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The Global Landscape- Are You Prepared?
2008-06-04 21:28:00
For quite some time, I have been talking about a global economy, global diversity, and preparing myself to compete in this global society. While working on the translations of my company's new website, I've been learning a lot. I learned how having multi-lingual staff is as vitally important as having your website and other marketing material properly translated! ¡Qué usted no sabe puede lastímele! (I hope I said that right!)Over the last few months, I've been diligently restructuring my company and strategically growing my staff to include bilingual and multilingual individuals. (More on that another time). If I am serious about remaining competitive and truly focusing on global diversity, I need to not only learn foreign languages myself, but also surround myself with a multilingual team. I will be unveiling a new Candidate Center on the website that will include the ability to learn new languages as part of professional development. I am very excited about this.How are you re...
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Be Fearless- Do Something Today
2008-06-03 21:21:00
In life, we are called upon to make decisions. As an entrepreneur, decision-making is a daily part of life?s agenda. I speak to so many women on a weekly basis. Many want to chat about their experiences, some want to express fear about moving forward with an idea. Some want to just have someone to bounce ideas off. I welcome it all. I have always been one to take risks and go against the grain. Sometimes to a fault. I went home to New York last week to attend another funeral (twice in two months). While speaking with my various cousins, I was amazed at how some of us had excelled, and some of us had remained stagnant. One cousin, Debbie, is older than I am. She was commenting how she had never been out of the Bronx and that she knew there was a whole world out there but never made an attempt to step out beyond the borders of New York. It made me sad. Here she is, a grown woman and a grown child and two teen granddaughters, and she had never ventured out of her comfort zone. I ...
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Lunchtime Strategies- May & June Schedule
2008-04-28 02:08:00
Hello ladies.As many of you know, I run a network Empower Me! for women of color. I offer a series of webinars that are available to all women called Lunchtime Strategies . I invite you to take a look at our upcoming schedule and consider registering for one of these wonderful strategy sessions.Lunchtime Strategies Web Sessions : May 8, 2008- Linking In to Linked In- $39- The web offers tons of opportunities to establish yourself and make solid connections. Join us to discuss how to make Linked In an effective tool in your networking, finding business leads and job search. ...
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Bunny Slippers or Pumps? Working From Home
2008-04-27 07:17:00
Everyone covets that golden opportunity...working from home. With soaring gas prices, congested rush hour traffic and annoying co-workers, bosses and clients, working from home can be a much welcomed safe haven for some. Most companies, even though they claim to be ahead of the global economic curve, either refuse to consider it, or will only consider it for one or two days a week. Let's face it, not everyone is right for working at home. But whether you are a corporate warrior or a budding entrepreneur, here are some tips to ensure productivity (and comfort) in working from home. Treat each work day like you're heading into the office and will be working with clients. Too often we will roll out of bed and fire up the computer, hair looking crazy, in pajamas and a bath robe. Are you crazy? Just because nobody will see you doesn't mean you need to look crazy! We are in the age of the video conference. If you have (or your employer supplies) video conferencing, it is your duty to g...
More About: Home , Pumps , Working , Bunny , Slippers

