I came across two books this week:  Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide and Seducing the Boys Club: Uncensored Tactics from a Woman at the Top.  They reflect my thoughts around women and how we can get what we want while negotiating with members of the “boys club”.

Negotiating things like salary, time off, flexible work schedule and vacation leave shouldn’t be like a trip to the dentist, but it is for some women.  This is while men walk into such situations thinking of it as a “game” on which they are intent on winning.

So why do we shirk our power, hand it over nicely in hopes that we will get what we want?  After all, many female corporate executives will tell you that glass ceilings are very much in place and there is still work to be done to shatter them.  Here’s why I think we tend to shirl our power:

Disclaimer:  This does not apply to all women.  If you’re an Alpha woman that gets what she wants, great, if not read on!

We aren’t taught to think highly of our talents or abilities

• Ellen, senior partner at a law firm:“[My father told me], ‘Honey, you know you can’t act like a tiger. You have to act like a kitten.’”

Ask a woman before going in for a salary review about the feelings she has about asking for more money even when she deserves it.  She will probably tell you that she’s thought over and over whether or not the money she is asking for is too much or if she is worth the increase in salary.  Feelings of unworthiness come over her as she approaches her boss’s desk to sit down and she reviews in her mind the questions she can expect and just how she will word the request.

Tip:  Employers don’t know your value unless you tell them.  That’s right, it is up to you to tell them.  Which employer wants to give you more money than you expect?  Very few.  If your expectations are low, then the outcome will be low.  Get what you want by laying down the law.  Based on your education, experience and achievements in the present position articulate why you deserve a raise and do so in a frank manner.  Be confident and know your worth. 

We were raised to be nice, never demanding

• Susannah, political strategist: “I just feel so guilty. I worry that I’m putting them in a difficult situation, especially if I’m asking for something that I think will be hard for them to give to me.“
• Eleanor, literature professor and biographer: “When it came down to it, I backed down because I didn’t want [my editor] to hate me.”
• Becky, a journalist: “When I go into a negotiation . . . I think about maintaining that relationship before I think about my own [needs] really.”

I can’t relate much to this because my mother was the complete opposite.  She goes through life demanding what she wants and most of the time the woman gets it and I love her for instilling that fire in me.  However, many of my friends and I know other readers don’t share this sentiment as they were raised to take whatever an employer or life gave them.  I am not saying that women should be nasty and obnoxious b*tches, but what I am saying is that we need to get on the same playing field with men as far as understanding our worth, especially in the workplace where salary is concerned.  We are often taught to maintain the relationship, putting that before our own needs which speaks to our ability to be nurturers.  We can do that but less of it in the game of the workplace.

A reader wrote:

I had my first taste of gender discrimination a few weeks ago.  My husband and I have the same degree within IT and similar experience and backgrounds.  We both interviewed for a position and he was offered $20k more than I was for the same position.  Of course, when the interviewer put the numbers on the table I was shocked, so blown away that they would offer me significantly less for the exact same position they offered my spouse that I walked away.  In hindsight I should have demonstrated why I deserved more but even then I was planning to ask for $10k more, not at least the $20k that my spouse was offered, uugghhh!

How many times does this happen?  Often.  And we walk away doubting out abilities when in fact we have all the right tools to get what we want and be successful, we just need to learn how to use them.

Tip:  Join sites like The Vault and talk to others in your niche or area.  Former employees often share sage advice on topics like interviewing, salary expectations, work climate and opportunities for advancement.

We Think That We Will Get What We Deserve By Working Hard

• Stephanie, administrative assistant: “I tend to think people are pretty fair, so maybe I’m too trusting and expect that I’m getting what I deserve in that I work really hard.”

Newsflash!  Life is game and it is all about how you play it.  Successful women will tell you that it is all about working hard, yes, but they will tel you that laying out a game plan from day 1 is key to getting to the top.  We all know about backstabbing co workers, narcissistic bosses, snitching secretaries,  apathetic CEOs and add to that women who expect to get to the top relying of these list of characters.  Start over.

Tip:  Devise a plan on day 1.  Get to know the personalities in your office, determine how you can be what they need how and determine how to make yourself irreplaceable.  Hard work is a noble worth ethic but playing the game is one not often taught to women in schools or in life by our parents or peers.

