Whether or not you are currently looking for a new job, having a polished and prepared LinkedIn profile can be a good thing. By having this more professional page on a social network, it allows you to build working and career-focused relationships online as well as off. Then, when you do decide to make the next job move or are looking for your next client, it can be an invaluable resource.

We’ve talked about networking and job transition over the past couple of days. Here are some ways to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, a vital piece of the career puzzle.

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Fill out all your information.
This is the first step on LinkedIn, but many people often only fill out their basic information. Have a professional photograph, include descriptions of your past work, connect with previous companies, add education and volunteer experience, and mostly just make sure your page looks full and complete.

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In every circle of girlfriends, there’s the one who has it together, the one everyone looks up to. She reminds of you Shanté Smith, Vivica A. Fox’s character in Two Can Play That Game. Perhaps that is you. She keeps it together for everyone, doling out valuable advice, providing moral support.

Then you have that one friend, the one who is full of lofty ideas and crazy notions. She’s like Lynn Searcy on “Girlfriends,” always chasing the next big dream. One day she wants to be a teacher. The next day, she wants to become a PR maven and start her own public relations firm. Just as you think she’s found something she can settle into, she tells you she wants to be a chef. Soon, she’s off to something else. Being the loyal friend that you are, you listen to her talk about her grandiose visions. You see the sparkle in her eyes and you share in her excitement initially. You watch as she puts her all into the latest idea, only to watch her interest fizzle. But after she’s gone through a dozen great ideas, you begin to wonder, will she ever get it together? In the middle of one of your conversations, you just want to shake her and say “Get it together, girl!” You don’t know how much more of this you can take. What are you supposed to do?

It would be easy to ignore your friend and all her fickle ideas, but that’s the wrong thing to do. A supportive girlfriend is there for all the ups and downs, ebbs and flows in her friend’s life. She’s there to cheer her on, and to offer encouragement and guidance when needed. So despite all the changes, all of the frustration, as a real friend you have no choice: be there for her.

You don’t have to co-sign every idea, or listen to every idea that spins off on its own tangent. But you know your friend; you know what she’s capable of. You know what she’s good at. Certainly, during some conversation over coffee or at happy hour, she’s bounced a realistic idea off of you. Maybe it was something she mentioned briefly. As a supportive friend, you should steer her in that direction. Help her connect with people and resources that will give her the support she needs to follow through on this one true idea.

The next time your friend starts telling you about her latest outlandish venture, don’t just roll your eyes and nod your head. Stop her and give her a reality check.  Don’t crush her. Just help her keep her dreams in perspective. Maybe that idea she has to start a cupcake business would make for a great side hustle eventually. But for now, help her focus on career opportunities that are stable and profitable.

If all else fails, then it’s time to set limits. Tell your friend that you will continue to be there for her, but that you can’t continue on her career roller coaster ride. As harsh as it might sound, setting limits on your friendship will help preserve it. Real friends are there for each other in crisis, so if your girlfriend finds herself in such a situation, you know you will be there for her.

It isn’t impossible to keep your friendship in tact and keep your sanity at the same time. It’s just a matter of setting limits and expectations. But at a time when your friend seems the most vulnerable and confused about her future (or his), I wouldn’t recommend bailing on them now. Remind them of their passions, the things they are truly good at to help them get off on the right foot, but when all else fails, an attentive ear and some understanding always helps.

Source: crunkfeministcollective.wordpress.com

Scenes from Awkward Black Girl come to mind: Nina the ‘fish-smelling’ office manager accosts ‘J’ and perpetually makes her life a living hell for any number of reasons. Sometimes, bosses and managers simply aren’t very friendly–sometimes it’s within their nature to remain withdrawn and to refrain from overly fraternizing with employees. But know this, and know this well: there is a clear and finite difference, however, between a manager being reserved or indifferent, and showing outright disdain towards an employee.

