Career & Finance

If you often find yourself finishing up a long workday in pain, you’re not alone. After all, things like tech neck, back pain, and eye strain are just a few common symptoms that come from working at a desk and staring at a screen for prolonged periods of time. Granted, we all have to deal with and push through pain occasionally, but dealing with pain day in and day out can take a toll on your mental health and affect your overall performance at work.
The truth is, continuously working through or going into your workday knowing it could potentially end in pain is not going to set you up for success, which is why finding items that can help minimize pain is key to working at your fullest potential.
Start thriving instead of just surviving with these desk essentials. From CBD relief cream to back cushions, laptop risers and everything in-between, these are the ergonomic desk essentials you need to add to your workspace ASAP.

Twelve South
Curve Laptop Riser
Calling all laptop owners: This is one item your wish list needs. This chic laptop riser comes in a matte black or sleek white finish, so it pairs beautifully with any laptop shade and looks nice on any surface. What’s more, it’ll help combat and prevent neck and shoulder pain and make your video calls look even better by placing your laptop at eye-level.

Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard
Say goodbye to the days of trying to work through hand or wrist pain with this ergonomic keyboard. Designed with an ergonomic slope and built-in wrist rest for optimal hand and wrist placement, you’ll work in a more neutral position, combat hand pain, and prevent further injury or strain.

Ergonomic Wrist Rest and Mouse Pad
Lightweight, soft, durable, and slip-resistant, this wrist rest and mouse pad set is exactly what you need to alleviate hand and wrist pain. Plus, it’s made with memory foam for comfortable, easy use.
Available in 15+ colors

Cloud Cool Mist Humidifier
Cold weather can exacerbate aches and pains, and indoor heating can zap moisture from the air. Breathe some life back into your space with Vitruvi’s Cloud Humidifier; the ultra-sleek, minimalist design can serve as desk decor while making your body feel better and improving your skin, hair, and natural immunity.
Available in 3 colors

Wear Me Pro
Blue Light Glasses
Combat screen-induced headaches and eye strain with a pair of blue light blocking glasses. We love a multitasking accessory, and these are super cute and effective.

Simple Modern
Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
It’s no secret that staying hydrated can help keep your body in check, improve circulation, and reduce pain and inflammation. Keep a water bottle with you at all times to ensure you never forget to drink enough. The beauty of this size is that you’ll have to get up for more eventually, which will help break up the day, give your eyes a break from the screen, and get in some extra movement.

Equilibria
Relief Balm
Pain can be unpredictable at times, but keeping Equilibria’s CBD Relief Balm handy can help.With 500mg of CBD and other loving ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, lavender, and menthol, this is a great all-natural alternative to over-the-counter pain reducers like Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Simply apply a pea-sized amount onto the affected area to calm down inflammation and provide much-needed relief.
Use code ‘theeverygirl’ for 20% off of your first order at Equilibria!

Electric Height Adjustable Standing Desk
If you’re looking to upgrade your desk completely and say goodbye to neck and shoulder pain once and for all, look no further. FlexiSpot’s standing desk is electrically powered and fully customizable, and lets you program up to three presets, so you can save the desk positions and heights that work best for you.

Branch Furniture
Ergonomic Chair
There’s a reason Branch Furniture’s Ergonomic Chair has a 5-star rating—because it works. It simultaneously provides comfort and firm lumbar support, relieves pressure in your body, and supports a healthy posture. So, add this to your holiday wish list and say goodbye to long days spent sitting in uncomfortable chairs.
Available in 3 colors

Portable Back Massage Cushion with Heat
A back massager with a built-in heating system that can be strapped to your desk chair and used as you work? Say no more. Designed to relax and soothe, you’ll never want to rush through work again.

Ergonomic Back Relief Cushion
Give your office chair an upgrade this season. Available in 4 colors, this back relief cushion is contoured to fit your natural lumbar curve and provide necessary spine support. Plus, it can be strapped to fit almost any chair.

Cushion Lab
Pressure Relief Seat Cushion
Remedy tailbone pain that comes from sitting for prolonged periods of time with this ergonomic seat cushion. Designed to improve posture and relieve sitting and hip pressure, this portable seat cushion has a grippy bottom that will fasten to any desk chair and provide comfort and support all-day long. Plus, with 2 sizes and 13 colors to choose from, you’re bound to find something that fits both your vibe and your needs.

