A Few Professional + Blog Updates

I have ALWAYS been a goal-getter! Maybe it is because I am an Enneagram Type 3 (if you know you know!) and THRIVE off of being productive and combatting every bullet point on my to do lists time and time again. Needless to say, June and July 2023 were BIG and EXCITING months for me. Both professionally and personally, I have been able to reach a few of my more bigger goals that I had established around the time I graduated college in 2021. This Fall 2023 season will be a busy busy busy yet excited time for me, and I cannot wait to see what all is in store for me moving forward.

Professionally-speaking, a reached a HUGE goal of mine within my 9-5 job that I have learned to LOVE over the past two years. I started my job back in late July of 2021 at the same company that I am lucky to be with now and don’t foresee myself leaving anytime soon. Over the past 2 years, I have tried my hand at a few different things, but have landed a great role on a healthcare-based contract that I LOVE and as a co-lead of my company’s Women in Data Community of Practice (COP) that I also LOVE. One of my biggest goals since January 2022 was to become a task lead for a specialty area within a contract that I was working on. And, I am pleased to say that as of late July 2022, my goal was ACHIEVED (!!!!) as I was able to transition to task lead and subject-matter expert (SME) for a 3-person team on my current healthcare-based project part time while also serving as a SME for another 7-person team on the same contract. I am extremely proud of myself for reaching this major career milestone of mine that I have been working towards for the past 18 months.

If there is one thing I have learned since starting my career is that careers are not like going to high school where you’re starting at the bottom and within 3 years you’re on top of the world essentially ruling the school. Career progression is A LOT slower than progression within one’s high school and college years. Careers take much longer than in high school or college to progress and *even* decide the direction you want to take. And, careers are decades-long experiences for many of us, as opposed to the standard 4 years of high school/college. Careers are unique to each of us, too, and the directions that we may choose to take. For myself, I want to take the leadership route with my career. Leadership is one of my biggest passions that I am blessed to have gained during my college years. One of my favorite leadership roles in college was being the President of the Canaday Math & Computer Science Club! And, well, my passion for leadership via the support of my employer (which I am SOOOO grateful for!!) has allowed me to apply for and get accepted into … the Ignite Young Professionals Class of 2024 cohort via the Leadership Center for Excellence in Arlington, Virginia. The Ignite Young Professionals Program’s purpose is “to expose participants to skills, ideas, and established area leaders, offer a space to explore personal and professional leadership development, and catapult emerging leaders into situations that create value and impact” (here). The other day, I took the DISC Management profile assessment as apart of preparation for Ignite Young Professionals AND let’s just say that I am VERY excited for the program to begin in October (!!). And, in late July, I networked with a cohort classmate in Old Town Alexandria which was a great opportunity to connect pre-program. In addition to Ignite Young Professionals, I will also be getting a human-centered design certification via a company-hosted course in October-November. I have been REALLY excited to take human-centered design and would’ve done it sooner if it weren’t for a busy spring/summer project season. Needless to say, I am really excited to grow and develop both personally and professionally and am extremely grateful for those in my network who helped me to get there!

While I won’t share much now, on the professional end of things, I have been working on figuring out a way to achieve a longer-term goal of mine. And, I am SO excited to say that within the last few weeks, the start of that goal is starting to come into itself. This goal of mine, even though I won’t say what it is now or anytime soon, is a big goal of mine that I know will set me up for success moving forward. Alongside this goal, one of another HUGE goals of mine that I will mention is to get my Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Ever since I was in my undergraduate years at Meredith College, I knew that I wanted to go to business school and get an MBA. The other day, I had my first discussion to learn about an MBA program and begin to decide which program and which program format may be the best fit for me. It is a REALLY exciting process, nevertheless, that leaves me feeling nothing but excited (and a *bit* overwhelmed!) for what’s all to come.

NOW, having reached two career milestones within the past 2 months, I have *surprise* become more and more busy in my professional life. I LOVE being busy professionally and for me that means scaling back on my travels via traveling less but for longer periods when work is less busy and enjoying more things locally, prioritizing self care more so, and ensuring that I meet ALL of my deadlines. I get a ton of fulfillment from professional development, and while I am adapting to it all now, I am also enjoying despite feeling a bit more overwhelmed than usual for the time being. SO, what does that all mean for the blog?! WELLLL, I have many many many blogging goals moving forward! I plan to post a bit less here on the blog aka this website, but be more intentional about it all. Moving forward, this platform will focus more so on things to do in the Washington, DC area, whether it be restaurants, cafes, bars, activities, day trips, and shops. I will ALSO be sharing tons and tons of travel content when I do travel, too. And, *of course* home decor, fashion (including my monthly work outfits of the day round-up’s!), and some hosting content in between will be shared, on occasion. My main focus has been finding fun things to do and sharing them with others while adding a sprinkle of confetti and pink wherever I go – The Pink Chickadee style!

I am ALSO please to say … that some of my BIGGEST goals in the blogging world of things are coming into fruition! While I will not say A TON at the moment, I will mention that I am extremely excited for what the future holds for me and my incredible platform that I am happy that YOU are a part of.

I have been dreaming up some BIG goals in both my blogging and professional worlds. I have always been someone who is a proud “hustler”, while also enjoying and emphasizing the importance of a work-life balance. AND, I am beyond excited to see lots of my hard work begin to pay off. Here’s to an exciting and fun, yet busy Fall season!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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10 Career Lessons I Learned Since College

I started my first job since college in July 2021. It has been 22 months since. I feel very very very lucky to be able to have landed a pretty great job opportunity straight out of college, as I had gotten the job offer in April 2021 a few weeks before my Senior year of college finals. And, since that day in April 2021 when I got my job offer, I have learned SO MUCH in my own career. There is so much wisdom to be shared and gained on my part. I have learned and grown so so so much ever since I first entered the workforce in July 2021.

