Check out this great article in Esquire about Yahoo’s CEO Carol Bartz.  Unapologetically brash, she’s got one of the funniest and insightful hiring techniques. When she gets to the last stage of the interview, she already knows whether the person can do the job. But that’s not enough; the candidate can’t, to put it bluntly, be an asshole. As Carol describes her process:

“We’ll go through the whole interview, and I’ll say, “I have one last question. I don’t work with assholes. Are you one?”

Some say, “What a great question! I want to work in a place that’s like that.” But you’d be amazed at how many others hear that question and look like they’ve just been caught. Their expressions say: I guess I’m an asshole.

Bold, and brilliant!

The stunning and talented Rachel Roy was in Atlanta a couple weeks ago to promote her fab new reasonably-priced line at Macy’s, Rachel Rachel Roy. It was an honor to meet her (and sign a copy of the book for her!!). Watch for our interview in the June newsletter (you can sign up on www.debrashigley.com)– she shared some great insights on how to look rich for less, what she learned as an intern that’s made her a better businesswoman, and managing it all as a mom of two.

Photo credit: Barry Williams / Macy’s

Earlier this week I spoke at a bookclub for Ed2010 (a great org for magazine editor-types) alongside author Jennifer Scanlon, a professor of gender and women’s studies who wrote Bad Girls Go Everywhere, a biography of famed Cosmo editor Helen Gurley Brown (or HGB, as she is called). Scanlon argues, somewhat controversially, that HGB should be credited as an antecedent of Third Wave feminism– i.e., the more individualistic strain of feminism that emerged in the 1990s.

One hot-button topic discussed was if/how HGB used sexuality to get ahead in work and in life.  She admittedly slept with a few bosses (though said a woman can’t sleep her way to the top) and told women that “A lady’s love should pay for all trips, most restaurant tabs and all liquor.” Some of the young women in the group took issue with her ‘calculated’ methods, and questioned HGB’s feminist legacy.  One girl asked something to the effect of, “How could you call [Cosmo] a feminist publication today if every cover says 105 ways to please your man?”

As an advocate for women being sexually liberated, taking care of themselves physically and emotionally, advancing professionally, and most-important, earning their own money, HGB was obviously an original type of Go-Getter Girl. However, as I write in the GGGG, I do think there’s a big difference between using your sexuality to get ahead and embracing your femininity in the workplace. GGGs don’t do the former, period!

On another note, one of the young women at the event was a Columbia grad who has been on the job hunt for a minute. She asked me a few questions about job searching for her blog, Ivy Leagued and Unemployed. You can check out the post here! http://bit.ly/47RJJC.

Coming up next, a primer on negotiation, Hong Kong market-style!

That confident, Go-Getter Girl spirit can reveal itself everywhere from the office to the party to– trust me here– the kitchen.  Take GGG Lily Fink Harrington, who worked her way up the editing ranks at Martha Stewart Weddings for five years before leaving the in-house magazine world in search of a bit more balance. Now, Lily, age 28 and a Harvard grad, is a self-proclaimed housewife, who also happens to freelance for the likes of New York mag, all while cooking up a delightful daily blog with advice on anything a modern domestic goddess might need to know. Hanging a chandelier?  She’s got tips. Creative uses for lemons? Strategies galore. A non-stinky way to cook fish? Right here (thank you!).

Below, Lily fills in the blanks with some of her life and style faves.

“Tell me About It” advice columnist and Go-Getter Girl Carolyn Hax got her start at the Washington Post as a copy editor.  After moving up the ranks in copy-editing, she was searching for a career path that she found more meaningful.  One day, after chatting with an editor about an existing advice column that could use some edge, Carolyn took it upon herself to write up some sample answers.  Her samples were circulated among the top editors, and within weeks, she found herself in a new role of copy editor-slash-advice-columnist (which became full-time columnist over time).  

When we chatted last year for the book, our conversation covered everything from how she decided to become a journalist (law school wasn’t for her) to whether cleavage is appropriate for the workplace (“It depends,” said Carolyn. “We have breasts and I don’t think you have to deny that for anybody… But if it seems like you’re just hanging it all out there, you look like you have issues!”).

Known for her witticisms and spot-on advice, Carolyn has just a few hundred words each column to deliver her perspective on any order of life’s conundrums– and she was kind enough to share some insights on how she does what she does, including tricks she uses to tighten up her writing. Take a listen below for what are great tips any young professional can use to be a better writer– whether you’re drafting a memo, an article, or just an important email. 

[audio http://thegogettergirls.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/carolyn_short_2.mp3]

And just for some context, you’ll notice there’s some music playing in the background of the clip. We were chatting at the famed Mayflower hotel in D.C., seated unfortunately close to the pianist– but I think it gives it ambience!!

Thanks so much, Carolyn!

[photo: Washington Post]