My Next Career Move
On a whim one day, I applied for a new job to test the waters. It’s for a position that very few African American women have held in my field. So this would be a breakthrough of the glass ceiling for me.
Despite having an extensive portfolio of successful, related, and complex projects under my belt, the old boy’s club often value seniority from their own kind over proven results. Because of this, I hesitated at first…even questioned if I were qualified. I know I have the skills and experience to successfully perform the job, but people tell me that I lack the expected breath and depth of experience due to limited years in the field. Most have 15-20, I have 7. But that didn’t stop me! In typical Single Ma fashion, I said screw the naysayers and decided to go for it. I applied anyway!
A few weeks later, I was called for an interview. A panel of four – all men, all white, no women. Typical and expected. Based on my presentation, they’d never know I questioned if I were qualified! I was relaxed, confident, and engaging. In response to the final question – “why do you think you’re the best?” – I brought it home baby! My body language let the panel know it was a 2-way interview – this is what I can do for you, but I also need to know what you can do for me.
One week later, I heard through the corporate grapevine that they were calling my references. The big boss at my previous job – the one who rewarded my performance with a generous bonus after I was long gone – sent me an email with a summary of their conversation. Side Note: I have to send a personalized thank you note and small gift to show my appreciation. Same day, I received a call for a second interview. Go figure.
If I am offered the position, this will be a promotion. A breakthrough of the glass ceiling! And a 15% salary increase. I will have obtained my career goals and exceeded my salary goals – all under the age of 35. I already know that I will not question the base salary because my focus will be on tuition reimbursement. As part of my long(er) term career goals and retirement plan, when BabyGirl graduates high school next year, I’ve decided to take the LSAT and apply to law school. Single Ma, MBA, JD…hmm…that has a nice ring to it.
Y’all better watch out now! LOL
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Oh that’s excellent! I’m so happy for you :) (even if you don’t get it you’re getting really, really close and it’s inevitable.)
You have such sound common sense that I think you’d actually make a great judge. . . . :)
A judge? Oh my! [-SM]
Well, you can’t start the car unless you have the keys in the ignition…..well at least not legally, not the New Jersey way! HA!
Anyway, congrats. I hope it all works out……….
You are a FORCE to be reckoned with! That is incredible… I applaud your chutzpah :) You sure showed them.
Go single ma! I’m watching and taking notes!
Wow, Congratulations. Reading your posts and feeling your drive and determination really inspires me everday to do just a little more to get myself where I wanna be.
Wow. That old boy’s club ain’t no joke. If anyone can break through, it’s you.
You Go Girl!!! You just made me feel a heckuva lot better about a leap of faith I just took in my career field. Be blessed!
Good Luck! And I hope you follow up that leap of faith with a lot of prayer. [-SM]
Go Single Ma! You are inspiring! I hope you are mentoring younger women; you’re a great role model.
Do the doggone thing!!!
Trust me, I know how you felt in that interview. I have countless experiences of traveling, meetings, interviews where it’s just me and a bunch of white men. But I never let them see me sweat. Never let them know that I’m questioning myself – because believe you me, I question myself quite a bit.
I am so proud of you!!!! You’ve set your goals, stuck to the plan and you reap the rewards. May God continue to bless you as you set the world on fire!
Way to go! I’m cheesing like its me who applied, LOL!
*in Martin voice*- u go girl!
Good Luck in the second interview (though I doubt you’ll need it). I would love to hear more about how you manage your career…I’m especially interested in how you apply for other jobs while currently employed. Maybe since you’ve mentioned your bored with blogging you could change it up a bit a do more career advice posts?
You become a judge i will establish residency to have you hear my child support case…then you can stick it to him….Michigan sure isn’t doing their job !!!! 3 years behind on $50 a month payments and it takes me now riding their butt because i am sick of him telling my kid he will call then doesn’t. He can afford a cell phone he can afford to pay me !!! Then to boot the show cause hearing isn’t til end of August….I need school clothes $$.
As for moving up in your job I have a good feeling. It’s amazing what you have been able to accomplish. You give lots of people both the ones reading your blog and people who know you in “real life” hope that you can achieve lots if you set your mind to it. I don’t know you personally but still am so proud of you just the same !!!
Good luck.
Very exciting, Single Ma! I’m especially impressed that you’ve juggled this kind of career advancement with raising Baby Girl– so many women seem to be forced to make trade-offs because of the responsibilities of parenting. I’m so curious to know what exactly you do for a living that you’d get the law degree too… though I suppose if you told me you’d have to kill me…
You already know the answer to that. LOL! [-SM]
WOW!!!! YAY for you!!! You are truly amazing and such an inspiration – which I know you’ve heard before but it’s so true.
