No7 returning to work with confidence event feedback thread - non-attendees, tell us what makes you confident every day - win a No7 hamper NOW CLOSED

[AmeliaMumsnet]

This thread is for the 100 MNers and bloggers who attended the No7 returning to work with confidence event on Monday 27th March. Thanks so much for coming along, we hope you enjoyed it! The event was all about “returning to work with confidence” and was for those parents who had either recently gone back to work after a break for children or who are planning a return.

You can view our Facebook Live Stream here

Here’s what No7 had to say about the event:

"At No7 we believe that when a woman feels in control she has the confidence to go out and do anything and so we are delighted to have the opportunity to support MNers and bloggers who are returning to work. We know that beauty for many women is about more than looking pretty which is why we’d love to give MNers the chance to hear from some inspirational women on how they faced getting back in to the workplace as well as share some top tips from our No7 advisers on quick ways to get their make up just right - especially in those early days back at work when you're juggling a million things at once and getting into a new routine."

Attendees:
Below are a few feedback questions for you to answer - if you have any more comments, please feel free to add them to your response. Do share your story using #No7Ready. If you are a blogger, we'd love to see you post a link to your blog post on this thread.

Why did you want to attend the event? What’s your current working status?
What did you learn from the event?
What did you enjoy about it?
Did it inspire you/give you confidence? If yes, in what ways?

All those who share feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £300 Boots voucher. We'd also love attendees to share their thoughts on social media using #No7Ready.

Non attendees:
To be in with a chance of winning a No7 hamper (worth £150), please tell us what makes you feel confident every day. This can be literally anything at all, even if it’s a very small thing such as your morning coffee to wake you up! Everyone who does so will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win the goodies!

Thanks, and good luck with the prize draws!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Non attendee

The thing that makes me feel confident is when my hair has been straightened so it not flying everywhere. But the main thing that makes me confident is when I'm not bloated so I can wear the clothes I like and their not uncomfortable.

Non attendee

I feel confident when my hair's clean and styled. Also when my skins clear and my make up looks good.
I'm returning to work next week after mat leave and found my skincare routines lapsed and I don't always have the time to wash/style my hair when I want to so don't always feel my best at the moment.

Non attendee.
Probably wrong, but for me it's definitely appearance that makes me more confident - smart clothes, hair pinned up and just a touch of make up - and definitely a pair of tidy heels.

It's knowing that I want to be there but will soon be back hom with the family

looking after my skin and putting on a fresh face of make up gets me ready for the day :)

Being organised and knowing what my day will consist of makes me feel confident and in control

Attendee here! Link to my blog post at the bottom.

Why did you want to attend the event? What’s your current working status?
I work part time in administration. I wanted to attend because I wanted to learn about make up and also listen to the discussion about work and confidence.

What did you learn from the event?
To not be afraid to ask and fight for what you need

What did you enjoy about it?
Hearing the different experiences in the panel

Did it inspire you/give you confidence? If yes, in what ways?
Yes! It made me think about Confidence as an idea and also showed me that even the most successful people often fall at the first hurdle and have to dust themselves off

Here's my blog post! weforgotthesperm.com/2017/04/04/things-im-learning-about-confidence/

Non attendee

I get my clothes ready the day before and I get up early, I like to have plenty of time in the morning as being rushed makes me stressed.

And mascara I always wear mascara

Non- attendee.
It sounds really sad but getting the household chores done makes me feel confident and organised and achieving!

I attended the evening, and here is my blog post on the event:

www.trulymadlykids.co.uk/motherhoodcareersandconfidence/

Non attendee here: things that make me feel confident include having my hair done - always feel super swishy after a trip to the salon.

And a dash of red lipstick always makes me feel ready to rule the world

It does have to be my wake up routine...I always feel washed out and tired until I have got showered and dressed and then its as if I have my day face on lol and I just feel ready to go and face the day.

Coffee may help slightly but I do continue to deny this on a daily basis lol

Non-attendee. For me, confidence at work is about being well-prepared. Have I thought through what I want to achieve and how I can deal with a range of likely responses? If it's likely to be difficult, I will go so far as to script them!

Non-attendee. For me it is time management. If I have a difficult meeting, knowing I can get to my desk half an hour earlier gives me time to re-read my notes and boost my confidence, it makes me feel back in control.

I didn't attend but the one thing i do in the morning that makes me feel confident is an hours workout. Its amazing the power of exercise for a healthy state of mind.

When my hair looks good I feel more confident

Non-attendee. spending time to do my hair!

I didn't attend the conference but am returning to work in 5 short months and what makes me confident is a good blouse. Doesn't need to be posh; my fave is a cheap H&M one! It flatters and looks smart. I know I look classic and chic and professional even if I may be suffering from no sleep! My industry is male- dominated so confidence and first impressions count!

I didn't attend the conference, but I boost my confidence every day by looking through my Twitter list of 'inspirational women' - reading their tweets never fails to inspire confidence in womankind.

Non attendee
When I went back to work after taking 11 months off after the birth of my dc, it was my friends and colleagues at work who reached out to support me that made me feel confident. Small gestures like stopping to chat or smiling at me would make me feel welcome and valued. I don't think anything can top the kindness and generosity of nature of our fellow humans in helping us to feel confident.

Non-attendee.

What makes me feel confident is a good foundation to cover any pigmentation, large pores and spots :)

Non-attendee

Swimming at least a mile, 5 times weekly. Good concealer (mine is not expensive, around £4 at Superdrug), good haircut, hair colour that covers my grey properly, a shiny lipgloss.

What makes me feel confident every day?

Two things. Firstly, having confidence in my own style. To be fashionable is one thing, but to have style requires you to both like and dress the body you have, not the one you might have when you lose X pounds, or look a bit more like . I know what colours and shapes suit me so I know what to buy, what suits and how not to be a slave to fashion. Knowing your own style and being at peace with your own body means you can carry yourself with a bit of (hopefully French) insouciance.

Secondly as many people have mentioned, good skin. I had unpredictable, awkwardly spotty skin for many years, and now I take good care of my calmer, better skin, double cleansing at night with oil and then a gentle balm, always using sunblock and makeup that enhances rather than hides or plasters.

What a shame that it takes women so many years to get to a stage of acceptance with their face and body. I look at young women and hope they know how gorgeous they are.

Non-attendee

Having clean, shiny, well styled hair makes me feel confident. Nothing that ruins your mood and confidence like a bad hair day!

I didn't attend the conference but I feel confident when my attire looks good