PTT: Eat Smart at Work

Professional Tip Tuesday
A colleague and I decided the Freshman-15 in college is a joke. It's more like the Young Professional 15.

I think figuring out a personal healthy lifestyle is just as much as an adjustment as everything else. It's something I am still working hard to figure out. And with the holidays approaching, it's top priority on my list of New Years Resolutions.  

                                

Step 1 for me is eating healthy - and that can be a huge challenge during the workday. Between on-the-go lunches, snacking like crazy, and traveling, it can be tough to make good choices. Below are a few tips I have found and try to do myself. 

• Pick a sensible, but filling breakfast. Fix yourself something to get your day started off right. I am not too hungry when I first wake up - but I don't want to skip the most important meal of the day. I usually bring something that's easy to eat at the office. 
• My go-to is oatmeal. I just pack some of the dry oats in a little baggie with a pinch of brown sugar. Whenever I get hungry, I toss it into a cup and pour in some hot water. Another easy thing I have done is an egg bake if I have time on Sunday. For that just mix a few eggs, load in the vegetables, and throw it in a casserole dish - just bake on 350 and you are set for the week! 

• Structure your snacks. It can be easy to get carried away with the snacking during the day. I know I do it. Sometimes you just want to munch on something while you are working! But it's much better to pack a little snack bag of something that gives you energy and is filling. 
• I usually pack unsalted almonds, a granola bar, or apples and peanut butter. I give myself 2 mini snack bags for morning and afternoon. And as an added bonus, those snacks also help the day go a little faster!
• Pack your own lunch. Try and bring a lunch as much as possible. If you plan out your meals in advance, you have more control over what you are eating and portion size. If you are anything like me, whenever I buy my lunch at the cafeteria I feel like I should eat it all! 
• There are lots of easy, healthy lunch recipes all over the internet - check out Pinterest for inspiration. Here's a link to a bunch of quick options from The Food Network: Healthy Eats! 
• But do you really deserve a treat? One of my biggest downfalls is the "I have been working hard and deserve a treat" mentality. Avoid the vending machine and try and to control the urge. A Brazen Life article refers to these as the "cost free calories" - we tend to think those calories don't count because we 'earned' it. The author said, do what you need to do to break that mentality! 
• The author of that article says, "find a way to remind yourself of your health goals". Whether it's a sticky note on your desk or a having a 'buddy system' with a co-worker to help you resist, do your best to not indulge all the time. **Of course we do need a little sweet treat every now and then - don't totally deprive yourself! Just make it more of a special occasion sort of thing :)

Work accounts for a huge portion of your day. Being a little more conscious of what we eat at work can help significantly control a healthy lifestyle! So what are your tips for eating healthy in the workday? Comment below. 

PTT: Effective Note Taking

Professional Tip Tuesday
On Friday I celebrated a very special birthday. It wasn't a particularly exciting number. I didn't do anything extremely out of the ordinary. But it was special just the same.

In the days leading up to December 6th, 2013, instead of preparing for a birthday bash I was planning a mini-pity-party. I was sure the first grown up birthday was going to be a bust. Silly me.

Good friends helped be ring in the birthday.

Every birthday I get this overwhelming feeling that I am the happiest and luckiest I have ever been. But then it happens again 365 days later. And that wasn't any different this year. Even in this new stage in life, I felt so loved. I am a thankful girl. 

Anyhow, how is everyone's week going? I have been helping out with a client event this week which made yesterday and today go incredibly fast.

My job this week has been to take notes. Sounds super glamorous doesn't it? Actually, it's not a bad gig. I just switched to a new team a few weeks ago - and it's been great way for me to learn more about our process.

This week's Professional Tip Tuesday is short and sweet.. something that has really helped me out the past couple of days!

Template for taking great meeting notes.

There is a true value to being able to take good notes. I was happy to receive serious kudos for my note-taking the past couple of days. I asked a few co-workers how they take effective notes before I started and I can't tell you how much it helped me.

So below is a 'template' for what to include on your next set of meeting notes. This is great whether the notes are for yourself or for others. There's a secret to effective notes: After your general notes, review what you wrote, and create another 'Meeting Snapshot' in a new section. This final section is to call-out the most important points from the meeting. Here are the sections I found most helpful!
---

• Team specific follow-ups: 
• Use this are for the most important items from the meeting for you (or the person you are taking the notes for) to follow up on soon after.

• Decisions: 
• Keep track of the big decisions that were made during the meeting.

• Tabled Conversations:
• In this section call out topics that need further discussion. This will serve as a good reminder of what subjects need to be brought up in the next meeting.

• Additional Uncovered Information:
•  I made this section to list important, extra information that might be uncovered during the meeting. It may not be a follow-up, but more of a 'good to know' piece.

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These sections will make it much easier for anyone to scan them quickly. It also helps when you looking back at meeting notes to review. What are your tips for taking effective notes? Comment below! 

PTT: To repair or not to repair?

Professional Tip Tuesday

I decked out my Lucky Bamboo for the holidays.

Who else is counting down until Christmas? It's just a few short weeks away. As I write this, I am drinking hot cocoa and watching The Santa Claus (one of my holiday favs!).

Even tough I am giddy about the holiday season - I did have a little misfortune this past weekend. My poor 2003 Chevy Cav hasn't been doing so hot. This is nothing new. I haven't been in an accident - yet I have gone through 3 cars since I started driving. As you can imagine, those 3 cars have racked up a number of repair bills.

So the I'm-an-adult-now question of the day is: How do you know when to keep putting money into repairs, and when do you give in and buy a new car?

I have been doing my research - and a great website to utilize is edmunds.com. This site is loaded with info on everything you need to know when making these big decisions. I found an article weighing out pros and cons of getting a new car.

I was hoping to put this huge life step off for a year or two while I get my big-girl-finances figured out. But I have to think about what will be more cost effective in the long run. So after doing some research, here is some food for thought for anyone in my position.

The repair bill is almost always cheaper than a car payment.
 - It's not just the new car you will be committing to.. a new car means more expensive insurance, and license and registration depending on the state.

Time and energy is something to keep in mind. 
- A reliable car can hold a lot more value when taking into account the time I have spent in repair shops and making ride arrangements. Constantly worrying about what's next in my car repair saga adds a whole new level of stress.

New vs. New to me. 
- A new car will lose 20-30% of it's value when you drive it off the lot. A lot of articles advocate for buying a used car. The trick is, buying a used car that is certified and still under factory warranty.

