Start the New Year with Sexy Heels...on Amazon.com

I was dying for these sexy Me Too heels (see picture) at favorite shoe store, jbandme, in my hometown (Holland, MI that is). There was a 30% off sale that day which meant they were marked down from $88 to $62 - DEAL. Or so I thought. I was devastated to learn they didn't have my size (the oh-so-common 8) so I left. Later that day my savvy mother found these same shoes on Amazon.com for, that's right, $23.99! Wow. Thank you Amazon.com.

Get these great "I'm a serious working women" shoes here. Remember, every woman's success starts with a great pair of heels.

New Year - New Second Jobs.

You might be getting a pay raise in the next half year, but probably not. Unless you have a consuming 9 to 5 (consider yourself very lucky) you ought to consider a second stream of cash-only income to augment your pitiful paycheck.
What to do? What to do?
First, consider every possible second job you could have. You might be a wannabe docent during the week, but why not pet-sit neurotic westies on the weekends while their owners travel? Breaking into new circles might have unforeseen networking benefits, too.
Look at the $ angle and be creative:

• If you aced your AP tests, consider teaching groups of kids (4?) for $80 an hour for 2 hours on Saturdays. That' a quick hundred and sixty bucks.
• Do you like home design/improvements? Offer to help your banker buddy pick a great room color and paint their space for a buck fifty and five beers. Room painting can be cathartic and the creative element of designing the space will be cool, too.
• Be a middleman. Help your artist buddies get their work out there. Talk to coffee shop and bar owners to see if they want sweet free art on display in their joints. Set up a profit-sharing agreements for art that gets sold off the wall and take a little of the top for yourself. Everybody wins.
• Offer to scan your buddy's mom's old family photos. Help her out by creating a super hi-res photo archive and then tuck them away in acid-free paper and seal them in plastic. That way the kiddies can still view and share great grandpa's baptism pics and the originals are safe. Look at the hours it takes and charge at least $15 an hour. See if her friends want the same thing done and become a personal archivist on weekends. You'll get better at it while your reputation grows and so does your hourly rate.
• Consider second jobs that might actually help you professionally. If you work in PR consider advising individuals and small growing firms with basic tips about their webites/events etc. If you work in accounting consider helping your entrepreneur buddies with some weekend lessons on cash flow analysis and exit strategies. If youwork in fashion, find some bored rich chicks and collaborate with a tailor to make them custom accessories and clothes. They can pay for you time/talent and help you build a resume.
• If you are totally type-A, consider being an organizing consultant (a growing field!) and help people manage their stuff by getting rid of excess and encouraging few strategic investments at The Container Store.
• Mainly, be useful. If you are artistic, design custom baby announcements and shoot the kid, too. New parents are too busy for that stuff.

You might find you like your second job better than your first and that you can make more money. So don't look at a second job as a bad thing, it's a way to help yourself financially and it might help you find your dream job.

Office Xmas Party Survival Tips

Now every company is different - so you are going have to use your skills to test "what is going to fly." Here are few little survival tips for newbies:
1) Sabotage - Know when it is occuring. Has someone been kindly filling your glass every 2 minutes? Is the chick who wanted your job asking you tricky questions in front of management? Solution: Eat some bread or run!
2) Wierdness - It happens. Suddenly Bob and Sherry from accounting seem to be talking about more than checks and balances. Dimwitted Carl and Tony think that their raised eyebrow references to "dance class" are totally below the radar. Solution: Eat some bread and run!
3) Beyond the buzz - It's hard being broke and being able to decline free fancy alcohol. (Tip - eat as much as you drink OR drink less!) When you start to feel like your boss is a good guy and your coworkers are actually pretty cool, just run. You are wasted.

Finding your dream job

starts with asking the right questions. Liz Ryan asks some good ones in this BusinessWeek article:

"Typically, the more mature (heavy equipment manufacturing, for instance) the more conservative the corporate culture will be. How flat vs. how tiered an organization do I desire? If there are 14 levels of management between me and the CEO, my experience at work will be drastically different from how it will be if there are two. How "left-brain" vs. "right-brain" an organization do I want?"

Want to Work for Me?

Steve Forbes, AKA Flat Tax Man, is looking for a Marketing Assistant. This is actually a pretty good job. You’ll work a very cool boss, have decent responsibility, and the office is young. Ok, so you might have to go on Birthday cupcake runs, but cherish the fresh air – it might be the last job that lets you enjoy it.

Did I mention it’s on 5th Ave. b. 12 and 13? Great location! Email us if you’re interested: citybroke@gmail.com

Marketing Assistant
Description: Forbes Magazine seeks a Marketing Assistant to assist and support the marketing staff with execution of marketing promotions, presentations and events. This person is an administrative resource, providing support for the general and category marketing teams. This entry-level position offers lots of opportunity and room for growth.

Qualifications: This role requires excellent written and oral communication, attention to detail, strong organizational, multi-tasking and customer service skills. We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate who is a natural "go-getter", self-motivator and responds well to a high-energy environment. Ideal candidate will have a strong interest in magazine marketing and a drive to learn about the industry. Internship/work experience (0-2 years) in publishing a plus.

How We Spend Our Days...

"How we spend our days, is, of course, how we spend our lives."~Annie Dillard

You shouldn't dread your job. In many ways, it is the largest part of your life consuming more hours than any other activity. Here are the factors you should consider when assessing your current job or a job oppportunity.

In order of greatest importance:

1) Culture
What is the mission statement of the company? How are underlings treated? What are your co-workers like? Is it a fratty culture or a bunch of A-types all competing for the boss' affection?

2) Career
What are you learning in this position? How will it impact your resume? Is there upward mobility at the company? Do you want to continue on the path you are on? Are you making connections with people who can make your career? What is your dream job? Are you on your way?

3) Money
Are you making decent money? Are you on your way to making a salary you are comfortable with in 5 years? Do you have a second job to pay your bills?

4) Boss
Do you hate your boss? Do you hold them in contempt? Do they give you guidance and professional advice? Are they less intelligent than you - if they are are you able to manage them so they don't resent you?

If you get 3 out of 4, It's a good job. If you get 4 out of 4, never leave. Less than that, look around.
Life's too short.

Love,

iSpend