Job Title: Manager, grants administration
Years of Experience: 15
Where: Dayton, OH
Other Relevant Work Experience: Bedside nurse in hospital, clinical research coordinator, hospital unit administrator, nurse and patient educator in physician office, grant project manager
Education: Wright State University, BSN, RN Grad, suma cum laude; Emmanuel College for master's degree, current
Salary: Research the median salary for grants manager jobs.
In this Salary Story, we hear from a trained nurse who was promoted into a grants administration position. She shares a detailed job description, some of the rewards and challenges of this job, and her personal reasons for entering the health care field to begin with.This job may seem like a behind-the-scenes role in health care, but you'll find out how it can have a direct - and positive - impact on patients.
Oversee and establish infrastructure for grant, and research, compliance. Write polices and internal controls, create annual budgets for six divisions (total of over $1 million), track all research finances to ensure compliance, build budgets for all research activities to ensure compliance and cost coverage, establish indirect rate with federal agency; HHS, conduct all fiscal reports and federal reporting, collaborate with the grant writing team to create grant applications, conduct contract negotiations with sponsors, conduct audits for accuracy and compliance, serve on network corporate compliance committee, serve on divisional leadership team to assist in the establishment of the research vision.
My daughter was born with a crippling birth defect and had multiple surgeries while a baby (11 by her second birthday), and my husband had a mental illness that placed him in the hospital three times. I had to learn many medical things, and experienced both the good and the bad of health care. I went into nursing to make a difference for those suffering from such occurrences. I still try and make that difference, only now I have migrated to the research side to see if I can be a part of enabling researchers to discover cures.
I love that I work with a variety of people in the health care environment - patients, nurses, physicians, administration, pharmaceutical companies. In one of our grants, we teach motivational interviewing as the care delivery approach (versus directive: do it because I say you need to do this). A patient was struggling with her escalating diabetes - if things did not change for her, she was going to have to start insulin injections. The doctor had been warning her of this danger, telling her to be compliant with her diet ... very directive. Then the physician went through our training (funded by grant money) and decided to use this motivational interviewing idea with this patient. She engaged the patient with MI techniques, the patient responded very well, worked with the physician on her own plan to manage her DM, and after a year the patient is caring better for herself than ever before, and has not needed to advance to insulin treatment. That is making a difference in someone's life. Those experiences continue to motivate me every day to do what I do.
Compliance. So many researchers and physicians are so eager to do their work, that they forget they need to do things in certain order - institutional review boards, consents, cost principles for spending - so you have to establish very good relationships with them. Then they are comfortable that you are there to help them and not to be a Gestapo obstruction to their research goal.
There are classes to take on research coordinator activities, as well as workshops for grant compliance. It would have great to have had that prior to being promoted into the role. I spent many evenings, weekends, and holidays learning the regulations!
I get to travel, and I love that.
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Considered working as an Advertising Manager? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in that field?
For the past nine years, I have held the position of Director of Advertising with a major player in the automotive industry.
Would you describe the things you do on a typical day?
The main focus of my position is to develop ad campaigns for my company's products. I work closely with the rest of my staff to produce exciting advertising that will prompt consumers to buy our goods. Specifically, my day consists of meetings with company executives to discuss campaigns, preparing our budget (for each campaign and our annual budget), examining and editing promotional materials, and coordinating the efforts of teams in different departments to ensure we are all on the same page.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What would it take to unleash your full enthusiasm, talent and productivity?
I am extremely satisfied with my job; I'd say a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. The only thing keeping me from realizing my full enthusiasm is that I am bound by the product lines that I am selling. My goal is to run my own advertising firm some day.
On a good day when things are going well, can you give an example of something that really makes you feel good?
I feel like I was made for this job. It allows me to use my creativity and people skills in a way that is beneficial to my team, our employer, and our target audience.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I was hired as a graphic artist and worked in that capacity for 2 years. I continued my education and earned a promotion to assistant manager, then I was promoted again to manager, and after that I earned my current position. Honestly, there is nothing I would do differently. I am very pleased with how things turned out.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and how did that happen?
It is important to safeguard your work. I once had an excellent idea that ended up being used by someone who stole it from me! That was early in my career and I've since learned to ensure that people get the credit they deserve for the work they do.
What don’t they teach in school that would’ve been helpful to you?
School doesn't really prepare you for the pressure that comes in the working world. The demands and deadlines can really take their toll if you aren't prepared to face them. You need to be able to turn it around and make it into an opportunity to showcase your talents and let yourself shine!
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
The strangest thing that ever happened on the job was when our company hosted a retreat for the management team. It was a weekend of odd team-building exercises that were thought up by an outside consultant. More than a few of us were left scratching our heads.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
In my job, I get to use my skills to coordinate the efforts of a lot of talented people to produce advertising campaigns for products that I believe in. I can't wait to see what my team will come up with each day.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and how did that happen?
The hardest part of my job is still in meeting the deadlines for the projects that my team and I work on. Sometimes, a date will get moved up on us, or we will be told to make some rather involved last-minute changes. That can be very nerve-wracking!
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance?
I encounter a moderate amount of stress in my job. After all, if my team fails it is ultimately my fault as Director. However, I have an incredibly talented group of individuals who are more than capable of rising to any challenge. On my own time, I find that running helps me to unwind as well as providing the exercise that I need.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
The advertising field can be lucrative for an educated and motivated worker. The salary can vary, but the national average for an advertising manager is right around $50,000. My family and I live a modest lifestyle and have managed to save a little while still enjoying life. We are comfortable and happy with my career.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I have earned three weeks of vacation time in my accumulated years on the job. I usually take the family on two week-long trips each year and we take one "stay-cation" where we just spend family time at home. That is enough vacation time for me, as I am feeling fresh and ready to go when I return to work.
Does this job move your heart? Feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
As I worked my way up from graphic design to management, I found it advantageous to further my education. I earned a bachelor's degree in advertising and also took classes in marketing, sales, communications, and psychology. Computer skills, the ability to lead people and effective communication are also valuable assets in the advertising field.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
If a friend was considering a career in advertising, I would tell them to be patient, persistent, and sell themselves. After all, until you land that first job, you are the product you are selling. Also, prepare a portfolio of your work or things you've done in school that show off your talents. A little self-promotion is a good thing in this field!
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
In five years, I see myself as the president of my own advertising firm. With the will to succeed, you can write your own ticket and be who you want to be!
This is a true career story as told to MarketingJobs.org and is one of many interviews with marketing professionals which also include Marketing Communications Executive and Marketing & Media Relations.
Considered working as a Virtual Administrative Assistant? This interview will take you through the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more. This is a true career story as told to MarketingJobs.org and is one of many interviews with marketing professionals which among others include Video Game Marketing Manager and VP Marketing.
What is your job title and what industry do you work in? How many years of experience do you have in that field?
I have worked for the last three years as a Virtual Assistant. While my industry is a little ambiguous at this point it is usually considered the Administrative field.
Would you describe the things you do on a typical day?
One of the things I like most about this job is that there is no such thing as a “typical day”. Different clients need me to do different things for them and in the Virtual Assistant field you could do anything such as writing, social media, data entry, scheduling, blog posting, accounting or even graphic design or web design. I focus more on writing, blog management, social media, organization and project launches. This means I often write articles and blog posts, handle WordPress, Facebook and twitter accounts, and help people stay organized and on task for projects, e-books, meetings, etc.
On a scale of 1 to 10 how would you rate your job satisfaction? What would it take to unleash your full enthusiasm, talent and productivity?
I would rate my job satisfaction an 8. I love what I do but sometimes you can get clients with unreasonable requests or those who don’t give you the information you need to complete a project then demand the finished product. In order to unleash my full enthusiasm, talent and productivity it would take a VA-client relationship where we were totally in sync, like Radar on the MASH TV show where he knew what was needed before it was asked.
What did you learn the hard way in this job and how did that happen?
I had a client that would just send me an email saying “I need this_” and expect me to do it. Graphic design, web design and how to get a website to rank high on Google were all things I learned on the fly. I was new in the business then and afraid to say no or to ask more questions about how to do something. Now if I don’t know, I ask, and I find people appreciate my honesty.
What don’t they teach in school that would’ve been helpful to you?
Learning how to create a careful balance with clients between having to tell them what to do versus being told what to do is something that is never taught in school. In my line of work I often have to explain things to my clients and why what they want isn’t possible. This is something not all clients handle well no matter how carefully you say it. This would have saved me a lot of grief and perhaps a lost client or two.
How did you get started in this line of work? If you could go back and do it differently, what would you change?
I was looking for a way to earn some extra money while my children were younger and I had two at home. I got on Elance and started stumbling my way around and found a few clients. Later I started researching on the Web, went back to college, and started my own business. If I had it to do all over again I would have approached this as a business. I would do my research, create a business plan, and attack everything head on and I would have most likely been successful sooner.
What’s the strangest thing that ever happened to you in this job?
The strangest thing that ever happened to me in this job was when I had to go through YouTube videos for viral videos and found one of a Denmark commercial where a man kicks a baby. And I thought US commercials were weird.
On a good day when things are going well, can you give an example of something that really makes you feel good?
What makes me feel good is when a client doesn’t think something is possible and I am able to figure out a way to get it done for them. The relief and gratitude they express makes up for the bad days.
When nothing seems to go right, what kind of snafus do you handle and what do you dislike the most?
As a subcontractor, I use my own equipment. Anything goes wrong with my hardware or software and it can be a whole day down the drain.
How stressful is your job? Are you able to maintain a comfortable or healthy work-life balance?
My job is no more stressful then the typical office job. It took time to learn to walk away from the office but now I have a healthy work-life balance.
What’s a rough salary range for the position you hold? Are you paid enough and/or happy living within your means?
VA’s earn anything from $15-$60/ hr. I am in the middle range now and I do earn enough but it took a while to get here.
What’s the most rewarding moment you’ve experienced in this position? Of all the things you’ve done at work, what are you most proud of?
I liked working for this one non-profit company that was helping the people in Haiti. I love when I can help other people that is one of the best aspects of a VA in my opinion.
What’s the most challenging moment you’ve experienced? What would you prefer to forget?
The most challenging moment I ever experienced was when a client asked me to add some information to a WordPress site and I found out that it was done wrong. The programmer was a good friend of hers and she didn’t like being told the person didn’t know what they were doing and the work had to be redone. I had one very difficult client who demanded a lot, paid little, and was never satisfied. If I could, I would forget the three months I struggled to make him happy.
What education and skills do you need to get hired and succeed in this field?
I find as an business owner a degree in business management helps a lot, but as a Virtual Assistant you don’t need a formal degree, just experience. You need to be able to work well without having someone looking over your shoulder all the time and have Internet experience helps. Other skills depend vary but include data entry, scheduling, office skills, graphic design and other areas where people need an extra hand.
