2017 Update: We still stand by this advice below about long platinum blonde hair at work, but you may also want to check out our latest discussion of the best shade of blonde hair for being taken seriously at work. This is a perennial question: is long hair professional? And a corrollary: is long platinum blonde hair professional? Reader K wonders: I'm a law student with upcoming fall recruiting, and want advice for doing my hair for interviews. I have naturally platinum blonde hair (which ... Read More about Can Long, Platinum Blonde Hair Be Professional?
Networking with Older Women
Reader R has a question that goes pretty well with our discussion of networking with older men -- how to network with older women. Here's the question: I'm a 24 year old summer clerk with a public defender's office. I got the gig by networking through my friends; specifically, by getting to know their mothers and fathers who work in the legal field. Now, however, I've gotten to become friends with my friends' parents and their colleagues, who are in their 40's and 50's. Do you have tips on ... Read More about Networking with Older Women
What NOT to Wear to the Office
Update: I still agree with my advice in this post, but you can also check out our more recent discussion on what not to wear to work. So there's this great piece on USA Today about how "business casual" can be confusing to some people -- this one 24-year-old PR executive was shocked (shocked, we tell you!) when she wasn't allowed to attend a meeting dressed in Bermuda shorts and flip flops. So I thought it might be fun to have an open-thread today about what attire makes you really raise ... Read More about What NOT to Wear to the Office
Music at the Office
Reader B has a question about music at the office -- specifically, whether headphones are ok. I have a question about my upcoming legal internship this summer. I'm working at the Chief Counsel's office for a branch of the government starting in May. I am also the only summer intern at this particular location, and I will have my own office. I was wondering whether or not it is appropriate to listen to music on headphones while I am working. I usually listen to music when I need to power ... Read More about Music at the Office
How to Look Professional Without Looking Like You Think You’re In Charge
Reader L has a question about looking competent and professional, without looking like the assistant who thinks she's the VP... Specifically, how can she look professional without looking like she thinks she's in charge? I recently started a job in a large creative nonprofit in New York. It is a conservative place- no open shoes, hose or tights at all times. This is fine, except it creates another problem. Hard to describe why this is wrong, but in a suit, I look like a vice president. ... Read More about How to Look Professional Without Looking Like You Think You’re In Charge
Looking Young — or Acting Young?
Reader K asks a great question that comes up, sadly, altogether too often -- looking too young to get the job, and in general trying to avoid acting young at the office. I am a 31-year-old female attorney who graduated from a top law school in 2008, went biglaw, and got laid off. I've had several interviews with great feedback about my resume and my presentation, but no offers. I recently met with a consultant who said I look too young to trust with bet-the-company matters. I might look 25. I ... Read More about Looking Young — or Acting Young?
When Disaster Strikes: Acne and the Job
I thought this might be an interesting topic for an open thread -- what to do when you wake up the day of an important meeting and find you've got a blemish on your face? In addition to being a serious confidence killer, it can make you look younger and lead you to being taken less seriously. (And, as an outward indicator of stress, it is definitely noticed! Does anyone else remember that blemish George Bush had on his face during the "who won the race" time period? If you can find a picture, ... Read More about When Disaster Strikes: Acne and the Job
There’s No Crying in Baseball: How to Keep from Crying at Work
2017 Update: We still stand by this discussion of how to keep from crying at work -- you may also want to check out our recent discussion of how to get a poker face at work. Reader S has an interesting question about how to keep from crying at work... Recently, I posted to a so-called professional site discussing whether or not it was ok to cry at work. The person who started the thread claimed to be a Director who cried a lot at work. Since she cries at work, she wanted to know how other ... Read More about There’s No Crying in Baseball: How to Keep from Crying at Work
The Intern with the $9,000 Handbag
Update: We still stand by this advice that if you're an intern with a $9000 handbag, it may be a bit too much -- but you may also want to check out our more recent discussion of dressing better than your boss by carrying a "higher" label of a designer bag...and we've also rounded up the best luxury work bags! We got an interesting e-mail from reader N: I am an intern at the equivalent of a BigLaw firm in Singapore. I have a Birkin bag (a small one, 30cm) and am wondering if it is ... Read More about The Intern with the $9,000 Handbag
Does Long Hair Make You Look Younger?
Update: We still stand by this advice on whether long hair makes you look younger, but you may also want to check out our more recent discussion of how to be taken seriously when you look young. You may also want to check out our best advice for office hairstyles. Reader A has an interesting question about the perennial problem of looking too young...particularly, she wonders, does long hair make you look younger? I'll be spending this summer in my Michigan hometown working as a student ... Read More about Does Long Hair Make You Look Younger?
What to do when your male boss tells you you dress “too well”
Today's reader question comes from a lawyer in a small, private firm on the East Coast, who was told by her male boss that she dresses "too well." What does it mean when someone says that? And what should this young legal eagle do about it? I've been at my first job out of law school for 15 months. I'm 26 years old, but have a young face and often get asked if I'm an intern instead of an attorney. I am a litigator and I wear suits when I go to court, which is roughly twice a week. Joking ... Read More about What to do when your male boss tells you you dress “too well”
What Makeup to Wear While Interviewing
2017 Update: Check out our latest discussion on the best interview makeup! Today's reader mail is another request for interview advice, this time in terms of makeup... I have several on campus interviews for 1L summer jobs the first week in February. I have my conservative gray and black suits. I have my sensible Nine West pumps. I have worked on pulling my hair back off my face. The only piece of the puzzle I do not feel confident about is makeup. I have heard that minimal is the way to go, ... Read More about What Makeup to Wear While Interviewing