Know what you have to offer.
- If you do begin the looming task of car shopping, go in with confidence. I have my car as a trade-in for the down payment, I am a first-time car buyer, I have a steady income, and pretty good credit. The dealerships want your business - so play your cards right!

These were the things that really stuck out to me. I am still on the fence when it comes to the future of my Chevy Cav. If you have bought a new or used car recently, what was your experience? What advice do you have? Comment below!

PTT: Appreciating Your Job

Professional Tip Tuesday
There's a big myth that's circulating our society and tricking soon-to-be-graduates everywhere: The transition from college to the real world is easy-peasy. Hah!

Everyone is concerned about the transition from high school to college being tough. I took a "College Transition" class my freshman year. So where is that for the transition to the real world? That was just as traumatic to me!

Sad to not be in college anymore.

As much as I am loving the exploration and excitement of this new adventure.. sometimes it can make it hard appreciate my first real job. But there is a reason I chose this company. So I loved reading this article on "How to Spark Your Passion at Work Again".

It's not the easiest to transition from college to the real world - but finding little ways to enjoy your job can make it a whole lot more fun. And the best news? Everything is a learning experience. 

The author gives you some great ways to revamp excitement for your current career path. Check it out and let me know what you think.. Comment below!

PTT: The Modern Professional Dress

Professional Tip Tuesday
Professional dress is a complicated thing. As a college student, dressing up consisted of a nice crew neck sweatshirt and a cute scarf. Maybe a pair of earrings to accessorize if I was feeling particularly dressy that day.

But after 4 months in the business world, I am still questioning my professional wardrobe everyday.

It seems like men can throw on a nice shirt and a pair of khakis, and be good to go. Women have to put a lot more thought into their wardrobe. I actually thought I was getting the hang of it until the season changed.. Then it was game over and I had to start from scratch.

I have read all sorts of articles on how women today should dress professionally. What I've taken from them? A headache. Mixed messages about the do's and don't's of dressing conservative vs. modern.

So how can modern professional women appropriately dress for success today?

While this doesn't answer all the wardrobe questions, here are 3 tips that are a sure bet.
1. Follow the leader. - Dress to your office culture.

• Pay attention to how your co-workers (and superiors!) dress and mesh their styles with yours.
• My office has a jeans business professional dress code. Something I have noticed? People really push it with casual dress. So a pro-tip with this one is, keep in mind the old adage: Dress for the job you want, not the one you have. Try and stay a step ahead of the dress code.

2. Be comfortable, be confident. - Wear something that's feels like you. 

• The more comfortable you are, the more confident you will be in what you are wearing. 
• Keep Tip #1 in mind, but don't forget to add some of your personality into your outfit. I love a big warm, cozy sweater in the winter. And it can work with a nice blouse and a pair of slacks to keep it professional!

3. Shop smart. - Make it more simple.

• Could you tell I am a little jealous of guys that can pull together their professional wear in no time at all? Well we can make it a little easier on ourselves with the same approach. 
• Stock up your closet with the core pieces. A couple neutral slacks, cardigans, and maybe a blazer or two will allow you to throw on a professional outfit in a hurry. Plus these pieces almost guarantee to keep an outfit looking classy!

If you are interested in what sparked this Professional Tip Tuesday, check out this article on Levo.com: Can Women Ever Win When it Comes to Style at Work? It seems like a silly thing to add stress to a woman's workday. But I guess I'm not alone in feeling the daily pressure of finding a balanced, business professional look that comes off just right to those around me.

The clothes in a young professional woman's closet should not stand in the way of her success. So how do you dress like a modern, young professional woman? What's your office style? Comment below!

PTT: Tell Me About Yourself

Professional Tip Tuesday
Every interview I have been in starts with: "Tell me about yourself." I counted, and I have been in 15+ interviews. It should be a piece of cake by now, but when it comes to that question I usually freeze up and just stammer through the basics.

The answer should be concise and packed with relevant information. It's easy to neglect this question when preparing for an interview - but as with everything, practice makes perfect. After you do your research, keep the tips below in mind and practice, practice, practice!

There are a couple of reasons why this question is so important.
     1. It is the interviewer's first real impression of you as a candidate.
     2. It allows you to summarizes how you are a good fit for the job.

So how can you nail these two points when you are answering this question?

Meet the generic interviewer: Mr. Word-Art

How to rock the first impression.
- Confidence is key.

• AVOID: Between being nervous and trying to stall, it's easy to start with, "Well... I am... Umm, I did.." You can definitely recover from this, but it's not the best start.
• INSTEAD, DO THIS: Start off strong. Presenting yourself with certainty will not only show the interviewer that you are comfortable - but you will also feel more comfortable moving on in the interview.

- Show off your uniqueness.

• AVOID: Giving the generic answer. It's far too easy to tell them the same general overview they can pick up from scanning your resume. 
• INSTEAD, DO THIS: Tell them something interesting that will make you standout. You can still tie in that general info if it makes sense or seems to fit - just don't make it the focus of your answer. "During my time at College X, I got involved with..."

How to prove you are a good fit.

- Highlight the right experiences. 

• AVOID: Uniqueness can be tricky. Telling them about a special certification or an interesting skill is great - but only if it's relevant to the position. Something that is unique about me is that I can wiggle my ears, but that probably isn't going to help me in an interview.
• INSTEAD, DO THIS: If you are applying for a sales position, talk about a time or an experience that makes you a great salesperson. More specifically, pick an example that compliments the company and/or the position. 

- Tie it all together with a nice, little bow. 

• AVOID: Sometimes people lose what they are saying as they are answering interview questions and trail off. It can be difficult to end strong after a monologue about yourself.
• INSTEAD, DO THIS: Connect the dots. The best way to end your answer is to tie it all together. Why does this experience make you a good fit for this company? HOw is everything you just said relevant to the employer? You can even say, "So with my experience with X, I am excited about the opportunity to be here today because of everything your company is doing with Y."

Answering "Tell me about yourself" confidently can give you a great footing for the rest of the interview. How do you make the most of this question? Comment below. 

PTT: Professional Prince Charming

Professional Tip Tuesday
In the book, Ask For It!, Linda Babcock talks about her experience advising graduate students. One day, a group of female students walked into her office and asked why only male graduate students got to teach their own courses.

