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By Darcie Orr, Manager, Procurement | CPSM | MBA, Duquesne Light Company  I was 38 years old when I walked into my first classroom at the University of Pittsburgh to begin my Master’s degree. It had been nearly two decades since I wore a cap and gown and walked the stage at Penn State for undergrad. How had I gotten here? What was I thinking? Then I thought of my mom, and I took a deep breath, knowing that if she could do it, I could do it.
My mother graduated from high school in 1969. Women couldn’t take out a student loan at that time without their fathers cosigning it. Unwilling to let her take on debt for schooling that she “didn’t need,” my grandfather refused to cosign a loan. So, my mom worked hard to save enough to pay for one year of tuition (and room and board) following high school. After her first year in college, she went back to work. She continued this cycle of one year of working, and one year of schooling until she met my father. They decided to get married and buy a house, and her dream of graduating from college ended…temporarily, anyway. Fifteen years later, when my sister and I were in elementary school, my mom decided to finish her degree. Remarkably, nearly all of her (ancient, as she called them) credits transferred to California University (now Penn West). Not wanting to take on debt (old habits die hard, I suppose), she used her skills as a seamstress to pay for school. She took on hemming, mending, and occasionally making a wedding dress and socked away the cash to pay for the six credits she took each semester. Taking classes during the day, while my sister and I were in school, she was typically the only “adult” student among a sea of students who were 20+ years younger. It took her six years to finish what would have been her last two years of a four-year degree, but she did it. What are my takeaways from this invaluable life lesson?
Getting back to me and my cold sweats as I entered my first classroom in nearly two decades - how had I gotten there? I graduated from Penn State, got a job, and never intended to return to school for a graduate degree. Until one day, I was asked to participate in the hiring process for my peer position at work. What you need to understand about me is I’m competitive. If I did 15 minutes on the stair climber yesterday, I want to do 20 today. If someone did 20 minutes today, I want to do 25 tomorrow. So, as I was reviewing stacks of resumes, I realized that most candidates had an MBA – something I didn’t have. If I ever wanted to leave my current employer and seek a position elsewhere, I’d be competing with candidates with their MBA, (blasphemy!) and they’d have a leg up on me (GASP)! I called our HR department that very day to see what tuition reimbursement was offered. I hired a tutor to help me prepare for the entrance exam. I was accepted and registered for my first classes. There I was, a student again. As I began to prepare to go back to school, and then once I entered the classroom, I was terrified. I felt so out of place, which got me thinking about my mom. If she did it, I knew I could do it too. You are never too old or too far down the road to continue learning. If you are considering going back to school for any level of degree, I encourage you try to do it! Below are some helpful tips I gathered along the way throughout my time as a nontraditional student:
I finished my MBA in May of 2020, so there was no pomp and circumstance (literally). However, on the very last day of my very last class, with only 20 minutes or so remaining in the Zoom meeting, I got a knock at my door. I answered it to find a flower arrangement sitting just outside it. The card said “I knew you could do it! Love, Mom.” And for that, I say thanks, mom, for the courage and inspiration.
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By Liz Gryger, Manager of Participant Learning and Development, PA Women Work  Whether you are searching for a new job, want to succeed in your current job, or are working toward other goals, we all have things we need to get done. Sometimes, the list of things to get done feels overwhelming. It might be a long list and it’s challenging to find a place to begin, or it might be a short list but procrastination is setting in. In either case, not making progress toward goals will not get you where you want to be in life.
So, what do you do about it? Read on for some tips that have worked for me and some clients we serve. 1. Define your goal: What is the success you want? What is the future you envision? Why is this important to you? Take some time to think through this, write it down in words, and draw a picture of your future success. I'm not an artist and can barely draw stick figures, but sketching out my future vision unlocks personal inspiration. Make your goal SMART -- Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timebound. 2. Mark key dates on your calendar: Figure out what you need to accomplish by creating deadlines for yourself. Mark key dates on your calendar, to motivate yourself and holding yourself accountable to progress. Sometimes life gets in the way, but make adjustments and keep moving forward. 3. Identify your potholes: Living in southwestern PA, we all know potholes can get in the way and cause real damage. What are the things that are getting in your way to accomplishing your goal or getting your tasks done? In your job search or career progression, there might be skills or knowledge you need to acquire for the job you want. Maybe your own fear is getting in the way. Whatever it is, identify what is holding you back and follow the next few steps to push onward 4. Overcome the potholes.
