Is commenting on a coworkers appearance always wrong According to this new study, no

Is commenting on a coworkers appearance always wrong According to this new study, noIs commenting on a coworkers appearance always wrong According to this new study, noFormer president Barack Obama once introduced Californias Attorney General Kamala Harris at a Democratic fundraiser as brilliant, dedicated, tough and by far, the best looking attorney general in the country.The remark raised a few eyebrows as Americans questioned whether or leid it amounted to sexism. The then-president, who has alsocomplimented men before, called Harristo apologize.While Harris is reportedly mucksmuschenstill an Obama supporter, the situation leaves twoquestions lingering Are male-to-female, female-to-male, peer-to-peer, superior-to-subordinate or vice versa workplace compliments focused on looks or personal details like dress ever okay? And when dothoseremarks rise to actionable harassment?In the workplace or when you are dealing with someone professionally, a persons appearance is, nine times out o f 10, irrelevant - unless, of course, youre working in the fashion industry or a persons attireviolates the companysdress code. But when someone walks into work with a new hair cut or an eye-catching dress, you might feel inclined to compliment them. Likewise, if someone walks into work looking exhausted, you might feel inclined to ask them how theyre doing.While some compliments might be pure (and compliments alone dont typically constitute unlawfulsexual harassment),some can be full of inuendos that have no place in the office and create power dynamics that keepworkplaces from reaching gender parity.And in response to the recent surge of sexual harassment scandals, many people are wondering whether or not commenting on a coworkers appearance at all is ever acceptable.That said,Americans tend to agree that just because abehavior is frowned upondoesnt mean that it isnt happening in their workplaces.Thats according toa recentpollonworkplace behaviorfromNPRandIpsos, whichoffered 1,13 0 American adults a range of potentially objectionable office behaviors along with a range of options for each behavior, from one to seven (always, mostly and sometimes inappropriate it depends and sometimes, mostly or always appropriate). Seventy-two percent of people polled have seen a male commenting on a female coworkers appearance, and 23 percent have admitted to doing it. And65 percent of people have seen a female coworker commenting on a males appearance, and 26 percent have admitted to doing so.Theresearch suggests that only49 percent of people think that a male commenting on a females appearance at work is inappropriate. Another 36 percent say that it depends, and 15 percent think its totally fine. As for a female commenting on a males appearance, 46 percent think its inappropriate, 37 percent think it depends on the situation and 17 percent think its fine.But here are 10 times when commenting on a coworkers appearance is definitely NOT okay, despite what the survey says.1. Dont comment on a coworkers physical attributesCommenting on a coworkers body parts is never appropriate, period. Doing so can certainly and justifiably lead to a trip to HR.2. Dont comment on a coworkers decision to re-wear the same clothesYourcoworker may have had slept out the night before, and commenting onthat can be construed as making suggestions about their intimatelives. Or, the coworker may not have thebudgetfor an expansive work wardrobe, so commenting on their repeated outfits could be offensive and hurtful.3. Dont comment on a coworkers baby bumpFirst, your coworker might not actually be pregnant if she hasnt yet broken the news. Second, your coworker might not want anyone to know if shes pregnant yet, and then youre spilling what are her beans to spill. Third,all baby bumps are different and all womens bodies respond topregnancyin their own unique ways, so speculating abouta womans pregnancycan come across as rude.4. Dont comment on a coworkers weight lossYou dont kno w if your coworker is ill and unintentionally losing weight or not. Unless they verbally express that theyve been trying hard to lose weight, commenting on weight loss is risky. Even if they do seem to be fishing for compliments,how you offer a compliment matters - instead of telling them how good theirbodylooks, you should probably stick to congratulating them on theirprogressinstead. Thats more of a meaningful compliment anyway, since youre acknowledging theirhard workand dedication.5. Dont comment ona coworkers outfit being provocativeIf your coworker is wearing something that, to you, seems too low cut, too short, too sheer, etc., dont mention it to them. Unless youre the HR department, youve no place doing so.6. Dont comment on a coworker who lookshung overIf your coworker comes into work looking like theyve had quite the night out, its best you leave that up to HR to handle. For one, you could be misinterpreting the situation, and perhaps theyve had a rough night for other no t-so-ideal reasons that they dont feel comfortable discussing with you - such as family or relationship issues. If they are hung over but still able to perform their work, what happens in their lives outsideof the office does not concern you. If theyre continuously coming into work hungover, and its affecting your work, thats an issue you need to take up with HR.7. Dont comment onany ambiguous injuries on a coworkerUnless they bring it up, you dont need to know why your coworker is injured. If there is a funny story as to why they randomly showed up on crutches, chances are theyll tell you. But if you ask them why theyre always bruised, for example, you might be triggering something deeper - like an abuse issue at home that theyre notwantingto discuss at work. If youre genuinely concerned about them, you might want to pull them aside in private and let them know that youre an ear for them otherwise, its usually best to keep those comments to yourself or consult someone who could h elp without invading your coworkers privacy.8. Dont comment on a coworker for blushingSuggesting flirtation at the workplace isawkwardand inappropriate. A lot ofsuccessfulwomenalready deal with rumors about sleeping their way to the top, so accusing someone of showing romantic or sexual interest (whether or not its true) is unprofessional andnegates womens successes thus far.9. Dont comment on a coworkers especially professional appearanceYou dont know if your coworkerhas another jobinterviewatlunchthat they dont want the whole office knowing about.10. Dont comment on a coworker who appears to be illAgain, you dont know if your coworker is actually ill, and commenting on their poor appearancecould open up doors to a conversation that they might not feel like having.AnnaMarie Houlis is a multimedia journalist and an adventure aficionado with a keen cultural curiosity and an affinity for solotravel. Shes an editor by day and a travel blogger at HerReport.org by night.This article orig inally appeared onFairygodboss.AtFairygodboss, our mission is to help you create the best career for your life. Weve helped over a million women do this by crowdsourcing hard-to-ask information about job flexibility, salaries, work-life balance, maternity leave policies and whether women are promoted fairly in their companies and departments. Come see our free job reviews and career advice