The job search is intimidating but so is starting your first job out of college and career. It’s really challenging as there is no set handbook or one size fits all to starting out in the real world. All of us come from different walks of life, whether it be educational backgrounds, types of colleges/universities, years in school, or home lives that may have changed or not. I know while I may have had the “traditional” sorority-like college experience, many of my coworkers and friends and peers around me did not. Each of us and our own experiences have shaped us into who we are and how we will tackle our own careers. We’re all unique and so are our careers. Nowadays, the job market leaves many of us hopping from job to job. Fortunately, I have been at an amazing company where I essentially hopped from job to job within my company with the exact same benefits and a salary that has increased quite a bit over time. I feel extremely lucky to be working at an incredible company where the retention rate is higher than most. Yet, I still faced my own challenges and learned a ton within my own career – all of which has shaped me into the extraordinary woman that I am today.

Today, I am going to share 10 things that I have learned in the whopping 22 months since I have started my own career. Career paths nowadays aren’t linear and we can try out different things and still end up with incredible experiences and memories under our belt. We learn so much and grow from the things that we accomplish and may fail at career-wise. In the end, everyone’s career path and experience is uniquely theirs.

STEM For Her Elevate Her Gala

10 Things I Learned Since Starting My Career

1 – Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes, in college and school in general, it feels like asking for help is a sign of weakness. However, in life, we cannot do things on our own and we all need help from time to time. I used to be SO afraid to ask for help when I was in college and in the workforce at first. When I asked for help in college in the classroom, one of my classmates aka THAT classmate who made themselves known as a know it all always answered others’ questions which made me fearful to ask questions. This classmate of mine always wanted to beat the professor teaching us to answer everyone’s questions, which made me wanting to ask for help more fearful as I did not want this classmate’s prideful help but rather my professor’s help. Those experiences of mine from the college classroom made me fearful to professionally ask for help. Yet, we aren’t supposed to inherently know how to do everything on our own, so that’s where the breath of knowledge from our colleagues comes into play. And, indeed, asking for help is a sign of strength NOT weakness. Always ask for help and don’t be afraid to do so.

2 – Continuously be active and engage with others on LinkedIn. Yes, LinkedIn can feel irritating and perhaps like a chore from time to time. I used to say that I hate LinkedIn, but it DOES have its advantages. LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool and a GREAT way that I have found connections and events that are professionally related. It is important when using LinkedIn to use it wisely — including following relevant professional associations and societies, charities, your company/company(s) of interest whether industry-wise or applying to, and those you work with and have worked with. Never be afraid to send a LinkedIn invitation to someone else. The worst that they can say is no. At the same time, I have found professional development webinars, programs, associations, and connections through *none other than* LinkedIn. Be active on LinkedIn and reach out to others, engage with others’ posts, and post if you are comfortable doing so. Creating your own LinkedIn profile is key.

3 – Attend networking events with your company and in your city. Networking events are a powerful way to make connections both at your company and beyond. Many companies offer happy hours for people to network with others within their company. Having a network both within your company and beyond is a very powerful thing. While it may feel daunting to attend those in-person happy hours and networking events, they are SO valuable to your career as overtime you will feel less uncomfortable and awkward when you do. Attending those networking events will pay off, too. Networking is a powerful thing – the more people you know, the more opportunities that will be opened for you. I got my first and current job out of college through networking with others on LinkedIn and personal connections via informational interviews. At the same time, I met two of my best friends – Briana and Brittany – through attending a Holiday Happy Hour in December 2021 which I *almost* didn’t attend out of none other than nerves. Needless to say, building a network in your career is such a powerful tool that helps us develop our soft, communication skills when it comes to elevator pitches, establishing connections, and even assertive communication. When in doubt, just go for it as you never know who you may meet!

4 – Register for webinars pertaining to your career interests (time-permitting). Webinars are a powerful way to learn different skills, concepts, and strategies pertaining to professional development. Many webinars are during the 12-1pm hour (at least on standard Eastern time where I am), which makes them an easy thing to attend during a lunch break (lunch and learn anyone?!) and are FREE to register for. And, LOTS of webinars are recorded, too, with recordings sent out to all who register, so if something pops up, you can still watch on your own time. I recently attended a webinar on burnout and how to identify it and take care of ourselves when it happens. I feel extremely fortunate to work for an amazing organization that supports their employee’s well-being including taking care of themselves when they burnout and for allowing me to attend this incredible webinar. Burnout can affect employees’ work ethic and performance, so knowing how to identify it is an important professional skill to have. I really needed and enjoyed the webinar on burnout, too. I also recently attended a webinar on leadership pertaining to women in data which was really powerful and I learned a lot about ethical leadership especially as data can be construed in SO many different ways. Now, where do I find these webinars?! Company-hosted events, LinkedIn, and professional societies!

5 – Set limits to ensure you have a work-life balance. More and more nowadays, companies are striving to emphasize the importance of a work-life balance. Working around the clock and nonstop truly does affect both our physical and mental health. In recent times, I have set limits in my professional life to balance out my personal life. One example of how I set limits is by setting aside an hour each day for a lunch break. That hour may *just* involve a webinar (see above!!) but it also may be me simply petting my dog and visiting with my neighbors. Another way I do this is by trying to work less in the evenings and more during the 9-5 time frame. Another GREAT way to set limits at work, which I do as well, is by using my personal leave and NOT being afraid and feeling bad to use it. There is NO SHAME in using your personal leave and many Americans don’t use theirs for similar reasons. On the same token, it is important not to over-use personal leave beyond limits set forth by your company. It can also help us strengthen our assertive communication skills to set forth limits within our work and personal lives. Work-life balances look different for everybody and it takes time to find out what is right for you.

