Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

How has the new gig been, you ask? I’m not going to sugarcoat it… It’s been hard coming back to the 9-5 routine after a 4-month hiatus. Don’t get me wrong, the new social media role is engaging, challenging, and making me learn new things almost daily. It’s everything I could’ve hoped for in this new job. But during my time off earlier this year, I’ve gotten a taste of the flexibility freelancing offers and the cubicle life just isn’t the same anymore. The commute, the traffic, the meetings, and the lack of personal time sometimes make me feel stuck in the corporate life. I catch myself wishing there were more hours in the day so I can dedicate more time to blogging, exercising, gardening, and just living…

However, this is the life I’ve intentionally chosen to embrace again and without it, I couldn’t possibly write a blog called Cubicle Chic, could I?

So, to continually find energy, motivation, and intentions in my day-to-day and not feel stuck in the corporate life, I’ve developed a series of healthy habits, or, should I say, rituals. Here are 6 things you could do everyday to prevent feeling stuck in the corporate life:

1. Reframe the problem of “feeling stuck”

First, start shifting your frame of mind when it comes to feeling stuck in the corporate life. This is a new concept I’ve learned from a book I am reading now called Designing Your Life, How to Build a Well Lived, Joyful Life. In the book, the authors Bill Burnett & Dave Evans talk about the issue of fixating on “gravity problems”. The example they gave is people feeling stuck on things that they have no power to change – the building they work out of, their manager’s temperament, their salary (to an extent), etc. Instead, if we accept things like we accept gravity, we can shift our focus onto other things that we CAN improve.

Another thing the authors recommend people do is to keep a Good Time Journal (download their free worksheet and try it yourself). By doing so, you are consciously monitoring what activities engage you and put you in the zone, and what activities drain your energy. If you can intentionally manage your day knowing how to fuel your energy tank with the right kind of activities, and organize your day around things that engage you, you can avoid that numb, frazzled, and exhausted feeling that we all feel too often past 5PM.

2. Meditate with the Headspace app

It’s 2017 and even corporations are embracing meditation as a productivity hack. Some even consider it a team sport. But truthfully, I’ve tried to get into meditation and failed countless times. But it doesn’t stop me from trying to acquire the habit of doing it, only because I’ve gotten a glimpse of the kind of ZEN your mind could enjoy if you learn to put your mind at ease voluntarily. With meditation, you can calm the thoughts that haunt your mind, and focus on the things that you want it to focus on.

The ever-so-popular app Headspace makes the practice of meditation so much more manageable and accessible. In one of the first sessions, Andy Puddicombe talks about being “present” in an unpleasant activity. Take sitting in traffic for example. What this means is, instead of wishing I was somewhere else and NOT in traffic, I choose to be present when I AM stuck in traffic. Whether I choose to spend the time in quietness, listen to my favorite podcasts/tunes, or talk to a friend on the phone, I don’t resist the fact that I am in traffic. And I just accept it and stay present in it.

A lot of times, it’s the act of resisting your condition that amplifies the unpleasantness of it.

If we learn the art of accepting a less-than-perfect condition, stay in control, and choose how we want to feel, then we can dictate how uncomfortable or comfortable we are.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

3. Start your day by doing something you love

This is a proven method a lot of entrepreneurs and business leaders do to increase their productivity.

Imagine if you had one extra hour every day to do what you love to do and something you always wished you had more time to do. Be it exercising, reading, walking your dog, watching your favorite TV show, tending to your garden, drawing, or painting, or cleaning. Now set your alarm clock one hour earlier, and voila, you have your magical, extra hour in the day!

Of course, if you want to maintain the same level of sleep, you would need to go to bed one hour early. The practice here is to make sure you get to do what you love doing every day within the first hour of the day.

Since you already dedicated an hour to what you love doing, you won’t go on with your day thinking about what you wish you were doing… because you already did it!

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

4. Develop a ritual that lifts you up

For me, this is watering my plants in the office and checking on them every day. Seeing how they are doing every day makes me look forward to the start of the day more. For others, it could be brewing a pot of the exotic coffee you got last month, or brewing your favorite tea at the moment, or bringing in donuts one day of the week to share with your coworkers, or tearing off one page of the funny cat daily calendar … you get the point.

Find these little moments that give you a small dosage of joyfulness that makes you look forward to being in the office.

After all, a ton of research points toward the fact that it’s the small things that make us happy.

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

5. Remind yourself why you work

It’s okay if your primary motivation to work is to make money. It’s a lot of people’s number 1 reason. Just know that #4 on this list doesn’t work that well for you if money is why you work.

I’ve had the luxury of taking a substantial (4 months) break from working. What I discovered during the 4 months was that I have options. I can choose not to work. I can choose who I want to work for. I can choose what I want to do. So, when I came back to work, I had a strong conviction that marketing is what I want to do as a profession. I knew that my motivation is fueled by always learning new things, teaching people how to improve, and seeing positive results from marketing activities.

Whenever I question why I decided to spend 8 hours at work and 2 hours in traffic every day, which trust me, I do… I remind myself that it was my decision to come back to work and this is exactly where I want to be.

