Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire’s Blog

Interview tips from The Cubicle Coach

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:56:27 -0700

Dear Cubicle Coach: I've got a job interview coming up , and I know they're going to ask the "What's your biggest weakness?" question. It's a cop-out to respond, "Working too hard," so what can I say that doesn't sound like BS?

Cubicle Coach: How do I draw the friendship line at work?

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:45:00 -0700

Dear Cubicle Coach: I've just been bumped up to management, and I'm the same age as many of those I'll be supervising. I was advised by my boss to "be friendly" with my reports, but don't be their friend. Where do I draw the line?

Cubicle Coach: How can I get ahead this summer?

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:07:25 -0700

Dear Cubicle Coach: Half the office will be taking vacation this month. I'm not, so is there something I can do to get ahead while they're all sitting around the lake grilling Tilapia?

Cubicle Coach: The best motivational tunes for Mondays

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:24:03 -0700

First, the blaring sound of the alarm clock. It's 6 a.m. Monday morning. And you've got a full five days of commuting, meetings, expense reports, and forced water cooler chitchat ahead of you. Half of American workers reported having sleep issues on a Sunday night in anticipation of the workweek, according to a recent Monster.com survey. What's the best way to motivate for a long workweek? Download these songs to your iPod and hit the repeat button. These five classic tunes should become as critical a Monday morning staple as your a.m. coffee and a hot shower.

Cubicle Coach: Girl's Guide to Paying Off Student Loans

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:23:34 -0700

Debt-it's the four-letter word that haunts many of us from the moment we frame the diploma. Recent college grads carry a debt load averaging $20,000, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Trying to pay that down on an entry level salary could take decades. But there are some...

Cubicle Coach: How do you force yourself to save money?

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:34:39 -0700

It's easy to put money into a savings account (oh so conveniently linked to a checking account) with the hopes of keeping it there. But those must-have shoes and last-minute concert tickets are constantly tempting us to dip into our savings now and again. And honestly, I've been dipping on a regular basis.

Cubicle Coach: 5 Tips for Successful Networking

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:33:15 -0700

When it comes to networking, working a room can be daunting, especially for those uncomfortable with the social pressures of schmoozing. But there's no underestimating the value of connections gleaned from a good contact. New Websites like LinkedIn.com are principled on the potential upside of...

Cubicle Coach: 5 Work Expenses You Can Expense (and 2 You Can't)

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:05:26 -0700

Whether you're on the job or looking for one, it's easy to rack up a hefty tab of related expenses. (Toner isn't cheap!) If your company won't reimburse you, don't just swallow the costs. Some expenses can be written off come tax time next year. According to the IRS, you can...

Cubicle Coach: How to Score a Job That Pays Over $100K

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:03:12 -0700

Unless you live in one of the country's major cities, odds are you're making roughly $32,000 a year, the average American's income, according to the Census Bureau. Only 5% or so of the nation pulls in over $100,000 a year. Clearly earning a six-figure salary is tough. We asked Sanjay...

Cubicle Coach: Second-Guessing: A Career Downer

nospam@example.com (Cubicle Coach, Marie Claire) — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 16:02:06 -0700

The other day, I was at a meeting for which I had originally prepared a lot of ideas. I felt the need to narrow my list down to the three I was most excited about. But my ideas didn't garner the response I had hoped for. Near the end of the meeting, someone else presented the exact same idea I...