Brazen Life » Black Enterprise

Job Hopping Millennials: Why Employers Accept this Trend

Black Enterprise — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:00:00 +0000

If you’re a job hopper, you may have been a bit worried about marketing yourself to prospective employers. Will they judge the fact that you’ve changed gigs every few years or maybe even every few months? Will you have to explain yet again why you have such a diverse resume of experiences only to be met with a few looks of skepticism?

Well, a recent survey has found that job-hopping might not be deemed as taboo as before. CareerBuilder found that more than half (55%) of employers have hired a job-hopper and nearly one-third (32%) said they have come to expect workers to job-hop.

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How Millennials Can Leverage Social Media Popularity for Career Wins

Black Enterprise — Fri, 23 May 2014 10:00:24 +0000

Who hates the satisfying feeling of getting lots of likes or double taps on your Facebook or Instagram posts? I don’t know many people who do.

But some take it to the next level, elevating the importance of social media popularity and allowing it to be a boost to the ego among a virtual world of ~~fans~~friends. It almost becomes a competition as to who can get the most attention, the most shares and the most viral response, and some will spend hours trying to win the Mr. or Ms. Popular crown as if it will somehow directly enhance their life in the real world.

Research shows that Americans aged 18-64 spend an average of 3.2 hours per day using social networks. More specifically, there are 1.6 billion likes per day on Instagram and users post an average of 60 photos daily. In terms of Facebook, there are, on average, 350 million photos posted and the average daily overall likes stand at 4.5 billion.

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The Nicki Minaj Factor: 3 Career Lessons on Rebranding For Milliennials

Black Enterprise — Fri, 09 May 2014 10:00:00 +0000

Is it safe to say that the colorful wigs and wild costumes are a thing of the past for Nicki Minaj? Maybe.

The head Barb in charge was the talk of the Web when she stepped on the scene to promote her new movie The Other Woman in a toned-down look that had everyone taking note of the 31-year-old’s natural beauty. And while the queen of Young Money says that her new look isn’t so new (since she wore her natural hair and conservative makeup in the early stages of her career), we can’t help but highlight the important lesson that the rapper-turned-actress has taught us about professional re-branding to elevate our careers.

No matter what professional stage you’re in or what career field interests you most, below are three common career moments that signify it’s time for a change:

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3 Old-School Tactics That Can Boost Your Career Today

Black Enterprise — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 17:00:04 +0000

On Thursdays, many on social media share photos from the past using hashtag #TBT (for Throwback Thursday) to reminisce on events and experiences. It’s a fun way to connect, remember how far we’ve all come, laugh at mistakes (i.e. bad haircuts or cliche slang) and can even serve as a marketing tool for companies.

With the popularity of social media and the way it’s changed how the world communicates, reports news, conducts business and makes hiring decisions, some traditional practice for sharing information and insights have become a thing of the past.

Social media is an awesome tool for advancement if used wisely, but it’s not the end-all-be-all when it comes to sealing a deal, landing a gig or getting new business. (Click here to tweet this thought.) There are still some old-school — or what could be deemed as old-school in this age of Facebook updates and Twitter beefs — practices that are relevant today and can lead to big wins in one’s career.

Check out three and see how they might fit into the way you communicate and network, especially as a young professional…

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How to Shake Off That Career Slump and Rediscover Your Motivation

Black Enterprise — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 10:00:00 +0000

There’s always that sentiment noted over and over again: Millennials are lazy, entitled and unmotivated.

(But, smart people who aren’t wearing bias-tinted glasses know we are some of the most charitable, civic-minded, physically active, entrepreneurial and innovative groups on Earth.)

As with any stereotype, some of our peers make it easy for employers and senior professionals to raise a discerning eyebrow, failing to push past average and beyond limitations to go above and beyond for greatness.

Even those of us constantly making boss moves in an effort to upgrade our careers and livelihoods have those moments of laziness, where sloth wins over making power plays.

(My Granny will often scold me in my moments of weakness: “I’m almost 90 and I’m able to wake up early and get things done. Why are you tired?” How embarrassing, right?)

So, whether you just haven’t felt that burst of enthusiasm for anything after college graduation, or you’re in a phase of burnout that’s just lasted way too long, try these five steps to shake it all off:

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Why Sheryl Sandberg’s Anti-Bossy Campaign Gets It Wrong

Black Enterprise — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 17:00:00 +0000

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and the godmother of “leaning in,” has launched a female empowerment initiative that includes calling for the banning of the word “bossy” and encouraging the world to refer to girls as “feminist” or displaying “executive leadership skills.” She has garnered the support of organizations including the Girl Scouts of America and powerhouse entertainer Beyonce.

