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Hey everyone and Happy Wednesday! Today I thought it'd be fun to share some tips for working productively from your home. Whether you are a teacher who needs to just grade some papers or create lesson plans at home at night, a full-time blogger who works from home most of the time, or a CPA like me that occasionally works from home these tips are applicable.

I will admit my first year at a public accounting firm I found it difficult to get work done or focus when I had the opportunity to work at home. I normally would actually go into the office (even though that meant putting on real pants) just to force myself to focus and be more productive. Over the past couple of years that I've been working I've gotten better and better and working remote and realizing what helps and what I need to avoid doing. So, here are my tips for how to work productively from the comfort of your home.

ONE // Set a consistent wake-up time and stick to it. Sometimes when you're able to work from home it's really tempting to sleep in until 10am everyday or go out late one night and sleep in the next day. However, not maintaining a consistent sleep schedule can make it so your body is constantly confused and always feels slightly tired. Also, if you begin working really late in the morning you won't be able to squeeze in a full 8-9 hours of work until all your friends are already out of work for the day. It's really frustrating when it's 5:30pm and you start getting texts about happy hour but you can't go because you've only gotten 4 hours of real work done that day.

TWO // Avoid doing household chores and running errands. Obviously part of the perk of working from home is getting to schedule appointments and such during the work day when most people wouldn't be able to go. While the occasional doctor's appointment is fine to schedule I've found it's best to avoid doing everyday chores like vacuuming or laundry because it distracts you from your work and is going to constantly break your focus. I used to always do laundry while I was working from home, I thought I was being super productive and killing two birds with one stone, so to speak. However I began to notice that always having to get up, change the laundry, put in a new load, etc. really broke my concentration and getting back into the zone took awhile. 

THREE // Take set breaks rather than constant mini-breaks. Treat your home like an office, don't allow yourself to take breaks every hour for 5 minutes to do this or that. Instead take a longer lunch break and snack break in the afternoon, or run and get a coffee in the morning and then get right back into work. I remember one time I was in the middle of reading this book and I decided I'd read for five minutes every hour as a little break. I thought this would actually make me more productive at home, but instead I just wished I took an hour for lunch to sit on my deck and read instead of getting little breaks every hour which I constantly wanted to extend. This doesn't mean don't take short mental breaks throughout the day, but doing activities you would normally do after work if you worked at an office should be avoided throughout the day. 

FOUR // Make sure you have all the supplies and equipment you need in a set area. It's the worst when you're working at home and a client calls and you cannot find a pen anywhere. Instead, make sure you have all your supplies laid out and organized before you start your work day. For people that work at home full-time, this is probably a given, however for people like me that only work the occasional day from home it's important to set myself up in the morning before getting started for the day. This includes getting out my mouse, dual monitor, plugging in my laptop, setting out my notebooks, and getting my highlighters, pencils, and pens out. It really makes me feel like I'm at the office when I have everything within a comfortable reach throughout the day. 

FIVE // Never work on the couch. I used to try and audit on my couch, mostly when I'd be doing extra work after I had already worked a full day at a client site and wanted to just get a few more things done. I figured it was fine since I was just doing a couple of things and it wasn't like I was really in my work day. However, I found I was so unproductive and so uncomfortable that tasks that should have taken me one hour would take three. I would end up staying up late just to get everything done and only being able to bill for one hour because I was so unproductive. This also means, if you have a desk, work at your desk. If you don't have space for a desk (like me) find a nice table to work at or any type of flat surface where you can sit with an upright posture. 

SIX // If you're having a really hard time focusing and not browsing the internet, try an app like Self Control, which is a free app to allow you to block certain websites of your choosing for an amount of time you select. You can also choose to only be allowed to access certain websites for a set amount of time. I used to use this all the time in college when I needed to study and it helped so much! Nowadays I will use it to block my favorite online shopping sites, blogger, etc. Sometimes after looking at my email I will type in Facebook or Twitter out of habit, so it helps that the block comes up to snap me back into focus. 

Do you have any tips for working or studying at home? I'd love to hear them, leave your best tips in the comments below!

