"Recession Care Package"

In times of need, we always need a care package. In that case, don't we ALL need one now?!

- Mentor (In times of need, this is the person you should call) Someone that you trust and is seasoned enough to give you reasonable advice. Your mentor should be your compass when you are lost and frazzled and don't know where to go. A mentor reassures you that everything will be okay and helps you to garner the tools to ensure that you're okay.

- Journal (A best friend that never gets tired of your stories - good or bad) Writing down your thoughts whether in the heat of the moment or softly in the night can be very freeing. Great stress reliever. Trust me.

- Plan B (Obviously if we need a care package, Plan A didn't work out so well) Get a clue, get a plan. Mope for a minute but while you're moping, time is ticking. Figure out next steps. Don't over think. Just do it.

- Inspiration (Figure out what keeps you going and drown yourself in it) Now is not the time to be modest. If you have figured out what gets you excited and eager to chase your goals, you better grab your inspiration and hold on for dear life.

- Friend (Sometimes we just need the comfort of a friend to see us through) A friend can't solve our issues, but they can certainly give us the strength to endure some of the rough patches. If you have a true friend, they will give you the smile you need to overcome this phase.

- Prayer (Never forget the power of prayer) No matter what we have in our care package, if we don't have faith, we will always be bankrupt mentally, financially, spiritually, and emotionally. Our trials are just a test and it is during these times that we must seek help and ask for guidance. We must also give thanks, just think...light always comes after darkness. This is only a phase, don't get so caught up in the darkness you can't see the light.

If you have these things, you will survive a lot longer in this world, better known as the days of the "recession". Grab your care package and bundle up, it may be a long ride...

Either way...stay FAB!

College and Young Professional Career Guide

FAB Pro Clue: FAB has the perfect website for you - nuResume.com is a well of knowledge for those seeking internships and careers.

On the website "nuResume" you can find:

• Intern Contests
• Free Resume Template
• Career Centers
• Networks
• Career Coaching
• Career Videos
• Webinars
• Recruiters
• Star Student Resumes
• Internships
• Jobs

The site is a great resource for those seeking internships and job opportunities. It's also a great resource to network with students around the globe. Make sure to visit the site: http://www.nuresume.com/.

FAB goes to Vegas!

A Word from FAB's Own, J.Styles...

Inspiration. Fashion. Entertainment. Grand Living. FAB had a front row seat in Las Vegas to experience a space that forces a person to enjoy the moment. And for a second, the city and bright lights serves as an escape to all that's happening in the world today. Living the good life for a couple of days definitely gets you spoiled and entices you to want more and more -not necessarily materialistic goods, but it's more of a craving to be at the top of your game in your own respect. I'm officially inspired. In a world full of recessionistic thoughts, it was nice to experience a bubble of happiness and crazy joy. It was as if I had a Cinderella moment and just as I got comfortable living the GRAND LIFE, reality set in...back to work! Having a taste of all things nice is a teaser, but all in a good way. It makes you want to be better and do better - which is never a bad thing. Point is, there must be more VEGAS moments! Question is, how do we get there? If you're ready to take this journey with me, stay tuned. FAB is here to help you carve your path. It's only gonna get better...

Much Love to all my Hustlers out there making it happen in this recessionistic financial war zone.

Stay FAB regardless,

J.Styles

FIT Hosts NYC Entrepreneur Meeting with Industry Professionals: April 9th

ENTREPRENEUR? LIVE IN NYC? Then you should attend this 1-day conference. Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) hosts a FREE panel discussion to help Entrepreneurs answer the question "So, now what do we do?" In light of the current market and financial environment start ups are asking the question..."So, now what do we do?"


**Date: Thursday, April 9th @ 6 p.m.

**This (free!) interactive panel discussion will help answer your burning questions about next steps for fund raising, marketing, and growing your business.

**Panelists bring a wealth of knowledge from the entrepreneurial trenches and behind the investor's desk.

**Panel:
Alan Gershenfeld - Managing Director, Co-Founder E-Line Ventures
Divya Gugnani - CEO, Behind the Burner, Former VP First Mark Ventures
Matt Turck - Principal, Bloomberg Ventures
Bob Walczak - CEO, Ringleader Digital

**Location:
Fashion Institute of Technology The Board Room, Ninth Floor of the “C” Building; 27 Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues

**Co-sponsored by “The Hatchery”

**RSVP to enterprise@fitnyc.edu

Professionals: Full-Time Employee + Intern; how does this work?