You really motivate to strive, to work hard, to set new goals and to dream big. You make me feel as though I can achieve whatever I set my mind to.
I agree with dmac.. CHEESIN”"”"”
Ma- if you dont do another thing in this life, know that you have touched lives with your words, goals, and breakthroughs.
Keep doing you.. you inspire me to keep it movin.
Too awesome, lady! I swear, your updates make me want to get up and GO. Are you EVER nervous? ;)
As always, an inspiration, and I look forward to hearing what comes of this little experiment of yours. Single Ma, MBA, JD, indeed!
wow. fantastic. so inspiring. i really mean that and i wonder if there are many others, who read your blog, feel the same way…i bet they do. would you consider sharing more advice and stories about your career or career aspirations in general?
To protect my identity (and career for that matter), I’m selective about the details that I disclose. But feel free to click the word “career” at the top or select career in the drop down list of categories. You will find lots of things I’ve shared in the past about my transition and career development. [-SM]
Congrats! If you need any advice regarding applying to law school, please don’t hesitate to ask. I went through it this past cycle and will be doing it again this cycle due to my dad’s illness. I have quite a few posts on law school on my blog, including advice on studying for the LSAT. I highly recommend the Powerscore Bibles for each section of the LSAT. They are great! And take lots of practice tests under timed conditions. It really helps.
Will definitely be seeking advice from the more experienced law school students and lawyers in the blogosphere. [-SM]
I am so incredibly happy for you!! You are an inspiration to many of your readers…but you probably already knew that :)
Congratulations! I’ll have my fingers crossed for you.
I wish I was near you, We would celebrate….oh no not yet
Congrats anyway if they are calling references that’s always good.
I am so proud of you for what you have been able to accomplish. You do you like no one else could!
Thanks for the support and well wishes. I’m confident but not so confident that I don’t need well wishes, a little luck, and lots of prayers. So y’all continue to pray for me and send positive vibes! If I get this job, it will be a really BIG deal – bigger than any other promotion!! I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I wish you well, SingleMa!
congrats on the second interview. i just started reading your blog a few weeks ago and i love it. i wish you well on your career goals
Congrats, congrats, congrats. You are an inspiration to all women, black, white, pink or polka dot, mothers or non mothers. Do you baby!
Just as an FYI in my head you are on my Michelle Obama team…aka the women I aspire to be like when I grow up.
SM, I am so proud of you and all of your accomplishments. Like Madame X, I am especially happy to see you achieving so much at work while raising BabyGirl alone. I am a frequent reader, but an infrequent commenter. I hope that you get this job. But if this one doesn’t work out, I’m sure that there will be many more advances in the future. I love to see mothers succeeding career-wise (especially those without a stay at home husband) since it’s hard out there! Best of luck to you now and always!
Single Ma, if you get the new job (I really hope you do!!!), will they reimburse you for law school? Are you going to be a part-time law student then?
Single Ma, I hope you get the job! You are so inspirational! Keep this blog going!
WOW. I love your sense of confidence and positive attitude! Very inspiring!
Great news on the potential job offer! That’s a great feeling.
I have to say, however, that I’m still perplexed by your law school interest. I’ve yet to hear you (read you?) say you wish to practice law.
If you’re already making 6 figures (and I think you are), below the age of 35, with no more student loans to pay, then you are doing so very well. Why incur additional debt? A law degree is not a teaching credential and should be treated as such. By that I mean, don’t look at it as a “fall back” or a good certification to have that will give you more freedom. You sound so free already.
So please, please, I beg you to give long, serious thought to why you want to go to law school. Law school today combines some of the not-so-hot parts of both a trade school (which is what it SHOULD be) and a college (which is what it tries to be, but doesn’t accomplish very well). If you want to work in a law firm, lawyering, then go. That’s a deceptively simple statement, but it’s the absolute best advice for anyone considering the financial and time commitment.
Your drive and accomplishments are very impressive. I get a real kick out of you being at your current career level and being a young woman and mother about to send your baby girl to college.
Wow, you are awe-inspiring! Way to go and good luck!
Brava honey, BRAVA! As I always say, if you don’t try, you’ll never know, and if you ask, the worst they’ll say is no. So you go girl! I’ve got all my fingers & toes crossed for you.
Congrats on the 2nd interview!! I wish I had the guts to be as confident as you sound! It’s awesome to hear you are setting long-term goals, planning for them, and eventually achieving them! It gives me hope for my future.