Nostalgia

The Top 5 Things You Might Miss About Corporate Life (Once You’re Out)

by GuestPoster on 09/29/2011 · 120 comments

in Career, Nostalgia, Transitions

Once you’re out of the corporate world, what will you miss?  If you’d known you’d miss it, might you have appreciated it more?  Today’s guest poster, Lisa Carnochan from Privilege, has put together the top 5 things she misses about the corporate life — as well as what she doesn’t. I recently met Lisa in person, and I’m absolutely thrilled to have her guest posting again — her first, Career Advice from the Hiring/VP Level, remains one of Corporette’s top posts.  Enjoy, readers! – Kat  (Pictured below: Empty desk, originally uploaded to Flickr by Aldric van Gaver.)

Empty desk, originally uploaded to Flickr by Aldric van Gaver.I imagine that most of you reading Corporette are working women. I was one myself for many years. And, now, it appears, I’ve semi-retired. I remember dreaming, on grey days full of mean emails and meandering meetings, of what it would be like to be done with it all. And now I know. Here’s what I miss, and what I don’t miss at all. By the way, you’ll notice I don’t mention the paycheck. That goes without saying. Getting paid rocks.

5 Things I Miss About Working

1. Job interviews
I’m not kidding. When else do you have such a clear chance to package yourself up all shiny and valuable-like? I also love the problem-solving aspect. Ask your interviewer questions about the challenges he or she faces and then show your qualitative analytic skills on the fly. You’re their drive-by consultant. Works like a charm and makes one feel so damn smart.

2. Performance reviews

In regular life, nobody ever sits you down formally and tells you how you’re doing. Nobody even tells you what the criteria are, most of the time. Performance reviews are a unique opportunity. Just make sure you know your management’s expectations, do your best to meet or exceed, and make the right relationships so you can advertise yourself with some dignity.

3. Teams

I miss lunch with the team. I miss the banter of software architects with IQs over 180. I even miss meetings. Gather a group of intelligent people, lay out a clear problem, manage the agenda tightly and with humor, focus on forward progress. Voila. The occasional flashes of brilliance.

4. Testosterone days in ladylike shoes

Lanvin Bow-Toe Suede SlingbackI’ve always been a sucker for lady shoes. Don’t like to wear them much, now that I actually am a lady of leisure.  But when I stomped the corridors of power, told on one occasion I had more testosterone than the boys, lady shoes amused me to no end. I’d love an excuse to buy these Lanvin Bow-Toe Suede Slingbacks, for example (available at Bergdorf Goodman for $695).  And I might miss the stomping too, just a bit.

5. Routine

Work can be boring, right? Every day the same thing. Up with the alarm, grab tea or coffee, commute, work, home, rinse, repeat. On the other hand, routines, if you build in stuff that’s good for you, can be your best friend. I used to squeeze my exercise in between rolling out of bed and sitting down at my desk. Semi-retirement is characterized by a lot of, “What now?” The effort to answer, “Eat my vegetables and go to yoga,” is not insubstantial, in the absence of structure.

5 Things I Don’t Miss

1. Wondering if I could have done it.
2. Resenting those who had done it.
3. Wondering what “it” really was.
4. Fear of losing; the deal, the promotion, my long-suffering capacity to hold back tears of rage or disappointment.
5. Mean bosses, treacherous subordinates, deceptive peers, stupidity and cruelty of any sort. Here, in the world beyond work, one can simply walk away from most of the bad guys. Which makes us wonder, could we do that in our work life too? After, of course, trying our best for a good long time.
Readers, what do you think you’ll miss about the corporate life, once you’re out?

(L-2)

Interested in writing something similar for Corporette? Check out our guest posting guidelines.

{ 120 comments }

Open Thread: Tell Us About the Most Stylish Professional Woman You Know

by Kat on 09/12/2011 · 106 comments

in Hair, Inspiration, Nostalgia, Professionalism, Success

I thought it might be interesting to have an open thread about some of the most stylish professional women we know personally. I would suggest we avoid names and, instead, focus on painting a picture of the women who inspire us. I also suggest that we limit this to women we know personally, not famous people — unless you see the person every day it doesn’t count.

