Best wishes, good luck, all the happiness in the world.

-the diva

In middle management, those connections are gold. Yes, it’s nice to make new friends, but those business contacts can be much more than mere friends. Having a staffing shortage? Not sure how to deal with a difficult situation? Looking for a new job? All are issues that can be easily handled if you’ve networked with others. And just think, the person you just networked with could introduce you to one of their contacts, who could do the same again and again down the line until your name is so far spread everyone knows who you are.

This concept was taught to me early in my career by my former boss Shelly(who, in addition to being my mentor is also in and of herself a huge networking guru), when explaining how easy it was for her to go out and recruit new people for our company. “Networking is as easy as going to the company next door and introducing yourself to the boss” she’d say. And it works. I never need to worry about being short staffed, the managers around me send me resumes of people they don’t have room for, and I do the same for them. We also get together every once in and while and talk about the crazy situations we’ve encountered(having to fire someone for having long hair comes to mind) and I know that if a position in their company opens up and they think I may be interested, they pass my info along.

Nowadays, websites such as Facebook and Linkedin make it easy for the beginner to make new or connect with former contacts and with a little work, those contacts can open up a world of possibilities in the future.

I urge you, whatever position you’re in-if you have yet to make a networking connection with someone, do it this week. Just go next door(or call up the company close to you) and introduce yourself to your counterpart in that company. Remember, the next person you introduce yourself to might one day become the CEO of XYZ. Earn their respect and trust me, they won’t forget you when they’re at the top.

Ladies and gentlemen, twenty somethings of the world, learn how to dress yourselves. I don’t know how all but maybe 5 percent of the parents of people my age managed to fail at teaching their children how to dress appropriately, but they have.

For example, I know one person who thinks that it is appropriate to wear tennis shoes with black dress pants to work, because the shoes are black. Um….no. And just last week I went to a dinner at the University and there was a girl, receiving an award, who wore calf length leopard print tights under a dress that just looked like a long t-shirt. Who taught these people what to wear? You seriously think that people are going to look at you and think “Now that person is a winner. Grade A” when you can’t even get out of bed and wear something other than tennis shoes to work?

On a second note, don’t wear shorts to work. Shorts are not dress clothes, I don’t care if you’re wearing heels with them. They’re not appropriate….especially when you have tattoos on your legs. That just screams “Sleezy white trash”.

Wash your hair and keep it a natural color and reasonable length. If you want it to be long, put it up. Otherwise you’ll look like you’re going to a sweet sixteen party, in your shorts and heels.

Ladies, wear closed toe shoes to the office. Nothing else is truly acceptable.

And finally, if it’s pierced and visible and it’s not your ears, take it out. No one cares about your individuality. They care that you’re competent, and having a gauged septum makes you look like a cow.

Don’t bother leaving comments if they’re going to contradict me. You chose to work in an office, these are the rules of mainstream society. Follow them.

Not long ago, I was just the office girl for my step-dad’s business. No more, no less. I just needed some extra money and a flexible schedule. Then over last summer I did sales, then after that…I was the office girl once more.

But when our office moved uptown, I was suddenly appointed Director of Human Resources. Uhm, what? Human resources? What is that?

Since then I’ve recieved a crash course in everything from I-9 forms to health insurance applications, and everything in between, and transformed myself into the HR Diva. I hope you enjoy my rants, lessons, and advice.

I’m also looking for guest bloggers from other offices and levels of middle management. If you’re interested drop me a line .

Yours,

The HR Diva