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/TherapistA 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. EntrepreneurIn 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 AdministratorEducation 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 ManagerWomen 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]