Though I respect Sandberg’s intentions, as well as her exemplary leadership and strides in advocating for career, equality and leadership advances for women, I think this particular campaign is a bit presumptuous, taking focus off a larger, more pressing issue, especially for young minority females.

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Feel Like You’re on Your Own? Here’s How to Get Some Much-Needed Career Support

Black Enterprise — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 10:00:00 +0000

So, you’re totally excited about a recent work-related accomplishment you’d like to leverage for your next big career move. You run to tell your parents, hoping for insights on how to take that step, only to be met by a lackluster,”Oh, that’s nice. Keep up the great work.”

Or let’s try this scenario: You’ve hit a major roadblock in your career, and the moment you tell the grandparents who raised you, you’re met by blank stares and looks of confusion.

Worst yet, this scenario: Accomplishments aren’t even acknowledged or celebrated in your immediate environment, leaving you more than hesitant to even mention anything about your career to anyone in your household or neighborhood. You feel that whatever you say will either be over their heads or met with major hateration…

What do you do when you need that extra, strategic support and it’s not something you can reach out and grab in your immediate environment? Try these four steps:

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Before You Change Jobs, Consider This

Black Enterprise — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

So you’ve worked at your first full-time gig for a significant amount of time, and you feel like you’ve mastered it. You know the ins and outs of your job, and you could probably complete assignments with your eyes closed.

At this point in your not-so-new career, not only are your feet wet; you’re practically wading knee-deep and thinking, “When is my next move going to be? How long do I have to stay in this entry-level position?”

Lindsey Pollak, GenY career expert and bestselling author of Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World, offers key factors to consider when you’re thinking about moving on from your current position…

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Why You Should Start Building Your Brand While You’re Still in College

Black Enterprise — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 11:00:00 +0000

College students are no longer waiting until after they walk across the stage to venture out into the professional world. They’re building brands, starting businesses and cultivating their careers in between classes, giving a whole new meaning to the phrase “young professional.”

Two-thirds of U.S. colleges and universities — more than 2,000 schools — currently offer a course in entrepreneurship. It’s no wonder students are ditching the traditional internship route and going into business for themselves. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

Companies like Facebook and FedEx were started while their founders were still in college and have grown to become household names.This proves there’s great growth potential in college startups. Whether you’re kickstarting your brand with a blog or developing a new app, here’s why getting your ducks in a row pre-degree works…

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Leverage Your Awkwardness to Become an Awesome Leader

Black Enterprise — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 11:00:00 +0000

It used to be quite taboo to be the awkward coworker, friend or beau. Being awkward, like the concept of being a “geek,” just wasn’t the cool thing a decade or so ago.

Now, award-winning celebrities and creatives like “Awkward Black Girl” creator Issa Rae and Girls creator and star Lena Dunham have made it cool to be, well, not-so-cool yet extraordinarily unique and wacky…

For me, awkward truly means going against what’s considered a norm and just doing you. (Click here to tweet this thought.) Leaders are able to manipulate that quality so it’s advantageous to them and what they’re trying to accomplish. Maturity (and quite a few snafus) have taught me that being awkward isn’t so bad, as long as you know your limits.

So, to pay homage to such a powerful — and now, monetizable — quirk in leadership, here are three ways to leverage the awkward in you…

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Wait, There’s a National Clean Off Your Desk Day?!

Black Enterprise — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 11:00:11 +0000

There seems to be a “national day” for almost everything, from celebrating rubber duckies and bittersweet chocolate to advocating for awareness of the Heimlich maneuver. (Yes, there’s a National Heimlich Maneuver Day, folks.)

Last Sunday, January 12th, just happened to be National Clean Off Your Desk Day, and as frivolously ridiculous as it might sound to some, a tidy workspace can do wonders for productivity and peace of mind. (Click here to tweet this thought.)

A recent survey by Office Max found that 90 percent of Americans admit that unorganized clutter at home or at work has a negative impact on their life and said their productivity (77 percent), state of mind (65 percent), motivation (53 percent) and happiness (40 percent) are affected when there is disorder.

