30 Great Conversation Starters [Topics, Questions Openers]

30 Great Conversation Starters [Topics, Questions Openers] Whew, that was close.You almost had to start a conversation.Sounds familiar?Of course it does.Otherwise, you wouldnt be reading this article.ButYouve had enough.No more hiding in the corner. No more saying awkward things, and pondering them for a week afterward.Our selection of best conversation starters will help you strike up a conversation on any subject, and boost your self-confidence.This guide will show you:How to successfully start a conversation and keep it going.What are the most interesting conversation topics you can choose.Why you should also use funny conversation starters.Looking for other ideas? Read our guides on:How to Introduce YourselfInterpersonal Skills: 20+ Examples Definition20+ Ice Breaker Games Ideas1How to Start a ConversationYou might have heard it beforeContext is key.Being aware of your immediate surroundings works wonders.Just think about it.The conversation topics at your disposat could range from the place youre at, to the food youre eating, to the t raining session youve been in, to the clothes someone is wearing.Look at the below examples:Convo StartersGood Conversation QuestionsHow did you get to know the host?Have you attended a similar event ever before?The food looks great. Is there anything youd recommend?This place is cool/ugly/strange. Have you been here before?Love your costume! Did you make it yourself? [at a Halloween party]How do you celebrate Christmas? Going anywhere for Christmas? [at a Christmas party]How did you like the workshop?Love your shoes/cufflinks/shirt! Whered you get it/them?Pro Tip: Did you know your clothes could actually attract people to start a convo with you? How? Try wearing a funny tie. Or earrings. Or put on clothes that break out of the convention. See what happens!The subjects to spark a conversation about are plentiful.Its crucial to stay on the safe side, though. Avoid taboos, or being too forward.Not really sure you'll be able to make a random conversation based off of your immediate sur roundings?Prepare before the actual event. Here's a couple of conversation ideas for you to use:If youre about to attend a conference, read a couple of articles on the subject. Go through the list of speakers, and read their bios.Youll know exactly what to say to start a conversation during your coffee breaks.Similarly, when attending a company event you can always discuss new QR procedures, OKRs, or your new office.Remember:Good conversation starters are the ones your conversation partners can easily relate to.Go that extra mile, and learn about the people youre be mingling with. Tap into what they care about.How?Read your companys newsletters or about page. Look at your colleagues social media profiles.This way, your list of conversation starters might be close to perfect.Pro Tip: If you google someone or check out their social media profiles, be careful not to creep them out. Be subtle, or you may come across as a stalker.Your clever conversation starters could look something lik e this:Great Conversation StartersIdeas for ConversationsHey! Your profile popped up in my Instagram suggestions. I love the pictures you take.I saw your LinkedIn profile. Its impressive. Could you tell me something about?Jenny, your Facebook profile appeared among my friend suggestions. I didnt know youre a singer! Its awesome. Can you tell me?As you see, a person's social media presence can generate numerous topics of conversation.2How to Keep a Conversation GoingHeres the secret:Once the conversation starts, just keep stoking the coals. You dont need to spark the flame over again.How to do it?Become an active listener.Its not complicated, and once you get the hang of itYoull be able to keep a conversation going indefinitely.Just follow these proven tips:How to Be an Active Listener to Keep a Conversation GoingFocus on the speaker and what theyre telling you.Stay right here, in this moment. Dont let yourself drift miles away.Be genuinely interested in what your conversation partne rs have to say. Think of any conversation topic as an opportunity to learn something new.Show them youre listening. Nodding and saying things like really, ok, cool, or mhm does help.Summarize what youve just heard. Are you telling me youve been in a movie? Seriously? You ran two half-marathons in a week?Ask follow-up questions.Pro Tip: Your questions to keep a conversation going dont have to be fully formed questions. Its enough to repeat the last word or sentence your conversation partner said with rising intonation. Try it. Its called parroting.3Interesting Conversation TopicsTheres