#WFAnywhere With Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger Kathleen Ensign

“My number one tip is to stay on your normal schedule.”

—Kathleen Ensign, Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger

With so many of us working from home in 2021, your office may look different—and that’s probably a good thing. According to a recent poll conducted by The New York Times and Morning Consult, 86% of remote workers say that they’re satisfied working from home and only one in five want to return to the office. As an increasing number of employers adopt flexible remote-work policies to keep employee satisfaction high and keep up with the changing times, we’re launching our #WFAnywhere series in partnership with Alaska Airlines to spotlight how remote workers balance work and play while working from anywhere (#WFAnywhere). Ahead, Kathleen Ensign, the fashion and lifestyle blogger behind Kat Walks SF, shares her in-flight essentials for a safe and comfortable trip, her #1 tip for getting work done in a new environment, and more tips on how to #WFAnywhere.

Where are you traveling? Why did you choose this location to work remotely?

Maui, Hawaii. I have been working from my tiny San Francisco apartment (no fun) and dreaming of the beach. Hawaii is LITERALLY my dream destination.

What are you most excited about your destination and why?

I am honestly just excited to not be looking at the same four walls lol! The island has so much to offer and the BEACH!

Why is it important to change up your scenery after being in quarantine?

I feel like I am losing my mind. We can’t forget about our mental health!

What precautions are you taking before you leave to ensure a safe trip both while you’re traveling and once you arrive? What tips can you share? 

Hawaii has very specific travel requirements to enter. I had to provide a negative test result in order to travel to Hawaii. 

I also double-masked on the plane (KN95 mask and fabric mask), sanitized everything on the plane, and carried a ton of hand sanitizer.

What are your in-flight must-haves for ensuring your flight is as safe and comfortable as possible?

Honestly, comfort is key for me when I travel. I usually wear a matching sweatsuit and Ugg booties. If I’m comfortable, I immediately fall asleep.

Are you a work-from-the-air kind of person, or do you use this time to disconnect?

DISCONNECT! I fall asleep the moment the cabin pressure changes.

What’s in your carry-on? What are some things you plan on taking with you to ensure you’re prepared to work and stay safe while you’re traveling during COVID? 

I just purchased the AWAY Everywhere Bag and it is the ideal bag for staying organized and prepared for work travel. It has a place to keep my laptop safe and protected and a space for all my cords and chargers. I packed everything from my laptop, external hard drive, camera, lighting, chargers, etc.

“I wrapped my day a little early each day in time for a sunset walk on the beach.”

—Kathleen Ensign, Fashion and Lifestyle Blogger

While being away from home as a remote worker is fun, it can also be challenging if you don’t plan. Can you share three tips for working remotely while traveling that set you up for success?

My number one tip is to stay on your normal schedule. 

Do you set up a “virtual office” in your hotel? How do you set yourself up for success to avoid/minimize distractions?  

I set up a mini virtual office in my hotel room. I was very fortunate to have a room with a desk and plenty of space to set up. The hotel I stayed at also coordinated cabana space so that everyone could be socially distanced by the pool. I worked from the cabana pretty much every day after breakfast. The cabana had plenty of workspaces and plugs for me so I was able to enjoy the pool and warm weather while working from the cabana.

What are some of the activities you enjoyed at your destination during your WFAnywhere trip?

I wrapped my day a little early each day in time for a sunset walk on the beach. On the weekend I took in the island hiking, running, and exploring.

Note: During COVID-19, travel restrictions are prone to change. Always check before departure and follow local guidance. Alaska Airlines is committed to your health and safety, learn more about Next-Level Care.

MORE ON THE BLOG

3 Major Salary Negotiation Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

Negotiating, much like networking, is something we need to know how to do, yet it’s not a skill we are ever taught in school. But unlike networking, making a big mistake during a salary negotiation won’t just cost you a relationship, it may result in thousands of dollars being left on the table. So what exactly do you need to know when it comes to making the big ask? Here are the top three things to avoid doing in your next negotiation.

1. Getting Defensive

Let’s say you have taken on more responsibilities and put in way more overtime than your peers this past year. However, during your performance review, your boss informs you that you will only be getting the standard 3% raise due to budget constraints.  

In the heat of the moment, your heart rate will naturally jump through the roof in frustration.

What to do instead:

Instead of snapping back with how unfair this is, take a nice deep breath and allow for silence. Slowing the conversation down rather than jumping into a response will create space for you to be thoughtful in your answer rather than reactive.

2. Giving In Too Quickly

Now that you’ve given yourself a moment to breathe, you can start to prepare your response. While it’s natural to worry about what will happen if you ask for more, don’t let the fear of rejection keep you from getting what you deserve.

I’m here to tell you that negotiation is a normal and expected part of working. While your boss may secretly be hoping you don’t push back, they won’t become offended when you do (and if they do, it may be an important red flag to take note of).

What to do instead:

Instead of quickly giving in, restate your value and get their buy-in. For example, “I understand that constraints in the budget must be difficult. However, the amount of hours and effort I have been putting in for the company goes well beyond the standard expectations and performance, wouldn’t you say?”

3. Not Aiming High Enough

Lastly, when discussing pay, it’s natural to worry that if you go too high you will either offend the other party, lose the position, or come across as greedy.

However, you shouldn’t lower your expectations in order to come across as more agreeable.  By starting with a “safer” sounding number you are doing the work for them, and negotiating against yourself before the conversation has even begun.

What to do instead:

Focus on the facts and then aim high.

Do your research and get clear on a salary range that is both fair and reasonable. Next, instead of lowering your standards in order to come across as more agreeable, start at the top of the range.  

For the example above, if a 3 to 8% raise is reasonable, don’t lower your expectations to a safer sounding 5%. Instead, anchor high and say, “I was really hoping that given the results I’ve produced in the past year, that I would get at least an 8 percent increase. Do you think that’s something we could work toward?”

Interestingly enough, by anchoring higher, you actually give your boss the psychological feeling that they just got a “deal.” Let them feel the sweet pleasure of a deal, while you allow yourself the sweet reward of a higher paycheck!

So, in conclusion…

Negotiating doesn’t have to be scary or hard. No one will advocate for you in the same way you can advocate for yourself. You are in control of your financial well-being, and you know the value that you create. Now, share it with the world! And most importantly, share it with your boss when you ask for that next raise. This awkward and uncomfortable situation will only last a few minutes, and it may result in thousands of more dollars in your bank account.

About the author: Kathlyn Hart is a financial empowerment coach and a motivational speaker who supports ambitious women earn more. Her salary negotiation boot camp “Be Brave Get Paid,” which teaches women how to confidently own their worth and ask for more, has helped women increase their income by an average of $15,000.  In addition, she is the host of The Kathlyn Hart Show, where she interviews entrepreneurial women about their journey from dreaming to doing.

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

This post was originally published on March 26, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

6 Tips for Creating a Productive Work-From-Home Environment

Working from home. It sounds great in theory, but it actually takes a lot of discipline to establish a routine that makes working from home productive and fulfilling. Given that many companies are currently implementing work from home policies to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19, I feel compelled to share my tried-and-true tips for creating a productive work-from-home environment.

As someone who’s been freelancing and working from home for the past five years, I’ve gone through all of the ups and downs WFH life can present—from feeling lonely and needing to talk to someone to needing to get out of the house and take a break (while practicing social distancing, of course). Scroll on for my tips on how to create a dedicated work space, set office hours, eliminate distracts, and more.

Create a Dedicated Work Space

Find a place in your home that you can dedicate to work. This will be different for everyone, and while I highly encourage having a desk, a dining room table or breakfast bar are great substitutes.

I don’t recommend your workspace be on your couch or on anything where you can recline. While I love being on my laptop and having my feet up on my couch, I am never as productive as I am when sitting upright.

When choosing a space for work in your home, try to find an area that has the following:

Find a space that you can check-in for work and check-out for everything you’d typically do while at home.

Set Office Hours

As a freelancer, it’s incredibly important to have office hours. Not only to manage client expectations but to give yourself structure.

Setting office hours should empower you to develop a routine for yourself like you typically would if you had a 9-to-5 office job. You’d wake up in the morning, enjoy your morning cup of coffee, maybe squeeze in a yoga class before you get dressed, and head to work. The same should be taken into consideration when you work from home.

Freelance life is supposed to allow you to do all of the things you want to do with your time. Don’t let it create an opposite effect where you convince yourself to always be on and working just because you’re able to do it from the freedom of your own home.

Eliminate Distractions

It’s so important to eliminate any distractions from your home that would take you away from getting work done. For me, I need my home to be clean - period. If the home isn’t tidy, I’m not focused.

Other distractions I try to eliminate are:

If you find yourself being distracted by a common theme throughout your days, find a way to eliminate that distraction so you can stay focused and do your best work.

