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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits for women, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.
This light blue suit from Gabriela Hearst is such a lovely shade of blue.
As I've written before, light blue suits are a spring thing; don't be shy to buy them, because they're surprisingly versatile — wear them with neutrals like black, navy, or white; break the pieces up; or go for a more interesting color scheme. (Try a bold red, but almost any color will work.)
The blazer is $2190, and the pants are $1090, both at Matches.
This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!
If you're hunting for colorful suits, note that light blue suits for summer are some of the easiest because you can wear them as you would a light gray suit. As of September 2024, we're seeing nice ones at Reiss and Brooks Brothers. On the more affordable side, find blue suits at Ann Taylor (“blue echo,” ojai, “precious sapphire“), Banana Republic Factory, and Eloquii.
Sales of note for 10.10.24
- Nordstrom – Extra 25% off clearance (through 10/14); there's a lot from reader favorites like Boss, FARM Rio, Marc Fisher LTD, AGL, and more. Plus: free 2-day shipping, and cardmembers earn 6x points per dollar (3X the points on beauty).
- Ann Taylor – Extra 50% off sale (ends 10/12)
- Banana Republic Factory – Up to 50% off everything plus extra 25% off your $125+ purchase
- Boden – 10% off new styles with code; free shipping over $75
- Eloquii – Extra 50% off a lot of sale items, with code
- J.Crew – 40% off sitewide
- J.Crew Factory – 50% off entire site, plus extra 25% off orders $150+
- Lo & Sons – Fall Sale, up to 35% off
- M.M.LaFleur – Save 25% sitewide
- Neiman Marcus – Sale on sale, up to 85% off
- Spanx – Lots of workwear on sale, some up to 70% off
- Talbots – 50% off 2+ markdowns
- Target – Circle week, deals on 1000s of items
- White House Black Market – Buy one, get one – 50% off full price styles
Anon
Are we doing the blue suit thing again today?
Please tell me what you pack for skincare and makeup / basically all your conforming liquids when you travel. I’m interested in what other people do. I used to have this down to a science but haven’t done a lot of business travel since 2020.
Anon
The light blue suit looks like such a “ladies who lunch” thing, and I say this as a fan of pastel.
Anon
I’ve been at 5 different airports in the past few months, and none of them cared that I left my bottles in my bags as I went through security. They were only stressing about water bottles, and having laptops placed in separate bins. I feel like you certainly don’t need to worry about fitting all your 3 oz bottles in a quart ziploc. If you have a lot of items and you want to be careful, use several quart ziplocs and place them in separate bins. They don’t match up bins to people. In other words, take as much as you need, aim for smaller bottles although I doubt they notice or care about 4 oz vs 3 oz.
Anon
Every frequent traveler should have TSA PreCheck and then you officially don’t have to take your liquids out of your bag.
Vicky Austin
For the rest of us, I think technology that doesn’t require the liquids to be out of the bag is slowly coming to most airports in the US. For me it’s been hit or miss, but it has happened at various airports of varying sizes since the fall of 2021.
Anon
I’m op and I have pre-check / global entry. I don’t take my liquids out. But they did get inspected after the x ray the last time I traveled.
I’m really interested in what people pack because I actually want to pack less in liquids than I used to. And I also want to make sure I’m not forgetting anything.
Anon
I normally only pack sunscreen (and liquid Tylenol when traveling with kids). But I don’t wear makeup and am fine with using hotel shampoo/conditioner.
Anon
Most advanced airports don’t need the liquids taken out of the bag.
Changi, Dubai, Doha etc.
Anon8
FWIW I haven’t taken my liquids out since 2018 and I’ve never had an issue as long as each individual liquid is less than 3oz. Used to travel cross country monthly in the before times and even when TSA said “take your liquids out” I didn’t bother, and they never said anything. I am normally a strict rule-follower outside of this rebel TSA behavior :)
Anon8
Forgot to add, this is domestic US travel only.
Cb
I am pretty minimalist, a tube of my nonpreferred face wash because I will inevitably leave it in the shower, some sort of serum, and heavier moisturiser, sunscreen if relevant, a dr jaart redness cream which doubles as foundation, mascara, and lipgloss.