Cushion Lab
Under Desk Foot Rest
Sitting for hours on end can put a lot of added pressure on your body, but simply adding a foot rest under your desk can provide some pain relief. This footrest is made with an ergonomic design and 3D Wave Foot Massage that will stimulate blood flow and enhance circulation for deep tension release. Really, it’s like stepping on a cloud.
Available in 10 colors

Under Desk Elliptical
This under desk elliptical should be on every working woman’s holiday wish list. Movement makes your body feel better and helps combat long-term pain, so place this under your desk to get in extra activity while you work. Also included in purchase is a mat that will protect your floor, a resistance band, caster stoppers to keep your chair in place while using, and a tether strap that will secure the elliptical to your desk chair. More

I think we can all agree that time-management is an important life skill. It is, however, not a skill that comes naturally to me. I’m more of the “wait until the last minute, then dart and dash” kind of woman. Maybe you’re like me. Maybe you, like me, always find yourself desperately scouting the mall for a new pair of shoes one day before your vacation, longing for a way to bring order and ease into the chaos. 
Not too long ago, as I waded through my to-do list wondering if there was “a better way,” I was reminded of a trend I’d seen on Instagram: micro-scheduling. I decided to give it a shot for one full week so I could report back to any fellow hopefuls, looking for a way to declutter their to-do lists.

What Is Micro-Scheduling?
Micro-scheduling is a form of planning where you block your day out by 15-minute increments. It’s meant to help pace you out so you can complete your tasks in smaller chunks over a longer period of time. You’re essentially mapping out each baby step in the process of a task and jotting it into your calendar. Hence, the “micro” schedule.

My Experience
If the fact that I’m turning in this article one day early is any indication, I’d say this experiment was a success. After just one week of micro-scheduling, I can honestly say it completely altered my stress levels around my to-do list. Breaking tasks down into bite-sized pieces and seeing them time-stamped on my calendar made each item on my list feel more feasible, which kept me from procrastinating. I did find that I was able to get more done over a shorter period of time without feeling rushed through it all. 
So, the short version is that I highly recommend this process and plan on integrating it into my daily life. Of course, my feedback doesn’t come without a few caveats. For example, I found myself living in my calendar far more than I ever have before. If you’re not someone who enjoys using a calendar to manage your day, this isn’t going to be for you. 
I also noticed that by the end of the week I started modifying the process to meet my specific needs—because, frankly, life gets in the way of even our greatest intentions. For example, by the end of the week, I wasn’t blocking my entire day into 15-minute increments. That felt more laborious than helpful, but I did take the opportunity to sprinkle in 15-minute blocks to break up my more daunting tasks into manageable pieces. 
If you’re looking to elevate your time-management style and want to give this process a go, read on for a few tips that will make it a little more adaptable for real life.

My Best Micro-Scheduling Tips

Plan on blocking in time for blocking in time.
As I alluded to in my takeaway, the biggest “life change” I experienced while trying micro-scheduling was my reliance on my calendar. Blocking tasks out in such small steps takes time. The biggest mistake I made from the get-go was thinking that the actual planning part wouldn’t need to be blocked into my day. So each day, I gave myself a 30 minute block first thing in the morning to review my calendar and add or rearrange my tasks as needed. And yes, instead of 15 minutes, I chose 30. Maybe I’m just a slow mover, but not every task can be accomplished in 15 minutes. I decided to be realistic about how long I’d actually need for each task. I get a little triggered when I feel like I’m falling behind, so by buffering a little extra time, I’d often finish a task a little bit early, which felt like a win!

View your calendar in 4 day increments, not a full week—and definitely not a month.
The best part of this whole process, for me, was how it allowed me to be more present with each day. Before micro-scheduling, I kept a running list of to-dos in the notes app of my phone. I sometimes arranged them by priority, and always checked them off as I completed them. The problem with that strategy is that my brain was constantly fumbling over the bird’s-eye-view of EVERYTHING that needed to get done in my life, which is overwhelming at best and completely debilitating at worst. By using my calendar and only allowing myself to see four days ahead, I noticed my nervous system felt way more relaxed. Turns out life feels pretty doable when you’re not agonizing about everything all at once. Though I might have blocked a couple of items in my schedule further out to accommodate future deadlines, I only needed to see my life in four day increments when I viewed my calendar. Everything else was out of sight, out of mind.