Everyone has been there, some live there and some can’t walk into their places of work without being confronted with an eye roll, insincere smile or a cold shoulder. Your manager can hate you for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, jealousy, arrogance, ignorance or attraction. Here are four major signs/scenarios so that you’ll know if it’s all in your head or if your boss wants you gone.

Smiles At Everyone But You

You arrive to work in a chipper mood, ready to take on the day; and just ahead, you see your manager. They’re moving through the office with a positive demeanor, smiling at every Tom, Rick (since the D-word won’t suffice on WordPress) and Harry, but when you approach them, giving a vibrant, “Good Morning,” all the energy drains from their face and the only response that is mustered up is a lackluster, “Hello” as he/she surveys you with their eyes. Trust, it’s not that you need that person’s approval or Kool-Aid smile, but when it’s clear that you’ve become the less than favorable employee and you don’t know why, nor are you told why, it’s clear that somebody doesn’t care for you.

You Catch Hell For EVERYTHING

You’re at your workplace and it’s a hot summer day. As it’s a business-casual environment, many women are wearing a skirt or dress–including your manager, yet they’ve singled out your attire as being “inappropriate.” He/she insists that they’ve spoken to you several times about your clothing (even though they have NOT), and they make a point of reminding everyone what they shouldn’t wear, just moments after publicly ostracizing you. You might think you look exactly like your colleagues, but to your boss, who can’t stand you, you walked in dressed like Joseline Hernandez, baby.

You Can Do No Right

Following a performance review, you’ve discovered that your manager is dissatisfied with your work. He/she does not share this privately, but instead they share their feelings with you in front of your colleagues. Because you want your manager and your fellow employees to see you as a an exceptional employee, you begin to work harder, struggling to put in extra time and extra effort, but when it comes down town to another evaluation, your manager only slightly acknowledges your “minor” improvements in front of your coworkers, but privately praises you later. Or even worse, you work hard and even go the extra mile, but your boss can only seem to point out what he or she doesn’t like about your work. Unappreciated much?

You’re The Example

There is a staff meeting, and all of the employees on your team are called into the room. The meeting, which is supposed to discuss progress and policies, almost immediately gets directed towards you. Going as far as to say your name, your manager spends more than half of the meeting time discussing you and your faults or talking strictly to you in front of everyone, stating that you routinely abjure rules–mentioning only one brief instance when you may have made a bad call. At the same time, he/she only briefly touches on the fact that some of your fellow co-workers have committed much heavier grievances, including losing very important accounts due to negligence. Things that could have been discussed in private are discussed around your colleagues in an attempt to “set you straight.”

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Do you relate to any of these scenarios, and are you suddenly overwhelmed by feelings of resentment or angst?  Well, try not to be. Know that the best defense against a manager who doesn’t like you is to kill them with kindness. While this may seem less desirable than, let’s say, punching your manager in the face, recognize that if you were to give your manager anymore cause for complaint outside of whatever arbitrary feelings he/she has for you, then that person may really strive to get you fired. And if that doesn’t work, if you fail to charm your manager despite all of your efforts, then strive to charm everyone else, including your manager’s superior, by doing great work and just being a bigger and better person. Also, if you find that your manager is also mistreating another co-worker of yours, decide that person is an ally and take notes, or at the very least, you’ll have someone to complain with.

What goes up inevitably must come down. It’s the law of gravity by Isaac Newton, but he may as well have been talking about the peaks and valleys of celebrity life. Stars are made and seemingly replaced by brighter ones almost overnight and one can’t help but wish for the originals to reclaim their place in the spotlight. So many rise and fall, but here are seven stars who need to shine even brighter once more.

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Halle Berry

Her name and face have been all over the news for everything from her baby daddy drama, engagement to her questionable choice of lacefronts. Paula Patton seems to be Hollywood’s go to woman of color these days, but there’s still a place for Ms. Berry on the silver screen.  Some may still debate whether or not she deserved her Oscar for Monster’s Ball, but she is still the first African-American actress to have been awarded the Best Actress statue, and that’s not by accident. It’s past time that she fully redeem herself from Catwoman with a role worthy of her talents.

