Professionalism during Personal Grief

Five. Between February and August of last year, I lost five loved ones. 

These losses took a lot out of me mentally and emotionally. Here is how I managed working through grief:

I did not manage well. I missed deadlines, I was delayed in responding to emails, and I down right ignored emails. 

Steps I took to get back on track:

1. I let my team know that I had experienced these losses and I would continue to do my best under the circumstances. Being too private about personal matters that may affect your performance can be a detriment to your success. I've seen some career advice that says "never let them see you cry" or "never let them see you sweat." If you set unrealistic expectations to your emotional responses to grief, your colleagues will set unrealistic expectations of you. These shared moments of humanity can foster confidence among the team and take some of the pressure off of you. 

2. I forgave myself for the mistakes. Mistakes happen even we are at our best. They are bound to happen when we are at our worst. If you do make mistakes, forgive yourself, then notify the impacted parties and correct them as quickly as possible. 

Around the Web: Get Clever about Working from Home

Clever Girl Finance presents "How to Work From Home: 10 Tips to Stay Productive" and here are a few of our favorite tips from the post:

Create your list of goals for the day

"Having a list of goals or workday priorities can help improve your focus and in turn your productivity. Sometimes work tasks can be overwhelming and so it's a good idea to make a list of the top 3 to 5 work tasks you need to get done each day.

Doing this will keep you on top of your tasks and remind you of what you need to get done within your designated work hours."

Authenticity: Who You are is Non-Negotiable, by Caroline Wanga

Caroline Wanga shares her insights on authenticity in the workplace and beyond. 

Around the Web: Ellevate presents 10 Rules of Success for Women of Color at Work

"Keep showing up, persevering and demonstrating your best efforts. While your work may go unnoticed at times, it’s important to consistently show up and bring your best contribution to the table." - Solonge Lopes

Ellevate.com published an article written by Solange Lopes, CPA providing career advice for Women of Color at work. Here are a few of our favorite excerpts:

Stop being afraid of being yourself.

"Most people in the corporate world wear a mask. It’s just a fact. However, for women of color at work, wearing a mask has many times been a necessity. According to studies by the Center for Women Policy, 21% of women of color do not think they can be themselves at work. Another 28 to 44% believe they must downplay their ethnicity to increase their chances of success at work.

While this is still the reality in many, if not most, corporate environments, authenticity is still the best way to change the dialogue about women of color at work. The more we hide behind our corporate masks, the less we can bring focus on the actual issues faced by women of color at work."

Get used to being uncomfortable.

"Being a woman of color at work rhymes with being uncomfortable. Not only are there very few other women of color in the room, but our lack of representation can also make it challenging for others to understand the struggles we may face.

However, being uncomfortable is also an advantage. The more uncomfortable you are, the more prepared you tend to be. Getting used to uncomfortable and challenging environments is also the key to being innovative and a high performer."

Breaking and Entering: Your Unconventional Path to an Entry-level Corporate Job

Not everyone gets a corporate job right after graduating from college or grad school. Here are a few tips for breaking in once you are no longer a student. 

• Join an industry association - Many corporate professions have industry associations which host local and national events. Join a local chapter and/or attend local events sponsored by the group. If you are open to relocating for work, consider attending national conferences to build your network and gain industry insight. 

• Secure a Mentor - Some professional associations have formal mentoring programs, but you can also source and obtain your own mentors. Industry events are a great place to meet potential mentors. Your college or graduate school’s alumni network may also provide a viable mentor pool. 

• Optimize your LinkedIn - The recruiting and career functions of LinkedIn can be a great resource if you optimize your profile by highlighting the type of skills companies in your industry are looking for. Make your LinkedIn a part of your job search. Pro-tip: Use LinkedIn to source the job openings, but apply directly to the position on the company's website when available.

Young, Black and Corporate: The Sell Out Myth

Working in Corporate America does not make you a "Sell Out"....You have to earn that title.