Correlation has also been noted between office disorganization and possibility of promotion; as organization expert Peter Walsh says, “If you have a cluttered office, you risk being seen as inefficient or not on top of your work. [Disorganization] suggests a degree of incompetence that clouds your abilities. You run the risk of jeopardizing your chance of a promotion.”

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Before Recommending Your Friend for a Job, Ask Yourself These 3 Questions

Black Enterprise — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 11:00:54 +0000

You might come across a situation where there’s a job opening at your office and you know a job-seeking friend who could use an extra boost in their job search. Whether you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart or your friend has dropped less-than-subtle hints about recommending them, you may want to push “pause” before dropping their name in the hat.

While putting in a good word for a friend may seem like a small favor in a tough market, it’s imperative to know that you’re also putting your credibility and reputation on the line. (Click here to Tweet this thought.) If the whole thing goes sour, you could damage your image as well as your friendship. It’s important to base your recommendation on your knowledge of your friend as a professional and not from a social aspect.

Etoulia Salas, an employee orientation program manager, provides suggested questions to consider before recommending a friend for a job…

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How to Fit in Time for Fitness in Your Busy Schedule

Black Enterprise — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 18:00:58 +0000

In the fast-paced life of business-savvy go-getters, health and fitness can often be put on the back burner of priorities. Yet just as a car without routine maintenance doesn’t ride as efficiently, professionals without routine health practices don’t think as clearly and creatively.

As employees, business owners, business executives and CEOs, we need our bodies and minds to run as efficiently and effectively as possible. Million-dollar ideas aren’t fed with dollar menu diets. (Click here to Tweet this thought.)

One part of being extremely busy is that we don’t have time for non-essentials. We need “get in, get out” workouts that give us the most bang for our buck. As a celebrity trainer with clients ranging from fortune 500 CEOs to busy moms starting up new businesses, these are the keys I found most effective to keeping your fitness routines as vibrant as your career…

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5 Reasons Hiring Managers Aren’t Calling You

Black Enterprise — Fri, 29 Nov 2013 11:00:46 +0000

One of the most frustrating moments in a person’s career is when they’re either 1) unemployed and looking for a job, or 2) employed but looking for a better job. Along with thousands of other professionals, at some point during your career, you may have found yourself in such a predicament.

Consequently, you may have adopted the miserable “I’ve applied to tons of positions, but no one is hiring or calling me back” mentality.

To help professionals overcome this debilitating “no one is hiring” mindset, Alysse Metzler wrote The Recruiting Snitch: Recruiting Secrets to Help Land Your Dream Job. The Recruiting Snitch is loaded with secrets that 101 recruiters and hiring managers have revealed about their hiring methods.

“Practice makes perfect, and knowledge is half the battle. So once you really know what’s going on inside recruiters’ heads, you will be able to ace the resume review, get through the application process, impress the recruiter on your phone interview, wow the hiring manager in the face-to-face interview and have a smooth offer process,” Metzler writes.

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3 Smart Ways to Stand Out by Serving Others

Black Enterprise — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 11:00:00 +0000

Throughout your college years, one of your business professors or mentors probably advised you that it’s a “dog eat dog” or an “every man for himself” world. While on some levels this notion may be true, you can actually use this truism to your advantage.

Instead of being bolted down to your personal career agenda, you should widen your career path by becoming what I call a “career servant.”

For simplicity’s sake, a career servant is someone who serves others. By practicing career servanthood, you can engender many positive results. In fact, this altruistic strategy can lead to ultimate career satisfaction because you can help your organization advance, your colleagues succeed and yourself grow — all at the same time. When you serve your organization and others, you will easily build positive alliances and networks that can add immense value to your career.

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Top Performers: All Roads Lead to Mindfulness

Black Enterprise — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Buried in work, your anxiety builds as you notice key deadlines are fast-approaching. You can’t wrap your head around just one task, so you do multiple — finding in time that you forfeited your opportunity to truly deliver results that matter to you and your company.

In our wired world of 24/7 communication, can we truly quiet our minds and produce great work without falling victim to insurmountable stress?

In short, the answer is: yes. Mindfulness — intentionally focusing on the present in a nonjudgmental way — works.

When Harvard professor Bill George presented his ideas on authentic leadership in 2011, he had the opportunity to ask the Dalai Lama, “How does one become mindful?” To his comfort, the Dalai Lama responded that it involves daily mindful practices.

