Tuesday, April 21, 2020
Using a Resume Reference Page Template For Your Job Search
Using a Resume Reference Page Template For Your Job SearchThe use of a resume reference page template will give you a head start in your efforts to land that job. Creating a resume reference page is easy, and a template will help you with the wording. So how can you make it even more effective? Here are some tips.Resumes are sent to different companies for different reasons. You need to list these as well so that people who read your resume have an idea of what the company you're looking for is looking for. Many companies don't look at resumes at all unless they're being sent directly to them. You can keep this in mind when you choose your format.There are lots of websites that offer a form or a template that is meant for use on a resume reference page. You may want to choose one that is highly customizable.It's important to keep the content of your resume reference page as concise as possible. A page that is too long and difficult to read will not necessarily work for a job. It's al so best to use your browser's ability to look up wordings to find keywords that will lead to the information you want.When you're looking for a specific job, the first thing that comes to mind is the company itself. This can be done by using keywords or other phrases to find specific information. This may be the first thing people notice about your resume. If it's relevant, then you're ahead of the game.Use a resume reference page template that you find that fits your job requirements. You need to list what skills you have as well as your education and experience. It should be short, but it will go a long way in making the reader see what your qualifications are.The more you take advantage of a resume reference page template, the better you'll do. Keeping your work and education current is a good idea. This can be a useful resume reference page for many people.
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
The 50 Best Jobs in America
The 50 Best Jobs in America One takeaway you may not be surprised to learn in 2018: Itâs still great to work in technology. Thatâs a finding from the job site Glassdoorâs fourth annual report on the best jobs in America. On this yearâs list, the tech sector comprises 20 of the 50 top positions, including data scientist (No. 1), devops engineer (No. 2), and data analyst (new to the list at No. 38). The fast-growing finance and healthcare industries are well-represented, too, from finance manager (No. 12) to physician assistant (No. 25), the latter having a high median base salary of $104,000. The report notes that many of these jobs are unlikely to be replaced by AI or automation, and require flexibility in addition to technical knowhow. Glassdoorâs ranking compiles three factors to determine its job scores, weighing them equally: base salary, job satisfaction ratings, and number of job openings. And while just about everyone wants to be in an in-demand job with strong pay, the satisfaction scores offer a broader picture of how people feel in the roles. âOnce people start their jobs, pay is not necessarily the leading impact for how satisfied you are,â says Glassdoor spokeswoman Sarah Stoddard. There are some surprising additions to the list, like executive assistant (No. 46), which doesnât always get a glowing reputation. But that occupation will continue to thrive and require creativity to help bosses in a tech-enabled workplace, according to Stoddard. Looking for a new, more promising gig? Hereâs Glassdoorâs full list of the 50 best jobs in the U.S. for 2018, including links to open positions. 1. Data Scientist Job Score: 4.8 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2 Number of Job Openings: 4,524 Median Base Salary: $110,000 View Jobs 2. Devops Engineer Job Score: 4.6 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0 Number of Job Openings: 3,369 Median Base Salary: $105,000 View Jobs 3. Marketing Manager Job Score: 4.6 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0 Number of Job Openings: 6,439 Median Base Salary: $85,000 View Jobs 4. Occupational Therapist Job Score: 4.5 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0 Number of Job Openings: 11,903 Median Base Salary: $74,000 View Jobs 5. HR Manager Job Score: 4.5 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 4,458 Median Base Salary: $85,000 View Jobs 6. Electrical Engineer Job Score: 4.5 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 5,839 Median Base Salary: $76,000 View Jobs 7. Strategy Manager Job Score: 4.5 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2 Number of Job Openings: 1,195 Median Base Salary: $135,000 View Jobs 8. Mobile Developer Job Score: 4.5 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1 Number of Job Openings: 1,809 Median Base Salary: $90,000 View Jobs 9. Product Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 7,531 Median Base Salary: $113,000 View Jobs 