What would you tell a friend considering your line of work?
It is a great job but you have to be patient, work hard and take time to build a solid reputation.
How much vacation do you take? Is it enough?
I actually took my first vacation this year. That is something I am working on and don’t advise other people to do the same. Create a plan where you take time off or you get burnt out.
Are there any common misunderstandings you want to correct about what you do?
People have little or no idea of what a VA is. We are business owners, not secretaries, and experienced professionals, not lackeys to do run errands. I would want people to understand that what we do is more like a consultant and if you handle your VA relationship right your business will skyrocket.
Does this job move your heart? Feel like you found your calling or sweet spot in life? If not, what might do it for you?
I do love what I do and this is what I want to keep doing as I hone my skills and my business to establish a client base that supports my family and what I want to do in life so I can grow.
If you could write your own ticket, what would you like to be doing in five years?
In five years I want to have 6-10 VA’s under me so that I can be more of a manager and spend more time with my family.
Is there anything unique about your situation that readers should know when considering your experiences or accomplishments?
I did all of this as a single parent. So if I can do it you can too.
Name: Bill Wesen
Job Title: Residential Home Appraisal Reviewer
Where: Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
Years of Experience: 10
Other Relevant Work Experience: Electrical Engineering
Education: Bachelor of Engineering
Salary: Research the median salary for appraisal reviewer.
This Salary Story focuses on a real estate career that is more behind-the-scenes than an appraiser or real estate agent. We'll find out exactly what a home appraisal reviewer does, how to get started as a real estate appraiser, and some of the challenges you can expect to face in this career. For more info on real estate salaries, check out the links after the interview.
An appraisal reviewer is not much different from an appraiser, it’s simply the next step up the line. As an appraisal reviewer, I analyze the quality of residential home appraisal reports. This means that I read the appraisal reports and check that they have everything they need, and that the appraisers who wrote the reports did everything they were supposed to do. First I read the report, and make sure it is the right report type for the house. There are different reports based on whether it is a single home, multifamily, land, condominium, or cooperative property type. I have to check the address; surprisingly enough it is easy to make a typo on a report for something as simple as the address. Then there are many appraisal requirements the appraisers have to meet in the report. I have to make sure the appraisers did the correct procedures the right way; it is easy to skimp out on a necessary time-consuming procedure. There are procedures for measuring the house, finding comparable properties nearby that have been sold recently, and taking pictures of these comparable properties as proof that the appraiser did what he or she was supposed to. Many appraisers dislike having to visit comparable properties to get an idea of what the local open market is; instead of visiting the comparable properties, they take pictures off the internet.
I went to college for electrical engineering. Being an appraiser and an appraisal reviewer is a long step away from electrical engineering. I majored in that because I did not know there was anything else that had the things I love to do: math, designing things, and using math to design things. It was not until I picked up a book about ”finding the right career for you” that I discovered residential home appraisal. I read the description and was surprised to find that there was a job, much less this job, that had all the things I love to do as a necessary part of the job. As an appraiser it was even required that I write, use math, take pictures, and study real estate. As an electrical engineer, I was never able to use my interest in city planning and analysis of neighborhood trends in my job. Also, a distinct advantage to being an appraiser is that I got to work outside half the day. The other half of the day I was able to work in my home office to be home for my kids when they got home from school every day. Although I loved appraisal, I became an appraisal reviewer because the work is nationwide and it is a lot more stable.
I loved being an appraiser and I love being an appraisal reviewer because I simply love my job. I love doing the math, taking pictures of various houses, and especially helping people who are just getting into the housing market find a house they would never be able to afford otherwise. Houses change as the decades roll by and I love being able to see the differences and trying to figure out what caused the changes in trends. I love comparing the woodwork, or looking at how houses built in the 1920s usually had a parlor to entertain company whereas now the living room is primarily used. As an appraisal reviewer I get to look at reports from all over the country and I can see how, even if the houses are nearly the same, the house markets can be completely different. When I was an appraiser I always had to check if the house was in the ”flood zone,” but when I first became an appraisal reviewer I started reviewing houses in Hawaii. Instead of checking whether the houses were in the flood zone, I had to check if houses were in the ”lava zone.”
I love helping first-time buyers pick out a house they absolutely love. A few years ago, I was doing an appraisal for a tiny house in St. Paul. The home wasn’t very big, and it wasn’t very expensive, but it was cozy. I was taking pictures and I met the buyers. They were a young couple who had just moved here from Thailand. Even though they hardly spoke any English because they had recently immigrated into the country, they were so happy just to be able to buy a home and move to America. In that moment I remembered how much I enjoy my job, not just for the variations between houses in the same city, or the elements in my job that fit me so well, but also because I love being able to experience the joy that buyers feel when they find the perfect house at an affordable price.
Some of the biggest challenges in being an appraisal reviewer are trying to get the appraisers to do their job, and do it the right way. There are a lot of requirements appraisers have to meet in terms of how to write the appraisal, how and what to take pictures of, and which walls or measurements need to be taken. Some of the procedure requirements are from Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association), the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice), state laws, and client requirements. In addition to following those, sometimes there are conflicts and there is an order of precedence that needs to be taken; if an appraiser does not follow it correctly, I need to tell him or her to follow the correct guideline when it takes precedence. Another difficulty is trying to keep the client happy.
There are specific deadlines for each appraisal and it wouldn’t be very difficult to meet those deadlines if everything was done correctly the first time. It takes a few days for an appraiser to get to the house and then another few days before the report is completed, which is when I get it. I read it and check for errors. If there is no mistake, then it is all good to go. If there is a mistake or a problem, then the appraiser has to go back to the house, fix the mistake, and bring it back to me, which doubles the time the appraisal takes. It is difficult to manage the short amount of time we have to do the appraisal, especially if the appraiser does not follow the correct procedures or write the report right. There is another challenge when underwriters don’t understand the idiosyncrasies of the local market. This makes it difficult to communicate what’s happening in a local market to an underwriter from another state.
For someone who is just getting into residential home appraisal, I would tell them to get a good foundation of education before they begin. It is important to know a lot about math and to have good writing skills. No one wants to get back an appraisal report they paid several hundred dollars for just to find it has simple grammar and spelling errors in it.
It is important to read articles in industry trade journals, related publications, or other magazines and newspapers talking about changes in the industry and the market. It’s also important, not just for beginners or people who are starting off, to stay up-to-date in the economy, local markets, and news. Tiny changes in interest rates, inflation, or unemployment can greatly affect the housing market. Keep a dictionary on hand - there are many words you may not know that you need to know. Pay attention to local markets because there may be environmental issues that affect which houses sell for more or less. Environmental changes can include anything from a big company dumping toxic waste into a river, to a new stadium being built across the street. Also, changes in flight plans or expansions on airports can completely change the flow of traffic and how loud or quiet nearby neighborhoods are.
It is also important to watch the Federal Reserve because future interest rates will affect current prices and demand in the market. When you are first starting off as an appraiser and you have to do appraisals in the winter, use a pencil because it won’t freeze, and always dress warmly because you don’t know how long you’ll need to be there. Learn the procedures that need to be done and do them; if all the appraisers did the procedures right the first time, it would be much easier to finish the appraisal in the given time frame.
As an appraiser, and even more so as an appraisal reviewer, it was a rare occasion when something crazy or interesting happened near me. One time, when I was in an inner city neighborhood, I had stopped to take pictures of a house that was a comparable property to the one I appraised. A few minutes later a white Escalade pulled up next to my car and a tall, heavyset man wearing gold chains got out. I became a little nervous about what he would do because he might have been angry at me for taking pictures of his house. His house was probably less expensive than his car, but we started talking about his house, which he was renting. I asked a few questions I needed to know to write the appraisal report and he seemed very friendly and answered my questions enthusiastically. We had only been talking for about five minutes when a police car parked behind me turned its lights on.
By the time the police officer reached my car, she had already run my plates and knew I lived a ways away. She asked me what I was doing, and I explained to her that it was for an appraisal. She proceeded to tell me that she thought I was buying drugs from the gentleman who lived in the property and owned the Escalade. He had already gone inside, but it took me 15 minutes to explain that this house was a comparable property to the house I appraised before she let me go on my way. Another time I was inside a house that was supposed to be vacant, but when I got to the basement there was an old guy sleeping in rags in the corner. He woke up and I apologized, but he said it wasn’t a problem and I could just go ahead with my appraisal. That’s the extent of my crazy experiences as an appraiser.
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Name: Michelle Francis
Job Title: Medical Assistant
Where: Walnut Creek, CA
Years of Experience: 5
Current Employer: Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group
Other Relevant Work Experience: CPR certified, BLS certified, Arrhythmia/EKG certificate
Education: Concorde Career Institute, Medical Assisting, 4.0 GPA, perfect attendance
Salary: Use the PayScale Research Center to find median medical assistant salary data.
Medical assistants work in many health care settings and perform numerous duties while assisting providers, working with patients, and helping to keep a medical practice running smoothly. While there's no question that working in this field can sometimes be stressful, it's also true that medical assisting careers can be greatly rewarding. As Michelle Francis explains in the following interview, the typical medical assistant salary may not be huge, but being able to help patients - and sometimes family members - is worth a great deal.
In the cardiology office, I get each patient into a room and ready to see the cardiologists and physician assistants. It is vital that I try as much as possible to keep the providers’ schedule on time - or as close to on time as possible - to ensure the patient has a pleasant and thorough visit, and so the provider has enough time to do a comprehensive evaluation of the patient. I preform patient consultation work-ups by doing electrocardiograms, blood pressure, pulse, and patient history data input into the electronic medical records system. I also monitor Coumadin flow sheets and adjust Coumadin levels for patients. I call in new prescriptions and fill prescriptions. Sometimes the prescriptions need prior authorizations, which I do, as well. The company sent me to an arrhythmia class to learn how to read electrocardiograms so I could assist in stress echocardiograms. I assist by hooking up the patient to the machine and monitor the electrocardiogram while the patient is on the treadmill and off the treadmill. If there is any change in the electrocardiogram, I print out an arrhythmia report so the doctors can see what happened. Then the doctor determines if the patient needs further cardiac testing. We have devices called King Of Hearts and Holter Monitors that I put on patients. When those devices come back, in two days to two weeks, I download the information from the disk into the computer system, which helps generate the report for the doctor to read. Pending the doctor’s diagnosis, the patient may need further testing as well.