We spoke with leading experts in mindful leadership who incorporate this technique into their professional and personal lives: ordained minister and physician Dr. Chris T. Pernell, author of Letters to My People: Inspirational Essays, Poems and Affirmations and founder of My Body & Me, a health and wellness initiative; owner of Lotus Yoga and Lotus in Action Jennifer Kohl; and Reiki master Deborah Flanagan, owner of Center for True Health.

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Push It to the Limit: How to Become the MVP of Your Company

Black Enterprise — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Have you been feeling as if you aren’t exactly where you deserve to be in your career right now?

Well, perhaps one of the reasons for your lack of career satisfaction is because you’ve been coasting in your career by being an average professional. Now, this isn’t particularly a bad thing, because being average while still employed means you’re performing at a good enough level that satisfies your employer.

However, if you have a strong desire to realize your big career goals and dreams, you will have to rise above being average. The first step in becoming extraordinary is relinquishing the “I’m only going to do just enough to survive” mindset and replacing it with an “I’m going to go over and beyond to stand out” mindset so that the likelihood of you moving from being just a team player to the company’s Most Valuable Player will greatly increase.

Similar to world-class MVP professional athletes such as LeBron James and Serena Williams, as a business professional, you have to stretch yourself beyond your limits for optimal career growth and success.

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Passion vs. Profit: Ladies, It’s Time to Get What You’re Worth Today

Black Enterprise — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 10:00:00 +0000

There are many reports of how women and men differ when it comes to asking for what they deserve in the job market, and it’s often said that we women accept less than what we’re worth. But why?

Some might say we’re simply less aggressive than men when it comes to negotiating or making the ask, or we don’t even know the tangible value of our skills. (And, I get it: Some of us have no problem with this. We strategically get what we’re worth or hustle to make up the difference for what we don’t get. But too many of us don’t.)

One NPR reporter brings up a different side of this coin by exploring the link between our choices in major or skill-building with our career choices. Lisa Chow recalls interviewing Georgetown University economist Anthony Carnevale on the subject and finding that women are “overrepresented among majors that don’t pay very well (psychology, art, comparative literature) and underrepresented in lots of lucrative majors (most fields in engineering).” She continues to report that even when women choose high-paying majors, they often don’t choose high-paying jobs.

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Do Women with Children Get Preferential Treatment at Work?

Black Enterprise — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Recent reports in Australia and the UK have shed light on an issue that many global working women face: Do women with children get preferential treatment in the workplace?

Some women say yes, citing discriminatory practices in cases of requested leave and sympathy from employers—a disparity when it comes to gaining approval for vacation or early leave due to emergencies. One woman even says there’s a “cult of motherhood” in the UK, where mothers’ out-of-office lives are perceived as more significant than childless women’s.

“There’s an unbelievable permissiveness towards mothers at work,” says Jody Day, founder of Gateway Women, an organization that seeks to support, inspire and empower childless women. “If they’re bombarding their colleagues with child-related talk all day, it’s deemed acceptable, but if women without children talk about their lives in the same way, we’re seen as self-absorbed.”

Wow. Ya don’t say.

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Job Seeker Rejection Files: When Keeping It Real Goes Right

Black Enterprise — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000

Gawker recently published a rejection letter from a tech startup founder who included tips for job seekers who didn’t make the cut. In the letter, Shea Gunther notified more than 900 applicants, who had little to no chance of landing a gig at his new company, on how to improve their job seeking tactics—in 42 points, to be exact.

According to the rejected candidate who forwarded the email, Gunther’s correspondence was harsh and insensitive.

“I don’t find it helpful,” the rejected applicant wrote. “I just find it arrogant.”

I’d beg to differ. I think it’s to be commended that Gunther took the time to reply to rejected applicants to detail better ways of marketing themselves. His letter holds a few hard-to-swallow truths that many job seekers can benefit from. Several are common pet peeves of HR professionals, managers and entrepreneurs who review thousands of applicants per week.

Here are a few I found myself saying “Amen” to…

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Workplace Drama: 10 Reasons You Aren’t Getting Ahead

Black Enterprise — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0000

One of the biggest things that professionals are often blinded by are actions that lead to workplace drama. Workplace drama is typically so heavily frowned upon by management that even a high-performer, who might be labeled as a “troublemaker,” will often be one of the first fired during downsizing or organizational realignment.