Linda immediately contacted the dean. She found out the male students asked to teach the course. Female students never did and therefore, never got the opportunity.

Women do not typically call out their hard work or accomplishments. But if we don't advocate for ourselves, who will?

Little Princess Anna Faye

On a slightly unrelated note, I loved fairy tales when I was a little girl. My parents even told me a large birthmark on my right shoulder was the sign of a real princess. So I felt an extra special connection to Snow White and Cinderella growing up.

But with my girl-power-we-can-do-anything attitude, I never fully bought into that whole damsel in distress/Prince Charming thing.

So I really loved Sallie Krawcheck's idea that women work hard and expect their Professional Prince Charming to come to their rescue. In her comparison, she said we expect our prince (manager) to see our efforts and give us the praise and promotions we think we deserve.

Unfortunately there isn't always a happy ending if we don't work for it ourselves. This week's Professional Tip Tuesday is:

How to advocate for all of your handwork. 




Now do not be fooled, friends. I don't have this down yet. But here are 4 tips I have picked up on so far.

1. Be friendly. 

• Think about how often you rant to your friends about how much you did at work. If you are comfortable with your coworkers and supervisors, it will be much easier to say "Hey, look at all of the stuff I did!"

2. Get over that impostor syndrome. 

• Congrats,  you are a rockstar and you got where you are because of all of your hard work and efforts. Your resume, references, and interview proved it. The only one doubting you is you. Don't forget that. 

3. Take note.

• The reason women don't usually say anything is because they either don't feel like it was enough OR they don't want to brag. When I am giving my supervisor the run-down of what I accomplished that day, I realize how helpful I have been and they usually do too.

4. Make it known. 

• Tell your manager about great performance, praises, and your end-goals. Even if your Professional Prince Charming is out there, he/she probably isn't a mindreader. Help them help YOU and tell them what they need to know. 

Be your own Professional Prince Charming and let people know how much you do. It's not the easiest thing, but these tips are a great start. What do you do to advocate for yourself in the office? Comment below! 

PTT: Keeping up with Current Events

Professional Tip Tuesday
This past weekend my roommate, Laura, and I did "all the things". The catchphrase for the weekend captured our attempt to tackle a gigantic list of activities. We went to the movies, baked, cheered for our beloved Iowa Hawkeyes, did the Halloween thing, and rounded out the weekend with popcorn and Hocus Pocus.

All decked out 'Merica style for Halloween festivities.

"All the things" is a big part of weeknights and weekends. A full time job takes up a lot of free time. Especially living in a fun, new city with friends and a bucket list a mile long - I try to take advantage of the little bit of free time.

So to tie this all back to this week's Professional Tip Tuesday.. 

It can be tough to keep up on current events between work and "all the things". Even when I make an effort to catch up on the days happenings, I could spend all day trying to figure out the background info on one topic. And unfortunately, living in a bubble and neglecting the news isn't exactly acceptable.

Contrary to popular belief: No news, isn't always good news. 
But I recently found an email subscription that makes all of this a whole lot easier. In 2012, two girls started TheSkimm from their apartment. This daily e-newsletter is geared towards women and summarizes the ins-and-outs of the big headlines. Their webpage reads:

"We are an online newsletter that simplifies the headlines for the professional who knows enough to know she needs more. Our concept is simple: we read, you Skimm."

How great is that?

the Skimm

Being well-informed is a huge part of becoming a successful young professional. I highly recommend TheSkimm. Not only do I love the idea behind everything they are doing - but I also get to read up on all about the important stuff that's happening in about 5 minutes while I drink my morning coffee.

So keeping up with the news doesn't have to be a chore any longer thanks to TheSkimm! How do you get your daily dose of news headlines in your day? Comment below.

Taco Dip: Potluck Crowd Pleaser

In celebration of Halloween, we had an office potluck today.. Friday + Potluck makes for a great start to the weekend. The only problem was, the plethora of dips, goodies, and treats were at the end of my desk. Needless to say, I overindulged. But who wouldn't?

So this Optimistically Anna Friday post is a little recipe corner edition. Potlucks are great for team bonding. Think back to elementary school - how awesome was snack day? If you can bring a little of that to the 8-5 grind, you are doing something right.

Last night I was all over Pinterest looking for the perfect potluck recipe. I wanted something easy and quick. Our food table would not be close to an outlet, so I had to pick a dish that could sit out and be enjoyed throughout the day.

The answer? Taco dip. And it was a hit. Just in case you have an office potluck coming up, I included the recipe below.

Taco Dip: Potluck Crowd Pleaser 
Ingredients-
1 pkg (8 oz) of Cream Cheese
1 container (16 oz) Lowfat Sour Cream
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
Shreaded or Chopped Lettuce
Shredded Cheese
Pico
Black Olives

Directions-
1. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream, and taco seasoning
2. Spread mixture on a platter or casserole dish.
3. Layer the lettuce, pico, shredded cheese, black olives
4. Put in the fridge and serve when ready

That was a fun recipe for my first contribution at the office potluck. My cooking skills aren't exactly up to par quite yet. I would say cooking can be almost as big of a learning curve as anything else in your early 20s.

But let me tell ya, office potlucks can be a huge ego boost when everyone oos and ahhs over your taco dip! So What are your go-to potluck recipes?

PTT: Talented Traveling Basics

Professional Tip Tuesday
I have returned! And I think it's safe to say my guest writer stole the show. He's good, isn't he? Britt is a sports guru and proud of it. I could not have picked a better person to fill you in on sports and office talk.

Scoping out the Atlantic City Boardwalk after my shifts.

Despite what Britt thought, I was not posted up at the casinos all week. I was working long hours at a client site and didn't even see the boardwalk until my last day in Atlantic City. I did bet $1 on the slots. And that money was gone in less than 10 seconds.

My trip was filled with PTT potentials. But for this week's Professional Tip Tuesday, I thought I would start off simply with:

Talented Traveling Basics.

Utilizing all of the rewards programs and making the most of your time while traveling is truly a talent. I cannot say I am there yet. But with the first trip under my belt, and a few tips from people that have been on many business trips, I wanted to share the travel basics that I have picked up thus far. As someone that will be doing quite a bit of travel for business, below are the three big tips I took away from my first big trip!