Leadership Summit via The Leadership Center for Excellence
Conference briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC

6 – Don’t be afraid to reach out to others who you admire professionally. It can be SOOO scary to reach out to others, especially when it can feel intimidating to do so as we all seem to have crazy busy lives. Asking others for advice and words of wisdom or even for help is actually super flattering and a compliment to someone else. My manager asked me how I just go after things and ask people for help seemingly without fear. And, well, I do sometimes feel nervous when I reach out to others. That is the truth. But, sometimes just doing it is much much much better than wondering “what if?”. And, at the end of the day, the worst thing somebody can do is say “no”. And, guess what?! That is OKAY. You did your part and that is ALL that matters at the end of the day. The more you reach out, the better you will be and feel with it all no matter how nerve-wracking it may feel each time. Who knows?! You will have likely expanded your network for the better!

7 – Be open to trying something new. There have been quite a few times in my career where I have had the opportunity to try something new. It may be intimidating at first to try something new career-wise, but in the end, the more skills you have the better! I have tried learning Python, BitBucket, GitHub, Tableau, Visual Basic Code Applications, and PowerBI softwares in my career. Some of these softwares I am better at than others. Some of those things I have learned that I am, well, not the best at which is 10000% OKAY. At least I tried. There are many many many experiences that I have had that I am glad I simply tried, whether with a good or not-so good outcome. But the best part?! We ALWAYS learn something when we try something new and what we learn will always be valuable to us and our career in the long run.

8 – Your first role is NOT your last role. The first role that you have will NOT be your last. You may not be as excited about the first role that you have at your first job either. A lot of people don’t enjoy the first role of theirs either. However, we will learn a lot from that first role in our career that will carry onto our future roles in our career. At the same time, it is super important to pay our own dues. No one ends up at the top of their career straight of out college or as a summer intern while in college but much longer. It’s just like being a Freshmen in college versus a Senior in college: it simply takes time to climb the ladder. It is OKAY. Careers simply take TIME and lots of HARD WORK to progress. It’s all normal and apart of being in a career. Just take the time to learn and grow in every role and see what you can carry from one career experience to the next.

9 – Always be proactive. It is SO important to be proactive in your career, especially when communicating your needs and what you have accomplished. One time, I had a former manager of mine tell me that there was an issue in my work compared to what she had anticipated. In that moment, I knew that she was only focused on a certain population as opposed to the population that was laid out for me to look at. I immediately sent her an email to explain the difference in my work and what she had initially expected compared to what she had expected in her email later on when I submitted and that the expectations may have not been made clear on her end. I was SO nervous to send that email, as I knew that my manager could’ve been upset, but, at the same time, I knew that it had to be done and was proud of myself for being assertive and speaking up. Fortunately, my manager agreed that she had made a mistake and one of my teammates who is older than me send he was proud of me for how well-written my email to this manager of mine was that he had also seen. I still to this very day feel very proud of myself for being proactive and speaking up for something that I knew needed to be addressed to not have confusion or mistakes when there weren’t any. This scenario is one of many where I have been proactive in my career. Being proactive can be nerve-wracking at times, but it is very important in being successful.

10 – Don’t compare yourself and your career to someone else’s. Self-comparison is toxic. There. I said it. Somebody else’s career markers are NOT your own either. We all have different career paths and aspirations. The other week, I was networking with a coworker of mine who happens to be a Program Manager. Program Management is definitely something that I am interested in over time. And, this coworker of mine has plenty of knowledge in the realm of Program Management. One of the most important things she said to me was that many of us have to wait for the right fit or opportunity, given our own experiences and backgrounds and goals career-wise, and that is OKAY. This piece of advice sat very well with me and is so so so vital to being successful. Sometimes, we simply have to wait and wait even longer than we have aspired to. It’s OKAY. Whatever is meant to be will be in life and especially in our careers.

Above all else, remember to do what feels right for YOU in your career. Adults spend a lot of their adult life working. SO, why not make our careers fun and empowering for ourselves?!

XOXO – Katie <3

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In My Corporate Queen Era

New season, new era!!! I’m a HUGE Swiftie (Taylor Swift fan) in case you cannot tell :)! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have seen a preview into my brand-new Corporate Queen Era with my new look. Yes, YOU heard that right: I *finally* got my hair done and chopped most of it off and went blonde. Trust me, I feel like the Corporate Queen that I AM!

Before I get into the meat of this blog post, I want to thank my amazing hair stylist Yaleena who I have been trusting with my hair for the past 10+ years and in 3 different salons over the years (my Mom goes to her too!) for doing an AMAZING job on my hair!! You can follow her on Instagram @yaleenahairdesign. A fun fact about Yaleena is that she went to high school with my Aunt Amy in Northern Virginia back in the days. Now, she is currently at a hair salon in gorgeous Old Town Fairfax, Virginia just 20 minutes away from my house. THANK YOU, Yaleena <3

2 years ago, I was about to graduate from college. April 2021, I landed my current position at my incredible company in consulting. I started at my company in July of 2021. I LOVE my company and the culture that they thrive on and share with their employees with pride. My company does incredible connection events for networking (two of which I’ve supported in October and in March) with putting on, allows for their employees to pave their own unique career paths and the flexibility to do so, and extraordinary benefits including support for certifications and graduate school along with employees to create their own schedules and have a strong work-life balance. In July, I went to a Washington Nationals baseball game with a BUNCH of coworkers which was a blast. I have also attended several happy hours with coworkers who are Early Career Professionals (like myself!) and with coworkers of all ages and career levels. I have gained a HUGE passion for networking within my company, too. I admire my company and their values very much. Not only do I LOVE the people that I work with on my team (I am full time in the Health Market in an insurance-focused role), but I also LOVE what I do and the benefits that come with it.

One of the biggest parts of my company work that I LOVE is getting to work in the Health Market full time. Very recently, I moved onto a health insurance-related project that I had been on part time along with another project to a full time role on this project. I LOVE that I get to hone in on my skills within my healthcare project and explore different avenues within it, including management, technical writing, data visualization, coding, and policy. I get to learn a ton of different softwares on this project which is great experience. I truly get a GREAT opportunity to dabble in a TON of different aspects pertaining to my project and further develop my skills and expertise. At the same time, I LOVE my teammates. We are a 30 people+ team and everyone is super friendly. Although I don’t work with everyone on the team on a regular basis, I do get opportunities to see them all virtually weekly and have met many of my teammates in-person. I am also blessed to have developed friendships with a few of my teammates who I work closely with, too. I was told by my friend Lorena that I talk about health insurance A LOT – LOL! Needless to say, I am VERY passionate about the work that I do in the Health Market.

