Calling all fly college + career millennial women to this awesome opportunity!

When I started CMB Professional Development Agency, who knew we would be blessed enough to start a mentor program. I started CMB when I was 25 years old. All of my close friends were out of school; and I had reached that awkward age where I didn't have any close friends still in college... I was starting to feel old!

Anywho, many of my female friends and associates started approaching me about wanting to get involved. We all wanted to find a way to help women in college and graduate school. We all wanted to be that rational voice that we once needed to hear the winter break before graduation when you questioned the last 3.5 years of your life. We wanted to be that boss career woman we sought advice from when trying to figure out what to do with our politics degree.

We, like most millennials, have this knack for wanting to help each other out. We also like succeeding at our passions. CMB Mentor is the avenue to embrace both of those millennial tenets. At CMB Mentor, we strive to connect millennial college women to career women in their industry. We do monthly check-ins via Skype/Facetime. I also host monthly webinars related to networking, career advancement, and leadership. 

This spring, I want to plan a brunch in NYC! I'd love to gather college seniors and career women for an afternoon of delicious brunch, networking and of course ki-ki'ing. We're also going to continue to dive deeper on our webinars. We'll build on the foundation we laid in the fall when we hosted "Critical Conversations on a College Campus," and discussed how to address acts of discrimination and racism on campus. We welcome students to share their experiences. We ask mentors to share their wisdom and offer support. It will be awesome!

If you're a millennial college or a career woman,

that wants to succeed in their professional aspirations,

that likes seeing other women "win" on their grind and in their hustle,

that enjoys attending fun meet-ups and ki-ki'ing with the girls -

CMB Mentor is for you! Sign-up here!

To apply to be a Mentor, CLICK HERE!

To apply to be a Mentee, CLICK HERE!

A few of our CMB Mentors shared their wisdom and experiences during the #SheLeads2016 virtual conference. Our facilitators shared tips on networking, taking on leadership roles at work, self-care and more! Sign-up here and get access to some of these fantastic workshops!

#SheLeads Blog Post - “Your Coworkers Have Shoes Older Than Your Career as a Manager”

"I have shoes older than you!" 

Girl, if I had a nickel for every time I heard a coworker say this very statement to me I wouldn't be rich but I'd be cruising around in a 2016 BMW fully loaded right now. At work, I'm constantly reminded that I'm a member of the millennial gang. I get it, I'm young; but myself, and other millennials are much more than a group of people defined by their age. 

It can be particularly hard for millennials in a management position to be taken seriously. Older coworkers may think you haven't been around the block long enough to know how to do your job let alone manage a team or project. We not only can perform well in our roles but we offer other things such as fresh ideas and new perspectives, which could ultimately help to grow the company. Truth is, we got this!

There is no way around being judged for your age because you can't control the judgment of others but what you can do is change the perception your coworkers may have about you. No need to yell across the office, "Hey everyone, stop thinking I don't know what I'm doing because I'm young!"  Actions speak louder than words and I’ve found a couple tactics to help your coworkers see past your age.

1.    Be Confident

The worst thing you can do is hang out in the background and not speak up when it’s your turn. Take your seat in the boardroom with your young professional mug in hand and share those great ideas, give suggestions and say it like you mean it. You have to make sure you are not only seen but also heard.

2.    It’s Not About You

If you are in a position where you manage other employees remember that it is not about you.  Employee management is not about the fame and glory of your position.  Being a manager means doing everything in your power to make sure your team performs well.  Remove their barriers, earn their trust and show you appreciate them.  If you manage employees older than you they will respect the fact that you are on their side.  A happy team that achieves their goals looks good for you and looks good for the growth of the company.

3.    Give 100%

Show everyone at the workplace that you are an excellent asset to the team by giving it your all.  Cross your, ‘T’s,” and dot your, ‘I’s.’  When you give 100% success will follow.  You’ll prove to others you’ve earned your spot on the team and deserve to be there with the rest of the best. 

Once the office sees your quality of work, your awesome personality and the goals you continue to hit every month, your age will be one of your biggest assets.  Soon you’ll hear, “I cannot believe she’s achieved so much at such a young age.”  That right there ladies is the moment you’ve proved them wrong and literally made your place as a girl boss! 