Personally, I’m lucky to have almost too many women to inspire me! It’s funny to me that some of the most stylish professional women I know are also some of the most senior and successful women I know. Some of the stylish women I remember the most…

  • When I was an assistant editor at Family Circle magazine in my early 20s, the editor in chief of the magazine was stunningly put together every day. Beautiful suits that never looked wrinkled… shoulder-length blonde hair that was somehow perfectly coiffed — it had volume and bounce and curl. She had 2 or 3 children under the age of 15, also, if memory serves — no idea how she did it.  She was an extremely intelligent woman who had interviewed for an assistant editor’s position and, when asked what her ideal job was, had said “editor in chief of this magazine” during the interview — and 15 years later, there she was.
  • A female partner I used to work with also stands out in my mind. She had silver hair, just below her chin, and had a collection of eyeglasses that all had a bit of spunk to them. I remember admiring her Chanel bags and her Valentino suits — and her extremely, extremely successful career in a niche practice area. She had a very low voice, and a dry sense of humor.
  • The third I’ll mention is another female partner I used to work with.  She was the first woman to make partner at the firm, and I marveled at her ability to write the most ladylike “f__ you” letters to our opponents. I remember her very simple pieces of clothing (mostly black or gray trousers, black or cream jackets, a few solid colored silk tees) and her beautiful, colorful collection of Hermes scarves. She told me once she wore the scarves because she found tags at the back of her neck to be itchy.

Looking back, I think it’s interesting that all three had some of the same things in common. For example:

  • They nailed the hair. Each of these women had figured out a hairstyle that worked for her (flattering and, I’d imagine, easy to do) and she wore it that way, every day — there was no frizz, there was no sloppy ponytail or bun, and there were no “wow she’s really past her appointment to get her roots done.” Perhaps it’s a reflection of my own taste that each woman wore her hair loose, and not done up in a French twist or whatnot.
  • They went for quality over quantity. I wouldn’t say that any of their wardrobes were extensive — instead, I probably saw the same pieces repeat once every two weeks or so — but they all wore quality items of clothing that fit them like a glove (nothing too tight or too loose) and were well-taken care of.
  • I primarily remember the woman — not the style. Nothing was overly trendy or of-the-moment (and nothing ever seemed dated) — and her style didn’t speak louder than her words. That said, each woman took her own risks — the funky glasses, the colorful scarves — and had, I imagine, fun shopping and putting together her working wardrobe.

All right, readers, who are your real-life style inspirations? What lessons have you learned from them (tips and tricks you’ve picked up and implemented), what lessons CAN you learn from them as you think about them today?

{ 106 comments }

Sponsored Post: Mad Men Style from Banana Republic

by Kat on 08/12/2011 · 26 comments

in Advertising, Nostalgia, Sponsored Post, Wear to Work

I’ve long been a fan of the fashion of Mad Men (see my 360 Review of first-season character Rachel Menken) and so I was super excited when I heard about the Mad Men/Banana Republic collaboration coming out. Well, ladies, the wait is over — the collection hit North American stores on August 11. There are so many pieces that are great for work — the perfectly spiked pumps, the collections of pearls, and the clothes, my God, the clothes.

Personally I’ve been craving the blue begonia print dress for work — love the fuller skirt with the more fitted top! — as well as the lace tipped dresses (the gray is particularly nice, I think).  The cardigan sweaters and tie neck tops are classics, and I’m loving the ever-present bracelet sleeves, which make me want to start wearing elbow-length gloves, stat.

Readers, what’s your favorite piece from the collection?  If you’re a fan of the show, whose style would you most like to emulate?

Disclosure: This post was written by Kat Griffin, but sponsored by Banana Republic in conjunction with Elle/Style Coalition.

{ 26 comments }

Bar Exam Memories — and How to Celebrate Until Work Begins

by Kat on 07/27/2011 · 143 comments

in Kat, Nostalgia

Congratulations to all of the recent JDs finishing up their bar exam today! I thought I’d start an open thread for those of us past the experience to share our stressful memories, as well as to share the fonder memories of the celebrations and relaxations that followed. I’ll start.

I always like to look at this picture, taken of my then-dorm room wall a few weeks before the bar exam. (My DC lease ended in May, but my NYC lease didn’t start until September, so I opted to spend the summer in an NYU dorm.) Along with the few pieces of “artwork” I traveled with and a few pictures of family and friends, you can see that here I’ve also Scotch-taped to the wall all the important things: papers listing important criminal procedure facts, as well as the different levels of murder that one can be charged with under both New York and multi-state law. Or something — I don’t really remember any of it now.

The few memories I have of the exam itself are fairly intense ones. I took all my little Scotch-taped charts with me and hung them around my hotel room in Albany. I even taped them to the bathroom mirror so I could review them while brushing my teeth. Most of my memories are of the hotel room — this dank, horrible hotel room where I was surrounded by my crazy-person papers and the largest ants I had ever seen in my life.  I remember peering into the bathroom mirror (between the papers) and realizing, for the first time, that I could see several gray hairs sticking straight up out of my temple. I was 26. I remember coming back between day 1 and day 2 and trying to relax by renting the frothy teen comedy What a Girl Wants – and I remember hysterically sobbing at one plot point in the movie (a father/daughter disagreement? a misunderstanding? who knows) and knowing that my reaction to the movie was way, way out of proportion to the movie itself. (Honestly, the only thing that can compare to it is my memory of watching The Thornbirds, which is a miniseries made for sobbing anyway.) I remember sitting in a huge auditorium (a football stadium, maybe) and trying my best to remember every piece of information I’d poured into my head, and trying to work some BarBri-sanctioned advice  where they’d told us to guess (C) for every question we were unsure of and then come back to devote more time to the question if and when we could. I also remember booking it out of Albany for the train back to NYC. On the train I found myself surrounded by fellow Bar Survivors, and collectively we broke the rule that you never talk about the substance of a test after you take it.  It was strangely cathartic, like we couldn’t not talk about it. I remember buying a bag of popcorn for the trainride home for “lunch” — when I got to New York I joined some friends who were already celebrating with liquid libations at someone’s apartment, which stands out separately as one of the Most Drunk Nights, ever, in my life.