Corporate culture has been shaped and modified over hundreds of years into the form it takes today. Very few people of any race or gender can participate in corporate culture without having to adopt some of the customs, language and dress. The notion of the Black, "sell out" assimilationist makes no sense. Everyone who wants to participate in corporate culture "assimilates" in the true definition of the word (not the loaded, judgmental definition). Trading your jeans and T-shirt for a suit and tie is no different than a doctor wearing a white coat or a firefighter wearing a uniform. It doesn't mean you've sold yourself because you prefer jeans, but that you realize the suit is more appropriate for the work.  

Retaining Yourself in Corporate America

The question of diversity in Corporate America has historically been approached from a model of getting more diverse candidates in the door. Recently, retention has taken on a larger role in diversity programming, though many companies still struggle to retain diverse talent beyond the junior ranks.

I often ask my more senior intra-organizational mentors what they like or dislike about their positions, mainly because I'm trying to figure out if I want the job one day. What many companies miss when asking the retention question about us is that retention starts with providing clear information about what it means to be retained. If they see a future for us, then they should show us the vision early and often. Further, the present lack of diversity in the upper levels of many  companies makes it even harder for young, Black Corporates to see themselves in those ranks.

Ellen McGirt recently published an article on Fortune.com about the retention of African-American executives. The article highlights the research of Dr. Lawrence James, Jr., "a Chicago-based clinical psychologist-turned-leadership-consultant." In his white paper Journey to the Top, Dr. James explores the key elements to career advancement for African-Americans on the executive track, which include relationship building, business acumen and self-insight.

Soft Skills for Summer Interns

The most common word I hear from interns and about interns is "awkward". Here are a few corporate internship do's, don'ts and "do you's" that you won't learn in training:

1.  Do be polite to the support staff and assistants.  They will make your life so much easier. Learn their names.  Ask them about their weekends.  Not only are they valuable members of the company too, but they've probably been there a long time and can give you additional information about the company.  An internship is a long job interview.  You should continue to assess whether the company is a good fit for you and the staff is a great resource. 

2.  Don't talk about anything sensitive or confidential on the elevator.  Many companies share the building with other companies.  There could also be a visitor or client on board heading to a meeting.  Same rule applies to restaurants.

3.   Don't check your cell phone during meetings or meals.  If you have an emergency project you are working on and need to be on call, politely decline the invitation. You are an intern. If the full-time professionals can carve out an hour for a meeting, so can you.  In their minds, you are not that busy. It doesn't matter if you see them check their phones every 10 seconds. Resist.

Around the Web: BE Assembles Your Mentoring Dream Team

Black Enterprise's Kandia Johnson recently presented her list of must-have mentors in #SquadGoals: 5 Types of Mentors Everyone Needs to Succeed:

"When it comes to achieving success, sometimes we’re too quick to give up. We can allow things like setbacks, fear, loneliness, ego, and false expectations stop us from reaching our goals. But, with the right mentors—a squad comprised of coaches, supporters, and disruptors—we can get ahead in our careers and get through this thing called life.

Here are five types of mentors everyone needs to succeed.

Mentor 1: The Challenger

Taking constructive criticism is hard, but it’s necessary for career advancement. The Challenger is a straight shooter—the one who doesn’t tell you what you want to hear, but tells you what you need to hear. They’re visionaries who embrace disruption, so they’ll challenge you to step outside of your comfort zone and take a risk. And, they won’t tolerate too many excuses.

 Mentor 2: The Industry Insider

When it comes to your chosen field, the Insider knows about the good, the bad, and the ugly. They can help you strategize on ways to navigate the culture, and position you for success."

Check out the full article: 5 Types of Mentors Everyone Needs to Succeed

Lex Reflects:

I really enjoyed this article. I think it is important to remember that a good mentor can serve more than one of these roles, but you also don't want to exhaust that person's capacity to be a resource to you. My mentoring style is definitely that of a challenger. I love pushing my mentees beyond the assumptions, expectations and doubts that they sometimes have. I think my biggest mentoring struggle is the role of cheerleader. I seek constructive criticism, but shy away from positive feedback. As a result, it is also hard for me to be a cheerleader for others. I am proud and excited when my mentees succeed, but I struggle to convey those feelings.

