Today’s post is by, J. Salvage

Approximately twelve percent of the US population speaks Spanish. The United States houses the fourth largest Spanish-speaking population in the world. Depending on one’s state of residence, this percentage may be higher. For example, more than twenty-eight percent of California’s population speaks Spanish. Texas is close on California’s heels with over nineteen percent of her population speaking Spanish. Florida is the third-most populous state in terms of Spanish-speaking residents with nearly ten percent.

Knowing that customers are more comfortable conducting business in their native tongue, American industries are eager to hire and promote employees who can speak both Spanish and English. Bilingual employees widen the accessible market share for the companies that are fortunate enough to hire them. For those states in which a significant portion of the population speaks Spanish, bilingual employees are even more vital.

Individuals fluent in English and Spanish are highly employable in governmental and nongovernmental service organizations. Federal regulations ensure that all federal programs from Unemployment Compensation to Driver’s License services must provide information in a variety of languages – including Spanish. Ample opportunities for bilingual employees also exist in various service organizations such as legal services, customer service representatives, and translators.

Learning to speak Spanish not only increases one’s value on the job, it increases one’s personal value. Foreign travel is easier when one speaks the local language. An individual who is fluent in Spanish can find the hottest night clubs in Cancun, order from a menu in Costa Rica, and find the most interesting Mayan ruins in South America. Because Spanish is a Romance language (a category of languages including Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, Romanian, and Catalan), individuals who are fluent in Spanish are able to negotiate their way through other similar languages than are non-Spanish speaking travelers.

Spanish is easy to learn, given the large number of cognates (words that sound alike and have the same meaning) between Spanish and English. While English is not strictly a Romance language, it does borrow heavily from Latin, providing numerous similarities with Spanish. For example, the Spanish word “teléfono” is clearly recognizable as the English word “telephone”. One crucial difference between English and the Romance languages is that of gender. In English, virtually all nouns are neutral, with a few notable exceptions. “Doe” is a female deer, “waitress” is a female waiter, and the ambiguous “ship” is always referred to in the feminine. In Spanish, all nouns are either masculine or feminine. Knowing the gender of the noun affects its spelling, pronunciation, and translation into English.

Individuals interested in learning Spanish, whether for business, pleasure, or both, should consider an immersion course. This type of Spanish course places one in an entirely Spanish-speaking environment, enabling her to learn the language through living the language. Such courses mimic the way children learn their first language, making the road to fluency in Spanish an easy and fun path to a new and rewarding career. If this type of course is not an option, there are several downloadable or CD Spanish course options available.

J. Salvage is late-blooming career woman with a lot to say.

By, Emily Jacobson

Dressing for success in 2010 can be confusing. How do you combine casual with professional and still look like a woman — without looking like a tart? While business fashions have a more relaxed look, the old rules still apply: keep it simple, classy, and tasteful.

Shop for basic pieces to mix and match. Jeans and khakis should be crisp, tailored, and neat. Stick with navy, black, beige, or forest green. Save bleached and ripped jeans for weekends. Tanks in a variety of colors topped with cardigans or blazers are great for work. Avoid anything that shows cleavage or displays skimpy straps. Add a few skirts for variety. A style like the Lace Up Floral from Victoria’s Secret is feminine, not too short, and when paired with a tank and solid-colored blazer, it also looks professional.

Tailored shirts in black or white always add panache to casual pants and can be worn with or without a vest, blazer, or cardigan. They also work well over tanks, especially when pulled together with a belt. Longer cardigans in neutral colors like the Cotton and Cashmere, also from Victoria’s, can be worn over tops with skirts or pants.

Substitute work appropriate sandals for flip flops as long as they keep a low profile, and you have a fresh pedicure. Avoid gladiator or flashy jeweled sandals. Wedgie sandals are hot this summer if you want extra height. Simple colored ballet flats can add a splash of color to a neutral outfit, and they’re comfy to boot.

Jewelry, in moderation, can take any business casual style to another level. Tasteful and understated gold or beaded necklaces, simple stud earrings, and silver cuffs add pizazz to relaxed outfits and tell the world you’ve put thought into your look. A good watch is an essential business accessory. Leave the fun timepieces for off hours and invest in something like the DKNY watch from Macy’s. It’s something you can wear for work every day. It also tells the world you’re successful and you mean business!