The next day, horribly hung over, I had about 24 hours to pack up everything and get out of NYU because the summer lease was ending, and also to pack for my bar trip — heading to London and Paris for two weeks to shop. As it turned out this was a fantastically horrible decision — not only was it blisteringly hot, but most of the good shops and restaurants were closed in Paris, it being August and all. It was my first time traveling alone, and I remember really, really enjoying the silence and the chance to empty my head. I remember that when the Blackout of 2003 happened, I was in a Paris hotel room watching the TV news, telling me that my brother in NYC (then in the midst of interview week for his law school), my mother in Cleveland, and my father — in Detroit on business — were all without power. Once I got back to America I spent a few weeks in Ohio with my parents, friends and family there, and then moved to NYC officially, where I had about 2 weeks to settle into my new apartment and catch up with NYC friends.

I remember the day the scores came out, also, huddling over my computer in the early morning hours and feeling vindication when I saw my name.  Take that, gray hairs, I said to myself.  That day at work, my fellow first years and I whispered our relief to one another until we ascertained that everyone had passed, and then the excited buzz grew to a more jovial mood.  That night, it was like our summer all over again — all 50 of us went out to celebrate together.

Readers with JDs, what was your bar exam experience like?  Where did you go on your bar trip?

{ 143 comments }

Business Cards for Everybody!

by Kat on 07/12/2011 · 113 comments

in Business Etiquette, Career, Interviewing, Networking, Nostalgia, Professionalism


Reader H wonders whether students should get business cards…

A couple weeks ago, you did a post about stationery and handwritten notes. In the run-up to OCI, I’m wondering if I should order business cards. Many law schools offer student business cards but I personally think the branding is sort of tacky and would much rather have a plain card with my name, email, and phone number. Should students going into interview season suck it up and buy their schools’ cards? Or is there a way to have a simple, stylish card of one’s own (without seeming pretentious)?

I guess this is an issue many people will have in the corporate world, too, but at least once you have a job, someone else is paying for your cards… as long as I’m paying for my own cards, I want to be able to design them well, but I’m wondering what’s appropriate.

I think I’ve mentioned my point of view here and there on the blog before, but I don’t think I’ve ever been really clear about it: I think everybody should have business cards. Ok, not small children, but everyone else — students! people out of work! people seeking new work!  stay at home moms! In short: business cards for everybody. (Pictured: Wellspring Double Flip Case, Audrey Medallion (2420), available at Amazon for $5.91. Check out our previous guide to business card cases!)

This actually isn’t such a new idea — back in the olden days, well-bred single women were supposed to have “calling cards” that had their name and address on it, as well as the time of day (usually a 2-hour window or so) in which they accepted gentlemen callers.  I don’t remember where exactly I read about this, but when I was single I remember thinking that this was a much better idea than handing out my business card to the occasional cute stranger.  So I got my first “personal” set of business cards from Vista Print — they just had my first name, my phone number, and an email address that I used for dating.  Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this was mildly insane: I probably needn’t have worried quite so much about stalkers and spammers — and it was a little bit weird to give out a card that didn’t have my last name.  (I called them my “playa” cards, and actually was so embarrassed by them that I did in fact give my future husband my business card when we first met.)  Still, I had such a great time being freed from the law firm business card (and realized that the prices were so low) that I’ve since gotten lots, and lots, of other personal business cards, including

  • when I was actively hunting for a new job — these had my full name, my phone number, and the email address that’s on my resume.  If I’d been smart about it I’d have set up a professional website for myself and my CV and added that URL as well, or just given the URL to my LinkedIn page.
  • really nice Moo cards for guests at my wedding (Moo cards are great quality, but very photo-driven — so they were a perfect way to use some of our “engagement shots.”)  In the pack we bought we used 10 different images on the front, and on the back we listed the photo-sharing site that we hoped all of our wedding guests would use to share their personal pictures from the wedding with us.
  • when we moved into a new apartment — we moved in December 2009, so we just tucked these cards into our holiday cards and, subsequently, gave them to people we hadn’t seen in a while.  It just seemed like the cheapest and easiest way to distribute our new address.
  • for Corporette — I’ve actually ordered several packs of business cards for Corporette, not because I’ve gone through them so rapidly but more because I couldn’t decide what name I was going to use for the blog  until I actually came out back in April 2010 (Nickname or Full Name? Maiden Name Last Name? Just last name? Just maiden name?) or what I wanted to call myself (my current cards just say “Kat Griffin, Publisher.”)  I’ve used a few different companies, but have found that I really like the cards from one of the big box office stores — I’m trying to find my latest receipt and will update when I figure out which one.  The colors are nice, the ink is raised, the cards are on good stock — and the prices were really competitive. (I actually have a bit of paper guilt that I have so many unused business cards — let’s just say my necklaces are really, really organized.)

