One Red Hot Country Mama!

Are you brand new into the workforce? It is not the same as you think… The school to office jump was a huge culture shock for me, especially since my first job was in a very traditional manufacturing environment. I went from the academic world where everyone was treated as equals, to a place where men and women were thought of as very different specimens.

I was at an especially large disadvantage since I went business school, and I had any conceptions about how work-life "should be". Now I know that the lessons I learned in management and organizational behavior classes were theory and best practices, not a primer about what the workplace is actually like. Here are a few tips that I wish someone gave me before entering the workforce:

1. Don’t be surprised if men are overly-enthralled – Even average looking women who are not used to it can get much more sexual attention than they ever received before. Why? Youth is still considered by most men to be more attractive – whether you agree with it or not, it is a fact. You can use this to your advantage. For example you can get a business male mentor who will spend a lot of time with you and give you advice because he simply likes spending time with you. Of course if he does hit on you, never, ever give in to the advances. Also don’t forget that looks are temporary and a new batch of younger women than you will soon come along. You want to use your looks to build your skills for the future instead of relying exclusively on them.

2. Use your looks to your advantage, but don’t rely on them - Even though you can use your looks to your advantage, don’t rely on them exclusively. I will never forget being pitched for ad space by these two women working for an industry trade journal. My boss made it clear that I was the decision-maker but he and another male executive sat in to listen in to the pitch. The two pretty sales reps looked like they were from an 80s music video, with miniskirts and fluffed hair, rather than being professionally dressed. They did not address me directly or offer me any good ideas for my product release, but were instead pandering to and flirting with the men.

This was a mistake. We wanted exposure we were an easy sell since their circulation was good within our tight-knit industry. But I didn’t go for them because I didn’t think they would listen to me and be a good partner with me. So – I instead invested more into a soft-spoken man who had all kinds of great ideas about how to launch my products and who shared ideas with me. If women only rely our sexuality, we keep the men in the decision-maker’s seat since our sexual appeals don’t work on other women.

3. Don’t become an "expert" in the photocopier – This also goes for applications like PowerPoint, Excel and Word or even for washing all of the coffee mugs in the sink. As a women in business, people still try to put me into an administrator role. When I started as a Marketing Analyst, I remember the group that managed the reception desk asking me to share in the duties (the men were not asked) and I politely declined. Even in my first Marketing Manager role, the couriers would come to my office with packages, assuming I was there to sign them in, rather than the man in the office beside me, or the men in the cubicles all around my office.

I have heard of other companies where mass-e-mails were sent to the women-only (and not the men) to take over the receptionist’s duties while she went on breaks. Although it is good to have team spirit, it is better to contribute in other ways such as by being exceptional in your own role, being part of a community relations or fundraising committee, helping colleagues through business problems or having a special skill. You want to become an expert, or a trusted advisor in these roles, rather than being an expert at the administrator role.

4. Don’t be hurt by words – Although you may see some things in your new work place clash with your values, the worst thing that you can do for yourself is to be hurt by words. Examples are sexist comments, or making fun of homosexuals. I have seen women who get offended by something and respond with just an angry stare or worse simply turning away. This reaction is traditional and passive.

In business you want to be strong and capable – not weak. You want to show that you in the game and not afraid to stand up for what you believe in. So – instead of being hurt, be strong back to the person saying it with a sarcastic comment "what, are we suddenly back in the 50s?" or just be straightforward about it "actually my sister is gay". If we are hurt by words instead of standing up for what we believe in, we are not moving forward our cause.