bro·ken [broh-kuhn]: (adj) not working» Women at Work Articles

What Not to Wear to Work

Charles Purdy — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:53:44 +0000

We recently engaged in a lively discussion, via Twitter, about the worst workplace style faux pas our followers had ever seen.

And what was the most common "worst," according to our tweeps? Skin--that is, too much of it.

It seems that a lot of people our there are just too sexy for their jobs, in the eyes of their coworkers. @PamelaMMcBride complained about "skirts that are inappropriately short for anywhere, let alone the workplace." And we don't know where @PattiA99 works, but if the "see-through clothing" she's seeing is out of place, we can be sure it's not at a lingerie retailer.

And that's not all--we heard about "glittery halter tops" and dominatrix gear, too. So what's going on?

Perhaps the line between work and play has gotten blurred. Etiquette expert Lisa Mirza Grotts, founder of the AML Group, advises, "At work, the focus should be on one's brain, versus bustier or backside. Etiquette in the workplace is very much 'industry specific.' If, for example, you work for [a casual fashion retailer], jeans and T-shirts may be the norm. At a law firm, think navy blue and white. Overall, no matter your career choice, leave the short skirts for evening (unless you're a stripper)."

We heard about people who'd stretched the definition of "casual" to include sleepwear--for instance, a female who "wears a man's robe" around the office when she's cold. And of course we heard from many people who think flip-flops are out of place in a professional setting. (How can they be so ubiquitous yet so despised?)

People should be careful about wearing "playtime" clothes like flip-flops and shorts to the office, according to image consultant Sherry Maysonave, the author of "Casual Power: How to Power Up Your Nonverbal Communication and Dress Down for Success." She adds, "It's like their goals go on vacation." (Read more advice from Maysonave and others, in "What Not to Wear to Work" on Monster+Hot Jobs.)

Mirza Grotts adds, "Now more than ever, we live in a competitive world. Jobs are few and far between, so put your best foot forward--but not with a pair of stilettos!" (Or, we might add, flip-flops.)

(Get more workplace style advice--read "Dress Appropriately for Interviews," and check out the video series "How to Wear It" from Jones New York for more office style tips.)

What Not to Wear to Work

Charles Purdy — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:53:44 +0000

Mirza Grotts adds, "Now more than ever, we live in a competitive world. Jobs are few and far between, so put you best foot forward--but not with a pair of stilettos!" (Or, we might add, flip-flops.)

(Get more workplace style advice--read "Dress Appropriately for Interviews," and check out the video series "How to Wear It" from Jones New York for more office style tips.)

Work Wisdom for Women

Charles Purdy — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 18:27:47 +0000

Jones New York has recently posted an online book you've got to check out. Called "The Little Black Book of Career Advice," it's a collection of career advice, wisdom, and humor from more than 100 of the world's most influential and interesting women. (But you don't have to be a woman to benefit from the great advice here.)

With a forward by Dee Dee Myers, a former White House press secretary and the author of "Why Women Should Rule the World," this collection provides not only pithy aphorisms and words of encouragement, but also these women's empowering, true stories of success--in their own words.

Find out what Sandra Bernhard thinks is the key to joy in life, which qualities Arianna Huffington is trying to instill in her daughters, and what life lessons Donna Brazile draws from cooking. From CEOs and inventors to world-famous artists, the women here offer a wide variety of perspectives--share "The Little Black Book of Career Advice" with friends and colleagues whenever they need words of encouragement.

We're also partnering with Jones New York to promote its "How to Wear It" series--it's got a walk-in closet's worth of great advice on workplace style. And we want to hear your tips on dressing for success. Send a tweet with the hashtag #monsterstyle; we'll be collecting the top tweets and publishing them in an upcoming blog post.

You may also want to check out this collection of stories about dressing for success at a job interview.

Best of the Best Work-Related Lists of 2009

Norma — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:53:57 +0000

Before we collectively bid farewell to this economically tumultuous year, let's reflect on some of the good aspects of 2009. Like these "best of" lists that impact the working world.

Fortune's Best 100 Companies to Work For

The big news on the list this year was that Google lost its spot at number 1, replaced by NetApp. Here are the list's top 5 best companies to work for:

1. NetApp

2. Edward Jones

3. Boston Consulting

4. Google

5. Wegmans

Best Jobs in America

This is Money and Payscale.com's list of the top jobs in America based on pay and projected job growth over the next 10 years. Sadly for me, none of the top 50 careers have to do with blogging or Web content, but I still love what I do…. Here are the top 5:

1. Systems engineer

2. Physician assistant

3. College professor

4. Nurse practitioner

5. Information technology project manager

Best Places to Launch a Career

BusinessWeek's list looks at the best employers for entry-level workers, based on surveys of career services directors, employers and undergrads. Once again, here is the top 5:

1. Deloitte

2. Ernst & Young

3. PricewaterhouseCoopers

4. KPMG

5. US State Department

The Best Places for Businesses and Careers

This list comes from Forbes and examines the cost of doing business, cost of living, crime rates, projected income, job growth and more. (They also have a list of the best small places for businesses and careers if you're not looking to live in a bigger metropolitan area.)