1. Reap the rewards.

• Almost all hotels, airlines, and rental car agencies have rewards programs. If you know you will be a frequent traveler, join them! It's free and easy to sign up. 
• You will probably notice upgrades in your reservations within your first couple of trips. I talked with someone that took a first-class trip to Hawaii with his wife for 10 days - all through rewards points that he gained during his business trips.

2. Pack light. 

• I would suggest carry-on whenever possible! The horror stories about lost luggage sound terrible and not worth it.
• Plus you will save yourself a lot of time by not checking a bag or having to wait at baggage claim after you get off your flight. 

3. There's an app for that. 

• Most airlines, rental cars, and hotels probably have some sort of an app for your smart phone. You can enter your rewards number (see tip #1) and all of your booked travel info will download to your phone.
• I downloaded the Delta app and was able to 'check-in' 24 hours before my flight and access my ticket straight from my phone. 

Those were the big three tips I picked up this time around! I hope to gather a lot more go-to travel tips in my future business adventures. How do you make the most of your business travel? Any pro tips to make it easier on yourself? Comment below!

PTT: Water Cooler Sports Talk (Special Edition!)

Professional Tip Tuesday

Hello my fellow Optimistically Anna readers!

This is Anna's sports-loving and Optimistically Anna-loving boyfriend, Britt. I am honored to be a guest writer for this week's Professional Tip Tuesday.

I'm sure many of you are wondering, "Where is Optimistically Anna and why isn't she writing the PTT this week?" There are two reasons for Anna's "bye week" (sports reference - you should know what this means after reading and acting upon this blog post).

1. Anna is in Atlantic City on business (or so she tells me - I'm still convinced she's shooting craps and pulling slot handles, but we'll give her the benefit of the doubt since this is her blog after all). 
2. Anna is not as "sports-inclined" as I am. I would maybe use different verbiage, but that's her nice way of stating her lack of sports knowledge. And as you can tell by the title, this PTT is about sports knowledge and how it connects to the workplace! 

Let me begin with a scenario: 

You are walking back to your desk from lunch when you pass a co-worker who asks you, "what are you doing for the game tonight!?" Oblivious to any large sporting event happening that night, you respond, "What game?" Big mistake. Unbeknownst to you, your hometown team has a very important game that night - a game that could be a prime event for you to meet with your co-workers to watch. 

Well, fellow Optimistically Anna readers, this happened to our Optimistic friend several weeks ago. So hopefully this PTT will help you avoid embarrassing sports situations like that one.

General sports knowledge.
Next time you're at lunch with some bros that start talking about that awesome game last night, you won't feel uncomfortable or bored.

• When you get a chance to butt in, you can say, "I couldn't believe that James Shields had 11 strikeouts in 6 innings last night. His curve balls were buckling the knees of the White Sox players all night!" 
• Okay, so you don't need to pay attention to the games that closely, but knowing who James Shields is or what city the White Sox are from would be a good start. 

Regarding college sports. 

If your company is anything like mine, the employees have a lot of pride in their alma-mater. Flags of universities hang above desks, there is a donning of school colors on Fridays, and general smack talk about rival schools 

• A few beginner tips when it comes to college sports - know what conference the nearby universities compete in, who their largest rivals are, and which of your co-workers went to rival schools. 
• You find out a lot about a person based on how they react to smack talk. 

General rules of majors sports. 

I started my career a few months ago and I have already been to two different professional sporting events with co-workers. 

• Understanding the basics of live sports events will make you feel in-the-loop. You don't want to be that person asking, "Why are they punting?" When it's 4th-and-27. 
• If you're not up to the task of learning more complicated games like football, follow a tip from Anna - cheer when the crowd cheers, boo when the crowd boos, and enjoy some good people watching while you're a the game. Just kidding, Anna. :) Kind of. 

Participate in Fantasy Football and March Madness.

• These competitions provide an opportunity for you to have something in common with your co-workers. Maybe your boss isn't very personable, but he's a big fantasy football guy. Competing against him in a fantasy football league could help you have more frequent conversations with him. 
• Now you won't have to hide in your cubicle on Monday mornings as your neighbors talk about how their fantasy teams did. You can contribute to the conversation! The same goes for March Madness. **Pro tip: Knowing the major teams and star players will get you far in your departments annual bracket challenge.

So what's the next step?

-Go to www.espn.com and research your home teams! Check out their win-loss record for the current and past season. Learn the names of their best players. It's never to early to start preparing for fantasy football or march madness. 

I hope those of you who don't associate as being "sports-inclined" found this post to be insightful. Maybe I'll guest write again sometime if Anna heads to Vegas for another 'business trip'. 

What school is your favorite to talk smack about to co-workers? Any good stories about fantasy football or March Madness? Comment below!

PTT: Attending a Company Conference

Professional Tip Tuesday

The essentials.

Today I am attending my first real business outing. My company has a HUGE annual conference that includes associates, leadership, and business partners. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the industry and the opportunities I have within my company.

A conference can be so much more than just a chance to get away from your desk and your day-to-day duties (Although, that's a great plus too!).

This Professional Tip Tuesday is how to make the most of this awesome experience! 





Here are 4 big ways to take advantage of a work related conference.
1. GO! 
- Seems obvious doesn't it? But it's easy to get caught up in your work and decide not to attend. This could be a major advantage for career development and future promotions. If your company is hosting or sending you to a conference - it will be in your best interest to check it out!

2. Pick the agenda. 
- If there are break out sessions - pick the ones that are most relevant to you! That doesn't always mean the sessions that apply to your current job. Pick the courses that interest you and what you'd like to do with your career.


3. Take it in. 
- Write down all you can. The name and contact info of the speakers, the main points of the sessions, and the resources they cite to learn more. Especially if you will be at the conference all day long, it will be hard to remember all that you hear. All of these very important people aren't getting together for nothin'. Whatever you are listening to could be the next big thing!

4. Network. 
- Take advantage of breaks throughout the day and lunchtime conversations. You never know who you are sitting next to or how they can help you in the future. Bring business cards and take some notes on the people you meet. Reach out to them after it's over (the same way you would at a Career Fair). They can be great resources on your next project or maybe even during a future career move!

We've all probably attended conferences. Whether it's for an organization or a job, they can be one of the best ways to connect to people that will help you with your career. How do you make the most of conferences? Comment below!

Homecoming Happiness

This past weekend, I went back to Iowa City for Homecoming. And I finally understand. When I was in college, homecoming just seemed like a typical weekend with a few extra festivities.