We Shirk Our Power By  Leaving The Outcome Up To The Subjective Whims Of Others

• Christine, investment banker: “I think it’s up to the people that you work for . . . to identify [superior work] and keep current with what’s in the industry.”
• Joan, magazine editor: “I was so naïve and clueless, and I just had never really made a lot of money in my life, and I didn’t need a lot of money, so what I asked for seemed like a lot of money. And it was just not a lot of money.”

Why do we do this?  My thoughts are that we are rarely taught to get what we not only need, but want for ourselves.  Sure, we can command a decent salary, but an even larger salary would enable us to save aggressively for a home or build savings but we accept a lower salary because we leave it up to others to define out net worth.  I say net worth because when we walk out of a salary review without advocating for ourselves, we leave it up to others to determine how much we are worth.  And often times, they determine the quality of life which is determine in part by the money we make and and what we do with it.

Tip:  Know your worth.  your employer won’t have enough confidence in you to give you a raise with more responsibility if you aren’t perceived as someone who can advocate for themselves.

While the aforementioned doesn’t represent all women, it does represent a significant sector of our population.  Challenge yourselves to dance on the glass ceiling, take a swing at it and know that you deserve everything that you want out o f your career and in life.

Have you had similar challenges in asking for what you want?

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May and June must be career development and resource month. I’ve been doing a lot of my own research around my next steps, taking a class on Career Development Counseling, not to mention so many graduate from high school and college this month. I came across this article today featuring an awesome schmawsome graduation resource list!

It’s a fine read and the list is pretty extensive which includes topics on:

• Career Sites
• The Job Interview
• Resume Information
• Career Articles
• Internship
• Graduate School

Check it out at: Ultimate Graduation Resource List.

My article 8 Recession Proof Job Industries for New Graduate is featured on the site as well.

Enjoy!

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The folks over at Yahoo Education published an awesome article, Great Jobs that Profit Women: Five Flexible Careers with Man-Sized Paychecks. Can you tell I’m excited? Maybe it’s because I’ve considered each one listed and pursuing two of them currently. So what makes them so great? They are positions which utilize qualities that women often overlook when considering a good career fit such as the ability to listen, empathize, independence and autonomy.

Here are the careers listed:

1. Personal Financial Advisor

Personal financial advising provides independence, which is great for women. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), one-third of personal financial advisors are self-employed–they set their own hours and schedules and choose how many clients they advise. Also, women often have exceptional communication skills, essential when they explain complicated financial concepts to advisees. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field along with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification to call yourself a CFP. CFP courses are available online. The BLS reports that personal financial advisor is one of the ten fastest growing occupations through 2016. Median earnings for financial advisors in 2006 were $66,590 per year.

2. Psychologist/Therapist

A career in psychology offers the opportunity to help people find solutions for their emotional issues. Areas of specialization include industrial, clinical, and school psychology. School psychologists work with educators, administrators, and parents to provide a nurturing learning environment for children. They may help students with learning disabilities, behavioral issues, or emotional problems. The schedule usually allows for the same time off as the students and teachers. Because 34 percent of psychologists are self-employed, this career offers flexibility as well. A doctoral degree is usually required to practice psychology at a school, but licensing requirements differ by state. Many family therapists practice with a master’s degree, and both the master’s and the doctorate can be earned online. The BLS reports a median income for 2006 of $61,290 for clinical, counseling, and school psychologists.

3. Entrepreneur

In 2007, women owned over half the businesses in the US. Part of what makes self-employment so enticing for women is the strong networking and support systems in place for women entrepreneurs, along with incredible flexibility. Entrepreneurs parlay their ideas into money-making reality, but a good idea isn’t enough. You’ll want to know business principles like bookkeeping, safety regulations, labor laws, and local licensing requirements. Entrepreneur training programs or business courses in entrepreneurship can give you an edge, as can a business administration degree with a focus in entrepreneurship. Earning potential is unlimited, if you’re the next Debbi Fields or Mary Kay. As far back as the turn of the Twentieth Century, Mme. C.J. Walker said of the millions she made on her Wonderful Hair Grower, “I got my start by giving myself a start.”

