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Something on your mind? Chat about it here. Waterproof sneakers for the weekend: yea or nay? For some reason I've decided I want to try either high-top sneakers or slip-on sneakers for the weekend and, after some research, I've realized that there is such a thing as waterproof sneakers, which seems much better. I can't decide if, on me, it would be a chic, fresh look or a sad mom look. (I've always been a low Converse kind of girl so any sort of sneaker without laces is a change for me!) These Blondo waterproof sneakers look great if you like the high-top look; they also come in a lower, slip-on version; the shoes are $80-$119. Pictured: Blondo Giselle Waterproof Sneaker Want a more traditional waterproof boot? Here are two great deals on waterproof booties (one on Blondo, one on Aquatalia), and of course there are a ton of great options for weatherproof shoes for work. 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!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
And some of our latest threadjacks here at Corporette (reader questions and commentary) — see more here!
Some of our latest threadjacks include:
- What to say to friends and family who threaten to not vote?
- What boots do you expect to wear this fall and winter?
- What beauty treatments do you do on a regular basis to look polished?
- Can I skip the annual family event my workplace holds, even if I'm a manager?
- What small steps can I take today to get myself a little more “together” and not feel so frazzled all of the time?
- The oldest daughter is America's social safety net — change my mind…
- What have you lost your taste for as you've aged?
- Tell me about your favorite adventure travels…
Anonymous
Ooooh I want these for fall commuting and casual Fridays. I love my Blondo ankle booties (wearing them right now in fact).
Anon
Also wearing Blondos – the tan block heel ankle boot. These aren’t quite my style but I’d think they looked good if I saw other women wearing them.
JB
I am wearing them today in the tan color, and they are fantastic!
Owl Lover
I have some of the leather waterproof blondo booties from Nordstrom. I love them, very comfortable, roomy enough for thick socks and super waterproof. I have a walking commute so waterproof is a must.
I actually considered getting some waterproof hiking style sneakers for my weekends. I haven’t pulled the trigger. I hate how most sneakers are geared toward running, and thus made out of paper thin fabric that lets your feet breath. Meanwhile, your feet also get wet. I used to wear leather New Balances, but they are terribly ugly, albeit water proof. Not that waterproof hiking shoes are much more attractive. :/
Anonymous
Waterproof trail runners will look more like regular sneakers than hiking shoes.
Torin
+1
I have a pair from Salomon. They’re basically goretex running shoes with extra tread and a more protective toe box, and they’re pretty warm.
Torin
https://www.rei.com/product/117303/salomon-xa-comp-8-climashield-waterproof-trail-running-shoes-womens
Ellen
I would LOVE to get another pair of waterproof boots soon b/c of all the walking; especialy b/c I go down Lex a lot when I come to work and there is small sidewalks and lots of dogs, which translates into a lot of poopie getting into the tread of my boots. Last year, I left a pair of boots out in the hallway b/c of the poopie and the cleaning lady did not come for 3 days, and by the time she did, she said the poopie had petrified, so I gave her the boots to give to her daughter, Luz. FOOEY on dogs that poop on Lex!
LaurenB
Why you allow this obvious troll’s comments to stay up is beyond me, Kat. She’s not even amusing.
ElisaR
Excellent question LaurenB
Ellen
LaurenB and ElisaR are either one and the same person, or two trolls (literally) who are friends and are certainly jelous of me. FOOEY on both of them!
Chris
Lauren and Elisa,
Ellen has been a regular here for years. She is not a troll. She just has a unique way of expressing herself.
Lea
look up arcteryx sneakers. pricey but totally waterproof versions are available and they look so good (particularly in a dark colour). super comfortable. i’ve had a pair for three years and they still look brand new.
Anonymous
I’m going to Turks and Caicos in a month and am a bit freaked out about the recent murder of an American tourist there. I’m not planning to cancel our trip, but am wondering if anyone who is more familiar with the island than me can tell me about what safety precautions I should take. We are staying at a resort, but had hoped to leave the resorts for dinner. But we just realized the sun will be setting at 5 pm (!) and I’m not sure about going out after dark, especially on foot. We’ll also have an infant with us which worries me further, since in the event of a break-in or something like that she would cry and attract attention.
