I don’t often post about career or work related things unless it’s about what outfits to wear to work but I recently discovered something that I just had to spread the word about. It is Gwabbit! Gwabbit is an add-on for Microsoft Outlook that will save you time and help you gather one of the biggest assets in your career – your contacts. Most successful professionals would put networking (a.k.a. the web of your contacts) in their top three secrets to success; you can ask top editors, publishers, advertising executives, sales professionals, SVPs or CEOs. Don’t neglect the contacts you make within your company either because you never know where they might end up and how they may be able to help your career in the future.

These days we rely on Linked In, Facebook and even Twitter to manage our professional contacts but don’t underestimate your traditional electronic address book. Gwabbit makes it almost too easy to gather and collect email addresses and contact information to build an executive worthy address book in Outlook. Don’t forget to download, print or backup your address book periodically just in case. I’ve tried, tested and loved Gwabbit and definitely recommend it to Stylester readers. It’ll help you save time at work so you can leave the office early and have time to sneak out to your favorite sample sale!

How to dress appropriately for work:

1st rule - don’t dress badly! (that’s a superficial rule, feel free to bend on it)

2nd rule – Judge by what others are wearing. It is easier to wait till someone else wears a short skirt or tank top before sporting it yourself. The heat isn’t on you and you wont be the first one to be judged, and as soon as someone else breaks the ice, don’t be afraid to jump in right away and wear the tank top of fancy beater you’ve been dying to wear more this summer.

On the other hand, if you want to be the trail blazer, take baby steps. Wear the beater under a cardi, take the cardi off from time to time during the day, if you get strange looks during those intervals, ur office isn’t ready for it yet. Also, if you have a frank relationship with someone at work, just ask them frankly. “Is my skirt too short?” ask a guy who you are friends with or the receptionist because she knows exactly how everyone is dressed that day and also knows what or who people are talking about.

Take a tip from Victoria Beckham. She makes that mini skirt look so sophisticated! Click on the photo for a How To on rocking the mini-skirt without looking slutty.

Stay tuned for more! to be published by End of Week.

As we progress further into our 20s and enter the “real world” and working life, we will have to inevitably endure many a boring meeting.

Here are some tips on how to stay awake through them:

1. TAKE NOTES – write down anything you don’t know or recognize to look up later (it will keep you alert and improve your industry knowledge).
2. TASK LIST – jot down all the tasks that are delegated to you (obv) or that are mentioned where you feel you can help. Your boss will love the initiative.
3. SPEAK UP – ask a question (try to keep it to one question per meeting). Volunteer to do a small and easy task, which will make you the “hero” of the meeting.
4. NOD – not the sleepy nod, but a periodic “wow”, “interesting”, or even the “uh-huh, I agree” nod.
5. DOODLE – discreetly! It will look like you are taking notes, but you are actually drawing Ligers.
6. Practice writing with your LEFT HAND, for an additional twist on doodling. (Contributed by bedirhansolo - www.bedirhansolo.com)
7. BRING A DRINK – a cold one preferably (by ‘cold one’, I don’t mean beer)
8. STEP OUTSIDE – if it’s getting really really bad, and you and practically asleep, step outside and take a walk around the office (make sure you look really busy). The slight interruption caused will be much less embarrassing than falling asleep!
9. PLAY MEETING BINGO – Print it out here

If you got any more tips, hit me back! Some days, I can surely use ANY help I can get!

A great podcast I listen to by the Get it Done Guy recently did a feature on Moments of Truth, which inspired these questions in me.

What is the one thing that makes me shine at work?
OR what are the times when I look totally inefficient and useless if I am not completely on the ball?

You need to identify those moments to hone your skills for looking great at work.

• Try not to “ummm” – if you are unsure, say either “well…” nothing at all, or something related, which will give you time to think of the answer to a question. (Click on the picture for a link to Tips to Reduce ‘umm-’ing)

• Be nosy – not about other people’s personal business, but about things happening at work. Be aware of what’s on your boss’s mind, your team-member’s mind, your subordinate’s mind. This will show your interest in the company, in your team and how it functions, and will also help you figure out areas where you can help.
• Help your coworkers – even if it means you have to stay late one night, a little help will win allegiances, support and friendship from your colleagues. This means that they will help you back, and in a moment of crisis, they will stand up for you or recommend your more responsibility (or even a promotion!)
• Have all the answers – if you are like me, you don’t remember every single details about everything, so keep lists, charts, checklists, excel spreadsheets, whatever it takes to record every single detail someone might ask you to recall. You’ll look super smart when you can look up some obscure detail within minutes.
• Ask questions - an old boss once told me that the biggest thing she admires in an employee is curiosity. Don’t be afraid or shy; instead of making you look stupid, it will in fact show that you are smart enough to realize there is so much more you could know, and WANT to know. It is also a great compliment to someone when you ask for their opinion, advice and knowledge.
• Make it known that you want to grow. Make your ambitions and goals known to your boss, and supervisors. Ambition (that is not outrageous) is highly valued in the business world and if your boss actually knows about them, he or she will surely help you reach them as well.
• Work Hard! - because the lack of effort and interest is so noticeable.

Of course there is a lot more to it, and I am learning more and more each and every day, but for now these are a few “Moments of Truth”in my opinion that will help you at work and influence what your colleagues and supervisors think of you.

Listen to (or read the transcript of) the original podcast here: http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/moments-of-truth.aspx