4. Education Administrator

Education administrators can work at all levels, from elementary school principals to college deans. They manage staffs of teachers and administrators and often serve as the public face of their institutions, so they must have superlative interpersonal skills. The field of education has always been attractive to women for its progressive human resources policies and the potential for time off during the summer. Most education administrator jobs require a master’s or doctorate degree in education. According to the BLS, administrators at elementary and secondary schools had median salaries of $77,740 in 2006, while post-secondary administrators made $73,990 with salaries ranging significantly higher in some positions and locations.

5. Human Resources Manager

Women have always been the human resources managers of their homes–making sure their family is functioning at its peak potential and that each member feels well cared-for and valued. Women’s communication skills and empathy often distinguish them in human resources, whether they are training staff or handling disbursement of compensation and benefits. If you are looking for more control over your schedule once your career is established, HR consulting can be a great option. Many bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in management offer an emphasis in human resource management. The BLS reports a 2006 median salary of $88,510 for human resources managers.

By December 2008 I will graduate a board certified counselor/therapist and I am currently looking into the classes needed to pursue the Certified Financial Advisor credential. I will admit that I have career ADD and already see myself being engaged in at least 5 careers over my life span. But Im OK with that as my career development professor tells me that this is normal for my generation. She said “what you do with your life is your career, not where you sit in a cubicle or office all day.”

That totally made sense to me and so I am embracing becoming a Jill of all Trades. As freshmen in college we are forced to decide what we want to do with the rest of our lives as if we are on a timed treadmill. But when we look at our lives over the lifespan, we’ll find that we now have until 80-90 years of age to achieve all that we want to do in life. So, picking ONE thing to do for the rest of my life won’t work and I certainly won’t wait until I’m sixty to chase after that which holds my passion.

What are your thoughts? Do any of these careers resonate with you? If so, why?

[image credit: EBeauty]

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Check out some of the more interesting quotes from the article:

“I can say there is some real truth to having a master’s or above hurting you in the job search — but only if you have less than three to five years’ experience,” said Kate Warren, a recruiter in the international development industry.

Warren said that many of her clients frown upon hiring candidates with graduate degrees for junior-level positions. “Those with the graduate degrees always expected higher compensation and had a higher sense of entitlement to the kind of projects and level of work they should be doing. Most of the junior-level positions tend to be very administrative — thus the day-to-day tasks do not require a master’s degree to perform well, but rather an organized, motivated individual.”

In some cases, it comes down to money. “Why hire a grad student for 40K-plus when you can hire a recent undergrad for 30K?” Warren said.

The real question that should be asked: why are masters level graduates competing with early career BAs for the same positions. Especially positions that are administrative in nature and do not require an advanced degree. I wish that graduate programs did a better job of giving students a realistic idea about what to expect with regards to ob prospects upon graduation.

“And it goes beyond just the salary. The recent undergrads actually tend to perform better, and stay in their job longer, than the master’s holders will. Obviously there are exceptions, but generally the B.A.-level employee will be much more eager to tackle the admin-level tasks . . . often required in this level of position. Generally speaking, master’s students come in with a somewhat inflated sense of abilities or just end up generally frustrated with the ‘mundane’ tasks they are asked to do.

There’s a common refrain among these workers, Warren said: “I went to graduate school, got myself into XX amount of dollars of debt to do this?”
“

This is a valid feeling by masters level graduates. They went to school in order to be engaged in a career that challenges their skill sets and abilities, not to be entrenched in a day job with menial and mundane tasks which have no relation to their advanced studies. Color me entitled.

So what do you do if you are willing to do the grunt work? How do you get employers to give your overeducated self a chance?

“I don’t advocate for leaving off their degree,” Warren said, “but I think it is important that they get across in a cover letter, and if it gets to this point, an interview that they are more than eager to roll up their sleeves. When hiring, I always appreciated when candidates were upfront that while they realized the day-to-day wouldn’t be the most glamorous of tasks, they were motivated by the fact that these are necessary steps in reaching the overall goals and missions of the organization.”