5 Steps to True Empowerment
2008-04-21 23:01:00
All of us have a similar common goal....to be empowered and have control over our professional destiny. To have true empowerment, you must take responsibility for who you are, what you do, and what course you chart for yourself. It would be nice to have someone do it all for you. I would have loved to have someone give me a road map to plotting my professional life. But alas, it doesn't work that way in the real world. At best, you can surround yourself with mentors and associates who will guide you along your journey. But in the end, it's up to you to make the decisions and changes that need to be made to reach empowerment. Here are a few steps you can take to True Empowerment : 1. Let go of past baggage. We have a tendency of holding on to what does us no good. Remembering a fight, worrying about bills, being upset about how someone else lives their life, holding a grudge because someone else took credit for a project we worked hard on. All of this is negative energy that takes u...
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Social Networking: Who Are You & What Do You Want From Me?
2008-04-19 21:12:00
Social Networking . That seems to be the term of the decade. Everywhere you go, it's Web 2.0 this, social networking that, Linked In this, Facebook that. Who would have imagined back in the day that social forums would evolve into professional networking opportunities? I teach a few webinars that focus on not only Linked In, but also social networking to its core. One of the features I read and take advantage of often is the Answers section of Linked In and Yahoo. By answering questions and giving my advice, I seem to draw a lot of people who ask to network with me. An avid user an fan of Linked In, I am cautious about how and with whom I network and connect. Daily, I get invitations to connect. Despite the fact that I have clearly mentioned on many occasions that I prefer people send a note asking to connect and making it personal (ie: an introduction), and that I always take the time to send a personalized note letting a person know how I found them and my reason for asking to con...
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Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 Offer- But Only If You're A Student!
2008-04-12 21:28:00
Ladies, As I began one of my courses, I was told by my professor that there is a site called The Ultimate Steal, which is working in conjunction with Microsoft to provide college students with a copy of MS Office Ultimate 2007 for only $59.95. The offer is only valid through April 30, 2007. Here is the link to the website. There are very strict requirements for this offer: Promotion Eligibility:This offer is good only to eligible students who possess a valid email address at an educational institution geographically located in the United States. This offer is non-transferable. Limit one purchase per eligible student. The following conditions serve to define student eligibility for the Promotion: 1.Individual must possess a valid e-mail address at a U.S. educational institution which contains the domain suffix .edu; AND2.Individual must be a student at a U.S. educational institution and must be actively enrolled in at least 0.5 course credit and be able to provide proof of enrol...
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Protect Yourself During Your Job Search
2008-03-27 16:02:00
The internet is on FIRE. It is used for everything imaginable. A great deal of people search for jobs on the internet and don't give second thought to it being any different or unsafe than any other method. Let me ask you this. How many times have you gone to a message board, Myspace, or any other public forum and posted your address, phone number and email address? You might be thinking "why the heck would anyone do that?". But you now what? YOU do it all the time. We all do (well not me). That is how recruiters, like myself find you. Here's what I mean. It is a common thought that job board, like Monster, Careerbuilder, Dice, etc are only accessible to recruiters and HR professionals. WRONG. Kind of. The problem is they allow any company or agency to buy a subscription. Here is why that is a problem. We assume for the sake of argument that companies legitimately buy their subscriptions to seek out employees and post their jobs. But people leave their jobs (recruiter...
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7 Ways to Survive a Lay Off
2008-03-26 17:00:00
This was sent to me via email. I wanted to share. It has great tips especially in this economy:7 Ways to Survive a Layoff By Cherie Berkley, Special to PayScale.com A slumping economy may be a red flag that layoffs are close behind. Does hearing about Yahoo layoffs, a Chevron layoff, and a Sallie Mae layoff make you feel nervous about your own job stability? Stop hiding under your desk and take control. Here are 7 ways to help you keep the pink slip at bay when the economy is down. 1. Plan ahead. Most times you will be tipped-off by layoff rumors circulating around your office (or in the press, as was the case for the Yahoo layoffs in early 2008). This is your warning to create a plan of action. Start by assessing how valuable you think your job or department is (or is not) to the company. This is a critical time to stay on your Ps and Qs. Be punctual, maintain good relationships with co-workers, dress professionally, and continue to work hard. But also keep an eye ou...

Reinventing Yourself
2008-03-16 03:53:00
I am never the same as I was the previous year. The world is ever changing, life is ever changing and if you don't learn to keep it moving, you will get left behind. Over the years, my career and business(es) have gone through numerous changes. Some self imposed, some due to circumstances out of my control. But the common theme was how I managed the change each time. Every year, people make resolutions and vow to make these changes in their lives, big or small. By the time March rolls in, those vows are dusty somewhere in the recesses of their minds, hiding from daylight. I'm not sure if it can be attributed to laziness, lack of motivation or plain fear. But nonetheless, that gusto we came into the year with vanishes. I do things slightly different when it comes to my career and business(es). While I do make my annual December 31st pledges, those are more for personal development. I like to sit down every quarter an see what I have done, what I need to do, and what I'd l...