one thing all great conversations have in common.Whats this?A good question.Literally.All interesting conversations start with good conversation questions.What are they?Conversation TipsGood Conversation QuestionsQuestions to start a conversation must be relevant to your conversation partner, either professionally or personally. Even though this may seem obvious, always keep this at the back of your mi nd.Interesting conversation questions must be relatable. Youre more likely to resonate with your conversation partner if you ask them about movies, books, or newspaper headlines, rather than the quantum nature of consciousness. Obviously, as the conversation topics go deeper, more specific questions will start to crop up.A question hailed as possibly the best conversation question ever is What do you like most about what you do? and its permutations. The danger is you may come across people who genuinely hate their jobs. If you do, be compassionate and listen to what have to say.Treat the list of conversation topics below as a source of inspiration.Interesting Conversation TopicsListmoviesTV seriesbooksmusicappsclothestravelsseasonssportscuisineA simple Whats your favorite? does the trick most of the time. But youre free to play around with these conversational topics:Have you seen any good movie recently?Im looking for a good book. Anything youd recommend?Have you discovered any co ol music on Spotify recently?What photo editing app would you recommend?Need to get myself a pair of sneakers. Where did you get yours?Whats your favorite holiday destination?I just love winter. Do you?Do you know any Mexican restaurant worth recommending?As the conversation unfolds, you can become more specific and ask fun conversation questions, such as:What character from Harry Potter would you like to be?Whats the TV series you binge-watched in an embarrassingly short time?How many endings of Detroit: Become Human have you seen?What do you think about the concept of ergodicity in The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch?What places would you recommend for flying a drone in Iceland?The more you get to know your conversation partner, the easier it will be for you to hold a meaningful and interesting conversation.4Funny Conversation StartersAwkward silence.Thats the least you can expect if your funny conversation starters fall on deaf ears.In the worst case scenarioYou may end up offe nding somebody.The sense of humor is not universal, unlike the blue IKEA Frakta bag.A good rule of thumb isDont try to be funny from the very start, because you may end up trying to be funny. I dont mean the conversation needs to be dry, though. Not at all.If youre mingling with people you dont know much about, get to know them a little first. Introduce yourself, smile, be mindful of their reactionsthis will prove sufficient.Just make sure what you believe makes a conversation funny doesnt offend anybody. In general, avoid joking about taboo subjects such as religion, politics, or sex.PlusHave a light-hearted attitude towards yourself. A self-deprecating joke might be ok.But stay on the safe side.Now, if you find any of the weird conversation starters below funny, go ahead and use them in your conversations.And rememberYouve been warned.Funny Conversation StartersExamplesEstablish eye contact with the person you want to talk to, and say Me? Just like its you they want to talk to, no t the other way round.What is the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything?If you could do something silly right here right now, what would you do?Is it just me, or can you also smell fried sausage in here?Who let the dogs out? Who? Who? Who? Who?Isn't this wonderful? Look at this room. What a beautiful room! Have you seen this room?What is love? Baby, dont hurt me. No more.Is this a TV show?The list could go on and on, but its not the point. The point isYou never know what will or wont work unless youre familiar with your interlocutors.Pro Tip: If the conversation is going nowhere, or its become too awkward to continue, go ahead and finish it quickly. A simple Right, I need to go now. See you around. will do the job most of the time.Key TakeawaysStarting a conversation doesnt have to be painful when you know how to approach it. Heres how to start a conversation and keep it going:Be mindful of the context.Learn as much as possible beforehand.Choose good conversation t opics.Listen actively.Ask good questions.Be careful with humor.How do you go about striking a casual conversation with people? Do you have your own strategies? Want to share advice or ask a question? Wed love to hear from you. Give us a shout out in the comments below!