I first went to college to become a nurse, because I knew that my strength was in helping people, and I had a knack for all things medical. After taking a year of prerequisite courses at a junior college in San Diego, I found out that there was a four-year waiting list to get into the nursing program at that school. I knew I had to figure out an alternative way to get my foot in the door in the medical field. I decided that medical assisting was a good route to take. It would get me medical office experience, and also, hopefully, be exposed to new fields of medicine that I had not previously been exposed to. I enrolled in the medical assisting program at a new school and, one year later, graduated with a 4.0 grade point average and perfect attendance. Due to the fact that I was fresh out of school, no one would even glance at my resume, so I got a job with a temp agency in town. Through that agency I worked in some pretty awesome medical practices, ranging from integrative medicine to bariatric and general surgery offices. After all the new learning experiences I had in those offices, I knew my education was far from over. The only problem was that I had no interest in nursing anymore. I eventually came to work in a cardiology office, the area in medicine I had been unknowingly waiting to find. It was a perfect fit for me, and I for it.
More than anything, I love the patients. One of my favorite stories is about a little lady I will call Mrs. S. Mrs. S. was one of those patients who would call the office every day, multiple times a day, and ask questions about anything and everything. She was older and living alone, and was scared a lot of the time regarding her heart condition, which is why she was compelled to call so much. The entire office staff thought she was the most neurotic, irritating person. I, on the other hand, really liked her. When she called or came in for office visits, I made sure to be extra nice to her since I knew the other staff in the office was always short with her and tried to brush her off a lot of the time. Eventually, Mrs. S would call and ask to only speak with me. If she was being roomed by another medical assistant on the day of her appointment, she would make a point to tell the other medical assistant that she wanted me to poke my head in the room to say hello to her.
One day, Mrs. S. showed up at our check-in counter. She didn’t have an appointment, but was complaining of a severe headache to the receptionist. Mrs. S. asked for me, but I was not available since I was in a treatment room with another patient. When I came out of the room, there was a huge commotion. The receptionist ran over to me and said that Mrs. S. was here, complaining of a severe headache, and that Mrs. S. had just collapsed in the waiting room. I ran and got a wheelchair, and with some help, I got Mrs. S. into the wheelchair and into a treatment room. She was sitting slouched to one side, eyes closed, breathing heavily, with her arms curled like a baby’s up on her chest, fists clenched. Mrs. S. was unresponsive to the other medical assistant while I tried to get her vital signs. Her blood pressure was sky high, and her pulse was weak and erratic. I left the room to go find a physician. When I came back to the room with a doctor, the other medical assistant told me that she kept saying my name. I grabbed Mrs. S’s hand and asked her if she could hear me. Mrs. S said my name in a whisper, then smiled, eyes still closed, body and arms still in the same position. The doctor called 9-1-1.
The paramedics came and rushed Mrs. S to the emergency room, where we all later found out that Mrs. S. had suffered a massive stroke, and had been admitted to the intensive care unit. A few weeks later, unable to walk and in a wheelchair, Mrs. S. came in for a post-hospital office visit. One side of her body was visibly injured form the stroke, and one of her eyes had lost it’s sight. Her family was with her that day and told me the only person she wanted to see while she was in the hospital being treated for her stroke was me. To this day, two years later, I am still the only person Mrs. S. asks for. That is why I love my job. I made one person’s life a little brighter.
One of the biggest challenges I face in my job is the patients. Yes, I love them, but they can also make me want to pull my hair out. The biggest challenge I face is with patients who are noncompliant. Cardiology is a pretty serious field to work in. If you have a bad heart, everything else suffers along with your heart. We have patients who come in on a daily basis who are either in denial or just have plain old bad attitudes. They come to see the cardiologist for one problem or another, then refuse to take their medications properly, or in some cases, at all. They think that by will alone they are going to get better. They deny that their condition is that serious, and think the doctor is a "quack." They refuse to modify their lifestyles after they become cardiac patients. They think that they do not need to change anything because they have been living the same lifestyle their whole lives and nothing has been wrong with them until right now. I guess they forgot the part that landed them in the emergency room and now a cardiology office: their lifestyle choices. After refusing to modify their lives or take their medications properly, they then wonder why the problem, or problems, persist or get worse. The patients blame the doctor or the drug manufacturing companies or say that they are different and that is why the treatments are not working. The resistance to listening to educated professionals is mind-blowing. It always makes me wonder why the patients come to see the doctors if the patients are only going to do everything in their power to resist and argue against everything that their doctor suggests. Because, after all, it is only a suggestion, and the doctor cannot force their patients to comply with cardiac medical protocol.
Some advice I would give to someone interested in this field is that you will need to have a strong backbone and a soft heart. You will need the strong backbone for the hard days. The days that the doctor yells at you. The days the patients are noncompliant. The days when your personal life is getting you down and needs to be checked at the door. The days when there are disagreements between office staff. You will need a soft heart every single day. This is the most important part. The need for a soft heart is imperative to providing good patient care. Your soft heart will make you more empathetic to the patients and their journey back to health or their journey maintaining when a full recovery is not possible. A soft heart will help you listen to patients when they are scared or have concerns about their health. A soft heart will help you walk a mile in the patient’s shoes. A soft heart will make you want to do everything in your power to make the patient as happy as possible by meeting their needs as effectively as possible.
Some advice I wish would have been given to me is that the pay leaves a lot to be desired, and the medical personnel higher in the food chain will treat you like a second class citizen. Medical assisting does not pay well. For everything that we are certified to do and required to do, the pay certainly does not reflect that. Medical assistants are basically the health care provider’s wing man. We help the health care provider with medical treatments and sometimes personal tasks like getting coffee or lunch or even dry cleaning. Also, you will probably never get a raise as a medical assistant. There is no room for growth in most medical offices. Then there is the way we are treated by some other medical professionals. Medical assistants are relied upon for almost everything, yet are treated horribly. Medical assistants constantly have to deal with disrespectful comments and tone of voice from other medical staff. We have to deal with the condescending attitudes of health care professionals and their God complexes every day, without fail. We are looked down upon for not having the same level of education as nurses or doctors. Sometimes we even have to deal with abusive verbal attacks from doctors who will justify yelling at you because they think you did something incorrectly. It is not right, but it happens more frequently than people outside the medical field know. And through all this inhumane treatment, the medical assistant is required to bend over backward for the health care provider they are working for, no questions asked. There will be times it feels like indentured servitude, only with some pay.
The best story I have regarding medical assisting is one that is very personal to me. September 2009, my mom called me while I was on my usual three mile walk during my lunch break. She told me that the day before she and my dad were walking the dog, when my dad suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. She asked him what was wrong and he told her that his chest hurt and that he was really out of breath. He sat down for a few minutes until the symptoms went away, then they both headed back home. She said my dad was visibly shaken and remained that way for the rest of the day. I told my mom that his symptoms were a very bad sign and that he needed to get in to see his cardiologist as soon as possible. Thankfully, I worked in his cardiologist’s office. I hung up with my mom, headed back to my office, and called the private back line while on my way back. I got ahold of Mackey, one of the schedulers for our office. I explained to her what my mom had just told me. She scheduled my dad for a stress echocardiogram and an office visit with Dr. White the following week. My dad came in for his stress echocardiogram and the results came back inconclusive, which meant he needed to have a nuclear stress test. He met with Dr. White who concurred that he needed the other test, and after those results were in, they would go from there. My dad made an appointment for the nuclear stress test for Oct. 9 at 9 a.m.
The day of my dad’s stress test seemed to go perfectly fine. After he was finished with his testing he took me out to lunch as a thank you to me for pulling strings to get him in so quickly for all of his appointments, since my parents were going out of town three days later. When I returned to the office after lunch, Tom, the nuclear technician that performed my dad’s test, stopped me in the hallway. He took me by the shoulders, looked me in the eyes, and told me that my dad needs to cancel the vacation and stay put until he hears from Dr. White. I knew what that meant. I went into the room where the cardiologists read the nuclear stress tests, where I found Dr. DeVane. I told him what Tom had just told me in the hallway about my dad, and asked him if he could read my dad’s test as soon as possible. I was rooming patients that afternoon, and while I was hooking a patient up to the EKG machine, one of the receptionists came into the room and said Dr. White was on the phone and that he needed to talk to me immediately. I left the room and picked up the phone. Dr. White told me to call my dad and tell him to not eat or drink anything, not to take any of his medications, head straight to the emergency room, and to tell the triage nurse he was experiencing chest pain and that Dr. White is his cardiologist. I hung up, did just that, grabbed all my dad’s medical records, and headed over to the emergency room.
When I got there my dad had already been checked in and worked up for a cardiac catheterization that Dr. White would be preforming shortly thereafter. My mom and brother were there, too. My dad got wheeled away, and the three of us waited in the family waiting area. Two hours later Dr. White came in to get us. He told us my dad had four major blockages. My dad had a 100 percent blockage, a 99 percent blockage, and two 80 percent blockages. He was a ticking time bomb, and Dr. White said that if my parents had gone on vacation, my dad would not have made it back alive. To this day I thank God that I unknowingly got a job at my dad’s cardiologist’s office, because if that weren’t the case, we would not be celebrating my dad’s 62nd birthday with him this year.
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Name: Kevin Meyer
Job Title: Real Estate Agent
Years of Experience: 9+
Where: Woodinville, WA
Current Employer: Coldwell Banker Bain
Other Relevant Work Experience: Market Leader LLC - a leading provider of real estate marketing software
Education: Rockwell Real Estate Institution Bellevue College
Salary: Research the median real estate agent salary.
Real estate salaries can vary greatly depending on how long an agent has been in the business, changes in the economy, location and many other factors. Since real estate agents are generally paid on commission rather than earning a set salary, getting clients can be one of the most important parts of the job. For those just getting started in a real estate career, honing skills in marketing and customer service can help build a successful business. In this Salary Story, real estate agent Kevin Meyer describes what it's really like to be an agent, and offers valuable advice for individuals who are just getting started in a real estate career.
As a realtor, it is my duty to provide my clients with the best possible experience, hold their needs above all others, and make sure everything runs smoothly from start to close. I focus my business on being an expert on the Eastside. I cover everything from first time home buyers to luxury properties in Bothell, Woodinville, Redmond, Bellevue, Kirkland, Sammamish and Issaquah. You can see for yourself here, www.youreastsidehome.com. A few of the many duties that I perform for my clients are: walking clients through the step by step process of buying and selling a home; providing comparable information for homes that have sold or are currently on the market; sharing neighborhood information such as school information, nearby shopping/restaurants, etc.; advertising on behalf of my clients; negotiating to ensure my clients receive the best possible offer; alerting clients to potential risks; and helping clients prepare for a smooth closing of the transaction.
Selling real estate has been a goal for a long time. It is hard work, but very rewarding when you have done a good job. I got into the business because of my love for houses and providing people with superior customer service. I have worked at a real estate marketing company for 7.5 years, working directly with top agents around the country and meeting a lot of them face-to-face. This has provided me with priceless knowledge as well as inspired me to be the best I can be. In addition, I have over 14 years of sales experience and have always prided myself on doing what is best for my customers. This comes first and foremost, and that is why I have had such great success; my clients always come back, and a bulk of my business comes from referrals.