Here, Warren also sees a case for working a few years before pursuing a graduate degree. “If you go straight from undergrad to grad, you will be competing for jobs with recent undergrads — jobs [in] which your master’s will give you no edge and could actually be to your detriment.”

However, she said, people who take entry-level jobs out of college, work their way up and then head back to school will find that their graduate degree will be more valued.

I agree with these statements. I didn’t understand this at first, but it makes total sense now to work for a few years in order to decide what you want to do and get some experience under your belt. Good advice!

What do you think? Does having a Masters degree exclude you from certain entry level positions? From where I sit, the reality is that it does and I believe that graduate programs should do more in the way of helping students gain practical experience throughout their program so that when they graduate, they are a notch above the rest in terms of education and experience.

[image credit: CSU]

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Chances are, if you’re graduating in 2008 from college or graduate school, you’re concerned about job prospects given the current state of the economy. I’d be scared too, with Citibank cutting 4900 jobs, the Bear Stearns bailout, and airlines closing their doors. I started to think, if I had the chance to do it all over again, would I have chosen my major, Counseling Psychology and Forensic Psychology? Sure would! I’ll tell you why.

One thing you might ask yourself regarding how to find a recession proof job: Where has there always been a need? Therein you’ll find your answer. But I’ll go ahead and list them for you:

1. Psychology/Counseling/Substance Abuse Treatment Sad as it is, this is an industry that hasn’t stopped growing even with recent economic down turns. Why? People will always have psychological problems and some turn to chemical dependency to manage the pain of whatever it is they are going through. I currently intern at a chemical dependency rehabilitation clinic and our waiting lists have grown since I started earlier this year. During and after treatment, the clients need counseling on how to stay on track and maintain their sobriety, there’s always a need in this profession.

2. Healthcare/Medicine This is easy, people are always sick and there’s an ever growing demand for those in the medical field. Physician Assistant is a great field for women seeking flexibility depending within this career field. The hours are often conducive to those seeking work life balance in their chosen career field.

3. Teaching Teaching the next generation is a rewarding field that is constantly in need of new talent and forward thinking visionaries. Unfortunately, the profession has yet to catch up in salary with its value. Still, this is a career that remains recession proof because the next generation will always need teachers.

4. Criminal Justice/Police/Security Your local county and/or city police department is hiring, at least most of them are in your immediate area at any given time. If being a police officer doesn’t suit you then consider homeland security jobs such as border security patrol or the Foreign Service Officer positions with the Federal Government.

5. Federal Government Unless the federal government packs up and moves to Iceland, they are always hiring, even now in a bad economy. My advice, break out the KSAs and start applying to as many jobs as you are qualified for. I know the application process can be a bear, but it is well worth it once you are on the other side. These jobs typically have good job security and unless you’ve breached security by divulging classified information you’ll more than likely always have a job.

6. State Government Much like the Federal government, your local city and state government is always hiring. The jobs available are pretty much similar to those in the private sector, but they come with more security. A bit less security than the federal government in my opinion because of more frequent changes in administration, but still more secure than a private sector company that would be more susceptible to layoffs.

7. Computers/Information Technology/Web Development Jobs in information technology are always in demand, especially as we grow and advance in our knowledge, innovation and application. Web development is another sub field within this category that is growing in leaps and bounds as we begin to find new ways to utilize the world wide web.

8. Energy/Gas This field is the bane of my existence since I don’t see any of the money they make and I keep giving them more and more of mine but for a new graduate? Gold. With the demand for alternative fuel and the boom with anything related to oil and gas, this is an industry not likely to see job losses any time soon.

Career Fields To Avoid Right Now: Yahoo HotJobs notes to be wary of the the following industries:

…anything related to housing, from real estate to investment banks, to engineering and architecture….the housing slump could even extend to industries dependent on discretionary spending, like restaurants and retail…Manufacturing, too, long in dire need of an upswing, is likely to keep waiting for one through 2008.

Take heed and choose wisely. If you happen to be in a field that isn’t doing well, you can always start over in a field that is always in demand. This is key to maintaining your cool even in hard times such as now, you’ll know that there’s always a need for your skills and you’ll always have a job.

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This post is first in a series discussing the many ways in which you can work from home while spending more time with children and family while pursuing other interests. Please submit your stories if you are currently working from home or have a telecommuting arrangement with your place of employment.