How to Listen to 16 Career Experts Right Now

How to Listen to 16 Career Experts Right Now Today I wanted to give you an update on the Get Ahead Club! I cant believe that it has almost been a year since I started the club.  Best decision ever!  There are so many amazing things that have come through starting this club of professional women who want to get ahead in their careers.  Not only have I been able to get to know readers of my blog better, but I also have been able to meet and introduce you to amazing career experts and authors. If it wasnt for the Get Ahead Club, I would have never met the author who is writing the foreword for my brand new book out next month! If you love my blog, there is no doubt in my mind that you will love my Get Ahead Club.  The Get Ahead Club is a community of over 40 women who are excited and motivated to get ahead in their careers. So, I am inviting you personally. I want to get to know you better in the Facebook group. I want to help you get ahead in your career and do BIG THINGS! I want to help you be successful (and balanced and happy too!)  If you take this step now, you will have access to 16 career experts to listen to right away. Click here to learn more about how you can get started in the club today. Wondering what the Get Ahead Club interviews are like?   As a free gift, I want to give you one of the interviews  so you can hear how amazing and inspiring they are. This interview was last week with Executive Coach, Ora Shtull.  Our interview was called Leadership Presence for Women on the Rise and it was so good.  Click here to listen to the special recording. So why should you join now? Since there are now so many interviews in the Get Ahead Club (16!!), I dont want to overwhelm new members so I will be taking away the access to all of the prior interviews on October 1st. In the future, new members will only have access to hear two prior interviews instead of the success audio library of 16!  So, that is why I highly encourage you now to quickly go over and get into the club as an inaugural member before October 1st.  Click here to join us. Why else should you join now? I wanted to do something special for you all in the Get Ahead Club to celebrate my book launch!  So only new members who join before October 1st will have access to my BRAND NEW guide called, Female Leadership Secrets: Strategies, Tools Secrets to Expand Your Leadership, Successfully Work With Men and Reach Your Career Dreams.  I will also be doing a webinar about my brand new book, The Professional Womans Guide to Male Management that will only be available to Get Ahead Club members!  Click here to join us and get your free bonuses. But, what about the price? If you arent investing in yourself and your goals, you are investing in someone elses goals.  This is only $1 to try your first month and $10 per month afterwards.  Not a high investment but a GOOD investment to move your career where you want to go!  And you can cancel anytime no questions asked. What are people saying about the Get Ahead Club? “This interview was great. The interview was kind of like a pep talk for me. Own what I have done.” “I am really enjoying the Get Ahead Club. The interviews are great! They are so informative and motivational. I am so glad that I decided to kick start my career in 2013 and joining the club. I am really looking forward to the interview tomorrow. Thanks for organizing the Get Ahead Club. It is exactly what I need to help me find the right job and career for me.” I cannot wait to get started! I look forward to sharing some of the knowledge that I have gained over the years and learning from all of you as well. I want to see you all succeed and achieve your dreams. A little bit of accountability and motivation can help make this happen. I am thankful that Anna has created this community for us to interact and grow together. It’s going to be a great year! Thank you so much for starting the “Get Ahead Club”. You are providing a service that was really hard to find previously. I am looking forward to continuing to build relationships with the other classy career girls that I “meet” through the club.” I can already speak for the #GetAhead club, I’ve been a member one day and already love it!” Why havent you joined us yet!! Click here to learn more and join us.   You will be so happy you did! What are the interview topics about? Leadership, networking, career satisfaction, salary negotiation, promotion, work-life balance, office etiquette, the job search and so much more!  All at your fingertips if you join before October 1st.  Basically, everything you NEED to know as a professional woman looking to get ahead in her career. So many times as women we try to do things ourselves without asking for help.  I know I am definitely guilty of this!  So this is your opportunity to ask for help so that you can fast track your success.  Learn from these women and from me so you dont waste time and money not being the huge success that I know you can be.  Lets get you started and moving up on that ladder TODAY! Click here to join.

