Women in the Workplace: Change Still Needed

Last Wednesday evening marked the Second Annual Women’s Networking Event, sponsored by the Virginia Tech Career Services and a featured Virginia Tech Women's Month event. The Women’s Networking Event is intended for undergraduate women to practice and strengthen their networking and professional communication skills. This year, students learned about challenges they may potentially face as women in the professional world from Lean In author, Sheryl Sandberg, in her TED talk and then discussed issues Sandberg raised. Registrations for the event at Smith Career Center, March 25, from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., reached capacity this year.

Why a Women’s Networking Event?

Statistics can shock, confirm, scare, or console. Unfortunately, when it comes to women in the workplace, the statistics do little more than shock and scare. The second half of the 20^th Century saw the steady influx of women into the workplace and into higher education institutions. Today, the educational achievements of women have continued, but professional advancement has stalled.

Consider these numbers. Women comprise 50.8% of the U.S. population. In 2014, women earned 60% of undergraduate degrees, 60% of master’s degrees, 47% of law degrees, and 48% of medical degrees. And yet, in the workplace, women make up only 14.6% of executive officers, are 8.1% of top earners, and 4.6% of Fortune 500 CEOs. And to add insult to injury, women earn around 0.77 cents to every dollar earned by a man.

A challenge for the next century will be for women to stand up and take a seat at the table. Recently, books like Lean In have brought attention to the disparity discussed above, while movements like “Equal Pay for Equal Work, “Ask Her More,” “He for She,” and “Not There” attempt to shine light on monetary discrimination and the notable absence of women in leadership roles. It is obvious there is momentum for changes in the workplace, but the question that remains is how to break a glass ceiling that just won't budge?

How can we make the changes? 

1. Be confident in our value.

2. Take initiative.

3. Negotiate for what we're worth.

4. Act like a leader.

5. Support other women.

Resources for women in the workplace: 

1. Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

2. Levo League

3. Knowing Your Value by Mika Brzezinski

4. Nice Girls Don’t Get the Corner Office by Lois P. Frankel 
5. Women Don't Ask by Linda Babcock

5. Various Career Blogs

Source of Statistics:

1.https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/report/2014/03/07/85457/fact-sheet-the-womens-leadership-gap/

The March Madness of Job Search: Are you ready for your BIG GAME?

NCAA Basketball Tournament season is upon us! Even if you're not a basketball fan, you've probably seen a game or 2 or heard about March Madness. Still in the hunt for a job? We've tied the madness of your search to all the basketball hoopla in the infographic below where you can find resume, cover letter, and interview tips as well as data points from May 2014 graduates found in our annual Post-Graduation Report.

Improve your job search game with tips from this infographic!

Utilize Your Spring Break

If you are not spending your spring break tanning on the beach, you can use this time to dive straight into getting ahead on your job searching. From the comfort of your bed, you can be incredibly productive. Spend your break wisely by following a few of the following suggestions:

· Build and polish your LinkedIn profile: use this time to update all your information, join relevant groups, and network with alumni in a field of your interest. Make sure you have a professional headshot!

· Schedule an informational interview: you can use this time to determine what job would be best for you. Arrange to meet with a professional in your field to gain valuable insight by having questions prepared. Ask them what a typical day on the job is like, what their work environment is like, and about the path they took to get there.

· Try shadowing a professional: contact a professional in your field and request to shadow them for a day. You will be able to see what a day in their shoes is like and if you would enjoy the work they do. It is important to contact them ahead of time to work into their schedule.

· Start researching: while you’re relaxing at home, this is a great time to start compiling research on prospective employers. Create a comprehensive list for companies or employment opportunities that you are considering applying to; include application deadlines, application requirements, salaries, and even a pros and cons list.

· Go over your resume: check to see when the last time your resume has been updated. Ask several different people who don’t know you that well to glance over your resume. It’s important to keep your resume continuously updated and that each version is tailored for every position you apply for.

Rejected by an employer or grad school? 5 Ways to Shake It Off!

N-O. Such a small word, but those 2 letters make a huge impact. This time of year is the season where you may hear this word as you are contacted by employers, graduate programs, medical schools, law schools or other colleges or universities. I heard that word from my first choice school when I applied to college (actually it was maybe - I was wait-listed and never got to YES) and I heard NO when I applied to law schools. So, when rejection comes, what do you do?

Reflect. Look back over the process you just went through. Is there anything you would do differently? Do you wonder if your interview skills need work? You can schedule a mock interview with a career advisor by calling 540-231-6241. Review your application materials. Anything need tweaking there? Research a school's web site for information about typical applicants and average scores or GPAs that are accepted. How do your scores compare? Ask questions. You can ask an employer or program for feedback about your interview or application. Some may share and others may not, but it never hurts to ask for feedback. That will give you some areas to work on for the next interview or application.

Breathe. Exercise. When I received reject letters, going for a run or walk helped me clear my head, change my perspective and feel better about myself. Working out your frustration with physical exertion can help you get a handle on the varied emotions you are feeling.

Talk. Discussing the rejection you experience with a friend, relative or career advisor can help you digest the refusal. And, your personal board of directors can also help you decide on next steps you want to take. If you feel like you need additional coaching for next steps, come meet with us in Career Services. 

Try. What new strategy or direction could you try? Do you want to take a gap year to test out that next step you were planning to take? A gap year before additional education is not a bad thing. You can build skills and experience you can bring to the next round of applications. Or, if you are job searching, apply for some positions elsewhere. Taking an initial position at an organization that is not your dream job or dream company, could lead to a future position or company that is. When I didn't get something, I felt let down at the time, but something much better came along. 

Believe. Only you have the gifts you bring to an employer or graduate school. Are you in doubt of those gifts after not receiving an offer? If you want to feel better about yourself, we can point you a number of places to so some self-exploration. One tool is to discover your top talents using StrengthsQuest. Don't know your top 5 talents? Find out here, and then make an appointment with a career advisor to talk about what you learn and next steps for you to take. And, if you want to do even more self discovery, we can help. Rather than looking back, we can help you move forward to SOAR focusing on your strengths, identifying opportunities, creating some aspirations, striving for results you want to see. Come see us, and let's get started!

Like Taylor Swift says in her song, as you face rejection, Shake it off. 

And then do what Frank Sinatra recommends in his song: Take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again. 

You can do it, and we can help.

So, go ahead and Shake it Off with Taylor Swift.

"Cause the players gonna play, play, play

And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate

Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake

Shake it off. Shake it off

Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break

And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake

Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake

Shake it off, Shake it off

Shake it off

Shake it off

Shake it off

Shake it off"

Lyrics from Taylor Swift's Shake it Off

And, if you're not a Taylor Swift fan, then Pick Yourself Up and start all over again with Frank Sinatra.