Having gone through my own buying and selling experiences over the years, I have realized that real estate is my passion. There are so many things to love about the business. From the always-changing market conditions to the newest development plans in our local communities, it's important to me to stay on top of the game to make sure my clients are always informed. For me, the service that I provide while helping someone make quite possibly the biggest decision of their life is something that I take very seriously and invest a lot of time in. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing my clients smile as I hand over the keys to one of the many new homes in Woodinville WA, or perhaps a property in Redmond close to the Microsoft campus, or Sammamish Plateau Homes, maybe Kirkland waterfront property, or Bellevue homes close to all the great shopping. And what about homes for sale in Issaquah with access to trails and parks? The Eastside has so much to offer, and I love being a portal to the next chapter in my client's life.
The biggest challenges that people run into in the real estate industry would have to be the misconception that it is an easy job to do. Real estate is a lot of hard work and it takes a lot of dedication, focus, discipline, and a plan of attack to be successful. Clients typically do not just fall into your lap, you have to go out and get them and compete with the thousands of other agents who are after the same customers.
My advice to a new agent or someone who is considering getting into the field would be to get your ducks in a row first. Plan out what success looks like to you and exactly what you need to do to achieve it. Also, since real estate is a commission-based business, if you are not closing deals, you are not bringing home any bacon. Therefore, have your emergency funds lined up and don't quit your day job until you have a pipeline that you are confident will carry you through the beginning months. It's a tough business to start out in and that is why only 20 percent of agents succeed. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.
Every day in real estate is different, which is nice because things always stay fresh, but also hectic because you never know what you will encounter or what your days will hold. I am fortunate enough to have not encountered too many crazy stories, although I have heard my fair share of horror stories. You never know what will be in the home you are about to enter, but so far everything has run pretty smoothly for me and my clients. The most amazing things that have happened to me are the relationships that I have built in helping others and the ability to give back to the community by being actively involved in community projects and local charities. I love giving back.
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Name: Erich Wirtanen
Job Title: Foods Team Lead
Where: Rosemount, MN
Years of Experience: 2
Education: Currently enrolled at Rosemount High School
Salary: Research salaries for food service jobs and amusement park salaries.
For students in high school, summer jobs can offer great opportunities to gain work experience, earn extra money, and even have fun. In this Salary Story, we hear from one high school student who explains how he went about applying for summer jobs, why he sought out food service job opportunities, and what he learned from the whole experience. Keep reading to find out why summer jobs can be both educational and fun.
A foods team lead is in charge of a specific building in the amusement park. You are responsible for making sure all the operations in your building are functioning properly. Starting the first day, you begin prepping all of the food and operate on a register face-to-face with every customer. You not only have the task of serving the customer, but also making the food and making sure every part of your building is functioning properly. When something goes wrong you’re the first one to fix it. Whether it is a machine malfunction or an upset customer, you must maintain the values of the park and fix it to the best of your ability, always with a smile. Part of keeping your building functioning is making sure it does not run out of raw materials; you are in charge of making sure you order enough for your building every day. You also have to make sure all your employees eat lunch. You need to keep track of who is on break so your building always has enough staff to run properly. At the end of the day you have to clean your building so it is ready for you to open it back up the next morning.
I got started in this field of work almost on accident. I showed up to a job fair for the park and when looking at my application I was kind of unsure of what I wanted to do. When I saw the foods department I decided I would give it a shot because I needed the job and liked to cook. When I got the job I was overjoyed, so much so that I went into training eager to learn how everything was made. I was able to learn how all the big machinery in the kitchens worked and learned all the recipes. Even though it didn’t seem like an entirely fun position, I was motivated by my natural drive to show people I knew how to do everything. This eagerness got me a team lead position very quickly, and soon I was running my own building. This made me even more motivated because I knew management was watching me even more. So, while I may not have really had much knowledge going into the food department field, the motivation I had for always being my best was able to get me to a team lead position quite fast.
The most enjoyable part about my job is seeing the smiles on the customers’ faces when they bite into the food that I prepared for them. Being able to see someone appreciate my work really helps and inspires me to keep working in foods. I simply love being able to cook and being able to see people enjoy the fruits of my labor. One of the best examples of this has a short story. I was working in the ice cream building, which was unusual for me, and this little kid came in. It was at least 80 degrees out and this kid looked parched. I smiled and took his order. I put an extra scoop in his bowl and saw his face light up. It was great. His smile was the biggest I had ever seen on a kid and when he took his first bite, his smile grew. It made my job feel noble. I also love my employees. While working in the same building for the full summer with the same people may seem very unexciting, it can be extremely fun. My fellow employees make it fun. We love to entertain customers by showing them how the specialty foods are cooked and we always share jokes and just have a bright atmosphere while working. This atmosphere makes you love your job and is something that you may not find anywhere else. One of the best things about working with these same people is that when you get let out early, you have someone to roam the park with. Probably the best memory from working at the park over the summer is spending time in the park with my coworkers. We were able to ride all the rides whenever we wanted, which made me love the opportunity and the job.
One of the biggest challenges with being a team lead in an amusement park is knowing that if something goes wrong you have to handle it. If a customer is unhappy with something you have to figure out how to calm them down and get them to explain what their situation is. While this is simple for some people to do, it can be very difficult for others to calm down. Sometimes, when you cannot control the situation, you have to know when to call in management and when to call security. A second big challenge is keeping your building ready for anything. Being a team lead, you are in charge of ordering food materials for your building; if you run out of something you must accept it as your fault and fix it. You must fix it as soon as possible so you can keep your building up and running and making money for the park. Sometimes this requires leaving your building to run across the park to the foods warehouse and getting the item yourself, even though this may not be the best option if something happens at your building while you are gone. The third biggest challenge is making sure your building is comfortable for your employees. You have to make sure all your employees are comfortable working in the same building with you, as any friction between employees may lead to a miscommunication that can cause a customer to become unhappy. You must always have a friendly attitude, not just toward the customers, but toward your coworkers as well. These three challenges may not seem like much, but letting one get out of control could lead to a major problem in your building, and that is always worse to deal with than just fixing the little challenges first.
If you want to get into the amusement park business, don’t stress. It isn’t really difficult and is a great way to earn some extra money. The best way to get a job at an amusement park is applying at the right time. If your park operates seasonally then make sure you apply just after winter. While they primarily try to rehire old employees, they will always need more people. If your park isn’t seasonal, apply around that same time anyway, as with summer comes more tourism and they will need more employees to support the park. If you miss the prime dates to apply, the next best thing is to check and see if they have a job fair. The park I worked for had a job fair where over 500 people were cycled through a massive on-the-spot interview process. If you go to one of these, be sure to look your best and go in with the attitude that you want to work for them. They need to hire people and if you present yourself well, they will be more likely to hire you. These tips work for any job, but they are especially important for a job where you will be representing the park directly. You need to show them that you are a well-composed person.
Since this was one of my first jobs ever, the most interesting thing I learned was how disrespectful some people are. This isn’t a bad thing. I have seen many people who are completely disrespectful in any restaurant. Some customers always complain about how the prices are too high and the service is never enough. With this job I have seen many disrespectful people and have had to deal with a few myself. The most outstanding thing about this job is that you learn to be respectful because if you treat your customers with honest respect, like you should every human being, they will have a better time at the park. For instance, there was this one time when a customer just seemed to be having a horrible day. He had the worst look on his face. When he ordered his food he wanted a couple things, but upon looking at the prices he frowned. He was only able to get one item. As I watched him walk away he opened his food and his smile lit up the room. I had added an extra item in his box because I knew he needed it. He came back and asked who had made his food. He said he wanted to chat and I stepped out back and was the recipient of the biggest, most awkward hug in the world. This experience taught me what it truly means to always be kind and respectful and is probably one of my most memorable moments at the park.
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Name: Lexi Marcouiller
Job Title: Babysitter/Child care
Years of Experience: 5
Where: Snohomish, WA
Education: Snohomish High School student
Salary: Use the PayScale Research Center to find the median babysitting hourly rate in your area.
With neighborhood babysitting jobs available, many teens get their first work experience by providing child care to nearby families. The opportunity to babysit for money can be especially welcome for older siblings who have plenty of practice caring for a younger brother or sister. In this Salary Story, we hear some tips and tricks from an experienced babysitter. She shares the fun side of working with younger kids, but also explains how to handle the more challenging aspects of babysitting jobs.
As a babysitter within my neighborhood what is expected of me is typical child care. Parents often hire me to take care of their kids while they either take time for themselves or have appointments to attend to. It’s important to make a strong first impression when meeting the parents and especially the kids. Typically, if the little ones don’t like you, then the parents often won’t hire you again. I feel that when it comes to babysitting, the kids are your most important judges. They are the ones that know whether they want to keep you as their babysitter. When babysitting, my goal first and foremost is to make sure their kids are safe, fed, and entertained. To ensure the children are safe, I always keep my eye on them. I judge whether or not a child’s choice of activity is something that may end in danger or create a mess within the house. I recognize that the parents are putting quite a bit of trust in me to make sure the house doesn’t burn down and their children are safe. It’s also important to play with the kids during the time that you are babysitting them. For example, when I’m babysitting I typically pack a “fun” bag to bring along with me, which includes little toys, movies, and crafts the kids and I can do to pass the time. Babysitting is a lot easier when everyone is having fun and tantrums are avoided.
I grew into babysitting as a result of having a younger brother and also many younger relatives. The motivation was simple for me: take something I already have to do as a sister, but with another set of children, and earn money doing it. I lived in a neighborhood packed with kids, so once I became older I took my knowledge from having to take care of a younger sibling and offered my assistance to other parents. It’s a fairly easy job to get into if you enjoy spending time with other kids.
There are many great things about being a babysitter. I love connecting with the kids and taking care of them. It’s rewarding to know they had a good time when I hear the complements from their parents. Every time I see a kid jump up and down when they answer the door, or when they request for me to read them a bedtime story before I tuck them into bed, it reminds me why I love my job. The fact that I have the opportunity to influence them in a positive way is motivation enough for me to do the best that I can, even if I only get to spend a short amount of time with them. I think that children often see older teens as a role model. It all depends on how that role model chooses to behave around the kids. When the kids tell me that they had fun that day or that they learn something when I’m with them, that’s the kind of positive feedback that lets me know I’ve done my job right.
The biggest challenge I face within my job is keeping their energy under control. I have a hard time when I’m babysitting more than four kids at a time and their energy level gets to the point where they disobey me. Also, when that energy is spent on activities that could end up causing a huge mess in the house. What I have found that helps with settling kids down is suggesting a movie or TV to distract them while I clean. When they’re focusing on the cartoons they often tend to mellow out after a few minutes.