Get Out of Your PJs

We all have days where we want to stay in our PJs, but it’s important to get out of the jammies and into something that says, “my day has started.”

Most of the time I will change out of PJs and into activewear or comfortable denim. I’ll wash my face, brush my teeth and hair, put on some CC cream and deodorant, and then get to work. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference.

Talk To Someone

One of the biggest things I didn’t realize about working from home is just how lonely it can be.

You are by yourself all day and unless you have clients who love phone calls, most of your correspondence will primarily be done through email. It’s important to talk to someone; anyone. Make time to pick up the phone and call a relative or an old friend. Schedule calls with people in your network so you don’t lose your conversation skills.

I realized a change in myself probably around my second or third year of freelancing, where I would struggle with conversation because I just wasn’t having any. I’d either talk too long or too fast, have difficulty forming sentences, and just felt awkward. This is not me.

Now I talk to everyone.

I am not shy when it comes to conversation and make an effort to have a casual chat with just about anybody I come into contact with throughout the day. That’s people I pass by when I’m walking the dogs, the barista at Alfred’s, Anthony who does my nails at Olive & June, Mary who delivers our mail… AN-Y-BOD-Y.

Get Out of the House

How many of you working from home and reading this typically don’t leave your house during the workweek? 🙋 I get it.

Your home is your office and your office is your home, but it’s still important to get out of the house every once in a while. Keep yourself active and engaged with things happening in your community so you can get out of your PJs, talk to somebody, and enjoy those office hours! (You like what I did there?)

It’s important to get outside and break away from work so you can actually stay engaged in work.

When I spend hours on my computer without any breaks my mind becomes fatigued, and I become less productive. So I’ll take the dogs for a longer walk, do a workout class on my balcony, or take my laptop to the coffee shop down the road and just take in a bit of new scenery to help adjust my internal boss mode.

So if you’re feeling uninspired or having trouble getting anything done, give yourself a break and get out.

About the author: Audrey Adair is a seasoned freelance communications professional and founder of The Scope, a platform providing resources and community to freelancers and the self-employed. Connect with The Scope on Instagram and join their email list to receive your free resource, The Freelancer Starter Kit.

This story was originally published on March 5, 2019, and has since been updated.

10 Work-Life Balance Books That Belong on Your To-Read List

Achieving your career goals, trying to be a successful adult, and keeping your personal life in check can sometimes feel impossible. (If you’re juggling a million tasks and still trying to find time to watch The Bachelor with the girls, trust us, we know the struggle). But no matter how often you may feel overwhelmed, it’s important to know that you can find the balance you’re looking for—it may just take a new way of thinking and organizing your everyday life. 

Luckily, there are resources and mentors with proven methods and insights that will help you find the balance between living your best life and getting to work on time. No one ever said achieving work-life balance would be easy, but with these 10 insightful new books, you will be well on your way to reaching both your professional and personal goals in no time. Written by 10 fierce females who know a thing or two about running their own businesses and carving out time for themselves, you’ll find true wisdom and hope in the pages of these self-help and business-focused books. 

From the creator of one of the biggest natural hygiene companies to Netflix sensation Marie Kondo to a single mother from the Middle East who rose to the top of the tech industry, these books will leave you with anecdotes that will help you find the work-life balance you’ve been craving. If you want to find the perfect work-life balance, add these insightful books to your to-read pile ASAP.

Written by Ashley Johnson, content editor, She Reads.

About the Author:

Ashley Johnson is the content editor at She Reads, an online media outlet that specializes in promoting books and authors with a female-centric approach. In addition to editorial roundups, exclusive author content and thought pieces, She Reads is committed to building a community of readers who love nothing more than getting lost in a good book.

Up next: Gwyneth Paltrow, Marie Kondo, Tyra Banks, and More on the #1 Book They Always Recommend

This story was originally published on March 13, 2019, and has since been updated.

1 in 4 Black Employees Report Discrimination at Work, Most Often as Retaliation—Here’s What To Do if It Happens to You

Imagine that you are the only Black woman on your team at work, and that you’ve recently started bringing up concerns about microaggressions—from your supervisor getting your name (and only your name) wrong to more overt forms of bias such as only giving white employees time off. Now, imagine HR’s solution is to tell you, “We are moving you to a team of all women of color due to your difficult relationship with your supervisor.” 

It seems unbelievable, but that’s what happened to me at my last job, and unfortunately, acts of retaliation at work like this are all too common. One in four Black workers report being discriminated against at their place of employment, according to Gallup. Those rates are higher amongst young Black employees, and 75 percent of respondents said race felt like a factor in their experiences.

What’s more, of all the forms discrimination can take, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) finds that retaliation at work is the number one type.

Though common, retaliation at work isn’t always easy to prove

When I was told I was being transferred, I felt like I was in a movie, or an early 2000s reality TV show, and Ashton Kutcher was going to pop out at any moment to tell me I was being punk’d. It didn’t feel real, and at times, it still doesn’t.

“More often than not, retaliation is done through actions that aren't formally recorded, like texts, emails, voicemail, etc., or in-person, which can be hard to document” says Sophia Stephens, a paralegal in Washington state who works on employment and labor law-related cases. “There is no cut-and-dry approach to identifying the warning signs [of retaliation], let alone handling them and navigating a full-blown retaliation or discrimination scenario.” 

Retaliation isn’t often one major event, but rather a steady stream of situations that can leave you questioning your sanity. “It’s very typical for there to be dozens of interactions that are of the ‘death by a thousand paper cuts’ variety,” says Stephens. “They're not outright traumatic and terrible, but annoying and inconvenient enough to be bothersome, which causes people to question and wonder if the interaction is enough to raise concern about or if they'd be seen as the issue.”

As a result, she says people frequently come in to seek legal counsel saying that there’s been a history of interactions with the person, but that they didn't document them all because of that self-doubt.

When things started escalating at my office, I spent months going over every comment management made, every act of preferential treatment given to other employees, every time supervisors avoided me in the office, just trying to make sense of what was happening. I felt paranoid, anxious, and confused every day.

What retaliation at work can look like

According to the EEOC, experiencing any of the below behaviors from your boss could be considered retaliation, depending on the facts and circumstances.

1. You’re reprimanded or given a performance review that is lower than it should be.

2. You’re transferred to a less desirable position.

3. You experience verbal or physical abuse from your employer or management.

4. Someone threatens to make, or actually makes, reports to authorities, such as reporting immigration status or contacting the police.

5. You experience increased scrutiny.

6. False rumors are spread about you.

7. Your work is made more difficult.

What to do if you think you’re being retaliated against at work

The repercussions of being isolated my from my department, being moved to a different team, as well as an increased criticism of my work were more than just hating my job. Being retaliated against—and gaslit by being told this was all for my benefit—took an emotional and physical toll: I couldn’t sleep, I had migraines daily, I was always nauseous, I was losing my hair. I became suicidal.

Unfortunately, fear is a powerful motivator for not only remaining hush-hush over an unfair or illegal situation, but ensuring that any accusations stay in the dark, says Stephens, who also notes that the burden of proof in retaliation cases falls on the employee. “As the person accusing, you have to show that your actions led to someone in a position of power unfairly punishing you for them,” she says.

That burden, in my opinion, was too much to bare, because at the end of the day, all that mattered was who had the power and how they chose to wield it. What got me through the experience was trusting my gut and the support of friends who bared witness to the retaliation who were able to keep me grounded.

When I felt that I had exhausted all of my other avenues, I finally consulted a legal representative, which helped affirm my experiences and provide me with options moving forward. “If it comes to this, speaking with a lawyer that specializes in employment/labor law can be very helpful, even if you do not end up starting a case,” Stephens says. “Depending on your state, an experienced attorney can review the facts of your situation with you, let you know where your case stands, and how you can go about pursuing legal consequences.”

While I was eventually let go from the company, I knew that my career aspirations did not end there. I also knew that I had to use my experience to help others who may be going through something similar, and be the resource I wish I would have had.

