 Making mistakes is a part of life, and will also be part of your career. But The Brand Girls wants to let you in on a little secret…
It’s not about the mistake you make, but how you handle it that really counts. Whether you’re at your dream job or first internship, here are our 4 easy tips to fixing your first big screw up at work! Fess up: Once you realize that you made a mistake, the most important thing to do is to be upfront about what happened. Don’t try to cover it up or hide it from your team - this will only make the situation worse when the mistake comes to light later! Take responsibility: This one will earn you major points with your team. Your boss will appreciate that not only did you keep them in the loop on the mistake, but you were accountable for it too. Pro tip: Don’t play the blame game! If you played a role in the mistake, take ownership of it. Come with your game plan: When you alert your boss or your team with a problem, you always want to have a solution ready. If you accidentally posted a tweet meant for your personal account to the company Twitter (with 1K followers - yikes!), what would your game plan be when you approach your boss? Tell us in the comments! Correct & plan for the future: There’s a big difference between the first time you make a mistake and the 7th time you make a mistake… Once you’ve corrected the situation, make sure you take the proper steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again! The most important thing The Brand Girls wants all fierce millennial women to know is that it’s okay to make mistakes! As your career coach, we want you to know that a big part of growing in your career is going to be taking risks - and they’re not always going to be successful. But with these tips, you’ll handle each one with style and class - and earn a lot of respect from your team for keeping your cool!
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 When it comes to work, while many of the things Millennial women want may differ, we do all have one thing in common: we want to be appreciated.
But it can be tough to get the kudos you deserve at your first job or first internship especially because, let’s face it, you haven’t been there very long. Here are 4 ways to make yourself a more valuable employee: Find your 'go-to': Being known as the ‘go-to’ employee for something (or multiple things!) is a great way to show your value. At The Brand Girls, we love encouraging you to learn new skills as you go - it will only increase your worth! Make professional development a priority now, you won’t regret it. Be proactive: One of the easiest ways to boost your value? Think ahead and plan, plan, plan. Always being one step ahead shows your team that you’re a forward-thinker, which is a major asset. According to Glassdoor, Employees who consistently go above and beyond without being asked are on the fast track for a promotion... ka-ching! Always offer to help: Think about it - do you have a coworker who always lends a hand, no matter the task? People tend to think of these employees as more reliable As Harvard Business Review shares, “your goal is twofold–to get what you ask for and to do it in a way that enables the other person to feel good about helping out.” Keep track of your successes: Don’t forget to take weekly notes of your big wins and key data points on your BG brag sheet. This is an important tool when it comes to updating your resume or discussing your future promotion (and bonus!).  Spring is here, Spring is here! And there’s something about the warmer weather that just makes all of us at The Brand Girls want to get organized.
According to Inc, a clean workspace can “create an environment in which people can improve their performance and productivity,” and The Brand Girls team couldn’t agree more! Kick off your office spring cleaning with our 3 easy tips. Use it or lose it: Getting into a ‘use it or lose it’ mindset helps us keep what we really use and throw away what we don’t. The longer you stay at your job, the more stuff you’re going to collect over the years. If it’s not something you use often, file it away or toss it. Cut back on paper copies: Are you one of those people who always has papers allllll over their desk? How many of those documents do you also have on your computer? Unless you really need printed copies for your first job or internship , stick to digital and cutting back on paper copies. Don’t forget to recycle (or shred) any copies you already have! Scrubba dub dub: How many times a day do you touch your desk? Keyboard? Phone? Mouse? Germs live all over these surfaces, so bring in your disinfecting wipes and clean everything thoroughly. Pro tip: Wipe down your desk and phone weekly! We feel better already, don’t you?  Applying for your first job or first internship online is a great way to search for your dream gig, but The Brand Girls wants to share a little secret to increase your odds of being hired.
You’ve spent so much time on your personal brand and confidence - now go show off your hard work! Applying for jobs, or just meeting company recruiters, in-person at your campus career fair can help set you apart. Here are The Brand Girls' 4 tips on making your school’s career fair a productive event! Look good, feel good:There will be recruiters and managers from different companies, so you want to make your best first impression. Dress as if you are going to an interview! Do your prep work: If your college provides a list of the companies attending the career fair, go through a few days before and highlight ones you’d be interested in working for. Don’t forget to check out their websites for potential job openings and more information about the company! Recruiters will be impressed that you know what their company does and if there is a specific role you think you’d be a good fit for. You’ll also want to print copies of your resume and cover letter to pass out! Practice your elevator pitch: As much as you’re looking for a job or internship, recruiters are looking to make the best hires for their companies. A lot of times that means meeting with as many students as possible at career fairs. Practice your elevator pitch the night before - you want to present yourself as polished, to the point and professional! Follow up: Be sure to collect business cards from everyone that you meet with + don’t forget to follow up with your new connections! Email them a digital copy of your resume, connect on LinkedIn and apply for positions online if necessary. Bonus points for bringing your own contact cards. You’ve got this - now go rock your campus career fair! |