Anonymous
It’s tremendously unlikely that anyone will break-in if you’re staying at a resort (v. Air bnb). In foreign countries I’m unfamiliar with, I always take a taxi to and from the hotel. You’ll 99% of the time be fine going from resort to resort-verified-taxi (not a random taxi service) and taxi back to hotel.
Anon
Just look up the murder rate in any major US city.
Anonymous
I get this argument, but usually when I’m traveling to a major US city I have a sense of what neighborhoods are bad vs good, and where to go to avoid problems. I have no sense of that for this island, which is why I thought I would ask. Apparently violent crime in T&C is comparable to violent crime in Miami and there are many parts of Miami where I would not feel safe, especially after dark.
Anonymous
and moving around in T&C, you will use that same sense of feeling unsafe to decide where to linger and explore vs. where to GTFO. Your instincts still work, you are just in another country.
cbackson
Eh, cultural context matters a lot in terms of judging what’s safe vs. unsafe, particularly with respect to the behavior of other people. Some aspects of our instincts come from the animal brain, but others are very much shaped by the culture in which we spend most of our time. I don’t think it’s crazy to be unsure if you’ll be able adequately to judge the safety of a given situation or place in a culture that is foreign to you.
Anon
How do you figure that out when you go to a new US city? Can you use that same process here? Unless your process is something like, avoid the poor brown people.
LaurenB
Well, neighborhoods with a lot of poor brown people do tend to be unsafe. Poorer neighborhoods in general are less safe. This isn’t breaking news.
S in Chicago
TCI (Provo) is very safe. We used to own a condo at one of the resorts. I’d still avoid walking as a tourist at night though–just like I would in any other city. Most of the resorts have a shuttle service that goes to the main restaurants/restaurant areas (most of the nice restaurants are in a couple of strips or at resorts), and if you aren’t on the loop then I’d have the hotel call you a cab. Some areas are more walkable than others, but a lot of the resorts are kind of far from one another. I wouldn’t want to walk it just for the sake of that being a lot of walking with a kid and I hate being sweaty. And so much gorgeous landscaping makes for some dark areas.
Anonymous
The woman who was killed was by Club Med – which isnt particularly close to the Grace Bay hotel area most people are in. There has been some crime, mostly small robberies or breakins at non-hotel properties (condos, air b&bs) but its generally safe. Use your common sense, dont go wandering off property alone at night since theres a decent amount of areas under construction or open lots away from the hotels (taxis are your friend).
Its a beautiful area, and unfortunately terrible things happen everywhere
Buy or Lease?
I have a truck as a secondary vehicle (for pulling my horse trailer and for loading with equipment on ski and rock climbing trips), and have been leasing it for the past three years for approx $330 a month. Lease ends next week, and I’m trying to decide whether to lease a new one or buy out my current lease. A lease on an equivalent truck (and I can’t do a base model because I need the V8 and trailer brake) would apparently run me about $435 a month with nothing down (the base price has gone up, and I put $3k down last time). Buying my current truck would be approx $26k (MSRP was around $45k new), and if I financed for six years, it’d be about $470 a month with nothing down (and I could do an extended warranty for an extra $30 a month). I am way under mileage with my current truck (only about 21k on it in three years) and equivalent ones are on dealership websites in the low 30s.
What do you wise ladies think is the better option?
Anon
You gave the numbers but have you actually done the math about what will cost more in the long term (incorporating lifetime of vehicle, typical maintenance you spend on owning v. renting, trade-in or resale value). If the numbers come out similar, definitely buy. You’ll have years use out of the truck without a note and you seem to use it pretty roughly so there is a good chance you’ll violate some use provision in the lease or do damage not covered.
Buy or Lease?
Hmmm, resale on it looks like it would be good – a 2009 version of what I have with 75k miles on it would be worth about $15k. So if I pay for the extended maintenance (which would hopefully cover the majority of any repairs), and nothing catastrophic happens, buying doesn’t seem like a horrible financial move…
Anonymous
Trucks in general have rugged construction. However, I would check to see if yours is getting good consumer satisfaction reports and whether there were recall notices on it. That might help you decide.
anon
I don’t know but I’m following as I too have a truck as a secondary vehicle for pulling my horse trailer and loading equipment. :) My truck is too old to be reliable on longer trips with the horse trailer (I’m not scared of breaking down if it’s just me on a trip, but if I am hauling my horse (especially if I’m alone), I’m terrified of breaking down.) I want a newer, quieter (but still diesel) and very reliable truck, but newer trucks are insanely expensive.