Pink Skirt & Red Turtleneck [Wear to Work]

Express Midi-Skirt (same skirt, other color 1, 2, 3)

J.Crew Turtleneck (under $25)

Red Heels (on sale!) // Bracelet (similar 1 and similar 2) 

Stella & Dot Necklace (mine says '504') // Earrings (similar)

Lipgloss (Dior Fluid Addict in 'Ciel Rose')

Happy Thursday everyone! Today I am sharing one of my favorite outfits to wear to work in a business casual environment. First off, this skirt from Express is a huge wardrobe staple. I bought it last year to wear for Valentine's Day and to work and it is heavily in my work clothes rotation. I told my friend Catharine about it as she's about the same height and size as me and she bought it as well! We both rave over how it's the perfect length for the office and comfortable to wear all day (even if I've indulged in a team lunch out).

In the summer I usually pair the skirt with a white shell or a silk short-sleeve top and have a cardigan in my bag in case it's chilly indoors. However, in the fall and winter I started pairing this skirt with my favorite tissue turtlenecks from J.Crew. I even have thrown a cardigan or sweater over my turtleneck if it's especially cold outside.

I love this outfit for the bright colors, comfort, and versatility. What do you think? I also think this could be a cute Valentine's Day look, it's only a little over a month away! I hope your weeks are going well!

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Life Update: New Work Project + NYC Life

Photo is from 2012 trip to Wall Street with my friend Michael

Hello friends! I am so sorry for the brief blog hiatus, I had planned to take some time off during Christmas and get back to work creating content over the weekend for this week, but then the day before Christmas Eve I found out I would be heading to New York City on Monday for a 3-month project in the financial district. As can be expected, I then shifted focus to preparing and spending time with Alex before I left. I will be home on the weekends (sometimes) but for the time being you can consider me a resident of NYC. I even have a corporate apartment in Lower Manhattan, it's a pretty nice set-up and I can't complain. 

Although the blog content was lacking this week, I promise to get to work over the long weekend and have some great content for you soon! Also, now that I'll be in NYC I plan on shooting outfits in fun, new locations, exploring new places, and bringing you great content over the next few months. I hope you'll be along for the ride!

Thanks to everyone who filled out my year-end survey and check your emails, I just sent one lucky reader an email about the Starbucks giveaway! I hope you all have a very happy New Year and I cannot wait to see what 2016 has in store!

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Career Wednesdays: How to Adjust to a New Company Culture

Welcome back to career Wednesdays! The last three weeks we discussed everything you need to land your next position: How to Update your Resume, Interview Tips, and How to Quit Your Job Without Burning Bridges. At the end of the long road of changing companies and positions, you will find yourself starting at square one in a new place! 

Starting at a new company is exciting, but it can also be daunting. There are so many little things to learn, outside of actually learning how to do your new job! I put together a list of tips to keep in mind when starting out at a new place that will help make the transition more smooth. 

Image via Pinterest

1// Pay attention to the work environment and be consciously aware of what others are doing. Maybe at your old company everyone wore headphones and listened to music in their cubicles, but before pulling out your Beats take a look around and see if anyone at your new company is listening to music. If nobody had headphones in, it might not be part of the company culture of your new company to listen to music at work. Other little things to note are where people take phone calls, if people leave the door to their offices open or closed, how long people tend to take for lunch, and if people tend to eat lunch out or pack. Playing by your new company's rules doesn't mean you always have to do what everyone else does, but it's important to try and make an effort to adjust to your new company culture. You don't want your new co-workers to think that you're trying to be an outsider!

2// Attend company events outside of work. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is hang out with your co-workers when you don't have to. But, if you attend events like dinners, happy hours, parties, sports games, etc. it will show everyone that you're a part of the team and excited about your new position. Also these events are the best place to make friends at work, and having work friends will make your work life so much better.

3// Identify a mentor and a buddy. If you're not pre-assigned a company coach or mentor, try and identify someone in a senior role that you can talk to about career advice, performance reviews, and technical advice. This person will be your go-to when you have a professional question and should enjoy having this relationship with you. It's also important to have someone around the same level as you who has been at the company longer to answer everyday questions like "Do I put this on the expense report, where is the extra ink for the copy machine, and how do I map the printer to this computer?". This person will help you adjust to the company while you're still learning all those little things. 

4// Read the company handbook and conduct code. This is boring, but make sure you know the rules of the company. This way you know the professional expectations and you should play "by the book", at least for the first couple of months. Maybe you company dress code mandates women wear closed toe shoes, but you notice that many women are wearing peep-toe shoes around the office. Before jumping on board, you should abide by the code until you get a better feel of the company. If you noticed something in the company code that you believe no one is following, ask your buddy about this rule and see what they say. It's always better to play it safe and follow the rules than be sorry. The last thing you want is an email from HR when you first start. 