10. Manufacturing Engineer Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.0 Number of Job Openings: 4,241 Median Base Salary: $72,000 View Jobs 11. Compliance Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.3 Number of Job Openings: 1,222 Median Base Salary: $96,000 View Jobs 12. Finance Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 2,998 Median Base Salary: $116,000 View Jobs 13. Risk Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2 Number of Job Openings: 1,209 Median Base Salary: $97,000 View Jobs 14. Business Development Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 4,060 Median Base Salary: $75,000 View Jobs 15. Front End Engineer Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2 Number of Job Openings: 1,122 Median Base Salary: $100,000 View Jobs 16. Site Reliability Engineer Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1 Number of Job Openings: 1,064 Median Base Salary: $120,000 View Jobs 17. Mechanical Engineer Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 5,079 Median Base Salary: $75,000 View Jobs 18. Analytics Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 1,381 Median Base Salary: $115,000 View Jobs 19. Tax Manager Job Score: 4.4 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 3,309 Median Base Salary: $110,000 View Jobs 20. Creative Manager Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.3 Number of Job Openings: 824 Median Base Salary: $110,000 View Jobs 21. Software Engineer Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.6 Number of Job Openings: 29,187 Median Base Salary: $102,500 View Jobs 22. Hardware Engineer Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.2 Number of Job Openings: 806 Median Base Salary: $115,000 View Jobs 23. Corporate Recruiter Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.3 Number of Job Openings: 2,330 Median Base Salary: $65,000 View Jobs 24. QA Manager Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 1,741 Median Base Salary: $92,000 View Jobs 25. Physician Assistant Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.6 Number of Job Openings: 5,517 Median Base Salary: $104,000 View Jobs 26. Database Administrator Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 2,370 Median Base Salary: $94,000 View Jobs 27. UX Designer Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 1,963 Median Base Salary: $90,000 View Jobs 28. Nursing Manager Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 4,209 Median Base Salary: $84,660 View Jobs 29. Engagement Manager Job Score: 4.3 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 2,169 Median Base Salary: $115,000 View Jobs 30. Solutions Architect Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.6 Number of Job Openings: 3,325 Median Base Salary: $125,000 View Jobs 31. Process Engineer Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 3,033 Median Base Salary: $78,000 View Jobs 32. Reliability Engineer Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.3 Number of Job Openings: 747 Median Base Salary: $92,000 View Jobs 33. Data Engineer Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 2,816 Median Base Salary: $100,000 View Jobs 34. Operations Manager Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 13,706 Median Base Salary: $65,000 View Jobs 35. Speech Language Pathologist Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 11,573 Median Base Salary: $72,000 View Jobs 36. Communications Manager Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 1,380 Median Base Salary: $80,000 View Jobs 37. Audit Manager Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 1,951 Median Base Salary: $100,000 View Jobs 38. Data Analyst Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 4,729 Median Base Salary: $60,000 View Jobs 39. Systems Analyst Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.7 Number of Job Openings: 2,710 Median Base Salary: $75,000 View Jobs 40. Facilities Manager Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 2,139 Median Base Salary: $75,000 View Jobs 41. Strategic Account Manager Job Score: 4.2 Job Satisfaction Rating: 4.1 Number of Job Openings: 808 Median Base Salary: $85,000 View Jobs 42. Business Intelligence Developer Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 882 Median Base Salary: $86,000 View Jobs 43. Business Analyst Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.6 Number of Job Openings: 9,603 Median Base Salary: $71,000 View Jobs 44. Accounting Manager Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.6 Number of Job Openings: 3,273 Median Base Salary: $82,000 View Jobs 45. UI Developer Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 1,004 Median Base Salary: $95,000 View Jobs 46. Executive Assistant Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 4,684 Median Base Salary: $55,000 View Jobs 47. Management Consultant Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.8 Number of Job Openings: 1,024 Median Base Salary: $110,000 View Jobs 48. Project Manager Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.5 Number of Job Openings: 23,274 Median Base Salary: $80,000 View Jobs 49. Nurse Practitioner Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.5 Number of Job Openings: 8,510 Median Base Salary: $100,000 View Jobs 50. HR Generalist Job Score: 4.1 Job Satisfaction Rating: 3.9 Number of Job Openings: 2,705 Median Base Salary: $57,120 View Jobs