While I think you should try your best to avoid drama, it’s almost impossible to totally prevent it. Therefore, you must effectively manage your emotions and actions. Your ability to recognize and effectively navigate workplace drama is something that will add value to your career.

Here are 10 self-defeating workplace behaviors that can lead to drama, and actions you can take to combat these personality or interpersonal flaws…

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5 Hidden Traps of Transitioning into a New Leadership Role

Black Enterprise — Fri, 09 Aug 2013 10:00:00 +0000

So, you’ve just been promoted or taken on a new leadership role in a new department or company. The excitement can quickly wear off when you realize that suddenly, things are not going as smoothly as they used to.

You’re still the smart, competent person you were in your last position, so what’s happening? You’re in transition, that place between what was and what is yet to be—the hairiest part of change. Leadership transitions can be especially daunting because there are traps that often go undetected until you fall in. Here are five common traps…

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Career Training Camp: Are You Prepared for Your Next Season?

Black Enterprise — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 10:00:31 +0000

This week, NFL players are in full swing at training camp, and by July 27th, all teams will be busy evaluating players and prepping to get the top spot in the league come Super Bowl.

As players get into rigorous exercises and testing, it’s only natural for me to think, in terms of career, how professionals can take a page from the NFL and conduct their own professional training camp that will allow them to evaluate whether they’re prepared for their next season.

Coaches often have to make hard choices to accommodate the needs of the bigger picture. They answer to players, owners, fans and their own desire to excel. In some cases, as a professional or entrepreneur, you’re the coach and the player. In others, your boss is that coach, evaluating whether you’re a key member of the team or someone who might lead to more losses than wins. Either way, we all have bottom lines to consider, and as a leader, one should be advancing, not regressing.

Are you prepared to excel in the next phase of your career? Do you have the right people around you to take you to the top of your field? Do people, things, habits need to be cut or modified for you to go to the next level professionally? Are you pushing yourself to the best of your abilities? What’s your game plan?

If you’re a bit lost on where to start, try similar steps as the NFL:

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Boss Moves: The Power of Diversifying Your Offerings

Black Enterprise — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 10:00:41 +0000

Many of you might know that I am involved in quite a few projects and working on multiple business ventures at the same time. Even though I am always busy, and time is becoming increasingly of the essence, there is method to the madness. Whether you are climbing the ladder in an established career or just beginning your entrepreneurial journey, diversifying your business and brand is important for maximizing your opportunity and success.

Getting involved in multiple ventures should not be done without a plan. Diving head first into project after project can not only complicate your process, but also cause you to fail because you overestimate the amount of time and energy you have to devote to any one task. It is important to know your brand, and choose wisely the ventures you pursue. You do not want to become a jack of all trades and master of none.

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Mentorship Is Earned, Not Owed

Black Enterprise — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:00:53 +0000

This past Saturday, I had the great pleasure of moderating the final keynote session at the 2013 Blogging While Brown Conference, held in the Langston Hughes Auditorium of Harlem’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. (Black Enterprise was proud to be a media sponsor of the event.) Each year, hundreds of bloggers from across the nation are drawn to this event, founded by Gina McCauley, to network and learn best practices of launching, writing, growing and making a successful career and/or business of blogging. I was privileged to share the stage with reigning stars of the space: Necole Kane, Angel Laws, Karen Civil and Claire Siobhan Sulmers (founders of NecoleBitchie.com, ConcreteLoop.com, KarenCivil.com and FashionBombDaily.com, respectively).

During the course of taking questions from the audience, one of the attendees asked how she could get a blogger from the panel to be her mentor. To their credit, all of the successful bloggers on the panel expressed their enthusiastic commitment to mentoring others in their organizations, and graciously offered to be available to her. Of course, as the moderator, I couldn’t just leave it at that. I asked everyone in the audience who needed a mentor to raise their hands; about 60 percent of those present did so. Then I asked how many of them were currently mentoring others. You guessed it: About a third of the hands came down (although a few hands that had not been raised also went up). My point: You will always have a shortage of mentors if too many of those who want one are not committed to also being one. It doesn’t make sense to me how so many of us expect to get what we are not willing to give.