I did Birchbox when I was travelling to different places a lot and that was fab for travel size things. I think I might need to re up it for a few months. But my skin is dry but not particularly finicky.
Cat
I’m picky about toiletries so always bring everything. I do have Precheck but obviously that doesn’t help when you’re returning home from another country – sometimes you have to take everything out there anyway.
Shampoo & conditioner go in 99 cent squeeze bottles from Target. I use a piece of saran wrap under the screw top to guard against leaks. I do the same thing with sunscreen for a long weekend – no need to bring the oversize bottle and check a bag just for that!
Travel size moisturizer, contact solution, makeup remover, cleanser all live in my suitcase.
Otherwise my only liquid is my gel-consistency tinted moisturizer, but that stays in my makeup bag with other cosmetics. I don’t think I bothered taking that out of the bag even before Precheck!
Cat
oh and toothpaste counts, I guess. A travel size tube of that (thanks, dentist handouts!) lives in my suitcase too.
thanksgiving anxiety
For domestic flights I don’t do anything. I fly on average 1x a month and no one has ever checked or cared. I still use small versions where I can just to save space.
As for international, I can only speak for Europe, but they definitely care and have checked every single time. Target sells a lot of mini versions of things.
Anonymous
In Europe, so absolutely pack liquids in a clear litre bag. Anything more will be tossed at security.
In the bag: Small (oreo-shaped) plastic boxes to decant cleansing balm, serums, masks or any specialty cream for a few days. Small plastic decant bottles for shampoo and soap. Travel size hair balm. Mascara. Full size foundation and/or moisturiser. Hand sanitizer. Liquid eyeliner. Contact lenses. Travel size toothpaste.
Stick deodorant and powdery and other non-liquid makeup in separate bag.
Tweezer, nail file, floss, hair bands and brush. Emergency stuff.
OP
Yes, OP here, I got a lecture at CDG – in French, which I speak a bit, but didn’t understand the guy’s accent at all, so all I got was Madame, tsk tsk tsk, Madame, along with some serious head shaking and scorn.
He packed what would fit of my stuff in a quart zip loc, I thought he was going to toss the rest so I tried asking him to change which things he was putting into the bag – to which he held up his hand and tsk-ed me a few more times – then he stuck the ziploc into my zipper bag along with the rest of my items and waved me through. I guess I’d call it a warning!
Last time I flew domestically, I got flagged and my baggage opened and inspected. Of course the TSA agents didn’t tell me why, but then the agent reiterated the rules about how all of my 3 ounce or less toiletries (compliant) had to fit into a ziploc (non compliant), so I really am trying to be more conservative with what I bring.
Anon
When I passed through Frankfurt in 2002 (so very high security), the guy in front of me had his bag searched. Voila! A corkscrew! The agent simply put it back in his bag. I mean, it’s an important item to carry, nicht war?
Jules
In about 2020, my 15-y-o took a longboard skateboard on our trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland. (It was packed in soft guitar case, with the wheels taken off. The only place where they got a hassle was at the layover point, Frankfort. (By contrast, security in Dublin asked what kind of Gibson guitar it was and then when told it was a longboard said “brilliant!”)
anon
My favourite “hack” is using contact lens cases to hold creams that I use relatively small amounts of – for me that includes my retin-A and benzaclin. Super efficient space wise.
Auburn
I recently started doing this too! Game changer
Anonymous
I minimize liquids. I bring ponds cold cream. It’s great at getting makeup off and leaving my skin hydrated. I bring dry bar spray to minimize hair washing. If I do plan on washing my hair, I bring small conditioner instead of both shampoo and conditioner since hotel shampoo is usually good enough.
BB
Just packed for a week long business trip. I travel with 2 bags: a clear plastic zipper case for toiletries and a nice leather dopp kit type bag for makeup. In the zipper case, I use 4 GoToobs which have shampoo, conditioner, face/body wash, and body lotion. I’ll also bring a travel sized face wash – usually something I pick up in the Sephora check out line. I am allergic to random fragrances that might be in hotel toiletries, so always travel with my own. In addition to those, I have a mini hair cream and a mini sunscreen. I keep a mini toothpaste in the case with my electric toothbrush.
Anon
I just buy mini sizes of products at Sephora or use samples. I used to try to decant big bottles into the stupid little travel-sized bottles and it always made a mess.
