Whether you are working your dream job already and climbing the corporate ladder, or working a 9 to 5 to make ends meet – we’ve put together a small list of career advice every woman on the job needs to know. Women have to work twice as hard in the workplace to get equal opportunities as men, to be respected among their colleagues, and speak twice as loud to be heard – especially if you’re a woman of color. Here’s our first tip:

Stop Apologizing For Everything.

Insert, “So sorry for just responding to this…” as the beginning line of your reply email back to your coworkers. Stop apologizing for everything boo. Instead of saying sorry for everything, try thank you. “Thank you so much for your patience…”  sounds a lot better. There is no need to always tuck in your tail and apologize for every single thing. Thank your peers – and keep it moving.

Use More Periods Instead of Exclamation Points

Oh man. Are you like us and thought that maybe adding extra exclamation points and a smiley face in your emails (especially the ones that may sound aggressive) makes the email sound softer? Exclamation points are inserted to make whomever you are emailing a bit more relaxed, and show them that you are being lighthearted. It’s not that necessary sis. At the end of the day, emails are words compiled on a screen, and people will take what you have to say and interpret it the way that they want. Be clear. Be concise. Be professional. If your email may come across as “aggressive” setup 5 minutes to chat with whom your emailing, so you can express your points verbally.

Track Your Wins On a Side sheet

Because there will always be a review time, and you don’t want to wait until the end of the year to think back on your goals and accomplishments. With every win you get, whether that be a pat on your back from a project you completed, spearheading a meeting, planning an event, whatever you get your hands on and do a good job at – track it on the side. This way, when it comes time to meet with your boss, talk about your performance from the year, or even discuss a possible promotion or raise, your side sheet already has you covered with the wins you accomplished.

Invest In Clothes That Make You Feel Good

It can get so easy to come to work in whatever you have in your closet, and just be “comfortable”. But you wan’t clothes that make you feel good. Clothes that make you feel like a boss. You want to walk into meetings with your team members and boss like you are about to shut it down, and the only way to do that is to be confident. You’d be surprised at how just looking the part can make you feel at work. If you don’t have the funds to splurge on an entire new work wardrobe right away, buy pieces you like every pay period. Buy a few shirts here, pants there, shoes here…and watch your wardrobe build with pieces you love, but that also make you feel good.

Work Smart Not Hard

It’s all about being efficient this year. What can you do at work to make your process more efficient? How can you work smart throughout the day, instead of hard? Start looking at your action items for the week ahead and figuring out how to maximize your time in the best way possible, by working smartly, and not hard. Working on a big project and spending several hours a day working on it is not working smart – that’s working hard. Breaking the project down into small blocks a day, and working on something every day, while getting your other work done is working smart, not hard.

Keep Your Personal Life Personal

This seems so simple, but so hard and we understand. You start to make friends at work, and you get to going out and eating lunch together and before you know it, your work buddies know absolutely everything about you. But what happens when something goes down at work with your work buddy, and all of a sudden you don’t really rock with them like you use to? They still know all of your business. We aren’t saying be a wall and shut everyone out, absolutely not. You should share parts of yourself with the people you spend 99% of your time with. But always keep something for yourself, and don’t go blabbing about every little thing that you come with. Keep your personal life personal.

Learn From Everyone, Especially the Ones You Don’t Like

Saved the best one for last. There is always someone at work that you don’t like. No matter how friendly you are, or how good you are at your job, there will always be someone that does not like you. Guess what – that’s okay! Its not your job to spend time not liking them back. Your job is to observe, and learn from that person. What does that person do well, what does that person need to work on, and why is that person obsessed with you? (shade) No but really, keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. If ever you need to work with this person, you want to make sure you know who they are and who you are working with.

Featured Image: @highlowluxxe