What to Do When You're Bored in the Office
10 July 2015
Write a blog post.
Writing is something I love to do. I aspire to develop my skills to the highest level and expand my vocabulary too. With a notepad on every corner, it's almost impossible not to jot down a few ideas that would otherwise get lost in the back of my mind. In fact, this post was written on a very slow Monday morning. It's easy to concentrate due to the quiet atmosphere and helps the time pass very quickly!
Stretch your legs.
I'm sure there's an office regulation that states a worker must move around every so often. This is also the ideal method to staying awake. I'm not suggesting a twenty minute stroll, but taking a few minutes to focus on our mind on something other than how dull the day is really helps. A short saunter is a quick fix and extremely beneficial in helping the time pass by. You could make a hot drink, and before you know it, it's 5pm.
Daydream.
The most dangerous but most enjoyable approach to passing time. It's a skill that I've mastered over the years, and I'm now at the point of being able to daydream about just about anything. In about five minutes, I can easily slip into another world without trying - granted I have completed all the tasks that need to be done for the day. Daydreaming is a last resort, but sure helps the clock tick faster.
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| photo credit |
Office Incognito
7 July 2015
Dress // made for me
Jacket // Miss Selfridge
Boots / Next
Style Crush: Olivia Palermo
3 July 2015
I always have a little style envy for anyone who lives in The Big Apple but Olivia is by far one of my favourites. It seems she's able to wear just about any colour or style and still make it look chic. She oozes self confidence and easily intimidates competition. I first saw Olivia on The City, a show featuring another one of my favourite fashionistas, Whitney Port. Olivia was the mean girl, the one everyone loved to hate, and soon made NYC her own. She's now married to Johannes Huebl (an incredibly handsome German model) and working hard to build up her brand and blog. Although Olivia's work ethic is also a great aspiration, her style in particular always catches me and she never fails to impress. Olivia is one of the only celebrities I look out for during the Fashion Week period as she continues to promote elegance and luxury through her personal style and the designers she chooses to wear. Although I highly doubt Olivia is as evil as The City made her seem, I still want her wardrobe.
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| All photos from Tumblr/www.oliviapalermo.com |
Garnier vs Neutrogena - Facial Frenzy
29 June 2015
I'm always looking for ways to help keep my skin clear. It can be quite sensitive, so if I don't look after it properly, breakouts happen. My diet also affects my skin a lot, but making sure I cleanse and scrub the right way is a must. There are so many different products I've tried, and it's more common for the higher-end, pricier brands sell products that are no better than an average high street label. The two brands I have fallen for are Garnier and Neutrogena, which have become two of my summer favourites.
This is one of the first ever face washes I have bought and I absolutely love it. The smell is amazing, but the gel is still great quality. Often you find face washes that have an awesome scent but do absolutely nothing for your skin. I'm obsessed with this wash because the gel is very thick, rather than too thin and runny. The greats a great soapy solution which helps clean any extra make-up from my face.
I also chose a scrub from the same PureActive range after my success with the wash. I adore the scrub simply because it's not too harsh on my face, which means my skin won't react too badly to it. The pomegranate scrub was only bought for £2.00 (on sale) which is the best price for a scrub I've come across in a long time.
I do like to shop around for different washes and products to try out, and I'm a sucker for a great scent. This pink grapefruit has become a favourite of mine as it fills the bathroom with a great girly perfume. The facial wash is really gentle on my skin and leaves it feeling incredibly soft without taking away all the moisture which can be quite common. I tend to use this wash more on the weekend ends rather than everyday.
This wash is on of my favourites as it creates the most amazing soapy mixture and is so soft. The solution is designed to keep stress spots under control and it seems to be doing the trick for me. It helps prevent spots but also gives your skin that fresh and clean feeling that everybody loves. The tap pumps out huge lumps of fluffy foam to apply straight on your skin.
