When I graduated college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was lost, confused, and didn’t know where to start. Like many of you, I lacked guidance and support—and had to figure most of it out on my own. My career path has been anything but linear, but I’ve come to embrace my experiences and lessons learned. Today, I want to share 7 lessons I’ve learned in my career. Some of these lessons I’ve learned the hard…
It seems like everyone is talking about networking these days, so let’s talk about it. The word networking often gets a bad rap. It’s not hard visualizing a room full of people dressed to the nines, passing around cards and empty promises to one another. I don’t know about you, but this type of interaction makes me cringe a little. Maybe it’s because this type of exchange has become associated with the “what’s in it for me” mentality where the…
Imagine this: It’s the day of your interview; you wake up early, you have everything prepared, you are ready to make a great first impression! You feel confident because even though you don’t know what’s in store, you know you got this! You walk into the interview a little nervous (that’s normal!), but surprisingly you feel calm and collected because you are prepared and ready for anything that comes your way! That’s quite the mindset shift, isn’t it? If you…
It’s not a secret that a “perfect” job does not exist. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. Just because a perfect job doesn’t exist doesn’t mean that you can’t have a fulfilling, rewarding, and purpose-filled role; it just won’t be perfect all of the time. There will be good days, and there will be bad days. That’s why it’s essential to reflect upon the things you do love about your career—especially on the days you feel frustrated…
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” Who else was asked this question a million times throughout their childhood? When I was a young child, I wanted to be a doctor because I wanted to be just like my tía. But then she changed careers and became a science teacher. Growing up, I was surrounded by educators. My tía and tío were educators and my parents were always involved with the schools, in one way or another.…
Why is it so hard to advocate for ourselves? It’s such an important skill that can benefit us in many areas of our lives, but we often don’t do it effectively. If you think about it, the opportunities exist every day, even in the most mundane tasks. I remember being embarrassed when my mom would return to the store because the clerk accidentally overcharged her a small amount. Little did I know, she was teaching me an essential skill that…
What comes to mind when you think of the word shortcut? Is it positive or negative? Depending on the context, the word can have both positive and negative connotations. If you’re running a marathon and you see someone deviate from the route in an attempt to reach the finish line sooner, you might not be happy. (I know I wouldn’t be.) If you develop a system that saves the company money, you could be recognized by your manager—and possibly get…
Last week, I was a panelist on the Mujeres, Cultura, y Pasión panel hosted by Chicana Inc. and moderated by Estrella Serrato from the podcast Cafecito con Estrellita. When Estrella, endearingly known to all of us as Estrellita, asked me to be part of the panel, I was excited to share the virtual stage with such talented mujeres. Domenica and Estrellita’s goal was to bring together a group of mujeres to share inspiring stories about balancing priorities, the meaning of…
A few weeks ago, I posted a poll on my Instagram stories asking people if their workplace celebrates Latinx Heritage Month. 76% said no and 24% said yes. Immediately after I posted the poll, many people sent me messages asking me for ideas or letting me know how their workplace celebrates. Throughout the years, I’ve been involved in many Latinx Heritage Month events in the workplace. I realize that working at a large organization has many benefits such as leadership…
I recently read an article about a CEO who challenged women to include small typos in a professional email. Although it sounds counterintuitive, I can appreciate her reasoning. She explained how women tend to obsess over little mistakes, and by intentionally including a typo in an email, women will realize it’s not that big of a deal. She’s right! I don’t know about you, but panic sets in when I realize I’ve made a typo in an email—or on Instagram.…
About Me
Start Here!