Splurge on a stylish work bag that goes with everything and makes a positive statement about you. The bag should be large enough to carry all your goodies without looking stuffed. A bit of hardware, like that featured on the new Sylvie Box Bag from Guess can jazz up your professional image considerably. To look prosperous while going for your credit cards, a rich-looking leather wallet speaks volumes.

The finishing touch to any business look is a blazer. Blazers take even the most casual outfits to a professional level. A few basic blazers like the Literature, Hinge, and Free People, all from Nordstrom, offer three ways to look casual, professional, and unmistakably feminine.

Emily Jacobson is an online shopping specialist and a freelance writer.

Today I had the chance to chat with the author of one of my favorite career books for college students and graduating seniors. Katharine Brooks is the author of “You Majored in What?!” and the Director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin. If you haven’t picked up this book yet, please do. Whether you are struggling to find a job, are unsure of what you want to “do” after college or have a case of the post-college blues this book is relevant. Katharine’s views mirror mine in many ways. Please meet, Katharine Brooks!

What inspired you to write, “You Majored in What?”

As a liberal arts major myself I loved my education but was never quite sure how it “fit” in the workplace. Later on when I started working with liberal arts students at a college back East (Dickinson College) I realized that they had the same questions and challenges I did. So I set out on a mission to find a career system that would work for them– since the traditional linear (“major in accounting and become an accountant”) approach wasn’t helpful. It took a lot of trial and error with exercises, assessments, etc., but I finally figured out what seemed to work for many students. I started teaching my system in classes but couldn’t find a textbook that covered the material, so… I wrote the book!

Give us a brief explanation of chaos theory.

Chaos theory grew out of an effort to improve our ability to predict the weather. Ultimately, though, the scientists and mathematicians learned that weather is too complex a system to be able to predict with any reliability. There are too many intervening variables and things emerge. Same thing with careers– they, too, can be influenced by unexpected intervening variables (a bad economy for instance) that can throw off any “predicted” plans.

In a tough economy, how should students change their job search strategy?

I think you have to be more vigilant. You need to have the best possible marketing tools– a targeted resume (not a generic one you send to everyone); a well-written cover letter that specifically relates your skills and knowledge to the job; and great responses to interview questions. You need to have an open mind and be willing to take a less-than-perfect job, knowing that you will learn and you will parlay that opportunity into a better one.

How do you recommend students handle the common and irritating question, “What are you going to do with THAT major?!”

I tell them to read my book. (Just kidding!) I tell them that they need to be the ambassador for their degree– they need to think about why they chose it, why they like it, and (this is important) consider how what they have learned has changed the way they view things. I use the example of the movie “Good Will Hunting”– depending on your major, you might view the film from different angles. A psychology major might focus on the interactions with the therapist, an economics majors might notice the different social classes in Boston, an anthropology major might analyze the cultures in the film, etc. Your major can change the way you view political, personal, and other situations. Know that and be prepared to tell an employer why that perspective will benefit the organization.

What was your college major? And how did you end up in the role you are into today?

I started college as a music major– but then I discovered there were people with talent in that field. Actually, I liked music theory, harmony and counterpoint, but I realized early that I didn’t have the passion needed to succeed in that field. I played around with majors in English, psychology, and art history, but ultimately settled on sociology which was great because it applies to everything.

Here’s the quick version of my career path after college:

Human resources specialist in retail merchandising to social worker in an agency for the blind to grad student in rehabilitation counseling to school psychologist running a clinic at West Virginia University while getting a doctorate in Educational Psychology to counselor to college students to career services director and disability services coordinator at Dickinson College (also an Assoc Professor teaching film studies) to
Director of Liberal Arts Career Services at The University of Texas at Austin.

Give us one tip for life after college.

Don’t worry if you don’t know what you’re going to “do”– either with your major or with your career. If you can plan your career in advance, that’s great, but otherwise, just follow what looks interesting, and when something else sounds more interesting move to that. When you don’t like your job, learn what you can from it, and move on as soon as possible. Follow your interests and keep learning.

Happy Monday! Here are this week’s five fabulous finds. Make it a great week, and let us know what you think!

1. Is your New Year’s resolution to make a career change in 2010? If so, check out this review of Alexandra Levit’s new book “New Job, New You.”

2. “Gen-Y, the Brazen Opportunist, and Curious Case of Penelope Trunk” the fabulous article by Fast Company that inspired my recent post.