5// Lastly, make sure you maintain the level of professionalism that you displayed in your interviews. Although you are now employed by the company you still need to prove yourself. Nobody knows you at your new company and you need to prove yourself as a valuable asset. It's important to work hard, be professional, and also try and enjoy your new position! 

Transitioning to a new role is both rewarding and stressful. It takes time to make friends, learn the ins and outs of the company, and learn your new role. If you feel overwhelmed just remember that many people are very understanding. They know that you will not be an expert on day one. If you feel that what you're being asked to do does not match your expectations when you applied for the job, ask to speak to your coach or supervisor. Make sure you lay out what you want to talk about logically and be prepared to explain what you've done and how you're feeling. 

Best of luck and I hope anyone reading this who is starting a new job finds their transition smooth and enjoyable!

Do you have any tips for starting a new job and adjusting to a new company? I'd love to hear your advice!

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Career Wednesdays: How to Leave Your Job Without Burning Bridges

Welcome back to career Wednesdays! In case you missed the last two weeks, my friend Nidhi wrote two great guest posts to get you started on the path to your next great position. In week one we discussed how to update your resume for the post-grad professional and in week two we discussed interview preparation and tips. This brings us to Week Three: How to Leave Your Job without Burning Bridges. Me and Nidhi tag-teamed to co-write this article, that's some teamwork for you!  

Career Series: How to Leave your Job without Burning Bridges

By: Laura Cronin and Nidhi Desai (contact: lauraaimevous@gmail.com or nidhi.desai5041@gmail.com)

You have your fancy new job offer, you can’t wait to start. But, before you get to start your new position there’s one little thing left to do: quit your old job. It pretty much goes without say that there’s a right and wrong way to do this, but let’s go over a couple of basic points to ensure you leave your old job in the best way possible.

1.  The first step is to draft your resignation letter which you will either e-mail or hand deliver to your supervisor or human resources, depending on your company. There are many templates online for various resignation letters, but the gist of them is that you should formally acknowledge your desire to end your employment with your current employer, thank your employer for the opportunities they have provided to you during your tenure, state a reason for your decision, and give the date your resignation is effective. It is common courtesy to give at least two weeks notice to your employer. It is really important to give two weeks notice, unless extenuating circumstances make it impossible for you to do so. Additionally, it is possible that your employer may ask you to have an end date earlier than two weeks, or ask if you can work longer than two weeks, but these are a case-by-case basis. 
   
   
2. After you have notified the appropriate upper management of your decision you should let all of your immediate supervisors know of your resignation and let them know what your last day will be. This is especially important if you work in a position where you report to multiple supervisors, like I did in public accounting. This gives everyone time to prepare for your departure and makes it so your last day will not be a surprise. It is best if you can tell these people in person, but if that is not possible a polite, personalized email will do. It sounds uncomfortable, but you should always notify your managers before telling co-workers or other friends at work. It just doesn’t come off as you being respectful or responsible if your manager hears the news of your departure from someone else.
   
   
3. Wrap-up your assignments and prepare your successor to take over your role. I wrote up word documents with notes about my upcoming client (including contact info, directions, where to park, the best places to get lunch, etc.) for the senior taking over the job for me. She really appreciated the information, which would not have been obvious just from the other files I gave her. Going above and beyond getting your successor ready for their new role will leave them with fond memories of you once you are long gone. Just think, if you one-day need a reference you want to make sure that you left a lasting good impression rather than leaving all your co-workers buried under the work you left behind
   
   
4. Gather email address, add co-workers on LinkedIn, and be sure to reach out to touch base with co-workers before your departure. This way you can keep in touch once you have transitioned to your new role and keep your network strong. Just because you don’t work together anymore doesn’t mean that these people aren’t valuable network contacts! You may even find yourself working for the same company again! I am currently working with two people from my old firm at my new job, and both have reached out to me and provided me advice about my new role. It is always desirable to be well connected in the business world.
   
   
5. On your last day send a thank-you email to your co-workers, friends, supervisors, etc. Be sure to thank them for the experience you’ve had during your time at the company and provide your contact information so they can reach you once you do not have your old work email address. As I stated in #4, this leads to a stronger network, which is always a good thing!
   