Salary Negotiation
2008-03-13 14:29:00
Do you know what you are worth, professionally? How much should you be paid in dollars? What about non-monetary pay? Can you demonstrate your value to employers? What dollar value will the employer assign to you (if you let them)? What salary are you willing to accept in exchange for your time and expertise? A few of you probably think you are worth a lot; some either don't know or don't feel they are worth more than an employer is offering. After impressing upon the employer that you are the right person for the job, the bottom line becomes money- your labor in exchange for the employer's cash and benefits. How, then, are you going to deal with these questions in order to get more than the employer may initially be willing to offer?As a recruiter, salary negotiations are tough. I have the advantage of knowing what the salary range is and it is my job to get a person to accept within that range. It is very frustrating for me when I see someone clearly worth more than what is be...
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Employer Websites
2008-01-07 15:02:00
Hi ladies.Well, unless you live in a remote part of the world with no internet access, or haven't applied for a job since the Reagan Administration, everyone knows that employers have turned to the web as their first line of defense against (yes I said against) candidates. Remember the days when you would hit the pavement to find a job and be told to your face that they were not interested? Or remember when you'd get the Sunday paper fresh off the presses and started typing out cover letters and addressing tons of envelopes to send off your resume? Well times have long since been a changin'. As a Recruiter myself, I was thrilled when we started implementing the web to manage applicants. It was easier to draw many candidates in less time and a way to get our message out to the world. But as they say too much of anything is never good. Each day, I sift through tons of applicants. for every 10 resumes, there are maybe 2 candidates I might be interested in. I respect the fact...
More About: Websites , Employer

Introducing Lunchtime Strategies (TM)
2008-01-02 17:50:00
It's finally here! I am finally launching the Lunch & Learn sessions. Space is limited to 100 participants (for now). So if you are interested contact me ASAP for your space. It's FREE!!! Subject: Lunchtime Strategies (For The Empowered Career Woman) Lunchtime Strategies For The EmpoweredCareer WomanUpcoming Schedule of EventsHosted by Hues Consulting & Management, Incwww.huesconsulting.com Who says lunchtime can't be productive!?Professional women don't want to be saved or rescued. They want to be inspired. Empower Me! Corporation is proud to introduce Lunchtime Strategies. January January 20081/17/08 -What's your theme for 2008?The first of the Lunchtime Strategies program. Every year we all make resolutions and write our goals. This year, take action! What is your professional theme for this year? Create & live your theme. February February 20082/14/08 -Power negotiating for career women....

