re like being in the new office, and watch how you adapt to the new office environment. Wear something that people would expect you to wear, i.e. what you wore to your interview. It puts your employer at ease, that makes them feel like you’re the same person that they decided to hire.

Be a team player and blend in on your first day.

In most corporate office settings, being a team player is crucial trait. On your first day, hopefully you’ve taken some time to research the proper dress code. Be more like others,blend in with what you wear, and play up the team player image. When in doubt, pick neutrals over colors, formal over casual, and structured & fitted over loose.

Go easy on accessories and jewelries. Remember that bib necklaces are 2012 (thanks for making this declaration, Angie!), and dainty/understated jewelries are not only more current now, but perfect for your first day ensemble.

P.S. Gramceri is my favorite dainty jewelry designer and they are VERY affordable (under $50 most of the time) and VERY well made. I’ve worn a lot of pieces from them for over a year now and the colors do not fade!

Get ready for your badge/ID photo.

More often than not, your company badge photo will be taken on the first day of your job. Wear something that you’d like to have showing in your company ID. Some rules of thumb: wear low neckline (appropriately so, obvi), clean up your hair, wear minimal jewelries (i.e. either just earrings or just necklace, not both), wear the MLBB kind of lipstick, and remember to smile!

Wear your “comfort item”.

This is a personal mantra of mine. Perhaps it’s a less superstitious version of carrying a lucky charm. It works toward any part of your outfit – shoes, blazer, pants, or how to wear your hair. For your first day of work, wear something you always wear. Wear something that makes you feel like yourself (unless you’re talking about wearing PJ….then don’t be yourself LOL). For me, this gray structured blazer (I take a size small), chic and breathable, is my go-to piece of workwear. If you’re unsure of what to wear (heels or flats, beige or black, dress or pants), default to your comfort level.

As you are reading this, I am going to be kick-starting my first day of the new position. I, for one, will be applying these tips on how to dress for my first day of work. I hope they’re useful for you too! They say dress for the job you want and not the one you have. But I say dress for the job you got for your first day of a new role, and leave the aspiration and future goals for when you have a strong foothold later!

All photography by Natalie Alverado @ Stylenfuse

The post What to Wear on Your First Day of Work appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Whether you are currently looking for a job (like I have been) or thinking about making your next career move, you need all the free job search tools hat will help you level the playing field as a job seeker.

I remember when I was looking for internship opportunities as a new college graduate in 2007/2008. Craigslist, my university’s job board, and monster.com were the only resources that were available.

Fast forward to 2017, everything is now online which also means your personal network is more connected than ever. Someone who may give us a reference or pass our resume into the hiring manager’s hands is a click away in today’s world. Additionally, the way we look for potential opportunities, the way we present our professional profile and portfolio, the way we stay connected with our network has all been turned on its head. In 2017’s workforce and career advancement, it’s more important than ever to stay visible, understand what your competitive strengths are, know how to leverage them, and lastly, put yourself out there and stay connected to the right network.

Here are 5 tools that you may not know about that will help you do these things more efficiently:

1. Glever: AI-based Resume Generator

This is the job-search part of the internet’s best-kept secret- you can literally create a resume from scratch in minutes! The way it works is that you enter in the title of the position(s) you’ve held (for example, social media specialist, marketing communications manager, etc) and the system will generate all the related responsibilities related to this function. You can then pick and choose from a seemingly never-ending list of job function descriptions, to describe your experience and role. Then, this is a very important step – you want to modify them so you are not plagiarizing others’ work. Also, you want these descriptions to be a 100% reflection of your actual experience. Try it out, let me know what you think!

2.     Glassdoor Know Your Worth: Gain Leverage in Salary Negotiation

It’s one thing to research what the average salary is. It’s another to calculate your worth based on the specifics in your job history. The things your salary worth depends on years of experiences, your location, and the positions/titles you’ve held. Glassdoor helps you figure out what you are worth based on your career history. Get this free piece of information today and so you can negotiate like a pro!

3.     Levo: Present Your Career Like a Story

Think of it as a more dynamic, lively, and flexible version of LinkedIn. Levo is great for those that feels like their employment history doesn’t represent their career holistically, or that they have a side hustle or amazing life experiences that make them an attractive job candidate. Levo is a great platform to use to tell your career story, one “card” (the building blogs of your Levo profile) at a time.