Another strong role that I play in my company is through co-leading my company’s Women in Data Community of Practice (COP). Women in Data is focused on facilitating discussions surrounding diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility and all things pertaining to women who are working in and with data at my company along with *of course* discussions surrounding all things related to data, whether it be data science, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), data visualizations, coding, data analytics, and much more. We also have male employees participate in events and present, too, which I think says a ton about my fellow coworkers and it makes me happy. One of my company’s biggest goals is to increase ALL employees’ digital enablement (DE), including knowledge on different aspects within data, which makes it fun to spread the word. We do several fun events, whether it be Brown Bags, networking events, panels, service activities/awareness, and informal chats. ALL very fun. I recently attended an event to kick off my company’s Disability Affinity Group which was incredible for networking and a group that I will be collaborating with when it comes to the data behind disabilities and the growing awareness and need for accessibility. All in all, I LOVE getting to lead a COP as an early career professional and support and empower others within my organization.

My passion project is promoting equity pertaining to women in STEM and people with disabilities JUST in case you didn’t notice from my social media stories already! Talking about career opportunities in STEM with people who may not feel as if they would succeed in a STEM career despite having interests in STEM is a big passion of mine. Unfortunately, women and people with disabilities are less likely to pursue careers in STEM along with the BIPOC community. STEM For Her, a nonprofit I volunteer with and LOVE is striving to change just that. A highlight for me was doing STEM For Her’s onsite social media at their first-ever STEM For Her Day in December 2022. I am also looking to get involved with The Arc of Northern Virginia, a nonprofit focused on empowering people with disabilities, including participating with Papa in their run/walk 5K in June at a nearby park. I also send out A BUNCH of professional development and networking events to my friends, too. I definitely want to share even more on the blog about this passion of mine, too!

Currently, I am on the leadership track which those I work with fully support. I do not know exactly what leader I would like to be, but I love the opportunities and options that my company has to offer. At the same time, I want to continue to volunteer and maybe serve on a nonprofit board someday. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility is a big interest of mine which I get to see in my project work daily. I plan to get professional certifications, including one in Human-Centered Design this October. In a few years, I have aspirations to get an MBA at a local Washington, DC area program part time while working. I am also looking at programs in leadership focused on young professionals in the near-term future (more to come on this!!). A lot of my free time in the evenings is spent at professional development events, whether with Women in Technology (an AMAZING Washington, DC area-based professional society), STEM For Her volunteering, or other networking events. I definitely see myself staying in the Washington, DC area for my career. My company is headquartered in the DMV, I have many opportunities both personally and professionally in this area, and many of my friends and most of my family are nearby (whether in Delaware just a few hours away, Annapolis in Maryland, Northern Virginia, or Philadelphia/New Jersey also a few hours North). Needless to say, I am blessed and lots of great things are to come!

One of the biggest things in my Corporate Queen Era for me will be preventing burnout by setting limits and being more intentional both personally and professionally with my time. It is SO EASY for each of us to get very busy with our work and personal life. We cannot do it all. As much as I dreaded accepting this reality, it is the truth. To be able to accomplish what we set our minds to, we NEED to be able to set limits, make time for our passions, dedicate time to check in with those we love both friends and family, enhance our professional skills and grow in our jobs, seek out new opportunities, and take a vacation on occasion. I have some exciting vacations planned in 2023-2024, including to: San Francisco, Honolulu, Nashville, Boston, Edenton, the Maine coastline, Charlotte, London, Edinburgh, and Dublin! Needless to say, I am very lucky and excited for my Corporate Queen Era AND what is to come!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Dress for a Work Business Casual Dress Code 

For the past year, I have been working primarily remote. HOWEVER, I am making efforts these next few months and into the future to work in the office in a hybrid format. Although my company has stated that it has a “casual” dress code, the unsaid guideline is pretty much that you dress business casual where jeans are acceptable. Despite the fact that I still work remote and when working remotely the dress code is practically non-existent, I STILL get the thrill of dressing up for a dress code, whatever that may be!

Back in the days in high school, I used to be REALLY into getting dressed up and wearing a cute outfit for school. I did it EVERYDAY! During my high school days, I took multiple advanced level courses at a time along with extracurriculars, so my stress levels were typically high. So, wearing a cute outfit which I picked out the night before ALWAYS got me through the days and gave me SO MUCH excitement. Needless to say, planning out my outfits of the day were such a creative outlet for me!!~

Last year, I wrote a blog post on dressing for work when there’s NO dress code aka whenever I am working remote. I have also written about wearing Lilly Pulitzer to work in the summer time, which my biggest fear in college being known as “the Lilly [Pulitzer] girl” (!!!) was that I wouldn’t be able to wear my favorite fashion brand into the office. I have linked all relevant blog posts below:

When working in the office for a business casual dress code, I think there’s A LOT of interpretation for how to dress for it. Nowadays, I feel that one can style their business casual looks in more ways than they could even 5 years ago. I am one to style brightly colored clothing for work – within means, of course!!! – and make it work within my company’s dress code. Personally, I feel it’s more helpful to list out the criteria that I use when picking out my outfits for in the office in hopes of helping you, too:

  • Closed-toe shoes ONLY and usually not sneakers or boots (unless appropriate!)
  • All clothing ironed/with NO wrinkles
  • Nothing alcohol-related (earrings, champagne-printed bag, etc.)
  • No spaghetti straps unless worn with a cardigan/jacket
  • Sleeveless tops/dresses must be formal
  • Heels must be under 2 inches tall
  • Nothing too revealing, in terms of attire

& that’s it! That all being said, business casual dress codes can leave A LOT of room for interpretation when it comes to styling outfits. I have always found it important to dress accordingly wherever you go, but also add your own twist to it, too! Individuality is IMPORTANT!!