See you at the top,

Antoinette

Antointte Minor is the founder of The Young Professionalist. This blog is part of the #SheLead2016 virtual conference.

#SheLeads2016 virtual conference also includes workshops facilitated by amazing millennial women. Our facilitators shared tips on networking, taking on leadership roles at work, self-care and more! Sign-up here and get access to some of these fantastic workshops!

Hello December? OMG, 2015 is Over!?

Hello December!
Can you believe 2015 is almost over?! Me neither!!! It went by so fast. It's already the time of year when people reflect on all the ups and downs of the last 12 months and start thinking about what opportunities the new year will bring.

When I think of the year, especially the last three months, I think about the amazing strides we've made with CMB. We've raised our visibility tremendously this year. Since September, we've launched our mentor program, hosted two webinars, organized fabulous meet-ups and made strong connections with other lady boss millennials. **happy dance**

We had so much fun hosting this meet-up with
Marissa Germain's blog, "The Millennial Takeover!"

It has been amazing and if you follow us, you've seen my face all over these events. I love it all- our programs and services, our mission, networking- I'm always reppin CMB, hard! What some people don't know, is I also work just as diligently and passionately for my full-time position, in human resources.

While growing CMB, I've been grinding just as hard at my 9-5, implementing new processes and tightening up others. I expose myself to every learning opportunity because I want to both be better at my job, and use the knowledge to help my CMB community. It has been a wonderful learning experience but guess what?!

I was exhausted!

Don't get me wrong, I realized committing to this Hustlapreneur life would be a lot of work. Balancing a full-time corporate job, a part-time stylist position, and managing a nonprofit keeps me very busy honey. 

Photo cred: https://ronetheboxhouston.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/boss.jpg?w=300&h=225

What I didn't realize is my ambition and drive for excellence had taken priority over my personal life. In 2015, I can count on one hand how many times I've gone to brunch with my girlfriends. My calls home have decreased, and I feel that love and laughter missing from my everyday life. Shame on me. Family and friends are the cornerstone of my success. They are so important and instrumental in my life. I need to prioritize them as I do my professional life. 

In 2015, I focused on gratitude and being thankful for all the experiences God blessed me with - the good and bad. In 2016, I want to focus on being present. I want to be more present with my family, friends, future friends and colleagues. Seizing the day and appreciating life's moments will be the focus of my life next year. 

What are you looking forward to in 2016? Let's hold each other accountable and help each other achieve our goals. Join our mailing list so we can keep in touch. I want to be more engaged with millennial women in 2016 so expect opportunities to meet-up and talk about our work life, the struggle, millennial fashion and more!

<3

xoxo,
Courtney
www.thecolormeb.com

3 Things to STOP on Job Interviews

There are so many jobs available right now! I see scores of postings added to job boards every day. If you're thinking about leaving a job or if you're a recent grad that has not found work yet, continue searching because there are positions for you! If you're at the interviewing phase, congrats! Now it's time to let your amazing, confident, hard-working personality shine fiercely. We talked about interview tips a few weeks back on "Krystal & Courtney's Career Chat." You can watch it here. You can also download "10 Really Hard Interview Questions Answered" when you join our mailing list!

www.thecolormeb.com

 

I want to elaborate on a topic we discussed on a couple weeks back. These no-no's apply to everyone, but I had millennial women of color in mind when I crafted it. Read these tips and make sure you're going into job interviews with your mind on getting that offer!

1. Stop coming unprepared Friends, it is 2015 and recruiters expect a lot more from you than the ability to talk about your qualifications. You have access to the job description, the company website, employee blogs, and the company's social media stream. In addition to your own qualifications be prepared to discuss

• why you specifically want to work at that company

• how you see yourself growing in the position, at that company. Are you looking for a promotion in 2 years? Are you trying to leave in a year? Be able to articulate a plan for your future at the company because these are things recruiters want to know

• how you're a great team player. You should have examples of how you work well with a multitude of people. You should also have examples of how you overcome conflict and obstacles with your team. We had great conversation about this on the periscope broadcast.