I have only very recently discovered Levo (see my profile here!), so you know of more ways to utilize it, let me know!

4.     Good & Co: Find Out Your Workplace Personality

If you ever struggle with figuring out what your professional strengths and inclinations are, take one of these work personality tests. Additionally, do you ever wonder how you come across to others at work, what your approach is in getting work done, or what kind of co-worker you are to others? These are all things you can take this simple 18-question quiz to find out!

Knowing the answers will help you steer your job search in the right direction. You will also have more idea about how to answer the dreaded interview question “what are your strengths and weaknesses”.

5.     Jobscan’s Resume Keyword Scanner: Tailor Your CV/Resume For The Job

If you’ve ever felt like your resumes go into a black hole online, you’re not alone. At some point, you should check out whether it’s even passing the screening algorithms. Larger companies tend to use resume scanning bots as their first line of the filter. Your resume needs to have the right keywords!

It’s quite simple – Jobscan takes your resume, and your desired position’s online description, and compare them side-by-side to spits out a percentage of keyword overlap. It will even give you a list of keywords to use. Put the keywords to use and increase the likelihood of your resume showing up on the company’s radar!

6.     Career Blogs: Personalized, Tailored Advice

This is one of my favorite free job search tools online: career bloggers. One of the most common traits of bloggers is that they are passionate and empathetic. If they started a blog, chances are they have a lot of advice to offer and want to help. And if they write about career advice, you bet they’d help you out!

The two bloggers below have both helped me in my job search in the last 3 months, and I have enjoyed pretty much every single post they have written!

a.     Tori Dunlap // Digital Marketing Guru

• 5 (Fail-Proof) Ways to Negotiate a Raise
• 10 Tricks to Deal With Work Stress

b.     Emily Liou // Career Coach

• What’s Your Career Mind Map?
• 3 Crucial Steps to Killing an Interview

Which one of these free job search tools have you used, and what’s your experience like with them?

The post 6 Free Job Search Tools You Did Not Know About appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Appropriate for job interviews in HR, finance, law, high-tech, upper management, consultancy, accounting, teaching positions in universities

Last week, we covered job interview outfits for the creative industry featuring a longline vest and a bright color pencil skirt. For those that work in the more conservative industries, you haven’t been forgotten! Today’s interview outfit is for the more traditional type of offices.  I’ve spent the last 6 years in the biotech industry so I know a thing or two about how people tend to dress. For you #bossladies out there that are prepping your blazers and power suits, here’s an outfit that will make you stand out!

 Dress: Banana Republic Tweed Dress (size 4): On Sale for $71 now!  Bag: Banana Republic Tote, similar here

Ready For The Job Interview?

Having been actively job searching myself, I like the idea of having an outfit ready to go when I need to meet people for the in-person interview.  I have a few dresses and blazers that I consider perfect for interviews but in today’s post, I wanted to talk about colors.

Why The Little Red Dress For an Interview Outfit

This Banana Republic Tweed Dress (on sale for $71 now, I wear a size 4!) is one of my wardrobe favorite right now, not just for the fit and the way it looks, but for the color. They say to wear red when you’re trying to persuade or impress someone, and it’s perfect when you’re trying to convince someone that they should hire you! I really like how his muted red is very flattering and sends a subtle message of passion, conviction, and excitement!

 Dress: Banana Republic Tweed Dress (size 4): On Sale for $71 now!  Bag: Banana Republic Tote, similar here  Dress: Banana Republic Tweed Dress (size 4): On Sale for $71 now!  Bag: Banana Republic Tote, similar here  Dress: Banana Republic Tweed Dress (size 4): On Sale for $71 now!  Bag: Banana Republic Tote, similar here

Colors and Associated Traits Impressions

According to this article from Business Insider, here is what each color means in an outfit, so consider what’s most important to convey in your job interview. Check out all these amazing interview outfits in different colors from a few of my favorite fashion bloggers. Take notice what each color is supposed to convey!