3. Top 3 Mistakes People Make on LinkedIn. Read this article on careerealism! Especially if you are currently conducting a job search. You can also check out the author’s free webinar, which promises to help you land a job interview by next week if you follow his tips.

4. 7 Lies we Tell Ourselves about Money by the fabulously frugal, Ramit Sethi. I can relate to several of these points, how about you?

5. Need some inspiration in order to dazzle at your upcoming holiday parties? Check out Whitney Middleton’s recommendations at Fauxshionable: fashion sans debt.

I received a package from the fabulous GL Hoffman on Saturday with two books and a very nice hand written note. GL is the founder of the revolutionary job site Linkup.com and of the blog, What Would Dad Say. He thought I’d really enjoy reading Debra Shigley‘s “The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide,” and he was so right!

I haven’t been able to put this book down and therefore I will be doing a series of weekly blog posts on exceptionally useful chapters for you “Go-Getter Girls.”

I’m going to start by reviewing Chapter 2 which is titled “The Work World Can Be a Cold, Hard Place- You Must Learn to Deal with It.” This title alone made me so happy. For once no one is sugar coating the truth, telling you to go to HR, or saying that they are wrong and you are right. Sure, your co-workers might be jealous, catty and ridiculous but why should you care?

Here are the major takeaways from Chapter 2:

There are a hundred reasons why your co-workers may not like you. Stop focusing on WHY and instead make it your motivator to keep moving your career forward. Do all of your co-workers like YOU? Do you feel tension at the office? How will this new way of thinking help you?

There might be some truth in your colleagues critiques. You are NOT at the top, so there is probably some truth in what they are saying. LISTEN.

Fake it ’till you make it, sister! Walk in the office each day like you “won the lottery.” That feeling will get you through the tough days.

Again, not every person at work is going to like you.

Be prepared when going into a meeting that may result in mean spirited attacks disguised as feedback. Keep the meeting on track and if things get off course, offer to schedule a different time to discuss those issues.

Your “friends” at work aren’t necesarily your friends. In some industries, they may be your competition. Keep that in mind so you aren’t surprised if they undermine you or disappoint you. Have you ever been “double crossed” by a co-worker that you thought was your friend?

DO NOT GOSSIP EVER- NO EXCUSES! Politely deflect and after a few times people will stop bitching to you. This is a tough one. What tips would you have for other girls on how to handle and avoid gossip?

In the same respect, stop bitching to your cubicle mate- save that for your friends and family after work hours.

Try your hardest not to ever cry at work. If it does happen, don’t obsess over it. Pretend it didn’t happen and move on. Have you lost it at work? How did you deal?

Ladies, I’d love to hear about situations like this that have happened to you. Do you think Debra’s advice is too harsh?

Here are some random thoughts about what I was reminded of this week:

1. A bit of positive news builds a heck of a lot of momentum. This week I talked to ForbesWoman.com and mscareergirl was officially accepted into their blog network. For me this is a huge honor, and hopefully the start of lots more business-related writing.

2. Writing lists are only so helpful. It’s apparent that I only do what I want to do on my list.  My laundry has been sitting in heaps waiting to be folded for 3 days, my house is a disaster, and my fridge is low on inventory.  Although these were big items on my list, I could not have cared less.

3. The power of focus is pretty amazing. And no, I haven’t focused on cleaning at all this week, but I’ve made a lot of progress on planning for Ms. Career Girl’s improvements and growth.  This happens before and after my day job.  Working on this passion is what gets me out of bed every morning, drives my energy and my happiness every day. 

4. Without passion, women will never achieve focus.  If we don’t care about something, good luck focusing on it.  Especially for spacey ADHD types like me.

5. We suck when it comes to doing things we aren’t good at. I notice this in myself at work and in my friends/family. We ask our co-workers a few extra times if we are doing something correctly, we stall, we procrastinate, we complain to those at home, we get stressed out, we make it way harder than it is, we want to escape. This will definitely be a career barrier if we don’t overcome it.

6. Asking for/saying what you want (or stating how you feel) is so much easier than worrying about being polite, delaying the inevitable, or bottling up energy. That in itself crosses a lot off the to-do list, saves time and rids toxic energy. In my opinion, this is one thing career women need to do more of! I have several examples of this from the week which I’m not going to get into.  And- sidenote- I’ve noticed that being direct keeps getting easier and easier…you should definitely try it!

7. “Shoot for the moon and even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Think and dream really REALLY big.  It is really REALLY fun!

