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Women in the Workforce: A Recipe for Jobseekers
Last weekend, I attended the York County Women’s Fair. I was there partly because 75 percent of the jobseekers my company serves are women, and partly because I wanted an up-to-the-minute snapshot of women’s attitudes about work.
What I heard was not comforting. A number of jobseeking women shared their angst about the job market locally and about macro-level factors beyond their control. This uncertainty was particularly acute among middle-aged women. My sense from talking to them is that they feel paralyzed – they don’t know where they fit in today’s job market, they lack a sense of belonging, and they are having difficulty establishing a career direction.
Over the past several months, we’ve all read about concerns over unemployment rates, downsizing, and outsourcing jobs overseas. Clearly, Central Pennsylvania’s workforce -- particularly women -- has not been immune to these and other trends. It’s been well documented that, over the past decade, this region has been experiencing a painful shift from a manufacturing to service-oriented economy.
More negative news: this area’s women jobseekers have fewer role models. A February news item noted that only about 17 percent of CEOs in York County are women – a paltry number we should all be working to change. Locally, healthcare costs are having a profound effect on individual families. Several women we recently placed in jobs through Gdovin Personnel told me they were seeking employment solely to pay for health insurance.
It all sounds discouraging, but here’s the good news: for every challenge, there are solutions. It won’t be easy for York County’s unemployed or underemployed women. But for every disheartened woman jobseeker, I know one who has taken charge of her situation and begun ascending a career ladder.
So, what can this region’s women jobseekers do? Learn from those who have been successful. Time and again, I see motivated jobseekers take a similar path toward a meaningful career. That path involves a few important steps.
First, they take control. Women must understand that, instead of looking for “a job,” they must make clear choices about the work they want to do and the type of career that fits with their skills, experiences and sensibilities. Every time I’ve seen a jobseeker take responsibility for her future, she’s not only closer to employment – she’s happier, because she has defined her goals and part of herself.
Second, women must do the work that makes them a better job candidate. Undoubtedly, the situation is competitive, but someone’s going to fill every opening. You must do what you can to make sure it’s you. Ask for help. Explore training programs to boost your skills. Get assistance with your resume. Do temp work in your field of interest. And by all means, network. Tell everyone you know that you’re seeking work and give them specifics about your skills and interests.
Third, women must step back and take a look at how the world is changing. Sure, some jobs aren’t as plentiful as they were 10 or even five years ago. But some sectors of the economy are booming. For example, seven of the 10 fastest-growing careers over the next decade will be in healthcare, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Right now, Gdovin Personnel places more than half of its jobseekers in the healthcare sector, so this growth is already happening in York County. These jobs entail a wide range of duties, and require varying levels of skill and experience. Some growing occupations, like medical records technician and medical assistant, offer strong opportunities for advancing into medical administration.
Fourth, women should understand – and mimic – the positive traits shown, overall, by other generations of workers. If you’re an older worker, learn to embrace change and acquire technology skills like today’s 20-something workforce. If you’re a younger worker, you’ll help your career by emulating the work ethic and pride of craftsmanship often found in older workers, particularly in our region.
Every year, I talk to hundreds of women who are looking for work. And every year, many of these women fuel my optimism because they chart a new course for their lives. Jobseekers, both men and women alike, can learn much from their experience.
Ann Gdovin-Hake is CEO of Gdovin Personnel Inc., a York-based employment agency.
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