I bought this scrub recently as summer begins to set in and make-up has more of an effect on my skin due to the heat. I wanted to look for something that would really scrub away any impurities without damaging or hurting my skin. I came across this scrub (which was bought on sale for £3.00) and haven't put it down once. Although I don't use it every day, I look forward to the great, clean feeling it leaves.
This little gem is a must for days when my skin really needs to be taken care of. The brush makes it so much easier to apply and the rubber bristles work well with water and softer or sensitive skin. I highly recommend this brush wash for anyone who doesn't like using a wide range of products and just wants to aid their skin in feeling soft and fresh. Plus, the price makes it irresistible!
Neutrogena Visibly Clear 2-in-1 Wash and Mask - £3.79
I prefer this product as more of a mask than a wash as it's not something used everyday. It really helps to unclog pores and remove any dirt and impurities deep down in my skin. Unlike a lot of masks, it's very soft on the skin and doesn't feel uncomfortable once it's settled. The soft clay mask absorbs oil from the skin still leaving it moisturised and refreshed.
Like the Garnier daily scrub, this is also very soft and prevents spots in the skin. The beads in this scrub are a little tougher but just as effective. It works really well with my skin and doesn't damage the over-sensitive areas. I have also notices this scrub reduces the appearance of pores which is ideal for me!
My Top Interview Tips
27 June 2015
Body language
Slouching is unattractive on the outside and it doesn't scream professionalism. Sitting straighter than an ironing board looks unnatural and isn't comfortable either. The best thing to do is sit straight, but not rigid. Have an engaged posture without coming off too informal. Putting your feet up is a no-no, it's improper and rude. Using your hands and gesturing suggests you're well-spoken, but going over the top implies otherwise.
Smile
I am one of many suffering with resting bitch face syndrome. My resting face looks like a death stare and most the time I'm not aware of it. An interview is the exact place you should be aware of it. There's no need for the full Cheshire Cat but a modest smile goes a long way. My current manager actually said one of the first things he noticed was that I was the only candidate to smile when greeted and a first impression can mean everything.
Chat, not waffle
It's nice for employers to see the colloquial side to a candidate but there's no need for them to learn your life story. Their job is to get to know the person they could possibly employ as quick as possible, so blabbing on about something that irrelevant that happened 6 years ago isn't helpful. Small-talk is the easiest bet. It's engaging without going too far and the interviewer always has the option to continue or terminate the conversation.
Don't panic
That's when a storm of words come flowing out and you lose total control of the interview. Remain calm and think before you speak. Employers don't expect an A* exam-level answer to every question. Worrying about what they're thinking or seeing throws your mind into panic mode. When you worry, it's very clear. Facial expressions change and the interview could easily pick up on this. The key is to relax, which shows you work well under pressure - even if you don't.
Be honest, show your personality
As mentioned before, the interviewers want to get to know you in a very short period of time. If they ask what your hobbies are, tell them. During my job interview, my manager asked what I like to do in my spare time: I mentioned I was a blogger, but I also said I make fantastic use of my Netflix subscription rather than giving this lengthy, bogus answer about how I like to develop my Excel skills and practise being on time. Honesty at its finest.
Prep prep prep
I'm someone who organises their day down to the hours. If I have an interview coming up, I plan the moment I wake up, the journey and so forth. I also have a back up plan as you can never rely on public transport for anything. Arriving at an interview late makes a terrible first impression that's hard to break, so it's best to arrive way too early than even two minutes late. Pack everything you need the night before and always be prepared for a long day out, even if the interview is meant to be 30 minutes long.
Dress accordingly
This tip varies for each occupation, but wearing your Victoria's Secret tracksuit bottoms and Roshes to an office job isn't the way to go. In some cases, the interview information will include a dress code, but it's better to be safe than sorry. If you're applying for a formal job, there's no need to arrive dressed like royalty either. I used Pinterest and Tumblr to really help me decide what to wear. Seeing a few examples for the role I applied for gave me confidence that my outfit was suitable for the occasion.
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