Around the Web:10 CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

This week we bring you an "Around the Web" from Chris Hogan on characteristics of highly successful people. While most lists like these are cliché, unimaginative and lacking substance, Chris gives helpful advice for young corporate leaders. Here are our top picks: 

"It’s easy to get sidetracked by the trivial. If you’re not careful, you’ll spend valuable time on distractions that don’t help you reach your goals. Successful people concentrate on those tasks that line up with their mission and vision."

"Do you have any questions?" 3 Questions to Ask your Interviewer

Typically at the end of an interview the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. Instead of bumbling through awkward, potentially inappropriate questions, keep a few good interview questions handy.

1. What made you choose a career with [COMPANY NAME]?

People love talking about themselves.  Your interviewer will probably not be above this inclination.  This question shows that you have an interest in both the job and the interviewer.

2. What type of informal mentorship opportunities does [COMPANY NAME] have?

Your office will be a classroom. Very rarely does academia prepare you for the work you'll be doing in the office. While the company website may talking about formal training and mentorship, informal mentorship is very important.

3. What kind of expectations does [COMPANY NAME] have for new [POSITION]s?

The answer to this question will give you information about what you'll be doing in your new position and send the interviewer the message that your head is in the right place.

A Good Cover Letter

A good cover letter should introduce you to the company, reveal your interest in and knowledge about the position, and highlight key elements of your resume without reciting everything on your resume. It should only be a page in length and really only 3-5 paragraphs. Check for typos and good grammar. Clear communication and attention to detail are a must for any job. Below is a guide to a good cover letter:

IncorporatingUS: Setting Effective Career Goals from Friends of Ebonie

This is an older post from Friends of Ebonie, but good advice doesn't have an expiration date. Angel McNeil gives readers 5 ways to set effective career goals and here's our favorite:

Make them SMART

 

"SMART= (goals that are) Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented, and Timely. This simple idea can help you to achieve your goals and be able to articulate what you want and what it looks like. We might set a goal that says “I will submit my paperwork on time” but that goal is too broad. If we take that same goal and make it SMART it might say I will submit all budget reports to my manager every Friday by 4pm. This goal tells us what we are striving to do, when we are supposed to do, and who is involved in that goals. SMART goals lend us a level of accountability and motivation. Boom!"

Check out the full list here: Ready, Set, Goals!

IncorporatingUS: Guest Post on Reimagining a Career by the Founder of Yellow Hibiscus Gallery

A self-identified professional risk avoider, the visionary and creator of Yellow Hibiscus Gallery shares his personal story of traditional corporate advancement and the necessity of an entrepreneurial spirit in today's cultural and economic climate. 

 

Excuse Me, But I am Sorry to Tell You that the American Dream Is Dead.

The American Dream is dead!  It died from complications due to a severe economic crisis that was worsened by corporate greed, political ineptitude, and societal excess.  Unfortunately for a generation that is accustomed to being told that we are the best and brightest that America has ever produced, we are the biggest losers of a bargain that cuts us out of the inheritance of the American Dream.

How did we get here? Society made a deal with us!  If we worked hard, sacrificed, and got an expensive degree, we would be richly rewarded with money, power and respect; at the very least, we could expect a decent home in the suburbs, two cars in the garage and a white picket fence.  The sky was the limit!  Then we graduated into the real world, and realized that for the first time in recent history, our collective generational lives would be worse off than the previous generations'.

IncorporatingUs: Tips Around the Web for Navigating Corporate America

Access is everything. The team searches for online communities, advice, and information that tackle some of the questions we want to explore. This post is a compilation of some of our favorite tips and insights from around the web on navigating Corporate America.

"Tips to Survive in Corporate America"

Blogger “Shady_Grady” of Urban Politico weighs in with tips for surviving Corporate America. Here are a few gems:

“Always strive for excellence: There's no reason you shouldn't be the best at your job. Ok, maybe there is a reason but you should certainly TRY to be the best. And if you fail try harder next time. This is especially important if you happen to be Black as likely there are more than a few people in your company who have negative stereotypes about your intelligence, your credentials, your work ethic and the quality of work that you produce. But Black or not, one of the best ways to keep your job and/or rise in the company is to have an unblemished reputation for quality work and for being able to pick up new assignments quickly. . .”