2. Don't apologize for your confidence and stop complaining about your haters

Job interviews are the time to "toot your own horn." You have to market yourself in a way that the company see value in hiring you. Don't apologize for your confidence or belittle your achievements because it shows lack of confidence. You're awesome! If you don't think so, email me and we'll make a list together! It's ok if you're a recent grad and most of your experience is in student leadership. It's just as impactful and amazing. Proudly share those experiences. As you're sharing the positive, you might remember some of the less positive moments of your work experiences. You might have had a crappy boss or a really negative experience. Be careful not to get too much in the details of that experience. Instead, focus on how you persevered and displayed tenacity.

Don't apologize, own your fabulousness and rock that interview!

3. Stop being too relaxed - #sorrynotsorry I love being a millennial. I love being part of a generation that ignored society's tendency to function in "black and white." We like to live in "the grey." When it comes to interviews, specifically in corporate america or a professional organization, dress code is clear. You should dress for the job you want. I always go in with collar, more than likely a blazer. I also wear minimal jewelry and will have my hair pulled back. I'm not saying you have to dress like me, but I strongly recommend you leave casual clothing at home and bring professional attire to the interview. Research the company ahead of time and figure out what their culture is. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg either. H&M has great separates to mix and match. Ideel.com is also a great site for affordable, super cute and professional attire. 

If you enjoy this blog post, sign-up for our mailing list to receive all the latest and instant access to our products and services!

xoxo,
Courtney
www.thecolormeb.com

Confidence at Work: 8 things NOT to say

As bold and fierce as we are, we sometimes have the tendency to unwittingly undermine our own confidence. This comes out in the way we speak - little subtle phrases that we use unwittingly signal to our audience that we lack confidence. Here are 8 things NOT to say if you want to sound more confident and assertive at work: 

1. DON'T: end a sentence with "...if that makes sense"

WHY NOT? Underlying this statement is a hint to your audience that you don't really know what you are talking about. The implication is "I know I'm being unclear so you probably don't understand what I am saying."

INSTEAD:  Be very purposeful and clear in your statements. If someone needs clarification, let them be the one to ask. Or you can say, "let me know if you need further clarification?" 

2. DON'T: use the word "JUST"

...as in "I just wanted to know if you reviewed that document yet" or "just wondering if you could meet with me today" 

WHY NOT? The word "just" is a permission word. Using it makes you sound apologetic (and weak) when you don't have a reason to be. 

INSTEAD: Eliminate the "J word" altogether. "Please let me know if you are able to meet with me today" makes you look way more confident and assertive. 

3.  DON'T: say "I'm not good at..." or "I suck at that"

WHY NOT? As women, there are already so many messages out there about why we are not as good. Don't feed into that. 

INSTEAD: Draw attention to your strengths. If you actually do suck at something, say "I don't have experience in that," and then highlight your ability to learn it or desire to improve. 

4. DON'T: say "This may be wrong , but..."

WHY NOT? You already lost credibility for anything that comes out of your mouth after this phrase. Again, you are highlighting your lack of confidence.

INSTEAD: Of course, it would be best to fact-check before engaging in conversations. But sometimes you're in a situation where that isn't possible. Try to only speak on things you are confident about. If you have a hint of uncertainty, you can say "I'll make sure to double check this, but..."

5. DON'T: Use Excuses

WHY NOT? Excuses are the tools of the incompetent. And you are not incompetent.

INSTEAD: Try to avoid having to come up with an excuse altogether. If you find yourself needing to explain something, be firm and offer alternative solutions.

6. DON'T: Be Silent

WHY NOT? This is passive communication. Even though you said nothing, your audience might perceive that you don't have an opinion or you are not confident that your voice matters.

INSTEAD: Speak up! One caveat here: sometimes less is more. But you definitely don't want to be silent. Your thoughts and input are important. 

7. DON'T: use "umm", "uh" or "like"

WHY NOT? This is a tough one. We are all, uhh, guilty of, like, using these words. It makes your speech less smooth and less clear.

INSTEAD: Practice not using these words, even in casual conversations. Speak more slowly. It's OKAY to take a minute to think before you respond, so take your time and make sure your statements flow well.

8. DON'T: Avoid eye contact (I know this isn't a phrase but it is nonverbal communication)

WHY NOT: Eye contact is one of the most important, yet underestimated, communication tools. 