Written by Dominique Norman

Classifieds: Free People, Tastemade, Outdoor Voices and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Free People, Tastemade, Aesop, Four Sigmatic and so much more. Good luck with your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Urban Outfitters | Buying Assistant | Los Angeles, CA

• Sephora | Senior Operations Manager | San Francisco, CA

• Crate & Barrel | Design Consultant | Seattle, WA

• Sidlee | Client Partnerships Manager | Los Angeles, CA

• Netflix | Brand Strategy Manager | Los Angeles, CA

• Outdoor Voices | Art Director | Austin, TX (Description)

• Minted | Email Marketing Associate | San Francisco, CA

• J Public Relations | Social Media Strategist | San Diego, CA

• Four Sigmatic | Sales Operations Manager | Los Angeles, CA

• Rosewood Creative | Head of Production | Los Angeles, CA

• BPCM | Director of Influencer & Celebrity Relations | West Hollywood, CA

EAST COAST

• J.Crew | Senior Digital Analytics Analyst | New York, NY

• H&M | Inventory Optimization Project Manager | New York, NY

• Vice Media | Media Strategist | Brooklyn, NY

• Aesop | Head of US Marketing | New York, NY

• Shopbop | Customer Support Specialist | Madison, WI

• Shadow | Creative Producer | New York, NY

• Free People | Assistant Visual Manager | Philadelphia, PA

• Sakara Life | UI/UX Lead Designer | New York, NY

• Able | Merchandise Planner | Nashville, TN

REMOTE

• The Shelf | Traffic / Project Manager | Remote

• The Shelf | Senior Campaign Manager | Remote

• Amy Porterfield | Senior Marketing Manager | Remote

• Wantable | Performance Marketing Manager | Remote

• Lulu and Georgia | Account Payable Specialist | Remote

• Calpak | Creative Freelance Copywriter | Remote

• Ritual | Director of Sales | Remote

• Rose Inc | Sales & Education Manager | Remote

• Tastemade | Junior Brand Strategist | Remote

• Media.Monks | Senior Project Manager (Web) | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Graphic Designer | Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid)

• Create & Cultivate | VP of Membership | Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid)

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE. 

MORE FROM OUR BLOG

Classifieds Nº283: Chief, theSkimm, Frame, and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Chief, theSkimm, Frame, Amy Porterfield, and so much more. Good luck in your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Pura Vida Bracelets | Creative Director | La Jolla, CA

• Cleobella | Technical Designer | Huntington Beach, CA

• Arielle Estoria | Personal Assistant | Los Angeles, CA

• Savage x Fenty by Rihanna | Senior Manager, Brand Marketing | El Segundo, CA

• Frame | Content Marketing Coordinator | Culver City, CA

• Eloquence | Sales & Client Relationship Executive | Los Angeles, CA

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

• Avaline Wine | Head of Operations | Los Angeles, CA

EAST COAST

• Wantable | Paid Social & Digital Media Manager | Milwaukee, WI

• Vital Proteins | Project Manager, Commercialization | Chicago, IL

• Outdoor Voices | Copywriter | Austin, TX

• WITHIN | Senior Creative Strategist | New York, NY

• theSkimm | Junior Account Executive | New York, NY

• Fohr | Finance Associate | New York, NY

• Parachute | Divisional Manager | New York, NY

• Sakara Life | Senior Accounting Manager | New York, NY

• Havenly | Interior Designer | New York, NY

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

REMOTE

• Amy Porterfield | Content Manager | Remote

• Food52 | Director of Acquisition Marketing | Remote

• Chief | Community Events Manager | Remote

• Little Sleepies | Growth Marketing Director | Remote

• Legacy Investment Real Estate | Marketing Manager | Remote

• Narrative | Senior Manager, Influencer Marketing | Remote

• Monday.com | Strategic Account Manager | Remote

• Vox Media | Solutions Planner | Remote

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Director of Experiential | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Social Media Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Associate Account Manager | Remote

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE. 

MORE FROM OUR BLOG

Classifieds Nº281: Frame, Sakara Life, Parachute and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Frame, Open, Sakara Life, Parachute, and so much more. Good luck in your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Arielle Estoria | Personal Assistant | Los Angeles, CA

• Savage x Fenty by Rihanna | Senior Manager, Brand Marketing | El Segundo, CA

• Frame | Content Marketing Coordinator | Culver City, CA

• Eloquence | Sales & Client Relationship Executive | Los Angeles, CA

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

• Avaline Wine | Head of Operations | Los Angeles, CA

EAST COAST

• WITHIN | Senior Creative Strategist | New York, NY

• theSkimm | Junior Account Executive | New York, NY

• Fohr | Finance Associate | New York, NY

• Parachute | Divisional Manager | New York, NY

• Sakara Life | Senior Accounting Manager | New York, NY

• Havenly | Interior Designer | New York, NY

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

REMOTE

• Little Sleepies | Growth Marketing Director | Remote

• Legacy Investment Real Estate | Marketing Manager | Remote

• Narrative | Senior Manager, Influencer Marketing | Remote

• Monday.com | Strategic Account Manager | Remote

• Vox Media | Solutions Planner | Remote

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Director of Experiential | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Social Media Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Associate Account Manager | Remote

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE. 

MORE FROM OUR BLOG

Classifieds Nº280: Refinery29, Free People, Levi's and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Eloquence, Refinery29, Open, Free People, Levi's and so much more. Good luck in your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Eloquence | Sales & Client Relationship Executive | Los Angeles, CA

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

EAST COAST

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• REED Public Relations | Public Relations Account Supervisor | Nashville, TN (Hybrid)

• Refinery29 | Associate Creative Director | Brooklyn, NY

• Free People | Senior Stylist | Philadelphia, PA

REMOTE

• Crowe PR | Senior Account Manager, Consumer Goods | Remote

• Crowe PR | Senior Account Manager, Healthcare & Technology | Remote

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Levi Strauss & Co. | Associate Art Director | Remote

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• The Shelf | Paid Social Media Expert | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remot

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Chief Financial Officer | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Director of Experiential | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Social Media Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Director, Brand Partnerships & Sales | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Associate Account Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Chief of Staff | Remote

C&C Classifieds Nº279: Alleyoop, Newsette, Vice Media Group, and More Are Hiring!

August is here, and as a new month arrives, you might be feeling a wave of change in your career as well. 

Kick off the month with a fresh batch of job listings for you to apply from our good friends at Alleyoop, The Honest Company, Vice Media Group, REED Public Relations, and so many more!

To post a new job, just click HERE. Good luck! 

WEST COAST

• Subtropic Studios | Creative Project Manager | Los Angeles, CA (Remote)

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Salted | Marketing Manager | Los Angeles, CA

• The Honest Company | Senior Designer | Los Angeles, CA

• Avaline Wine | Head of Operations | Los Angeles, CA

• Sid Lee | Project Manager, Digital Kitchen | Los Angeles, CA

• Vice Media Group | Senior Brand Strategist | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

• FRAME | Social Media Manager | Culver City, CA

EAST COAST

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• REED Public Relations | Public Relations Account Supervisor | Nashville, TN (Hybrid)

• Adventurous Journeys | Public Relations & Communications Manager | Nashville, TN

• Sakara Life | Senior Manager, Client Experience | New York, NY

• Parsley Health | Junior Billing Partner | New York, NY

• Refinery29 | Associate Creative Director | Brooklyn, NY

• Free People | Senior Stylist | Philadelphia, PA

• TAO Group | Corporate Partnerships Coordinator | New York, NY

• The Newsette | Account Director | New York, NY

• Warby Parker | Creative Project Manager | New York, NY

REMOTE

• Hims & Hers | Product Manager | Miami, FL (Remote)

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Levi Strauss & Co. | Associate Art Director | Remote

• Amy Porterfield | Content Manager | Remote

• Whym | Travel Planning Specialist | Remote

• Alleyoop | Senior Paid Media Manager | Remote

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• The Shelf | Paid Social Media Expert | Remote

• The Bungalow PR | Junior Account Executive for PR Project | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate • Director of Experiential • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Senior Social Media Manager • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Director, Brand Partnerships & Sales • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Associate Account Manager • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Chief of Staff • Remote

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE. 

MORE FROM OUR BLOG

6 Tips to Be Productive When You're Working From Home

We’ve all had to rethink how we operate over the past few years, pivot the way we work, and reconsider how our businesses function in this new era of remote work. One of the areas we’ve all had to be most adaptable in, of course, is right in our own homes. We work here, live here, and do almost everything here now. Not to mention, we’ve been challenged with a whole new set of distractions.

But there is good news here: humans are remarkably resilient and adaptable. 

That means there are answers to help us solve at least one of the most pervasive new cultural problems related to being at home: the challenge of overcoming the fatigue that comes with the daily grind. Now that we’ve replaced commutes with endless Zoom calls, Slack messages, and TikTok marathons, you’re likely already familiar with the problem.  

Fortunately, with a little innovation in your relationship to work, you have hope of achieving a healthier work-life balance.

As a co-founder of CAVEDAY, a solution that offers focus as a service, I’ve studied and created new methods to help people improve their relationship to work and master the art of working from home so it feels a lot less like a major exhaustion-driving burden and a lot more energizing. Keep scrolling to find out how it’s done.

Batch & Block

Batch your work as much as you can, especially when it comes to meetings. 

Try to only take meetings during set times, such as only two days a week or only in the afternoons. Meeting culture is not a new problem, and, for many organizations, has only grown more pervasive during the pandemic (hello again, Zoom!). So while it’s not always possible to have ownership over your own calendar, find windows of time to block off for your most important work. 

Once you have your meeting days/times set, during your working days be sure to only check your email once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Start with your most important and the hardest task first. This will make a massive difference in your energy level as you won’t constantly be flipping from meetings to emails to task lists.