Being a professional working full-time can be daunting as it is, add an internship on top of that and you could end up having a very exhausting schedule. With that said, having an internship could be your MOST rewarding experience yet. Not every professional has the desire or the need to become an intern, especially if you are happy and content in your current position. For those of us who need to gain experience in a field in which we are unfamiliar, it doesn't matter if you are a working professional or not - bottom line is that you need the experience. Whether you're 21 or 27, there is a knowledge gap that needs to be filled. It's only natural when thinking of an intern to imagine a college kid trying to gain experience before they hit the post grad real world. Times are changing. People are more innovative. More driven. More passionate. And desire more. Internships are no longer just for college students, now professionals are starting to get a piece of the pie. Obviously a professional brings more experience and knowledge than a junior in college, therefore one would expect for the roles and responsibilities to be different. In some instances, yes and in some no. For the sake of argument, let's just say you need to take a step back in some instances in order to move forward. If this is you, keep reading...you're probably wondering what are the logistics of attaining an internship when you're already bombarded with a 40+ hour full-time job. Well, it can be done, the key is to create a strategy for yourself and for the employer so that it's very clear in the outset of the conversation what you're looking to gain from the experience and how the company can provide the proper knowledge and experience you're seeking (of course you'd always position the conversation as what you can do for them). If done correctly, you will still have a social life, as well as enjoy learning in your area of interest.

Why do you want an Internship? Questions to ponder...
-Why do you want an internship? Is it to gain experience in a field that you do not currently work in?
-For networking purposes?
- Seeking a mentor?
- Trying to gain more in-depth experience?
- Current position not teaching you the skill set you need in order to advance in your career?
- Resume building?
- Trying to switch industries?
- What is the goal of your potential internship?
- What are your short term vs. long term goals in relation to being an intern?

TIPS for Professionals Seeking an Internship:
- Research which company will be able to fulfill your internship goal
- Network and see if you know anyone inside the company, if not, cold call or cold email
- Think things through: know your availability, flexibility, and the work load you can successfully manage
- Have a preliminary conversation before any agreement is made
- Discuss your goals, your strengths and weaknesses
- Tell the company what you want to get out of this experience and how you will benefit their company
- Settle on the following: payment or nonpayment, hours/days worked, managing supervisor, expectations, communication styles, team structure

If It Will Pay Off in the Long Run, You May Just Have to Bite the Bullet:
You know where you are and where you're trying to go. Sometimes it's best if we don't get bogged down in the details and we just do what feels right. Be careful who you tell your goals to, not everyone will understand. For many, it's often difficult to understand the concept of taking a step backward in order to move forward. Before you make any rash decisions, create a personal strategy so that you don't get stuck in reverse or neutral. It's okay for everyone to not understand, that's a clue that you have a great idea - if everyone thought like you, you wouldn't be the genius you are. Remember that!

Moral of the story:
If you are passionate about gaining experience in a particular field, then you should move forward. Don't live in the pool of regret. If you have to make copies just so you can be a fly on the wall or you have to get coffee for the boss (even though you are a boss) or if you have to work part-time even though you're tired from your full-time, just bite the bullet this one time! It will come full circle and I'm certain that you will reap the benefits of your labor in such a rewarding way.

So, to all my professionals determined to do it their own way, good luck and stay FAB!

It's a RECESSION, and...

Okay, so I'll admit times are hard and there's plenty to complain about: lay-offs, piled up bills, lack of jobs, more competition with fewer opportunities, and not to mention the negative energy that seems to be floating around. We as individuals and as a nation is being forced to be more money-conscious and frugal in our spending, we aren't the free spirits that we once were. Every penny counts these days. With that said, the show mustn't stop. In fact, because of the issues mentioned above, we gotta grind even harder. During challenging times is when you can really decipher the "boys from the men", as an old cliche says. Only the best gets considered for the job, only the most driven gets the interview, only the most hard-working gets a raise, only the most creative gets the credit - the list continues. You get the point. This is NOT the time to roll over and throw in the towel. This is the time you have to shine. If you can take a bad situation and turn it good, you'll get more brownie points than you would have any other year - take advantage. No one said this process would be easy. You'll probably have to hit the ground running like everyone else, the difference lies in the fact that your strategy will be air tight, sealed with persistence and hard-work. If you have a job, be grateful. If you don't, this is NOT the end of the world, this is only temporary. You're allowed to a have a moment. Have several moments. Be angry. Cry. Scream. Now get over it. Don't accept defeat, do something about it. NOT WORKING?! Follow me for a second and just think about this. Most of us will be working for a large junk of our lives, realistically retiring in our 60s, we have many many years of work ahead of us. Ask yourself this one question, how often is that you're not working and you get to plan your day as you please?! I am sure the answer is probably slim to never. With that said, use your free time to re-evaluate what you want and devise a plan to get it. Give yourself a max of 5 minutes a day to be upset and get back on track. Don't get angry, get even. Beat this idea of a "recession", don't let the recession beat you.

