We Can Do It! -- A post for the ambitious young woman.

I frequently get asked advice from younger women about getting ahead professionally.  As much as I would like to say that the advice for women is the same as the advice for men, the truth is somewhat different.  College Times supplies "10 Surprising Statistics on Women in the Workplace," a list includes statistical gems like:

• Women make only 77.5 cents for every dollar a man earns.
• The more education a woman has, the greater the disparity in her wages.
• Women business owners employ 35% more people than all the Fortune 500 companies combined.
• Women earned less than men in 99% of occupations.

Business women do indeed live under a different set of circumstances than their male counterparts.

The first difference is the most obvious and inescapable one: you have a biological clock.  I'm sorry, but this is a fact that women must deal with as they plan their lives.  Some things can't be planned (falling in love, reproductive challenges, etc.), but the truth is that unlike men who can reach the age of 50 and still become biological parents (and never have to take 3 months bed rest for a pregnancy complication), the options are fewer and more expensive for women who want to put off parenting into middle age.  With that in mind, I advise most young women to consider carefully how they see parenting, and particularly the desire to experience pregnancy, fitting into their future. For those who really don't care about experiencing the joys (and miseries, if we are to be quite honest here) of pregnancy and child birth, your path becomes somewhat less time sensitive.  For those who have dreamed of babies and children to be a central part of their younger lives, see the next point.

For those who want children, want them early, and want a high-level career, you have to consider to what extent you want to be ever-present in your child's life.  Most of the women I know who choose to go up the ladder in their profession life while parenting also have exceptional and flexible childcare.  You really need someone to do the things you won't be there to do (chauffeur, laundry, cleaning, tutoring, etc.).  If you have always dreamed of being there at every game, lesson, or to welcome your kids home from school, a top level job will require more flexibility and imaginative childcare solutions.

A recent article on Fast Company describes the necessary planning women need to consider if they want to get to the top in business.  One great piece of advice is to "put your foot on the gas," don't stop until you absolutely have to take a break for family, and then make the decisions your way.  To that end, I also recommend finding one of three kinds of jobs early in your career: 1) the  kind that will give you as much responsibility and experience as you possibly can handle (non profits and start ups are great for this); 2) the kind that will put you next to a CEO or key person in your field (the best way to learn is to watch it being done); or 3) the kind that will make you a boat loads of money early in your career so you have enough to leap into your next venture.  If you can mix and match the three, so much the better, but use your twenties and thirties to sprint as far as you can into where you want to be professionally.

For those who want a relationship, you have to be able to explain the priority your job will take in your private life. Do you have a partner who is okay with you making more money in the relationship?  Do you have a partner who is okay with your giving so much time to your job?  Do you have the same understanding about raising any future children with help and support from others?  Having these conversations will help you understand where your career fits into your life plan right now.
Once you get into a position of management and power, be prepared to give the most you can to your staff. One thing that happens to women in upper level positions, especially those who have made hard choices to get there, is that they assume everyone else should live by those rules as well.  Making the $15 an hour secretary or a mid level worker sacrifice their home life for half of your pay is a way to breed ill will and contempt for your own success.  People who feel respected, appreciated, and supported will lay it all on the line for you.  Those who don't will clock in, clock out, do what their asked, and job search on the company computers at every fee moment.

Another big reason men make more money and get promotions is that they tend to ask. When you get into a job, negotiate your salary, look at your next step up and plan how to get there, make friends with key people in the organization.  Be strategic and focused on your career at every step.  Believe me, most companies are less concerned with your happiness than their bottom line. You need to focus on how you can do your job and move forward with your own goals. Don't "give your life" to an organization, instead "get a path to your life" from your organization.  Think about how your job serves your agenda.

Finally, know your risk aversion, and save money accordingly.  Men tend to be more willing to double down and risk it all.  If you can't manage this level of risk, figure out how much money you need as a safety harness and save it up before you jump.  The big thing is, at some point you may have to jump to get where you want to go.

  http://www.fastcompany.com/1822755/shattering-the-glass-ceiling-leadership-lessons-for-successful-women

 http://collegetimes.us/10-surprising-statistics-on-women-in-the-workplace/