The concept of work / life balance has been a major sticking point in the social consciousness for years now, especially highlighted in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and beyond. For some employees, going above and beyond seems to be the only way to feel valued at work, while others argue that they’re only willing to offer minimum performance for minimum payment . Young professionals and industry leaders alike have argued and debated the worth of hard work from boardrooms to chat rooms, and everywhere in between. Most recently, American tech mogul Marc Andreessen weighed in, introducing his argument for keeping the so-called “full self” out of the office. To understand the breadth of Andreessen’s comments, we’ll have to briefly unpack what it means to present your full self, dive into the collective opinion on American workplace values and study industry trends in both social and professional spaces. It’s unlikely that we’ll uncover one universal answer that resonates...

Upon hearing “Pink Friday,” most people’s minds immediately jump to the Queen of Rap herself , Nicki Minaj. The Trinidadian femcee released her debut album on Nov. 22, 2010, via Cash Money Records, Universal Motown Records and Young Money Entertainment. Even as a newcomer, she nabbed impressive collaborations from names like Eminem, Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West, ultimately selling 375K copies in her first week out. This placed Minaj behind Lauryn Hill with the second-highest sales debut ever for a female rapper, and the mother of one has only continued to prove her power since. Over a decade later, she returned with “Pink Friday 2,” this time recruiting J. Cole, Lil Wayne, Future, Monica, 50 Cent and other icons to join her on the tracklist. Minaj’s 2023 LP debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making her the first female rapper with three albums to top the chart; she moved 228K album-equivalent albums at the time, 92,000 of which were pure sales. These statistics are all...

In the professional world, the way you end an email is just as important as the content you include, even though this crucial element of electronic communication is sometimes overlooked. A good sign-off leaves a positive impression, conveys the appropriate tone, and helps maintain a sense of professionalism. The right closing can set the tone for future interactions and even reflect your personality or position within a company. Here’s a guide to the best email sign-offs for professionals in various situations. What Professional Email Sign-Off Has The Highest Response Rate? If you’re sending emails internally, getting a response highly depends on who you’re emailing, what you’re emailing about, and what the other party’s usual email habits are. However, there is a little bit of science to back up that some professional email sign-offs get more traction than others. According to a survey conducted by Boomerang , using messages from mailing lists across 20 different online...

Choosing a career can feel like a monumental decision, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process less overwhelming and more fulfilling. It’s a journey of self-discovery, research, and planning that aligns your interests, skills, and values with professional opportunities. For those still in university, this can even impact your studies when it comes to choosing a major. About 25% of college students surveyed by BestColleges reported reconsidering their chosen field frequently. Choosing a career comes down to choosing what you want to do presumably for the rest of your life. It’s not unusual to feel a bit of pressure. Thankfully, there are a few ways you can narrow down your choices and learn how to choose a career. Reflect On Your Interests And Strengths Start by identifying what genuinely excites you. Consider activities or topics you enjoy in your personal life and at work or school. Are you drawn to creative tasks, analytical problem-solving, or helping...

Navigating the job application process and getting your career off the ground can be tricky, especially if you’re uncertain whether a position you’re interested in is still open. To make matters worse, the labor market is pretty tight right now, with unemployment remaining low at around 4.1% for the month of October. As for total job openings, they’ve actually declined slightly over the past year, down 1.9 million from last September and now sitting around 7.4 million total openings. In a tough market, any little things you can do to get an edge is worth considering. Asking about the status of a job shows initiative and keeps you informed about potential opportunities. Here’s how to inquire respectfully and professionally. Research First Before reaching out, check the company’s website and job posting platforms to confirm whether the position is still listed. Some organizations update their listings regularly, while others may leave old posts online. If the role has been removed or...

Since Donald Trump came out on top in the 2024 election, the news has been flooded with headlines about how the New York native plans to run the country during his second term. With another dramatic leadership shift from Democratic back to Republican, Americans are anticipating a lot of change to come. Despite the chaos that ensued during his first time in office, there seems to be one thing Trump had to offer that most everyone wants more of – stimulus checks. Per Fox 5 DC , there’s been a sudden increase in social media posts claiming American taxpayers in some states will receive $2,000 or more from the government. This isn’t the first time in 2024 these claims have circulated, and they only seem to be growing more popular in wake of Trump’s presidential campaign and victory. Internal Revenue Service Has No Apparent Stimulus Plans (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) As you might recall, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS offered three stimulus checks to support taxpayers and keep...

If you’ve been rejected or even ghosted by a job that seemed perfect for you, the question of whether you can reapply may cross your mind. The good news is that, in many cases, it’s absolutely okay to reapply for a job you were previously turned down for. Here’s what to consider if you’re thinking of giving it another shot. Understanding Why You Didn’t Get The Job Before reapplying, try to reflect on why you didn’t land the role the first time. Sometimes, it’s as simple as timing: the company may have had a strong internal candidate, or their hiring needs may have changed. In other cases, they might have been looking for someone with a slightly different skill set. If you’re unsure, review any feedback you received from the recruiter or hiring manager (if provided), as this can offer valuable insights into areas you may need to strengthen. Automatic Screening It’s entirely possible that the hiring team has processed your application through an applicant tracking system (ATS). ATS...

Starting your day off meaningfully and productively can set you up for success. The “success” doesn’t need to have a traditional definition of achieving more sales or closing out more projects. Success is and always will be personal . Similarly, morning routines are specific to each person and determined by physical, mental and spiritual steps. Here’s the surprising truth about morning routines and what successful people do differently. The Truth About Morning Routines Establishing a morning routine may seem like a step out of your comfort zone, but it can provide organization and relief. It’s about prioritization of what steps would have the most impact on your day in a positive way. These steps can look different than those of folks around you, but ultimately it’s about what sets you up for success personally. This could look like preparing the night before or giving yourself enough time to slowly implement your morning routine rather than rushing into it. Celebs have spoken about...