Rainbow Hair
I’m a bit of a dirtbag when it comes to products (which is to say, i barely use ’em) so my setup is easy peasy: i’ve found it doesn’t matter what I wash/condition my hair with for a few days as long as I bring my curl cream, so I have a tiny thing of that. If I have a little facewash going, I’ll pack it, but otherwise i’m fine to wash my face with water for a few days as long as I bring my good nighttime moisturizer (I always buy it small because it’s $$$ and I only ever use a tiny bit) and then of course daytime SPF (I use Dr Jart+ so it basically functions as like, tinted moisturiser). I use hotel soap, hotel lotion, etc. Toothbrush and toothpaste stay in the traveling makeup bag. And that’s it! I guess i’ll add real foundation (a liquid) if I’m planning on doing like Real Makeup.
Anon
I haven’t taken the liquids out of my carry-on in at least 15 years. I’ve never been “caught.” The one time a TSA agent (just one week before that she was working at McDonald’s) took out my dopp kit with a high-end name brand on the side and held it unopened in her hand, perplexed as to why the computer told her my luggage needed searching. She ended up determining that the half loaf of home-made bread had set off the alarm instead.
Anonymous
We get it, she’s a dumb fast-food worker who doesn’t understand your fancy luxury goods.
Good grief.
I hope for your sake that life never knocks you out of that privileged bubble.
Anon
If that’s the kind of person we’re getting in the TSA who are supposed to keep us safe from terrorists, wow. I personally would prefer someone a bit smarter, but I guess popping privilege bubbles is more important.
Cerulean
You should try working a low wage job. I promise you someone will believe you’re an idiot by the end of the first shift. They work at a fast clip with minimal training before being thrown in with cranky travelers.
Your whole interaction with a Dumb Poor could have been avoided had you removed your liquids from your toiletry bag, but here’s your medal for never removing your liquids and holding up the line 🏅
Anonymous
I switched from a plastic Ziplock baggie to a sturdier clear plastic bag with zipper that I bought off Amazon. That seems to fir much more into it and I can reuse.
I decant shampoo and conditioner into the plastic tubs Target sells. I use a small round container, also from Target, for my moisturizing hair creme and I pack an Aveda hair product sample from my salon. Toothpaste, a moisturizer with sunblock for my face and neck, and a sample size hand lotion. Travel size Cerave face wash and eye drops.
Deedee
I have spent a LOT of time maximizing my HBA packing approach. What I do differs for personal vs. biz travel, but since you asked about biz…
I try to have as much as possible in branded containers in mini size that I can just refill so I don’t have to label bottles of clearish fluid. I also find it incredibly useful to have 1 oz and .5 oz travel bottles, as often 3 oz is too much for the length of my trips. I use contact lens cases to hold very small amounts of things. I also find that the reusable clear quart bags you can buy at CVS are much better than a Ziploc; they tends to have a more square shape on the bottom. I’m traveling for business now; here is what I packed.
-reusable bottles with miscellar water, cleanser, BHA. When I’m really counting weight bc I’m carrying on in a backpack, I won’t refill fully, but will keep only exact liquid amounts needed inside.
-mini cerave pm bottle (2 oz) and 3 oz body lotion bottle
-0.5 oz bottle of daily facial SPH (this is unfortunately a non-refillable tube, but I buy a travel size whenever I order a full size)
-full size deodorant (bane of my existence that my preferred brand doesn’t do mini sizes!)
-mini toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash
-daily contact lenses (please note I believe these are a true exception to the TSA liquid limit as a medical need)
-Mini make-up set: miniature eyelash curler, mini set of stackable travel brushes, mini tweezers, mini scissors, full size nail clippers, contact lens cases with a few squirts of foundation on one side and decanted solid cream blush on the other. I use a stick concealer that I cut a piece off of and that goes in another lens case; the other side I fill with a spot treatment for acne. Mini size mascara, .5 oz setting spray, mini beauty blender, full size Maybelline undereye concealer, chapstick.
-several qtips & cotton pads
For business travel, I use hotel-provided shampoo & conditioner because my skin is finicky but my hair is not. For air travel, I add a 1 oz bottle of hand sanitizer and if I run out of room, I remove my deodorant to fit it.