Oftentimes, most of America associates high paying careers with those of doctors, lawyers, and MBAs but there are other jobs that command good salaries. Yahoo writer Jennifer Barry compiled a list of careers that may surprise you in terms of how much salary they demand.

Loan Officer

Average annual salary for top 10 percent of workers: $112,370*
Average annual salary: $65,900*

Loan officers are dealing with lots of money and risks, which easily explains why they command such a good income.

Requirements: Loan officer positions sometimes require a bachelors’ degree in economics or related field.

Media planner Tricia-Noel Burke, who has worked with publications including The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, offers five tips for making the move seamless, lucrative and fun.

Have a plan. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to live and work in some countries, such as the UK, on a lengthy visa, so be sure you have your move planned well, Burke says. Talk to your company or professional advisers and mentors and let them know what you want from your experience working and living abroad. Do your research on visas and country guidelines, safety issues and resources.

Read the rest at Black Enterprise

By Charlotte Young

For entrepreneurs in the US today, both men and women have an equal shot at creating startups when and how they please. But in the tech world, investors are still giving the money to men, and women don’t seem to mind. According to writer and founder of Brazen Careerist Penelope Trunk, women know what they want, and it’s not a business start-up.

When it comes to offering financial support, venture capitalists not only market to women, they go out of their way to do so. But women aren’t making sales pitches. It’s all about personal choice and women know exactly how to make them. Around the nation you will find that women outnumber men at many schools, and academically they’re also outperforming men. After graduation, women are more likely to earn more than men in their 20s.

Billionaire and venture capitalist Peter Thiel advices women that the best age for them to start a company is from 20-25, but it seems that most women don’t care to take this advice. The academic and professional gender ratio starts to shift as women reach their 30s. But why? It seems that as women start their families, they make the choice to take care of their children instead of create a startup business, especially in the lucrative tech business.

In choosing family over careers and business ventures, Trunk finds that the decision isn’t weighing heavily on a woman’s contentment. According to her, women are happiest around age 28. This leads one to believe that most women aren’t  regretting the fact that they didn’t take that business opportunity. She finds that in contrast, men are most unhappy at 28, perhaps it’s because they’re so worried about their new business startup.

While Facebook Executive, Sheryl Sanberg recommends that women “lean into their careers, ” Trunk doubts that many women would want the busy, stressful life that Sandberg has in addition to two young kids and a husband.

Women have spoken. And what they want is not funding or start up opportunities. Pew Research finds that most women with children want part time jobs as opposed to stay at home full time or working full time. They also want jobs with flexible hours. For the women that do want to start their own business, Trunk relays that women are starting business at high rates without the help of venture capitalists.

So for women wondering pondering whether or not they made the right decision to delay that business start up, you were probably right. As they say, a woman knows best.

Yesterday the web was buzzing with the rumor that Alicia Keys is with child. After giving birth to her first child, Egypt, with husband Swizz Beatz, many fans and admirers were excited that the entertainment power couple might be creating another new life. Well, Ms. Keys has laid these fantasies to rest. Our black entertainment news partner Necole Bitchie reports:

Last week, Alicia Keys and hubby Swizz Beatz sparked pregnancy rumors after attending the Keep A Child Alive 8^th Annual Black Ball event in New York City. Alicia walked the red carpet in a loose fitted shirt and the couple posed with Swizz Beatz’ hands resting on what some believed to be a new ‘baby bump’. This would have been pregnancy number 2 for Alicia Keys who just celebrated the one year birthday of their first child together.

The NY Post caught up with Alicia on the red carpet of the event and she quickly shut down any rumors that she would be giving her son, Egypt another playmate in the near future

Alicia Keys went on to say that she plans to go on tour before having a second child to join her son, who just turned one. See her exact quote in response to the Alicia Keys pregnancy rumors on NecoleBitchie.com.