Give yourself more time than you need to meet a deadline.
As I noted earlier, by far the hardest part of this process is making sure you’re realistic about how long each “baby step” task will take. We want things to move swiftly, but life has a way of dragging things out. For example, you might block out 15 minutes to call your insurance company and find yourself on hold for 45. Don’t let it discourage you if your micro-tasks take longer than you hope. The best way to avoid complications is to either sprinkle in 15 minute “catch up” blocks, extend a 15 minute block to 30 (like I did), or give yourself a slightly longer runway for completing a task. For example, if you have a work assignment due on a Thursday, try blocking out your micro-tasks for that assignment so that it’s completed by Wednesday. This gives you a little wiggle room when those baby steps turn into a crawl.

Expect unforeseen events.
I had an entire day squashed because of a sleeper sofa delivery gone awry. When the delivery people couldn’t get it through our hallway and the reality set in that I was going to have to send it back, I panicked. My mom is visiting for Thanksgiving and I’d put tons of research into getting the best pull-out couch for her stay. I ended up spending the better half of that day doom-scrolling the internet for sleeper sofas that could be delivered before the holidays.
I ultimately decided that getting a couch we liked was better than settling on something that was available, so mom will be air-mattressing it this year, but my point is that an entire day’s worth of tasks got derailed because of an unforeseen event. When this happens, don’t beat yourself up. Unexpected annoyances are part of life, as much as we all wish they weren’t. This is why blocking time first thing every day to reevaluate your calendar is so helpful—if you weren’t able to knock out all the items on your list from the day before, you have time to rearrange everything to catch up.

Leave blank space in your calendar each day.
This kind of goes against the whole point of micro-scheduling, but I found when I packed my day TOO full, I was less likely to get as much done because as soon as I felt like I was falling behind, I’d give up. However, when I gave myself dead space in the middle of the day (or even blocked it out as “free time”) it allowed me to use that time to my advantage. If I needed rest, I’d rest. If I needed to use that time to catch up on the morning’s tasks, I could. Not every moment of our day is going to be predictable, so blocking in buffer time is key to ensure your best laid plans are realistic.

You don’t have to micro-schedule your entire existence—you can use it even for just one aspect of your life!
To be honest, my biggest gain while micro-scheduling has been my meal planning game. Writing in what meals I intend to make on any given weekday helps me stick to the plan and ensure I block in time to not only grocery shop, but meal prep and cook. It has made cooking nearly seamless. If there ever comes a time when I get tired of micro-scheduling every other aspect of my life into my calendar, I will most definitely continue to use it for meal planning purposes. So if you feel like you’re generally an organized person but need a little boost in just one area of your life, micro-scheduling could be a great way to nail it down!

Know that it still takes discipline to stay on top of it all
The great thing about micro-scheduling is that by sitting down each morning to set up your calendar, you’re already in the zone to stay on top of it. But like anything in life, it’s about putting on your proverbial shoes. My least favorite aspect of this process is that you don’t physically check off your tasks—as time passes they simply fade into your calendar’s history. This means you really have to stay on top of which tasks get completed and which need to be transferred to a future date. It doesn’t take a ton of effort, but it can feel like you’re married to your calendar. If you don’t like that feeling, this won’t be a symbiotic relationship for you. 

Be kind to yourself
If you’re like me, you start each new habit with excitement and enthusiasm, but the moment you get derailed you get hard on yourself. Let this be your permission to take it easy on yourself! New habits take time and life happens. I’ll admit it feels pretty awesome when you get through a day of micro-scheduling and all your tasks actually get done, but there are going to be days when you’re in the flow and days when you’re not. If you accept that it’s a ride with ups and downs, you’re more likely to stick to it long-term. More

