Today, I spoke to Nicole Williams, who is a career expert, MSN columnist, TV personality and author of Girl on Top. In this interview, Nicole explains how women can succeed in the workplace, what struggles women face that men don’t, some career tips for job seekers, and more.
What does it take for a woman to get ahead at work these days?
I think the difference between some men and women is that men walk into a room and expect to be respected, whereas women walk into a room and expect to have to earn the respect. That needs to change—we’ve made so much progress proving that we deserve to be in the boardroom—now we’ve just got to instinctively act like we belong. On top of that, it takes assertiveness, the ability to make an unpopular but important decision, and not settling for less than you deserve.
What struggles do women still go through in the workplace that men don’t?
There’s this whole topic of sexuality in the workplace that’s still taboo. I think women have a hard time flaunting what they have (and I’m not talking physically—I’m talking about the overall essence and attitude of being a woman) and using it to their advantage.
What are your top three career tips for job seekers right now?
- It’s the age-old “it’s not what you know, but who you know.” I can’t say this enough. Most of the people who are getting jobs right now are getting them because they’ve been recommended by a friend or contact, so don’t just sit around sending out resumes from home.
- Fit in. Cater your resume, cover letter, interview attire and everything else to the company you are applying to. Borrow language from their mission statement and incorporate it into your interview documents and show up looking like you fit in with the culture. Draw the connections for them so they don’t have to.
- Don’t watch the news. It might sound funny, but it’s absolutely true. People are getting so bogged down and unmotivated by all the unpromising statistics and stories of doom and gloom. But the truth is that there are jobs out there, and you will find one if you are persistent enough. Employers will never turn someone down who is right for the position.
How have you built your personal brand with your books and your media 
appearances?
I’ve wrapped the topic of career (which, let’s face it, isn’t the most exciting thing in the world to talk about) in a larger context so that it’s relevant to a broader market. You can get “career advice” anywhere, but I try to take a different approach and give it a voice (big sister as opposed to teacher or mother) that is entertaining and authentic. Everything I do, whether it’s a book, an event, a media appearance, or web content, is styled in a way that’s not just the same old information they’ve been hearing for years.
Out of all of your accomplishments, what are you the most proud of and why?
My latest book, Girl on Top. Honestly, I didn’t know if I had another one in me. But this book is the most authentic thing I’ve ever written. It’s a merge of two things I inherently enjoy (dating and career), and I’ve given it my all. Now I get to bring it to life with our 15-city book tour and meet people on the road whose lives have been positively impacted by my advice and brand.
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Nicole Williams, Career expert and best selling author, is re-defining the world of work—making it glamorous, entertaining and relevant to modern women. Nicole founded WORKS by Nicole Williams in 2006, the first media and content company focused on career development specifically for the highly dynamic and powerful market of young professional women. Nicole is the author of two bestselling books; Wildly Sophisticated: A Bold New Attitude for Career Success (2004) and Earn What You’re Worth (2005). Her latest book Girl on Top. In 2004 Nicole co-created the hit career reality television series Making It Big. The show aired for two seasons on the Life Network in Canada and on the Oxygen Network in the US. Nicole was also the Motivational Expert on Real Simple. Real Life., the fifteen episode makeover series with TLC & Real Simple Magazine (Watch Nicole on Friday Nights, 7pm Eastern). Nicole is a frequent contributor to Elle, Self, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Marie Claire, The New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Financial Times. She has also appeared as a regular contributor on The Today Show, ABC’s Primetime, Good Morning America, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, Fox News, and CNN, and is the “lifestyle for the working woman columnist” for MSN.
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