Moral of the story is this:

We are in an economic crisis, which is causing some financial and emotional stress. This is all normal and at least our peers are experiencing the same turmoil. We're not alone in this. My suggestion is to face this situation head on and figure out a way to climb out of this hole. You've been wanting that time to come when you can really show employers what you're made of, this is your chance. Are you going to be defeated OR are you going to be a champion - YOU DECIDE! Your decision is not up to the economy or even the President, it's up to you! You own your fate, no one else. Our situation is just that, a situation. It doesn't define us, nor is it the answer to our destiny!

P.S. When this period is over, just think, we'll have a really interesting story to tell. FAB will anyway.

CEW Beauty Nominations: What brand are YOU Voting For?

BEAUTY AWARDS VOTING: Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) is hosting its annual beauty products voting starting March 16th. Receiving a CEW nomination is one of the best compliments for a beauty brand; it means your brand is well-respected by industry leaders and experts. The voting process is very critical and can ultimately affect the business of a brand, such as increasing or decreasing sales (a huge testament to the power of voting). It is imperative that we as beauty connoisseurs make well-informed decisions when we place our vote. I have tested many of the products nominated and I feel confident to to decide which product should get my vote. If you haven't tried the products, you should start the process now - test the products and conduct research. The beauty industry is counting on us to impact the way consumers view products and the way brands conduct business. We can make a difference by placing our vote online. Vote at http://www.cew.org/.


NOTE: For more information on how products were nominated, please see FAB's post on March 9th AND February 21st for details about the demonstration, nomination, and voting process.

Here are some Beauty Nominations:
Images are from the Body Treatment (Mass) and Face Product (Prestige) categories.

Olay Body Wash Plus Exfoliating Ribbons


NARS Cosmetics - Firming Foundation

MAC Cosmetics - Mineralize Blush

Jergens Natural Glow

Dove Cream Oil intensive Body Lotion

Clé de Peau Beauté - Concealer

Bare Escentuals - Bareminerals Hydrating Mineral Veil

Avon Anew Stretch Mark Smoother

Aveeno Intense Repair Cream

Giorgio Armani - Face Fabric Foundation

Professionals Continuing Their Education

IT MAY BE DIFFICULT. BUT IT'S WORTH IT. Continuing your education while working full-time is no easy task. You may be sleep-deprived and financially tight with a full day's schedule, but you can do it! An undergrad degree can take you from the classroom to the office; however, many times our degree doesn't help us narrow down the choices and hone in on what our true passions are. Diving into the real-world and working full-time is a wake-up call for many professionals. Going back to school and gaining the necessary tools to advance our career is a good idea and a great talking point with employers. Having the added educational bonus on your resume will distinguish you from your peers, expand your professional network, and broaden your educational background.

When making the BIG decision to further your education, you must consider the sacrifices that come along with it.

Things to Think About:
- Time Management
- Work Load
- Grade Scale
- Credentials of Professors
- Ability to interconnect with other Professionals
- Tuition Costs
- Available Scholarships
- Class Schedule
- Tutors
- Class Size

Personally Analyze:
- What are your goals?
- Why do you want to go back to school?
- How will furthering your education help?
- What is your professional weaknesses and how will school benefit you?
- What are the subliminal benefits? (i.e. networking, gaining mentor, volunteering)

Not Sure if School if For You, Conduct Informational Interviews:
- Talk with schools officials (Guidance Counselor, Career Services, Professors, Financial Aid)
- Ask enrolled students questions about their experiences

Research:
- Understand the competition (Is the best school for your goals?)
- Understand your program of interest in its entirety (How long is the program?)
- What are options for being time and cost efficient?

Beauty Announcement: Beauty Awards Voting Begins March 16th

Categories are as follows:

Bath & Body

Facial Skincare

Hair

Make-Up

Men's Grooming

Scent

Sun

VOTING PROCESS:

Who votes in the Beauty Awards?

Finalists are selected by CEW members, industry insiders and experts in the field of beauty. Winners are selected by a special Voting Committee comprised from the CEW Board. All voting is confidential, and is officially tabulated by Ernst & Young.