The only items I packed outside the above (which all fits in a clear bag) are a travel electric toothbrush, mini wetbrush w/ hair tie on the handle, small pill case, and pantiliners. With the exception of contacts and retainer, I am able to leave all these items fully packed when at home.
In addition, I have an eensy weensy medicine/emergency hba set I keep in my purse at all times–even more miniature than this! That cloth pouch is probably 2.5×4 in and holds a pantiliner (tampon when not preggo), travel tissues, tiny aquaphor tub (emergency moisturizing that won’t be seized by TSA), chapstick, extra pair contacts, bandaid or 2, blister pad, mini nail file, hair tie, safety pin, foot of floss in a pill bag, individual sanitizer wipe or 2, tiny tub with one dose each of benadryl, tylenol (ibu when not preggo), tums, and anti-diarrheal.
Don’t get me started on what I keep in my glovebox! :)
Anon
You are PREPARED! thanks for the list, you made me realize I forgot deodorant!
Anon
I don’t put my deoderent in with the liquids.
Anon
I have a set of refillable toiletry bottles that come with labels and a zipper plastic case. I keep a razor in the case and refill the bottles with my shower supplies when I return home. I have a separate refillable bottle for moisturizer. My sunscreen is 3oz so I bring the whole bottle. I just live without tretinoin and hylauronic acid for a few days.
The individually wrapped makeup remover wipes aren’t eco friendly but I can’t think of a better solution. I live life on the edge by keeping a 4oz tube of toothpaste in my liquids bag and it hasn’t been confiscated yet. Those travel size tubes barely last two trips, I swear it’s a scam.
Anonymous
This is a kind of strange question but I’m wondering if anyone has dealt with this. Did you ever have a friend whose worries give you your own worries? I have a friend, whom I love, but often when I talk to her I’m left anxious. She worries about things that are so far removed from things on my radar that I start out almost confused as to why she’s upset about them and end up wondering if I’m completely off base for not even considering them. An example from today was that she was worried about not sending her first grader to summer school because although he’s doing fine per his teacher, she thinks he should be doing better. At first I think “I would never worry about that, it seems over the top” and now I feel like I’m just a space cadet who can’t take my kid’s education seriously. Is there any way to fight this feeling? Part of me thinks I’m scared of uncomfortable feelings like that some people are just better parents than I am and part of me thinks I’m catching worries like a cold.
Anon
Yes, I get this all the time. I try to remind myself that I’m allowed to care about what I care about, and that there is no external barometer for what’s right or wrong. Why does she get to be the arbiter on what matters and what doesn’t? Something also helpful is to remember that she likely has anxiety and will always worry – it’s not that she’s all-knowing, it’s that she is struggling with her own stresses. You don’t have to absorb them as your own.
Anon
I have a friend like this. It helps that both of us struggle with anxiety and we have discussed that. So sometimes she will get very wound up, and I find myself getting anxiety, but then I remind myself that she doesn’t get to decide what I care about. I also then think about issues that worry me that she doesn’t care about, and it helps me remember we all have our own “stuff.” This makes it easier for the conversation to go in one ear and out the other. We are not dismissive of each other— we’ve just learned when each of us is spiraling and it’s really more about the Anxiety than The Thing.
Anonymous
I used to have a friend like that…
Instead of getting caught up in the worry ask yourself how realistic the worry is, as my grandmother would say, don’t go borrowing trouble.
Are your kids learning? Have their teachers ever expressed concerns? If they are learning and their teachers have no concerns, is it really realistic to consider yourself a ‘space cadet’ who can’t take their education seriously?
anon
I do have a friend like this, and if I’m honest with myself, I’m sure I’ve been this friend at times. We all worry about different things. I have a dear friend who really stresses about her kids being on the “right” athletic teams to position them for athletic glory later and getting a position on the high school team. I … do not care enough about raising sporty kids to understand this train of thought. And YET! Sometimes I start getting a complex about our family sticking with YMCA/rec leagues and wondering whether I’m holding my kids back, and then it dawns on me that nah, we just have much different priorities in this area and I don’t need to worry about it. My kid would let me know if they cared that much about leveling up. Your last sentence about having uncomfortable feelings about not measuring up as a parent is spot on.