Saturday, April 11, 2020
5 Reasons Its Easier To Find A Job When You Already Have One - Work It Daily
5 Reasons Itâs Easier To Find A Job When You Already Have One - Work It Daily You may have heard people say to you, âItâs always easier to get a job when you are already employed.â But have you ever asked why this is? Related: How To Job Search While Youâre Still Employed Thereâs absolutely no evidence to prove that anyone going for a job, who is already in full-time employment, stands any better chance of being offered a position than someone who is currently out of work. So, if we are to believe this is just the way the system works; then it could be worth looking at what the reasons might be. Here are some possible explanations as to why those in work are deemed as more employable than those who arenât. 1. Itâs Easier To Avoid Tricky Interview Questions Having to explain why you left your last job or why you were told to leave your last job is never easy, but itâs still something potential employers love to ask you about. If you are employed, then your options are much greater in terms of what you say in an interview. You could say, âIâm looking for a new challengeâ or âMy current job just doesnât offer me the challenges I want.â So, you can take your pick of reasons for wanting to find a new employer if youâre already on the pay roll. 2. You Make More Contacts You canât underestimate the power of good networking, and there is more chance of you doing networking when you are working and not sitting at home. The people you work with could mention companies looking to hire people, or you may meet someone that has just left a firm - meaning a new vacancy has been created. If youâre unhappy at work and looking for a new job, keep your ear to the ground! 3. You Have More Time Regardless of how much you hate your current job, the fact that you are working and still earning means you have the time to look elsewhere. You know the rent will be paid at the end of the month. So, use your time constructively. 4. You Have Greater Self-Confidence Confidence is everything when looking for a job. If you are already in full-time employment, itâs a pretty good bet that youâll exude more self-confidence than someone who isnât. This might not be a conscious act, but the fact that the âpressure is offâ might have something to do with it. However, donât be cocky, because there is nothing more off putting to an employer than arrogance â" no matter confident you may be. 5. Experience The fact that you have been chosen by your current employer suggests that you have enough relevant experience to hold down your position, right? This is experience that other candidates you are up again may not have (assuming you are going for a job in a similar field). So, itâs well worth highlighting any strengths that you have when going for a new job and mentioning all the experienced you have gained in your present role when starting your new job search. Related Posts How To Get Past Your Job Search Fears How To Create A Strategic Plan For Your Job Search 10 Things You Need To Know About Todayâs Job Search Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join Us Today!
Thursday, March 12, 2020
If Youre a Woman Exhausted by #MeToo, Read Michelle Obamas Advice
If Youre a Woman Exhausted by MeToo, Read Michelle Obamas Advice If Michelle Obama could be my best friend, I would be cool with that. Could you imagine her helping you through a breakup? The woman always knows what to say, and she gives the best advice. I mean, she was basically Americas life coach for 8 years. Remember when she tried to save all of us from childhood obesity, despite no one (*cough* big um ein haar food) wanting her help? Shes a saint.Luckily for us, Michelle hasnt slithered off to some mansion with her mounds of money and whatevers left of her peace of mind. Shes stayed pretty active in the political scene, and shes still giving us killer advice. Her latest interview was full of reassuring words for women exhausted by the latest developments in the MeToo movement.Between Brett Kavanaughs nominierung and a new celebrity being outed everyday as an assaulter, its been a tough few weeks. But Michelle thinks we can keep the ball rolling.Change is not a direct, smooth p ath. Theres going to be bumps and resistance. Theres been a status quo in terms of the way women have been treated, what their expectations have been in this society, and that is changing, she said.And when it comes to dealing with pushbacks on women being treated as equal to men like the HimToo trend or the