Babysitting is a fairly simple job. My only advice is to be patient with the kids. Acquire the knowledge of how to provide basic care to the kids you are looking after. Open yourself up to them so that they don’t feel like a stranger is in their house. It’s important to make that positive first impression to the parents in order to instill a sense of trust. Also, it always helps to have a plan or idea of what kind of activities you think the kids would enjoy. I have found that each family custom is a little different and the way the child behaves always varies as well.
The most inspiring thing that has happened while taking care of a child would be my experience with my brother Max. Even though there was never any pay at the end of the day, the way we interacted with each other and what I had to do to ensure he was taken care of was life-changing enough for me. To start off my story I must inform you that Max had cancer. The cancer that he was diagnosed with was leukemia. Since he was having such a battle with cancer, he needed extra care. My job as his big sister was to take care of his special needs while my mother was out running errands. These special needs included having to run his IV bag, check his morphine pump, and have my full attention on him at all times. I was always there for him through each and every stage of his battle with cancer. There were days when the stress was immense for me but it was all worth it in the end to see him smile ever so often throughout the day. My experience taking care of him was like no other; it has influenced me to stay strong and positive even at the worst of times. Even though I did not earn a wage for the continual help I gave to my little brother, I earned the title of the best sister in the world. He passed away seven years ago but his amazing memories live on, and I was a part of that experience.
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Job Title: Auto Detailing Business Owner
Where: Bellevue, WA
Years of Experience: 30
Current Employer: Bradleys Detail of Bellevue
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington
Salary: Research median owner operator salaries and salaries for auto detailing jobs.
What is it like to run your own successful business? In this Salary Story, the owner of a luxury auto detailing business shares some of the challenges and rewards of owning a business. Information on starting a auto detailing business, managing auto detailing jobs, and the daily tasks of an owner operator are all included.
Owner operator of luxury auto detailing business. My job includes day-to-day operations of a company that specializes in polishing, waxing and shampooing of vehicles. I am responsible for the marketing, hiring, training and management of my workforce. I am also responsible for quality control.
When I was in high school my father purchased a luxury European automobile. I was so amazed at the car that I went to work at the dealership. I was eventually given the opportunity to be trained as an auto detailer. I started my first auto detailing business my first year of college.
I love meeting so many different people. I am still amazed at the before and after results of our service. One time a person brought in a high-end sports car that had badly faded red paint. After spending a whole day refinishing and polishing the paint, we made it look new. The customer was so excited he called several of his friends right from the shop to tell them how good of a job we did and to tell them to get their cars to us now!
The biggest challenge in operating an auto detailing business is training the crew. Everyone needs to be on the same page as to what is expected for the finished product. Quality control and an eye for detail are extremely important.
Do your research on chemicals and products before you start. You need to use the best products available to produce perfect results. I wish someone had told me just how hard it is to manage a crew of detailers from different backgrounds.
One of the craziest things we ever found were the dirty disposable diapers found under the seat of a high-end Mercedes.
How does your salary compare to owner operator salaries? Find out with the PayScale Salary Survey.
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Name: Kortni Butterton
Job Title: Restaurant Hostess
Where: Seattle, WA
Current Employer: 50 North
Years of Experience: 3.5
Education: Issaquah High School, Diploma; Bellevue College, Associate of Arts and Sciences; University of Washington, Communications and Sociology major
Salary: Research the median salary scale for restaurants, including restaurant hostess jobs.
A restaurant hostess works on the front lines. As the first point of contact for customers, a hostess has the important task of creating an excellent first impression. It's not always easy, especially after a long shift or when dealing with difficult customers. In addition to representing the restaurant, a hostess often does a ton of behind-the-scenes work in order to keep things running smoothly. If you're wondering what it takes to make it in this job, don't miss this Salary Story from Kortni Butterton. She shares a detailed restaurant hostess job description and describes the ups and downs of working in the food service industry.
As a hostess, I am in charge of the entire flow of the restaurant. I control and navigate a system of how often and in what order each server is seated in their section. This in turn affects the kitchen flow which includes how quickly food tickets come out and the order in which the kitchen makes these food tickets. I am the customers’ first and last impression of the restaurant, so I am expected to be genuinely kind and accommodating. That same attitude must be kept over the phone with potential guests. Over the phone I answer questions and take to-go orders. On top of showing my best guest-first attitude, I am in charge of keeping the bathrooms and the front area of the restaurant clean and presentable. Toward the end of the night, when much fewer people are coming to dine, I help the busser and servers clean and reset the tables. I also offer help to the managers and the food runners who watch the food window and send food out to the correct seat and table numbers. In the food industry, like many other industries, it is all about teamwork. If one area of the restaurant fails, then soon enough the rest of us will too.
When I was 16 years old, my Mom told me it was time to get a job - especially if I wanted a car. I applied everywhere in my town - grocery stores, boutiques, clothing stores and restaurants. At the end of one of my days of job hunting, I was told there was an open interview starting in five minutes. I decided to stay and got the job. I worked at Coho Cafe for almost two years before feeling like I needed new scenery. I tried being a receptionist, but with the downfall of the economy, hours were severely cut and it was time to move on. I went back to the restaurant business and have been in it ever since. I have stayed in this industry for two reasons: Every shift is different, but exciting and fast-paced, and I love interacting with new people. I am required to keep my people skills and my ability to multi-task at above-par level. These skills I have acquired and sharpened will also help me in my future career in marketing and public relations.
As stated above, I love the fast-paced environment that never stays the same, and I love interacting and entertaining people. But one of my favorite memories that changed my life has to do with neither of those things. A favorite story of mine comes from two “regulars” (a husband and wife) whom I met while working at Coho Café. After meeting this couple, I began to talk with them more and more each time they came in. Eventually they told me that they had stopped coming in on certain nights because they knew I wasn’t working. Every once in awhile Jerry would even slip me a $20 bill, “just for being great.” I noticed Jerry’s health had been declining over a couple months and I stopped seeing LouAnn and Jerry coming in. I found out from my manager that Jerry had passed away. LouAnn and I had become “friends” on the popular networking site, Facebook. I decided I needed to reach out to her. We went to Coho Café for lunch and we still keep in touch today. I don’t think it gets much better than gaining a good friend from the job you do.
Working with people can be tough sometimes. I have had to deal with completely irrational people and figure out ways to meet their needs with limited resources. If people have a bad experience, they will usually take it out on me; I have learned just to stay calm and list options for them. I try to fix the problem before grabbing my manager, but sometimes there’s not much I can do. When the rush comes on Friday and Saturday nights, it can also be tough to prioritize the 10 tasks I may have going on at any one time. This weekly trend has taught me to just focus on the tasks and realize they can’t all be done at once. My prioritizing and organizational skills have also had to improve to keep up with the demands of Friday and Saturday nights.
My best advice to someone trying to break into the restaurant industry is to accept that the lower positions (busser, host/hostess, food runner, etc.) are all fast-paced positions that are put in place to help the servers. It’s like any other industry in the sense of starting at the bottom and working your way up to the top. Another piece of advice is to always smile and leave your personal problems at the door.
There are far too many crazy/amazing/interesting times to list from my last three and a half years of working in the restaurant industry. I come across so many different types of people with different personalities. Working in an industry that is focused on customer service, I've seen some curve balls thrown from people. Despite the craziness, I have met amazing "regulars" and co-workers who have turned out to be some of my closest friends today.
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Name: Sara Blackmon
Job Title: Event Specialist
Where: Gastonia, NC
Current Employer: Crossmark, Inc.
Education: Olympic High School
Salary: Research median salaries for demonstrators and product promoters.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a positive job outlook for demonstrators and product promoters over the next several years. That's good news for people who enjoy working with the public and want a flexible work schedule. In this Salary Story, we get an insider's look at what demonstrators and product promoters do on a daily basis - learning about new products, working in different venues, and communicating with a wide variety of people. Not to mention avoiding the occasional exploding carton of milk. Keep reading to find out why this job can be both challenging and fun.
We have to be able to work well independently. I have to have the ability to stand for up to eight hours at a time. My computer skills come in handy (though they are more advanced; basic is required). I need to have daily access to a computer that is connected to the internet. I have obtained knowledge of products and promotions and encourage consumers to purchase products to help increase sales. Each day I have to prepare and serve food samples utilizing raw meats, produce, microwaves, hot plates, oil and kitchen utensils. We have to demonstrate packaged goods to consumers. Sometimes we also distribute coupons and sale materials.
I got this job by applying online. I was out of work for quite some time and I really wanted to do something, anything really. My motivation for doing this job was that it pays well - $10.25/hr and it's very easy. They gave me a flexible schedule and since I'm a mom, that was really a huge motivation for me. My job highlights are as follows: Demo schedules are Thursday through Sunday; event table, materials and equipment provided at the store. Outside employment is permitted as long as it does not interfere with Crossmark responsibilities.
I love the fact that I get a different product every day so it keeps it interesting! It's very hard just to share only one story of why I love my job. It's not only the fact that the job is easy that makes it so great, but the people are interesting to talk to. You hear so many different stories when you work with different people and different products each day. I love hearing the different recipes for whatever product i'm doing that day come into play. I like it when the product I'm doing gets compliments or when a person says to me, "Wow, you did a great job!" with a smile. It's very comforting to be around people who treat me right. One time when I dropped a whole bunch of souffle cups, this little boy came up to my cart and helped me get them all up. It was so cute! When you work in a field like mine, you definitely get to see the true side of people.
Well, a huge challenge in my job is not knowing what will happen next at times. See, when you get a Crossmark event, you can just look it up online and know what you are going to get the next day (and be prepared for your sales pitches and stuff). However, when you get a Sam's Club event, you won't know until the day of as to what to do and so forth. You could be demonstrating fish or laundry detergent - you would have no idea and that's kind of frustrating. There is also the challenge of dealing with people that have had a bad day or are just completely rude to you. You have to just suck it up and deal with it. Sometimes smiling all the time is tough when you are having a bad day yourself. Nonetheless, these are obstacles that are easily avoided with the right attitude.
My advice to myself before I had this job, without knowing already, would've been to relax on the first day of work, to view my sales plans the night before my job, to dress accordingly, and to have a great time working.
The craziest thing that has happened thus far would probably be the time that I was demonstrating grapes and pears. Out of nowhere this guy walked down the aisle and a carton of milk exploded. Craziest thing to see! There was milk everywhere!! I didn't know what to do. Well, the Sam's Club maintenance employees did a great job of cleaning it up. My friend Mason (who is one of the employees) got his clean up cart and got to ride it over the milk which I kind of envied him for because it looked fun. Other than that, we haven't had any major spills.
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Name: Patrick Howe
Job Title: Artist, art gallery owner, art instructor
Where: Seattle, WA
Current Employer: Self
Years of Experience: 7
Relevant Work Experience: I have exhibited my artwork widely in galleries and museums. I have also taught art for many years. I was the head preparator for the Portland Art Museum. In the past I have worked in ad agencies as a creative director and award-winning art director.
