Giving Notice: Breaking up with your Job the RIGHT way

You got the job! Your future looks bright. Anticipation is high. 

There's only one thing standing in your way...

Whether you are remaining in your current industry or switching fields, it is important to leave your current job with grace. The manner and timing in which you give notice is the most important part of leaving on a good note.

1.  Show deference. Even at the end of your time there, office politics are important. If possible, tell everyone of significance in person and on the same day. To prepare, start by making a list of each person you plan to notify. This list should include your department head, your manager, your mentors and your close work friends. Office structures can vary, so at a basic level you want to tell your company leadership and people with whom you have a close relationship before they hear it through gossip. 

2.  Make an appointment. No one likes an ambush. Schedule an appointment with each person on your notice list. This can either be formally through their assistant or informally over email. 

3.  Get to the point. Be polite, but don't waste time. Start with the fact that you have decided to leave the company. Be clear and concise. Do not show signs of indecisiveness as a way to lessen the blow.

I Quit: A Poem

Before you quit, check out our post: Don't Quit Your Job (Yet)

Spring Cleaning for your Office

Spring is here (finally) and it's time to clean up. Clean up your house, finances, personal life, career, car, and office! This post is about cleaning up your office. 

1.  Clear the Clutter from your Desk. File it - Scan it - or Shred it, but get all of those papers off of your desk. This creates space for you to work and helps you to prioritize. The only papers on your desk should be "same day" items.

2.  Update your Contacts. Upload the information from the business cards you have received into your electronic contact list, back up this list, and get rid of the physical cards.

      Pro Tip: Send follow up emails and reconnect as you work through the cards.

Headshots for Corporate America

It's been 3 years since our inaugural corporate headshot post: The Corporate Headshot

While the tips and suggestions in our previous post still ring true, here's an update on my follow up photo shoot:

I took my first official corporate headshot 3 years ago. Back then I was very nervous. The headshot would be attached to my name and credentials on my company's website and, in many cases, be the first image my clients and colleagues had of me.

Ideally, you should update your headshot every 3-5 years: fashions change, your appearance changes, and the style of photography changes.

This time I did a few things differently:

1.  I did my own makeup. As a woman in Corporate America, makeup can really impact the quality of the headshot. Last time, I scheduled an appointment with a makeup artist. This time I was much more confident in my ability to create the look I wanted: a subtle, daytime look. 

Where's Lex?

I haven't posted in some time. IncorporatingU is first and foremost a resource for young people of color in Corporate America. I am a young Black woman in Corporate America.

In recent months, my personal life and professional life have become challenging. Not only have I struggled to manage these elements of my life, but I struggle to discuss them, articulate my feelings, face my failures... I have not had the will to write. I am recommitting to IncorporatingU, to the readers, and to the people who face similar challenges.

-Lex