Simplifying Your To-Do List with Kate Northrup - Classy Career Girl

Simplifying Your To-Do List with Kate Northrup Today I have such a great guest that I am so excited to introduce you to. Today’s guest is someone who I feel like I already know because we have so many similarities about our lives and I will tell you all about them here in a bit. Today I am interviewing Kate Northrup, author of a brand new book called Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Busy Moms. Kate Northrup Entrepreneur, Bestselling Author, and Mother www.katenorthrup.com Subscribe  on  your favorite platform below: iTunes Google Play Music Stitcher Radio TuneIn iHeartRadio Sound Cloud Simplifying Your To-Do List with Kate Northrup Kate Northrup is an entrepreneur who supports ambitious women to light up the world without burning themselves out in the process. She is the founder and CEO of Origin Collective, a membership where women all over the world gather to achieve more while doing less. Her first book, Money: A Love Story, has been published in 5 languages. Kate lives with her husband and business partner, Mike, and their two daughters in Maine. So welcome Kate and thank you for joining us today! Some Questions We Discuss in This Week’s Podcast:   What is the do less philosophy and how can we actually achieve more by doing less? What are the first steps when it feels like we don’t know where to start? How do you manage and track your energy? How do you manage your to-do list? How do you know what goes on your to-do list? When is your weekly planning session and how long does it take and do you have it the same time every week? If there was one action they could take to help them achieve more by doing less of what would it be? Here are some of the tips from Kate, listen to the podcast for more! Q: How do you manage your to-do list? A: I like to make a weekly to-do list as opposed to a daily to-do list. And heres why. Life is quite unexpected. We are going to have unexpected things happen to us every single day for sure, every single week, but mostly every single day. And you dont have to have kids for that to happen, right? You know parents have stuff happen, your neighbor needs something, your boss, this, I mean stuff happens. Most time management systems and scheduling protocols and practices assume that we can control our lives. And while I believe we can control our responses to our lives, we cannot control our lives completely. When you do a weekly to-do list, what it does is it allows for the flexibility of lifes unexpected events, which are completely inevitable. Q: How do you know what goes on your to-do list? A: There are three questions that I recommend asking before something goes on your to-do list and they are: 1) Does it need to be done?  2) Does this need to be done by me?  3) Does it need to be done now? Q: When is your weekly planning session and how long does it take and do you have it the same time every week? A: So sometimes I do it on Sunday nights. It just depends on how much I want to fall on the floor after a weekend with the kids. And then sometimes I will do it Monday mornings first thing. So the girls go to daycare Monday mornings and Ill do it at 8. Mine is really simple. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. I ask first what does my body need? So Ill ask what phase in my cycle Im in and what does my body need? Then I look at what are my top three priorities for the week. Resources: Book: www.Katenorthrup.com/book Website: www.Katenorthrup.com