This article from Squidoo, Work From Home As A Virtual Call Center Agent is full of great information, specifically about the companies that are currently hiring work at home agents. Opting out of the rat race is an eventual goal as I’d like to be ale to pursue different interests as long as I have an internet connection.

The article lists the following companies hiring work at home agents:

Freedom Telework

Freedom Telework has a reverse bidding structure - you should have a business license and your own equipment. You tell their clients how much you’ll charge by the minute or hour.

Alpine Access

Alpine Access hires virtual call center agents as W-2 employees. Competition for jobs is stiff, however, they are one of the most respected in the industry.

LiveOps

Liveops is another BPO firm - you’ll be an independent contractor.

Superior Telemarketing

Superior Telemarketing pays an hourly wage for their W-2 employees to work from home.

1-800-FLOWERS

1-800-FLOWERS hires in specific regions. Their work-from-home agents are W-2 employees.

West at Home

West at Home hires home-based independent contractors, and they tend to hire on a regular basis. Again, because of their popularity, there’s some real competition to get a job with them.

American Airlines

American Airlines hires home-based reservation agents across the U.S. who have a call center close to home.

Accolade Support

Accolade Support also hires home-based agents to work on a variety of client projects.

Extended Presence

Extended Presence hires outbound callers to work on their B2B campaigns.

Working Solutions

Working Solutions hires agents throughout the US and Canada. Call center projects can include order processing, reservations, enrollments, customer service, sales, market research, technical support, etc.

Things to Consider:

Fees. Some companies charge start up fees, training fees and/or equipment fees which you are responsible for since you will be working as an independent contractor in most cases. I will cover the pros and cons of this in an upcoming post. Make sure that your cost-benefit analysis puts you ahead in a fairly short amount of time. For example, I wouldn’t pay a $550 set up/equipment/training fee for a job that pays $8/hr.

Time Management. While working as an at home agent last summer, I found it became difficult to remain productive since I wasn’t commuting and my work didn’t have set deadlines attached. I had extra time on my hands and I tend to work best when I am under pressure to meet a deadline. Be mindful of any decreases in productivity as you transition into telecommuting.

Company Culture and Expectations. Pay attention to company culture and adapt, quickly. You’ll save yourself time and unnecessary frustration if you’re able to figure out whether or not you’ll fit in. While you won’t have a supervisor in your face, you will be interacting with other work from home employees typically within a forum or chat room, this is not the time to talk with co-workers about topics other than work-related issues, keep it clean and professional. This is also not the place to lodge complaints about the company, do so with your supervisor or get advice from other coworkers.

Backup Plan. Working from home is a blessing in so many ways, but it can be a nightmare if there are cutbacks due to budgetary issues or if you aren’t making the arbitrary “cut”. This happens frequently in the work from home agent field so be prepared to pursue other opportunities should this one fall through. An emergency fund is key once you make the decision to opt out of the rat race. Check out the MBN Group Writing Project, this month’s topic just happens to be Emergency Funds.

Reputation. Check out the company’s reputation because scams abound in this field and Ive known a few people to give up a good paying day job for a telecommuting job that seemed too good to be true. Check them out via telecommuting forums and by searching online for general information and employee experiences.

Resources:

• Rat Race Rebellion
• Work Place Like Home
• Craigslist (Craigshelper lets you search multiple states at the same time)

Future posts in this series will address The Pros and Cons of Working From Home An Independent Contractor, Mystery Shopping, Securing a Telecommuting Schedule with Your Boss, Freelancing and Starting a Business. If you are or have worked from home then feel free to share your experiences in comments area.

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My interest piqued in a new book written by author Leslie Bennetts: The Feminine Mistake: Are We Giving Up Too Much? She speaks to many of the concerns I have as a young married woman approaching motherhood. This is such a sensitive debate, so I wonder why the author seems to be so divisive when addressing the issue. Speaking as someone who is childless I can’t imagine the sacrifices it takes to leave your career and choose to stay at home with baby through school years or even permanently. And, as such, I believe after reading many reviews and other mom blogs about the issue, this is what’s turned many women off from even picking up the book.