Black: Leadership
Photo credit: The Work Agenda

White: Organized
Photo credit: Avec Amber 

Blue: Team Player
Photo credit: Corporate Style Story 

Brown: Dependable
Photo credit: Lin Self Portrait

Gray: Analytical/Logical
Photo credit: Do Well Dress Well 

Red: Power
Photo credit: DC Girl In Pearls

More to Choose From:

Here are more job interview appropriate dresses from Banana Republic (in case you can’t tell… I am a huge fan!) that are in this spectrum of great colors to wear:

What’s your favorite color to wear for an interview, or even outside of your work life? Maybe look into your closet today to learn a little bit about what personality traits you’re showcasing with your wardrobe!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post What to Wear To A Job Interview & 6 Outfit Colors to Consider appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

{Appropriate for positions such as engineer, coder, startup product manager, graphic designer, communications specialist, digital marketing strategist, videographer}

So, an in-person interview has been confirmed. You are taking hours to study the industry, get to know the company, understand the role. You’ve printed 5 copies of your resume and got that portfolio of your work ready to go.

Now, the last and the only loose end is the outfit. What should you wear for this in person meeting?

Your main goal is to look professional, showcase your style, and have a little bit of an edge so you leave a strong impression. You have done the research (you’ve looked on their social media channel, read the company blog, searched for news pieces that feature them), you know the company has that business casual environment where people dress according to their personal style.

What are some rules of thumb to follow when creating an outfit for an interview in the creative industry?

Be Confident and Comfortable

You want to feel yourself, and not be worried about a longer than usual sleeve or a pair of pants that’s tight in a place you’re not used to. So, don’t wear clothes you’re not used to wearing. And when in doubt, opt for “soft material on the inside and stiff material on the outside.” For example, a silk shirt allows you to be comfortable, and a more structured blazer will give you that professional looking edge.

Use Colors to Your Advantage

Wearing a pop of color is an easy way to add a focal point to an otherwise simple and minimalist outfit. Try a colorful bag to an otherwise black and white outfit, or a colorful (but simplistic) necklace, or a pair of colorful shoes. These will help those people that you meet remember you.

Start with a Basic Must-Have

If you don’t know where to start, I always tell people to start with one piece of clothing that you know says “professional”. Take a pencil skirt, a crisp blazer, a silk blouse, and go from there. Once you have the foundation of your outfit, pick other things in relatively neutral colors that compliment this piece. Finally, add a pop of color somewhere, and you should be done!

Do you need help putting together an interview outfit? Email me! We can do a 15 min Facetime session and try to put together based on things already in your closet. Or, if you are inclined to shop for the interview, I can also make recommendations for that!

All Photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

If you’re looking for more sample interview outfits, here are 4 interview outfits some other amazing fashion bloggers. Click on the images to see their posts!

The post What to Wear To A Job Interview [For the Creative Industry] appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Everyone should have a go-to outfit on days when they don’t want to stand in front of a closet, stare at it, and stress. If you have to dress for work 5 days a week, this scenario I just painted has probably happened to you. For most of us, the concept of the capsule wardrobe is not new – find what works for you, and stick with it. Whether you’ve gotten around officially defining what that look is for you,  it’s never too late to start thinking about it.

Today on Cubicle Chic, I’m sharing my “template” is, when it comes to something that ALWAYS works for me, Jessica, yours truly. But that’s not it. I have 2 other career blogger friends whose styles are just on-point and I absolutely adore. I am sharing what their go-to outfits are with you too! Keep scrolling to the bottom to see 2 more impeccably professional yet fashionable looks!

White Top + High-Waisted Pants + Leather Sneakers

Here’s the deal – the color white in an outfit always conveys professionalism and efficiency (think about what doctors and chefs wear). Plus, you and I both know it, white goes with everything.

High-waisted pants tend to elongate me and that’s why I love them. But I have to be very careful of where the hem of the pants hit – it has to be at a place that’s flattering for my body frame. And what kind of shoes I wear also makes a big difference.

Leather sneakers is a new trend I discovered lately. I’ve always secretly wished we could wear sneakers to the office, and when I saw the Nike Airmax Thea in leather, I knew it was the one. The leather material makes them look a lot less casual, and my feet always thank me at the end of the day in the office. But remember they’re still sneakers after all, so don’t wear them to an interview or a presentation.

Lastly, pair it with a simple, neutral-tone and classic handbag – you’re good to go!

 Top: similar @ Nordstrom Pants: Tobi Understand This Cigarette Pants Purse: C/O Coach Dinky Crossbody Bag Shoes: Nike Air Max Thea

Now, if this isn’t the type of look you see yourself wearing, I have two more – and I want to introduce to you Michele Lando from Write Styles, and Chanèle McFarlane from Do Well Dress Well. These are both fabulously stylish and total #GirlBosses who have amazing tips on how to dress for the office.