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

2. Fort Collins, Colorado

3. Durham, North Carolina

4. Fayetteville, Arizona

5. Lincoln, Nebraska

25 Best Places to Retire

And if you've had enough of the working life -- and more importantly, have the luxury not to work, Money magazine offers you this list, too. The top 5:

1. Port Charlotte, Florida

2. Palm Springs, California

3. Traverse City, Michigan

4. Pinehurst, North Carolina

5. Surprise, Arizona

Working Mother's 100 Best Companies

Working Mother chooses its list of best companies based on employers' family-friendliness. Each company offers its own brand of perks and flexibilities and the magazine does not rank them, so take a look at the list in its entirety as well as the Hall of Fame. It just didn't seem right to single out a few.

Do you have any best of lists of your own this year? Go ahead and share them on our blog.

Best of the Best Work-Related Lists of 2009

Norma — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:53:57 +0000

Before we collectively bid farewell to this economically tumultuous year, let's reflect on some of the good aspects of 2009. Like these "best of" lists that impact the working world.

Fortune's Best 100 Companies to Work For

The big news on the list this year was that Google lost its spot at number 1, replaced by NetApp. Here are the list's top 5 best companies to work for:

1. NetApp

2. Edward Jones

3. Boston Consulting

4. Google

5. Wegmans

Best Jobs in America

1. Systems engineer

2. Physician assistant

3. College professor

4. Nurse practitioner

5. Information technology project manager

Best Places to Launch a Career

BusinessWeek's list looks at the best employers for entry-level workers, based on surveys of career services directors, employers and undergrads. Once again, here is the top 5:

1. Deloitte

2. Ernst & Young

3. PricewaterhouseCoopers

4. KPMG

5. US State Department

The Best Places for Businesses and Careers

1. Raleigh, North Carolina

2. Fort Collins, Colorado

3. Durham, North Carolina

4. Fayetteville, Arizona

5. Lincoln, Nebraska

25 Best Places to Retire

And if you've had enough of the working life -- and more importantly, have the luxury not to work, Money magazine offers you this list, too. The top 5:

1. Port Charlotte, Florida

2. Palm Springs, California

3. Traverse City, Michigan

4. Pinehurst, North Carolina

5. Surprise, Arizona

Working Mother's 100 Best Companies

Do you have any best of lists of your own this year? Go ahead and share them on our blog.

Juggling Motherhood and the Full-Time Job of Finding Work

Jane Allerton — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:48:17 +0000

The recent holiday weekend was a good milestone to assess how far I've come in my job search as well as bringing me to a turning, semi-crisis point. My young sons’ caregiver is returning to university in her country now that her year as an au pair is done here. Having paid all of her fees last year while I was still employed, it made sense to keep her engaged for her manageable weekly pay until the end of the summer. So I've had to make a number of choices and arrangements to manage child care and my full-fledged job search going forward. Nonetheless, I am rather stressed and conflicted despite the logic I applied to the choices.

I've decided to take a bit of a hiatus in my job search for just 2 weeks until my mother, bless her, is able to pitch in with child care for 4 weeks. So for the next 10 business days, my job search work will be conducted only during the hours the boys sleep, as I'll be their daytime caregiver. Within those 10 days, I have one all-day teaching gig, so I planned ahead and have spliced together 2 friends for kiddie coverage.

A few other retired teacher friends are willing to pitch in some hours here and there should I get an interview scheduled, which is likely given several screenings from before the long weekend. Even for a scheduled phone interview, I'll need peace and quiet and someone to watch the boys. I've put some friends on notice and hope to be able to give them ample time, but I don't want to wait to schedule an interview. I need to be viewed as an employee who is not burdened with single-parent concerns as it may unwittingly put a slight prejudice against my candidacy for a position, so I need keep my child-care concerns out of a potential employer’s view. I want to be the best possible candidate without the small "but" coming up during key stakeholder conversations for a job offer.

While I have the essential job search obligations covered while I’m caring for Owen and Evan, I am distressed at the number of networking events I will need to pass on. For example, my local project management chapter is having its kick-off for the year this week, and it is a fabulously well-attended networking event with up to 200 folks and a great deal of interest from local employers. I'm also missing out on the Marketing & Martini Mixer featuring Speed Networking from the greater metro area marketing group. That is a really cool one, but it has an undefined ROI for me as well as a two-hour plus drive. On a much smaller scale, I’ll be missing out on two local job-hunting groups that offer seminars and tips. It seems everyone kicks off events, right after Labor Day, but I don't feel I can cash in all my friends' good will by also using them for these "nice-to-do" job events.

For 3 out of 4 of these events, I will be able to sound out a few of my fellow job seeker friends and get their reports back. But it is just not the same as being there in person. Fortunately, it is only a two-week gap in my job search, and the night hours are great for online networking and follow-ups. Then with my mother's help full-time, I'll be able to arrange my job searching days as I had with my au pair. To give my mother and myself a small break, I've managed to find a nice young college student with licensed day care center experience. She'll be able to take care of the boys for 10 hours a week at a very reasonable fee but already has another job.

So far, my planning seems like a crazy patchwork quilt, but it is all with people my sons know and trust. Additionally, my mother and friends all understand and fully support my main educational points for my sons in addition to any structured preschool coming down the pike. So it is reassuring to have consistency in that regard as well.

When my mother leaves in 6 weeks, I'll have planned my next steps for kiddie coverage. As they say, one day at a time. And who knows? I might land a decent position with on-site day care that won't bankrupt me or my sons’ college educations.

Do you have any personal dilemmas such as child, elder or other care that impacts your job search? How do you address those challenges?

For more tips on balancing work and family obligations, check out these articles:

* "Tips for Working Mothers"

* "Manage Work and a Family Crisis"

* "How to Get a Flexible Schedule"

* "The Sandwich Generation Balances Children and Elderly Parents"