Find management, clinical, and paraprofessional positions in healthcare, nursing,
financial, construction, architecture, manufacturing and legal fields.

Employment Today™


"MID-YEAR LIFE AND WORK ASSESSMENT AND HOW TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGE"

Dear Kathryn:

In 2009, I am determined to turn my life around and do something more than just collect a low paycheck.

I spend forty hours of my life each week at a company I don't give a hoot about, and I think the feeling is mutual. I have watched the guys in my department make 20% more then me doing the same job and it makes me demoralized and unmotivated. I tried in the past to discuss this inequity of pay with my boss and got nowhere. I am however, driven to get a job where females are valued and I can get the pay I deserve. I know I may need more education than my associates degree to get a better job but I'll do it if that's what it takes.

First, how can I guarantee that my next job won't penalize me because I'm female as my last two jobs have? Second, what I have to do? Must I be a surgeon in order to make a decent dollar?

I know there are jobs that require less intelligence than I have; at which I could earn more. HELP me move towards the bigger money my male counterparts seem to be making.

MARY ANNE M., Southington, CT

Dear Mary Anne:

Well, I love your spirit and drive and applaud your taking your future into your own hands. While there are unfortunately some company's that still compensate unfairly re men and women, you can avoid this unfair practice by working in positions where compensation is performance-linked. Since I place thousands of women, I can accurately report the market is ripe for go-getters. Remember, however, the bigger bucks don't come with normal hours and commitment.

You're right to target those positions that will pay you more money! While obviously specific education is vital in some positions, education is only one component necessary to earn the bigger check.

Fields with higher financial rewards have bigger financial risks. Higher income jobs are often bonus and commission based. Emotional risk and time commitment are the next two elements many people, understandably, like to avoid. The real fact is that the jobs that tend to result in a bigger paycheck require more then forty hours. For example, lots of folks in human resources love the people interaction and a nice, cushy forty hour work-week using their interpersonal skills. The human resource person, however, isn't satisfied with the human resource pay. The position that would earn them more money would possibly be as a professional recruiter. How would that change their life? They would work another twenty hours weekly minimum. Nights and weekends would not be theirs, and their paycheck would depend on their talent, creativity, and success. Only the person doing the job knows if they are willing to invest their talent and time to risk making the significant additional income.

Bigger bucks can also be had in jobs that are less desirable or working hours that are not first choice. Here's an interesting fact: you could work for the government in an administrative capacity, get good benefits a good pension plan and make an ok salary or you could double the government administrative salary by working some odd hours as a prison guard. A less desirable environment, but certainly, more money. The other option to bigger money is to accept the shifts no one else wants. Look at health care jobs-a day shift nurse will make up to $10.00 an hour less then the same nurse working evenings or weekends. Same nurse, same talent, different flexibility to accommodate where the market's needs are = bigger bucks.

What to do? Analyze how important limiting your work hours is to your life, the time of day you work, and the environment in which you work. When deciding your next educational commitment, be realistic. A Master's degrees in education is nice, however a degree in the sciences will get you a job that pays more. An actuary, accountant and software engineer will make more than the person with the Master's degree who doesn't have a specific direction.

Last, after you do your initial analyzation, check out Warren Farrell's Why Men Earn More. An interesting and surprising read that will give your further insight to today's work world and pay scales. You'll quickly see it truly is all about what you're willing to put into the job, and what you make of yourself. Good luck.

Dear Kathryn:

My resume reads like a TV guide listing, as I've had more jobs in five years than most folks have had in their lifetime! Marriage, divorce, kids along with money issues have been my reasons for leaving different jobs, and I explain that in my cover letters. The problem is in spite of my talent, I'm having an impossible job getting a job and even difficulty getting interviews. My references are great and I can back up my reasons for leaving.

When I've told employers I've left a job due to money, I can feel the chill in the air and the weary look this explanation provokes. I read in other job advice columns that money was a good reason to leave as it showed you were ambitious. I thought if you were really good in your job and had the references to back it up; employers would be chomping at my door! I can't even get to first base. I'm out of unemployment compensation and need to get working quickly!

TAMMY P., Hamden, CT

Dear Tammy:

You can't get to first base because you're not stepping up to the plate! Your jumpy resume in fact, is keeping you out of the stadium. How is an employer supposed to recognize you'd be a great talent contributing in their office if all they see are a dozen jobs proving your instability? Even in an employee's job market, job jumpers are not an employer's first choice to hire. You need to get into the hiring manager's office in order to score, and the first step is a resume revision. Do a working resume where you'll first list skills, abilities, accomplishments in an enticing bullet format. Follow with only those employers with whom you've had the longest tenure. List years of employment only-- not months. You can provide the missing information regarding the gaps if asked in the interview.

The other piece you might include would be brief explanations as to your reasons for leaving under each job listed. Now, addressing the "money" reason for leaving. Unless you moved for significantly more money or you were making pennies, money explanations makes an employer nervous. They immediately begin to wonder if, after hiring you, another employer were to offer you an extra $20 a week, you'd be gone.

It will help your case if you include strong reference letters from previous employers. Importantly, get permission to use previous supervisors as references before passing out their names and numbers. Last, once in the interview, head off the employer's reticence about hiring a job jumper by explaining your commitment to finding a job that you can stay with. Explain why you want to find a long term employment relationship and most importantly, mean what you're saying by accepting a job that you will be at for more than a year.