Define

Before starting your workday, take a moment to write down exactly what you’re working on. Be as specific as you can. For example, if you have a day of writing ahead of you, putting “write blog post” on your task list isn’t quite clear. 

Ask yourself: What part of the project are you tackling? What does “finished” look like? Is this the brainstorming phase, outlining, or actual writing? How far do you want to get? 750 words? A chapter? Clearly defining your work, in a set amount of time, helps combat overwhelm, and allows you to more simply focus on one task at a time. 

Scope

How long does it take you to finish a certain task such as drafting a proposal or creating a presentation? Over and under-scoping how long individual tasks take is a surefire way to always be “on” and to quickly overtire. 

Knowing how long projects take gives you a better understanding of how to plan your day. To figure out how long things take, start with something you do often. No need to rush, but focus on just that one task and time yourself. 

Then, in the future, you’ll know exactly what kind of time blocks to set to get the job done. 

Take Breaks

Research shows that the brain can’t focus on a task for more than 52 minutes at a time. Mindful and intentional breaks actually help maintain your energy. Just pushing through to the finish line quickly ends in fatigue. 

But, be sure to take breaks wisely. The difference between absent-minded and intentional breaks is that you are making the choice when to stop and how to spend your time. Getting caught in an endless scroll is not a mindful break. Walking away from your desk, stretching your body, or calling a friend is an excellent way to press pause before returning to your work. 

Remove Distractions

Simple in theory, difficult in practice. Removing distractions (like turning off notifications, closing the door, and—dealing with the biggest distraction of all—putting your phone away) is one of the smallest steps we can take in order to avoid fatigue. We are constantly bombarded with interruptions (every 11 minutes on average), so the more agency we have on controlling external distractions, the better equipped we are to stay focused. 

Establish Rituals

One of the biggest and most overlooked changes we’ve faced in the new age of remote work, is the loss of a transition. Remember that good old commute?

The loss of that time that signifies the beginning and end of our workday, such as driving to the office, or riding the crowded subway, held a ton of significance in our lives (maybe even more than we once gave credit). 

Whatever that transition was and whether or not you looked forward to it, it was part of your day and routine. That transition time is precious and must be preserved. It’s baked-in time to prepare for and reflect on your day. Without it, we forget to take moments to pause and we wind up being “on” for much longer than intended. 

While it may seem trivial, establish a new ritual to start and end your day. A walk around the block, your morning coffee with no work, shut down or close your computer at the same time every day, read a non-work related article before leaving your workstation. Doesn’t matter what it is and it can be small, but this will give your brain and body a cue for when you’re working and when you’re not.

Our culture promotes shallow work and we’ve gotten really good at being “busy”. But busy doesn’t mean productive. Fatigue does not have to be a way of life. Instead, mindfully approaching your work and time allows for more spaciousness in other areas of your life. It’s not easy to put these tips into practice, so CAVEDAY memberships intentionally make it easier for people to practice these tips, as it’s all baked right into the service. Trust us, it’s worth the effort to master this new way of life. You might even be astonished by the quantity and quality of your output. 

About the Author: Molly Sonsteng is a producer, experience designer, and entrepreneur dedicated to time well spent and deepening human connections. She’s created countless projects that encourage people to live creative and meaningful lives. A classically trained singer, her professional history includes working for Carnegie Hall, Manhattan School of Music, and Daybreaker. She ran a summer camp and a political campaign office, developed a music curriculum, taught preschool, and was the Director of Admissions at a music conservatory. In addition to Caveday, Molly is a cofounder of Madcap Factory, an amusingly eccentric production house helping brands engage their communities.

Use the code CULTIVATE to redeem a free three-hour Caveday session at www.caveday.org/schedule.

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Old Navy's Head of Creative Marketing Says Believing in Your Talent is Key to Success

We often look to the iconic leaders of our time for motivation and wisdom, but for many of us, this is purely inspirational and not as applicable to our everyday lives. We truly believe there is more benefit in looking to your left and seeking out a peer-to-peer mentorship with a colleague or friend you admire. Why? Firstly, they will likely have the time to be your mentor, and secondly, their advice will be relatable and allow you to see your path clearly while keeping your mind open to new ideas, identifying new opportunities, and helping you self-advocate.  We call them Everyday Superheroes. In this new series, we talk to the people who are paying it forward, lifting others up and paving a smoother path for the next generation to come.

For Dana Marinovich, getting laid off was a fundamental part of her career arc, and a challenge that eventually led to her dream job as the Head of Creative Marketing for Old Navy.

After being let go, she took the summer off to reset and think about what she wanted next. “I gave myself permission to hold space for the change, to really evaluate what I wanted and recalibrate my intentions for the future,” Marinovich tells Create & Cultivate. “After a few months, I was reenergized, refocused and was able to set clear goals for myself that were true to who I am and what I want in my life, instead of being swept away with what was expected next.”

Now, as the Head of Creative Marketing at Old Navy, Marinovich leads a team of creative directors, writers, art directors, graphic designers, stylists, and photographers to help bring the brand’s vision to life through the creative in all channels. And with millions of people engaging with Old Navy each day, it’s safe to say that Marinovich’s work touches a lot of people.

Read on to hear how she went from agency world to in-house at Old Navy, how she finds the inspiration to create killer brand campaigns, and why believing in your talent is key to your success.

What did you study in school? And what did you want to be when you grew up?

I did not ever think that I would be in a creative industry when I was young. I grew up with a focus on math, science and literature. The closest thing to being creative that I could imagine, was to grow up to be an architect. So for a long time I thought that’s what I wanted to be. 

While in college, I majored in Art and Design, with a focus on graphic design. I also studied Painting and Photography at Chelsea College of Art and Design and Central St. Martin’s. Through those programs I fell in love with art, with critical thinking and this truly changed and solidified my focus.

What are some of the earlier jobs that helped to shape your career path?

After college, I moved to NYC and one of my first jobs was working for a (then) small agency, YARD. What I learned there was invaluable in how to approach a creative project for a brand. At that time, most of the agencies were either branding or advertising focused. But YARD was doing something different - they were a creative agency that bridged the two and built the work with a solid strategic ground. It was all the things, intertwined - and I was inspired by this approach. So early on in my career, I realized how much I loved to build brands holistically… and to build a thriving brand you need great creative strategy, a killer voice, and image and branding that elevates it. This period of time was like bootcamp in creative thinking, iterating and pushing limits. It was really really hard, and I will forever be grateful for it.

“Do one thing at a time. Put space between things. Develop Rituals. Think about what is necessary.”

What challenges have you faced along the way? What did you learn from them? How did they prepare you for your job now?

The biggest challenge I have ever faced is being laid off. I don’t think people talk about this enough transparently, like it should be a secret. Like there is stigma around losing your job. I have worked in retail or for retailers for a long time now, and the business is just volatile. There will be really high highs and really low lows. Some businesses can withstand the test and others are not so lucky. You have to ride the wave - and know that it will fluctuate.

When I was let go, I took the summer off to reset and think about what I wanted next. I travelled and spent a month abroad in Croatia with my family. I gave myself permission to hold space for the change, to really evaluate what I wanted and recalibrate my intentions for the future. It was honestly the hardest and best time for me in my career building. After a few months, I was reenergized, refocused and was able to set clear goals for myself that were true to who I am and what I want in my life instead of being swept away with what was expected next.  It was a relief, like I finally took back control of what my days were.

Tell us about your role. What does it entail? Did you work your way up? What were the positions along the way?

As the Head of Creative Marketing at Old Navy, I lead and get to work with a diverse creative team. My role is to develop a clear creative vision of the brand that people can relate to and want to connect with. Old Navy is a brand for everyone, for families, for your friend family, for your community. It’s inclusive by nature. And we bring the brand to life through a lens of fun, fashion and making the most of life together.

To get to this position, I both worked my way up and worked sideways. As I mentioned, I started my career in advertising in NY, but when I moved to CA , I came in-house at Gap. This was years ago, and I moved my way up at that brand - starting as a Global Art Director (which meant I would translate the North America creative for Europe, Japan and franchise partners), but quickly after starting, some of the leadership team left, and I was promoted to lead the internal creative team. I worked on many things during this time - and wound up pitching against our agencies and took back in-house the kids, baby and body advertising work. It was fun, we even pitched against agency work for the Diane von Furstenburg x GapKids campaign work - and won the pitch. At the time, it felt like a big deal, the internal team was so motivated and we were so happy to be doing the work that we were doing. We had a lot of fun.

After a few years I moved on to be the Vice President of Creative at a small kids and baby clothing company called Tea Collection. I was there for about five years and helped solidify the creative look/feel and voice for the brand. And then I came back to Old Navy and was just promoted this past Spring to the Head of Creative Marketing role. 

What do you love most about your job and why? Does the reality of your career match up to your expectations? Why/why not?