INSTEAD: Hold your head up and look your audience in the eye. But don't be weird about it. One trick I've learned is to look at the middle of their forehead.



By Christyl Wilson
Guest Contributor


Christyl is a currently pursuing a PhD in developmental psychology at Georgia State University. She is also a program manager at www.cinnamongirl.org.

Join our mailing list for updates on our blog , programs and services,+ exclusive access to Courtney's periscope tutorials !

3 Things You Need in Your Next Interview!

Let's talk about everyone's favorite topic - interviews! Ok, probably not your favorite thing to do, but everyone experiences some form of an interview. For college and career women, interviewing for a job is a popular one. 

It can be a nerve-racking experience but it doesn't have to be. As an HR pro/recruiter, I'll tell you a secret- an interview is simply a conversation. You and the recruiter agree on a time and setup a meeting, similar to your other meetings. You come prepared to discuss your qualifications and why you're good for the job. For the most part, the recruiter enters the meeting with the intention of finding the right candidate for the job. 

What happens when you're in the interview together? You TALK! You're having a mature, professional conversation. To rock this interview, remember to bring the most important piece- your confidence. You're reading this blog so I know you're smart, organized and focused. Your experience is robust and compatible to the position. I know you'll have your resume memorized like your favorite Beyoncé song, so when you answer the questions, really go for it! Tell the interviewer about your accomplishments and experiences with pride and integrity.

You can also show your unique experience. 2nd thing to remember is a hard copy of your resume and a professional portfolio. Yes, you sent your resume via email. The recruiter can print it out and probably will print it out. However, bringing your resume is classic professionalism and it's a kind gesture. Your professional portfolio can be emailed or brought in, if appropriate. For example, my 9-5 job is in HR. When applying to a different job, I will send a recruiter a link to CMB's website because it highlights experience not included on my resume. Graphic designers may bring in a portfolio to share. Interviews are not the time to hold back and be shy about your experience, especially as a recent grad. Did you complete a branding strategy for a small business during your capstone project in school? Did you write a policy brief in your political science course? Before an interview, think of the requirements and responsibilities for the position and make a list of all your experiences that would be helpful to mention. Then, practice answering some questions you’re sure to get. 

Check out the episode of “Krystal & Courtney’s Career Chat” that covers interviews. We include sample questions and how to answer them.

You have to look super cute for your interview! 3rd thing to bring is an amazing outfit! When you look good, you feel good. When I'm feeling my outfit, you can't tell me nothing! My confidence is at an all-time high. Next time you have an interview, put on your favorite professionally-chic outfit or buy a new one. If money is funny, no problem. Call your best friend, and borrow something from her. When you get to her house, discuss a hairstyle that will be on point, for the occasion. You can also practice a couple interview questions with her.

We want to do a webinar about interviews! Would you be interested? What difficult interview questions would you like me to cover?! Let me know in the comments!

For more information about career development, networking and work fashion, go to our website at www.thecolormeb.com and join our mailinglist!

CMB Item of the Week: $15 Old Navy Pencil Skirts!

Happy Monday everyone!!

Thank you so much for all of your positive back over the last week! My article, "What's a Hustlapreneur? 5 Tips for Succeeding in the Workplace as a Millennial Woman," was published in Bustle magazine last week, and I've received soooo many messages of kind words. It feels great and I'm elated that the article is helping millennial women navigate work life.

Over the weekend, I came across this steal at Old Navy. Check out these super cute and versatile pencil skirts! They are only $15 each! I also got 35% off! 

Old Navy is having a Labor Day sale this weekend too which means it's a GREAT time to find some work fashion pieces at a really affordable cost! Will you check it out?

I'll post a picture of the outfit I wear this week, with the skirt on our instagram. You can find us at @TheColorMeB and on our website!

UPDATE - I wore this skirt to our first networking event! I posted pics on our facebook and instagram and got soooooooo many compliments! 

Join our mailing list for updates on our blog , programs and services,+ exclusive access to my periscope tutorials !

xoxo,

Courtney

Founder/CEO 

@TheColorMeB

Old Navy - Women's Patterned Pencil Skirts!

LOVE!