Today, I spoke to Debra Shigley, who is a journalist and author of the book The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide: Get What You Want in Work and Life (and Look Great While You’re at It). In this interview, Debra talks about strategies to get ahead fast at work, why you need to maintain a professional image, questions work/life balance and more.
What are the most important qualities/strategies to get ahead fast?
Two things that are critical ‘go-getter’ qualities are:
- The ability to self-educate
- Finding allies/advocates in the workplace
By self-educating I mean the ability to be resourceful and solve your employer’s problems. In other words, it’s figuring out how to get stuff done without a lot of hand-holding from your boss. Self-educating is also key to creating your own opportunities at work. Have an idea for a new business area for your company or your perfect job? Well, do the research, make a proposal, and pitch it to decision makers. That’s how “dream jobs” usually happen– not by sitting around waiting for an employer to hand it to you.
The second point about finding allies and advocates means that you need people in your workplace who respect and admire your work, and who will root for you and support you when employment decisions are being made. An ally/advocate could take the form of your boss, your peers, your administrative assistant, people in different departments even. We might like to think that the work world is a pure meritocracy, but it’s not. Relationships are key to securing opportunities, whether it’s a raise, a promotion, or getting assigned to the good projects.
Why do looks matter at work? 
People in this world will judge you by your appearance, period. It’s not about being handsome or beautiful, but about being pulled together and presenting a polished image. First, dressing well and taking care of yourself makes you feel more confident. Second, it’s about the message you’re sending. If you show up looking sloppy, your employer or clients might assume– however incorrectly– that your work is sloppy, too. Conversely, if you dress for the job you want– instead of the job you have– you may all of a sudden find yourself being given more responsibility.
You say work-life balance is a total myth.. why?
When I asked dozens of successful women for the book, “How do you achieve work-life balance?” every single one responded “What’s that?” or “It doesn’t exist.” Many successful people have come to think of managing their life and careers more in terms of “triage” than balance. That is, a constant re-prioritizing of what matters most at the time, and giving that category– whether it’s work, family, community service, exercise– their focused attention in the present moment. In order to get ahead, you can probably expect stretches of time– weeks, months, even years– when work may take precedence over other areas. I think Generation X and Generation Y in particular have sort of been lied to in this area, and told that you can “have it all” early in your career. You can leave early for yoga 3 times a week or continually refuse assignments in favor of vacation if you want, but the message you’re sending is that you’re not really committed to advancing your career.
What is the biggest mistake people make in interviews / informational interviews?
Sounding too desperate! You have to remember that an interview– even an informational interview– is a business meeting, not your chance to vent about your frustration with job searching/your previous employer/dead end job. The person on the other side of the table will think you lack focus. You need to present a positive attitude and try to remain on message, even if that means ‘faking it till you make it’. The best way to do this is to be well-prepared. Have a goal for the meeting in your mind, and have things to talk about besides your personal life and employment frustrations. Research the interviewee’s company and profile. Prepare thoughtful questions about industry trends. Read up on relevant articles and have some pop culture currency to share. And of course, think of some anecdotes that illustrate your go-getterness to weave into the conversation!
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Debra Shigley is a journalist and author of the book The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide: Get What You Want in Work and Life (and Look Great While You’re at It). She completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and her J.D., cum laude, at Georgia State. While completing the latter, she worked full-time as an editor for Atlanta Magazine, and has appeared as a lifestyle expert on national outlets such as ABC’s The View, CNN, and TBS Movie & A Makeover. Most recently she was an employment associate at a top-rated law firm in Washington, D.C. She has written for numerous publications including Allure, Fast Company, Daily Candy, Budget Travel, Heart & Soul, Go, Atlanta Magazine, Neiman Marcus thebook, and many more. She lives in Atlanta with her husband.