I love the people I work with, the team is very talented. As the Head of Creative Marketing, I get to work closely with a lot of different voices and I am energized by people’s unique point of views and helping the team grow and the work to push forward. 

I love working in-house and getting to actually craft and dream and think about how this brand shows up to the world. The reach of Old Navy is quite breathtaking - millions of people get an email from us everyday, millions hear and see and feel and touch the work that my team puts out there. I love getting to work for a brand that touches so many people. With that comes a big responsibility, and I take that very seriously. 

I honestly never would have thought when I started my career that I would get to the place that I am now. Of course, I had drive but where I am today truly came out of determination to always grow as a human. I wanted to do more, and I set my sights on the next and the next and the next. At the level I am at now, more of my responsibilities are in building talent, protecting the creative and pushing to the next. It’s a dream job honestly. Is it exactly what I would have expected in every moment? No -- it’s a hard job! But it is all worth it.

What can you tell us about the company culture? What has encouraged you to stay? 

I love working for an organization that champions inclusivity, diversity and fashion for everyone. This year we are pushing this even more. At the end of the summer, there is a big moment for the brand, and women in particular. It’s incredibly rewarding and impactful.

The people and the team at Old Navy is also what keeps me excited every day. I truly care for each of the individuals I work with and together we champion the work we do.

Talk us through your daily tasks and what a day in the office looks like for you. What’s the most rewarding part of your day?

Most of my day is spent discussing creative strategy, reviewing work and concepts and connecting with the creative team. The most rewarding part of the creative process is when the work is hard, when you’ve hit a wall over and over again, but you keep pushing – and then all of a sudden, the light goes on. That breakthrough moment is what it’s all about. It’s so rewarding to personally go through that process, but to also help a team through it – that’s what gets me.

What does your morning pre-work routine look like? What rituals set you up for success?

Well, each day is a bit different. Two days a week, I wake early and work out - this clears my head of stress. I find clarity and a good personal space is so necessary in this line of work. And the other three days, I focus on my other big role - I’m a mom of two small kids. And I love spending the mornings giving them my attention, sitting and having breakfast with them, talking Legos and unicorns, getting them ready and doing school drop off. It’s important for our connection that I show up at school, see and greet other parents and their teachers. It’s a balance and is so important. 

For work, I also like to take one morning a week for an hour and plan my priorities. This helps me keep on track and not get swept away with the work. 

Your role requires you to be across so many facets of the business—how do you manage your time effectively? What is your greatest productivity hack? How do you get it done?

I’ve recently read an article about the 12 Essential Rules to Live more like a Zen Monk, and found this very inspirational. A few of the rules are: Do one thing at a time. Put space between things. Develop Rituals. Think about what is necessary. 

These are things to remind myself, to practice and get better at. Again, I’m always learning and growing. I’m very thoughtful and deliberate in my approach to projects.

Do you ever reach inbox zero? Do you believe in that? What is your inbox philosophy?

I had a dream once I got my inbox to zero. I believe in the power of search.

What is one of the biggest misconceptions about your job?

Being a leader of a creative team is not actually being creative or creating all the time. Often I am researching, reading, reviewing, discussing; I’m thinking strategically, I’m analyzing, editing and then I’m creating.

If someone wanted your role specifically, what advice would you give them on how to land their dream job/your current job? 

Stay hungry. Love what you do. Be a team player. Understand you are only as good as the sum of your parts. Learn from your failures. 

“Stay hungry. Love what you do. Be a team player. Understand you are only as good as the sum of your parts. Learn from your failures. ”

Have you seen a consistent standout quality or personality trait of successful people in your industry?

Confidence, transparency, honesty, and straightforward in nature, and people who like to have fun.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given? And what’s the worst piece of advice you’ve been given?

Best: “Believe in your talent.” 

Worst: “You need to diversify. So, let’s have you work on this pitch for a fast food account.” 

If there was one person you admire that you could power brunch with, who would it be?

Dolly Parton!

The Recent Graduate's Guide to Crafting a Perfect Résumé

Photo: Create & Cultivate

Writing a résumé is hard and it’s not something that is often taught in school, so it’s okay to feel overwhelmed about how to write your first résumé and where to start. When you’re figuring out how to write your first résumé, it is important to figure out what you want to gain from the document. What are you going to use it for? Will you be applying to higher education programs, internships, or jobs? Your résumé will differ substantially depending on what you will be using it for, so it’s crucial to figure this out before getting started. If you’re a recent graduate on the job hunt, keep reading for some foolproof résumé tips.

Start with the Basics

When you’re figuring out what information to include on a résumé, start with the basics. You should always create a header with your contact information including your phone number, email address, and location. Just include your city and state; no need to write down your exact address.

If you do have a personal website, include that as well, but do not include the link to your LinkedIn profile. If you’re using LinkedIn correctly, you will be easily searchable, so there’s no need to add the direct link on your résumé.

List Your Skills 

Putting your skills at the top of the document immediately increases the effectiveness of your résumé. Recruiters look at each résumé for an average of six seconds each. That means you have six seconds to show that you are qualified and what you can bring to the table. When you put your skills matrix up at the top, this shows the reader exactly what you have to offer and highlights that you are qualified for the position right off the bat.

The quicker you grab someone’s attention and persuade them that you’re the right candidate for the position, the more likely you’ll be to get past the initial influx of applicants.

Gather Your Employment Information

When you’re starting to write your first résumé, you might not have traditional employment information. If you do have traditional work experience, gather your dates of employment, (month and year) job description, projects you worked on, and any additional information you can include like how many people you worked with.

As a new graduate, no one expects you to have a lot of work experience; however, potential employers do want to see any volunteer work, side projects, and/or internships you’ve had. If you need to beef up your résumé, even more, include information about relevant school projects you worked on. This will help highlight your ability to work on a given project under constraints and will help highlight your relevant industry knowledge.

If you’re listing class projects on your résumé, use the school name in place of the company name, and include something along the lines of “[Class Title] Project Manager,” “Student Project Manager,” or “[Class Title] Student” in place of a job title.

Gather Specific Metrics and Achievements for Each Role

The key to a great résumé is highlighting exactly what you’ve achieved and what you can bring to a new position. This is not the place to include a general job description that can be used for anyone with that job title. 

Try to answer these questions for each role you put on your résumé: 

• What did you do in this role?

• How many people did you work with or manage? 

• What kind of projects did you work on?

• What were the results of those projects?

This will help ensure that your résumé immediately reflects your achievements and what you can bring to the table. Anyone can say that they’re great at their job, but very few people can actually show it. When you’re noting your achievements, think about how you can quantify what you’ve done.

Gather Your Education Information

Unless it is your highest level of education or you are in your first year of college, do not include information about your high school diploma. Similarly, there is no need to include GPA unless you’re currently in school and have a very high GPA (3.8 or above).
When it comes to listing education, start with the highest level of education at the top and list backward from there.

For example:

• Ph.D. information

• Master’s information

• Bachelor’s information

• High School information

*Include certifications and specialized training

When you’re learning how to write your first résumé as a new graduate, certifications and specialized training make a huge difference. Even if you don’t have specific certifications but you’ve had internal training, taken an online course, or even just an online tutorial, include that in your résumé. 

For example, you can take some online tutorials and training sessions on QuickBooks or Adobe Photoshop via YouTube and list that as specialized training. As long as the training gives you an advantage and further educates you on a subject, you can list it on your résumé.

If you’re struggling with how to write your first résumé, relax. You’re not alone! Writing a résumé is hard, and it’s often something that people are forced to learn on their own. Just take it one step at a time, gather the required information, and go from there! 
When in doubt, you can always hire a professional to help!

About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish individuals' application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

This story was originally published on July 27, 2018, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

How to Write a Post-Interview Follow-Up Email That Will Get a Quick Response

Photo: Anna Shvets for Pexels

Whether it’s with a sense of excitement or dread, sending out the occasional follow-up email is an aspect of adulting most of us simply can’t avoid. And what we’re looking to get out of these messages most of the time is—at the very least—a response.  

It seems straightforward, right? But the art of sending a follow-up that actually inspires the recipient to take the time to read AND respond? Now that can be tricky.

Let’s ensure your next follow-up is a success. Keep reading for everything you need to know to craft a follow-up email that warrants a response.

Want more tips to land the job of your dreams? Download our The Job-Hunting Bundle and discover résumé templates that will get you hired, smart questions to ask so you can ace your next interview, and a foolproof cover letter template that will get every the attention of every recruiter.

When to Send a Follow-Up Email

When you send a follow-up email will be unique to your individual situation. However, there are a couple of general guidelines to consider when sending your message so that it remains relevant and has the best chance of being opened.

HubSpot recommends the following timeframes for sending follow-up emails:

• Within 24 hours: Sending a “thank you” after a meeting, sale, interview, event, or occasion that justifies an immediate sentiment of gratitude or those follow-up messages that contain time-sensitive info or requests.
  