Education: BFA from the Museum Art School (now PCNA) in Portland, OR, 1974.
Salary: Use the PayScale Research Center to find art occupations and salaries.
Many artists struggle to find a balance between work and art, wondering if they should get a day job, become a commercial artist, or focus on a fine art career. Before committing to the life of an artist, many want to know: can you really make a career as an artist? According to this Salary Story, the answer is yes, but it won't necessarily be easy. Patrick Howe, an artist, art instructor and owner of a Seattle art gallery, describes how he made the leap from toiling at a day job to doing what he loves. If you're a struggling artist or just want to know more about art careers, don't miss Patrick's advice on what it takes to create a successful fine art career.
I own and operate one of the few artist-owned art galleries in the Seattle area. My artwork is based on two themes, Beauty, and Metaphors of Awakening. The works of Beauty are of landscapes, still lifes, scenics, and people. The Metaphors of Awakening artworks utilize symbols and metaphors relating to the grand topic of the spiritual evolution of human consciousness. I paint pictures in the painting studio in the back, and sell the artwork in the retail space out front. The retail space is also regularly converted into a space for painting classes. I offer oil painting classes, watercolor classes, and drawing classes. I also have art openings at the gallery, to present new works to the public. The space is sometimes used for private group events, such as birthday parties, for people who want to have a party in a prominent and stylish art gallery.
I was an artist from early childhood. Being an artist is not a career like others. An artist is who I am, and you never stop being yourself. In that sense, I was initially motivated by life’s creative impulse, of which I had no control or say, I could only flow with it. Beyond that, teachers and books showed me the way. I opened Patrick Howe Gallery, in Seattle, in 2004, because I had been working in the ad agency field, as my day job, for many years. And I painted and exhibited my artwork on the side. However, advertising and marketing did not offer the depths of true creativity that I yearned for. At a certain point I realized that, if I did not make a leap into true creativity, I would never come fully forth as an artist. Friends thought I was crazy, but opening Patrick Howe Gallery has turned out to be a wonderful and successful thing to do.
First of all, what I do is not really a “job.” They say that if you do what you truly love, then you will never have to work another day of your life. That describes my situation. The first thing I can say about what I love about being an artist is the tremendous inner peace that making art evokes. I work alone for many hours and there is wonderful tranquility in that. Furthermore, I am constantly exploring new artistic ideas and themes. Being explorative is psychologically healthy, and one of the primary attributes of the creative individual. My work also allows me to go out into nature to paint, draw, and take photographs. Being an artist also allows me to associate with other professional artists, many of whom are open-minded, and equally respectful of life. Many artists, like myself, tend to look at life, nature, and the world as a wonderful symphony of form, and not merely as material resources to be exploited.
I also love teaching others what I know about making art, and creativity. Being able to communicate artistic concepts, and techniques, is in itself an art. But I find joy and satisfaction in seeing others discover their artistic capability. They find it to be wonderful, and so completely different than their normal, familiar life activities. My students are also my teachers because they will sometimes approach a creative challenge, or ask a question, that I had never considered. So it affords me the opportunity to always think and communicate in new and fresh ways.
From the creative point of view, the biggest challenge is in combining a personal passion to explore creativity within the commerce of the marketplace. They are not always compatible. Fortunately, my artwork has broad commercial appeal, so the artwork does well in the marketplace. And my oil painting class, and watercolor and drawing classes, fill up easily. But it is a well known fact that it is difficult for the fine artist to become successful commercially. In addition, having a career as an artist, one must be comfortable working alone, and be able to stay motivated and self-disciplined. The primary challenge from the business point of view is the same as in many businesses, and that is finding an endless stream of new customers. Also, if you are a one-person operation, like I am, you will have to spend many hours every month doing bookkeeping, paying bills, buying supplies, marketing, maintaining inventory, running errands, making phone calls and myriad other things that are not particularly creative but must be done nonetheless.
Artists come to me often seeking career advice. And I usually tell them that the most creative freedom they could possibly wish for would be to have a spouse, or other financial resources, to support them in their artistic pursuits so they did not have to think about the commercial side of art at all. It is easy to fall into the trap of painting For the market, rather than out of pure inspiration. Beside producing less quality art, painting for the market also takes all the fun out of creativity, because you end up cranking out, like on an assembly line, subjects and styles that you have no real interest in. When you get to that point, why not just get a regular day job? Many artists, once they discover that they can sell their art, try to make a career out of doing what they love. But, they find that the love wears off very quickly when they try to live off of the sale of their artwork. That’s when burnout, disappointment, and frustration enter in, and it’s not worth it.
Practically speaking, if you want to start a business, then other products would be much easier to sell than art. If you want to be an artist, then do not base essential income on the sale of your art. If what I am saying is true, then why am I successful? My success is the result of the convergence of several factors. One is that my artwork is highly likable and therefore commercially viable. Another is that because I had 20 years experience in the advertising and marketing fields, I am able to bring those skills to bear in my business. Another reason is that I operate my own gallery so I realize much greater profit on sales than if I were trying to succeed through typical art galleries. Another is that I offer oil painting classes, and watercolor and drawing classes in my gallery, and I do everything I can to offer the best art instruction possible, which attracts more art students, and art sales.
The most crazy thing is that I'm here at all.
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Name: Jason Schumaker
Job Title: Producer/"Blog Dog"/Event Coordinator
Current Employer: BetterPhoto.com
Where: Seattle, WA
Years of Experience: 5
Other Relevant Work Experience: Worked as an editor and writer for a computer magazine.
Education: University of South Carolina, Bachelor's in Journalism; Summit School of Guitar, Vancouver Island, Canada, trained as a guitar builder and repairman.
Salary: Research salaries for event coordinator, web producer and blogging jobs.
In this Salary Story, we hear from Jason Schumaker, a self-described "Jason of all trades." He explains what it's like to juggle multiple roles in his job at BetterPhoto.com. On any give day, you may find him working as event coordinator, editing video footage, or blogging on one of the company blogs. And that's just a small part of his producer job description. If you're interested in blogging jobs or other online writing positions, keep reading to get Jason's advice on how to produce compelling content.
I began working for BetterPhoto.com in the role of executive assistant to the president of the company. Jim Miotke is a photographer, writer and lecturer. It is my responsibility to edit his writings, organize his notes, plan his workshops, and manage his e-mail and calendars. Within the first two months as his assistant I was charged with planning 12 workshops in a 14 day stretch. Traveling with the owner, I organized every facet of our workshops in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Chicago, NYC, San Diego, Monterey, San Francisco and Seattle. I not only planned the events, I also worked as cameraman. I filmed the workshops in each city, advised the president on edits and changes to the program content, as well as helping to sell the next planned workshop to attendees. It was exhilarating work! After this two week whirlwind tour, I traveled to the Caribbean for a one-week boat trip where we filmed and photographed in the British Virgin Islands. The work that I did on these two trips led to my title and position being changed to "producer." My new role has me working with the president to film short videos. I edit the footage and then post the material on YouTube and in blog posts. My talents as a writer and editor were soon noticed, and I began to manage two of the company's blogs. I write my own posts, as well as edit those written by my co-workers. I often write blog posts for the president of the company as I have a talent for writing in his voice. I also work as a copywriter for company e-mail sequences, marketing material, and e-books on photography education.
I have always been a writer. As far back as I can remember I have loved to write. I began writing in the 5th grade. Our teacher assigned the class to put on a play, and I was unsatisfied with her choice of Treasure Island. I decided to write my own play. I remember going home after school and getting to work. I laid down on my bedroom floor and within a few hours I had worked out a gripping tale of murder and suspense. "Mystery Mansion" never saw the light of day, as my teacher decided to stick with "Treasure Island". I was heartbroken, but not deterred. I continued to write, and published a few poems and stories in my high school literary magazine. When I decided on the University of South Carolina for college, I began as a journalism major and wrapped up my degree in four quick years. I majored as an advertising copywriter with a minor in writing. I have since worked as an editor for a technical computer magazine, Linux Journal. I began working for Linux Journal as their advertising coordinator, but my writing and editing abilities led to my move to the editorial department, where I worked as an assistant editor. My main responsibilities were to edit articles, correspond with writers, produce content, write the monthly "LJ Index," as well as feature articles and material for the website. I also served as event coordinator. I helped organize and plan the magazine's presence at industry trade shows. I enjoy working with words, and truly love the advent of the blogging age! In my most recent job I was given the title of "Blog Dog." It is my responsibility to manage two of our company blogs. I write weekly content for our team blog and for the president of the company. I am also charged with helping to drive up page views and subscribers by using SEO techniques and by reaching out to other blogs.
I love the variety my job offers. I enjoy traveling, planning events, and writing a variety of materials. We recently worked on an e-mail sequence where each day a photography tip was sent. Each day, for 21 days, we sent out a tip or technique designed to help make people more confident in their ability as photographers. The tips were free and solely designed to build our community. There was a gentleman who wrote back stating how much he appreciated the tips. He was working through a very rough patch in his life. His wife had recently passed away, which led to a bout of depression so severe that he spent some time in a mental institution. This man wrote to me to thank us for helping provide him with something positive to do with his time. And he finally found the impetus to use the camera his wife had bought him years earlier.
The biggest challenges for my job involve being able to adapt and learn quickly. I had never done video work before, nor had I used editing software to create short, polished movies. The main challenge I face at my job is that of being a "Jason of all trades." I have to be able to learn new things quickly and become good at them just as quickly. It's important to trust yourself and your abilities. And I work very hard when it comes time to learn something new. The key to working any job is to find a way to continually add value to your company. People often get into a routine or a rut at their jobs. This can lead to a certain sense of entitlement that produces a lackadaisical attitude. You might not try your hardest because you don't feel appreciated by your boss. I always try to stay fresh with my ideas and I rarely hesitate to offer thoughts on how to make projects or processes work better.
In terms of blogging, you have to be flexible, and you have to be able to produce compelling content. Writing daily is a good start. With a blog, you don't need to worry about producing the next great American novel. While you certainly want to produce quality material, you have to be okay with small mistakes here and there. Writing for a blog is all about starting a conversation, and it really is okay to show that you're human! I suppose that is one bit of advice I wish I would have had sooner. Learning to say, "good is good enough" is key. I used to agonize over my posts. Everything had to be just right. I soon learned that my standards were too high. If we were having a conversation I wouldn't care if you misspoke, or stumbled over a word or two. As long as I found our conversation interesting that's all that would matter. You want to write about something that you find interesting. Pick a topic that you are passionate about and I guarantee that others will share your passion, and they will find you. Producing content on a consistent basis is one of the most important keys to building a successful blog. You want to have loads of fresh, interesting content. Mix it up, and keep writing!