6 Tips to Avoid Snacking Your Way Through a Stressful Day

6 Tips to Avoid Snacking Your Way Through a Stressful Day When we’re stressed, we tend to ‘treat’ ourselves by gorging on junk food, sugary snacks, caffeine and nicotine. But why? Well, quite simply, because we are stressed. This is what our body craves, but it doesn’t actually help our stress. We feel better for a bit (a sugar rush, a chemical rush etc.) but then we crash hard, feel horrible and combat that with more junk food, more caffeine and more sitting down. The longer this goes on, the more damage we do to our bodies. Read on for 6  reminders thatll keep you feeling better when youre stressed! 1. Drink more water Water is the best treat you can give your body because it is so very essential. How much water you need in a day is still a disputed topic, and it really does depend on your individual circumstances: your weight, gender, how much activity you do, if its a hot day etc. A good rule of thumb is little and often, with an aim for 2 litres (men) or 1.6 litres (women) per day (The European Food Safety Authority 2010). 2. Don’t skip breakfast Guess what? Breakfast makes your metabolism up to 10% better, not worse. Even if you don’t want to believe cereal companies’ marketing ploys, breakfast is important. So important. But what you eat in the morning is even more essential. So many cereals are packed full of sugars, cereals bars too, and those, coupled with a coffee, and/or fruit juice (full of fruit sugar, but with no fibre to mitigate it) is a terrible way to start your day. Ideas: instead of a sugary cereal that means you crash before lunch, opt for a low-sugar, high protein and fibre option, with a big glass of water, and some whole fruit. 3. Watch your  sugar intake If you’ve seen Fed Up, or That Sugar Film (both on Netflix), you’ll know what were about to say. Sugar is hidden in more foods than you can probably imagine, and its effects are detrimental to our health, and obesity. Essentially, sugar, and/or “bad” carbs that convert to sugar really quickly (white bread, white pasta etc.) give you a short burst of energy. But due to the sheer amount of sugar pumped into our bodies, our organs can’t deal, and end up converting the sugar into fat stores. Then, once the energy has gone, we “crash” and then crave more sugary food to perk us up again. Vicious cycle, right? Ideas: If you can’t cut out sweetness from your hot drinks, try honey instead. For alternative sweet snacks, opt for fruit (whole, because you need the fibrous skin to counteract the fructose) or high-cocoa dark chocolate. In regards to all the sugar hidden in processed foods, try and cut back on what you buy, always check labels, and cook more. Cooking from scratch will ensure there are no hidden chemicals or sugars in your food that you don’t know about. 4. Monitor your  caffeine intake As much as we want caffeine to be a healthy addition to our lifestyle, it often isn’t. If anything, drinking coffee to combat stress actually causes more stress. If you combine the effects of real stress with the artificial boost in stress hormones that comes from caffeine, then you have compounded the effects considerably says Professor Lane who took part in a study into regular caffeine consumption. Caffeine affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which links three systems, the former two in the brain; the latter above the kidneys. This axis is the body’s way to deal with stress, during both rest and activity. The adrenal glands, part of this axis, secrete two important hormones, namely cortisol and epinephrine (aka adrenaline). Adrenaline increases breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, while cortisol opens access to stored glucose, which our body needs more of during times of perceived stress. But the thing is, we’re not being chased by bears anymore. Drinking caffeine readies us for action by releasing these “stress” hormones, as if we were deeply stressed. But we don’t need to hit our internal panic button 4 times a day, so why are we drinking that much coffee? You can find out more here. Alternatives:  You can buy Green Tea that is  caffeine-free, and it’s warm, hydrating and full of antioxidants. 5. Exercise You know you need to exercise, and the hardest part is motivating yourself, we know. Yet, the more you exercise, the happier your body will be, and the less stress you are likely to retain. But its not just about making it to the gym; you could also  find enjoyable ways to incorporate exercise into your daily life, which is especially important if you spend most of your day sitting down. Aim for a mixture of moderate (fast walking, cycling, hiking etc.) and vigorous exercise (running, fast cycling, martial arts) totalling 75 150 minutes per week depending on the type of exercise you choose. If you are constantly dreading exercising, try something new â€" it could just be the type of work-out that you dont like. 6. Unwind and sleep Our addiction to screens is reducing our ability to fully unwind, and making us more stressed and anxious in the process. But why? Its the blue light that our screens omit which are causing us to be more alert, through the release of cortisol, and less relaxed, because it inhibits Melatonin (the sleep regulation hormone). If you do need to use your phone or laptop late at night, make sure you have an app like f.lux installed, or use Apples new Night Shift functionality to try and mitigate the damage. Alternatives: finding a hobby that doesnt involve a screen, even if you only do it a few times a week, could help you to unwind, and hopefully sleep a little better. For instance: gardening, yoga, reading, colouring/painting, crafts, and meditation. Image: Shutterstock

Words to Avoid When Writing a Resume

Words to Avoid When Writing a ResumeThere are many words to avoid when writing a resume. Using certain words can make the rest of your resume much more impactful. Let's take a look at some of the words that you should avoid when writing a resume.It is important to understand that using certain keywords in your resume will not necessarily get you an interview for a job. If you have the right keyword combination, it may get you a job interview but it is also likely to get your resume picked apart by a human resource officer.Here is an example of a job posting that uses the words 'to be' and you will notice the word 'be' is placed in quotes. So in order to use the right keywords to avoid, you will need to replace the word 'be' with the words 'said', 'reported'said'.Here is another example, where the job posting used the words 'spoke' and you will notice the word 'spoke' is included in quotes. So in order to use the right keywords to avoid, you will need to replace the word 'spoke' with the words 'described', 'documented'documented'.You may also notice that the job posting that uses the words 'read' and you will notice the word 'read' is included in quotes. So in order to use the right keywords to avoid, you will need to replace the word 'read' with the words 'discussed'discussed'.When you are writing a resume that is going to be used for a job interview, it is important to know that using certain words to avoid will get your resume picked apart. One of the most important words to avoid when writing a resume is the word 'apply'.The phrase 'apply now' is usually used instead of the word 'apply'. So if you are using 'apply now' as your resume word to avoid, then you will have to place the word 'apply' somewhere on your resume.The next time you write a resume, just remember that the words to avoid when writing a resume include the words 'apply', 'apply now', 'applied for', 'used to'used to apply'. Using those words will ensure that your resume is picked apart and thus will help you land a job.

