Recent Career Articles

Organizational Awareness: Do You Get Involved?

Organizational Awareness: Do You Get Involved?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear "office politics?" Is it "backstabbing?" Maybe gossip, malicious rumors and "sucking up" to the right people? If so, it's fair to want to stay out of Dodge and work under the radar. But whether you like it or...

Part of the Growing B Corp Movement

Part of the Growing B Corp Movement

Gold Coast Doulas, West Michigan's first doula agency offering birth doula support, overnight and daytime postpartum doula support, lactation consultations, childbirth classes, and more, recently earned its B Corporation certification. The announcement, which came...

Learn the Language of Age Discrimination

Learn the Language of Age Discrimination

Older workers can be threatened, made miserable and bullied in the workplace. En español | When people think of age discrimination, they usually envision workers fired, denied promotions or never hired simply because of their age. But what if it's not your livelihood...

How to Successfully Re-enter the Workforce

How to Successfully Re-enter the Workforce

After pursuing a thriving career as a social worker and therapist, Kelley Stewart gave birth to twins—joining the son she and her husband already had. She decided to take some time off to care for her children. Time flew ... and 13 years later she was ready to rejoin...

Did You Hear What She Said? The Power of Language in the Workplace

Did You Hear What She Said? The Power of Language in the Workplace

How many times have you expressed an idea by starting with "In my opinion" or challenged a differing perspective with "I just think"? In the past week, a handful. In a lifetime, countless. As women, we consistently choose language that is disqualifying—of our...

Need to Have a Difficult Conversation with a Colleague? Here’s How.

Need to Have a Difficult Conversation with a Colleague? Here’s How.

As much as we all wish work could be a constant stream of butterflies, puppies and rainbows, that's simply not reality. No matter how much you love your job, differences with co-workers are bound to arise. But that doesn't mean you couldn't approach the situation with...

A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs

A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs

How to cope with the emotional highs and lows of the early days. You've got an idea. A great idea. Maybe it could even make some real money. As you're starting out, buckle up: it's likely to be a bumpy ride of emotions and challenges you may have never experienced...

Aging in the Workplace

Aging in the Workplace

American workers aged 65-plus are projected to be the fastest growing segment in the workforce through 2024, according to a 2017 study by SeniorLiving.org. With an unemployment rate just under 4% in West Michigan, these "seasoned" workers constitute a valuable labor...

The Solitary Woman

The Solitary Woman

Remote work has taken off in the past five years, something we hear more about as social media, entrepreneurship, consulting and development continue to grow. According to Forbes, remote work is no longer a privilege: It's become the standard operating mode for at...

Pursuing a Post-Grad Education

Pursuing a Post-Grad Education

Some people always knew they wanted to pursue a post-graduate degree. For others, such as Rachel Lopez, Affinity Mentoring development director, the revelation came later, once they were in a leadership position. "It was then that I understood how a post-graduate...