As Millennial women, we often have to take advantage of any possible networking opportunities to make a great first impression. But there’s a lot of variation in women’s clothing, and sometimes its difficult to figure out how to maximize your self-presentation. So, how should you dress for a professional event? Should you go with traditional black bottoms and a white blouse? Or can you spice it up with some bold colors and patterns?

In some cases it’s perfectly acceptable to stray from the traditional professional look, but there’s a fine line between jazzing up business casual and dressing for a party. Presenting oneself professionally can be challenging, but it’s imperative Millennial women learn to do so. Appearance and self-presentation go far beyond attire, and Millennials sometimes overlook minor details when preparing for professional events.

I witnessed many young women who failed and many who succeeded in presenting themselves professionally at the National Conference for the Public Relations Student Society of America this weekend. With more than 1,200 college students from across the country in attendance, I began to see a trend in my peers: some individuals truly understand how to present themselves professionally, but many Millennial women do not pay as much attention to detail in their appearances as they should.

While some style choices are obviously acceptable, other self-presentation decisions may negate professionalism. Below is a list of dos and don’ts for building a professional presence for interviews, conventions, conferences, and other professional events.

DO

• Wear modest clothes that cover your cleavage, lower back, midriff, and thighs.
• Wear light, natural-looking makeup, if you wear makeup at all. There’s no need to go for a full-on smoky eye look at the office.
• Bring professional accessories. Bring purses that can fit padfolios or other organizers and devices.
• Hand out your business cards! What better way is there to quickly promote your personal brand?
• Eradicate the use of filler words, for example, “like,” “uh,” or “um.” It’s extremely distracting when listening to someone ask a question in which every other words is “like.” This is easier said than done, no doubt; click here for some tips on how to stop saying “like.”

DON’T

• Wear too much perfume. Walking past someone whose scent is too strong can deter other individuals from approaching that person to talk.
• Wear short, tight skirts/dresses. Professional events are not the time to show off the results of all those squats you did. Skirts and dresses should at least lineup with your fingertips when your hands are at your sides.
• Wear heavy, gaudy or intense makeup. The makeup you wear in professional settings should enhance your natural beauty.
• Wear clothes that are too casual. Avoid wearing sneakers, T-shirts, sweat clothes, and clothes with company logos.
• Let your nail polish chip. Chipped nail polish can send messages that your are lazy. It’s harder to notice chips on lighter, softer colors than it is with dark or bright colors.

At professional events, your appearance is your brand. The way you look is the first information you convey to others about your personality. Thus, paying attention to details and adhering to some typical professional attire standards can help you appear more professional. You can be trendy and professional at the same time–your style may even help get you noticed.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Featured image courtesy of [Vladimir Yaitskiy via Flickr]

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post The Do’s and Don’ts of Professional Presentation for Millennial Women appeared first on Law Street.

Millennial women have made a name for themselves in this century. We are strong-willed, motivated, and persistent. We are self-sufficient and independent. We have access to tools and knowledge our predecessors did not. Yet some Millennials are not taking advantage of these tools because they are simply unaware of their existence.

Let’s take the internet for example. We have access to the World Wide Web and all it has to offer through countless devices — computers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. Plenty of websites cater to Millennial women for professional networking tips. These sites are essential for motivated young women who are entering the workforce. At any moment, I can ask Siri what to wear to my interview tomorrow, visit countless websites for coding tips, or search for internship opportunities. Each of these options is literally at the tips of my fingers. Here are some great websites for Millennial women to check out:

Let’s Learn

Girls Who Code’s mission is to provide one million young women with exposure to computer science education. According to FORBES, Girls Who Code hosts events, clubs, and other activities for girls, sometimes even for those still in high school.

Lynda.com provides online video tutorials to help learn “software, creative, and business skills.” Joining is free and provides members with unlimited access to nearly three thousand courses and mobile access.

General Assembly offers courses in a variety of areas from web development to digital marketing. Members are able to attend events with the GA community or simply live-stream from home. GA helps Millennials across the world improve their businesses through various workshops, classes, and events.

Professional Development and Networking

ED2010 helps aspiring editors reach their desired status faster. The site functions as a networking hub, educational resource, and advice column for all aspiring publications professionals.

Intern Sushi is designed for college students to find internships that would be most valuable to them. Intern Sushi is focused on more creative professions, thus encouraging its users to ditch the traditional resume application and replace it with more creative styles like video and graphic visualizations.

Her Agenda is a goldmine for young professional women seeking advancement on their career paths. The site provides information and encouragement through posting events, scholarships, conferences, and internship and job opportunities.