Anonymous
This happens to me a lot with parenthood-related issues – I think it is partly because there is no one right way to be a good parent but it is So Important. I don’t know the best way to fight it other than reminding myself why I make the choices I do and really breaking down my automatic thoughts. E.g., am I assuming that good mothers do x, or if I don’t do x my son will never be happy, etc.
Anon
Yep I have a friend like this. I’m not sure if she has diagnosed anxiety but she panics about non-issues and gets me worked up. The first line of defense is refusing to engage on certain topics. If you know she makes you spiral about kids’ grades then politely change the subject whenever she brings it up. When she raises a new topic and you’re worrying about it afterward, stop and remind yourself that she’s usually wrong. I tell myself “Sarah’s predictions don’t come true 95% of the time so I don’t need to be concerned. I can stop thinking about this now.”
Help Me Find The Right T-Shirt, Please
Any leads on t-shirts that are:
* not 100% cotton (I prefer roughly 5% elastene)
* substantial (not flimsy)
* crew neck
* either short or long sleeved
* solid colors, preferably jewel tones
I have worn Lauren Ralph Lauren ones for years, but the color options for the last 18 months have not been good (link in reply).
TIA.
Help Me Find The Right T-Shirt, Please
https://www.ralphlauren.com/women-clothing-t-shirts-tanks/stretch-cotton-t-shirt/595230.html?dwvar595230_colorname=Pebble%20Blue&cgid=women-clothing-t-shirts-tanks&webcat=Women%2FClothing%2FT%20Shirts#webcat=women%257Cclothing%257CT-Shirts&start=1&cgid=women-clothing-t-shirts-tanks
Anon
Land’s End or LL Bean? Good quality basic tees.
Anon
It looks like they have different, brighter colors under a different listing but essentially the same shirt: https://www.ralphlauren.com/women-clothing-t-shirts/stretch-cotton-tee/634297.html?webcat=recommendation
Moose
Universal Standard
Sybil
Second this. I probably have a dozen between short and long sleeved.
Anon 2.0
While it isn’t the most fashionable, I swear by J Jill tees. I am 3 decades younger than their target demographic but if you can make a non-translucent white tee, you have my heart.
Anonymous
Easy Friday night dinner for a games night for 4? I’m bored of all the usual things I make for a quick post work group dinner. Not in the US so looking for recipes over trader joes etc. No dietary requirements beyond no shellfish and lower on spice. thanks!
Anon8
I made gnocchi with brussels sprouts and brown butter last night and it was AMAZING. I would absolutely serve it to guests, but double it for four adults.
Gift link–
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020453-crisp-gnocchi-with-brussels-sprouts-and-brown-butter?unlocked_article_code=lZxyZvwNAzDdRVyefN35HzH-t78_SZjMvXICfEO2ovuvxTol9DZg9ZzZ3ztlVMOrP_43NKTIH2JyuqhWZHf8DCHdpiRGsI-fuFCvoiJaegwqfDsMCsnaaDRmL4uhfeyElP9lyeeGwZW4_eHnVgI5IzmcY7yQL31I3roZDOOxzeV3wSFIEHxY8BfVJinDK3K0wuSgmgIP_T4uJPMpEop1oFmhzQU63lGLFs91kJnxs1dd3EtHkV1NlHJfS9ZbsZqEyOGzDRvL6wLlQlqNnuZlYJs5AwQ1NbKhE2tz3n7WiqTibA5q3QxNRfQbJ5ou6igZdq1W9iBe7leeJqKHWnXAn45uh1FQjEDE0Dp6WrySXIq_Ir72uM9vC10&smid=share-url
Anonymous
This is in heavy rotation at my house! The version with tomatoes and mozzarella is a perfect summertime alternative.
Anonymous
my answer is always instant pot curry or chili, can adjust spice levels.
Anon
Bon Appetit’s no knead focaccia is super easy and impressive. I make it weekly for my family and we always keep a loaf in the freezer to pull out if we have unexpected guests. You do have to start it the night before you want to eat it.
For entrees I love this creamy chicken marsala: https://www.food.com/recipe/creamy-chicken-marsala-114255 (ignore the terrible photos at this link). It’s really delicious and comes together quickly.
An.On.