New Year, New Theme, Better Goals
2008-01-02 17:43:00
Happy New Year Ladies!!I hope 2008 finds you with much blessings, peace, contentment and success.I'm a day late in my "New Year's Message" so please forgive me. Each year I sit down on December 31st and review my list from the beginning of the year. They are not so much "resolutions" as they are goals that I set for myself. While I didn't meet every goal (I was short by four) I did add 5 amazing accomplishments in 2007. For that, I feel extremely blessed. This year instead of asking you all to create a list of goals for 2008, I'm asking something different.Someone asked me "what is your theme for 2008?". I admit, the question stumped me. My theme had never been given any thought. We all have the usual affirmations we recite and try to follow. But I would say that 2008 is the year to invest in myself. I had a contest recently entitled "Invest in Yourself Career Makeover". It drew a lot of entrants. As I go through the entries, I see a lot of people who see this contes...
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We're Big Girls Now, So Take Control! (Part 2)
2007-12-19 02:00:00
So are you taking control or taking notes? You should be doing both!Marketing Plan- How are you going to present yourself? Do you have a game plan? Well you need one. When a business launches or releases a new product, the marketing team puts together a strategy to get the product in front of the public eye. Just like a business, you too have a product. It's called "You". You have to plan your strategy and decide who you want to get yourself in front of and how to do it. Your self-marketing strategy should include an online and offline plan. Of course heavy networking is essential but remember to take as much time in developing your overall plan.Optimize Your Existence (What is YOUR footprint?)- Have you Googled yourself lately? What comes up? In my previous post I mentioned that it is just as bad to have negative information out there as it is to have none. So all you Facebook, Myspace, Zenga fans listen up. DON'T POST ANYTHING ONLINE THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TRACED BACK...
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We're Big Girls Now, So Take Control! (Part I)
2007-12-16 17:27:00
Warning, this blog isn't for newbies.I have been asked what direction I'm taking this blog. We're all adults here who (presumably) are already into our careers. So I won't bore or placate you with tips on how to write the perfect resume (they have books for that), what to wear (and not to wear) to interviews or at work, or how to write a cover letter. All of these are elementary things we should already know. With that said, let's be real from here out.Managing your career is a full time 24/7 effort if you expect to make a success of yourself. Much like selling a home, you have to make yourself "pop" and stand out from the crowd. If "buyers" (read: employers) don't like what they see on the outside, or they don't get very favorable information about you, they won't be very interested in checking you out. You've heard of Guerrilla Marketing tactics for business owners. Well same rules apply for the career woman. You need to manage your own press and image, or som...
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Grants For Women to Return To College
2007-12-13 15:29:00
I was reading this morning and came across some wonderful information about scholarship money. There are many people out there who want to return to school but feel it is out of reach (financially) and that scholarship money only goes to high school kids. But that's not true. Here are a few places I found this morning for undergraduate and graduate study. The Jeannette Rankin Foundation (rankinfoundation.org) offers grants of $2,000 each fall to low-income women 35 and older who can convey how their education will improve their lives as well as that of their families or communities.The Possible Woman Foundation International offers scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 to women returning to work after a hiatus or to stay-at-home morns looking to enter the workforce. (Thank you Linda Wind for creating this wonderful foundation!)The Educational Foundation for Women in Accounting (efwa.org) offers scholarships that range between $1,000 and $5,000 to women pursuing a Ph.D. in a...
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How/Where Do You Job Hunt?
2007-12-12 16:46:00
I'm putting on my Recruiter hat again to delve into a very important subject. Job search.Everyone knows, unless you live on the moon, that when you think of looking for a job, the top 3 job search giants come to mind. Monster , Careerbuilder, Hotjobs. But, did you know, that for specialized positions, recruiters are not using them as much? I'll explain why.The playing field in recruiting is changing. It is no longer acceptable to just post a job somewhere commercial (like the top 3) and wait for candidates to apply for jobs. For the most part, out of the candidates who apply, 80% of them are not qualified for the position and either just applied because of the name of the company or because they are looking for a change. Some candidates (and I hope none of you fit this bill) just blindly "mass apply" to a bunch of openings even if they don't fit. I can honestly tell you that most resumes are not even viewed when you apply online. Applying online allows the company to coll...
More About: Jobs , Zoom , Facebook , Hunt

Are You A Negotiator?
2007-12-10 17:45:00
As a Recruiter, I spend a great amount of time closing deals with candidates and negotiating salary. More often than not, a candidate will accept the first offer without so much as a flinch. But on occasion, I will get one or two who will assess the offer, size up the situation, then come back with a counter of demands. It may seem pushy to some people, but I have a tremendous respect for those who stand up and ask for what they feel they deserve. Whether they deserve it or not is irrelevant.Women especially leave so much on the negotiation table. We often don't want to rock the boat so we accept what we feel is a livable offer. Did you know that just about everything is negotiable? Whether you are in business for yourself or on the fast track to growing your career, negotiating skills are crucial. Negotiating requires business intelligence (you must research and be prepared to come to the table with all of the facts if you want to appear to be knowledgeable). You must be able to ...

