Going Back to Work and Getting the Job You Want - Ep.25

Financially Empowering Women

Last year President Obama remarked on equal pay for equal work, which got people talking. He said that “Today, the average full-time working woman earns just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns He went on to say that “in 2014, that’s an embarrassment.” We know this data is correct and no one is disputing that there is a wage gap, but some want to debate that the difference is due to women’s life choices — such as women choosing to leave the workforce when they have children or take care of parents or simply provide support for their husbands to enable them to make a better salary.

The pay gap of 23 cents is only part of the story. Maybe you say to yourself that the gap does not matter since your husband is making a good salary. That is fine for now. But what about when you are in retirement? Women receive smaller pensions and less social security than men because of this pay gap. So it is important to understand that many decisions that we make throughout our life don’t just effect today, but have cumulative long-term consequences that become evident later in our lives.

For those women who want to be financially independent, regardless of marital status, the ability to land a good job when you need it can go a long way. Although we know the unemployment numbers are difficult to untangle, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were 15% more unemployed married women looking for jobs last month than married men. If you are among the unemployed, looking for a job, our guest today can help with some pointers.

Janet Ritt Chocky, MA has been successfully assisting people with their job search needs for over 20 years. She has a background in human resources, particularly in the recruitment and employment genre. She is an experienced career counselor and resume writer and has helped thousands of people obtain employment, return to work, acquire new job skills, prepare for employment, and essentially get the job they want! Janet published a book titled “100, (Yes, 100!) Job Search Tips.” The book is available as hard copy or eBook on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. She is currently a career counselor and resume writer, as well as an adjunct professor. Janet volunteers as an Alumni Mentor for Monmouth University, as well as resume writing and career counseling for some local non-profit organizations. She can be reached at [e-mail].