But this weekend, the beauty of Homecoming really clicked. I was a happy girl surrounded by all of my college friends. It was the perfect excuse for everyone to make the trip back and celebrate the alma mater we all called home for the past 4 years. 

We were a sappy bunch. And after an incredible weekend, we're in the market for the next mass job opening in an awesome city so we can happily spend the rest of our lives together. But until then, I guess we'll just have to keep the truest meaning of 'home-coming' as an every year tradition :)

PTT: Pro Tips for Resume Writing

Professional Tip Tuesday

In the spirit of Career Fairs and job hunting season, I wanted to share this incredible infographic I found on Pinterest. 

10 Easy Steps to a Better Resume.

I have a love / hate relationship with resume writing. It is not an easy task. But seeing the finished product always brings a feeling of accomplishment. 

The average employer will spend about 30 second skimming your resume.. 30 seconds! That's a short amount of time for 1 page with lots of print to stand out in a stack. The infographic posted below does a great job of breaking down the important elements of a resume to make your experiences shine!

Originally posted by www.yellowlinelabs.com

One of the hardest, but most important tips Yellow Line Labs calls out is your approach. Telling the company how your skills and abilities will benefit them is key. If you can show them that you will add value to their mission, their organization, and their team - you will be a far better candidate for it.

So since resumes can be so tricky - my question for you is: How do you jazz up your resume and make it stand out? Comment below to share your thoughts! 

PTT: How to Rock the Career Fair

Professional Tip Tuesday
This time, last year, I was probably freaking out a little bit. The career fair was quickly approaching and all of a sudden everything was starting to feel real. Graduation was 7 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days away. And I still had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up. 

Oh, the game of life.

Walking into that career fair for the first time was terrifying and exciting. There were rows and rows filled with so many companies. Employers from all across the country were right in front of me. And I had no idea where life was going to take me.

Career fairs can be an awesome way to see your options, network, and open some doors. It's not very often you get a sea of employers who are hiring all in the same place. With all of that in mind, this week's Professional Tip Tuesday is:

How to rock the career fair. 

As you prepare for the fair, here are some questions to think about: 

1. How should you prepare?

• Research! If you know a little something, it will for sure set you apart from the masses.
• Use that amazing source we all have access to - the internet! 
• Spend 15 minutes and look up at least 5 companies that you know will be at the career fair and write down 2 facts about each of them. You won't regret it. 
• Be ready. Get all of your stuff together in advance. 
• Finalize your resume and have someone look it over. Print 5+ copies (depending on how ambitious you are feeling!). 
• Use a plain folder or padfolio to keep your resumes from getting all crinkled. Bring a piece of paper to take some notes and a pen.

2. How do you talk to employers?

• Be confident. Flash a big smile, go for the handshake if it seems appropriate, and say something super original like...
• "Hi, my name is Anna. I am graduating this May and I am looking for a full time job." 
• The research will help. But even if you see a company there you have never heard of, don't be afraid to wing it. Also, flattery will get you far.
• i.e. "Hi, my name is Anna. I am graduating this May and I am looking for a full time job. [Insert company name] looks like an awesome place to work.. can you tell me a little bit about it?" 
• Be open minded. Don't pass up an employer just because you don't think it's for you. Last year, I got a free trip to Texas just to interview for a company I almost didn't stop to talk to.

  

  My first 'business trip' flying in style into DFW International Airport.

3. How can you follow up? 

• Following up can be one of the most important parts. It's how you develop a network and show initiative. 
• Immediately after you leave a company's booth, take down some notes about what you talked about. Try and be as specific as possible. 
• After the fair, email the person or send them a message on LinkedIn. Use the notes you took to make it feel personal! 
• i.e. "Hi Susie, It was nice to meet you today. It was great to hear how much you like x about your job. I would love to learn more about your role and the company. What next steps are there for applying? Thanks for your time, -Anna"

Those are 3 big things that can help you make the most out of the career fair! Have you attended a career fair before? What are your go-to tips for talking to employers? Comment below.

And in case you were wondering.. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. But I think exploration is what your twenties are for :)

PTT: Strengthen Your Career

Professional Tip Tuesday

My sophomore year of college, I was a Resident Assistant in the biggest dorm at the university. It was a lot of fun - but for an entire year I lived and worked in the same building as the 21 other people that made up my staff. And as you can probably imagine, with a group that size we had just about every type of personality.

In the spirit of team building, we had training on ice breakers, fighting fictitious fires, and learning about our strengths.

I loved it all. I couldn't get enough of it.  And the strengths part really hit home for me. Have you ever taken a personality assessment? We took one called StrengthsQuest that gives you your "Top 5". My Top 5 Strengths were: Empathy, Communication, Harmony, Positivity, and WOO (Winning Others Over). 

Today's Professional Tip Tuesday is:

How to take advantage of your strengths in your career.

If you ever get the opportunity through an organization or work to take a personality assessment - do it! They can be sort of silly but it's also kind of fun to read your results.

Below are my 3 tips to using your strengths to further you career:

1. Know what you're working with. 

• Whether you have taken a personality assessment or not, even just thinking through your attributes can be a really awesome way to gain perspective on your personal style. 
• Being aware of what you're good at will help you understand what value you add to a team. 

2. Play to your strengths. 

• It's not just about recognizing those strengths, it's about knowing how to use them. Based on my Top 5, I am a relational girl. That's where my skills really come in handy. 
• When you start thinking about the different skills each person is contributing, it can help you to figure out where you fit in.

A bunch of characters that made up an awesome team.

3. Embrace 'em. 

• Take pride in what you have to offer. Help others see what you are bringing to the table!
• It can also be to your advantage to bring them up during a job interview. By saying, "My strengths are X", you're not only pointing out your best features - but you are also telling them that you are confident and self-aware. 

So those are my big 3 tips. How have you used your strengths to your advantage? Comment below!

PTT: Blurred Lines

Professional Tip Tuesday
Over the weekend, my sweet boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary. He got me an awesome old-school Raleigh bicycle - now we are ready to explore Kansas City in style!

A happy girl with a new set of wheels!

Aside from that, I happened to read a HuffPost article that said: 22% of Americans meet their significant other in the workplace and 84% of millennials are totally okay with that.

           
Britt and I must be part of that 84%. We met when we worked for the orientation program at our university and now we both work together at the same company as post-grads! Just call us Jim and Pam. 

This week's Professional Tip Tuesday is inspired by my weekend activities and my boyfriend's love for The Office.