By, Ashley Crimaldi

Every woman wants to look her best over the holiday season. December and January are busy times for the social calendar, but the winter weather doesn’t do much for our hair, skin or waistlines for that matter. Between holiday shopping, office parties, family reunions and celebrations with friends, it’s hard to find time to look your best. My advice? Don’t let the cold winter weather get your spirits down! When you’re feeling drab and dull, reach for one of these five winter beauty essentials!

Rosy Pink Blush (with Shimmer)

There’s nothing more beautiful in the winter than the look of rosy pink cheeks. As if naturally blushing after coming in from a cold winter day, the right pink blush will make you look snow-kissed! I personally love a product with a little shimmer in it to translate the frostiness of winter. Try Bare Essentuals Cheerful, or NARS Multiple Stick blush in Orgasm. Remember: don’t over bronze! No need to look sun kissed in the winter (unless you live in California). A little bronzer is always good, but too much can look tacky, or orange- yuck! Can’t ditch the bronzer? Try a combo blusher bronzer like this one from Benefit

Red Lips

Nothing makes me feel more festive than wearing Red Lips in the winter! A nice little pop of color can add some pizzaz to that black trench coat you’ve worn 800 times. Try a traditional lipstick like MAC‘s Lady Bug or Russian Red. For a subtler look, try a red tinted gloss like Flirt! Plushious Lipcolor in La-La Land.

Shimmery Shadow

Experiment with some fun shimmery shadows this winter. I find Golden tones like Urban Decay’s Chopper and Midnght Cowgirl particularly pretty. These shadows have just the right amount of glitter- not too much, not too little. Too much glitter can look tacky and too youthful, but this time of year gives us some extra allowance especially on New Years Eve. Feeling really daring? Try a glitter pot from MAC

Extra moisturizing face lotion

The cold winter weather can be especially drying to our skin. Yearning for an extra touch of moisture in your skin care routine? Try Clinique’s Moisture Surge lotion, or switch to a more moisturizing foundation. Have a moisturizer like already? Try mixing a bit in with your liquid foundation to add extended moisture throughout the day

Colorful Lip Conditioning

Just because your lips are chapped doesn’t mean you have to smear on the Carmex or Vaseline. Enjoy the new variety of lip products that are actually good for your lips, and provide a subtle tint of color. My ultimate favorite is Neutrogena’s Moisture Shine Lip Sheers. This product combines the moisturizing power of a chap stick with the color of a lipstick, and the shine of a lipgloss. Its the perfect all in one product for the girl on the go. Other notables include Burt’s Bee’s Lip Shimmer and Clinique’s Vitamin C Lip Smoothie.

With these five winter beauty essentials, you’ll be ready for any occasion! Feel free to ask me any other beauty questions via my twitter @acrimaldi.

As I woke up at 5:30 this morning to get a head start on my day, I was debating what to write about today. First, let’s start by saying that this whole 5:30 AM wake up call is new for me and is the result of doing a little 2010 planning and goal setting. It is also the result of reviewing my 2009 goals.

I’m a huge believer in goal setting and creating a plan for the year ahead. It’s way too easy to get caught up in the routine tasks of daily life and then watch another year fly by with no progress. I always split up my annual plan into four sections: financial, health, career and personal. This year I’m adding one more part: I want to do something challenging that I’ve never done before.

2009 was a big year for me: I got a new job, a raise, I am living on my own for the first time, I got a puppy, I met and am dating the love of my life, I survived one whole month without shopping, I joined a women’s mentorship program to help underserved high school girls head to college, I’ve strengthened my friendships, took my first girl’s trip (to New York City- also a first for me) and feel a lot more stability and peace within myself.

I’m positive that I would not have accomplished any of these things or made the important changes that I did without my beloved 2009 goals. All year I kept my goals on my desktop at both my home and work computer and reviewed them frequently.

I’ve started on my 2010 list and encourage you to do the same. Split your goals up into categories that are important to you. Your goal setting should be “SMART”:

S: Specific

M: Measurable

A: Attainable

R: Realistic

T: Timely

This year I’m planning on running my first half marathon, reducing my credit card debt, increasing my savings, and doing a lot more with Ms. Career Girl. Of course I’ll need to set specific numbers for my financial goals, and define exactly what I want to do differently here at Ms. Career Girl. I will then break the goals down into what needs to be done each month, week and day to achieve them. Setting milestones (such as each quarter) to review your progress will keep you motivated and on track with achieving your goals and creating your own ideal life.