• Within 48 hours: After submitting important info (for instance, follow-up emails for job applications or other formal document submissions) or, if your follow-up still contains fairly urgent info or requests (those that can’t wait 1-2 weeks).
  

• Within 1-2 weeks: Messages following up on a meeting request or those that go unresponded and require a confirmation from the recipient (maybe a job offer or an email requesting feedback).
  

• Every 3 months: Emails sent as a way to catch up with a past connection or those requesting updates (can be for both business and personal life).

How to Write a Follow-Up Email

1. Identify Your Primary Objective

Before putting your fingers to the keyboard, the first step of writing a follow-up email is to determine the objective of your message. 

What’s the end goal you’re looking to achieve from sending this email?

Take a second to ask yourself, are you trying to… 

• Obtain more info?

• Schedule a call or meeting?

• Remind someone to do something?

• Close a sale?

• Say thank you?

• Or, something else?

Regardless of what your goal ends up being, this step is necessary to allow you to craft a strong follow-up and include a specific call-to-action (CTA).

2. Provide Context

Discounts and deals, order confirmations, bill payment reminders, and those random messages from Grandma checking in—we are constantly bombarded with emails. 

And if your inbox is anything like mine, it’s not hard to find one of many of those messages that make you stop and think—“wait, who is this sender??” 

If you’re nodding along, you probably already know that step #2 to writing a follow-up email is critical: provide context around who you are and how they know you. This is especially important if it’s been a while since your most recent interaction or if you don’t have a very close relationship with this person.

Don’t leave any room for confusion that will deter your recipient from responding.  Provide context early on in your email by emphasizing your initial conversations or interactions to jog their memory.

Here are a few solid openers you can test out in your follow-up emails:

• I wanted to follow up on the message I sent on [date or day if it’s still the same week] about [subject of the first email].

• I just wanted to follow up to get your thoughts on [subject of the first email]. Have you had a chance to check out my last email?

• Just checking in to see if you’ve had a chance to read my email from [date or day if it’s still the same week].

• Just following up to see if you have any questions about my email from [date or day if it’s still the same week] about [subject of the first email].

Quick Tip: Include the subject line of your initial email in your opener to make it easy for your recipient to go back and locate that first message.

3. Make the Purpose Clear

After providing context to refresh your recipient’s memory, move straight into making the purpose of this communication clear. 

This portion of the email should be direct and straightforward. Remind the recipient of what you mentioned wanting/needing from the last email or letting them know if that want/need has since changed.

Quick Tip: If this is a follow-up email aiming to make a sale, keep the focus on the recipient here and reframe any statements using “I” to address the benefit or relevancy to them. You might be tempted to throw in an “I think” or “I believe” statement here, but I promise, it’ll be much more effective to keep the reader believing this is all about them. 

Here’s an example:

Rather than including: “I think my/our [product or service] could really help you accomplish [benefit]. I would love to hop on a quick call to chat about [opportunity].” 

Try something like: “Your [aspect of their business or life] would really benefit from [purpose of product or service]. Would you like to hop on a quick call to chat about this opportunity?”

Want to land the job?

Add our The Job-Hunting Bundle to your cart and get the rest of this article (which includes an email template for your reply), plus résumé and cover letter templates, along with questions to ask in your next job interview. Or get unlimited access to our entire library of downloads and videos when you join Insiders.

This story was originally published on April 20, 2020, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

5 Job Hunting Tips to Score Your Dream Career

Photo: Create & Cultivate

Would you believe more than half of the people who are currently employed are considering a new job?

It feels like we’re always striving for something bigger and better to fulfill our professional and personal goals. But, before you dive into the tedious world of job hunting, be sure to take the necessary steps to ensure you’re as prepared as can be for what your future might hold. This doesn’t just mean updating your résumé; think a lot harder and deeper about how you’re portraying yourself to potential employers.

Here are a few key steps you can take before you embark on the job hunt adventure. No need to thank us when you land your dream job.

Broaden your job search.

While looking for a new job, take the time to really focus on how you want to progress with your professional career. Search for keywords that are broader than you’re used to searching. Sometimes jobs are listed under a variety of topics that you might not be thinking about. For example, if you work in marketing, try searching social media terms, and brand marketing terms to expand your search to reach more companies with even more open positions.

If you’re looking for writing jobs, try searching for magazines and other publications in the area and scouring their websites for open positions that might not show up on job search websites (Glassdoor, LinkedIn, Indeed, etc). You might end up finding something that fits exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Curate a cover letter (every time).

Some applications don’t require a cover letter, but most do. Although it feels easier to just skip the cover letter, never skip it. This is your chance to show the employer who you are and what you’re capable of in your professional field. A cover letter is the best way to talk yourself up, cater to the employer, and show off all of your valid experience. 

Take the time to look up various cover letter templates to help you find a format that works for you and your career. It’s also important to read through the position you’re applying for and pick out keywords that are used repeatedly to describe the candidate the company is looking for. Input those specific keywords into your cover letter and back them up with your relevant experience.

This is the perfect way to stand out among the rest of the cover letters employers will be reading. Not only will this make you look good, but it will help boost your confidence for any tough interview questions that come your way in the future. 

Follow up with an employee.

Don’t you hate being ghosted by companies? Have you ever gone a month or more without hearing back about a job? Trust me, it’s normal. Think about how many people have applied for the job and how much time it is going to take HR to sift through all of the candidates. After about a week or so, I’ve found it beneficial to search for an email address of someone who works in the department you’re looking to be a part of or someone on the HR team.

Make your email short and sweet. Simply state your name, the position you are interested in, and your desire to learn how the hiring process is going so far.

Here is an example to follow:

Dear (Employee Name),

My name is (Name) and I recently applied for the (Job Title) position. I’m very interested in this role and would love to hear how the hiring process is coming along. Let me know!

I look forward to hearing from you,

(Name)

Perfect your résumé.

This one is self-explanatory but still so important to the job hunt. Without a clean, updated, and crisp résumé, hiring managers won’t be inclined to reach out to you. The first step is to match your résumé to you and your profession. Make it artistic and colorful if you’re in the arts, make it innovative and dynamic if you’re interested in the business field, and so on. Always keep your résumé updated and always save your résumé as a PDF.

That way employers can quickly check out your résumé without the hassle of downloads, slow internet, etc. Don’t forget to input any keywords that are relevant to the position you’re applying for. Did you know more than half of candidates are eliminated from the online job search by applicant tracking systems? This is due to a lack of relevancy between your résumé and the job description.

Canva is a great tool to use to reformat your résumé. The website provides you with a variety of templates to choose from, allowing you to utilize all the space on the page, and provides fonts, colors, and pictures to fit properly onto your résumé. Take your time while creating it, have friends and coworkers look it over for basic editing and readability purposes. 

Secure recommendation letters.

Before you start providing various forms of information to a possible future employer, make sure you’ve solidified a couple of recommendation letters. Reach out to previous supervisors and mentors and update them on your career endeavors and what types of jobs you’re applying for. Don’t forget to grab a current email and phone number for each person, so the employer can contact them if need be.

Not all applications ask for recommendation letters, but I’ve found them helpful throughout the interview process. If you’re on a second or third interview, it might be beneficial to pass your letters along to whoever you’ve been conversing with to give yourself a little boost in the hiring process. Any material that highlights your professional work in a positive light can only help you along in the job hunt.

Implement some of these tips right away and get started on finding your dream job. If you’re creative and looking to dive into the marketing/advertising world, check out some job listings here.

About the Author: Abbey Adams currently works at an enterprise SEO marketing company while also maintaining her music blog blondieandthebeat.com) of six years. Throughout her time as a freelance writer for a women’s magazine, she’s learned to share every story and always try to empower as many women as possible. You can usually find her typing in bed binging “Sex and the City” (for the 10th time) or at the gym sweating out her anxiety on the stairclimber. 

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

This story was originally published on September 19, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

3 Ways We Can Stop Professionally Ghosting Each Other

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

Several years ago, I was interviewing for a role at one of the top beauty companies in the world. I went through rounds of interviews and met key members of the cross-functional and senior leadership teams on multiple occasions at their offices.

In my very last conversation, the head of HR called me on a Friday to say, “The team loved you.  We would like to put together an offer for you. Can you please remind me of your current compensation package and specifically your stock grant component?”

I was thrilled. I immediately provided the details. She thanked me for my time. She said she would call me first thing Monday morning with the offer details.

She didn’t call me first thing Monday morning. She didn’t call me later that afternoon, or later that week, or the Monday after that. She never called me again. 

I followed up a few times. Maybe she’s just busy. Maybe something happened to her (Oh god, I hope she’s ok!). Maybe she lost my contact information. And then I realized I had invested my time and effort into a process that would never receive any closure: I was a victim of ghosting. I had been ghosted. She would never reach out to me again.