It must be hard balancing motherhood with superstardom. Some think it might be easier — as all the snarky press about Beyonce’s 2,000 square foot baby nursery has demonstrated. Sure, you might have the nannies and assistants to help you care for your child, but the ambition that makes a woman successful can often be at odds with the time and tenderness required on a daily basis to be a good mother.

Alicia Keys is to be commended for realizing her limits, and recognizing that now is not her time to have another child. If her career development is about to become her focus again, Keys is right to put off the second one so she can give her son the attention he deserves while focusing on herself. And going to back to touring doesn’t mean that little Egypt will be suffering from neglect.

Many in the area of child development believe that a year of dedicated, hands-on time is enough to give a child a solid emotional foundation before a woman begins to focus on herself again. In fact, day care, nannies and playmates can help a young child grow socially, after a year of intense and intimate nurturing with Mom. So the one year mark is an excellent moment for Alicia Keys to begin expressing herself fully as an artist again.

And there is nothing wrong with that. Yes, motherhood is a sacrifice. But a mother needs to retain her original strength in her identity if she is going to have the resources to mentally, spiritually, financially and emotionally nourish her child. Even though it’s a tough balance — especially for a woman at the pinnacle of her career — it’s important for a woman to pursue her goals while giving to her family.  Too often in our society a successful lady is expected to choose.

Thanks Ms. Alicia Keys for demonstrating that we can in fact have it all!

Do you think Alicia Keys is an inspiring example of balancing work and family?

More on Madame Noire!

• Making It: Stars Who Were Once Homeless
• Is His Appetite for Adult Films Killing Your Relationship?
• Ask The Luv Coach: “I’ve Got Drama With My Male Best Friend’s Girl”
• 10 Ways To Be A Better Friend
• 7 Silly Ways You Are Ruining Your Relationship
• Light Skinned Women: Let Go of the Guilt
• Should They Have Stayed? Flames Before The Fame and Fortune

By Torri R. Oats

Every year, Vanity Fair publishes its version of the up-and-coming superstars of tomorrow — the famous “Hollywood Issue.”  Too often African-American actors and actresses are excluded because of many factors including lack of exposure and good, meaty roles.  But rest assured, there is a new generation of African-American talents waiting for their star turn.  Here are just a few we should watch closely, as they are poised to make their mark in Hollywood in the coming years. They have the style, they have the look, and they have talent in spades. Pretty soon the mainstream media will wake up and take notice — but you heard it hear first. Here are the Top 7 Black Actors & Actresses Whose Careers Are Heating Up.

Jurnee Smollett

It’s hard to believe that Jurnee Smollett has been in “the biz” for nearly twenty years.  Although, it wasn’t until 1997 that Ms. Smollett, who was a new face to most of us, burst on the scene with a scene-stealing, star-making performance as Eve Batiste in “Eve’s Bayou.”  Throughout her career, she has been a consistently solid performer in television and film — always interesting, always unique, always Jurnee. When we spoke to Shawn Edwards of iloveblackmovies.com, he was effusive with praise for Ms. Smollett. “I really, really like her,” he told The Atlanta Post. “She was great in ‘The Great Debaters,’ but it fizzled.  She hasn’t had that major role to take her to the next level.”  Despite this silver screen setback, this gifted actress has more than paid her dues and with several awards under her belt, including three Image awards, she is well-positioned to dominate the scene in the future.  Ms. Smollett is currently on the television show, “The Defenders.”

(Madame Noire) — Would you say you’re an ambitious woman? Do you go off the beaten path to get out your dreams, or are you taking what you can get to help pay the bills and that’s it? It’s understandable with unemployment rates skyrocketing to tire of looking for your dream job and just do what you need to do to get things done: light bill paid, rent covered, food in the fridge. But before you assume your degree is going to go to waste and fall into whatever comes your way (a la Tetris), know that you don’t have to give up–you’ll just have to hustle harder than before. Here are five things you need to keep in mind while you fill out job applications on the low and plan your next move to get the job you really, REALLY want. Never say never folks.

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