Professional Development
2007-12-10 05:25:00
One of the things I promote to everyone I counsel (as well as friends, family and associates) is developing your professional development plan. But I don't talk and not walk it myself. Everything I "preach" I practice.At the beginning of this year I made a list of things I wanted to do to fit my professional development agenda. I vowed to get several certifications, return to school to work on my degree, continue learning new languages, become more read in my industry, and take career related courses to boost my skill set. Well, I am proud to report my progress. I did return to school this semester. My finals are this week in fact and I am nervous but positive I will do just fine. I took several courses related to recruiting and human resources. They've been quite eye opening for me. They taught me a lot about myself and my industry. I plan to take more in the new year. I didn't get to finish my language classes as I had a lot on my plate. But it is on the agenda for th...
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Career Ownership
2007-12-05 16:55:00
I've been saying for years that people, especially women, need to drive their own careers. Career ownership is vital to success. If we don't take an invested interest in our own careers, nobody else will. But how do we steer our careers so that we are the drivers and controllers? There are several things that you can do to make sure you keep ownership and accountability in your career.Own it! That's right. The first and most important step is to take ownership. Be accountable for your own choices. If things are not going the way you expected them, don't blame someone else. Look in the mirror and then decide what you are going to do to fix it. Be accountable because nobody else owes you anything in this world. You want it, make it happen.Make Decisions- It's up to you to decide what is best for your career. Sit down in a quiet place and gather your thoughts. On paper, free write for at least five minutes. Write the things you hope to accomplish, things you will acco...

Corporate Grub Worms by Dan Couglin
2007-11-29 01:49:00
Hi all.I generally don't like to do the cut and paste thing, but I felt this article was so apropos! Enjoy.Corporate Grub Worms : What to Do When Issues Bubble Below the SurfaceBy Dan Coughlin This summer I had grub worms in my yard. Never really knew what grub worms were until now. So, when a small corner of my front yard turned brown, I thought a neighbor?s dog had syringed my yard. Then I went away for a business trip for a week, and when I came home the spot was bigger. I made a note to do something about it but of course forgot, and the next time I noticed the yard on the side of my house was dead -- not dying, dead. Turns out it was the work of grub worms. Luckily, I bought some grub worm control stuff and that was the end of them. Corporate grub worms -- those problems that simmer just below the surface and aren?t talked about until they eventually boil over into a much bigger, unnecessary problem -- can be a bit trickier to deal with. Confronting the Work Grub ...

This is a Global Society- Are We Ready?
2007-11-28 16:06:00
As I was reading the paper the other morning, I came across an article about yet another global initiative for a well known business. Earlier this week, I had taken a class for certification in diversity and also global talent strategies. So as you can imagine, my mind is on diversity this morning. I recall a conversation I heard where a woman was angry that her child had to learn Spanish in his preschool. I thought it was great, but I wasn't part of the conversation so I didn't contribute my thoughts. But I am increasingly hearing a lot of people voice their opinions against learning new languages citing that English should be the universal language.We are a growing and global society. The internet and other technology is making the world much flatter and closer at the same time. Career and business wise, having additional languages is a huge asset. Not only does it make it easier to compete, but also increases the abilityto grow your client base tremendously.I have already begun...
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Can People Overcome Their Weaknesses To Perform Better?
2007-11-25 18:48:00
Hi all.Recently, there was a question asked on Linked In. It was "Can we overcome our weakness to perform better? How can people overcome their weakness(s) to perform better in life or at work place?". It's a great question that I felt compelled to answer. My answer was:Yes I believe MOST people can. Not everyone wants to hear about or even acknowledge their perceived weaknesses. Some people don't see certain things as weaknesses as others may see it. If a person wants to develop their weaknesses, they will make a concerted effort to do so. The quickest ways are with a coach or a trusted mentor. Going to a manager can also be useful if the person genuinely wants to see you succeed. By first identifying what the weakness is, and developing a game plan to overcome this, a person can put themselves on a path of greater growth. If it were me, I'd ask for the cold hard truth about my weakness, then ask for recommendations on how I could overcome them. Next, I'd gather as...
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Invest In Yourself Career Makeover Contest
2007-11-25 07:07:00
Invest In Yourself Career Makeover Contest Think you can?t use the help of a Professional Career Consultant? Think again! Atlanta, GA -- November 15, 2007 -- With a new year comes a new outlook on your career. Much sought-after career management consultant Adrienne Graham announced today the introduction of the Invest In Yourself Career Makeover Contest that promises three months of intense professional career guidance. One lucky winner will receive three months of her expert services free of charge. The Invest In Yourself Career Makeover Contest?, which kicks off December 1, 2007, invites contestants to submit a brief online entry form and an essay of no more than 500 words describing why they want the help of a professional career consultant and how they feel it would help benefit their career. "Men and women have come to me in recent months and said 'I know I need your help, and I'd really love to hire you, but I?m not sure a ?coach? can work for me,' says Gr...
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Career Succession Planning
2007-11-20 21:43:00
Hi all.Although this blog is primarily for career building and planning, we have to also examine the long term and exit strategies. Let's face it, none of us (well most of us) don't plan on working for the rest of our lives. If we're smart about it, we'll plan our strategies mapping out our career (allowing for some slight detours) that will career us through at least 20 years. The reality is that we need to also plan for the end.Career succession planning is something that many people fail to consider let alone plan. Ideally, we are all waiting for either that C-spot, cashing out and taking the entrepreneurial route or retiring rich (preferrably after hitting the lottery!). There are steps that need to be taken to adequately prepare for career succession.Get your managers and HR liasons involved in career pathing. Make it known what career path you want to follow and be sure to let your managers know so they can aid in developing your plan. An ally in HR is good to have ...
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Are People of Color Behind The Networking & Technology Curve?
2007-11-20 15:21:00
Wow! I have really been busy! I'm sorry I haven't contributed since August. But you know how life and business are.I sent out an email to my Yahoo Group a few days ago asking who all was on Linked In. As you know, I'm a Recruiter by trade and part of my activities as a Recruiter is networking on and off line. We all know about social networking sites. About 10 years or so ago, we have AOL Chat, Black Voices, NetNoir and a few others out there, which led the way to Blackplanet, Migente, Asian Avenue, and eventually MySpace and Facebook today. So social networking is nothing new. The difference was back then we utilized these types of sites and message forums for socializing and killing time during our work hours. But there has been a whole new explosion on the importance of working these sites. Business minded entrepreneurs eventually came up with business networking sites such as Ryze and Linked In (2004). And since then, several others have popped up. I know my commen...
More About: Technology , People , Color , Networking

