Despite what anyone thinks, effective businesses aren't run as a democracy. In order to survive companies need to be nimble and have the ability to pivot in an instant. That means there needs to be a decision maker - someone who assesses a wide range of input and takes action.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. On this episode we address hierarchy at work. Tune in if you want to know why work isn't a democracy...

Key Takeaways

• There is a difference between a vote and input.
• Remember, just because you gave input that doesn't mean it will be put into action in the company.
• If you take forever to make a decision you're never going to go anywhere
• When a decision is made, provide context around it.

Are you a Slack master? Yes? So you know about the /giphy tool? And that you can edit your last message? Chances are that even if you're well versed in Slack there are messaging habits that can really annoy your coworkers.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn what to do if your company uses Slack...

Key Takeaways

• You need to know the culture of the platform in order to use it well.
• If you have critical info for the day, it goes in an email. If you have general industry information, it could be better to stick that in a Slack channel.
• Slack direct messages are great for alerting people of last minute changes.
• One thought, one return
• Make sure you know who's in your Slack channel.
• If the conversation doesn't need to be heard by your coworkers, hit up Slack.
• If you want to share documents and not clog up your email, use Slack.
• Slack channels are another great communication tool for teams prepping for an event.
• Slack is a great way to keep in touch with out of state coworkers.

It's the end of the day and you get a terse email. "Thanks for the update. Would've been nice to hear about it in person." Now, you could shut your laptop, head home for the day, and forget about the note. Move on! But passive aggressive emails are often a sign of greater discontentment. So, should you address the email. And if so, how?

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn what to do if you get a passive aggressive email...

Key Takeaways

• Do you have something to apologize for?
• Don't let things fester. Acknowledge something's funky and address it ASAP
• If you're the one who's known for resolving conflict that just means opportunity for you in the future.
• Your responsibility is to get to the core of what it means to be in a working relationship with a person.

*download the Communication Wheel and make those difficult conversations easier to navigate

A flexible work schedule and the option of working from home can do wonders for your productivity and personal happiness. That being said, your home is fraught with potential distractions (Vanderpump Rules, the urge to do laundry, your adorable puppy, etc.).

So how can you prove to your company that you will be an effective remote employee?

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week, every week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to work from home...

Key Takeaways:

• Not everyone is a good candidate for working from home. Some people are better in the office than they are at home.
• If you're easily distracted, set up a space where you can focus and there isn't a lot of noise (dogs barking, TV blaring, etc.).
• When you're on a video call, make sure to be aware of your appearance (wear a nice shirt, comb your hair, etc.).
• Double check the background of your video call. White backgrounds work well.
• Be aware that your boss can see if you're active on the company messenger platform.
• When you work remotely, you need to put in extra effort to maintain contact.
• Make sure you have a good microphone and internet connection.
• If you're petitioning to WFH, focus on the effectiveness of the work, and not how it's going to benefit you personally. You are in charge of designing a plan that works.

Starting a new job is without a doubt, an exciting experience. Before you celebrate too much, understand that the first 90 days are crucial to showing your new employer that they made the right choice. In a way, during those first 90 days, there's a magnifying glass on you.

Lucky for you, we sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn what to do in the first 90 days of your new job...

Key Takeaways

• Be proactive: ask what the first 30-60 days will look like.
• Ask for a weekly check in with your manager as well as a list of expectations for your 90-day check in.
• Ask what the culture is like in the new office.
• Don't feel pressured to overextend yourself socially in the first 90-days.
• Understand the lunch culture at your office.
• Send out LinkedIn invites to your new coworkers.

Congratulations! You got an offer. But before you sign, you should consider asking the right questions. There's crucial information that still needs to be established. Most importantly, this is your opportunity to negotiate and to fully understand your benefits.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to close the deal...

Key Takeaways

• Know your salary/benefits package before you accept the offer.
• Inform a new employer of a scheduled vacation before you sign the offer.
• Clarify a start date & time.

After an interview wraps, you're not done! If anything, your interview just continues. The hours and days after an interview are crucial. It's your chance to show the hiring team that you're serious about the role and willing to go the extra distance.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to follow up after an interview…

Key Takeaways

• Ask for clarification on their process and your place in it.
• Send out thank you notes and emails to the people that you met with.
• Follow up with your interviewers a few weeks later.
• If you're not hired, feel free to ask them why you didn't get the job.
• If you're not hired, follow up with another handwritten note and a LinkedIn contact request.

After an interview wraps, you're not done! If anything, your interview just continues. The hours and days after an interview are crucial. It's your chance to show the hiring team that you're serious about the role and willing to go the extra distance.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to follow up after an interview...

Key Takeaways

Skype Interviews:

• Think about your backdrop: go as professional as possible.
• Put your questions on sticky notes and place them all around your monitor. It keeps your eyes up so you're not looking down during the interview.
• Download the meeting platform at least one day before your interview so that you have time to test it.

In Person Interviews:

• It's safer to dress up than it is to dress down.
• Think about the whole package - you want to be carrying something (get a portfolio, or a messenger bag).
• Your interview starts the second you walk into the building.
• Arrive to your interview 5 minutes early.
• Things to do before you arrive:
• • Google the company for any relevant news
  • Read their website
  • Find your interviewer on LinkedIn but don't request them as a friend
  • Prepare some questions

You've leveraged a connection, polished your resume, and used an informational interview to find a potential job opportunity. You feel yourself getting one step closer to that dream job. Careful! Don't underestimate the next step. Convincing a recruiter that you deserve an interview, takes perseverance and attention to detail.

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week, every week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to land an interview...

Key Takeaways

• Complete whatever it is that they're asking of you (i.e. cover letter, resume, etc.).
• Try to send the same info to a contact of yours within the company.
• Always include a cover letter no matter what.
• Try to figure out a way to include your cover letter information within the body of an email incase the two get separated.

The point of an informational interview is not to get information. Who knew? You also won't be "picking anyone's brain." You're not a bird. In all seriousness, there's a lot of misinformation surrounding informational interviews. As a result, there are a lot of people doing it wrong.

What is the goal of an informational interview? What's the right way to ask for someone's time?

We sit down with our CEO for 15 minutes each week to get practical business advice so we can advance in our careers. In this episode, we learn how to use an informational interview to find opportunity...

Key Takeaways

• The purpose of an informational interview is NOT to get information. It's a way to increase your network.
• Go into the informational interview with a specific goal, don't just ask, "What do you do all day long?" You should be asking for specific feedback.
• Never say "I want to pick your brain." You're not a bird.
• One of your goals with an informational interview is to leave a good impression on that person.
• Cold calling to set up an informational interview is difficult. It's better to have a personal connection make the intro.
• Follow up twice. First, with an email the day of the informational interview, and then later to remind the person of what's happening as a result of your conversation.
• Want to really make a good impression? Write a thank you note.