Summer 2011 - Just a couple of Orientation Hawkeye Guides.

Jim and Pam's office DOs and DON'Ts.

DO... 

• DO try and separate yourselves professionally. - As an admin and a sales guy, Jim and Pam can definitely attest to this one. 
• It will be better for your relationship and your career if you are working in two different parts of the company. 
• Why? You won't be directly competing with each other. This will save you from tension at the workplace and with your relationship.
• DO support each other's dreams and career goals. - Take note, boys. Jim encouraging Pam to take art classes is sweet as can be.
• Do what you can to help each other succeed. Leverage each other's skills and knowledge to get where you want to be in your career.
• Why? There is nothing better than having someone on your side - especially when they know the ins and outs of the workplace.

DON'T...

• DON'T be inseparable. - Didn't Jim and Pam seem a little nutso with those mini-bluetooths?
• It is nice to be able to chat occasionally during the workday, but keep it to a minimum. 
• Why? Even if you are getting all of your work done - it won't look good if your coworkers, or your manager for that matter, catch you chatting with your significant other all day. ...Even if your manager is Michael Scott.
• DON'T let your relationship woes show at work. - While Michael Scott isn't afraid to pry, Jim and Pam do a little too much oversharing at times too. 
• It doesn't matter if it's a coworker that is getting a little nosy, or if you are just feeling a little extra chatty - do not divulge.
• Why? Your co-workers are not always looking out for the best interest of your relationship (or your career). Plus, in the heat of the moment you might say something you don't actually mean. And it makes it even more awkward that they work with your significant other also.

There you have it, some office relationship DO's and DON'T's from Jim and Pam.

With the significant number of millennials okay with dating a co-worker, I was surprised to find there weren't many articles on the subject. The only search results were about "office flings". It will be interesting to see what research and studies will come out in the future on this topic.

Comment below with your thoughts on office relationships. Any "Do's" and "Don'ts" of your own? 

PTT: Presenting like a Professional [Woman]

Professional Tip Tuesday
My roommate told me this morning a radio host referred to today as: "National Don't Want to Go Back to Work Day". Man, oh, man I couldn't agree more. My first 'paid' holiday and I still felt like I could have used an extra day!

Friday after work, I made a split second decision to go back to Iowa City for the home opener football game. As much as I love Kansas City, it was fantastic to recognize some faces and be in a familiar place for a bit.

A holiday weekend spent with good friends and cheering on the Hawkeyes.

And now, I am in my last week of training at work - hallelujah! But before I get there.. I have a big presentation coming up on Thursday. So today's Professional Tip Tuesday is: 

Presenting like a professional [woman]!

This post specifically goes out to the ladies. We tend to have a different speaking style than men. The following 4 tips are things to be aware of when presenting. 

1.Watch out for that upspeak? (The question mark is ironic...)

• Occasionally girls aren't quite as confident in the words we're speaking and we phrase our sentences as questions. But what does that do? It totally discredits everything we have said. That's no good.

• You are presenting on the topic for a reason. You know your stuff. So show it with a strong, confident ending to your sentences!

2. Use punctuation. Don't interrupt yourself.

• I didn't even know it, but this describes exactly what I do ALL the time. Do you ever find yourself adding on ands and buts and howevers like they are going out of style? Compound sentences are another big thing we do when we're feeling unsure. 
• Tara Sophia Mohr explains it perfectly in her article (linked here): "When we don't feel we have the right to take up space in a meeting or conversation, or when we are nervous, we tend to rush, and never leave a moment without words". 

3. Be an expert. Know it and practice it. 

• The key to successfully do 1 and 2 is to actually be sure of what you are talking about. If you are comfortable with the content, the rest will come way more naturally. 
• And here's the secret - it's ok if you don't know everything! The audience will be oblivious as long as you can say most of it with confidence. 
• **Bonus tip: If someone in the audience asks you something you are unsure of, deflect the question with something like: "I want to make sure I give you the right answer so let me check up on that and get back to you." You will still sound like you know it all. And as long as you follow up with that person, your credibility is saved.

My friends and I didn't know everything about the university when we worked for orientation.
But we definitely had to be comfortable with the material when presenting to students!

4. Embrace your personality! Our warm tones can set us apart.

• The more I read about women in the workplace - the more excited I get. We have a special niche skill that makes us an incredible value to any team. 
• Especially in the context of tips 1, 2, and 3 - an empathetic but confident tone can make for one killer presentation!

There you go. That's my 4 big tips on a successful presentation. These are all things I am learning to embrace slow but sure. All of these tips will do wonders if you can get them down. 

Men tend to naturally speak more matter-of-factly than women. So for this week's questions: Whether you are a man or a woman - what's your trick to sounding like you know your stuff? What are your top presentation tips? Comment below! I would love to hear your advice since my big speech is coming up on Thursday :)

Modern Day Manners

I have always been a huge manners person. And in my experience so far, I would say politeness will get you far. People love to be appreciated. I think my good etiquette savviness comes from my lovely grandmother. She is someone I would describe as graceful in every sense of the word.

My wonderful grandparents.

But as a 22-year-old "adult", proper etiquette can get a little tricky. So when I stumbled across The Grown Up Guide to Modern Manners on Pinterest this evening, I had to share it! 

Check it out and let me know what you think. The author mentions the proper protocol for tips, cell phones, weddings, and parties. All good things for a young professional to brush up on! 

What are your go-to "modern" manners? Comment below! 

PTT: Fake It 'Til You Become It!

Professional Tip Tuesday
As a part of my Lazy Sunday afternoon, I decided to indulge in a little couch time. Unfortunately, I recently finished my latest television show binge on Netflix.

...On that subject, I have decided Netflix is best compared to my closet. I have so many clothes, yet I feel like I never have anything to wear. And similarly, there are so many options on Netflix, yet I can't ever find anything to watch.

But on this particular day, my "Top 10 for Anna"on Netflix suggested I check out "Ted Talks: Life Hacks". I love TED Talks! So I clicked on it.

And now all of my Top 10 are TED Talks.

Today's Professional Tip Tuesday is a little gem I found thanks to that very suggestion. The very first video that played was a 20 minute presentation by Amy Cuddy called: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are.

In her presentation, Cuddy talks how Power Dynamics are conveyed in nonverbal communication. Humans (and animals) express their power and dominance through their nonverbals.