On the same token, when it comes to pieces that I LOVE for work, here are a few that are my favorites:

  • Pearl necklace
  • White jeans
  • Midi dress
  • Blazer (in ALL colors, whether pink, navy, black, tan, or green!)
  • Tweed jacket
  • Canvas tote
  • Ballet flats
  • Maxi dress
  • Mini skirt
  • White tee
  • Striped tee
  • Maxi skirt
  • Kitty pumps
  • Little black dress (LBD)
  • Cardigan (in ALL colors, too!!!)
  • Pearl stud earrings
  • Beaded statement necklaces (they’re my FAVORITE!!!!)
  • & MOST dresses!!!

Being at home for the past 2+ years due to COVID-19 has made me now more than ever before psyched to have an excuse to dress up and see others, whether it be in a workplace, for a dinner with family or friends, sightseeing, or a happy hour. Now, to utilizing my very very very creative outlet of picking out my outfits yet again!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Hybrid Work Essentials!

Ever since I started working in a hybrid format (going into the office 1-2 times/week), my hybrid work essentials have been adapted a bit. The other week, I *finally* purchased my second-ever Big Girl purchase – another LG monitor (linked below for your own sheer convenience)! If you follow me on Instagram, (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you know that I regularly share screenshots of the Netflix/Hulu/HBOMax/DisneyPLUS/YouTube content that I watch after work hours on my work monitor – haha oh, the PURE irony! Well, today, I’m going to be sharing the work from home and hybrid work essentials that I use for my own successes in the workforce on a daily basis for you to shop yourself, too. Besides The Dollar Tree, many of my hybrid work desk essentials come from Target, Walmart (courtesy of Packed Party and The Pioneer Woman), Lilly Pulitzer *of course!*, The Rifle Paper Company, Vera Bradley, Vahdam Tea, and Rae Dunn (although, not linked), and Kate Spade. I am ALSO updating my at-home Office soon, too, so stay tuned!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

Happy shopping/office space inspiration!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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6 Things I Learned from 6 Months in the Workforce 

So, I have now been in the workforce for 6 months! Since starting my job, it has been a whirlwind of excitement and growth and learning that I am excited to see where I grow since starting my job. I really love the company that I work for and hope to stay there and expand my career there, too. While I am in the data analytics subject area in my day to day job, I want to share lessons that I have learned that will help people in ANY subject area or industry in Entry-Level roles and/or simply starting out in the workforce within their day to day life – you can also follow me on Instagram (@_thepinkchickadee) to see my daily work outfits.

  1. Your coworkers will come from all walks of life and that’s an AMAZING thing – The workforce is MUCH different from college life. You are working with people of ALL ages and ALL different backgrounds. As someone who has always had a passion for learning about others and their lives and backgrounds, I find this to be such a great thing and a lifelong skill – learning from others’ experiences and growing from it all. The MORE we learn about others and their experiences that aren’t our own, the more we grow as people from what we learn. Trust me, it’s a beautiful thing and you’ll love that aspect of the workforce as time goes on!
  2. You will learn valuable skills that you will use in many different ways – Whether you realize it or not, your job will teach you valuable skills that you will apply in many different ways, whether it be in your career now, down the road, or other aspects of your life. For example, I have ALWAYS been afraid to ask for help, as I have continuously seen myself as someone who wants to do it all on her own. BUT, being in the workforce has made me realize that in life, it DOES take a tribe. Your coworkers will want to help you 9 times out of 10 and are happy to, even when the question may feel “stupid” or “dumb” to you. The same concept goes for planning a dinner party for 10 of your friends and family on your own where everyone brings a dish to share. No one should do it on their own. Whatever the skills may be for you, you will learn some valuable skills from your job, both in your industry and area of expertise and simply life skills. Be thankful for that, too.
  3. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to someone new – Being in the workforce is not just about what you know but who you know. When starting a brand-new job and entering into the workforce, there are going to be a LOT of new faces. I have always made an effort to introduce myself to someone new within my company or industry, no matter how nervous I may feel about it. While it is daunting at first, 9 times out of 10, people are EXCITED to meet you too. People are typically touched to be able to meet someone new and know that you took the time to introduce yourself to them and that you want to know them too. It may be nerve-wracking and overwhelming at first, but it WILL be worth it in the long run. And, perhaps, you may make a new friend or two too!
  4. Take time outside of work to learn your role – As an entry-level employee, I find it REALLY valuable to take the time to LEARN your role and the ropes of my role and simply being in the workforce. Simply putting it, along with doing your job and getting the job done (because, yes, people aka your coworkers and boss ARE relying on you to get the job done), it’s also your job to LEARN while on the job. Taking the time to simply learn new things while on the job WILL take much effort on your part – it may mean taking some time outside of your job to learn it all too. Jobs are ALL about learning and growing while getting paid to do so, unlike college!
  5. Set some goals but be REALISTIC – Having goals professionally is SO important. But, it is also important to ensure that your goals are concise and realistic. That being said, if you have 10 professional goals, that may be exciting and enthralling, but it also may not be realistic to achieve them all within 6 months or even a year. And, perhaps, you may be able to combine 1-2 of your goals into one big goal. Goals are an excellent way to aim for something exciting and bigger within your professional role and life. Goals will help you to be able to discover your passions and work towards something that will lead to a stronger and healthier professional life for yourself in the long run. Not only will you be able to work professionally through setting goals, but also personally. Though, through it all, it’s important to remember that goals can and will change over time and that is OKAY. Life may take its toll and your perceptions of your initial goals may change. Be sure to be flexible and adapt through the goal getter process!
  6. Above all else, remember to make time for YOU! – While the hustle is the name of the game of the workforce, it is also just as important to take some time away from the hustle for yourself. Be sure to take breaks – maybe go for a walk, go to the gym, go to the grocery store, get coffee with friends, or even take a nap. Perhaps, you can EVEN focus on your own passions outside of work, whether that be a side hustle, your pet(s), cooking, outdoor activities, or something else. If we work too much, then we loose ourselves from within. We NEED to take time for ourselves and even take days off for ourselves, simply on a trip, staycation, or just to nap and watch TV. Above all else, it is OKAY to take breaks, even when work may feel overwhelming. Remember that.