Scarlett
For my primary car, I like to lease but for a second/limited use car, I’d rather buy something older and used, so I’d vote buy your older, now used car off lease. With the lower usage, you won’t run into the repair costs that make owning annoying for quite a while. I’d probably extend the warranty too.
Anonymous
Have you looked into rental options for pulling the trailer? Not sure how frequently you actually use the truck for that purpose. Either buying or leasing is a large monthly payment, and you could buy a used rooftop box for the to carry your ski and climbing gear. If having the truck sitting in your driveway is a non-negotiable, buy out your lease.
Torin
+1
Anonymous
Not the OP, but I would not be able to trust a rental truck to pull my horse and also, pulling a live load is way different than pulling a flatbed or a boat. I want a truck I know and can pull with hooked up before I load my horse into the trailer.
anon
Exactly. And I’m sure rentals don’t typically come with an electronic trailer brake box installed. I really want to know and trust any vehicle I use to pull my horse. Also, I think many rental agencies prohibit towing with their vehicles. (And, cleaning out the hay from the truckbed after every haul would be a nightmare.)
Buy or Lease?
It probably averages out to once or twice a month – I haul somewhere most weekends in spring/fall, not a lot over the winter. And it’s not infrequently on late notice – like a friend and I will decide at 5pm on a Saturday to take our horses out the next morning, or I need to take an emergency trip to the vet for a colicky horse. With the logistics, and the truck needing to have the right engine and the trailer brake (not standard), and different bumper heights on different models, etc., it’s just not really practicable to rent. I’m also (like many horse owners) very particular about towing and vehicles and trailers, because hauling horses is terrifying enough on its own without worrying about technical difficulties.
Believe me, I’ve thought about other options (and also contemplated using the truck as a daily driver, but that doesn’t work logistically either), because I would LOVE not to have that added expense. I just love having the freedom of my own rig more – and when you’re spending all your money on board and shoes and vets and supplements and entry fees, what’s another $500 a month. *deadeyedstareemoji*
Anonymous
We have a pickup (F350 extended cab with 4WD) as a 3rd vehicle for misc Things, including plowing our own driveway, occasionally moving furniture or lumber, and trailering our boat. We’ve had it for 8 years (bought in ~2010, it’s a 2003) and it has like, 50k miles on it. I’d buy what you have. Assuming it isn’t a piece of junk, you’ll have it forever. If not, resale on pickups is excellent in most places. At the end of the purchase, you’ll have the asset and you can continue to enjoy it or sell it.
Rental Bathrooms Update
I posted last night about the crazy bathroom-cleaning rules for rental houses in my area–that’s still all true.(And for that late poster, where I’m at is very similar to N Dakota, but without any oil boom).
But thankfully, maybe I won’t have to move. I stressed all day current landlady’s ominous text about, “you WON’T like what we have to say!”…turns out they think the house needs a full bathroom reno. Yes! Yes it does! She gave me a standard condescend-to-the-millennial lecture about how to deal with hard water, but they repeated over and over, “this kind of damage is not your fault–nothing you did could have prevented it!”
So…another lesson in assuming the best of people. Or maybe just moderating my emotional reactions. But regardless–I get a new bathroom!!!!!
Anon
I don’t know why you won’t just tell us what state you’re in. If you have questions about what’s legal or not, that’s pretty necessary information.
Anonymous
Ummm…never asked anything about what’s legal. I know how to read a contract. I’ve asked about property norms, and vented about a stressful thing in my life–seems pretty standard fare for thissite.
And I don’t usually say Oregon, because what people picture will have 0.01 resemblance to where I live, in anyway except the broadest parts of the legal system. Unless I’m very specific, and outing my location would pretty much out my employer… So, as is often true of many people you will encounter in life, I do have reasons…
Lilliet
Nike?
Ellen
I do not understand this thread. If you rent, and there is a water/toilet problem, you get a new bathroom? Why don’t they fix what the problem is? That is what we do in NYC.