This post-interview thank you letter will get you the job

This post-interview thank you letter will get you the jobThis post-interview thank you letter will get you the jobWhat exactly should you write in that thank you letter for interview? If youre dusting off your job search skills and find yourself stumped when it comes to choosing the most effectivelanguage, youre in the right place.Heres thethank you letterlanguage I used to land a six-figure job offerName,Thank you for meeting with me today to discuss the JOB TITLE role at COMPANY NAME. It was a pleasure learning more about you and your vision for the team. I know I have the technical skills and team-oriented personality needed to be successful in this position and I look forward to the opportunity to prove myself to you.Your name/SignatureHeres Why It WorksThis sample thank you letter for interview may seem simple, but there are lots of moving parts that make it effective. Heres a breakdown of the orderPersonalize your letter by addressing the interviewer by name. It shows you did y our research and pay attention to detail.Say thank you immediately. The note does not have to be long, but it needs to do the work of keeping you top of mindNext, you should add a compliment. I like to make it personal and attribute something specific to the interviewer. Mostinterviewsinvolve talking about the role, the team, and the vision.brde but certainly not least, reiterate what you bring to the table by clearly stating why youre perfect for this role.Execution MattersAs long as you spell the subjects name correctly and can pull a few sentences together, can you really go wrong? Well, yes in fact you can.Ive come to learn that its not the act of writing a thank you but theexecutionof said thank you that resonates. And the most important aspects of executing the perfect post-interview thank you letter aredeliveryandhand off.Use Quality StationaryDelivery.Skip the email and go for the handwritten note onhigh-quality stationary.Youve likely sent dozens of emails back and forth wi th your potential employer prior to your interview. A handwritten note will help you stand out.Cranes Paper Companyis the gold standard in quality paper products and one of my favorite stationery brands. I have a box of their plain note cards at arms reach and grab one for special occasions that call for a handwritten note.The product is also a durable investment if stored properly in a cool, dry place one box can stay in tact and last for years.Make a Clean GetawayHand off.Not toolong ago, I interviewed for a different position at a large social media platform (wink). After shaking hands with my interviewer, I sat my handbag on a chair and fished around (past my heels, chapstick, and everything else known to man) and pulled out a slightly bent thank you note with the interviewers name on it.Needless to say, I didnt get the job.Was the act of fishing around in my handbag harmless? Maybe. But competition for top jobs with major companies is fierce. In those situations, the name of th e game is elimination. And anything can that can rule you out, no matter how small, is fair game.All that to say the hand off matters. All situations may not permit a clean hand off, but if possible I recommend giving your thank you letters to a receptionist who can hand them out in your absence or put them in the appropriate mailboxes. Another option is to mail them.Final ThoughtsWill a handwritten note guarantee you a job offer? Of course not. But in a job market where the objective is to eliminate candidates in order to find the best one, youll certainly want every advantage on your side.This article first appeared on Capitol Standard.

Actually, Your Email Signature Is a Big Deal So Do It Right [Infographic]

Actually, Your Email Signature Is a Big Deal So Do It Right Infographic Actually, Your Email Signature Is a Big Deal So Do It Right Infographic Be honest How much thought went into your email signature? Probably not much, right? Add your name, your job, your company, maybe a telephone number or two, andvoila a signature.Except theres mora to it. As CloudM points outin its new infographic, Conveying the right corporate image requires thought. If you havent thought much about your email signature, then you may be undermining your own brand and/or your companys brand and you dont even know itDont fret CloudMhas you covered. The infographic in question, which is available below, offers seven easy ways to turn your email signature into an emblem of consummate professionalism.Get some advice on upping your signature game right here