Still, I think she poses really important topics that any and every woman should think about when considering staying at home to be with their children.

• Have you calculated how much you’re retirement account will suffer?
• Do you have a plan for re-entering the workforce years later?
• How will you keep up skills & contacts?
• Have you calculated not only the lost income, but the lower pay you’ll most likely earn when you go back, vs. what you would have earned had you stayed in the work force w/out interruption?
• Do you have a written understanding with your husband about support in the event of the divorce?
• Does he acknowledge the financial risk you are taking?

This is where my quest for balance comes into play. Is it possible for us to balance motherhood and career at the same time and give each equal attention while maintaining our sanity? We have to consider our careers, being a committed mom, potential financial setbacks by not working and even possibly divorce if things don’t work out.

There are women who choose to work from home via flexible schedules and there are some who start home businesses or even go back to school while raising their children so I know that it’s possible. This issue just seems to be laden with so many possibilities its hard to figure out from my stand point how things will all work itself out. My husband is very supportive of my decision to stay at home and actually prefers it, my issue lies in how this will all work itself out.

As I move forward in my life and career these are the questions that come to mind as we make the decision on when to have kids. I want to be there for them and to see each waking moment but at what cost down the line? Life happens right? I think most of the sources of information tend to be one-sided and I think its important to have information about the pros and cons of staying home or working or even both.

This is where the Washington Post’s article, After A Baby, Full Time Or Part? chimes in as they also make some really good points for both mothers to be women post baby deciding on whether or not to re-enter the workforce. The article specifically hones in on how to negotiate for pay, benefits, and work out finances post-baby:

• Remember what you are worth, think about the things you want and need and ask for them. Start big and negotiate down if the company isn’t willing or able to meet your desires.
• Emphasize what you’re saving the company by going part time and taking a smaller salary
• If you can’t get full benefits, aim for proportional benefits. For instance, if you work an 80 percent schedule with 80% of your salary then you could get 80% of your benefits
• Look for alternatives and be creative. If your company can’t pay for your health insurance, offer to stay on the plan but pay the employer contribution-if that’s cheaper than paying for coverage on your own.
• Challenge employers who may be reluctant to allow a part time schedule. You may for instance offer to be available via email and or phone in exchange for leaving work at 3pm to greet your children coming home from school.
• Offer a trial period, people are more comfortable agreeing to something on a three-month time frame rather than a year. If gives you time to pilot and see if it will work. It usually does.

If you’re mom, how soon after the birth of baby did you return to work?

If you did not return to work then how did you come to that decision?

Do you have any regrets?

Resources:

• www.womenwork.org
• cvworkingfamilies.org
• mom-entum.com
• mommytrackd.com
• dcworkingmoms.com

Books all Working Moms Should Read

The Price of Motherhood: Why the Most Important Job in the World is Still the Least Valued by Ann Crittenden Buy used from: $9.07 Learn about the economics behind motherhood.

The Mommy Myth : The Idealization of Motherhood and How It Has Undermined All Women by Susan Douglas Buy used from: $6.62 This book will help you give up society’s ideal of the ‘perfect mom.’

Perfect Madness: Motherhead in the Age of Anxiety by Judith Warner Buy new: $5.99 / Used from: $4.94 Another book to help you give up the guilt.

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Have you been depressed around the impending recession or how we’re stuck in stagflation? What if there was a way to bulletproof you finances with lessons from the recession? Well, if you ever wanted to get tips on how to solidify your finances during this depressing time, this post is for you.

There have been numerous articles discussing the state of the US economy today and why we are closer to a recession more than ever. You can read more about why we are closer to a recession, here.

So how do we ensure our finances will be ok even with all this talk of economic doom and gloom? We go back to basics and put it in overdrive. Think of it was Personal Finance 2.0 if you will. Not only will we have to think about how to find cheaper alternatives for the things we love, but we have to make sure we increase our emergency funds, cut back on our favorite non necessity items, increase our income and re-evaluate our current job situation. All of which we will discuss here:

Find Cheaper Alternatives

I discussed Cheap Alternatives for the Must Haves in your Life previously which can be found here: Part One, Two, and Three. Some may consider tightening things up financially and decide if some must haves are necessary in the following areas:

• Cable/Internet/Phone
• Gym Membership
• Mobile phone plans
• Trim Grocery/Food Costs
• Cut Down on Eating Out
• Revamp Your Wardrobe with Minor updates, not the typical seasonal overhaul (I’m guilty of this!)