When you ask someone to be a mentor, is your interest in their journey, or their destination? Too many of those who want what mentors have are unwilling to learn what they know or do what they did to get it. The exceptions have no problem attracting mentors; they have the spirit and attitude that inspires others to want to claim them as proteges. Here’s what they know:

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Back-To-Work Blues: 5 Smart Tips to Get Back on the Grind After Vacation

Black Enterprise — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:00:47 +0000

No matter how much you love your job, getting back into the groove of things after a vacation can be quite challenging, especially if it was an extended holiday. From the backlog of emails to nonstop meetings and events, sometimes your body is at the office while your mind is still enjoying that beach breeze and delicious rum punch.

Even the workaholic of workaholics needs time to decompress and forget the duties of business and boss moves, but the key to staying on top is knowing how to effectively get back in the swing of things after taking time off. Here are a few tips I’ve found to be effective.

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Office Woes: How to Handle a Career-Stifling Boss

Black Enterprise — Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:01 +0000

The office should be a place of productivity, revenue generation, impact creation and growth. That said, we all know that not every day at work is so rosy.

Depending on how far along you are in your career, you may have already encountered it. For those who have not, get ready. I’m referring to the day you realize that your boss is not “here for you.”

This can be interpreted in many ways, but the simplest definition of a boss who is not “here for you” is this: a supervisor who is not actively working to support your professional growth. A good supervisor does many things, but at minimum, they should be supporting your development because the more skilled you are (task completion, project management, team leadership, etc.), the better you will be at supporting their professional goals.

Unfortunately, things do not always work out this way, and many professionals are left to fend for themselves . Here are a few tips for how to move forward if you find yourself in this situation.

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As Baby Boomers Retire, Young Workers Can Take the Lead

Black Enterprise — Fri, 10 May 2013 10:00:19 +0000

According to reports, 10,000 Baby Boomers are retiring each day. With so much knowledge walking out the door, organizations are constantly seeking to fill positions that Baby Boomers are leaving behind. A great number of these positions are far from being entry-level. In fact, many Baby Boomers devoted their entire careers to attain some of these prestigious positions.

This unprecedented Baby Boomer retirement trend could work in your favor, because your dreams of being promoted to a big time position could come true a lot sooner than you thought.

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The Key to Your Career Advancement: An Emotional Intelligence Mentor

Black Enterprise — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:00:41 +0000

It’s often said that emotional intelligence (EI) is valuable for anyone who wants to be a leader, especially for women. We are often quick with the emotional response or approach to things, but in a business or professional setting, a lack of EI can hinder advancement.

The concept of EI has been defined by many experts, but for me, it means not losing your cool in a difficult situation and not going off on people, even when they deserve it. For another it could mean approaching a major deal, not with the heart, but with critical thought and advisement, or not going head-first into something before weighing all logical options. It could also mean excelling under pressure and motivating others to get the job done, even when you and your team are faced with major challenges.

Read more at Black Enterprise…

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The post The Key to Your Career Advancement: An Emotional Intelligence Mentor appeared first on Brazen Life.

Pros and Cons of Going from “Yes, Boss” to Being the Boss

Black Enterprise — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:00:06 +0000

The desire to follow your passion and do what you love often leads many professionals to branching off and becoming entrepreneurs at some point in their career. While being self-employed is the ultimate goal for many professionals, there are lots of pros and cons that come along with the risk of building your own brand and below are some of the changes, both good and bad, that you should expect to occur.

Ability to do what you love full time: The main reason a lot of professionals leave their traditional, supervised job to work for themselves is because they want to devote more time to doing what they love.

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The Overlooked Skill That Could Make You the Next Mark Zuckerberg

Black Enterprise — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:00:47 +0000

Ever heard the word “coding” and thought, “Hey, that’s for tech geeks. That’s not my forte.” Well, think again. One advocacy group believes the skill can be the key to a career path that’s not as difficult—or boring—as some may think. And it’s one that can be applied to any industry you can think of.

Code.org, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing computer programming education and awareness, has launched a series of PSAs, one in particular highlighting a valuable, not-so-complicated skill that “90% of schools don’t teach,” but one that could lead to a lucrative professional journey. In fact, it’s a skill that has taken people like Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft heavyweight Bill Gates to the heights of historic innovation and cool inventions. Even Miami Heat baller Chris Bosh has experience with coding and advocates for tech education.

“Coding is something that can be learned. I know it can be intimidating—a lot of things are intimidating—but… what isn’t?” Bosh says.

Read more at Black Enterprise…

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The post The Overlooked Skill That Could Make You the Next Mark Zuckerberg appeared first on Brazen Life.