Maggie London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

6. Remember your friends (contact old friends or make new friends)

Friends make work more fun, period. So many articles have been written and research was done to show the importance of developing strong friendships at work. Here’s a quick list by Business Insider of things you can do with coworkers to make the office environment more enjoyable with friends.

Also, finding time to craft a well-thought-out email to tell an old friend you miss them, and that you miss the good ole times is also a good way to bring in a sense of camaraderie or community into your immediate surrounding.

And also because this:

Maggy London Jackie Midi Dress, Size 4, $118

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post 6 Ways To Stop Feeling Stuck in the Corporate Life Right Now appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

Life’s been moving at the speed of light for me lately. All within the last 3 months, I quit a 6-figure job, got married, got into a nearly fatal car accident and totaled the car that I’d just paid off 2 months prior, bought our first house, and now about to move into that house. Throughout all these ups and downs, one of the constants that remained is my writing and blogging on Cubicle Chic. Since I’ve started freelancing, content ideas have been flowing and I’ve gotten quite a number of new collaborations.

This got me thinking…

Am I successful? Or at least… am I on the verge of being successful?

Well, let’s look at how conventional wisdom defines success:

·      Consumerism and American culture pretty dictate that success is material possession. Having a lot of “stuff” – a nice car, a big house, or expensive jewelry… means success.

·      Religious and spiritual teachings say that the state of contentment or a state of no more “wanting” is the ultimate goal.

·      In Corporate America, in the most black-and-white-no-gray-area way, success is defined by power and high positions.

But all of us can name at least one person in our life that has one of these things but still not happy, satisfied, or fulfilled.

Whether you’re on an uphill, downhill or a flat-out slump in life, I’m sure this question has crossed your mind about where this pursuit of success is supposed to lead you. When would you ever feel OK to not hustle and strife anymore, and would we ever be able to stop and pat ourselves on the back and admire our success, and just be content? It’s human to instinctively want to pursue success, but it’s also human to wonder just how to define success so we know we are “successful”?

So, what is success? How do we ever know we are “successful” and how do we define success?

Success is a process. Recognize the bits and pieces as it happens

If we recognize the state of pursuing success as a continuous process, we must admit that it isn’t about what happens at the very end, or the big bow that we’re able to put on this whole process. It’s about counting all forms of success like the way we are told to count our blessings. Success isn’t one big thing, it’s many small things. Finishing a marathon isn’t the only form of success, it’s the pre-training, the start of the race, the persevering in the last 3 miles, and crossing the finish line. Success only feels fleeting because we recognize it at the end and we forget to celebrate the beginning and the middle.

“It feels like we constantly chasing a goal and even after we reach it, we’re ready for something more. The chase seems to be what drives us more than the actual “prize.” This happens to millennials more often because we’ve grown up in a world of instant gratification— binge watching a show, order anything to be delivered, and even getting SAT scores instantly. These things make it difficult to grasp and enjoy success when it’s happening to us. To help me recognize my “success” and at the very least enjoy it more, I’ve been keeping a gratitude journal and each night I write down 3-5 things that went well that day and I’m grateful for. I do this because I’ve defined success as a process, and the process is that I’m moving forward so keeping a journal helps me with that.”- Lauren McGoodwin, Founder & CEO of Career Contessa

Success is being in the driver seat of your life and taking it wherever your heart desires

We know we’re supposed to “follow our dream” and “pursue our passion” but the truth is not all of us graduate college knowing what we want to do in life. And even for those of us who have a clear goal, we may not always be in the position (financial, education, resources, what have you) to pursue that goal.

So, whether you mentally will yourself to put in the work after your 9-5 to grow your blog (Cubicle Chic has been my after-work project for almost 2 years now!) or you have saved up from a salaried job so could afford to be unemployed and pursuing your true passion, or that you went through years of schooling to be able to work in a profession that you’ve had a calling to do, I would count these all as success.

“Success isn’t what you think you should do, rather, it’s following what you want to do. The biggest success in my eyes is using your talents and skills daily to achieve what your heart truly wants without thinking about society’s definition of prestige, wealth, and expectations. Crafting an ideal life you truly want to live is the ultimate definition of success. “ – Emily Liou, Career Coach and Founder of Cultivitae

Have your own measure of success

Social media has fundamentally changed our way of life. Most significantly, it changed the way information travels. We are now 100x times more aware of what people have accomplished, not only because people are more likely to flaunt it, but also because our eyes are peeled to our phones where such information is displayed.

How can we not look at our own wardrobe and feel like we need to buy one more dress when we see posts after posts of beautifully styled outfits? How can we not feel like we need to work harder when we see our college classmate getting a coveted promotion? How can we need feel like we need to renovate our kitchen when we see our neighbors brand new cooking space?