I guess that traveling to the Caribbean and sailing on a boat for a week and being paid to do that would qualify as interesting! It was a once in a lifetime type excursion, and I enjoyed working to create beautiful images and quality video. I did have another interesting assignment. My boss has been conducting a series of interviews with famous photographers. The majority have been done over the phone. I record the interview, then post it to our blog. Well, my boss decided to do a day of in person interviews. We flew down to L.A. for a day of filming and interviewing. I booked a room at a hotel near the airport and arranged for three different photographers to meet us. I filmed my boss interviewing the photographers, packed up all the video gear and headed back to Seattle the same day. Much of what I do is pretty interesting and I enjoy the variety, as well as the challenge of learning new things. The workshops that I produce are geared toward helping photographers gain confidence in themselves and their abilities. We offer a Tony Robbins-like confidence building workshop, where 80 percent of the focus is on self-improvement and 20 percent is on technical abilities. It's interesting work, and I love seeing people have breakthroughs. It's satisfying to see people finding their voices again, or having "ah-ha!" moments, and knowing that you've helped make a difference in their lives.
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Name: Kelleen Blanchard
Job Title: Massage Therapist
Where: Seattle, WA
Current Employer: Seattle Spa Noir
Years of Experience: 3
Other Relevant Work Experience: Customer Service
Education: Brian Utting School of Massage; Cornish College of the Arts, BFA Theatre
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for the average massage therapist salary.
There's no question that getting a professional massage can be a life-changing experience. Whether you're recovering from an injury or a stressful day at the office, massage therapy can be a huge help. But what is it like to work as a massage therapist? In this Salary Story, seattle massage therapist Kelleen Blanchard describes the ups and downs of her career as a massage therapist. She explains why she chose the profession, describes her daily tasks at Spa Noir, and offers advice to those just entering the field. If you're considering a career as a massage therapist, don't miss this invaluable interview. To find out more about the average massage therapist salary, see the links below.
As a massage therapist at Spa Noir, I greet clients, review their intake forms for specific needs or medical issues and confer with them to customize the best, most beneficial therapy session. I am trained in deep tissue massage, Swedish massage, neuromuscular therapy and hot stone massage. I especially enjoy working with specific injuries and doing intense, deep tissue work because I have witnessed and experience the results from this kind of work. In addition to working one-on-one with clients, I help support the overall spa by doing laundry and other small cleaning tasks. I also am available for body wraps; eye and lip treatments; and foot, hand, and scalp treatments. These can be great relaxing add-ons to a massage. At the spa, my focus is on the client. I want their visit to be relaxing, positive, and to address their needs in a personal and effective manner.
I have been giving massage since I was about six years old. I used to charge a quarter. My prices have gone up. Seriously though, I was attracted to massage therapy because it is so helpful. I wanted to help people with chronic pain and stress. I think we, as a society, simply don't take care of ourselves. We are overworked and stressed to the point of illness. Massage is a great preventative to serious injury and burn out. I also think getting regular massage encourages a healthier body image and a more proactive approach to self care.
I love helping people. I love my clients and my fellow staff. Not too long ago I worked with a transgendered client who has had emotional and physical issues during his transition. He found a safe space here at the spa and it was really satisfying to be able to be of such use for someone so awesome. I have also worked on a lot of clients with severe neck and shoulder pain. By releasing specific muscles they have found relief from chronic headaches and upper body pain. It's really great to be able to help someone move beyond poor body habits and pain and into a healthy, empowered place.
Being an LMP is wonderful, but it has its challenges. The physical challenge is great. I find myself constantly working to treat some minor injury and reevaluating my body mechanics to prevent serious injury. Client communication can be difficult of course. My clients are almost always great, but sometimes they have expectations that aren't realistic - they need to control the session or they are simply unhappy people who want a target. The best way to handle this for me is to realize that these are people in pain and to try to give them what they need even if it may not be what they want. Clear communication is key. Also, a lot of people think a career as an LMP is relaxing. For the client, yes. For me, it's a lot of concentration and sweat. Also, I think another common misconception is that we make tons of money. Massage is an up and down business and there are a lot of expenses, so the money is not that great. You have to do it because you love it and need to help people. Because you want to be of service.
Choosing a massage school is really important as a first step in a massage career. Do your research and find the school that offers the most hours and the most demanding and varied classes. Trust me, don't choose the "easy" school. Push yourself to be a first rate LMP. I would also recommend starting a stretching and strength-building routine while you're in school. Massage therapy can take a toll on your body. I would also really encourage you to give and receive as much body work as possible. There is no substitute for practice and exposure. Make sure you know all of the tax laws. I was lucky enough to have a great business course included in my core classes at massage school. If this is not part of your program, make sure you educate yourself. This can be very very tricky. No one likes to get in trouble with the government.
I have given massage to so many great clients. First time massage clients are rewarding. To help someone key into their own body awareness and experience body work is very satisfying. I've had clients fall dead asleep during hot stone, having finally given in to their exhaustion, and others feel really energized by a quick foot treatment. I once worked with a client who had a severe nueromuscular condition that caused him to be in constant spasm. We worked around his tics and uncontrolled movements and he gained some measure of relief from his ever present symptoms. Generally, it's making a personal connection with clients that is the most fulfilling to me.
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Name: Jade Egelhoff
Job Title: Elephant Veterinary Technician
Years of Experience: 0-1
Where: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Education: Gig Harbor High School; Tacoma Community College, Associate Degree; Elephant Veterinary Training and First Aid, Thailand Animal Behavior Training; Humane Society HIV/AIDS Brief Risk Intervention Training
Salary: Use the PayScale Research Center to find median annual salaries for vet tech professionals.
Looking for a truly unique way to gain veterinary tech experience? Why not travel to a foreign country to help animals in need? That's exactly what Jade Egelhoff did by going all the way to Thailand to work as an elephant vet technician. In this interview, Jade describes what it was like to rehabilitate Asian elephants, explains how she adapted to life in a foreign culture and offers advice to any vet techs who might be looking for an adventure. For those who love animals as well as travel, this is a must-read interview. To find out more about the annual salary for a vet tech or related careers, see the links at the bottom of this post.
My job in Thailand was the hardest, most rewarding work of my life. I was an elephant veterinary technician, which means I would help assist the veterinarian with administering medicine, treating wounds, and maintaining the general well-being of the elephants. Everyday I would wake at sunrise to eat breakfast and begin my tasks. After breakfast, I would trek over to the elephant enclosure to work with my elephant, Hong, and her life-long trainer, which is called a mahout. I would ride her to the Ping River to give her a morning bath and have play time, rubbing all the dirt off her and splashing each other for about an hour. After bath time, I would ride her back to her enclosure so she could rest up for her morning show for tourists. During the show the elephants would perform tasks to show the crowd how intelligent and strong they are, such as playing soccer and moving logs. After the performance, people were free to touch the elephants and take pictures with them. I would ride them and have them lift me up with their trunks to encourage hesitant tourists to come take a closer look at the gentle giants. After the crowds left I would feed Hong her corn stalks and make my way over to see the baby of the group, Boom Bim. I would feed him his grain and play with him so he became accustomed to human interaction. After feeding Boom Bim I would treat any animals with injuries. There was one male elephant that had a foot infection after stepping on a river rock, and I would treat his infection twice a day for two weeks with injections, herb soaks, and medicine. I would also treat the elephants with arthritis, saddle sores, and cuts, as well as scanning their microchips once a month.
After a few hours of veterinary work I would go to the local school and teach English classes to students from four to fifteen years old. Most of the students had never seen an American person before and none had been taught English, so they were fascinated and asked me so many questions about America after class. Afterward, I would walk back to town to work with new tourists, who came to see the elephants paint pictures and to ride them around town. My elephant, Hong, was featured in National Geographic for painting herself holding a flower, and still makes reproductions that people can buy. I would lead the tourists on elephants across the Ping River and through the jungle on a two hour journey, finally looping back around town and into the elephant camp again. Once the tourists left, any students that wished to learn more English were welcomed into the elephant camp to play language games, learn more and ask questions. I was so amazed to see their love of learning! After an hour or two, the students would go home and I would eat dinner and retire to my tree house, ready to start my day again.
I have loved animals for as long as I can remember. I've constantly had at least one pet and I spent a large portion of my childhood on a farm, so I have always wanted to help them in some way. When I graduated from high school, I searched the internet for an international trip where I could make a difference before I settled down in college. I stumbled upon a volunteer website called Friends for Asia and found a work opportunity to be with my favorite animals, Asian elephants. All of the elephants were purchased or seized from companies that used them for illegal logging. Many Thai loggers treat the animals absolutely awful, hitting them with sharp spiked tools and beating them with clubs when they don't comply with strenuous logging tasks. The elephants were usually received at the camp with deep infections, bleeding wounds, and spinal arthritis from heavy lifting. When I read those words on the website, I automatically knew that this was what I was meant to do and I started raising funds for my trip. My family was absolutely amazing and they all donated money, which, in combination with my savings, was enough to send me around the world and back on my mission to save the elephants.
There were so many aspects of my job that I loved! My favorite parts were when I would ride the elephants around the town and local people would be able to see how incredible they were. Even though the elephant camp was in the middle of the village, many locals still did not see the interest and value in elephants, and many times had not interacted with them before. I hoped that locals could see a foreigner's enthusiasm and passion and find it contagious. Another aspect of riding elephants was for the tourists to see how gentle and smart they were. I would usually lead the tourists on a loop that started at the elephant camp and made its way across Ping River, up the mountainside and deep into the steamy jungle, past twenty foot waterfalls, into the town, and back across the Ping River to return to the elephant camp. I would also work with tourists after the elephant performance, showing them how strong and intelligent the elephants were by having them lift me with their trunks and obey commands I gave them while riding them. I remember in particular there was one woman who seemed to be so afraid of the elephants because of their intimidating size - she wouldn't go near them or touch them. I started talking to her and showing her how sweet and loving they are, explaining our training techniques and my job around the camp, and slowly she became more comfortable around them, even giving the elephant a few pats on the side! She left with a huge smile on her face, and hopefully a new appreciation for the Asian elephants. I believe education is the key to stopping the elephant abuse in Thailand, and I hope that people can see me working with them and follow my lead.
One of my hardest and most rewarding challenges was with a new arrival at the elephant camp. He was used for illegal logging, where the men treat them horribly and beat them regularly. He had ten deep punctures on his forehead from the logger's tools when we received him, all dirty and infected, as well as saddle sores from riding without proper padding. The pain and fear in his eyes was one of the saddest things I've ever seen in my life. This was just one of many cases; all of the animals received had some sort of injury that needed medicine and care. In addition to the physical aspect, many simply did not trust humans anymore. We would have to slowly work with them to gain their trust by feeding them food and staying close to them so they would learn that not all humans would hurt them. It was very difficult to see the awful ways the elephants had been treated and hard to understand why it was okay for so many people to hurt them, especially because in Thailand they are a sacred, revered animal. Another huge challenge was the cultural differences and the language barrier. Although it seems obvious, in the beginning it was a huge hurdle for me. I studied Thai customs and social norms before I left the United States, but there are so many small aspects of everyday life that it couldn't all be covered. I also learned a few basic Thai words, but I assumed some people would know English, which turned out to be a very incorrect expectation. I only worked with one person that knew English fluently, so I studied out of my Thai dictionary devotionally every night, and also learned the value of sign language!