Alt-Right showing up increasingly on Twitter Michelle says to look to the future.Theres going to be a little upheaval, a little discomfort, but I think its up to the women out there to say, Sorry. Sorry that you feel uncomfortable, but Im now paving the way for the next generation.... Enough is enough.She feels a special connection to the next generation as a mother, and encourages moms everywhere to share their stories and stand up for whats right in a kind way.When they go low, we go high, she said. I have to think about that as a mother, as someone who is a role model to young girls. We want them to grow up with promise and hope, and we cant model something different if we want them to be something better than that.No matter how exhausting it is, MeToo is making cultural change. Its important to remember that. But its also important to remember that prioritizing your personal and mental health is also important. Michelle would want you to take a break from organizing and advocating when youre feeling burnt out, or just generally bad. And she would probably advise you to take a break from Twitter forever (just saying).Just dont take a break on November 6th, promise? Ok. Thanks dolls.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
Things You Should Know About Resume Writing Company Affiliate
Things You Should Know About Resume Writing Company Affiliate The Debate Over Resume Writing Company Affiliate A trusted on-line web advertising firm will surely offer you the same in addition to the rankings of their own site and that of their shoppers. The second manner is to sign in to your private affiliate website and examine the stats. Tell us the address of your site and name a minumum of one reason you want to become our affiliate. There are lots of resume writing services online. How to Find Resume Writing Company Affiliate Ads are readily available to you for your own personal affiliate site. Internet affiliate absatzwirtschaft is presently one of the strongest tools for business aufsteigen. Affiliate programs are incredibly popular nowadays. The last price of the order is dependent on several aspects. Be careful once you are looking for a professional CV writing company, a greater cost doesnt always mean increased quality. When you get a last paper, request a free revision if its lacking something. Another factor it is possible to think about is the salary. Contrary to other websites, who have a couple of writers on staff to handle all the orders they take in, our network lets us provide you resources our competitors cannot. Because of my assortment of go through the company managed to accomplish more work in-house and lower the demand for outside vendors and freelance designers. ResumArea Company supplies a fantastic opportunity for everybody to earn some monetary profit Look at networking and offering free marketing and advertising consults to companies in your intended market. If youre a recent grad or two or three years out of school, you should look at a professional entry-level CV Writing Company to aid with your work search. Global companies are interested in candidates that are loyal, hardworking, resilient, adaptable, they want to get you. Based on your career seniority, the CV Writing Company that you select will vary drastically. The ideal CV writing company is the one which you have researched and the one which suits your budget. Our internet advertising business will aid you produce the appropriate internet marketing promoting campaign to ensure your product is recognized and simply discovered over the net. Since the introduction of the internet the face of the promotion and advertising enterprise has dramatically modified. With Web advertising firm, will allow you to receive your website in search engine promoting and optimization services supplied by lots of the outcomes, but ultimately its crucial to learn what kind of network marketing supplies you with the perfect of an item line. Youre online advertising and marketing info and experience to put it available on the market. The New Angle On Resume Writing Company Affiliate Just Released When it has to do with finding a Professional CV Writing Company, there isnt any 1 size fits all answer. Our professional resume writers know the very best approach to compose a work application Your resume is more than merely an overview of your job history its the most essential document of your careerand will figure out precisely how far you are able to go in your career. You should have a convincing answer.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Off(ice) Naps the Case for Sleeping at Work
