June 29, 2016

On CP Time and How to Handle Being So Late to Work It's Just Triflin

June 29, 2016/ Antonia

Can we talk about CP time?

It's a thing. And if you come from a cultural or family background where starting times are more of a suggestion than a mandate, it can be a real challenge.

Whether you believe this to be rooted in our cultural differences or a pernicious and offensive stereotype, the truth is many of your new coworkers may be primed to expect you to be late to work just because of your skin tone. When you are, they will be quick to be resentful, assuming you think you can flout the rules everyone else must follow.

If you're Punctual Pam and believe "to be early is to be on time and to be on time is to be late," this may not be a problem for you. But, if you're like me, where being within 15-30 minutes of the discussed start time is considered on time, if not early, this may be something you have to adjust for in your career.

June 27, 2016

Say What Now? How to Handle an Offensive Comment at Work

June 27, 2016/ Antonia

You're at work, doing your job, and doing it well. You've established your reputation within the team. You're generally well liked and have good relationships. Maybe you're in a team meeting on the next big project. Or maybe you're just in the office kitchen grabbing an afternoon snack.

And then, it happens.

Somebody says something racist. Or sexist. Or homophobic. Or just generally bigoted, ignorant and offensive.

It happens to all of us. Eventually. If it hasn't happened to you yet, hold tight, because unfortunately, it's coming.

June 23, 2016

Side Hustling for Beginners: How to Make Money on the side & Keep Your Day Job

June 23, 2016/ Antonia

If you're here, you have some part of a hustler's spirit. You work hard. You see opportunities and you seize them.

And in this good year of our Lord Two Thousand and Sixteen, you also know that neither tomorrow nor jobs are promised. You may be killin it at work today and let go in an unfortunate round of layoffs tomorrow.

So you might have a side hustle. Or you've thought about one. Maybe you see your side hustle as your on ramp to a life of freedom and answering to no one. Maybe you just need some extra cash to float you month to month. Either way, as long as your side hustle is extra money, not your main source of income, you need to balance its demands and protect your main job.

June 20, 2016

Oh Sh*t! How to Recover from a Major Work Mistake

June 20, 2016/ Antonia

You f*cked up. We're not talking a typo or using they're instead of their (although, please, PLEASE, don't do that). Not just a small accident, a big one that majorly impacts your team and those around you. No, you my friend really stepped in it, screwed the pooch, blew it big time, effed up.

It happens to everyone eventually. And it will happen to you. Despite your best intentions, you will mess up at work eventually. Either by screwing up a project, forgetting something crucial, or by the many other ways one can make a massive mistake. It is going to happen. The important thing to manage is how you handle the aftermath.

June 14, 2016

1-900-Hustler BBHMM Edition: How do I ask to be reimbursed?

June 14, 2016/ Antonia

Is there a polite and professional way to say "heffa run me my money"?

June 13, 2016

Three Ways to Grow Your Career with LinkedIn

June 13, 2016/ Antonia

With the recent buyout, LinkedIn is on everyone's lips. We all know that LinkedIn is a great tool for networking and meeting new professional contacts. You are probably using it to find and apply for new jobs already. Quietly, word on the street is that LinkedIn has even become a dating tool to identify eligible professional singles (but I'm not one to gossip so you ain't heard that from me).

Even if you're happy in your current job and company, LinkedIn can still be a powerful tool to guide and inform your career growth.