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5 post-graduation tips for aspiring women leaders

By WTOP Staff

It’s that time of year. Facebook is full of photos of caps and gowns, commencement speeches are in the news, and all across the country our future female leaders are trying to figure out how to launch their careers.

I was like most of you. I knew I wanted to do something great, something fulfilling, something I loved, and something where I could have a big impact. I had a diploma, but it did not provide a road map to my future. Even Siri could not have directed me through the twists and turns of my career in technology.

Since I now consider myself lucky to have found all of those things in my career, I’ll share some of my personal advice to those of you trying to figure out what in the world to do next.

Stop focusing on the end goal and just do something!

As an aspiring sportscaster, I decided to take a year off after college and apply to broadcast journalism grad school. I moved to San Francisco because it seemed like a cool place to live, and I took a job as an admin at Oracle, because I needed to pay rent.

MORE FROM STACEY EPSTEIN: Bring back bossy: Sheryl Sandberg is wrong about this one

Yes, that’s how I “fell” into my 20-plus year tech career. I knew nothing about technology, but as I got more immersed in work, my eyes were opened to the industry. I quickly moved from admin into marketing, then sales, then alliances. And after six years, I knew exactly what I wanted to do long term and haven’t wavered since.

It’s okay not to have your career path planned out. I never thought I’d end up in technology, and it took a few years of exploring different positions to get settled on a path that was perfect for me. So don’t stress too much about making the wrong job choice when you’re looking for that first opportunity. Just do something!

Even if you find yourself in a role or a company you don’t like, that is a great learning experience in itself. And as you go, you’ll learn from each experience and can use those as building blocks to get to the place you eventually want to be.

Move out of your parents’ house. Now.

Like many of you, after college graduation I moved back in with my mom. The day I arrived home, she said, “You can stay here three months for free. After that, you either move out or pay me rent at the going rate.”

Mom didn’t need my money. She just wanted me to make use of my education and take responsibility for my own livelihood. So when three months passed, I got into gear and formed the plan to move to San Francisco. I lived paycheck to paycheck for several years, but it forced me out of a comfortable place and got my career going. Who knows how long I would have stayed at home waiting tables had I not been not-so-gently urged to get on with things?

Talk to everyone

We know what a doctor or teacher does from an early age, but what about a marketer, product manager or TV producer? In order to find out how many other cool career options exist, talk to your neighbors, to your parents’ friends, to anyone.

I was a liberal arts/English major who wanted to be a sportscaster, and looking back, I realize I had no way of knowing what a CMO at a software company actually does and no way of knowing it would be a great fit for me.

So seek out anyone who has a career that looks somewhat interesting to you. Ask them what they like and don’t like. What a day-in-the-life is like. What it takes to be successful. How they came to work in their profession. What their previous jobs were. And when you find something that really sparks your interest, ask them for a job!

Read

There’s no better way to understand an industry than to read publications and news in that space. I remember running on the treadmill and reading Red Herring(a popular tech pub back in the day) cover to cover. It helped me realize what areas of the industry did and didn’t interest me. And the knowledge I gained helped me move ahead quickly in my career.

Today with social tools, it’s even easier. Think you want to get into high tech? Follow Re/code, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and PandoDaily on Twitter. Read everything they tweet. Think you want to get into fashion? Then get the Vogue app on your phone.

Look around for women leaders

Make sure the organization you choose offers advancement opportunities for women. You don’t want to take an entry-level job hoping to move up, only to learn that you’ll have to work twice as hard as your male counterpart to climb up the ladder.

How many women in leadership positions did you speak to in the hiring process? Are there any women on the management team at all? Do you get the feeling there’s a culture of balance? Sad as it is, there are still plenty of companies that offer less pay and less advancement for women, so let’s starve them of our great talents.

There is nothing wrong with not knowing what you want to do. Your first few jobs or internships are opportunities to help you figure that out. Just remember to know your value and be your own advocate — research, read, explore, be open to new opportunities and follow your passions. You’ll be surprised how things fall into place, even if you can’t ask Siri for directions.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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