Whenever I meet people who work from home, I am always curious about their WFH setup. Do they work from the couch most days? Is their setup in their living room? Do they post up at their kitchen counter? Or are they one of the lucky ones with dedicated office space? As a girl who has historically worked from the kitchen counter, I have saved more office photos to my “Home Office” Pinterest board than I can count so that when the day would come that I too would have my own home office, I would be able to make it as aesthetic (and functional, of course) as I have always dreamed of.
I am happy to say that my home office design days are officially here, but I quickly ran into one problem: Every single inspiration picture I have saved has an iMac in it, and that one item basically takes up all of my design budget. After some dramatic pouting, I made the decision to not let that deter me from having what I have always wanted sans the price tag, so I am rolling up my internet scrolling sleeves to find the perfect iMac dupes.
If you too have always wanted an iMac but you don’t feel like dropping over a grand, here is what you need to get the look:

In this article

Monitor
Arguably the most attractive thing about an iMac is the sleek, silver design all the way around, so the most important thing to keep in mind when looking for an iMac dupe is the shape and the color—especially from the back. You want to make sure that even if your desk is in the middle of the room and not up against a wall, the back of the computer is just as pretty and seamless as the front. We love these options because they check all of those boxes:

Pavilion All-in-One
The HP Pavilion is the most like the iMac, but it is a few hundred dollars cheaper. With the same look and the ability to customize the color, processor, display, and more, this is one of the best dupes for an iMac on the market right now.

FHD Monitor
For a fraction of what the iMac costs, this monitor has a very similar streamlined look. Plus, if you have a Macbook, you can connect it to this monitor with an HDMI and enjoy all of Apple’s features on a bigger screen.

Slim IPS Monitor
The side and back of this monitor look just like an iMac with its sleek white and silver design. But the best part? It’s basically a 1/10th of the price. Since it also has HDMI ports, you can connect it to your existing laptop—whether it’s a Macbook or not.

Keyboard
One of the things I love the most about the look of an iMac is the sleek, wireless keyboard that pairs with it, but a keyboard that’s over $100?! I’ll pass. Here are a few options for wireless keyboards that look just as nice and work just as well as the infamous Apple Magic Keyboard:

Wireless Bluetooth Keyboard
For under $60, this keyboard is one of the best dupes for the Apple Magic Keyboard. It has a slim design, the same quiet typing feature, and is compatible with all processing systems. We recommend the silver or white!

Wireless Keyboard
This keyboard from Amazon has the same aluminum style as the Apple Magic Keyboard and is under $50. However, keep in mind that this style is only compatible with Apple products, so you’ll need a Macbook to connect to your monitor in order to use it.

Wireless Keyboard
This under $20 option is a total steal. It’s slim and compact, so it won’t take up too much room on your desk, and it has a long battery life, making it the ultimate budget-friendly option.

Mouse
If you have a Macbook, you can splurge on the Apple Magic Mouse, but why would you when there are dozens of similar-looking options? Here are two of the best ones:

Rechargeable Bluetooth Mouse
This mouse is under $12 and has the same ergonomic design as the one from Apple. With an auto energy-saving mode, long battery life, and a one year warranty, you can’t beat it.

Wireless Mouse
This wireless mouse is identical to Apple’s and it’s under $16. We love that it offers noiseless clicking, is compact, and is compatible with any processor.

Accessories
Now we can’t put all this work into finding the best dupes without making the rest of your desk look just as good as your computer setup does. To achieve a Pinterest-worthy look, snag some of these desk essentials:

The Single Purchase That Made Me Actually Want To Sit At My Desk All Day More

Writing a professional email can leave you feeling like you’re walking on eggshells. Especially if you’re new to the working world or have a few prickly coworkers. While no one email is the same, if you master a few basic and professional openings and closings and know what phrases to avoid when writing emails, you’ll soon find that you don’t have to nervously edit every email you send. 
Picking up good professional habits now will make all of your following workdays so much easier. That’s why we created the only email writing guide you’ll ever need. We’re going to break down the phrases you should avoid in the opening, body, and closing of your emails—as well as what phrases you should use to make sure you nail the landing every time. 