Off(ice) Naps the Case for Sleeping at Work Sleeping off the jobor what Ill call off(ice) napping (my meld of office napping and hockey player off-ice time)should include more than sleeping at home on the train commute home or on a grassy knoll in the park across from your office during a lunch break.It should also include sleeping at your work site, like the naps these Chinese workers are taking on an onsite grassy ocean-side knoll in Haikou, Hainan Islands largest northernmost citya tourist springboard to bluer beaches, such as famed Yalong Beach, at the islands southernmost shores.Whether their boots are for working at, on, next to or in the sea, these ladies appear to be sleeping at the job, but while off work, i.e., sleeping off the job, rather than sleeping on the job, which not only sounds worse, but also is worse, since it can get you canned, if you are not paid as a guinea pig in sleep experiments.Moreover, sleeping off the job is aptly analo gous to sleeping off a bar binge, both suggesting recovery as well as the responsible venue, just as off(ice) nap does.The Case for Off(ice) NapsAlthough many countries, such as Mexico and China, have traditions and policies that encourage workplace napping on breaks, and despite reported health benefits of midday naps, e.g., a 37% reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease, cardiac failure and death, the institutionalization of off(ice) naps in the West lags far behind its establishment in other countries and cultures. Nonetheless, that health benefit seems to be enough of a reason to allow, and perhaps encourage, off(ice) naps.But there are more good reasons for napping off the job In a 2009 Seidman Business Review article, A Case for Naps in the Workplace, Jitendra M. Mishra suggests that napping is a natural low-cost way to increase worker productivity.Despite widespread resistance to the idea, Mishra maintains that the concept of napping is going through a slow evolution b ecause of the concerns about the bottom line, reduced productivity, and profits due to sleep deprivation, which is estimated to cost U.S. businesses $18 billion annually.This reassessment of a place for off(ice) naps is timely, given evidence that Mishra cites suggesting that sleepy workers are dangerous, less productive, and a major source of increased health care costs and corporate liability.As particularly dramatic examples of the dire consequences of sleep deprivation, Mishra notes that disasters such as Three Mile Island, Bhopal, and Exxon Valdez were all associated with workers suffering from a lack of modell sleep.However, Mishra points out that, despite strong traditions in China, India, Italy, Greece, North Africa and Latin America, and accumulating evidence supporting the case for off(ice) naps, less than one percent of companies allow employees to a nap on the job.(Perhaps a good nights sleep or off(ice) naps would help some of them have a (re)fresh(ed) perspective about the benefits of such naps.)Nonetheless, to the extent that it has been implemented, Mishra reports that workplace napping is producing very positive resultsIn Australia, workplaces allow naps for firemen, truck drivers, doctors, and interns. It is interesting to note that David Johnson, managing director of Deloittle Consulting Companyin Pittsburg, feels his company has increased productivity due to a nap-room. They love it, they lap it up. (OConnor, 2004) Craig Yarde, President of Yarde Metals, feels that napping contributes to higher sales, higher productivity, efficiency, and reduced turnovers. Anthony and Camille of Boston University conducted a survey and found that 70% of the1,000 respondents admitted that they nap at work and it benefits them. Gould Evansinstalled 10 by 12- foot nap rooms and according to its spokesperson, there is no stigma attached to those using it.Workers at Gould Evans found that napping helps them getrefreshed and revitalized (Meyer 2001).Inemuri the J apanese Semi-SleepWhen other workplace cultures are a fusion of traditional folk and modern office ways, the nap may take a peculiar compromise form, blending the custom of naps with taboos against them. For example, the Japanese recognize and practice a hybrid of sleeping off the job and sleeping on the job, which they call inemurito be asleep while present. The rules governing inemuri (pronounced eee-neh-moo-ree) are strictYou have to remain upright, e.g., you cant rest your face on your keyboarda rule designed to preserve the appearance of engagement.Your company rank has to be very high (or, less commonly observed in my experience during my years in Japan, very low).My own firsthand experience in formal meetings confirms these rules. On one occasion, while I was the Director of zwischenstaatlich Studies at a Japanese womens college, the rijicho (pronounced ree-jee-choh)the top corporate babo, who had flown in from Tokyowas presiding over and speaking at a meeting for all key per sonnel. At some point during his talk, one of the attendees immediately to his right, but at ninety degrees to him (as befitting the highest-ranking subordinate), appeared to nod off, eyes shut as tight as the seams of a fried dumpling.Although the staff member was a full professor of the highest rank, I was puzzled, indeed, amazed, that he would do that and that no one tried to