I watched the Wall Street Journal report on Megan Kelly, and how she got into trouble at NBC for making a stand about blackface. I now know that it was insensitive, but she did not even know it when she said it. And now she is loosing her job for something she didn’t even know about? I feel bad that another blond lawyer is now being pubilcly shamed b/c of her LACK of knowlege? FOOEY! How can we learn unless we ask? I learn things over time, but I did NOT know everything when I gradueated law school. Listen to this and see for yourself.
FOOEY!
https://www.wsj.com/video/megyn-kelly-blackface-remarks/EED8C124-6885-4F5D-97C3-12F801831D63.html?mod=trending_now_video_3
Anon
There’s no shame in asking questions to learn. But Megyn is a public figure who represents herself as a news authority. She has a duty to know better if she is going to represent herself that way. This is not a new conversation; it’s in the news *at least* every October. Megyn is not entitled to present the news to the public as a well-informed authoritative point of view if she has demonstrated such an essential lack of understanding and awareness.
Anonymous
I was at a presentation recently where the presenter says one of his life rules is that everyone starts at 100% with him. That rating may go down over time, of course. I liked the idea because I tend to start folks at 30% and then see how they do, and I think his approach is likely less stressful.
Cambodia
Going to Cambodia in Nov for near 3 weeks. The idea is backpacking and doing a bit of temples, jungle and to finish in a nice beach. I will do for sure Angkor temples but apart of that any tips or sugestions are wellcome.
Kk
Check out the travel fashion girls facebook group- lots of commentary about Cambodia!
G
Do an off-road bicycle tour at Angkor if you can! I think we did ours through KKO (Khmer for Khmer), and it was the highlight of our trip. I’m a bit of a wuss, and it was honestly a little terrifying biking from Siem Reap and sharing the road with cars, motorcycles, and the occasional livestock. But it allows you to see more of the smaller temples and get away from the tourist hordes. It’s best if you have a day or two to see sunrise/sunset and the major temple complexes, then do a bike tour another day. I think it was 25-35 miles total at a relatively slow pace over the course of a day- the last hour was a little rough because the bouncy trails catch up with you, but still very worth it.
Lila Fowler
Phare, the Cambodian circus in Siem Reap. Also enjoyed Siem Reap food tours. I loved Cambodia and hope you do too!
Halloween help...
Does anyone have a fun variation on a basic witch costume for office Halloween? I found a great witch hat but otherwise it’s going to be a plain black outfit…I did prepare myself for the inevitable “hey where’s your costume” jokes….
Anonymous
Black dress and fun patterned tights?
Coach Laura
You could get an elastic waist black tulle skirt to wear over a black dress/skirt that could be easily removed for a meeting if necessary. Google black tulle skirt for Halloween. There are some cute, cheap ones.
anon.
What about a black top and an iridescent pleated midi skirt? I see them everywhere and I think they’d make a fun witch costume. And bonus it could be worn again!
Catwoman
Vamp up the eye makeup!
Anonymous
Fun makeup! Green eyeshadow (or fun green eyeliner if you are talented at eyeliner)… maybe some of those fun blue lipsticks or holographic lipsticks? black nailpolish…
It's lev I OH sah
Harry Potter or Bust!
print yourself a little house emblem you can pin to the top
a pretty stick for a wand
pick a house – and then wear the color in other ways – jewelry, under layer, tights, etc.
if you’re a slytherin – draw yourself a dark mark tattoo
Anonymous
Wear Scrubs and be a witch doctor!
Anonymous
I have a question for any of my fellow inattentive types out there. Do you have any tips or tricks to help you focus when you read, especially reading documents on a computer screen? For the life of me I can’t read on my computer. I have to get through massive documents for work and early have access to a printer (or ability to haul the documents from one client to another). For what it’s worth I already block the distractions, pop ups, etc that I can. I’ve found reading with a ruler to be extremely helpful when I am able to print things out but I just haven’t figured out anything similar for the computer.
Anonymous
Can you put the documents on a Kindle or tablet? I find that easier than reading on the computer.
Anonymous
I print a lot of things for this reason! You can email any document to a Kindle which is a bit better. Curious what others say.
Annie
For me, highlighting key passages as I go helps.
Anonymous
Reading aloud or subvocalizing helps me.
Anon
I’ve just accepted that I can’t do that kind of reading on a computer. It strains my eyes and the distractions are too tempting. I have to print things out.