In this article

Openings
How you start an email sets the tone for your entire communication. When writing your next email, consider skipping these intros.
Sorry to bother you. Are you sorry? Are you bothering them? Probably not. Start off all of your emails from a confident place and never use language that can convince someone they should feel bothered by you. Instead of saying “sorry to bother you”, you can say “I appreciate you taking the time to help me with this presentation before our all-hands meeting.” You can show gratitude for their collaboration without implying you did anything wrong. 
Per my last email. If you’re following up on a request, this is one of the worst ways to start your follow up email. By now, everyone knows this is a form of not so passive aggression, so instead try “I still need last quarter’s sales numbers. Can you take care of this by the end of day tomorrow?” There’s no need to beat around the bush, you can circle back to what you need without potentially causing any office drama.
Hey. Stick with “hello” or “hi” so you don’t give off any of those “fresh out of college” vibes.
Hey guys. Even worse than “hey” is “hey guys” if you’re emailing multiple people. It sounds too casual and while most people won’t assume you mean to exclude female colleagues, this phrase can rub some people the wrong way. Go for “Hi team” or “Hello all” instead when emailing a group. 
Hope this email finds you well. This greeting is an infamously cliche opening and one that doesn’t really benefit anyone. It comes across as something you have to say, not something you genuinely mean, so usually you’re better off just jumping straight to the point. If you want to add in some pleasantries, try to make it a bit more specific. Like—”I hope your vacation in Hawaii was really relaxing.”

Body
As easy as it is to sweat the small things—like whether to start your email with “hello” or “hi”—it’s the meat of your email that really counts. The point of the body of your email is to clearly and concisely relay what you need to say to your recipient, whether that be a request, submitting work, or asking a question. Knowing what phrases to avoid can make the body of your email so much stronger and more effective.
You will want to pass over this language whenever possible:
Just. The word “just” weakens your language greatly. You don’t say “I just want to check-in on the status of your deliverables.” That makes it sound like you’re apologizing or as if you feel bad about making your request. Instead you can say “I am checking in on the status of your deliverables.” This language makes it clear you expect a status update. 
Maybe. Using the term “maybe” in email communications like “Can we maybe meet on Tuesday” or “Can you maybe get your final edits to me by the end of the day”, doesn’t do you any favors. You don’t need to give someone the chance to drop the ball. You will always benefit from clearly asking what you want. They may respond with a “maybe” answer, and if they do, that’s on them. 
Apologies for the delay. Unless you truly are late on something, there’s no need to apologize in an email for not responding immediately. We live in a world where it feels expected to always be online, but in reality you don’t have to respond to someone’s email within the hour or even within the same day. So you really have nothing to apologize for in most cases.

Closings
If you write dozens of emails a day (which many of us do), it can feel like your email closings are getting stale. But just like how now one notices when you wear your favorite pair of jeans three times in a week, no one will notice if you close your email with the same turn of phrase repeatedly. Point being, choose a salutation or two that are professional and that you feel comfortable with and use them as much as you’d like. To remain professional, refrain from using these endings:
Sincerely. You would use the word “sincerely” when writing a condolence card to a dear friend or a letter to your grandmother, not when communicating with a business colleague. This turn of phrase is way too familiar—try “best”, “regards”, or a simple “thank you”, and then you add your name. 
Love. Just in case you didn’t know, don’t ever sign off a business email by saying “love”, no matter how good of friends you are with the person receiving the other email. If you want to show some warmth in an email to someone you’re close with, you can say “warm regards”.
Cheers. Again—this option is just too informal and personal. If you want, before you close out your email, you can add a quick line wishing them a great weekend or that you hope they enjoy that vacation they’re about to embark on, and then you can add a normal salutation.

Other Helpful Email Tips to Keep in Mind
Since we’re already on the topics of mastering email communications, let’s run through some other helpful quick tips that can make your emails as polished and effective as possible.
Keep it brief. People tend to skim emails for high-level details, so whenever possible cut the fluff and keep your email as brief as possible. Bullet points are your friend here. 
Dive right in. Along the same theme of keeping your email brief, dive straight into your request or debriefing as quickly as possible. We’re all inundated with too many emails, so the easier you can make it for people to process what you need, the better.
Cut the exclamation points and emojis. Written text can feel harsh, but trust us, no one will think you’re rude if you don’t use exclamation points or emojis. Professional emails don’t need to be dressed up to be considered friendly and appropriate. 
Tread lightly with reply all. Does everyone on an email chain really need you to respond to every group message with “thanks” or “got it”? Probably not. If you really want to confirm something with the sender, you can remove everyone else from your reply to save their inbox from further clutter. 
Don’t forget to set your OOO. When you’re going to be out of the office for an extended period of time, it’s important to set an out of office (OOO) message. This message should be brief and clear (this is a running theme) and should address what dates you will be out of the office and who they should contact instead if they need help immediately. 
Keep the recipient in mind. We’re not going to pretend like every single email you send at work has to meet the highest office etiquette standards. If you’re sending your work bestie a quick note about donuts being in the breakroom, it is okay to use an emoji or exclamation point. Just be careful that you don’t fall into bad habits and accidentally send too casual of an email to someone you don’t know that well or who is much higher up the chain of command than you. Email lives on forever in our digital world, so be careful what you write and who you write it to.
Best of luck with all your future email endeavors! More