The workforce may define our lives on a daily basis, BUT we must take time to personally succeed and grow, too. Above all else, being in the workforce will shape you into the person that you are meant to become. Trust the process of it all.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Tips for Networking Virtually!

Career development and networking are some of the key parts to a successful career path. BUT, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it much more challenging to network with others in the ways that we used to. Although networking events that are in-person are coming back into the mix, virtual work and networking events will still remain prevalent moving forward. Personally, I see benefits to both in-person networking and virtual networking and both will be here to stay in the coming weeks, months, and years. Today, I am going to share some tips for networking virtually, tips that I used to help land me my job post-college and continue to develop professionally.

  • Use LinkedIn every day that is a workday – Thinking of your 9-5 job as a Monday-Friday reporting for duty role, you can also think of your presence on LinkedIn as the same thing. Even if you simply log onto LinkedIn and scroll through your feed and messages, you will get A LOT out of the platform. You will learn a lot about your company (which you should be regularly following on the site), your colleagues (same idea as your company – CONNECT with them!), and network beyond your day to day folks from simply logging onto LinkedIn. There are so many articles shared on a consistent basis about industry news, your colleagues, empowerment, and others in your network. It is really important to stay up to date on it all and simply making using LinkedIn as apart of your regular routine will help you do just that!
  • Be attentive and intentional when using your LinkedIn – When using LinkedIn, pay attention to what posts you like and what links form postings you decide to read. Make sure that, 1, the posts you like are of interest to you, and/or are postings from people in your network that you enjoyed connecting with and want to continue to connect with, whether they be colleagues (ALWAYS interact with colleagues), people in your network who you LOVE to see succeed, or people you would like to expand your network with with having them in it. One cool piece of advice that I got in college was to like and comment on LinkedIn posts from people that you really want to impress and leave a lasting impression on, whether it be working at their company some day, or just knowing that you care about what they’ve been up to professionally. Above all else, remember that a simple like or comment on LinkedIn goes a LONG WAY.
  • Use LinkedIn’s search tools to find new connections – Y’all, LinkedIn has some REALLY cool, yet underrated features and tools that you can use to network. One of my favorite tools that I used in college was the tool that presents to you people who have either worked or attended an institution that you either attended or worked/are working at, or are hoping to work at someday. Using this tool, you can filter out people based on their college degree(s), job role, location, and much more. This tool can help you when figuring out what types of jobs people with your degree from your college or company are working in, where these people may live, and what they have been doing since. You can, then, click on the people who may be of interest to your own network’s profiles and can give request to connect with them and reach out to them yourselves. It’s such a great way to network with others and expand your network!
  • Search for virtual and in-person conferences and strive to attend – One of the BEST ways to network with others is to attend conferences within your industry. Whether virtual or in-person, conferences are an amazing way to be able to network with others in your industry and learn something super cool and handy in your job, too. Usually, conferences touch on major industry trends and have major industry leaders attending and presenting as well. It’s a great way to be able to connect with others, as both virtual and in-person conferences offer networking opportunities for everyone who attends. And, if not, then most presentations have the presenters’ names and emails on it, with opportunities to contact them with questions or simply connect via email or LinkedIn after their presentation. The best way to find a conference is to Google “your industry” and “conference” and ask colleagues which they have considered attending. Before searching for a potential conference to attend, be mindful that conferences can be expensive to attend, especially if you’re funding it on your own.
  • Find virtual professional development sessions, too – Like conferences, there are ALWAYS virtual professional development sessions and webinars given by industry experts. Some webinars and development sessions may come at an extra cost, which is important to note when looking for one. Podcasts are out there for every industry, too, and an awesome budget-friendly option for ANYBODY. Look them up, follow them, and attend/listen regularly (regularly being a term used in retrospect as it can mean once or twice a month, weekly, daily, etc. – whatever YOU CAN manage).
  • Perhaps, even join a professional society relevant to your career field – Professional societies are an EXCELLENT way to be able to network with others from potentially across the country and globe. Many professional societies offer conferences, professional sessions, networking events, committees, special interest groups, and much more! I am apart of a professional society that has its own podcast as well. The best way to join one is to ask which one’s your colleagues are apart of and simply research them!
  • Learn more about your coworkers via LinkedIn and on your company’s website and ask them about it! – This one goes along with making LinkedIn apart of your weekday workday routine. As you regularly check your LinkedIn, you learn more about your fellow coworkers and can even get links on your company’s website to learn more about what they’ve done. At the same time, one of the BEST ways to make yourself known when it comes to networking is to simply ask your colleagues about their work, what they’ve done, and show your interest. When you present your colleagues with interest in their work, then they will see it and be touched that you cared to ask and want to learn more about them. Perhaps, they may even show it in return someday, too, or someone else will with you down the road!
  • Make an effort to connect with someone new often – Whether it be within your company, in your network, or beyond, making a sustained effort to connect with someone new every week, two weeks, month, or however you see as fit will help you network effectively. Many of my tips that were previously noted will be GREAT for helping you do just that! Networking takes ALL kinds and shows up in several different ways and it’s always fun to reach out and meet somebody new. Not only does it help you, but it benefits someone else – someone new in your network.
  • Make an effort to maintain your current connections regularly – One of the BEST pieces of advice that I received while networking was to each week shoot a message or share your support for someone within your network. Let them know that beyond your few interactions plus some that you want to still keep them within your network. Networking is ALL about maintaining your connections beyond your encounters from the start. Keep them going and going strong and you’ll be SET!