Voting Timeline:
General Ballot:Voting Opens: February 4, 2009 9am; Voting Closes: February 25, 2009 5pm
Board Ballot: Voting Opens: March 16, 2009 9am; Voting Closes: March 23, 2009 5pm

To Vote:

Go to http://www.cew.org/

Announced:

Finalists Announced: March 10, 2009
Winners Announced: May 1, 2009 Beauty Awards

Cosmetic Account Executive is Cut-Throat Honest

She's NOT ready to tell you who she is. One day soon she will be, but not today. She is the inspiration behind this article; however, her identity must remain anonymous. Partly because she is not out of the storm quite yet, and in her defense, sometimes it's hard for us to make ourselves vulnerable to the world. She's not ready to reveal her story to everyone, but she did candidly expose her feelings to FAB. For the sake of the article, let's call her "Brenda." Brenda is lucky to have a job, given the current economic situation but that doesn't mean she isn't allowed to complain about the bitter-sweet feeling of having a job but hating it - all at the same time. I didn't try and comfort her during her venting mode, it was clear all she needed was a listening ear. "I hate going to work, sometimes I don't even want to get out of bed. I feel like I am much smarter and experienced for this job." This very quote may sound familiar to you, probably because we've all been there when our job is consuming our thoughts, our mood, our attitude. Our day becomes a blur of unhappiness and misery. After Brenda vented, I shared in her trials, attesting to those same feelings that she's having. Shortly after, I switched sides. I left the "pity and complaining" side and went to the "perseverance and determined" side. Brenda soon followed me, agreeing that she needed a plan B and she needed it quickly! FAB came to the rescue of course. FAB didn't promise a brand new shiny job or a big salary or even a contact at another beauty house. However, FAB did offer to help her develop the necessary tools so that she would be well-equipped and confident to create a plan B. Sometimes its best if we understand the steps necessary to attain success, rather than being granted the answer. The process of pulling ourselves up, is often the most challenging but definitely the most rewarding!

Moral of the story: At some point in our lives, it seems that outside factors have gained control of our thoughts and that control starts to trickle down into our attitudes, our dreams, and even has the power to take over our lives - if we let the monster take over. FAB challenges you today to stand up to the beast that's causing you misery and fight back! Fight back because you owe it yourself to be happy and fulfilled. FAB is giving you 5 minutes to have a pity party and that's it. Get up. Get out. And go for yours!

Some of you may be wondering, how??? There is no clear cut answer as every one's situation is different but here are a few ideas:

• Update your resume
• Post resume on every site you can imagine and apply, apply, apply!
• Start researching volunteer and networking opportunities
• Try and join an organization that caters to your interest (speaking with like-minded individuals is powerful)
• Read and research (become intelligent on your topic of interest)
• Set up informational interviews (a way to learn information and network, great way to knock out 2 very important components in one sitting)
• Talk to people (start verbalizing your wishes and desires); how can anyone help you if they don't know you need assistance
• Be confident (passion and confidence make up for the experience you lack, don't ever forget this)

FAB Challenges You!

FAB Weekly Career Challenge:

FAB challenges you to complete the below tasks within the next week (meaning by next Monday, March 16th) you should have answered the following:

• Long-Term Goal (1 year and 6 months)
• Short-Term (monthly and weekly)
• Plan of Action (strategy to achieve goals)
• Plan to stay on track (plan to stay motivated and encouraged)
• Take the 1st step in completing short term weekly goal (meaning you should have completed 1 task to help you achieve your weekly short-term goal)

Write the answers to the above questions in your CAREER JOURNAL Date your entry and thoroughly answer the questions. This guideline sounds easy, but it requires you to think and plan. Don't just write anything to complete the assignment, take out the time to really analyze what you want and how you can get it. This homework assignment is critical in determining your success rate! Good luck! I will be checking back on next Monday....don't let me down!

FAB Comes to You!

If you are seeking CAREER COUNSELING and not sure where to turn, FAB will make a personal appointment with you to discuss your career advancement opportunities. FAB will help you to create a custom-made career plan that takes you from where you are to where you want to be! FAB helps you to connect the dots! If you are interested in making a career appointment, reach out to J.Styles directly: jstyles@thefabnetwork.com.

Email FAB today, we are here to help you!

Tomorrow's goals aren't as distant as you think, not if you start today!

LUCKY BRAND: Internship Summer 2009

LUCKY BRAND: Summer 2009 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM - Accessories Organization

Code: 10367

CATEGORY: Bags/Accessories

FUNCTION: Intern/Entry-Level

REGION: NY Metro

OVERVIEW: We are currently seeking applicants for our summer 2009internship program at our new york corporate headquarters.