Your performance review is your time to shine. It’s a dedicated time for you and your manager to discuss your accomplishments, goals, and career path. It’s also a time to receive feedback, both positive and constructive. While it’s great to hear how awesome we are, a performance review isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. 
The good news? There’s still time to make sure your review (including any feedback) goes swimmingly. A productive and positive performance review experience requires thoughtful preparation. As the saying goes, if you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail. So, to prepare for your next performance review, here are five easy things to do right now.

1. Make a List of Your Accomplishments
Like I said, this is your time to shine. To do that, you need the receipts to prove how valuable you are to your team and your company. Before you sit down with your manager, make a list of all the great things you have accomplished since your last performance review. What wins can you identify? Have you landed a big client? Write it down. Did you lead and finish a big project? Take note. Maybe you brought in a record-breaking amount of revenue for the company. Add it to the list.
Keep in mind your accomplishments don’t always have to be big, fancy items. They could be smaller goals you achieved or softer skills you worked on throughout the year. Maybe you coached and trained a new hire or the interns on your team. Or you attended a professional development opportunity that led to you sharpening your skills. 
Your accomplishments list will guide your discussion with your manager on how you met or exceeded your goals for the year and to show your value as an employee. Even if you don’t walk through your list bullet by bullet, this time to self-reflect can help give you the confidence to walk into your performance review with your head held high.

2. Think About Where You Want Your Career to Go
A performance review should be twofold; it should evaluate what you’ve done and where you want to go. Your manager likely has a plan for your future at the company. But it’s good to be prepared to share your vision for your career as well. Are you looking to get promoted in the future? Do you want to stay in your current role and develop your skills? Take a moment to think about what you want out of your career and how your manager can support you. Getting clear on this vision before your performance review makes the conversation more meaningful and helps you set goals for the year ahead.

Source: Social Squares

3. Compile Your Questions
You may be fortunate to have regular one-on-one time with your manager or have a great relationship where you can communicate freely. If that’s not the case, this is your opportunity to ask your manager questions uninterrupted. The workweek can often get away from us, so we may be unable to squeeze career and professional development questions into the conversation while trying to accomplish our everyday tasks. 
Take five minutes to compile all your burning questions and keep them career-focused. This isn’t the time to ask about the status of a project. Is your mind drawing a blank? Here are a few questions to mule over.

Where do you see my role progressing in the coming years?
Are there any upcoming professional development opportunities I should plan to attend?
I found an external learning opportunity that would benefit me in this role. Would the company be willing to cover the cost?
What new skills do you think would be beneficial for me to develop in this role?
How can I better support you and the team?
I have some ideas I’d like to present to the team. Can we set up some time outside of this meeting to discuss my ideas?
How do you see the team dynamic changing in the coming years?
Is there anything I’m not already doing that would help me succeed in this role?
What do I need to do to get promoted or receive a raise?
I’d like to get better at networking internally. How would you suggest I do that?

4. Prepare For Feedback
Two-way communication is integral for a successful performance review. While you’re preparing your list of accomplishments and questions, your manager is preparing their feedback to share with you. Often, this feedback will be both positive and constructive. 
Constructive feedback isn’t meant to be mean or embarrass you. A good manager provides constructive feedback to help you grow in your career and provide ways to get better at your job. When it’s your manager’s turn to share feedback in your conversation, keep an open mind and try your best not to get defensive. A manager’s observation can help point out blind spots and areas of opportunity. While it may feel uncomfortable or difficult to hear, you’ll be better off for it in the long run.