When networking, it’s important to make a consistent effort with it all. The hard work that you put in will pay off in the long run, if not right now, then down the road – TRUST ME!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Is Blogging a Good Side Hustle for You? Here are 11 Reasons Why!

The photos, the outfits, the reviews, and the products, oh my! When it comes to being a blogger, I have pretty much loved every minute of it all. On the same token, blogging isn’t an easy gig to get into especially when talking about making money and when it comes to the commitment that you have to invest in it. But, that all being said, blogging may still be a good side hustle for you. Today, I will be sharing 11 reasons why blogging may be a good side hustle for you.

Is Blogging a Good Side Hustle for You?

  1. You’re driven – To be a blogger, you have to be driven enough to be able to stick with it. Like picking your full time career, you decided that you wanted to do your full time job and you stuck with it. Similarly, deciding to start a blog is not something that you should think about overnight and then create the next day. It should be something that you think about overnight, sleep on, and then go from there. You should wake up in the morning and be ready to take on the world and your side hustle, too. The drive to start blogging is a good indicator that you know it would be a good side hustle for you.
  2. You have a passion that you want to share with others – Do you have a passion for fashion? Maybe you have a itch to travel and want to share your adventures and tips with others? Maybe you want to connect with others with your own personal experiences? Maybe you like to shop and want to help others shop, too? Perhaps, you’re a bargain hunter and want to help others find bargains too. And, maybe, it is all of the above in some capacity. Whatever the case may be, you have a passion and a strong one at that. My mother always said that people LOVE to talk about themselves. The same idea goes for our passions! That being said, if you have a passion and you want to talk about it with others, then blogging may be a good side hustle for you to do just that.
  3. You are willing to make the investment – Blogging IS an investment. Blogging is an investment of your time, energy, money, and a major commitment at that. They say with blogging that you have to spend money to make money and that is the truth. You HAVE TO be willing to invest monetarily in your blog before you ever make a profit from it. Some of the ways that you can invest in your blog is through purchasing your own website domain name, site features (I use WordPress), site logo, camera, tripod, light ring, and even photographer (however, I think that the website and logo should be your priority and photography should be a secondary priority that comes later on if you so desire and can afford it regularly). Whatever you choose to do to invest in your blog, know that it will be an investment of your own money before you yield money from elsewhere. Be prepared and willing to do just that, if you want to make blogging your side hustle.
  4. You’re realistic about it – Blogging takes realism. Let’s be realistic here for a second. You will NOT grow your blogging platform overnight – IT TAKES TIME. Being a new blogger on Instagram does not mean that you will have a following of 1,000+ overnight on a brand-new account. You just won’t. The same idea goes for your website viewers. It takes time. On the same token, blogging will 9 times out of 10 probably not become your full time gig. It probably won’t. While you may yield some money from it, you won’t right away and you probably won’t do it full time either. However, that is not to say that that won’t happen and could actually happen for you. A lot of people it doesn’t happen to. In fact 80%+ of bloggers make no money from their blogs ever. And that is OKAY! If you are considering making blogging your side hustle, then be realistic with yourself, in order to know if it is a good fit for you.
  5. You are willing to make the commitment – Blogging is a major commitment. It is a great commitment to make to yourself and to helping others, such as your readers. BUT, you have to be willing to make that commitment. There’s a lot of time, energy, to do lists, editorial calendars, writing sessions, brainstorming sessions, photoshoots, content planning, and much more that goes into blogging. For most of us, blogging involves many of these tasks being done on our own. My small business owner friend Holly of Glitter and Daisies (use my code PINK10 for 10% off your purchase) shared an Instagram Reel where she shares all of her staff who happened to be her playing a variety of different roles besides her cheerleader boyfriend who is a gem – whether it be shipping packer, content curator, etc. Just like Holly, bloggers experience the same exact thing. It takes A LOT of work, time, and commitment. Blogging will be a good side hustle for you, but only if you are willing to make that commitment.
  6. You have the time to make the commitment – Many times, I say I want to do something. However, 9 times out of 10, I do not do it. Reason being? I simply do not have the time to do it. That is OKAY! Time is limited. We need to make the time for our jobs, to make 3ish meals a day, for our families and potential partners, for our pets, and to simply be a sane human being (for me that is binge watching shows on Netflix!). The same idea goes for starting a blog. You NEED to make sure that you have the time to start a blog, stick with it, and be successful. When it comes to blogging especially while working full time, a lot of creative thinking and time that is invested into your blog is done after work hours and on the weekends. That’s the honest truth. If you do not think you are able to do that at this moment, then blogging may not be for you now. Though, that is not to say that your time may free up and blogging may be a good side hustle for you in the future!
  7. You are not just in it to make money – Although you will probably not make a bunch of money from blogging right away, you may make some money from it in the future. If you want blogging to be your side hustle, then make sure you are in it because you have the drive, passion, and the willingness to share that passion(s) of yours with others. You should NOT be in it just for the money and perks that come with it. Blog because YOU WANT TO and NOT because you want financial perks from it. There is so much more to blogging than meets the eye and there is so much reward within it. That’s the best part of it all. End of story.
  8. You want to establish a community of like-minded individuals – One of the BEST parts of blogging is the extraordinary community that I have gotten from it. There are so many people, influencers, bloggers, small business owners, and likeminded folks alike, that I have met and can proudly call my friend. These people live anywhere and everywhere and it is so cool. It’s a gift above all else and makes blogging a good side hustle for that, too.
  9. You want to help others – Above all else, when starting a blog, you should have a passion and a passion that you want to share. With your passion, you probably want to help others in some capacity. Whether it be sharing style inspiration, the latest sales, a new recipe, empowerment, personal experiences, travel tips, or tips on something else, your blog will impact others and hopefully impact them in a positive light. You must want to help others in some way, shape, or form, if you are considering making blogging your side hustle.
  10. You are willing to learn a bit throughout the process – NO blogger knows it all, especially when blogging regularly and even starting a blog. When blogging, you HAVE TO be willing to learn from others and grow as a blogger. There is no specific manual for starting a blog, but there are several podcasts, blog posts, and Youtube videos that can help you along the way. Remember that every blogger could learn something new and improve, no matter how long they have been blogging for. Simply being willing to learn and grow throughout the process of having a blog will make blogging a goof side hustle for you.
  11. You can trust the process – Whatever may happen throughout the blogging process, remember to trust the process of being a blogger. There will be times where you will feel great about your blogging platform and times where you won’t. It’s normal. My Aunt Amy is a blogger and has been much longer than I have and she says the best way to be successful with blogging is to keep keeping at it. At the same time, in the blogging world, slow and steady wins the race so be patient and your blogger world will be great – blogging side hustle and all!