nudge himespecially since he was seated right beside the boss (who was generally, and rightly, feared by all employees).When I whispered my puzzlement to a colleague at my side, he, also discreetly whispering, told me that such apparent napping is in fact a sign of great respect, indicative of deep concentration and appreciation of the rijichos deep and important ideas.Yes, he really said thateven if it was only to help the professor save (napping) face. Anyway, no one elseincluding the rijichoresponded in any way to the napper.Although I didnt buy the explanation at all, I could see that general acceptance of such a cover story would be essential to the successful institutionalization of inemuri.Following that logic, the deeper the bosss ideas, the deeper the sleep should be, with the full comatose sprawl like that of the Chinese ocean-side women being the ultimate form of profound homage and respect.Ironically, in their full sprawl, those Chinese workers were apparently more alert than the Japanese professor appeared to be (despite the dubious concentration claim made on his behalf). Rather than being poster children for the worlds exhausted, bone-weary laborers, some of those women were not only awake, but cheerily humming under their work hats (which probably make great resonance chambers for on-the-job karaoke).The Case for Leaving Work EarlierOne argument against sleeping off (or semi-on) the jobironically aimed at precisely the same Japanese culture that encourages itwas offered by a foreigner working in Japan, as a comment about how Japanese office workers will stay much longer than necessary, if only because they slack-off a lot during the work day and because leaving first is considered a sign of insufficient diligence and respect for colleagues or the boss My co-workers dont need to work the hours they do. If everyone left for home earlier, then the hour nap before lunch wouldnt be needed, the newspaper could be read at home, or the chat could be done in the more pleasant surrounding(s) of a coffee shop.The pressure to not leave first or before others, especially to not leave before the boss was enormous in the offices in which I worked. The zeremonieization of this norm is encapsulated in the rigidly prescribed verbal exchange between anyone who dares to leave prematurely O-saki ni, shitsurei shimasu (Leaving before you, I am very rude.)to which the scripted reply is always O-tsukaresama. (You are/must be very tired.)That ritual was tedious and tiresome enough for me to want to close my eyes (and ears) for some well-deserved inemuriwhich, however, wou ld probably have backfired on me.My Japanese colleagues would probably have interpreted that as deep meditation on and respect for the ritual and its rules.__________________________Note This is one in a series of articles by Michael Moffa, written while on the road, on the scene and on the job in China, autumn 2012.Photo Michael Moffa
Sunday, December 29, 2019
What it Was Actually Like to Be the Only Woman at My Company
What it Was Actually Like to Be the Only Woman at My CompanyWhat it Was Actually Like to Be the Only Woman at My CompanyLindsay Grizzard remembers the first time she discussed menstruation with her co-workers. It was about a year into her last job, as a front-end developer and designer with a small tech company of around 11 employees, of whom she was the only woman.I dont remember how we got onto the topic, but I said the word period in an offhand, not-even-talking-about-myself way, and it was just like all the air got sucked out of the room for a second. And then we moved on. I remember going home that night and talking to my friend So my company acknowledged the existence of periods today, and we all survived.This work culture was a stark difference from Hackbright Academy, the all-women coding bootcamp where Grizzard had trained before joining the tech startup, where she worked for around two years until taking a new job last summer. Recent estimates by the NCWIT suggest that wome n hold only around one in four computing jobs in the U.S., and its even worse among women of color, who represent single-digit percentages in the field. That means the overwhelming majority of women in tech are likely to find themselves on teams dominated by men. Frustratingly familiar issues like the gender pay gap and mora recent efforts, including the growing movement to curb sexual harassment, are characteristic of this underrepresentation.But every woman who finds herself alone among male co-workers has a different experience- with some ups, some downs, and more than a few iffy incidents in between. Heres what Grizzards was like, in her own words (condensed and lightly edited for clarity)Interviewing as the First WomanOn my first call with them as a job candidate, they mentioned how I would be really leading the charge as the woman on the team, and they were so excited to have a woman- and mentioned my gender like 10 times in that first kickoff