by Lecia Parks Langston
I once heard it put this way: “Many women have ‘until’ jobs.” What does that mean? They plan on working “until” they get married and have children. Then, they plan on working “until” they put their husband through school. Then, they plan on working “until” they pay for a new car. Then, they plan on working “until” they save enough for a down payment for a new house. You get my drift? Pretty soon, women have 30 years of “until” jobs that didn’t pay very well, had few benefits, lacked retirement plans, or provided little satisfaction. They haven’t necessarily chosen something that is fulfilling and most likely they let the job choose them... they just took whatever job they could easily find.
Because most women see motherhood as their prime career, they fail to plan adequately for a secondary career in the workforce.
People are in the “wrong” careers due to a number of factors, says Richard Nelson Bolles, author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, the best-selling job-hunting book in the world:
For women, these factors are compounded because:
Thirty years (or more) is a long time. Take the time and the effort to choose a career that offers good wages (you can work less that way), good benefits, and lets you combine work and family. And, you should also choose a career that provides you with personal satisfaction and chance for growth. Remember, you’ll be spending a lot of time on the job.
Wages are important, but so is job satisfaction. Studies show that if Mom is happy with her work situation, so is her family.
Know thyself. There are plenty of great free assessment tools on the Internet to help you relate what you’re good at and like to do to the working world. Here are a few:
Get information. At careers.utah.gov, you will be directed to numerous sources of career and educational information—j ob descriptions, outlook, wages, working conditions, etc.
Experiment. If you can, experiment in different workplaces before investing a lot of time in training or education. If you want to be a nurse, try working or even volunteering in a hospital to see what the job is like. This can save you time and money in the long run. It’s kind of like dating. . .job experimentation can allow you to try on different careers before you commit to just one.
Ask around. Talk to people who already have a job in the career you are considering. (Most people love to talk about themselves.) What do they like? What do they hate? How do those factors fit with your aptitudes and values?
Be willing to change and adapt. You may find after working in a particular occupation for a while, that it doesn’t meet your needs. Don’t get stuck working in the “wrong” career or at the “wrong” company for you.