Increase Your Emergency Fund

If you haven’t already started an emergency fund then you need to start one ASAP! An emergency fund should be funded to cover at least 3 months expenses but I would recommend at least 6 months during these times. You’re probably saying how can I increase my emergency fund unless I get a part time job? Well you’re right. I do suggest that you can get a part time job that won’t be as taxing as you primary job may be. Some include:

• Dog Walking
  • There are many companies here in the DC area that are actively looking for dog walkers and pay on average $16/hour. You generally have to be available in the mornings, midday, evenings or weekends. Most companies are flexible because some of their walkers are people with full time jobs. Yours truly plans to take on a PT dog walking job to earn extra money and get in shape! So it’s a win-win situation.
• Get a Telecommuting Part Time Gig
  • Rat Race Rebellion and Work Place Like Home are EXCELLENT resources for jobs that don’t require you to commute into an office thereby saving you time, energy and gas. Some companies include VIP Desk and 1-800 Flowers.
  • Mystery shopping pays pretty well depending on the company you sign up with. Keep in mind you should never pay to become a mystery shopper unless it involves notarizing you paper work. Check out the Volition Forums for companies hiring right now.
• Work Overtime
  • Check with your employer to see if you’re eligible for overtime to able to take on some extra projects. This will increase your paycheck and gain points with your employer.
• Part time Evening and/or Retail
  
  • Some retailers tend to hire seasonally and some just need the extra help throughout the year. Check with your local malls to see who’s hiring and if the hours are a suitable fit for your current schedule
• Other ideas…
  • Have a garage stale
  • Sell old or unused items on Ebay
  • Set up a staging and/or de-cluttering business helping sellers get their homes together or a family to de-clutter their home, I’d certainly do this if I had the time

Reduce Consumption

• Especially in the areas of utilities and gas. Can you seal your windows and set your thermostat a bit lower during the day? What about planning your day so that you get everything one trip instead of just driving around every time you need something wasting more gas and time. Think about the different areas where you can cut back and put that money saved towards your emergency fund.

Pay Down Debt

• This goes without saying but warrants a mention. Single Ma posted a really great YouTube clip, Maxed Out which discusses the use of credit card debt as modern slavery. This means that you’re working just to pay off a debt, when we really want to be working to increase our wealth.

Re-evaluate Your Current Job Situation

• Pay attention to company news and any changes in your company policies which may be an indicator of their financial health.
• Start networking with others in your industry to get a sense of what jobs are available. Here in the DC metro many jobs are gained by who you know, not by what’s on your resume.
• Don’t Burn Bridges. Ever. Even if someone burned a bridge to you, always keep that door open. You never know when that person may come through for you in the clutch, they may be your saving graces during these times.
  

There are important lessons to be learned about the impending recession. It teaches us that we should always be on the ball regarding having an emergency fund, reducing areas of excess and remaining mindful of our job situations so as to mitigate any unforeseen events. After all we don’t have control over what happens but we can at least be prepared for it.

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photo credit: base2wave

I’ve spent the last few days or so thinking about my current career path, especially after this post where I noted my lack of a commitment to my career at this point in time. This brought about a slew of conflicting thoughts and feelings and I spent some time processing them because I’d never really given them much power, but the frustration is eating away at me daily, the closer I get to graduation.

As some of you know I am in graduate school finishing up a Masters in Counseling Psychology and Forensic Psychology, this is a dual degree program. The program had become a challenge of sorts over the last year due to the hoops I have to jump through in order to make sure that I’m on the right track to graduation which includes Internship and as you get closer to graduation, the classes you take require more self-disclosure which has always been an issue for me, none of which I will discuss here.