   
6. Do not update your position on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) before your first day at your new company. This way you respect your current employer while you still work there, and you don’t seem too anxious to leave. Also, it should go without say, but never write negative comments online about your old employer. You never know when you need a referral and chances are you have friends who still work there! Remember, once you hit “publish” it is out there forever!
   
   
7. Leaving a job does not mean cutting ties with all previous co-workers. In fact, the opposite is true; in starting your new job, you should aim to only continue growing your professional network, maintaining relationships with close old managers and friends during your time in your previous role. Not only is it smart idea professionally, it’s also good for your personal development. Some of your old co-workers may have seen you in your times of strength and weakness in your prior position, and can assist you as you move forward with the new role. Just like we mentioned last week, you never know who knows what and what they can help you with. It’s always a good idea to keep your network expanding.

Implementing these tips will allow you to leave your current position graciously and help build your network rather than tearing it down. Leaving a job is an emotional process; even if you are very excited for your new position sometimes leaving a place where you feel comfortable can be scary! Just know most people will be very excited for your new opportunity and congratulate you, as long as you go about the process in a professional manner. Transitioning to your new position will be much easier if you know that you closed the door on the last chapter of your employment on a positive note.

Next week we will discuss tips on transitioning to a new company culture and job function! See you then!

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Gift Guide: For the Professional Woman

Watch // Card Case // Lean in Book // Hustle Print

Foldable mouse // Travel mug // Starbucks Giftcard

Longchamp Tote // Frends Headphones

Simplified Planner // Lunchbox // Tocca Handcream

I'm really excited because I have been brainstorming holiday content and have come up with some really fun and exciting posts for you all over the next month. Of course, what kind of style blogger would I be without providing my readers with some gift guides! I will be putting out several gift guides over the next weeks leading up to Christmas, each guide with a different theme. I wanted to kick off the guides with my first themed gift guide, 'Gifts for the Professional Woman'. As a professional woman myself coming up with gift ideas was not hard, I pretty much just thought of things I like to use at work or wish I had. 

These gift ideas I came up with are perfect for the professional woman on your list (and they would also make great co-worker gifts or items for a gift exchange at your office if you have one). A classic watch that goes with everything, pretty headphones for when you need to tune people out and GSD, the prettiest scented hand cream (Tocca's Cleopatra is just soooo good, trust) to keep your hands soft all winter. All of these items would be appreciated. I read the book Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. It is an interesting look at woman in leadership in the United States. I highly recommend! 

Are any of these items on your holiday wishlist? Do you work an office job, if so what're you asking for? I'm always looking for new gift ideas! 

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Career Wednesday: How to Interview Like a Champion

Happy Wednesday! Can you all believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving? Hopefully everyone has lots of fun plans with family and friends scheduled for the next few days. I know the past week has been crazy for me. Between flying cross-country to start my new job (see this post for more information) having one of my best friends from college visit, and going on a mini-vacation to Hershey, PA it's been a busy couple of days. The blog took a little bit of a back seat, but don't worry, things will be settling down soon (hopefully). Tonight I am headed with Alex and Kalliope to my parents' house and meeting up with high school friends for drinks in our town (oh Thanksgiving Eve, how I love thee). Then we have family Thanksgiving tomorrow and Friday we're headed to Pittsburgh to see Alex's family and have a second Thanksgiving + birthday celebration for Alex. It's going to be hectic but I love getting to see everyone! 

Anyways, Nidhi is back today with another great guest post to continue our series. This week's topic is interviewing and this is something I think everyone could use extra tips on. Check out Nidhi's post below and then feel free to leave comments with any additional tips you find helpful!

Picture of Nidhi provided by Nidhi

How to Prep for a Job Interview

Guest Post by Nidhi Desai (email: nidhi.desai5041@gmail.com)

Last week’s blog on resume writing was only the beginning of the whole “finding-a-new-job” saga. Now, the resume’s updated and you’re ready for the next part of the process: interviewing.

Before the interview

Prior to the interview, prepare strong responses to questions that are likely to be asked. A commonly asked starter question is, “Could you please tell me a little bit about yourself?” This is a great opening question during which the interviewee has the ability to describe their career thus far, highlighting important experiences. As mentioned in the prior week’s blog post, a recruiter/interviewer may only glance at a resume for seconds and may not remember significant details. Therefore, for those 1-3 years out of college, use this opportunity to share your career story right from the end of college. For example, a sample response to this question could be: “I graduated from XYZ University in 2013, with a degree in (subject). Upon graduation I started working at (company) where I currently am a (job title) and some of my responsibilities include…” Of course, glam up the response with other relevant and interesting information if appropriate (i.e. what prompted you to choose your major).