The answer is not letting others dictate what you want to create, own, or achieve. If you see someone else achieving something you want to achieve, understand where achieving those goals fit in your life. I’ve seen so many bloggers creating a blog for the wrong reasons – fame or quick money, and they get burned out so quickly because their goals they chase were never theirs. When you chase someone else’s goal, you tend to get lost in the process because you never fully understood the WHY. Have a goal, YOUR OWN goal, and know why you want to achieve this goal. That’s when the “chase” becomes meaningful and you don’t get burnt out.

 “From what I’ve learned, the perception of success comes from setting an aim and accomplishing it. Life is always changing and there are always going to be another aim or goal. Don’t ever think that you’ve done enough but don’t let that bring you down. There are always going to be people ten steps ahead of you but there are also going to be people ten steps behind you. It’s the nature of the business. I really believe in going at your own pace and running your own race in your own time. I’m still learning and don’t exactly feel “successful” but I feel satisfied with the progress I’m making so I guess that’s a kind of success!” – Sangyay Chen, Model and Blogger @ Itssangtime

There’s no such thing as a selfish success. True success is always a collective one.

This is one of my more recent realizations. It dawned on me that helping others makes me feel really good about myself, so good that I’d call that feeling successful. When I answer a reader’s question about salary negotiations, when I point someone who’s lost in their career in the right direction, when I help someone pick out a week’s worth of outfits for a really important conference… all of these things make me want to do more what I do on Cubicle Chic.

And being in a position to help others, to have materials to teach others, to me, is a success. Being successful means being willing and able to help others achieve their goals, and through that, help them become successful.

If you exclude others in your process of reaching success, you won’t feel successful.

“Success is a team sport and is only achieved by bringing others along on your journey and lifting others up to achieve their goals. “ – Kelly Hoey, Investor, Business Strategist, & Author of Build Your Dream Network 

Have you felt lost in the pursuit of success?

Remember, when you feel the urge to find the definition of success, just do the following:  1) recognize smaller successes because it’s not about the finish line, 2) know that if you’re actively pursuing success, you’re semi-successful, 3) pursue your own goals so the process of pursuit will feel meaningful, 4) help others succeed along the way. You don’t regret it!

All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse

The post How To Define Success || 4 Theories From 4 Successful Business Women appeared first on Cubicle Chic.

As a blogger who talks about career advice and professional development, this has been something extremely difficult to share but just as difficult to keep from my readers. I’ve been meaning to publish this post but have been putting it off because I was busy getting married in the middle of March. Now that the nuptial has been completed, I am ready to roll this news out.

First, let’s get the shocking facts out there. I quit my job in the second week of February. Yes, it was the amazing company that I joined last year in the Fall. And yes, I handed in my resignation the same day I cleaned up my desk and walked out of the building. And yes, I may have, possibly, more than theoretically, burned some bridges.

In the last month or so, I’ve had ample time to reflect on why I felt compelled to make this decision, why I eventually did it, and how I could’ve done things different in hindsight. And most importantly, what I’ve learned from this to help me make better decisions in the future.

Why I decided to leave the company:

1) Conversations with my then manager revealed that there were many other priorities in the department, and my development plan was falling to the wayside.
2) The details and timing regarding what was going on with my role, without disclosing confidential information about the company, was not aligned with my long-term goal in this career track.
3) My working environment was so bad that in the long-run I knew I was going to develop mental health issues if I didn’t do something about it.

Professionally speaking, this job/work environment didn’t fit into my career path forward anymore, but I also had a few personal reasons that made it a safe and comfortable decision to leave:

1) I had become debt-free (more on this later!!) in the last few months of 2016, and I know exactly how much monthly living expenses are. Between my fiance and I, we will be perfectly fine with just one of our incomes.
2) I have Cubicle Chic which is my passion and what I’ve dedicated my personal time to. Without a 9-5 job, I wouldn’t feel like I don’t have a goal to pursue or targets to accomplish. In other words, I would still get to have a sense of personal worth and value coming from “work”. This has always been important to me.
3) All my family members and close friends supported my decision 100%.

It took a lot of courage and introspection before I came to this conclusion, but the rest of the process was pretty simple. I had a long but very detailed conversation with the HR manager, and with his help, considered all aspects of my decision.

Looking back, though, I think there were a few things I could’ve managed better in this process.

1) I could’ve involved my teammates a little more, earlier on. By the time I decided to leave, I started having more open conversations with my teammates who all were under the same manager. Themes and patterns started to emerge and it was clear we were suffering alone by not talking about things in the open. And because I had started these conversations so late, my decision to leave was probably more startling than it should’ve been.
2) I could’ve been more proactive and reached out to more people and create a stronger network during the first three months when I didn’t have a manager. It wasn’t as difficult leaving the company at the end because I hadn’t created that many contacts. But I missed out on having more support and a network to lean on in times of distress because I hadn’t reached out as much. Ultimately it made my departure rather frictionless. I don’t regret this decision at all, but I do think about how differently things would’ve turned out if I stayed there.

All in all, I am in a much better place now, enjoying my new Mrs. life while starting to job search again. I will keep you guys updated on what happens next!  Until then.. see you around Cubicle Chic!

The post I Quit My Dream Job || What I Learned About Myself, My Career, and My Future 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.

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.