Current Resentments: Internship and Salary Prospects

Internship, not because of the place, but more so the the setup of it all. I love my placement, my supervisor and professor are awesome, mindful of boundaries, maintain a professional image and demeanor and are knowledgeable in their fields. I really really appreciate them because they are few and far between in this field. That said, I detest having to pay almost $2000 for a class AND work for a company for a year while getting nothing back in the ways of a stipend or hourly compensation. Some of us have had to quit our jobs just to make space in the day be able to do this and it has become utterly frustrating and I wish there was a way to change this, especially given the fact that we lose earning power while in graduate school since we can’t work FT, well most of us.

Speaking of earning power, this is my biggest bone to pick with the field. The type of work that we do helps people put their lives back together. This can be in the areas of family issues, substance abuse, supervisory conflicts, grief and loss etc etc. So when I see a large and successful organization with multiple contracts paying its counselors between $30-40k I am pissed. Those of us who are in this field, while we don’t do it for the money, we put our heart and minds into helping clients piece their lives back together. So, to see that the field after 3-5 years still hasn’t changed how much they pay counselors especially in light of the recession burns me up! I left a job as a Clinical Counselor paying $38k because I thought that with a graduate degree I could get paid much more than that. Well, come to find out I was getting paid as much as the other counselors with graduate degrees. Talk about a let down!

Decisions To Make: Passion, Purpose or Career?

I have some decisions to make regarding my pursuing my passion/purpose, or pursuing a career. There’s a difference and while some are blessed to be able to have both, I am still in limbo when it comes to answering this question.

My passion lies in working with women empower themselves towards self actualization. This is what I was meant to do in life and I have no questions about that. Where did this fit in with my career? Well I’ve spent the last 3-5 years working with female populations in the counseling field doing trauma work, counseling and financial empowerment.

This was the impetus behind Girls Just Wanna Have Funds when I bought the domain name a few years back. I wanted to dedicate my life to helping other women like me increase their feelings of self worth through financial empowerment. And, at the time I really enjoyed the counseling field and the work I did with the trauma population.

But now I question whether or not my intentions were financially motivated or purely for the love of the work. I don”t know but with my student loan payments hovering around $700 when I graduate $30-$40k won’t cut it.

So I plan to go back to school for the degree that I came to DC for in the first place. I won’t get into the specifics of why I left that program but it was stupid on my part and I should have checked things out before making a rash decision about my future. Am I making a rash decision about my future before even testing the waters? No, I’m just making plans just in case salary expectations are not fulfilled because the mortgage needs to be paid and I don’t plan on being broke after 2 Masters degrees.

Objectives

Talk to more people in intended career field

I’ve already started doing this and was invited my a local company in the field to do a paid internship with them but that would need to be towards the end of the summer as with my current internship, I don’t have the time. I plan to follow up with the contact there later this week.
Network with other companies and ascertain the value of my intended degree

I’ve already done this and have been told that this degree is potentially lucrative as I gain more experience. With my current degree I will hit a ceiling unless I am licensed and that will take 3-4 years and then I will still need to build a practice.

Research Flexibility and Corporate Culture

I’ve talked to one person so far and need to do a bit more of this as the application deadline nears. Flexibility and corporate culture are important because I don’t thrive well in cut throat situations, but I shouldn’t let that bother me because there will always be challenges in the office. I just need to make sure that wherever I end up after the completion of this new degree program I will be able to have some flexibility as I do have other interests and plan on having children. This is an issue I will expound upon in another post.

That’s it for now. Writing this post was therapeutic as I was able to get all my feelings down and potentially gain some feedback from others. I have been boiling for the last few days especially with my best friend making more than the counselors at my internship and she doesn’t have a Bachelor’s degree. I’m salty, I know. All of this has made me really question the value of a college and graduation, specific to my field, the behavioral sciences. I really am questioning the point of getting an education when it doesn’t really pay off more than if I’d just stayed home and worked. Then I question whether or not I would have met my husband and I wouldn’t change that for all the money in the world. So there are reasons why this is happening. At least I can say that I met the love of my life while on this journey, and I can still get into the career field that I originally planned for. Anyhoo, I’m rambling, thanks for reading as this wasn’t a scheduled post, but I wanted to share and receive feedback.

Have you changed careers? How old were you when you made the decision? Are you happy with the decision you made? Did you make the decision for the money or love of the field?

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