Since then, I have been ghosted more times than I can remember in my career. And the hard truth is, I have also ghosted people. I, too, have been the ghoster.

What is ghosting? Ghosting is to completely stop responding over text, email, or phone (insert your preferred mode of communication here) after having been responsive and in touch with someone over a distinct period of time for a specific business objective.

The business objectives during which the ghosting occurs can be a wide variety, including being in the process of prospecting a new client, interviewing for a job, raising funds for a non-profit event, a promised introduction to another industry contact, or seeking investors for a new venture.

Please note: Ghosting does not include cold emailing, cold calling, or cold LinkedIn messaging. If the person doesn’t know you, they don’t actually owe you a response. It’s not considered ghosting. Unless you call me Rita instead of Mita, I try to respond when someone reaches out to me even if I don’t know them.

So why have I ghosted people?

Because I was uncomfortable with the request, because I didn’t have time, because I could no longer deliver on what I had promised. Because I had said yes when I should have said no. Because I am working, teaching, and parenting (all during a pandemic). Because I was scared to respond with the truth and I didn’t want to hurt them. 

If we acknowledge what’s holding us back from engaging and push through to respond, we show up as the leaders we want to be, acting with kindness and empathy. Here are three ways we can stop ghosting once and for all.

1. Be Timely 

To avoid potential ghosting, I try to respond to people within 72 hours (during a pandemic, it might be closer to a week) when they reach back out with a quick one-liner: Thanks for checking in. It’s a busy time. Please reach back out in two weeks.   

The ghosting can begin when you simply don’t have an answer for that person yet. You might not know what your response should be. You might have a response and realize it should be a phone call or a longer email.

If I don’t respond because I don’t have a response yet, and too much time passes, I am slipping into ghosting territory.

2. Be Honest and Transparent  

No one wants to deliver bad news. And what’s worse than bad news is no closure, obsessively refreshing your inbox and checking your phone incessantly. We are living in limbo during this pandemic; there’s no need to add any more uncertainty or stress on each other. 

When I think back to the offer I never received on that Monday morning, how would I have handled it as the head of HR? A simple email would have sufficed: “We have decided to move ahead with another candidate. We wish you the best of luck in your career endeavors.” 

Any additional insight would have been appreciated given the amount of time I spent interviewing (i.e. not aligning on salary expectations or looking for someone with more technical experience). I would have been upset, but the ghosting was far worse. I was left with an incredibly negative impression of the company that I didn’t hesitate to share with others in my network.   

Unfortunately, budgets were cut and we can’t proceed with the proposal.

Unfortunately, we have a hiring freeze now and the role is no longer open.

Unfortunately, we don’t believe this is the right fit for us and we won’t be proceeding with the partnership.

We all are owed the respect of closure. We would want it for ourselves. And we have the power to give closure to others.

3. Be Clear on What You Can and Can’t Commit To 

Recently, I was asked by two individuals if I could mentor them. While I wanted to say yes, I knew I couldn’t give them the time they deserved. If I did say yes to avoid saying no, I would eventually not have time to mentor them and ultimately ghost them.

And while I hesitated to respond to their requests with the truth, I knew if I ghosted them I would risk damaging these relationships. So I told them I was humbled they thought of me and with a new job and raising young kids in this pandemic, I just couldn’t commit right now. Each individual responded saying they understood and looked forward to keeping in touch.

Please don’t say yes when you mean to say no. Please be clear on what you can and cannot commit to. And if you committed to something and can no longer deliver on what you agreed to, just speak up. Let individuals know your circumstances have changed. While they may be disappointed, they will appreciate your honesty and respect you for being accountable and for not disappearing on them, never to be heard from again.

“If we acknowledge what’s holding us back from engaging and push through to respond, we show up as the leaders we want to be, acting with kindness and empathy.”

—Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta

About the Author: Mita Mallick is a corporate change-maker with a track record of transforming businesses and cultures. She is the head of inclusion, equity, and impact at Carta. Mallick is a columnist for Entrepreneur, and her writing has been published in outlets including Harvard Business Review, The New York Post, and Business Insider.

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

MORE ON THE BLOG

Here's Why You Should Never Ask a Busy Person to Lunch (and What to Do Instead)

Photo: ColorJoy Stock

Networking is every successful person’s middle name—but meeting with a busy person is a challenge. Although we can’t give you the secret handshake that will land you a meeting with Sheryl Sandberg (there’s a secret handshake, right?) we can dole out successful networking tips and tricks that will get you in the door with someone high-ranking who has the potential to advance your career. 

Just because networking can feel impossible, doesn’t mean it is. Meeting your career heroes isn’t unheard of and landing that crucial meeting can be done, but you’ll have to get creative. Your career crush didn’t make it where they are by taking every lunch meeting they were cold emailed about. So, here are some ways you can stand out and get your foot in the door.

Try Getting in Touch With Their Assistant First

There are some who claim that a cold call or cold email shows bold initiative. And sometimes, when the work powers that be are acting in your favor, a cold email will launch your career in a way you can’t imagine. There are always outliers. 

Case in point: Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and founder of Create & Cultivate, cold emailed Garance Doré, and she responded and then spoke at C&C Chicago. You never know what will happen until you put yourself out in the universe. But if after a cold email and a follow-up you’re still not getting anything, you should try a new road before either, a) giving up, or b) hounding someone to the point where they will never meet with you. 

When you are just getting started, don’t assume that you are the exception. Assume you are the rule. (That’s not to say you shouldn’t be confident. There is a difference.) Most busy people will not appreciate you clogging up their inbox. It’s not uncommon for a CEO to receive 1000+ emails a day, and wading through those can feel like torture. 

Think of the assistant as Saint Peter at The Gates. You’re not getting in unless you make good with Pete. Many CEOs and executives will have their assistants linked to their inboxes. Meeting with them could be a great inroad. Offer to take them to coffee or lunch. Ask for 15 minutes of their time before you try and meet with their boss. Assistants are overworked, overtired, and often under-appreciated. Get on their good side and it just might land you on their employer’s schedule. 

Skip the Standard Cold Call and Email Vernacular

There is a story in Silicon Valley about Tristan Walker, who recently raised $24 million for personal care products for POC. Before branching out on his own as CEO of Walker and Company, he worked for Foursquare—a job he got from cold emailing the founders eight times. Two years after landing the position, Walker posted the correspondence that landed him a meeting on his blog. You can read it here. There were many, including IA Ventures’ Ben Siscovick who said, “If you are outside StartupLand looking to get in, read this then read it again—this is how it’s done.”

However, despite his success, Walker’s original email is exactly what we would warn against. There is passion in his voice, yes, but he notes nothing concrete that he would bring to the Foursquare team. It worked for Walker, but in most cases, this will not work. Don’t tell a company how awesome they are. Don’t tell someone you’re “hungry.” In a few short sentences, you should be able to explain exactly what you can bring to the table. Be as specific as possible.

For example, if you want to meet with the CEO of a marketing company, convey in two sentences how you’ve helped another company grow, or an idea you had for a client that performed on social well. When applicable, give stats. 

If You’re Asking Them for the Meeting, You Go to Them 

This is really simple. Don’t ask someone to coffee and then suggest a place to meet. Bring them coffee. Show up where they are and make it easy. 

By Failing to Prepare, You Are Preparing to Fail

Come with questions. If person X is giving you 15 minutes of their time, you should be prepared to make use of every. single. second. 

I recently had someone tell me, “I have three.” As in minutes. You better believe that I wrote down what I needed and made those three minutes count. If you waste three minutes of someone’s time, you can be sure that they won’t give you ten in the future. 

You don’t need to print out your resume. Honestly, it’s a little dated and most people are more interested in getting a read on you, not reading what you print on paper. 

While You’re There…

If you shake their hand and walk out of the office thanking them for their time, you’ve biffed it. LEAVE WITH NEXT STEPS. Let’s repeat that. LEAVE WITH NEXT STEPS. Ask for something concrete that you can do that, a) keeps you in contact, and b) is actionable for you. You’re not taking a meeting to schmooze, you’re taking a meeting to move the needle on your career. So move it. 

Once You’ve Left…

Don't ghost. Follow up. Send a thank-you email, at the very least. Pro tip: Send a thank you with cupcakes for the office. Or send something that says, I paid attention to what you said, and I’m working to take the next steps. 

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

This post was published on February 16, 2019, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

6 Ways to Establish Yourself As an Expert Using LinkedIn

Photo: Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

Strong personal branding, when done right, is an act of service. It’s greater than your ego and bigger than your fears. It’s about your audience, your customers, and your network. Trust me when I say: they are waiting for you to show up.

But how do you find your community in such an oversaturated digital world? 

You go to LinkedIn. 

Yep, you heard that right. And here’s why. 