Let's break it down:

• Feeling confident and powerful? This person tends to spread out and their nonverbals might be more exaggerated.
• Feeling insecure or nervous? This person's nonverbals tend to be small and enclosed, taking up very little space.

I don't think these two different power dynamics are mutually exclusive. I can think of scenarios where I have played both roles. Around my friends, I can be as animated as a cartoon character. But in classes I wasn't comfortable in, I might curl up in my desk and stay quiet.

The important part of all of this is Cuddy's findings. Through research she realized, the way you act out these power dynamics will influence the way you feel. She says, you can Fake it Until You Make It! ...Sound familiar? :)

Amy Cuddy says, "Stand like Super Woman"
Photo Credit: Poptech Flickr

If you want to appear confident in a job interview, when presenting a big idea in a meeting, or even just conversing in the break room - mimic the nonverbals of a confident person. Stand up straight, take up more space, and be strong! Cuddy says, "Don't just fake it til you make it. Fake it until you become it!"

So watch that TED Talk (linked above) and if you're still interested in this topic (like I totally am!) read this article from Cuddy on Wired.com.
What characteristics do you notice in people that appear more confident? Comment below!

Lazy Sundays

In college, Sundays were the worst. Instead of relaxing and enjoying the last day of the weekend - students everywhere are stressed about all the homework they should have done.

But being out of school, I can finally appreciate this beautiful day.

And this was a big weekend - my roommate and I have been in the process of making our own wine for weeks. ..I keep getting asked if we stomped grapes. Hah! No way. But I immediately think of this I Love Lucy episode when I hear that:

"Lucy's Italian Movie" Photo Credit: www.lucyfan.com

Our green apple riesling was just a kit - we just dumped the ingredients into a 6-gallon carboy, stored it for 5 weeks, and let the wine do it's thing! The hardest part of our job was drinking/collecting 30 bottles to bottle it.

But alas, yesterday was the day! We had a little get together with homemade pizza, wine, and brownies.. Can life get any better than that?

That was my weekend excitement! And after bottling (and sampling our fair share) today is an extra lazy Sunday :) 

So how do you appreciate your Sundays? Time by the pool, a Netflix binge, or maybe lounging on the couch? Those are all great options if you ask me! 

PTT: Think about the PLOT

Professional Tip Tuesday:

How do you PLOT your words to effectively communicate?

Yesterday during training at work we had a "Consultative Partnering" session. It was an workshop all about effective communication - my bread and butter. I loved it! One of the things we learned about was PLOT.. which is what I want to offer up today for a Professional Tip Tuesday.

PLOT is all about knowing your audience and making your communication efforts count. In my internship last year, someone described the role of a communicator as an interpreter. Basically, anyone utilizing their communication skills is trying to convey an idea from one person to another.

I don't know about you, but interpreter makes a lot more sense to me when I think about the purpose of communication. It's not necessarily all about leveraging my personal communication style to woo the person receiving the message. It is more about understanding how to cater that message and help the receiver make sense of it. 

And voila! Along comes the PLOT idea: A simple acronym that helps you figure out how to best deliver a message to a particular person. As you look at the example below, think about someone you know well and fill in their traits. Here is the breakdown:

PLOT: 

• P - Personality 
• How would you describe the person and their personality?
• i.e. Pragmatic and always multi-tasking
• L - Language 
• How does the person communicate? 
• i.e. Short and to the point
• O - Opinion or Frame of Reference
• How do they generally seem to view life?
• i.e. Realistic
• T - Task 
• How do they approach a task?
• i.e. Very structured, step-by-step, lots of details

The whole idea with PLOT is that it gives you the opportunity to quickly assess what your audience needs. It can make a world of difference when you are deciding how to deliver a message. 

For example, I am generally a relational gal. My communication style is full of rapport. But if I were talking to the person I used as an example above, they may hate that fluff. By mapping out their PLOT, I figured out I had better use more succinct and to the point communication with that person. 

If I were to ask this person to do something, I would want to think about the PLOT and how it comes into play. I would not spend as much time on the big picture - I would focus more on the details and the importance of their particular part. I would explain to them exactly what I need them to do and the significance to the project. 

So that is my example of PLOT. Use this next time you are trying to communicate an idea! Whether it's your roommate or a coworker, PLOT can help you establish a communication style that works on the individual level. 

It's also really interesting to PLOT yourself! It helps you breakdown your communication style in a whole new way. So what's yours? Comment below and tell me about it. 

PTT: An Open Forum on Work-Life Balance

My mom has a teenager and a postgrad.
The amount she does in a day is impressive.

Professional Tip Tuesday: 

Work-life balance is a huge topic right now. Especially for women because of all that ends up falling on their plates!

As a girl that has no responsibilities other than my job and my social calendar, this post is in honor of all those workin' mamas out there! I have gained an incredible amount of respect for all you do since I started my 40+ hours a week.

How my dear mother worked a full-time job, shopped for groceries, ran errands, and appeased the wants and wishes of two needy daughters - I don't know. She's a miracle worker, that's for sure.

Today's Professional Tip Tuesday short and sweet. I am doing it a little differently because I want to do some more research before I offer up any particular advice. But the topic is:

How to take control of your workday and embracing your personal time.

This is something I find really interesting. I will definitely post more on it soon. For now I just wanted to share this article posted on Inc.com that got me thinking about the subject. It's called "How to Work Less and Do More" and it's even written from the perspective of a female CEO!

It reminded me that "work-life balance" is a buzzword in our culture and we are figuring out what it all means slowly but surely. I am looking forward to seeing what research and studies comes out of this topic. How are we going to create that sense of balance? How do we get the most out of work and enjoy our personal lives?

This article is a quick read and is good for anyone - not just the ladies out there. The takeaway is: don't let other people run your workday! For example, I love the idea of only checking your email 2-3 times to try and keep other people from eating up your productivity. With emails coming at you nonstop, it's so easy for that to happen!

I wanted to open this week up to you all.. How do you best manage your daily tasks and still take advantage of personal time? Comment below with any feedback you have.

Speaking on behalf of my mom - I'd say she manages a busy workday with a positive attitude and at least one pot of coffee :) 

PTT: Email Hoarding

Professional Tip Tuesday

Let's hope it never gets this bad.
Photo Credit: www.aetv.com/hoarders

True confessions: I am a hoarder.. to the point that I am actually sort of surprised that A&E hasn't picked up my story yet. But then again, a special on email hoarding may not be top rated episode.

