What are you worth?

Yet another report concluded recently that women's pay lags behind men's: the Pay Gap.
Read more about it  www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-41805053


What is the pay gap?
Before your eyes glaze over at the thought of reading a dry report, stop! The Pay Gap is more about fulfilment and training.

It's not so much about women being paid less for doing the same work, but women not achieving their potential within the workplace due (often) to family commitments coming first, or having fewer qualifications. This is one reason why we have fewer female MPs; working hours late into the night are rarely compatible with family life unless there is another parent or carer to share the load.

Why women feel the need for change
You may not be bothered about your earnings (or you may be.) But you may be one of the many women who come to me for career change who - having reached a certain age or stage in their lives- feel they want to do something different, either to earn more, or to have more time for themselves, or to fulfil a long-standing dream.

When does this happen?
It varies. I've coached hundreds of women, not solely on careers (but they make up about 50 per cent of my enquiries.) Usually women start thinking about change when:

• Their last or only child starts school
• Their child starts university
• They are made redundant
• They separate or divorce
• They want more money
• They want less work and have more time for them
• They have been in the same type of work for 20 years and want something different.
• They reach a landmark birthday - 40, 50 or 60 (yes, women are working over 60!)
• They want to do something they have always longed to do and now have the confidence and freedom to go for it.

These are the outcomes of coaching for some women I have worked with:

• Taken their small, sole trader business out of the spare bedroom, leased premises and employed staff.
• Taken a sabbatical from their career to travel and re-assess their next step.
• Started a new business that had been a back-burner dream for ages.
• Decided to work part time at the 'day job' and spend the rest of their week self-employed doing something they love.
• Found a new job with fewer hours, but higher pay, so they have more time with their children.
• Volunteered for a charity (having been made redundant) then were offered paid work with the charity on the other side of the world.
• Made significant changes, with my help, to their CVs, online profiles (LinkedIn), and interview skills resulting in job offers.
• Started studying for new qualifications to enable them to apply for new jobs.

Where do you fit in?
The pay gap is not just about money. It's about finding opportunities that reward your skills and develop your skills. If you are stuck in a dead-end role, you are bored, or feel it's not what you want any more, what's stopping you from making changes?

Why are you not doing the work you love?
​Fear? Lack of confidence? Indecision? You're nodding. Yes, that's what I thought.

• Fear- I might fail. Or even succeed! (Think about that one.)
• Lack of confidence? - I can't do it.
• Indecision? - I like Plan A and Plan B. Oh, and there is Plan C too. Help!
• What others think? - I don't want to let my boss down, my partner, my parents. I don't want to look a fool. 

If you want to know how to get rid of these nagging doubts that hold you back, get in touch for a chat about my coaching packages.