Structured Blazer + Flowy Blouse + Skinny Pants [or] Pencil Skirt

Michele has a simplistic and sometimes monochromatic approach when it comes to creating her go-to outfit. This look works for most body type, and as long as you find a quality blazer, and keep colors to a minimum, you are sure to look chic and professional like Michele does here!

Neutral Color Dress + Print or Floral Blazer + Statement Necklace

On the other end of the spectrum, Chanele is an absolute expert in mastering color in her outfits. Honestly, if you want to see how colorful outfits can be done professionally & tastefully, check out her blog!!

Here Chanele pairs a simple black dress with a super bright and floral blazer, and finished the look with a statement necklace. Voila – this outfit is bold and bright, but so meticulously chic and polished!

All Cubicle Chic Photography in this post are by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post Having A Capsule Wardrobe For Work || Three Looks To Create Right Now appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Last week we talked about what to wear for the off-site kind of holiday party that’s more formal and dressy. I featured the Morning Lavender Lynette dress that has since come back in stock! Check it out before they run out again!!

Now, there is the other type of company holiday party that happens during a normal work day. For these  parties that happen in the office, perhaps a lunch gathering or a late afternoon happy hour, the dress code is usually a lot more laid back and casual.

So for these occasions, Maison Jules is actually a great choice! I’ve only recently gotten to know this brand but they’ve been around for a long time, and as far as I can tell, are sold exclusively at Macy’s. They make a lot of work-appropriate, stylish, and demure pieces that are perfect for the holiday season. For example, this windowpane fit-and-flare dress:

I was planning on adding a leopard print belt to this outfit, but accidentally left it out of the photo shoot. I think this look would’ve been more complete that way..

Along the same lines, because this is a more low-key dress, I paired it with my new over-the-knee boots from Amazon (only $39…what??) to add some color and a focal point. They turned out to be surprisingly slimming, these vegan suede OTK boots, which was a total surprise!

Here are a few other pieces from Maison Jules that I’ve been eyeing. They would all make awesome in-office holiday parties, with a few colorful accents like the red scarf on the right.

What are you wearing to your holiday party, in office or out of the office??

By the way, if this dress looks familiar to you… you may have seen it on Jean from Extra Petite. YES…. she totally sold me on this dress!! Who else follows her?

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post The In-Office Holiday Party Dress || Maison Jules Dress Review appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Isn’t this everyone’s favorite season of the year? The crisp air, the string lights, the pops of green and read everywhere, the gifts…. and the shopping. OH, THE SHOPPING.

How bad was it, for Thanksgiving? What did you all get?? As part of my November shopping budget, I knew I wanted to get something for the holiday parties coming up. SO I was trying to be careful, only going down a very selectively curated list of shops I wanted to hit.

And one of these shops I’ve been coveting is MORNING LAVENDER. It’s a clothing brand created by Kim Le Pham aka Lace and Locks. I may have come across this store while searching for my engagement shoot outfit. They have the most high quality and amazingly classy tutu skirts available anywhere (no 5 year old ballerina feel at all). If you just take a look at their website, it’s immediately clear that the collections are curated by someone who knows TRENDS but also how to blend trends into classy and timeless ensembles. Which, if you don’t know yet, is my kind of style!

So I knew I was going to pick something from their collection this holiday season to be a part of my Company Holiday Party dresses..and then, I found the one… LYNETTE GREEN LACE MIDI DRESS. This piece is unfortunately sold out at the moment, but if you sign up for the email notice, they will let you know when they restock it!

The details on this dress are incredible. It’s very sturdy kind of lace with a slight bit of chiffon at the bottom of the dress. My favorite part of the dress is the shorter sheath layer on the inside… so it’s sexy but in a very subtle way!

I think this dress is PERFECT for those more formal, offsite company holiday parties where you want to be a little daring, but still be completely appropriate and professional. I wore this dress with a trench coat when it was cold, and I felt totally holiday party ready!

 Dress: Morning Lavender Lynette Dress Shoes: Valentino Rockstud Heels Clutch: DailyLook Baggu Clutch; similar here  Dress: Morning Lavender Lynette Dress Bracelet: Gramerci Design Clutch: DailyLook Baggu Clutch; similar here

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post The Perfect Dress For The [Formal/Offsite] Company holiday Party | Morning Lavender Dress Review appeared first on Cubicle Chic.