Posted inReal mums

Can your employer give you a bad reference because you’ve had too much time off?

good job refrences
When it comes to refrences, remember that you have rights

As a parent, there will always be a time when you cannot avoid having to take time off work because of your children.

Sickness, school holidays, last-minute let downs by the childminder… the reasons are plenty.

But what happens when you apply for a new job, knowing that you have a string of absences on your record? It doesn’t matter if you can account for them, the figures don’t look good. What can you do about it?

Posted inReal mums

What to wear to work for success

workwear stylish woman
Ditch the frumpy look: How you present yourself at work can affect how your colleagues see you.

This season’s corporate catwalks couldn’t be further removed from the aggressive power-dressing of old, as softer silhouettes replace the ubiquitous sharp shoulder.

The secretary in all her femme fatale glory is workwear’s new muse, with tweed skirt suits, pussy bow blouses and platform loafers stealing the show.

With this look in mind, follow these new rules for instant boardroom style success:

Do

  • Invest in a seasonal capsule wardrobe, which you can rotate on a weekly basis. It should include at least:
    1. one suit jacket/blazer;
    2. two skirts (preferably pencil or skater);
    3. one shift dress; one pair of wide-leg trousers (the strides du jour);
    4. a pair of tailored shorts (they look sleek with opaques); and
    5. three to four interchangeable blouses.
  • Experiment with textures and colours. A cropped bouclé or tweed jacket will jazz up a cheap pair of black trousers, while a burnt-orange blouse will brighten up a navy skirt suit.