Being a blogger has been the best side hustle for me, and I hope if you are considering becoming a blogger yourself that blogging will be the best side hustle for you, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Ways to Use Your College Extracurricular Activities Professionally

Whether it be a club officer position, being a member of a club on campus, or in a leadership position within another capacity, college extracurricular activities are an excellent way to show yourself off. In college, I was personally victimized by overcommitment. I served in SO many leadership roles within my college years – read them all here – that it definitely has helped me in the workforce, too. Today, I will be sharing ways to use your college extracurricular activities within the professional world.

Ways to Use Your College Extracurricular Activities Professionally

  1. You know how to work with people of all kinds – when serving in a leadership position, you learn how to collaborate and work with people of all kinds. Not everyone has the same way of working, personality type, and so much more than ourselves. Needless to say, everyone is unique and working in a leadership role provides you the lens to work with people who are different from ourselves – something that is seen everyday within the work world.
  2. You can work better under pressure – A lot of the times, when working, others are relying on you to get the job done. The same goes for serving in a leadership capacity in college. When others are relying on you, that can bring about a whole extra level of pressure on your end. But, you learn to work under that pressure and that will help you to succeed at your finest professionally.
  3. You Gain Fundamental Communication Skills – When working, communication is vital to success on everyone’s part. College leadership and extracurriculars teach you how to communicate with others in a way similar to that of the work world and further connects the bridge into the work world. As basic as this skill is, it is one that is acquired over time and one that will serve you so well in the long run.
  4. You Learned Something New – Extracurriculars teach us A LOT about not only ourselves but as a leader too. We learn so much from serving others in a leadership position. What you learn from those extracurriculars can ALWAYS be used in future experiences too, especially in the workforce. The skills that we acquire will help us in SO many ways, even in roles that are very different than our previous one’s.
  5. You are Innovative – Have an idea?! Share it if and when you can! Extracurriculars allow us to be innovative on a regular basis – something that can set you apart within the workforce. Some of the best ideas can help get the job done professionally in the best way possible. Your voice can help so many others, simply from developing an innovative spirit back in your undergraduate days.
  6. You Get Plugged in within Your Company – For the most part, companies offer times for you to get together and know some of your coworkers beyond the working day to day life. My company has Affinity Groups such as the Women’s Forum and LGBTQ+ Alliance and Communities of Practice such as Women in Data and Accessibility Matters that allow for employees to be a leader in an extracurricular front. Not to mention, my company also offers several professional development opportunities and events that allow for me to have extracurriculars within the working world, too. Many other companies have similar extracurriculars, too!

Through it all, every single experience teaches us something whether we realize it or not. The ways that we channel our experiences into our future successes is what matters. Most importantly, none of us are perfect. Personally, I struggle with this concept within the professional world constantly, especially as a newer employee at my company. BUT, that is OKAY – none of us are alone either! How we take our experiences and run like the wind with them is what matters.

XOXO – Katie <3

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How I Manage Blogging While Working Full Time

If you’re a blogger, then you know that there is much more work that goes into having a blog than what meets the common eye. Even if you’re not a blogger, then now you know this fact. Blogging is a lot and it’s a great side hustle of mine. Indeed, some folks blog full-time such as Kate from Lonestar Southern – a favorite of mine over the years. However, many of us bloggers do work full time jobs like myself and may not have a desire to pursue it full time. Today, I will be sharing how I manage blogging while working full time!

How I Manage Blogging While Working Full Time

  • Separating my “creative brain” and my “working brain” – This is something that I will admit that I work on everyday. One of the ways that I can be most successful with my blog is to separate what I like to call my working brain aka the brain and mindset that I put on when I am at my full time job and my creative brain or the mindset that I utilize for thinking creatively on this platform. In doing so, I am able to put my mind into a mode that is all in and focused on the task that I am performing and the objectives that I am striving to achieve, whatever it may be for. Being able to compartmentalize both of these mindsets has helped me to be successful in both my full time job and here on The Pink Chickadee.
  • Working 9 to 5 – *queues Dolly Parton!* Working the 9 to 5 lifestyle is definitely the way that we all are going for the most part when working full time. When working my full time job, I aim for 8-5 actually to be the hours that I focus solely on work and only work-related matters. During those hours, I specifically do not post on my blogging platforms, whether it be the actual blog or social media accounts. However, if I get off work early, then I may post a little bit earlier. Not posting on social media from 8-5 helps me to truly focus on my work and only my work. Moreover, it allows me to separate both of my commitments and prioritize things at different times.
  • Side Hustle Hours – The other week, I was listening to a podcast from Thrive – a company that solely focuses on empowering bloggers and their successes – featuring entrepreneur and a stationary-loving queen Erin Condren. In her interview, Condren stated that a lot of the time many of us with side hustles have to emphasize the focus on our creative thinkings during the weekends and at night time. As annoying and sometimes disappointing as that may sound to some, the focus on our full time jobs during the typical workday is vital to our successes, even within our side hustles, including our blogs!

The blogging world is a fun and exciting world filled with many commitments. But, so does the full time job world! The full time job world is just as fun and exciting and it allows us to fulfill our passions in other disciplines, too. The balance between blogging and working full-time is a challenge and something that I work on everyday in each, but it is so rewarding in the end.

XOXO – Katie <3

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