Anonymous
Well you can tape a thick sheet of paper across your screen, or open a blank word doc and place it over the bottom of the doc you’re reading as you scroll down, to simulate the ruler idea…
CHL
When i have to do this, I take notes by hand in a notebook kind of like I would have done with a textbook growing up. Using a purple pen also seems to help me pay attention. I’m weird like that:)
Rose
Read it backwards. It sounds ridiculous but it’s the best way to proof documents because you don’t get into ‘the flow’ of sentences.
aBr
I have a laptop where the screen flips back and turns to a tablet. It seems silly but when I’m holding it in my hands it feels less like I am reading them on a screen. Plus, in tablet mode I can write on them and highlight like I would in paper.
Anonymous
I have a massive screen, and I blow the text up with the magnifier button to over 100%. I also find reading the document from the last paragraph up helpful.
Anonymous
What are your favorite treats or snacks to bring to book club? Feel like I need to stretch past my standard cut fruit.
anon
cheese and crackers, chips and dip, veggies and dip
Can you draw inspiration from the book you are reading?
Anonymous
ha we don’t actually read books we just drink wine. we don’t even PICK books. a lot of the other ladies come with brownie things or like goat cheese tartes or bacon mac and cheese bites…
Anonymous
Crackers with cream cheese and pepper jelly from trader joes. I just dump half the jar of jelly over a block of cream cheese and serve with crackers.
AnonInfinity
Cheese, salami, crackers, hummus, olives, stuffed peppers, any kind of pasta/vegetable/grain salad, cupcakes, gourmet donuts, artichoke dip. This is the typical fare at my book club’s gatherings. If someone has more time than usual, they might make a cheeseball or homemade dessert, but usually everyone brings various dips or items off the olive bar or a nice salad bar.
Anonymous
Spinach and cheese pastries.
Anonymous
Cheese and crackers- you can’t go wrong with this one! Perfect simple pairing for wine
Not Used to the Cold
Good gracious, I need a warmer rain coat (and preferrably one with a BIG hood. I just moved from the SEUS further north and my Columbia jacket isn’t doing it anymore. I planned on buying a waterproof winter coat too (currently have wool pea coat that won’t make it through snow). Should I just get one coat or do you all tend to have a separate raincoat and winter coat?
Anonymous
I have a raincoat (you know, a dressy knee-length ish one) for work that has a lining that buttons in and out. Got it at Burlington in law school. For winter-winter for work, I have and love this one. https://www.macys.com/shop/product/cole-haan-layered-down-puffer-coat?ID=2813247
Anonymous
Snow doesn’t usually require a hood like rain does, unless you’re protecting straightened hair or something just get a great hat or two. For rain those raincoats with liners are great. Don’t forget gloves!
Horse Crazy
I have the Nautica Hooded Raincoat from Macy’s – it’s really warm and the hood is enormous!
NYCer
Super late reply, but I definitely have different coats for fall/early winter/rain and really cold snow. I hate being cold though….
Anonymous
Has anyone tried that Upright posture thing that’s all over my Facebook feed (or any other tips)? I have atrocious posture.
Anonymous
My natural state is slouch. I set myself a calendar alert on the hour to remind me to sit up and engage my abs. Sounds ridiculous, but it works.
NYCPA
Just needed to share with someone that as of this paycheck, I have officially paid off my student loans…11 months ahead of plan!!!
What are your favorite things to do to treat yourself for something like this?
Anonymous
Yay congrats! I always go on vacation to celebrate these things.
Anon
Ack I’m jealous! Way to go! This is a bit different but I like to hang something in the apartment as a sort of token. For example, after my last big move for a new job, I hung the quote “She believed she could so she did.”
Anonymous
I love this.
Anonymous
WOOHOO! Congrats!
It’d be a massage for me.
Anonymous
CONGRATS! Yes, book a great vacation for a few months from now and use whatever you were spending on student loan debt as your vacation fund!
Anon
Have you ever been waiting to buy a piece of furniture only to have it get discontinued? I haven’t bought a lot of furniture so I don’t know how common this is. I was waiting to buy a desk that I loved and now it says no longer available. I’m set on a particular sofa as well but decided I would do that in the spring with my bonus. I have the money now so I’m thinking maybe I should go for it after the disappointing desk situation.
Diversity hiring?
