SEX! SEDUCTION! SUCCESS!

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Q: During office meetings, I don’t feel that I come across very well. No one seems to notice me and it’s hard to get a word in edgewise. Sometimes I feel like I should just send in my photo and skip the meeting. Can you give me any tips on how I can impress my boss and co-workers at these seemingly endless meetings my company holds?

A: “Talk Your Way to the Top” gives a complete game plan for this, as does my column in Cosmopolitan Magazine, which is on the website.
Here are some timely tips to help you polish your performance. If you know there’s an important meeting coming up, wear something great looking, and spend extra time on your hair and makeup. Get there early and take a seat near the action, close to the person who’s leading the meeting. This will put you in a position of power- the starshine will rub off on you.
Do a little prep work beforehand by reviewing your notes from the last session. You’ll come across much more intelligently if you can refer to details of previous discussions. Yes, it’s true that it’s sometimes difficult to get floor time during a meeting, but you have to be aggressive about it. For example, put your ideas on the table early, before someone else comes up with them. Also try to have on hand some kind of a prop- a toy, a drawing, a magazine picture- anything to help make your point. This helps prevent anyone else from taking credit, and makes it easier to associate the idea with you.
If you have a hard time speaking up, participate by complimenting someone else’s thought. Rush right in and say: “That’s a great idea, Paul. Jumping off from that point, I think that...” When the meeting ends, don’t just turn around and walk out. Go up to the chairperson and tell him/her that you think the discussion was very productive. This will establish you as a person with good business manners- a very important issue in today’s workplace.

Q: I have an interview scheduled soon and I’m very nervous because I really want the job. What can I do to maximize my chances of getting it?

A: There are many important do’s and dont’s if you want to ace an interview. See my Marie Claire article on this website. Be sure you do not just show up on time, but early. While you’re waiting around, evaluate the company. Do employees seem friendly and happy? Is the reception room clean and in good condition? If not, watch out! This could be a sign that they don’t have much money to spare, which undoubtedly will affect your paycheck.
In your interview, don’t even think about telling even one little white lie. It is easy for employers to fact check. Tell the truth about your title, salary, education and responsibilities. If you don’t, and you are exposed, you could be fired on the spot. Additionally, make sure that you don’t badmouth any of your current or former bosses or co-workers. You’ll come across as untrustworthy and disloyal.

Also, there’s nothing more irritating than someone who shows up for an interview without a copy of his or her resume. Always bring at least four copies. This saves time if the interviewer has lost his/her copy or if he/she brings someone else to join the interview. Plus, you always need a copy for yourself.
When the interview is over, it’s critical that you exit with a plan. Say something like: “I’m very enthusiastic about this job. What do you suggest as the next step?” Also make sure you find out from the interviewer when he or she expects to make a hiring decision.
Finally, if you don’t send a thank you note, you’re a dope. Many jobs have been lost for that reason alone. Drop a note to your interviewer right after you meet. Explain and restate your interest in the job, and let them know you appreciate the interview and look forward to hearing from the company.
Avoid asking about money. An employer’s main concern is to make o Lizzie’s not much of an eater. She rarely eats lunch, she says, and barely and Miami. She’s planning to open offices in Los Angeles and London. She even asks me for advice about whether she should branch out into courting high-tech businesses. She talks adoringly about her clients.

Q: I need to find a job and I’m three months pregnant. When I interview, do I have to tell a prospective employer that I’m expecting?

A: It’s absolutely the right thing to do, both ethically and professionally, to tell a prospective employer you’re expecting. How you do it is very important, however. As I mentioned in Fortune Magazine (article on this website), appearance and body language are essential in a job interview, particularly when you’re pregnant. Because pregnancy denotes sexuality, many women look down while they talk about it, out of modesty. Don’t! Sit up straight and look at the interviewer right in the eye. You will appear confident and unapologetic for your pregnancy.
Be proactive and suggest a specific game plan to address any uncertainties your prospective employer may have. If you’re set up to work from home, say so. Have a detailed timeline ready- how long you’ll be out, how available you’ll be, when you’ll be back in the office fulltime, etcetera.
Your clothes are particularly important, as you want to come across as a total professional who just happens to be pregnant. For example, wear black dress with a blazer over it, to minimize your condition. Avoid cutesy maternity clothes. Good luck!

Q: My boyfriend is an artist and doesn’t make as much money as I do. He is cute and funny and we have incredible sexual chemistry. Achievement/success is important to me. What do I do?

A: Well, little one, you have a problem here – Do you take the left fork in the road or the right? It all depends on what is more important to you, the latest pair of Manolo Blahniks or great love and sex.