The Best Methods To Save Money In Your Business

The Best Methods To Save Money In Your Business Whatever kind of a business you run, you can be sure that one of the best things you can do for it is to save as much money as possible. Fortunately, it is pretty easy to save money in any business so long as you know what you are doing, and in fact there are a number of methods to consider if you want to do so. In this article, we are going to take a look at a few of the best methods you can use in order to ensure that your business saves as much money as possible. As long as you follow these ideas, your business will be in a much better financial position in the long term, making for greater success in the future with your venture. Strip Back Processes Your business likely has a huge range of processes that you need to take care of, and it is important to make sure that you are doing whatever you can to keep those processes simple. As long as you do that, your business ill spend much less in the long run, and it can be surprising just how easy this is to actually do. By stripping back just a few processes of this kind, you will be able to save a considerable amount of money in a very short time. You might want to use a lift off process in the warehouse or to change even larger processes -whatever it is, simplifying it is always going to lead to a significant improvement in finances for the business. Any processes you have can be simplified in whatever way you want to save money. Hire Sensibly The people you hire are always going to be hugely important to your business on the whole, and this is something to always pay close attention to, especially if you want to save money. First of all, hiring those who are likely to actually work long and hard will mean that you re getting more for your money, thereby saving you financially in the long run. But you should also think about doing whatever you can to stop yourself form over-hiring, or hiring too many people. If you hire too many people in your business, it will only mean that you end up overspending without much return, and clearly that is not a situation that anyone wants to be in. Hire sensibly, and you should find that it makes a considerable difference to your business financially. Plan Plan Again In general, you should try to always plan as well as you can for the future of your business. If you do this, it will benefit you and your company in many great ways, including, of course, by saving a considerable amount of money. Plan for the future of your business in as many ways as you can, and you will find that it really does make a huge difference. Your business finances will be in trouble less often and more likely to be in the state that you need them to be in.

How to Deal With Looking Too Young in the Office - Cubicle Chic

How to Deal With Looking Too Young in the Office - Cubicle Chic How to Deal With Looking Too Young in the Office Career, Climbing the ladder, Corporate Style June 16, 2017 11 CommentsDisclaimer: I have partnered with Beta Brand to show you a few different office friendly workwear pieces that I was given. I have been a long time fan of Beta Brand (for about 2 years) and I am incredibly excited to work with them! Use my code JESSICA15 to get 15% off your order!!The issue with being told you “look so young” in a professional setting isn’t the judgment cast upon your appearance, the assumption that it’s based on, or even the underlying ageism. It’s about what this statement invites and implies in and of itself. Allow me to explain.Top: Beta Brand Peplum Top in Blue Linen, size small Pencil skirt: Ann Taylor Tweed Skirt in size 6Being Taiwanese American, I’m used to be told I look younger for my age. For the record, I am 32 years old, and most people I meet for the first time think I’m in my mid 20’s.  So, there’s literally the way my face looks, and I get it. I take it as a comp liment when people tell me I look younger than my age.But it’s a different story when I’m at work.There are certain risks involved in being thought of as “the young one”. It means you may be perceived to be inexperienced, unreliable, unpredictable. It could also translate to passed up promotions, missed opportunities, or just lack of attention or resources given to youI am very conscious of what I do that could potentially fuel the “young” image I apparently have. But there is an important distinction that needs to be made: you can have a “young” appearance, but you can’t have a “young” reputation. You can get away with looking more youthful in your appearance, but you can’t be perceived to be juvenile or immature.Top: Beta Brand Peplum Top in Blue Linen, size small Pencil skirt: Ann Taylor Tweed Skirt in size 6 Watch: Jord Watch Cora, Koa Rose GoldSo, what can one do to avoid being perceived juvenile or immature? It’s body language, the vocabulary you ch oose, your reaction to things, and so many more. But at the very minimum, dress the part. Picking the right clothes, makeup, and footwear is the quickest way to look professional and avoid looking “too young.” Here are some tried-and-true rules to live by:1) Balance the looseness and tightness in items of clothingClothing that is too baggy or too tight tends to be too casual or flat out inappropriate. Casualness combined with other factors that indicate you are “too young”, is detrimental to your professional image. Avoid baggy pants, baggy (“boyfriend”) shirts. Tight clothing also needs to be handled with care when it comes to creating your ensemble. If they show the lines of your undergarment, of create a cleavage or show anything your grandmother wouldn’t approve of, it’s too tight for the office.Top: Beta Brand Peplum Top in Blue Linen, size small  2)  Stick with neutrals; unless you know how to navigate colors like a proBlack, gray, white, and beige ALWAYS work . And most of the time they work well with each other too. 60% of my work wardrobe is black and white, and the rest are either blush-pink, gray, or beige. I have a few fun and more statement pieces that I will mix into my ensemble sometimes but most of the time I stick with neutrals.Working with a lot of colors is more difficult but not impossible. It’s reserved for the master dressers (like Chanele McFarlane on Do Well Dress Well) when you know it fits your brand and what is flattering and appropriate.Pencil skirt: Ann Taylor Tweed Skirt in size 6  3)  Be mindful of your accessoriesI’ll be very specific here. When I first started working about 5-6 years ago, I loved wearing bows. Think the beginning of ModCloth and Lulu’s…I could not get enough of bows (on me)! I thought the look fell along the lines of prim and proper and that I could get away with it. In hindsight, it was probably too cutesy to wear a bow on your hair, bag, shoes, however small it is. There’s just somet hing very school girl-y about bows. Avoid them at all costs.The point is this: it’s okay to have personality and show it in your outfits but don’t let your accessories define your professional brand.Top: Beta Brand Peplum Top in Blue Linen, size small Necklace: BaubleBar gold initial necklace  4) Professional quality shoes onlyI think those of us in California are probably the serial offenders for this one. The “west coast casual” is a common dress code that you will see in a lot of offices. I, for one, always try to sneak in sandals days at work and always on the look for comfortable but professional looking sandals.However, even with west coast casual, there’s still a line not to be crossed. The sandals I would wear to the office tend to have heels, and they have to look quality. Most of the time, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor sandals are pretty safe.Oh, and no flip-flops. That’s a no-brainer.Lastly, sneakers. They probably used to be a big no-no for corporate offi ces, but with some of the leather sneakers they’re making these days, you can sometimes get away with a sneaker outfit in the corporate office setting.  5) Use a grown-up and low profile bagWhen I first started working, I had this overall bag that was in this crazy zebra print. One of these days I’ll dig it out of my closet and show you guys a picture of it. It was roomy, easy to carry, fit the monstrosity of a laptop I had, and it was comfortable to wear. I LOVED that bag. But in hindsight, it was a disastrous bag to take to the office especially when I had just started. It signaled that I was not prepared for or familiar with the kind of environment I was getting into. In the grand scheme of things, it was forgivable because I WAS new and I did quickly change out my bag.Top: Beta Brand Peplum Top in Blue Linen, size small Pencil skirt: Ann Taylor Tweed Skirt in size 6 Watch: Jord Watch Cora, Koa Rose Gold  Closing questions:What are some of the young professional faux pas yo u’ve seen in the office? What did you use to wear that makes you cringe when you think about it now? Comment below and since I shared all my embarrassing stories, it’s only fair that you do! LOL.All photography by Natalie Alvarado @ Stylenfuse