Anyone have experience with one of the biggest tech firms in Seattle aggressively targeting you for a diversity hire? Going as far to tell you that you have a leg up and rushing their recruiting process? Would like to hear from the hive on this one…feels like theyre a bit desperate
Anon for this
No experience with the diversity angle (I would have been, but my ethnicity isn’t apparent unless I disclose it).
However, I did get an invitation to a recruitment event in my city for one of the biggest tech firms in Seattle (they have a small office here). From the invitation, the event looked like it was in a restaurant and substantial food would be served.
When I arrived, I realized it was really in a hotel. I arrived a little late and the only food available was cucumber wheels, each with the tiniest bit of hummus. There was tons of booze, including towers of expensive vodka. The parting gift was a flask with the company’s name. Kind of felt like their plan was that I was going to wake up the next day with a signed offer letter for a position in Seattle in bed next to me.
The lawyers I met seemed like they did really interesting work, but the recruitment staff seemed way, way off.
Anonymous
Is it Amazon? I have no experience with the diversity part, but it’s an awful place to work and I’d avoid if you have other options.
Anon
By contrast, if it is Amazon, my group is a great place to work and I love what I do and the people I work with.
Anonymous
I’m assuming that it’s Amazon… but fwiw, pretty much any tech company right now is going to appreciate a well-qualified female or non-white candidate in a way that hasn’t been the case until recently (IME). I’m pretty sure that they’re not lowering the bar for candidates in order to improve their diversity numbers, though.
Gender hiring
Interesting and that is way off for sure….when I said diversity I mean gender and not ethnicity- Company trying very hard to get females to apply and get hired…going as far as to short cut the process and telling you that you have an advantage-just doesn’t feel right
Anonymous
I’m a lawyer in BigLaw and recently had a headhunter tell me that there are a bunch of law firms who would throw money at me to make a lateral move because they’re so desperate for women partners. Yuck.
Evolved
Yuck. That’s exactly what I’m talking about. This is a red flag – there’s a reason why this team or organization has no women in it! Not a team I want to join regardless of signing bonuses. Beware there will be a cost.
Alanna of Trebond
They are probably nonequity partner positions.
Anonymous
I’ve thought about this a lot (I’m sure many of us have) and my personal conclusion was ‘I don’t care about being a diversity hire’. For a long time, I would lean ‘I don’t want to be hired just because I am a woman’, but I feel that sentiment is a tool to keep women out of interesting jobs. There are enough parts of life, hiring and otherwise, where white men have a leg up, it’s just not spoken about. Nobody shames them for taking advantages of the opportunities they are given. If I think I can+want to do a job, and someone offers me that job, I’m gonna take it.
Anon
I don’t care if I’m a diversity hire if I actually want the job and they’re actually hiring. Is it possible to be column fodder? To show that they’re interviewing women? No thanks let’s not waste each other’s time!
Anonymous
I think it’s great some companies have gotten the message they need to be more inclusive and would excuse the fact they are being tone deaf in expressing it.
Using Up Political Capital
I have a question that is asking to quantify something that is hard to measure…how do you decide when to “spend” your political capital at work? How do you figure out the proper “portions” when you have multiple goals?
I am happy with everything about my job except the below-market pay. I tolerated the low pay for years due to other benefits–they paid for grad school, they were super flexible during a parent’s drawn-out terminal illness, etc. Over the past few years it has become a thorn in my side, and based on historical patterns I would need to get a competing offer to force their hand.
However, I expect to move across the county in 2-4 years, and based on historical patterns I may be able to talk them into a fully virtual position.
I’m not sure which way to go, since my gut tells me that this might be an either/or situation. I don’t know how to measure whether trying for one will affect the other, whether changing the order of the requests would help, how long it would take me to “rebuild” what I “spent”…
Any ideas?
Anonymous
do you really want to work somewhere that under pays you? I would use your political capital on it. Either they give you a raise because they value you, and you still have a chance to ask to work remotely 2 to 4 years down the road. Or they don’t give you the raise, and it’s a perfect reason to look for a new job when you move. But I just refused to be underpaid, particularly since in my experience it is often only women who are
Anon
I don’t know that there is a great clear answer for this but for your situation I would push for the raise (based of course on the few facts I have from your post).. That will be most meaningfully impactful. You have 2-4 years for the next ask so you have time to renew your capital and also a lot changes. You may not want to do remote then or it may not be offered anymore or it may be so prevalent as to not even be something that costs political capital. You may find another local-to-your-new-home job that is better. You may have other life events that change this future plan. So many maybes 2-4 years from now that I wouldn’t want to look back thinking you didn’t go for a deserved pay increase over it.
