Showing posts with label office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label office. Show all posts

February 18, 2011

Office Real Estate

...I'm not talking about the address of your office building or what zip code it's in or how many storeys your building has...I'm talking about prime real estate - the location of your cube/office within the building.

Offices (or in my case cubes) are considered status symbols in the working world. It is incredibly obvious where someone falls on the totem pole based on the location, size and positioning of their office.The building that I work in is, well how should we put this, discreet. You wouldn't really know that this building housed information about some pretty famous people. Once inside, you can immediately tell "who's who" based on their offices. I work one floor up from our main area and it's pretty quiet in the "penthouse" which is how we affectionately refer to this quarantined area of the office. Considering I'm a total nube, I have a pretty awesome cube. I have lots of desk space, two computer screens, two file drawers, a plant, a comfy chair, and a good half wall to tack stuff on. But other than that, it's a pretty standard cube.

There is a vacant office in the penthouse where my original mentor used to sit. Now that she's been promoted, we've been staring at that dark void for a few months now. But today, one of my team members got a "real estate promotion" and got to move in there. He used to sit in the cube behind me which is a bit nicer than mine  because it has a HUGE window and some more space. It's great that he can be in that office now because the space feels a little more filled up.

So here is where I come into all of this. We have a Bloomberg Terminal up here as well, that sits at a desk around the corner from me. I'm constantly pacing back and forth to the Bloomberg all day - basically, it's like my second desk. My cube used to house the Bloomberg until I got hired. My hope is that I will get to move into the window cube and receive my first "real estate promotion" and that the Bloomberg will be moved back to my cube, which would make it much closer to me.

It's funny how your position title and salary can remain the same, and yet getting a "real estate promotion" can feel just as good.
My real estate

October 27, 2010

Style Status

Shopping for 'office appropriate' (read stuffy, manly, wrinkly) attire on a budget can be especially challenging when the clothes you prefer are way out of your budget. Yes, I could just go to Express (gross!) and get a black suit, some work pants and a few button downs and be set. However, the material is cheap, the fit is generic, and the clothes will only last me one season. Take it a step up to Banana Republic, JCrew (my personal favorite) or Ann Taylor - these suites/work clothes will last a little longer and come in a wider variety of fits and styles. Pieces are easy to mix and match and there are choice for non-iron tops (a MUST!). And then there is the ultimate status symbol - The Theory Suit. My mom and I joked after I landed my first 'big girl job' that "someday, when I saved up enough of my paychecks, I could indulge in my first Theory suit and it would be something I would pass down to my children someday..." Naturally, I want that day to come sooner, rather than later - so I scour  Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, and Neimans Last Call, hoping to find a bargain.

My mom was in town this weekend and we made our ritual visit to the NorthPark Mall. While perusing the racks in Nordstrom, I stumbled upon the most perfect Theory blazer and pencil skirt....that was of course way out of my budget at $550 for the jacket and skirt. Somedayyyyy....
Theory - 'Kiersten K - Strategy' Jacket and Skirt
BUT! This is not where the story ends. We headed over to the sale racks at Neiman Marcus and I proceeded to try on a few Theory dresses...just for fun. My mom and I found this great shift dress on sale for $177 from $295 with an extra 30% off. Even with all those discounts, the dress just wasn't an investment I could make. However, (and this is the perk to shopping with your sweet, sweet mother) my mom decided that it was a worthwhile purchase that I just couldn't live without in my work wardrobe. So TaDa --

Ohhhh sweet Theory heaven...

Have I now officially reached this new status symbol? Does it only apply when I officially own my first Theory suit? Who knows...but I am going to feel pretty dang special the first day I wear this slice of heaven to work.