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Networking is critical to business successNovember 7

Are you an effective networker?  Networking is the process of connecting with people who share something similar such as living in the same city, being in the same profession or graduating from the same Alma Mater.  Having a strong network is vital to early-career professionals who aspire to climb the corporate ladder.  According to Be a Better Networker by Senior Writer Anne Fisher at Fortune Magazine, “When times get tough, you need a big, strong network of professional contacts– people you can call on, and who know they can call on you, for advice, information, referrals, and introductions.”

Networking isn’t easy for everyone.  Some people are energized by networking, while others prefer to keep to themselves.  If you are not sure where you may fall, think about your preference when traveling.  Do you like to talk to people in airports and on the airplane?  Do you prefer to keep to yourself? I love to network but on an airplane, I like to keep to myself.  Here’s another example: At conferences, do you stay in your own circle

10 Ways To Know If You’ve Got A Healthy Professional NetworkOctober 20

Whenever the economy gets shaky, it’s a good idea to revisit the makeup of your professional network. This is true for two reasons. First, you might get canned. Down economic times lead lots of companies to lay people off, so you better be ready. Second, you might get promoted. As the underperformers get cut loose, you may have an opportunity to take a new role with expanded responsibility. So again, you better be ready. Here’s how to know if your professional network is ready to help you.

1. Is someone in my network an executive?

It is not a matter of what you know; it is a matter of who you know. You’ll never get to the top unless you know people at the top. It is best to have an executive in your personal network because then you have an opportunity to really learn from their experience. However, having an exec as part of your professional network is a good place to start.

2. Have I built a relationship with someone from another company or industry in the last 30 days?

A healthy professional network is one that is continuously growing and evolving. If you are in sales, you meet new people all the time so this should be easy. However, sales is the exception. Most jobs have you insulated and you see the same people every day. This is a recipe for stagnation. Go to events. Meet your friends’ frie

5 Ways the Economic Downturn Could Help YouOctober 15

As much over-hyped doom and gloom as there is in the blogosphere and the mainstream media right now, I would like to highlight a few examples of a silver lining in the dark storm cloud that is our current bear market.  Generation Y needs to stay positive, as we always do, and focus on these areas.

1.  More Shares for Your 401k Dollar.  Yes, I realize your 401k has most likely taken a hit but, as young employee what really matters is whether you can make shrewd investments now and get more value for your dollar that will payoff later.  Right now, most stocks that your are investing in via your 401k (unless the Democrats decide to end the 401k program) are at bargain basement prices.  Buy low, sell high.

2. The Opportunity to Learn From the Full Business Cycle. Effective employees and managers can work and flourish through the good times and the bad but, in order to do so they need to experience them both.  A manager of mine likes to use the example of a cyclical business that ebbs and flows with new i

What’s in a name? Thoughts on name changing for young professional womenSeptember 19

There’s a famous question made popular by William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name?” As a young professional  woman whose wedding date is approaching, I have been thinking a lot about names.  “Should I change my last name” is a question that many young professional women ask themselves.

Personal Background

I’m getting married this New Year’s Eve.  For nearly 28 years, I have been known as “Jennifer Robinson.”  This is my identity.  On a personal note, my father died when I was very young, so I am the last person in my family with the last name Robinson.  I’ve been working for my employer since 2005.  Many people know me as Jennifer Robinson.  I’m also a little torn because I want to be respectful of my future husband and having his last name is a great tribute to the commitment of our marriage.  He works in the TV business, so he is used to the idea of women using their maiden name professionally, while legally changing it to their new last names. 

Women have many choices on what to be called after they are married:

- Take your husband’s name! Taking the name of your husband is the most common marriage tradition.  Many couples feel that adopting your husband’s name is respectful and traditional.  However, many modern women don’t feel comfortable with this because they feel like this practice is outdated and they are not the “property” of their husbands.  Some people, like me, feel that marriage is

Real Life 101: Ten Things You Must Do After CollegeSeptember 8

I got a lot of good advice growing up. I was lucky because I had a financial planner in the family, and I had a god circle of influence. I meet a lot of people now who just have no idea what they should be doing with their time and money to stay on track in the “real world”. So if I had to boil it down to ten things, here’s what I’d say:

1. Start a Roth IRA for retirement.

This is the best deal for young professionals. It is a retirement account that you essentially put cash into (i.e. you’ve already paid tax on it). This is great because it means the money grows tax-free and you also don’t have to pay tax when you take it out (unless you take it out early). It is nice to have your own account that you will always be putting money into, even if you are changing jobs. I went for a whole year without a 401(k), but I kept pumping money into my Roth IRA. Always remember the time value of money; the money you save in your 20s grows longer and faster. Don’t wait until you’re 30 to start saving. That’s just stupid. Even if it is just $100 per month, do it. If you want to see the payoff, check out this Roth IRA calculator: