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

09/29/2011 By 121 Comments

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. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Career, Nostalgia, Transitions

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

09/12/2011 By 107 Comments

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. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Hair, Inspiration, Nostalgia, Professionalism, Style, Success

Sponsored Post: Mad Men Style from Banana Republic

08/12/2011 By 26 Comments

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.

Filed Under: Advertising, Nostalgia, Sponsored Post, Wear to Work

Bar Exam Memories — and How to Celebrate Until Work Begins

07/27/2011 By 144 Comments

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. [Read more...]

Tagged With: Filed Under: Kat, Nostalgia

Business Cards for Everybody!

07/12/2011 By 113 Comments


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!) [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Etiquette, Career, Interviewing, Networking, Nostalgia, Office Supplies, Professionalism

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

11/17/2008 By 7 Comments

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. [Read more...]

Tagged With: , , , , Filed Under: Being Girly, Fashion Gaffes, Lingerie, Nostalgia, Shoes, Style, Wear to Work