LinkedIn has 675M users, but only 3M—a tiny drop in the bucket—are using it to its full capacity. LinkedIn is this wide-open white space ready for the taking, a place to build authority and thought leadership, and most importantly, a place to show up authentically in the context of your career. Despite the great opportunity LinkedIn provides, less than 0.5% of users are maximizing its potential. 

Linkedin is today what Instagram was in 2012—our most underrated platform. In the last few years, the LinkedIn algorithm has generated a 50% increase in viral activity year over year. 

LinkedIn is the only platform where career and authenticity merge. If you’re ready to up your thought leadership game, here’s how you can master LinkedIn for your own personal brand.

Optimize your profile.

Looking at other people’s profiles is the #1 activity on LinkedIn. That means optimizing your profile is critical. Update your cover photo, headshot, headline, summary, exemplary media, and work experience to reflect a full, 360-degree story. Think of Linkedin as a search engine and your profile as your own personal website. This is your ultimate business card. 

Be human.

The olden days of LinkedIn are long gone. This is no longer simply a place for job search. This is a place to connect. Sure, show your expertise, career history, and your resume, but also show who you are. If you’re building a brand of your own, yes, people care about what you do, but they will do business with you based on who you are and how you show up. You need to be extremely intentional about your humanity and your professional expertise. And if you're able to blend both, you will cut through the noise. 

Be true.

Being real, approachable, and relatable isn’t always likable. In fact, if you’re disrupting any industry, you’ll come across some haters. The aim isn’t to be likable; the aim is to be true to yourself, and THAT will gain you the right clients, business, network, etc.

Publish quality over quantity.

Every platform serves a purpose, and LinkedIn has established itself as the leader in top-quality long-form content. Publishing natively to the platform has proven to be a successful marketing strategy and an effective way to position yourself as a thought leader. If you’re worried about sounding self-promotional, focus on telling real stories and sharing in a way that can be of service to others. You're trying to create value versus adding to the noise.

I’ll say it a million times—no one cares about what you do, people want to feel something. They want inspiration, education, and entertainment. They want to feel uplifted, less alone, and more empowered! Know your audience, but also know this: if you’re willing to open up and be human and real, that's where the good stuff lies. 

Own your niche.

One of the biggest complaints I hear is that LinkedIn is only for the corporate world and that it’s not for creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, or disruptors—that it’s not for you—but that’s wildly untrue. People of all industries, not just corporate, play here. LinkedIn is not industry exclusive; in fact, its algorithm favors “small” creators. It’s a place to showcase your niche and own it.

Be consistent.

Like most things in life, you get out what you put in. LinkedIn is by definition a social networking app. You have to be willing to join the party, not just when you need a break, but consistently to connect, learn, and support your community.  

The making of a truly powerful personal brand sits at the intersection of your humanity and your expertise. And there is no better social media platform to bring it all together than LinkedIn.

“Think of Linkedin as a search engine and your profile as your own personal website. This is your ultimate business card.”

—Jessica Zweig, CEO of SimplyBe. Agency

About the Author: Jessica Zweig is the CEO of SimplyBe. Agency, a premier personal branding firm based in Chicago and serving clients across the globe. Named a “Personal Branding Expert” by Forbes, a “Top Digital Marketer to Watch” by INC, and honored with the Gold and Silver Stevie® Award for “Female Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2018 and 2019, Jessica facilitates sold-out workshops and speaks on the power of personal branding to corporations including Google, Salesforce, Virgin, Nike, Motorola, Red Bull, and Bank of America. She also hosts the top-ranked marketing podcast The SimplyBe Podcast. Jessica’s debut book, “Be: A No Bullsh*t Guide to Increasing Your Self Worth and Net Worth by Simply Being Yourself,” launched in February 2021 with Sounds True, an imprint of Macmillan.

This story was originally published on July 7, 2020, and has since been updated.

MORE ON THE BLOG

One *Very* Successful CEO's 4 Hacks for Cold Emailing

Photo: Liza Summer from Pexels

Let’s talk about cold emailing.

Katia Beauchamp, the co-founder of the wildly successful beauty company Birchbox, has said that she and her co-founder started cold emailing CEOs in the beauty industry to get the idea in front of them. Now she's one of them. Beauchamp shared, "I cold emailed several presidents, CEOs, and brand managers in the beauty industry and the majority of people responded!"

So we asked: What are a few things that every cold email should include?

She divulged below. 

1. Have a compelling subject line.

“It needs to motivate the reader to open the message. At the very least it should say something more than, ‘Hello,’ or ‘Looking to get in touch.’ I used, ‘Reimagining beauty online.’”

2. Keep the email concise.

“The email should be short enough so that a person can read it without having to scroll down on his or her phone. The less time and energy it takes to read it, the better.”

3. Don't attach a business plan to explain the idea.

“That's asking a lot. Try a one-pager that briefly describes the idea/value proposition. We framed our one-pager by introducing the brands as the stakeholder and how Birchbox could help that brand.”

4. Ask for something that’s easy to say yes to.

“I asked CEOs and brand managers for five minutes of their time to give me advice. Those emails eventually turned into a meeting and the meeting turned into a pitch. Those pitch meetings ultimately led to partnerships with massive brands, early on.”

Love this story? Pin the below graphic to your Pinterest board.

This story was originally published on May 25, 2017, and has since been updated.

How to Balance Your Full-Time Job With Launching Your Dream Business

Photo: Smith House Photo

Balance is a word that’s come up more this past year than ever before. Whether it’s finding new ways to juggle the sudden merge of home and work life, trying to find time to squeeze in some self-care moments, or picking real pants over sweatpants, we’re all finding ways to make it all work. 

So how does that same balance come into play when you are trying to jump feet first into creating your dream business? 

While taking the plunge and diving right in is a thrilling option, it’s not always feasible. Maybe you need to start building your entrepreneurial dream while maintaining your 9-to-5. The ability to continue generating income to help support your new business is the most tangible benefit to working while building your empire, especially as some of the biggest costs come from operational expenses. Admittedly, it’s not the easiest path, but I am willing to bet that’s you didn’t sign up for easy when you decided to become an entrepreneur.  

So you ask yourself, how do I do both? Can I do both?

After spending more than a decade in corporate retail, I went through a personal experience that moved me to create something for myself beyond a hobby. With some strategic planning, community engagement, and a bathtub of coffee, I am on the cusp of pursuing my passion full-time. Here are four tips I found worked best for turning an after-hours side hustle into a permanent, bill-paying gig.

Block and Tackle

Time management and time blocking is critical for new entrepreneurs, especially those who still have full-time jobs. Setting aside one specific day per week or actively blocking a few hours each day as designated “dream biz office hours” is essential to keep making progress on building your side hustle.  

Whether it’s a color-coded calendar or itemized Google Sheet, make sure to figure out a system that effectively lays out the tasks that need to get completed on a weekly, monthly, and quarterly basis. It’s easy to spin out when you’re starting out because there are a million things to do, so block out time to create a plan and focus on tackling the tasks that make up each project or initiative. It won’t be long before you start to see and feel the progress.

Make Time for Self-Care

Working two jobs is mentally and physically draining so creative burnout is a common reality of entrepreneurship. Because of the sheer amount of work on your plate, it’s easy to fall into the habit of working non-stop without taking breaks. Which isn’t effective when you actually need to function. In order to be the best version of you for yourself, your full-time job and your side hustle (not to mention your friends, family, and the slew of other responsibilities you have), you need to schedule time to rest (see the previous point about time blocking.)  

We implemented “slow down Sundays” in our house to find a better work-life balance. It’s a day where we make no plans and allow for pausing and reflecting in the current moment, which helps me go into my week rested, re-energized, and re-focused.

Hire Help

Starting a new business is overwhelming, especially as it’s often a team of one building out every area from operations to marketing. This means you will inevitably find yourself working on tasks that are not your strength, and those weak spots in the foundation can become problematic later on as you try to grow.  

Since you are still working full time and able to potentially generate some income to feed your side hustle, think about hiring outside help in areas where you need an expert. Not great with social media creation? Copywriting? Sales management systems? Hire an hourly contract employee to take that task off your hands so you can focus on the part of your business that is most exciting and that plays to your strengths. 

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Even on your worst days, always remember why you started. Ask yourself, why did I want to launch this dream business? Stick Post-Its around your home with your mission on them. Start your day journaling on the dream, and keep focus on the progress you’re making toward that dream.  

And take time to celebrate the small wins! Did you launch your website? Take a walk to reflect on that moment and let it all sink in. Upload your first social media post? You deserve a happy dance, or two, even if you didn’t block out time for it.

“Even on your worst days, always remember why you started.”

—Kelly Kussman, Founder of Cayla Gray

About the Author: Kelly Kussman is the founder of Cayla Gray, a luxury line of clean fragrances. Kelly launched her dream business while working full-time as a senior director of a large corporation.

MORE ON THE BLOG