How about a quick pot pie? You can use frozen veggies to speed it up. I like the Budget Bytes veggie pot pie recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/vegetable-pot-pie-skillet-cheddar-biscuit-topping/
Vicky Austin
ooh this would be great – choose your veg carefully and it can be quite springy if you are trying to summon the season!
Moose
Anyone else have a hard time with getting off SSRIs? Tapered off as directed by my doc, and now have been off it completely for a week. The fatigue/sleep disruption is killer. I was on it for 4.5 years so I know it will be a process, but man, let’s just say I’m not winning employee of the year lately.
Trixie
I have never succeeded in tapering of SSRIs. My doc told me to do it over 8 weeks, still could not get off f them. I had what I called rebound depression….Now I call Zoloft Vitamin Z! There are websites and forums devoted to this…check them out, and you may need a slower taper.
Anon
Yes, I will probably never be able to stop taking mine unless I somehow can take months off work to do nothing except lie around the house and feel terrible. I get severe withdrawal even from taking my dose a few hours late.
Vicky Austin
Only the time I forgot to refill mine, had some tangles getting it transferred to the new pharmacy since we’d moved, and spent the intervening week-ish? having super weird hot flashes. Still not sure what that was about. Anyway, hoping it eases off for you very soon. Hang in there and take care of yourself!
Anonymous
It was an ordeal for me. I had every side effect you can imagine for moths. But I did get through it.
pugsnbourbon
Yep, it’s awful. I don’t know if there’s anything to do to help it except grit through it.
Anon
I got discontinuation syndrome, and it was pretty bad.
My psychiatrist suggested going a bit outside the box and referred me to a DO who does amino acid therapy (e.g. 5HTP; it is well understood to raise serotonin in the brain, so it’s actually dangerous to combine with SSRIs while still tapering them down, but apparently it is believed to help compensate for all the extra serotonin receptors once totally off SSRIs?).
For some reason this is usually considered integrative therapy now, even though tryptophan was a mainstream therapy before SSRIs were invented, but at least it helped me. I remember I was advised to switch to tryptophan or add tyrosine with long term use.
OP
I was on lowest therapeutic dose of Lexapro, and never really had major symptoms when I missed a dose unless it was 4+ days in a row missed, so I’m kinda blown away at how this has knocked me on my a$$. But reading into it, it seems like that is way more common than I realized. Thanks for sharing.
Anon
Can you still cut in and half, or even 1/4, and taper more slowly?
That can help.
Like decreasing the dose every month, step wise, then go every other day ….
Anonymous
Compounding pharmacies may be able to do this more accurately
Anon
I want a white basic long-sleeved shirt (t-shirt material) to wear with trousers as a dressed-down look. I want it to be thick enough to not show bra lines through. Where would I find this?
Anon
Crew neck? Eddie Bauer Favorite Tee. Or Talbot’s Pima Cotton Crew.
Anon
Gap modern tees. They’re thick and the white isn’t see through.
Brunswick Stew -- quick & easy
In a crock pot:
2 chicken breasts (boneless — will cook apart, may need to be shredded a bit with forks once cooked)
can of store-brought lima beans + juice
can of condensed tomato soup + water per package directions
can of creamed corn
Worcestershire (<– that seems like too many letters for how it is pronounced)
Red pepper flakes (add later)
Cook until chicken is cooked shred with forks if it hasn't done it on its own — 3-4 hours on high; longer on low. Add red pepper flakes to taste. Maybe simmer a bit longer for the flavors to mellow.
THAT IS IT. You can add cut-up potatoes but this usually fills my crock pot.
Vicky Austin
A friend sent me a meme yesterday that said, “It was the best of shires, it was the Worcestershire.”
Anon
It seems like those chicken breasts are going to be awfully stringy and overcooked after 3-4 hours on high.
Anon
Except for the acid and salt and the shredding.
Anon
Any tips on interviewing people you already know?
A good friend of several decades and I have long held jobs with similar titles in different industries. My office has a peer opening posted and my friend is interested in making the jump to this industry. I love my dear friend and I know she has a fantastic work ethic, but if I am honest, one of the other candidates seems like a much better fit on skills. I also know and like the other candidate from a prior workplace. A different internal department (for which my friend’s industry background is a more direct fit) is interested in resumes for any second-choice candidates that we don’t hire.