“Use Careful Communication: In terms of emails, instant messages, written documents, text messages, chances are that your company either views what you write or maintains an archive of what you wrote. Some companies use key-loggers. And I'm not even going to get started about inappropriate internet usage. There are different rules at various companies but a good rule of thumb is that if you wrote it over their network, it's theirs. They can look at it if they want to do so. . .”

Clocking Out: The Politics of Face Time and Leaving Early (or Late)

It was a busy day, but now it’s 6:30 and you've finished your project. As a junior in most corporate organizations, work is often assigned to you rather than generated by you. If you are finished with the assignments and your services are no longer needed for the day, can you leave? I’ve been often told that the answer is NO. However, by knowing your boss(es), knowing your organization’s culture, and using your judgment, it doesn't have to be NO.

On Professional Disappoints and Setbacks: Explanations and Solutions

They came in thin envelopes -- the rejection letters. For all of my accomplishments, the thin envelopes came for me as they would for anyone else. Even when I was certain of the contents, I opened them. I had to know that I had been rejected. And in most cases I had.

It is a bad grade. It is making a mistake on a major project. It is being passed over for a promotion. This corporate world is presented hopeful students as a meritocracy, where winning is a sign of their virtue. Even some young associates cling to the idea of always winning.  

Virtue is most evident in the manner in which one handles disappoint. That idea is not novel nor is it my own.

This post is about the way we deal with losing.

The Corporate Headshot

 After canceling the last session for fear of embarrassment, I’m taking my corporate headshot. This will be my professional image for the next few years. Clients, higher-ups, and even rivals may come across this picture. I’m nervous. In my nervousness, I took to the internet for helpful tips and examples of good pictures. 

Corporette recommends: “To start, we would recommend first looking at the existing pictures for your firm. Particularly, flip to the female partners — what are they wearing? Our guess is that they’re wearing a classic suit and pearls. In light of the debate about how to wear shirt collars, we would recommend wearing a collar-less shirt (just our humble opinion), and the best pair of pearls you own.”

Lunch Your Way to the Top

"I jump at opportunities to be around clients, outsiders, and higher-ups, no matter my level of interest in the proposed subject matter."

From time to time, I attend lunch meetings in the office (often these are mandatory), but sometimes I go voluntarily.

Pros:

·       Free  Convenient food

·      Face-time with higher-ups

·      Learn about new projects or upcoming events

Cons:

·      Takes time away from the work I should be doing

·      Can be boring

·      Working through lunch instead of actually taking a break

Tips for Applying to Jobs Electronically

Now more than ever, job applications are submitted electronically either via e-mail or directly on the company’s website. While this method may seem easier or less formal, it comes with a new set of considerations. Here are a few tips for applying to jobs electronically.

1.     Follow the instructions. Read all of the requirements and criteria and delivery what the company is asking for.

2.     Label any files you are uploading in a clear and detailed manner.
 

First Name_Last Name_Type of Document (Year or Date)

Example:  Jane_Doe_Resume (2015)

3.     For e-mail submissions, your e-mail is not a cover letter, but it is a first impression. Write a short statement of (1) your name, (2) the purpose of the email, (3) a list of attachments, and (4) include your contact information beneath the signature. Make sure your subject line is direct and don’t forget the attachments. Note, some companies will tell you what the subject line should say.

4.     Keep your font style, font size, color and s p a c i n g standard for both the e-mail and the documents. Black font in Times New Roman size 12 or 11 is commonly used.

5.     Ask for help. If you run into technical difficulties, it’s alright to call or e-mail and ask for help or an alternative form of submission, but don’t try to turn a tech phone call into an interview. State your purpose and your problem and offer solutions e.g. “Is there an e-mail address I could use instead?” “Could I mail my application? And to whom should I address the attention?”

Photo Credit: Google Images