call, which was definitely a red flag. But as a junior developer I was like, Please just give me a job. It felt like misguided enthusiasm, like their hearts were in the right place.So at the time I thought, That was a little weird, but okay, at least theyre trying. And it was kind of nice that they addressed the elephant in the room quickly Yes, youre going to be the only female here, and thats okay, and we acknowledge that, and were being intentional about it.But funnily, my gender didnt really ever come up again until a few months before I left the company. It was so upfront, but then it did kind of become gender-blind after that, which was a little confusing. The person I talked to in the beginning was open to talking about the gender imbalance, but everyone else at the company seemed really afraid to address it or just didnt want to.Fitting In (Up to a Point)After I started working there I became one of the guys, so to speak, which entailed just talking about video games and movies and Dungeons and Dragons- whi ch I can do because Im a nerdbut those were the only conversations they ever had. That was my biggest takeaway from working there that I could only expose about half of my personality.But the gender-blindness at first was really nice. After a while it became kind of annoying, but it was nice to just be able to focus on my job. I was never, ever hit on- and Ive had that at other companies no one ever made any weird jokes about my body or sexualized me at all.I remember there was this turning point when everyone started becoming more comfortable with me, after about six months of working there. There was one guy whose wife worked at Sephora, and makeup came up somehow at the lunch table, and I was like, Oh yeah, they have good lipstick there. And one of the guys started telling me about different types of lipstick, and how actually this one was better and actually he knows about lipstick. I remember looking at him like, you dont wear lipstick your wife is a designer at Sephora, but I dont think that gives you a lot of life experience with lipstick. It was just one of those conversations where I thought, This is what mansplaining feels like- okay, right.It got a little awkward, and luckily a few other people noticed, but no one stepped in- everyone kind of bit their tongue. When we switched topics, everyone jumped in enthusiastically to change the conversation back to video games.Signs of Bias Few Others Can SeeThis is how it is working as a woman on an all-male team You can never put your finger on exactly whether its the gender thing or whether its just a personal thing or whatever. For example, my tech lead would only ever Slack me. It was really hard to get him to come sit down next to me and help me, which is a really common thing to do in coding. But he would do that with everyone else. At first I didnt really notice it, but after six months, it was like every time, even if I would ask him to come pair-program with me for a little while, it would be like pu lling teeth. And we sat maybe five feet apart.Another funny thing was that anytime anyone else came into the office- like anyones wife or girlfriend- the first thing they would say is, Oh look This is the one female Which was interesting because that acknowledgment was coming mostly from women. I never took offense to it, but it would call it out for a second and the whole room would flinch, then let out a sigh of relief like, Are we okay? Okay, we can keep going.Another junior developer and I used to get lunch together. He was kind of my ally at work, and he also sensed the general weirdness at work he did notice the lipstick conversation because that one was just so blatant and out there. But its kind of difficult to talk to male co-workers about this stuff, even if they are your really good friend, because theyre just like, Oh, I dont know, I dont think thats a thingmaybe.Lessons LearnedI really think the tipping point is women in leadership. If I had anyone at a higher rank who was female that I couldve talked to about some of this stuff, it wouldve been much less of a problem. At my new company, I have so many women leaders I can talk to, and it makes such a big difference. And, its also important to just talk about gender dynamics in general Thats why Im okay with doing this interview.I work at gout now, which is a fintech company. Their engineering teams gender ratio is not 50/50 perfect, but its something they recognize and have a team working on it. They actually put effort into their diversity and inclusion programs, which I really like. But the biggest thing I noticed was that I was interviewed by all but one woman, out of I think 12 different people I talked to. That was huge to me.This article was originally published on Fast Company. It has been adapted here with permission. You can find more tips on starting your career in Fast Companys newsletter, Hit The Ground Running.
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