The hiring manager knows all of this and has still asked me to interview both of these candidates because the role works most closely with me. I would enjoy working with either of these people and am not sure how to interview in these situations.
anon
Yes, I’ve been in this situation, down to knowing both of the finalists from previous jobs. I like them both, and they brought different strengths to the table. The whole situation is awkward and there’s no way around that. You almost have to mentally remove yourself from the situation and pretend that they’re a stranger. Don’t get too casual, and keep everything above board. Have some standardized questions that you ask both of them, in addition to any follow ups you might want to ask or questions about their specific experiences. If you’re really worried about it, can someone else be in the room with you, just as a neutral observer not asking questions? And when the hiring manager asks for feedback, you have to put on your professional hat and give feedback on their strengths and weaknesses like they’re strangers.
anonshmanon
Have a very clear idea beforehand which skills are crucial for the job, and tailor a couple of interview questions for those specific skills. Try to ask both candidates the same questions. Some orgs require that and make you stick exactly to the same questions, I usually follow up as needed. Try to score the answer you get for each of the questions as objectively as you can soon after the interview. Then look over the scores as a whole.
This isn’t so different from when you’d interview a couple of strangers, but you want to minimize bias because you share a hobby or Alma Mater with one candidate.
It sounds like you will not be the single person interviewing the candidates, but that others will also weigh in. If not, that is a Problem.
Anonymous
I’m helping to plan a fund raising auction. It’s indoors and will largely be mingling, but feedback from years past indicates people like “a thing to do.”
We’ve had a photo booth (not popular). We’ve had lawn games in years when we’ve been outdoors. Any decent ideas for a “station” that can be indoors? One idea that we are looking into is a putting green but I’m looking for others to throw out there.
Anon
Foosball and/or Nok Hockey? Other simple arcade games that are easy and can be rented?
Anon
Classic games for tables? Jenga, Rock em Sock em robots, operation, connect 4, hungry hungry hippos.
Rainbow Hair
Oooh I love events with a Thing To Do! Though I’m bummed to hear your group didn’t like a photobooth! It really makes me wonder if my idea of fun aligns with theirs… nonetheless…
I assume your location is already fixed (otherwise you could do it at a place that is inherently a Thing To Do, like Bowlero, or like, a museum).
It requires a bit of prep work (and a particular crowd) but a wine pull is fun – you ask for donations of wine bottles around X price range, then the labels get covered with construction/wrapping paper and at the event folks can pay to blindly draw a bottle or two and see what they get.
I live for a theme and think it would be a blast to get a few bar-games type things going: dart board, that thing where you whack the little punching bag as hard as you can?, tabletop stuff like connect four and jenga… this of course does not work if you’re aiming fancy.
Again, if something is unfancy, I find that distributing a silly accessory breaks down walls and encourages mingling – like if it’s a company picnic on a sunny day, you hand out company sunglasses, or if the theme is XYZ, everyone can grab a colorful XYZ hat as they come in, or like, those glowsticks that you can turn into necklaces. My [particular interest] club often does (very simple) face painting at festivals (like just a pretty version of the symbol of our club) so that people have a reason to come to our booth and hang out for a minute. Again very know-your-crowd but we’ve hit it out of the park with a tarot card reader (prepaid by the hosts) or a caricature artist (same).
Anon
I love a photobooth too. I carry my favorite photo of my niece and me, taken at at wedding photobooth, in my wallet. I am posing like I’m having a head shot done, meanwhile she is posing, unbeknownst to me at the time, like she’s about to flash the camera. It makes me laugh every time I see it – and now while trying to describe it!
(she’s mid 20s for anyone clutching their pearls)
Rainbow Hair
Lol. I have a framed family photo from a wedding photobooth in my hall. My favorite person in it is my little bro wearing bunny ears over a ship captains hat and looking bizarrely like a pl@yboy bunny somehow.
Anonymous
We have done a wine pull in the past, but it took more volunteering than we found worth it for the enjoyment/$ raised.
It’s a school auction so no for tarot cards etc. it’s being held at a higher end restaurant with an event space, so we could bring things in but not dart boards :). I was thinking fooseball/bball but I don’t know that there will be space for that- I have an email in.
Anon
I also love a photobooth.