Generation Meh targets young professionals who dislike the idea of a conventional 9 to 5. The site publishes personal and professional tips, tricks, and life hacks. This site is manned by Forbes Woman contributor J. Maureen Henderson.

Advice Columns and Discussion Boards

20-Nothings has collected “anecdotes, advice, and musings on everything from dating to body image.” The site functions as a motivational entertainment source for young women in their 20s and 30s.

HerCampus is most useful for female college students. The site features sections such as style, beauty, campus, career, health, and more. HerCampus has representatives on more than 200 campuses across the country.

The Everygirl is perfect for Millennial women looking for advice on their next vacation destination, beauty tips, and career. This site also takes on a serious tone discussing culture, politics, and finance. It’s basically a powerhouse of knowledge for all young women.

Fashionista Fun

Rookie Mag supplies fashion tips on the go. This site was started by a 17-year-old fashion blogger in 2011. Celebrities make contributions to the publication focused on modern teenage life.

The Classy Cubicle provides all professional fashionistas with the latest trends. Not sure what to wear to an interview at a creative office? They’ve got your back. The Classy Cubicle covers different “categories” of office types and suggests appropriate attire for each one.

Despite the abundance of negative comments and startling information the internet supplies, there is a huge community of support, especially for young women. Aspiring young professionals have countless resources to further their educations, careers, and personal development on the internet. These websites not only share useful professional advice but also support and humor for women of all ages. I encourage all young professionals, working women, and Capitalistas to check out some of these sites, they could change your career path.

Make sure to follow The Capitalista on Twitter at @CapitalistaBlog and on Tumblr at thecapitalista.tumblr.com for more tips, tricks, and suggestions to find your dream internships and jobs!

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post Most Useful Career Sites for Millennial Women appeared first on Law Street.

Everyday professionals spend at least a quarter of their time at work sending and receiving emails. It’s our primary form of communication — it’s fast and easy. And yet in spite of the amount of time we dedicate to emailing, many users still make mistakes that undermine their professionalism. Trove provided a list of some of the most important tips for good email etiquette; below are some of the most vital tips you need to know when sending professional emails.

• Ditch your AIM email from sixth grade: Whether you work for yourself or a large organization, your email should reflect your name in some way. No professional is going to take seriously an email from sexychick99@aol.com; it’s time to trash the the old email and get a new one. Use some combination of your name so that the recipient can easily tell who is sending the message.

• Go easy on the exclamation points: Exclamation points should only be used to convey excitement, according to career coach Barbara Pachter. Overuse of exclamation points can come off as immature or emotional. Try to avoid using them completely, unless something is actually exciting.

• Use subject lines to convey your message: People open emails based on the subject. If you use a brief, descriptive phrase to correctly convey what your message is about, the recipient is more likely to open your email. Something like, “Tomorrow’s lunch meeting rescheduled” or ”Reservations confirmed” works just fine. Stick with something short and sweet.

• Don’t use informal greetings: We use email so much it’s easy to forget that “hey” and “yo” are not acceptable in a professional setting. These salutations are totally inappropriate for the workplace and should be avoided in emails. Stick with “hello” or “good afternoon” to stay professional. “Sincerely” is always appropriate for professional emails.

• Avoid typos at all costs: Avoiding typos is absolutely imperative. It’s so easy to misspell a word when you’re typing a quick email, but you will be judged if you do. Reread your emails before you hit send to ensure you avoid typos. Autocorrect don’t always do the trick, so don’t rely solely on the automatic spell checker.

• Make sure you’re emailing the correct person: Just like a typo, entering the incorrect email is extremely easy to do. But try to make sure you don’t accidentally email the wrong person! One way to avoid doing so is by entering the email address last. This way no one is embarrassed and the information is relayed to the right person.

• Be considerate of the recipient’s culture: If you are emailing someone who does not speak the same native language as you, be considerate of varying cultural norms. This can help avoid miscommunication. If you tailor your message to your audience, by using simple words for example, the exchange will run smoother.

Next time you go to press send on a work email think about these tips. Did you start off saying “hey” or miss a comma? Paying closer attention to these seemingly minor details can increase your professionalism and bolster the way you’re perceived by others in the workplace. As you continue to use email as a central method for communication in your career, implementing good habits can only benefit your reputation.

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Natasha Paulmeno (@NatashaPaulmeno) is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends.

Natasha Paulmeno

Natasha Paulmeno is an aspiring PR professional studying at the University of Maryland. She is learning to speak Spanish fluently through travel, music, and school. In her spare time she enjoys Bachata music, playing with her dog, and exploring social media trends. Contact Natasha at staff@LawStreetMedia.com.

The post If You’re Using Exclamation Points in Work Emails Then You’re Doing it Wrong appeared first on Law Street.