DATES: The program will run from June 1, 2009 to August 7, 2009

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• • Must be a college Junior or Senior level student


• • Able to work in a fast paced environment and eager to learn


• • Prior experience working in the fashion industry or interning in a corporate role is a plus


• • Curious, creative thinking and enthusiastic with a hard-working nature


• • Strong computer skills with knowledge of all Microsoft Office programs


• • Candidates must be professional, polished and polite

TO APPLY: Sorry, applications are not being accepted through StyleCareers.com. Apply directly at our website using the link below. Please be sure to select http://www.stylecareers.com/ as the referring website.You may apply directly to this job listing with the link below:https://jobs-lizclaiborne.icims.com/jobs/10367/job

WHITE HOUSE INTERNSHIP: Apply by March 22nd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: White House Internship, Summer 2009

President Obama launched the White House Internship Program for his administration and announced that applications are currently being accepted for the summer of 2009.

In the words of President Obama: "This program will mentor and cultivate young leaders of today and tomorrow and I'm proud that they will have this opportunity to serve. I look forward to working with those that are selected to participate and I want to commend all who apply for their desire to help through public service to forge a brighter future for our country."

Benefits: In addition to normal office duties, interns will supplement their learning experience by attending a weekly lecture series hosted by senior White House staff, help at White House social events, and volunteer in community service projects.

Internship Program Dates: The 2009 Summer Internship program runs from May 22 to August 14, and the submission deadline is March 22, 2009.

Applicants: Those interested in applying to the White House Internship Program must be:
U.S. Citizens Eighteen years of age on or before the first day of the internship.

Must Be: Enrolled in a college or university (2-4 year institution) or must have graduated from college in the past two years.

Interns: Interns will be placed in a departmental office for their internship. Below is a list of departments in the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President where interns could be placed.

White House Department of Scheduling and Advance:
The Office of Cabinet Affairs
The White House Communications Department
The White House Office of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of the First Lady
The White House Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA)
The Office of Political Affairs
The Office of Management and Administration
The Office of White House Counsel
The Domestic Policy Council
The White House Office of Presidential Personnel
Office of the Vice President

More information: on the White House Internship Program, including application instructions, can be found at: http://www.aaiusa.org/page/m2/4b660e93/1ba94dbb/829f89e/1c4fa3c0/381886821/VEsF/

No weeds in my garden...do you have any?

Your destiny is already written, you just have to claim it! How do you reach out and grab 'it'? Claiming what's yours may sound easy and to some it actually is. However, for many of us it's not that cut and dry. Before you can really be passionate about anything, you have to believe. Believe that you deserve to be happy. Believe that you are capable. Believe that you can do it. Believe that you are the key to your success, not your circumstances, not your neighborhood, not your banking account, not your friends, not your enemies, and not your stumbling blocks. To all those who say "believing" is for the cliche thinking, over achievers - you've missed the point. I'm not advocating that you can believe your wildest dream into fruition (although many times you can). What I am promising is that if you truly let your passion take over your fear, you can do no wrong. If you get nothing else from reading this article, understand the importance of being your own best friend and your own biggest cheerleader. For those of you who have heard of my "garden" analogy, sorry you'll have to hear it again. For those of you who haven't, you've been missing out. To me, my "garden" story is the answer to any question you may have regarding the type of life you want to have and the type of life you're trying to build....

The GARDEN story...(I'll use my life as an example)

I have been working on my personal garden, planting pretty red tulips, sunflowers, pansies, begonias, and pretty pink roses. I've been watering my garden everyday. My flowers finally have all the nutrients and sunlight they need to survive. For once, everything looks great! My garden is far from perfect and it continues to be a work in progress, but point is my hard work and dedication is paying off. I even won an award this month. No weeds. No dead leaves. 100% green. Beautiful, if I may say so myself. I have obviously been working extremely hard on perfecting my garden, so I dare NOT let anyone come in and destroy my flowers and rob me of my prestigious award. If we can work hard in our careers and in our homes, why shouldn't we give our personal life that same tender love and attention. Why should we grant someone else the right to destroy our garden?! The only person that should hold the power to destroy our garden, is us. If I won't plant weeds, why should I let someone else. And more importantly, if I have enough respect for my garden, shouldn't the visitors of my garden as well?! This sounds like common sense, but if you really think about it, we are often happy and our day is going well and BOOM - we see someone or hear a disturbing comment and now our day is ruined. Or we let someone tell us our worth. Or we give someone the power over our thoughts and attitude. Every time we give someone the reign over our mind, a weed is planted....

We need to think about our gardens as we continue to plant seeds in our lives. We are either planting seeds or weeds? One will make our garden flourish, the other will make our garden wilt.

I encourage you to believe in yourself and plant seeds that will lead you to your destiny. Remember, there's always light at the end of the tunnel. And you know gardens need sunlight to survive. No coincidence!