Some other commonly asked questions include: 

•  What types of clients/projects have you work on?
•  Why are you seeking a change in careers? (If relevant)
•  Tell me about a time at work when you knew a (client) deadline wasn't going to be met - what did you do?
•  Tell me about a time when you didn't get along with someone in your department or work team with whom you worked closely- how did you handle the situation?

During the Interview

It is good practice to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early, allotting time for any transportation or travel delays, as well. Nothing sets a careless and irresponsible first impression than arriving late for an interview. Arriving early also allows you to collect your thoughts one final time before the interview begins. 

Dress business professional (unless told otherwise), which means suits for both genders; women can choose between a pant suit, dresses with jacket or skirt and suit jacket. Stick to conservative, neutral colors. Grooming is equally important – hair, make up, facial hair for men, fingernails – everything should be groomed and professional. For a 30-60 minute face-to-face interview, you want to be sure to be fully presentable so that nothing about your appearance is distracting to the interviewer. Carry a work portfolio that has a notepad to easily jot down names, questions or notes.

When the interviewer arrives, greet them with a firm handshake, while maintaining eye contact and smiling to exhibit confidence and strong non-verbal communication cues. Smiling is key – even if you feel very nervous and unsettled inside, smiling will naturally make you seem more approachable and friendly. Smiling is key during phone interviews as well, as inflection and related enthusiasm can be sensed through the phone.

When the interview begins, particularly with behavioral questions, remain composed and make the question/answer interaction as conversational as possible. Ultimately, the people interviewing are assessing if they could see themselves working with the candidate, so it is best to be relaxed and answer honestly. When asked more analytical or industry- specific questions, take your time in answering. Many times, more than achieving the correct answer, the interviewer is more interested in learning the interviewee’s thought-process and problem-solving skills. When asked extraneous questions like "How many baseballs do you think can fit in this room?" (I was really asked that one time), try to make it conversational and vocalize your thought-process aloud. For example, saying something like, "well a baseball is about 9 inches in circumference and I think this room is X by Y inches, so YYY baseballs could probably fit in this room." 

Once the interviewer has completed asking their questions, they will ask if the interviewee has any questions they'd like to ask. It's very important to ask meaningful and insightful questions at this point. As a general rule of thumb, try to have at least 3-5 questions premeditated to ask in case some were answered during the interview. Ask questions about the day-to-day duties of the role, what the work culture is like and anything else you would want in a company/job. At this time, it is not appropriate to ask for the pay or the number of days off allowed since there is no job offer on the table yet. If you're feeling gutsy, you can ask if the interviewer has any concerns or hesitations about your candidacy that you can maybe help clarify or expand upon while you're there.

After the interview

As the interview concludes, ask for the interviewer's business card that includes their name and work email address. Just like in the beginning, end the interaction by thanking the interviewer for their time with a firm handshake, steady eye contact and a friendly smile. 

Complete the process for all interviewers and try to differentiate the questions asked. Of course if there are things you truly value as important (i.e. culture), it doesn't hurt to ask multiple people to obtain a more thorough understanding of it and through the eyes of multiple people.

Another general rule: email all the interviewers personally within 24 hours of the interview. Thank them for their time and express how great of a time you had at their office. Assuming they are interviewing multiple people for the role, try to include a personal point of the conversation in the thank you email, so the interviewer can differentiate between all the candidates and clearly remember you. For example, if during an interview the interviewer and you discussed the importance of work-life balance and all the measures the company takes to ensure a healthy balance, include a sentence of how important and meaningful that is and how you really value that the company addresses it. 

Building work relationships and professional networks are very important. You never know who knows whom and what they will say about your work quality and ethic, so it’s a good idea to always be in people’s good graces. In addition to being excellent references for the future, it’s amazing how close friends you can become with previous co-workers. Therefore, even when starting a new job, don’t burn bridges with old co-workers and managers; just continue to expand and deepen that professional network.

Nidhi has some amazing tips and it's important to be prepared and put your best foot forward at an interview. They can make or break your chances of landing your dream position, and you're so close! What do you think of these tips? Do you have any tips of your own? Remember to come back next week for the next installment of this five-part career series!

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