ExactlyThere
Long time listener, first time caller.
I have a unique interview situation I need fashion advice on. I’m interviewing for a position within my consulting firm. I’m a senior consultant trying to move into a specialty practice. I think the rule is to treat internal interviews just like any other interview, but I’m also not sure I should wear my dorky plain interview suit and button up.
Right now, I’m leaning towards a tasteful sheath and MM. LaFleur jardigan with low pumps. I’ll probably accessorize with a watch and pearl studs. I think I have a little more leeway to be stylish (the office is pretty casual given that it’s West Coast) but I’m not sure how far I can push it. I feel like basic suit screams “campus hire” and I want to dress more like the managers/partners I’m interviewing with.
Anonymous
That sounds like a good choice. Good luck!
Anon
I’m a lawyer, not a consultant, but I would probably wear a more “fun” suit for the interview — the type of suit I wear to a bar event or client meeting, rather than to court. For me, this is usually a sheath dress with a collarless, slightly cropped jacket. This sounds similar to what you are planning to wear.
Velma
+1. The plan to dress in line with leaders and your internal culture sounds just right.
Think about adding some personality with your earrings or maybe an interesting ring. Plain pearl studs could be a bit bland–but maybe not (colored or baroque pearls, for instance).
I had a similar internal interview situation recently. I went with something along the lines you’re describing, felt comfortable, and even got a couple of compliments from the women on the hiring committee.
ExactlyThere
Thanks, everyone. I added some cool, but small square earrings and I think it went well.
Some of the partners were in suits (no tie) and others in just sweaters and khakis so I think this was the correct level of formality for an internal interview. I would have felt kind of silly in a classic, formal interview suit.
Anonymous
I started taking vitamins- a multiviatmin, a vitamin d, and a biotin. All have been great- my general health and my skin feel fantastic. In other news, my nails have been growing so fast, which means that by the time I’m ready for my biweekly manicure, I have more than a quarter inch of grow out. My roots are also getting totally noticeable! Is more frequent, more expensive treatments just par for the course? Or is there a way to keep everything a manageable length while making it stronger?
Ellen
I also take multivitamins, and I also feel much better then I used to b/c of the vitamins. Grandma Leyeh gave me a sample and I have been buying them ever since at CVS. I get a mani/pedi every 2 weeks also, and have my OWN instruments that I make them use b/c I do NOT trust that they clean their own instruments. I recommend you do the same b/c the last thing you need is to get some bacteria from their instruments. Some women do NOT wash their hands when they use the toilet, and with my luck, I would get an infection from them and their hands, which have been all over the place, as well as in men’s privates, which are also not cleaned by them either. FOOEY! I suggest you do the same. I also recommend you get a metal nail file from CVS that has good traction so that ou can keep from getting hangnails . DOUBEL FOOEY!
Anon
I remember reading that biotin really only helps nails and hair grow faster, it doesn’t do much to make them stronger. So maybe stop taking that one?
New auntie
My sister recently had a baby about a month ago and my sister’s birthday is coming up. Shes got all the baby clothes and gear as far as I can tell, so I want to get something fun for her. Any ideas of good gifts for new moms?
anon.
A few good bags of coffee and maybe a new mug she doesn’t worry about spillage with. I love the Contigo recommended here!
Anon
Cheaper: a basket of high-quality snacks, both sweet and savory.
More expensive: a card that says you will order her family dinner once a week for a month and then actually do it, taking all the logistics upon yourself. It was so hard for me to make dinner while breastfeeding and I was always so, so hungry.
Anon-e-moose.
I have a question to which hopefully the collective wisdom has a good answer: what type of hangers are good for women’s business attire? Is there a good hanger that won’t destroy my now painstakingly collected blazers and jackets with sleeves? Brand recommendations? (Still a student, looking for something that strikes a reasonable balance between affordable and “oh no, my shirt/jacket is ruined”).
Thanks in advance!