5. Determine Your Ask
While you have your manager’s attention, a performance review conversation is a great time to make an ask. You may not always have one, but if you do, this is the time to do it. Think about what your manager can do for you and how they can support you. Maybe you feel you deserve a raise or a new title, or perhaps you’d like the opportunity to change roles. Your ask could even be that you’d like to work on a specific project or propose a new idea.
Be prepared to come to the table with all the facts to support your request (i.e., the awesome work you’ve done that you deserve to be compensated for or the new responsibilities you took on that you feel justify a new title). Determine what you need or want ahead of time so you can approach your conversation with a clear ask.
With a bit of preparation, your performance review can be the most beneficial conversation you have all year. You can talk about how you’re excelling in your career and learn what your future at the company looks like, all while forging open lines of communication with your manager. A few minutes of planning now can lead to your best year yet. More

If you’re gearing up for that second (or third) job interview and are freaking out just a bit, sit back and unclench your jaw for a sec. We’re here to help. While career guidebooks and college courses tend to place a major emphasis on nailing that initial screening, follow-up interviews are just as key. However, there’s often less information out there about how to make sure it goes swimmingly. That’s where we come in. We’ve spoken with three experts who’ve weighed in with interview tips. They discuss how to shine during a longer, more thorough interview, in which you’ll be asked about more than your general interest in the company and basic skillset. Read on. Then, get ready to impress.
 
Do your company research ahead of time
It’s time to enlist your BFF, Google. “You should be able to talk a bit about the organization and what is important to them,” says Miriam Salpeter, founder of Keppie Consulting. “This information should be readily available on their website.” It’s smart to then use your findings to shape your talking points on the day of the interview. “If their website mentions ‘teamwork’ on every other line, you’ll want to mention something about your commitment to working on a team,” Salpeter explains.

Look into your interviewers
If the company included the names of those individuals you’ll be meeting with, use this information to your advantage. “Some good places to start are their company website (if they have a profile), their LinkedIn page, and a Google search for any news alerts or publications,” advises Samantha Simmons, an executive legal recruiter at LHH Recruitment Solutions. She formerly worked in BigLaw. “There is no need to memorize their CV, but jot down a few things that interest you, whether it’s something you have in common or a new initiative that you’d like to ask them more about.”

Study your resume
Review your resume. Your interviewers are certainly going to be giving it a close look! “Make sure you are comfortable talking about anything and everything on there,” Simmons notes. “Then, take it one step further and decide on three highlights that you want to make sure you are communicating to your interviewer.” These may relate to a specific degree, credential, or work accomplishment, she explains.

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Use the following technique when answering questions
You’ll want to practice answering questions at home ahead of time. Salpeter is a proponent of using the PAR technique. “State the problem, describe the action you took, and explain the result,” she says. “When you incorporate all of these—briefly, you aren’t writing a book—you have the best chance to succeed.”

Don’t worry about sounding scripted
Spending the evening before your interview going over all the key talking points you plan to cover is never a bad idea. “People would rather hear stories than simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses,” explains Sho Dewan, career coach and founder at Workhap. “Practice your storytelling skills and hook the interviewers’ attention in the first few lines of the story.” 
Simmons agrees. “Even questions that address a gap in your knowledge are an opportunity to share.” Suppose your interviewer asks you about your experience handling a certain task. If it’s something you haven’t yet encountered, use your reply to indicate how you’re a quick learner, Simmons suggests. “Instead of just saying ‘no’ and leaving the interviewer with a negative impression, you have shifted the conversation to your highlights,” she explains. “You should be in control of what you are emphasizing about your background at every turn.”

Don’t forget to leave room for a little improvisation
You do not want to sound robotic during your interview session. Reading the room is important. “Job interviews are all about connecting and vibing with the person sitting across from you,” Dewan adds. “Too many people get too focused on sounding perfect and memorizing their scripts when it would be ten times more beneficial to go into their next interview with the goal of making a new friend.”

Asking your interviewer some questions
It’s fine to come prepared with a few go-to questions. However, don’t be afraid to improvise a bit based on your specific conversation. “While it’s helpful to have questions in mind, you don’t want to sound like you are asking the same boring, perfunctory question to every interviewer,” Salpeter explains. One thing you definitely will want to inquire about every time: What lies ahead? “Always ask about the company’s timeframe and when you can expect to hear about the next steps,” Salpeter adds. “Be sure you know the name and contact information for your interviewer so you can send an email thanking them.” More