What big goals did you accomplish in 2009? What do you plan on accomplishing in 2010?

Today marks the beginning of the holiday season.  A season which changes as we get older. 

I couldn’t help but observe the chatter going on between other twentysomethings on Facebook and Twitter (and from my own friends) about this holiday season. 

Some of us are spending our first holiday away from home due to work, studying, or spending time with a significant other’s family.  Others feel that their “home” is no longer their “home,” as they have adjusted to their new life as an independent adult.  Then there are those twentysomethings who are dreading some of their relatives.  You know, the relatives that constantly ask you what you are doing with your life and why you are doing it; the ones who joke that you are going to become an old maid because you’re single.

And of course, this is one of the most difficult times of the year as many of us remember loved ones who will not be here to celebrate the holidays with us.

I’m sure we can all relate to at least one of these scenarios in our own lives. 

All the chatter about heading home for the holidays has made me realize that my peers and I are getting older and because of that, the essence of the holidays has changed.  Now I understand why everyone says the holidays are so stressful: budgeting for gifts, buying and wrapping the gifts, trying not to buy gifts for yourself, making cookies, avoiding cookies, holiday parties every weekend, more cookies, sending out holiday cards, making the perfect holiday dishes, giving back to your community, decorating the house and then of course, attempting to find some time for yourself in all of this mess…

Celebrating the holidays in your early twenties marks a time of change where you realize you are becoming an adult.  There is a strange feeling of being stuck between the child who wants Santa to come down the chimney, and being the adult who would rather hang out with their friends.  You want to cherish your old traditions and create new ones at the same exact time.

My advice? “When you can’t beat em, join em.”  Holidays in your twenties are a roller coaster of weird situations and new situations. Of defining your own traditions and venturing into new territories.  Find things to be grateful for in all of the madness.  Find out what you like and don’t like and use it to help shape your life for the better.

Have safe travels this week and enjoy your holidays.  If you have any great stories, please send them our way!

I came across a post on thathappenedtome.com which referred me to the blog thedailyasker.com. The Daily Asker is written by “La Roxy,” a woman who is doing a 1 year experiment in which she asks for something every day whether it be discounts, upgrades, and anything else that includes getting perks for free. She blogs about her daily “askings” and at the end tallys up how much she gained financially from simply asking.

It’s no secret that one of women’s biggest flaws in the career world is not asking for what they want. It’s shocking what we can get by simply opening our mouths, and The Daily Asker is proof of it!

While we are often times consumed by the 5 seconds of discomfort, we are really missing out.

Here are some examples of how I would (and have!) used the art of asking to get more:

- Don’t settle for the first salary offer you get from a future employer. Tell them you aren’t willing to take it for $X and you require a minimum of $Y. Let them get back to you. If they can’t budge on the salary, ask that they include more vacation days in your compensation package. I’ve done this and would’ve had to wait years to get the raise that it took me 10 seconds to get after asking for it on the initial offer call.

-Long line at a bar or club? Don’t stay in the back and wait 20 minutes, go right to the front and ask if there is anything you can do to get in sooner. Often times they will have you wait a few minutes at the front of the line and they will let you in.

-If you are very disappointed with a dish at a restaurant, send it back. Chances are you’ll get a complimentary dessert too!

-Never order anything online without googling for coupon codes first. I placed an order on Sunday and saved $10 and got free shipping thanks to taking the 5 seconds to Google.

-Feeling bored and hopeless in your job? Ask for more. Do you want to get into a different area of the business than you are currently working in? Ask for a project from people in that department, ask if you can help others and let your manager know that you can handle more. Although you may not get an initial pay raise or promotion, you are proving that you are capable of high quality work. In a worst case scenario you may prove to yourself that it’s time for a new job (which may be a gift in itself!).

-Did you just get a promotion but no mention of a raise? Don’t sit still. Speak up and after thanking your superiors for the promotion, make sure you talk dollars right away. This happened to one of my friends. She went from an entry level position to a managerial level position. There was no mention of a raise. The next day she mentioned it to her superior and what do you know, a big raise. What would’ve happened if she didn’t ask!?

So, today your homework is to ask for something! Wherever you are today, ask for something that you wouldn’t normally ask for. See where it takes you and hopefully this is a habit we can all take advantage of!