To answer Reader H’s question — I think you can have a bit of fun with design, but keep in mind that you’re representing yourself. A plain design might show that you’re no-nonsense, functional, not fussy.  A unique design might show that you’re creative, stylish, not content with the boring white card.  I think either of these two options are great — they represent who you are.  I think you want to be very careful about choosing a card using stock images (a tiny flower! or heart! or wavy lines that are slightly reminiscent of the 80s!) because it may convey things about you that you don’t intend.  Similarly, one person I know has a card that has a caricature of herself on it, looking slightly tarted up and comical — which would be great if she were a comedienne.  (Unfortunately, she isn’t.)  If you’re not overly creative but don’t want a plain design, you might want to just design a simple monogram for your card.  Some places to check them out:  Vista Print, Fine Stationery, Office Max, Staples, and other “big box” paper stores.  I usually think of Moo Cards being used by artists or graphic designers (although I know one blogger who has them), but if your personal hobby is photography (or travel, or photographing your travels) using some of your own images for the photos could be a fun but classy way to use cards with a bit of design on them.

Readers, have you ordered your own business cards?  Where have you had great experiences? How much design is too much design for an “I’m looking for a job” card?

{ 113 comments }

Reader Mail — Is vintage appropriate to wear to the office?

by C on 11/17/2008 · 7 comments

in Being Girly, Fashion, Fashion Gaffes, Lingerie, Nostalgia, Wear to Work

The other day, we got a request from a reader asking whether vintage fashions are ever appropriate to wear to the office or to court.  At the guts of her request, she asked:

Does the fact that a suit is vintage make it too costume-y?  Does it depend on the styling and the pattern (read: no fur collars, no plaid or speckles)?  Does it have to be very plain in color and details (read: black, navy, or grey only)?

This is a very interesting question to us, because we see her concerns — vintage suits are frequently more body conscious than today’s suits, and a lot of the details that went along with the vintage suits — the blood red nails and lips, the wild hats, the pin curls, the elbow-length gloves, and the seamed stockings — are more the province of a a Halloween costume than of a professional reputation.  But a lot of these suits, such as the brown one pictured (link courtesy of our reader!) don’t look, by themselves, that costume-y.

That said, we see no problem with wearing vintage, so long as you don’t adopt the entire vibe of the era. For example:  if you wear a vintage suit with vintage-inspired shoes, wear more neutral makeup, with a modern bag and simple hair.  On the converse, to maintain a sense of continuity in your styles, you could wear a more modern suit with vintage shoes, or go for a pin curl look with Benetton.  We would try to stick closer to neutral, basic colors and avoid more garish ones, but keep in mind that we’ve seen quite a few fur collars, speckles, and plaids in stores recently, so use your judgment.  Your goal should be for people to think of you as a stylish but competent lawyer, not as Dita von Teese‘s legal eagle cousin.

Things we would avoid — particularly in front of a court, or a boss — would be any suit featuring serious shoulder pads, stripes going in different directions, or anything requiring a corset to fit into. (For example, see the suit worn by Rossalind Russell in the opening scenes of His Girl Friday — absolutely stunning, but not something we’d wear in front of a fact finder.)  These pieces can be bought and broken up — for example, Russell’s striped suit jacket would look almost tame with black wide-legged trousers and a simple white blouse or t-shirt — but we wouldn’t chance wearing it in front of someone who thinks you’re a little girl playing dress up.

rsvp - Lani (Black Leather) - Footwear

As far as shoes, we think the only goal with shoes is to avoid anything too revealing (open-toed shoes are generally not acceptable in some parts of the country; some people think even toe cleavage is too much) or too dominatrix-inspired.  We think vintage-inspired shoes with a modest heel height (like the RSVP pair the reader suggests) are acceptable.  Again, we would stick closer to conservative styles — spectator pumps, thicker heels like those of the 60s — but again, if worn with a modern suit this shoe would add a nice touch of personality.

Readers, what do you think?  Are vintage fashions appropriate for the office?

The original reader’s full letter (slightly edited), after the jump:

[click to continue…]

{ 7 comments }

← Previous Entries

Terms of Use; Privacy Policy