Why Networks Don't Work
2007-08-28 15:44:00
Good morning!Now, I'm going to do something here that is a bit out of context for me. I always keep things on a positive note and try to express only positive thoughts and messages. But sometimes, just sometimes, for the right message to kick in, you have to express it in negative terms. So please understand that this is the first and last time I will write from a negative perspective (with good intentions).I often hear people complain that networks and networking doesn't work. I immediately jump to the defensive. As the creator of two powerful networks and a member of several myself, I take offense to those comments. I challenge the person to give me reason why they don't work and to tell me what they are doing to make it work. The answers vary and never fail to surprise me. Often times I see that it is because they fail to make it work. A network is only as good as the people in it. If you don't participate, you are not doing your part to grow it. Everyone has somet...
More About: Networks , Work

Showing Up Is Half The Battle
2007-08-27 02:53:00
Hello all! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I'd like to share my weekend with you and segway into my topic- Showing Up.I had a great weekend. I worked a little, visited with a dear friend, spent time with my son. I attended an event that I go to once a month to support another dear friend of mine. She runs a group Financially Empowered Women that meets once per month. I'm building my wealth and she's my friend so of course I try to attend every month. I have another friend who needs to attend but doesn't. I called and told her about it and her response was "You didn't tell me what you all discuss". I won't bore you with the rest of the conversation, but suffice it to say "showing up" was the basis of my response.That leads me to my topic for this evening. How many opportunities do we get to attend various events but turn them down or throw away the invites? What about invites for coffee to catch up? We women don't always see the opportunities when they are pres...
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Welcome Career Women!
2007-08-19 19:30:00
Welcome to the Empowered Career Women Blog.I can't say I'm brand new to blogging. I've been blogging for a few months now and I like it. I primarily blog about recruiting issues. But I created this blog for professional women looking to boost their careers.Everyone needs tips, information, leads, mentors, direction or even just to vent or think out loud. This blog can be used for one or all of those. I'm riding the fence between corporate and business ownership and I love it. While I do have my own companies (2), I contract myself out to companies to do recruiting work. So I speak from the perspective of a business woman who handles her own affairs, but also as a corporate recruiter who is charged with staffing for the company I am on contract with at the time. I consider myself corporate because I am part of a team whenever I contract with a company. Long gone are the days where I felt like an outsider because of my contractor status.But enough about me. This blog was c...