Investment pieces What you need to look more successful

Investment pieces What you need to look more successfulInvestment pieces What you need to look more successfulBack in the corporate stone age AKA the pre-laptop work era people actually judged each others professional worth based on their briefcases. A beat-up heritage brand case might have signified that you were second-generation successful, while a brand-new,zip-up portfolio told the world you took your paperwork very seriously.Those days are long gone, and it can be a bit more difficult to show the world you mean business. If youre looking to up your professional wardrobe game, consider a few investment pieces that can be worn time and time again.So, what are investment pieces? For the purposes of this article, lets define investment pieces as items that give you significant value for your money- year after year after year. Or as Matthew Mounsey-Wood, Creative Director at GANT puts it, investment pieces can be judged on their effortless wearability and are more often than notla ge great quality, timelessly modern go-to pieces that you never tire of.Mounsey-Wood says an investment piece should elevate your outfit and be something that you will love, season over season. Imagine a classic preppy look a button-down shirt and chinos. If you invest in a classic button-down with a timeless silhouette, you can pair it with this seasons sneakers, or your favorite loafers, and it will wear just as well with both. Mounsey-Wood calls these universal pieces. Its important to have investment pieces that are of quality construction, that are flattering, and that are versatile.Timeless vs. trendYou dont have to rush to buy several investment pieces at the same time. If youre comfortable with your own style, you already know what youll be wearing consistently. If youre still testing out your fashion sense, invest in one piece at a time and see if it makes you feel confident and in control every time you wear it even if you wear it for years. An investment piece is somethi ng that is timeless and that you will have in your closet for years, explains Brooke Cundiff, cofounder Chief Merchandising Officer at CoEdition.She also believes A seasonal trend is not an item that you should not necessarily invest in (think the latest sunglass trend just because it is happening, doesnt mean you have to do it). A classic handbag that you will own forever yes. Statement sneakers not so much. Try to think of something that is so classic and chic that 10-15 years from now you will still love it.Wardrobe anchorsA truly good investment piece should be something you can wear as part of a regular day-to-day outfit. Your investment pieces should be the essential building blocks to all your looks, said Whitney Casey, CEO and cofounder atFinery. That could be A crisp white button-down, a tailored black blazer, nice fitting straight legged jeans without rips or washes on them, simple black booties with updated heel and toe, a clean white sneaker without logos and a sizable work bag to carry laptop, notebook etc in. You can then add trendy items that you dont pay a lot for to all the and you then elevate the trend by anchoring it in an investment piece.Personality,not price tagIn case youre wondering how much you have to spend to consider it an investment, Mounsey-Wood said I think style is measured by personality, not price tags, so my advice is to not stare yourself blind on the price but rather follow your intuition and let that decide. If you really love a piece and will wear it many times, for many years, then the price matters much less than the use youll get out of it. And while youre at it, dont wait for a sale. Mounsey-Wood said You should buy things when you need them. You should buy things that you love and know you will want to wear for a long time.Modern investment piecesGant recently launched machine washable suit separates in classic patterns that range in price from $270.00-$475.00 per separate.Casey recommends a company called Wardrobe .nyc founded by Vogue Fashion Director Christine Centenera which includes capsule collections with essential pieces for both work, play and work out.Investment pieces dont have to be pricey. Sperry, best known for their boat shoes, recently launched their upscale Gold Cup collection. The line includes many styles that are hand-made in Maine out of more luxurious leathers or other components. The look is old-school preppy money without a matching price tag.

Resume Changes for 2016

Resume Changes for 2016Resume Changes for 2016Its 2016 and you just pulled your four page, wrinkled up resume from 2008 out of the bottom of your desk drawer because youve been laid off and youre looking for a new job. Now youre thinking, eh, I just need to add my last job and submit it like it is. Dont do it A lot has changed since 2008 when it comes to writing resumes.In 2016 think of your resume as the first weapon you have to show your expertise and skills to a potential employer and/or the hiring manager. You want to make sure to leave a great impression so that you are noticed and receive an invitation for an actual interview.Here are a few tipsKeep it relevant In the 2016 resume, you do not have to list all of your experiences, just the fruchtwein significant ones that will leave a good impression.No more objective statement When you include this in a 2016 resume, it can look like desperation on your part according to the experts. You should still include your career goals b ut most employers are more interested knowing what you bring to the table than your future plans.Wasted space Dont waste valuable space with basic job descriptions. Highlight and emphasize your skills, accomplishments and expertise youve had in your previous jobs. Otherwise your resume may come off looking mediocre at best.Use specific keywords not buzzwords This is one of the latest trends that you should apply to your updated resume. Using specific keywords/action words/industry terms will help a potential employer learn more about you and things that you can do that are specific to their job application.Do not go beyond two pages Lengthy resumes are a thing of the past so stick with one or two pages or else you risk the weg of boring the hiring manager or recruiter because youre not delivering what they are looking for from the beginning of your resume. Do not fall into the trap of creating a long drawn out, boring resume if you want to get the attention of a potential employe r in 2016

Watch What You Say

Watch What You Say Watch What You Say Social media is amazing. We can think something, type it, and just like that, broadcast it to the world. AmazingBut this ability to communicate with everyone has a downside. All too often, people feel that because they can say something, they should. I cant count the number of smart and interesting people Ive stopped following on Twitter because they kept sending out political missives that I neither agreed with nor wanted to hear. The same goes for overly religious content. Im on Twitter for social and business reasons and unless religion or politics are your actual profession and unless thats why Im following you I dont care to hear your views. But its elend just a case of annoying people. There are times when your views may actually hurt your career. The recruiter who is researching you before passing you on to the hiring manager may violently disagree with your opinions, and that may color his or her reaction to your candidacy.The last time I said this on Twitter, one of my followers asked But arent you always saying its important to be authentic? My political views are very important to me so Im not being authentic if I hide them. Its a good question but I would ask this in return Do you routinely walk around the supermarket announcing your political opinions at the top of your voice? How about when you first meet strangers in a networking meeting do you let them know where you stand on health care reform even though they didnt ask? Im guessing that youd feel it was inappropriate to share those views in that situation, and would wait until either there was an actual discussion, or you were with people you know.If thats the case, why would you feel the need to broadcast your opinions on the web? Not only is it inappropriate, but unlike shouting in the supermarket its also forever. Ten years from now, your words will still be sitting there in some Internet database just waiting to potentially trip up your career.So yes, authenticity is important, but so are social niceties. Just as you wouldnt loudly proclaim your gegenseite to illegal immigration at a Chamber of Commerce networking breakfast, you probably shouldnt do it on Twitter.