Explorette
An art project where everyone can contribute. The one I saw was a “paint by numbers” type with paints laid out, it was very large so 3 or 4 people could work on it at the same time. Could do with markers if mess is a concern. And then you can auction the masterpiece off at the end of the night!
Also, puppies kill at an auction. You have a volunteer walk around with puppy all night so people can pet and play with it, then you auction the puppy.
Anon
Along the same line as the paint by numbers, one of these sticker mosaic posters. https://letsticktogether.com
Wildkitten
I posted this before and the feedback was super helpful but it was the end of the day and I wanted to know even more. Do you have a dyson airwrap or the shark dupe? Do you have the new airwrap or the old version? Which one should I get? I want to curl my hair easier.
Anonymous
I have the new model of the dyson airwrap and it is … fine. I would for sure get one of the newer models so you don’t have to switch barrels to change the direction of the curls. It hasn’t worked very well for me, but my hair never holds a curl so I don’t know what I was hoping for.
Wildkitten
Do you want to sell yours?
Anon
After two years of not wearing makeup, I’ve discovered a life hack. I apply my plum-colored tinted lip balm to my lips, cheeks, and eyelids for a natural pop of color, along with some light concealer. I like the look as much as any makeup I wore before, and it feels healthier, since my lip balm is from the Honest brand. Would highly recommend their lip balms!
Anon
There are lots of products intended for this exact purpose, like the NARS multiple stick!
Anon
I bought the new multiple stick in the 0rgasm shade, and it’s so much better than it was the first time I used it 10 years ago!
Horse Crazy
please, make it stop.
– a very wet Californian
Rainbow Hair
Seriously. My favorite thing about living in a damn desert is the sunshine, and where has it gone?
Anon
I am so, so sick of all of my sweaters at this point.
Horse Crazy
Lol same. I normally prefer my winter wardrobe to my summer one, but I am over it at this point!
Horse Crazy
Sunshine? Never heard of her.
Anon
Yesterday was NUTS
I was worried about you in Santa Cruz (my son is at UC) but it was equally crazy here in Berkeley. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it.
Horse Crazy
It was bananas. 80mph winds, 4 inches of rain…ugh. I hope you and your son are both hanging in there!! <3
Anon
His final got cancelled so he was happy about that!
Anon
Whoa — finals in March? When March madness is so excellently mad this year? I’m not regularly a sports all fan but this seems all sorts of wrong. Do they study during spring break?
Anon
Quarter system. One quarter before Christmas break, two quarters after.
anon
Flying solo overnight (11 hours) to Europe with squirmy 22 month old. Options: economy one seat each or one business (fully flat bed) shared seat are the same price. What would you do? Online reports seem to indicate there’s plenty of room to tuck in a toddler in the fully flat bed and I think he will be sleeping most of the flight (fingers crossed). And business would be so much more pleasant for me, obviously. But of course him having his own seat could be very nice too (if he will actually stay in it). I think in business the flight attendants may be a bit more amenable to help watch him if I need to use the bathroom.
Anon
I’m normally team business but I think in this situation I’d actually do two economy seats and bring a car seat for him.
Anon
I would do business, but I also don’t take up a lot of physical space and would comfortably fit with a toddler
Anon
I could fit comfortably with a toddler in the flat bed seat, and I’m 5’11”. But space is not the issue imo — getting a kid that age to stay still and sleep would be the real challenge. 22 months is one of the most difficult ages for travel and without the car seat to confine them (which you can’t use in the lay flat business class seats) it could be a real nightmare.
Anon
Curious if the business seats might have a baby bassinet or is it too small for toddler? If toddler can get a bassinet then I imagine business will be far more pleasant for both?
Anon
I’ve actually only seen the bassinets in economy. But a kid that age is way too big. They’re designed for infants, and for many kids they really only work under 6 months.
anon
Unfortunately I don’t think they do bassinets in business, and the bassinets in economy will be too small. He’s a chunker. I’m pretty small though, so i think we can both fit OK in a business seat.
Anon
They do have bassinets in business class, at least on the airlines I’ve flown, but a 22 month old would not fit in one.
Senior Attorney
I would do business, if only for the priority check-in and lounge access in the airport. Also for the leg room and generally calmer atmosphere in business class.
Anonymous
Business lie flat for sure.
Anon
Business for sure.