That's right, I am an email hoarder. And it becomes so overwhelming, that it just gets worse and worse.

One of my old email accounts has given up on me. It has completely stopped counting the number of emails in my inbox. It just says 1K+ where a number should appear. But to be fair, that is where I send all my promotional emails and I check it 3-4 times a year max.

Anyhow, I am working really hard to stop that unavoidable email clutter in my new personal email and work email inbox. But it's not an easy task! It seems like you really have to be on top of your game.. and that's not a guarantee. I still end up spending 15-20 minutes every few weeks deleting and filling old emails.

Today's Professional Tip Tuesday is for those of you out there that have more emails cluttering your inbox than hours in a day.

The  4 best tips for managing a case of email inbox clutter.

1. Make Folders

• Any organizational show I have ever watched have offered the same words of wisdom: There should be a place for everything! Belong to a club or an organization? Mom emailing you with family pics? Keeping in touch with your old manager? Make folders for easy access and a clean inbox. 
• Some examples of folders that help me keep my stuff organized - "Family", "Friends", and "Network". They can be even more specific than that too. If you really want to get fancy you can even have folders inside of folders!
• **A little bonus tip: Make sure you are saving those emails that are complimenting you and your work in a special folder. Those will come in handy when it's your annual review!

2. Create Rules! ..and use the folders! 

• This is fantastic thing that is a total inbox saver. In Outlook you can right click an email and "Create Rule". From three you can direct emails from a particular person or containing a certain subject line to go into the correct folder. 
• It will ask if you would like to "Run this task now.." Clicking this box will automatically move them into the indicated folders which makes your job even easier! 
• There are similar features in other email domains too. In gmail there are tags - but so far those haven't been quite as user friendly for me. 

3. Cut the ties - completely unsubscribe!

• Unsubscribing always seems like such a hassle. BUT do you know what is even more of a hassle? Receiving more junk email than I can handle. 
• Set aside 15 minutes from your day and unsubscribe from all those silly promotional emails you don't really care about. It will be so worth it in the end!

4. If you read it, delete it! 

• This is not a catchall rule. That's why it is number 4 on this list of 4 tips. Those folders will be your savior for keeping track of those important emails. But for those emails you deem unimportant - just click delete!
• Here's an example of the day in the life of an email hoarder: 
• I subscribe to HuffPost Women daily emails. I love the stories! I am infamous for not deleting them after I read it. For some reason I always think I might want to go back and read it again.. but will I? No. So I think it's safe to hit the delete button. 

Those are my quick and easy tips for cleaning out that inbox. What are your ideas for staying organized? Comment below! 

PPT: Thinking About Retirement

Photo Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68751915@N05/6736154311/

Professional Tip Tuesday

First off, I really do like my company. However, after a whole 8 days on the job.. it's time I start thinking about retirement. So today's Professional Tip Tuesday:

Understanding 401k basics.

Figuring out a 401k plan is one heck of a beast. The truth is, I am not sure I even understand the surface of it all yet. But after some digging, I wanted to pass along some of the important info I found. This is a big topic, so I will share more on this in the future too.

Here are the big 3 factors to focus on with a 401k plan: 

1) Take it for all it is worth. 

• A good company plan will match a percentage of what you designate to your 401k. Read the fine print carefully. 
• It might read something like: "Company will match 3% of up to 6% of your income." - 
• Translation: "You can put in up to 6% of your salary and the company will match a portion of that!" 
• If you can afford it, give that full 6 percent so you can take full advantage of the company's matching policy. We are used to having a small income in college. So subtracting that small percentage out of our bi-weekly paycheck will barely phase us. Plus, this will make it so you have a lower taxable income which is just one more positive to add to the list! 

2) Do not just pick the default plan. 

• The list of the 401k plan's might be kind of overwhelming. But make sure you are checking into that default plan so you know what is right for you. Some of those autopilot plans are too good to be true! 
• Google the default option. Take a look at it's past, current, and future performance to get a good idea of what you can expect. 

3) Do MORE research.

• Something to especially look out for when picking your 401k investments are the fees. Especially with those general mutual funds - many fees are typically between .5-2% of what you are investing. That adds up quick and just loses you money. 
• A little hidden gem I found - Index Mutual Funds. There are less fees associated with Index Funds and there is less turnover. So you often will get more for your money. Here is an article on U.S. News that explains more about why this is something worth looking into! 
• BUT make sure to search your options. Like I said, just type the stocks, mutual funds, and index funds into Google and you will find a wide array of results. This will help you make a better judgment on how different investments might do over time. 

So that is what I have found so far. I think I am going to "Choose my own plan" which is an option with my 401k and split my contribution between a few different options. What experience and tips do you have for picking the best 401k plan? Comment below and that might drive the future posts on this topic! 

PTT: First Week Success

Professional Tip Tuesday

I made it through the first day.. and it wasn't too bad! If the 'real world' really consists of an occasional free lunch, more company goodies, and hanging out with your peers - I think I will be just fine. It also doesn't hurt that my start date was a Thursday. There is no better way to ease into the 8-5 grind then with a two-day work week! 

The first two days were just orientation for me. We learned about the company's history, the culture, and received our laptops (score!). But now it's time to think about how to successfully rock the first full week! So this week's Professional Tip Tuesday -


How to make the most of the first week of a new job. 

 Introduce yourself - Just go for it!

• As a newbie, you have the perfect intro! i.e. "Hi! My name is Anna. I just started last Thursday. How's it going?" 
• Whenever you get the chance, introduce yourself to people in other departments and different positions. Not only is it helpful to have a better idea of what happens across the company, but it is also beneficial for when you want to further develop your career.

After you make that initial connection - connect! Let the networking begin.

• Following a quality convo with a colleague, add them on your company's intranet site or on LinkedIn. If you can, include a short message just reminding them of something you talked about. "It was great meeting you today in the break room! Looking forward to working with you at Company!"

Ask LOTS of questions - now is the time!

• Take advantage of the fact that you are new and everyone is expecting you to have questions. You are introduced to so many great people and resources as you are training for your new position. And that comes with a lot of questions. But keep 'em coming.. The people training you want you to succeed!

These are three of the biggies for me so far.. but it's only Tuesday! I still have three more days in my work week. What tips do you have for a successful first week and first impression as a newbie? Comment with your ideas!