5. Keep negative thoughts at bay. “Every cell in your body is listening to your thoughts.” Deepak Chopra. Your thoughts can determine your actions. When you find negative thoughts creeping in, practice holding them at arm's length and examining them for truth. Reframe them into something positive. 6. Enlist others. Find at least one other person to enlist as an accountability partner. Someone who will check in with you to see what progress you are making towards your goal, problem-solve barriers getting in your way, and encourage you. 7. Reward yourself. Encourage yourself with rewards along the journey. Did you set a goal to spend 2 hours researching and applying to jobs? Once you've reached that goal, reward yourself with a walk outside, a favorite podcast or book, a chat with a friend, etc. 8. Be kind to yourself. My daughter used to have a sign in her room that said: "The hard things in life are hard.” So true! What do you do for self-care? Perhaps it is one of the activities listed under 'reward yourself'. Perhaps you practice a hobby, meditate, exercise, or connect with the important people in your life. Whatever it is, don't forget to take time for YOU! 9. Remember your 'what and why'. If you feel your motivation lagging, go back to your future vision. What is the future you desire? Why is this important to you? Reminding yourself can give your renewed strength and energy to move forward. If you find yourself feel stuck or facing an overwhelming mountain, give some of these tips a try. And if your job search isn’t going your way and you’re unsure where to begin, reach out to us! We’re here to help. By Julie Wiles, Director, Enterprise Business Agility, FedEx Services, and PA Women Work Board Member  Do you want to find a meaningful endeavor that is sure to benefit you both personally and professionally? Have you ever considered joining a Board of Directors? If you haven't, you’re in the right place. I’m writing to share with you this often overlooked or unconsidered opportunity that is sure to reignite your career and boost your resume. This is the perfect opportunity for those looking for a career change, a promotion, or to fill a resume gap.
At the top of many organizations and all nonprofits sits a Board of Directors. These boards are charged with the responsibility of governing, planning, and budgeting. Volunteering your time on a Board of Directors is a way to make a tangible positive impact for an organization and your community, but beyond that it also offers the ability to grow your network, build executive level perspective, and develop your skills. Grow Your Network Networking is one of the most important paths to success in the professional world! From finding mentors and peers, to growing a professional community, networking is often the key to reaching career goals and milestones. Participating on a board is sure to increase your network, expand your reach and visibility to new industries, lead to leadership opportunities, and give you a platform to meet professionals, mentors and peers. Executive Level Perspective So often our jobs force us to focus only on a specific piece of a very large puzzle, i.e. marketing or accounting. However, missing the high-level view of operations limits some of our promotional opportunities. How can you gain operations and high-level experience without the job title or responsibility? Join a board! From participating in an organization's strategic planning to understanding each individual and department’s impact on the mission, being a member of a board allows you the opportunity to expand your vision and see the entire picture. Skill Usage and Development Being part of a Board of Directors allows you to put your expertise and skills to good use to support an organization. Many nonprofits have a small but mighty staff, and they look to their boards to provide support, guidance and knowledge. This gives board members the chance to put their skills to work and help make an impact for the organization. Additionally, this professional opportunity can provide you with the chance to develop new skills or volunteer for projects or experiences that spark your interest. Learn about organizational budget management, strategic planning, large-scale operations management, operational leadership, political savviness, marketing, fundraising and so many other incredible skills that will make you stand out in the workplace. When you are ready to take your next professional step, rebrand your professional image, or breathe some new life into your resume, consider joining a Board of Directors and place your energy where it really matters. Use your existing experiences to make an impact on others and, in return, you’ll gain new contacts, perspective, and skills. By Ron McCloskey, VP and Chief Financial Officer PNCI, PNC Bank  To start, I’d like to provide a polite disclaimer that most avid golfers would agree with: Golf is an endlessly frustrating game that takes a lot of time, effort, and expense. But as I like to say when I’m having a bad day on the course, “If it were easy, I probably would have quit a long time ago.”