The Covid-19 pandemic brought on a brief, but impactful job crisis. Following the height of the pandemic in 2021, more than 50 million people quit their jobs in what would become known as the Great Resignation . This mass quitting hit a fever pitch between November 2021 and April 2022, seeing almost 4.5 million people calling it quits every single month. That movement lost steam in 2023, though, and by the time the October 29th, 2024 Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report rolled out, those numbers were around 3.1 million per month. If you’re thinking of breaking it to your boss that you want out, you’ll join their numbers. Quitting a job can be a pivotal moment in your career, and how you approach it can impact your professional reputation. Leaving respectfully ensures that you maintain valuable connections, demonstrate professionalism, and leave the door open for future opportunities. Don’t opt for the “ quiet quitting ” route. Instead, here’s how to exit a role...

By the time that the end of the year comes, you’ve probably already made some progress on achieving your yearly goals. And it’s still possible that a few of them slipped your mind. So, if you find yourself wanting to clear your list before the end of the year , you have some work to do. 2025 will be here before we know it so you’ll need to make a game plan for achieving your yearly goals within the next 10 weeks. Have you met your yearly goals? Here’s how to make progress in three months. Determine If They’re Still Goals You Want Revisit those goals. Determine if they’re goals that can allow you to pivot or get focused. Changing your mind or adjusting in a way that’s best for you is your prerogative. And it’s not failure if you’re learning from your mistakes. Maybe your life is moving in a different direction and now your goals need to reflect that. Maybe you want to remove goals from the list because they no longer align with your priorities. In either case, revisit them and...

Maconomics CEO Ross Mac is financially empowering urban communities. While Ross Mac learned the value of money early on as a result of selling candy in third grade and through being raised by frugal middle class parents, he still did not have much understanding on the investment arena, credit building, or homeownership. Instead, the South Side Chicago native — with ties to Wall Street through his roles at Morgan Stanley and Grosvenor Capital — credits exposure for serving as his “greatest teacher.” During his freshman year at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, he saw a peer who was trading while in class. A week later, he jump started his portfolio and began educating himself on various tax hacks, he told Will Lucas on “Black Tech Green Money” podcast. His time on Wall Street was another turning point. “I remember seeing a managing director check his 401(k) and he had a couple million in there. So, now I’m starting to think about retirement. And so I think...

When you start a new job, Human Resources (HR) explains pay, benefits and assists with orientation. HR also helps navigate complications regarding a coworker’s behavior or certain elements of work benefits . However, the list of what you can’t and maybe shouldn’t discuss is much longer than what you can. While some HR reps may be friendly, confiding in HR or expecting them to take your side will lead you down a road of disappointment. It can still be tricky to figure out what’s safe to share and how to protect yourself . Is HR really on your side? Here’s what you can, can’t and maybe shouldn’t discuss. What You Can Discuss Outside of serving and preserving the company, HR is responsible for educating employees on company policies and procedures. It’s how they ensure that everyone contributes to a safe environment where the best work can be done. Along the lines of work, there’s also job performance, which HR tracks for business and development purposes. Any concerns raised during...

The current job market is an interesting space to navigate. From identifying the correct position to aligning with the potential salary, searching for a job is likened to an Olympic sport. However, the resume is one tool that can determine the success of the job search. And building a resume can come with a ton of questions and unknowns. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Talent Infusion (@talent.infusion) How long should your resume be? Are all of your past experiences relevant to your work? What format should the resume be in, and do you include references on the document? Because of the different opinions about listing references, many job seekers don’t have a clear idea of what to do. AFROTECH™ is here to bring that sense of clarity to the situation. Your resume walks in a room before you do, and having a qualified and curated list of references could be the catalyst that pushes you over the edge. Check out these four resume tips from Indeed that will help remove the...

Stephen A. Smith knows his worth. The ESPN sports journalist and host of “First Take” is currently signed to an annual $12 million deal with the network that will be intact until June 2025.  As previously shared by AFROTECH™, his salary includes an $8 million yearly salary and a $4-million-per-year production contract. Furthermore, with talks of renegotiations on the table, it has been rumored that Smith is seeking a $100 million contract to remain with the network for an additional five years. Recently, he addressed those rumors during a taping of “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace” on Max. He was asked by Wallace, “Your ESPN contract is, what we’re told, up next year and the word on the street is, you want something in the range of $100 million for five years. True?” While Smith did not confirm whether there was any truth behind these numbers, he did confirm he is looking to be paid his worth. “I’m not getting specific as it pertains to numbers, because only a fool discusses his own...

Some years ago, Maurice Kuykendoll was simply an attendee at the AFROTECH ™ Conference. Now in its eighth year, he will approach the annual tech affair as an official speaker on the Executive Stage. It’s not lost on him that when he attended the conference, he was responsible for global expense management at insurance company Prudential, with one of its largest expenses being technology. During the transformation, he notes how vital the event was to his leadership development. “I was transforming my team simultaneously, so it was an area of development for me,” Kuykendoll said in an interview with AFROTECH™. “So, a couple of days at this conference, where there’s Black people, and they know all about technology, I was like, ‘I’ll go and see if this can be one of the things I put on my calendar every year to make sure that I am developing this essential part of what’s going on in the world.’” After sitting in many rooms alongside founders and talking to them about their latest...