With that said, you might ask: what would make thousands of people take to the links on the weekend to torture themselves? Ultimately, golf can be a wonderful escape that is just complicated enough to occupy your mind for a few hours. It can also be a great way to grow your professional network, get to know a prospective client or employee, and build your career. Golf is a metaphor for life, and it requires commitment, confidence, and perseverance. We’re taught as golfers to be honest. There are no referees in our game. We must conduct ourselves in an ethical manner and respect the course, our competitors and most importantly, ourselves. Golf is also a very social game. There is plenty of time in a four-hour round to discuss the day’s events. That includes a pending business deal, or explaining what you, or your company, can offer a potential business partner. It’s a great place to build a relationship, and you can learn a lot about how someone conducts themselves by observing how they play golf. How do they handle stress and adversity? Are they a very serious person or do they prefer to keep things light? Are they a stickler for the rules or is this an escape from the daily grind? Typically, these things can reveal themselves along the links. I’ve always said I look for two things when hiring: First, is the person smart? Second, can I get along with them? I can have the answers to both after a round of golf. Golf can be a delightful way to enjoy a beautiful summer day, a means to challenge your physical and mental skills, and an amazing vehicle for meeting new people and building your network. I’ve been paired up with retired police officers, caddies on their day off looking to play a few holes, executives who have escaped the office for the day, and medical personnel who have offered sage advice…and not on my golf game. (The caddies have the best stories by far!) The point is, you never know who might be waiting on the tee box for you, or what their background is, what language they speak, or how they might be able to connect you to a new opportunity. As both golfers and professionals, we have to adapt to use our individual talents. There are a lot of ways people can play the game or grow in their career. Yes, it takes both athletic ability and mental acuity to play, but our skills are all different, and each golfer’s goals, talents and strategy will vary. In golf, just as in business, the environment is always changing. We never play the same game twice. Like running, swimming or other individual sports, you are relying on your own determination to help reach your goal. The same goes in your career. The world might be changing around you, your company might be experiencing movement, or maybe you’re looking for your next opportunity. What you can rely on in these situations is your own resilience, talents and determination. In golf, this self-reliance and grit might be why it’s so incredibly rewarding when everything aligns correctly, and you pull off a great shot, or post your personal best score. If you’re looking to get started as a golfer, reach out to a friend who plays or a local professional and ask how to get started. There are group classes offered in many locations. There are specific classes for female golfers, as well. Check out upcoming classes at both RMU and CCAC. Who knows…someone in your class might just be your next employer! By Kayla Druga, Talent Manager, Arconic Human Resources, and PA Women Work volunteer  We all know this time of year is perfect for cleaning out our closets or the garage, but it’s also perfect for dusting off our LinkedIn profiles. The professional networking site, launched in 2003 and now boasting over 774 million members, is an ideal place to showcase your professional skills in your search for new opportunities.
Here are some ways you can update your profile to best reflect your background and attract the right audience: Your Photo and Headline Having a profile photo is one of the fastest ways to get others to notice you on LinkedIn. Be sure that the photo you use is recent and professional in nature. If a professional headshot is not in your budget, ask a friend or colleague to take a professional picture for you. Remember that this photo is an employer’s first glimpse of you and avoid using cropped, personal photos. Take a moment to review your headline. If you have not created one, LinkedIn will default to your current title and company. Use this space to provide a quick, succinct impression to capture your potential audience’s attention. If there was only one thing you wanted someone to know about you, what would that be? Contact Information Be sure that your contact information is up to date. Many LinkedIn users will list a company email address on their profiles but fail to update it when they leave an organization. Be sure that the contact information you provide, including any links to other social media sites, is professional in nature. Summary Your Summary section should provide a snapshot of your abilities, accomplishments, and future goals. Think of this as your elevator pitch: if you only had one minute to tell the hiring team of your dream job about yourself, what would you say? Make sure that any videos, links, or documents (like a portfolio, writing samples, or resume) are up to date, active, and relevant to your career search. Work Experience For many of us, the work experience section can become cluttered as we progress in our careers. Don’t be afraid to remove older or irrelevant experience that no longer relates to your future goals, or short-term positions just to fill gaps in between full-time positions. It’s also important to be sure the experience you do have listed are focused on your specific accomplishments, not those of the company for which you worked. In addition to your key responsibilities, use this space to highlight projects or specific accomplishments achieved in the role. Skills The Skills section is another area that can really benefit from some annual clean-up. Be sure that the skills you are listing are current and relative to your job search. Additionally, be as specific as possible when listing your skills. For example, millions of LinkedIn users list procurement as a skill, but less than 10% of those users have IT procurement experience. While this may seem like an overwhelming list, approach spring cleaning your LinkedIn profile much like you would your house. By taking it section by section, using care and consideration throughout, you can be sure that your profile best reflects your background and goals. If you are job searching and need further assistance with your LinkedIn, or with other challenges you’re experiencing, consider signing up for one of PA Women Work’s free programs or upcoming classes. |
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