The best advice I can give is to make sure this is something you are passionate about. There are so many little hurdles you have to overcome with culture shock, such as learning the new cultural norms, new food, and new language, to name a few. You might also miss home a lot. I overcame that obstacle by getting a Thai cell phone and calling home every few days. Another important tool I used was journaling. Every night before I went to bed I would write a page or so about what I did during the day, what I found difficult, and any struggles I was having. This not only served as a coping mechanism, but it was great to look back now and remember all the things I did! Another task I did to help adjust was to read a bit about Thailand before I went and to learn some of the language. My best recommendation would be to anticipate that culture shock and really read as much as you can about the culture and the people before you leave the United States. Learn about how they see their government leaders, how strangers and friends interact with each other, and gender differences in the society. Some of the things that are perfectly acceptable in the United States are seen as disrespectful in other places around the world. For example, when I was eating breakfast one day I noticed a Thai baht (coin) on the ground. I started playing with it with my foot, moving it around in the dirt. I looked up and saw a Thai elephant trainer looking at me in astonishment. In Thailand, the currency has a picture of the king on it, and their king is highly adored, so to move it around in the dirt was utter disrespect toward him. Another example is pointing with feet. This is normal in the USA, but in Thailand the feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body and it is impolite to point them toward anyone. I wish I had known all of these small aspects of Thai culture before I journeyed there. All in all, my advice is to learn at least the basics of the language and research social norms as much as possible. Remember, there will be a few trying times, so prepare for anything and keep an open mind!
One of the craziest parts of working as a veterinary technician in Thailand was transportation. In the United States this is usually a mundane task, and we don't give it a second thought. In Thailand, it is the opposite! Most people do not own cars, instead they have motorbikes, and it is very common to see a father driving with the mother and two or three children of any age on the back. I saw mothers carrying newborn babies with them on bikes, and hardly anyone owns a helmet. There were virtually no speed limits, so people were free to swerve in and out of traffic, and even drive on the dirt shoulder if traffic was too slow for them. One thirty minute motorbike ride was enough to cure me of my desire for a motorcycle forever. I preferred other modes of transportation. My favorite was a tuk-tuk, which is a motorized tricycle with a canopy. The rate is based on how far you have to travel and you can fit as many people in it as you want, making it by far the most fun and cost effective transportation in Thailand. They also had songthews, which are pickup trucks with tall canopies overhead and benches inside. This was one of the cheapest forms of transportation because they could fit a ton of people in one truck and split the cost several ways.
Early one Monday I had to walk to catch a songthew to go to the elephant camp for the week, and I couldn't find it anywhere! The elephant camp is deep in the jungle and about two hours outside of any town, so I needed to find a specific taxi songthew to take me there. Through sign language I talked a shop owner into hailing me a different kind of songthew to take me to a terminal, where I could find a ride on another to the elephant camp. He was confused and took me to the wrong side of town. At this time I called my supervisor, who told me to walk to a bridge to meet him. I walked about three miles in the pouring rain with my backpack containing my week's supplies. He then called me two more times, each time telling me to go to a different location to meet him. Two miles later, I found him and I hopped in the back of the elephant camp truck with all the day workers. We stopped at a beautiful market in the jungle to buy supplies, and I was amazed. It was a little market tucked away in the jungle with no tourists like the rest I had visited. It was a traditional market not aimed at foreigners, but other Thai working class people, with traditional Thai foods and goods. If I had never gotten lost and missed my original ride I would have never seen the amazing market with all the supplies necessary to operate in the elephant camp or made new Thai friends in the songthew!
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Name: June Miller
Job Title: Nursing Unit Clerk, Receptionist
Where: Vancouver, BC
Current Employer: Currently in college
Years of Experience: 35
Relevant Work Experience: Administrative Assistant, Health Care Worker, Activity Aide, Barber, Personal Assistant
Education: GED, Secretarial Certificate, HCW Certificate
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for median receptionist salary data.
Working for a temp agency can be a great way to try out different jobs or get your foot in the door at a desirable company. On the other hand, it often means frequent changes in work schedule and location. To deal with these unique challenges, temporary employees must be flexible, learn quickly and have great communication skills. In this Salary Story, we hear from June, a former temp who worked successfully in various positions. She offers advice on how to adapt to a new job and describes some of the challenges and rewards of choosing to work as a temporary receptionist.
Customer Service: Greeted people coming into the office and/or other establishments, directed them to the appropriate contact or service and provide basic information. Operated a 32 line phone system to answer, screen and forward telephone calls, taking messages as required. Provided information to customers and the public regarding goods, services, schedules, rates, regulation and policies in response to telephone/in-person enquiries. Office Management: Established and coordinated administrative policies and procedures. Analyzed incoming and outgoing memorandum, submissions and reports. Coordinated the preparation and submission of summary briefs and reports to the executives, committees, and shareholders. Conducted research, compiled data, and prepared papers for consideration and presentation by the executives, committees, and shareholders. Met with individuals, suppliers and others on behalf of the owner to discuss issues and assess and recommend various courses of action. Liaised with departmental and corporate officials and with other organizations and associations. Assessed requirements of an establishment and developed specification for equipment, material and supplies to be purchased. Purchased general and specialized equipment, material or business services for use or for further processing. Established delivery schedules, monitored progress and contacted clients and suppliers to resolve problems. Clerical: Created and maintained indexes for classification systems. Operated information retrieval systems and responded to requests for records. Reviewed files periodically to ensure they were complete and correctly classified. Sorted material that was to be filed according to particular filing systems. Filed material in drawers, cabinets, and storage boxes. Received and registered correspondence, reports, text and other written material for typing. Mail Room: Maintained and operated copier, fax, cutting, coiling, postage, folding/stuffing, hole punch machines. Created contract booklets, notebooks, pads, posters via desktop publishing. Coordinated and ensured completed mass mail-outs via couriers and/or Canada Post.
I was a barber for 20+ years and a woman on the bus said I should be an office temp. So, I took some tests and they hired me to go to various offices to work in reception, administration, payroll, accounts receivable/payable.
I enjoy interacting with people, and sharing my experience with them. Learning is a wonderful part of my day. I worked with a company that sent me to many offices and each office would put me in a position, walk away, and I would have to learn everything on my own, prompting me to write various job descriptions books, so girls after me would at least have an idea. When I worked for a very large company in their mail room, on my route of mail delivery, if I was lost, or did not recognize a name, I could ask anyone, and they would totally help me out. ONLY place that did this. Other places gave me the, "Well nobody taught me, so why would I help you?" It was tough, but it gave me strength to move forward, rather than give up.
MY very biggest challenge is facing people that call me names because I am a very hard working person, and they believe after a point, that I am trying to take "their" job from them. I can tell them that I work very hard, for the absent girl, and I want to be called back if they need help again. When I go home knowing that I achieved more than what was on my list, I can relax and sleep well at night. People can say ignore these people, but these people are in EVERY company.
The first person to impress is yourself. When you get up and go to work, you must ask yourself if that is where you want to be, and why. You have to be able to ask questions. You have to ask questions. Be clear, concise, and show you care. If someone told me June, not everyone is like you, so watch out, That would have been terrific. It would have made meeting unkind, ugly personalities so much easier to handle. I would have handled them differently. I would have known that these people have other problems, that probably have nothing to do with me or work.
The craziest thing was the president of one company came up the staff elevator, rather than the private elevator for executives. I did not know or meet him, because I was new. He waved a hand at me, and started passing reception. I chased him, saying, "Sir...Sir, can I help you Sir? You are going into a restricted area, and I must ask you to wait for your party here at reception." He laughed and said okay, young lady, where do I wait, and I gave him a chair, and his brochure. While looking through the brochure, he asked, "Have you met the president yet?" I replied, "Not yet, he has his own elevator, so I don't think that I will be meeting him on this side. I heard he is very pleasant, and funny, too. So that rocks." He repeated that rocks, then showed me a picture of himself in the brochure. With the word president under his name. At our annual staff meeting held at a large auditorium, with approximately 1200 staff at this particular meeting, he invited me up on stage, and told the story, saying that my dedication to the safety of my team was incredible, and commendable. It was a wonderful moment. Although, I was the only one there wearing a red suit, while all the others where wearing dark blue.
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Name: Krysteena
Job Title: Medical Assistant
Years of Experience: 17
Where: Renton, WA
Current Employer: Southlake Clinic
Education: Certified Medical Assistant
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for the average salary of a medical assistant.
A quick search for medical assistant jobs reveals openings in various states across the country. Medical assistants are in demand, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects excellent growth in the field over the next several years. The outlook for medical assistant jobs may be bright, but what is it really like to work in this profession? In this Salary Story, we hear from an experienced medical assistant who knows a thing or two about dealing with insurance companies, juggling paperwork, and providing excellent patient care. She describes her medical assistant duties and sheds some light on what makes this a rewarding career.
As a medical assistant, my duties include managing patient flow, handling calls, doing triage, managing doctor schedule, injections, EKG, phlebotomy, charting, EMR, all back office duties, minor procedures, and assisting doctor with exams.
Having family members who work in the medical field influenced my decision to become a medical assistant.
I love working with patients, and having the opportunity to really help someone.
One of the biggest challenges is dealing with all the red tape with insurance companies.
Even though this is a hands-on job, you can expect to do lots of paperwork. Keep in mind that there may be less patient contact than you think.
I would have to say finding breast cancer in a patient while doing an EKG.
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The craziest thing that happened was spilling on a customer and then I couldn't stop laughing. I had a side compote of salsa on a plate and when I set down the plate it spilled all over the customer. Thank god he wasn't a regular. It was an uptight man in a suit who definitely wasn't from Green Bay. He jumped up and made such a fuss you would think that I spilled burning hot oil on top of him. The way he acted made me laugh so hard it was very inappropriate. But, sometimes you just have to laugh.
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Name: Duncan Sailors
Job Title: Personal Training Studio Manager / Personal Trainer
Years of Experience: 5 years
Where: West Seattle, WA
Current Employer: West Seattle Fitness Together (full-time), CrossFit Seattle (part-time)
Education: BS, University of Washington; ACE certified personal trainer; Crossfit Level 1 certified, Crossfit Endurance Level 1 certified
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for the average salary of a personal trainer
What is it like to manage a personal training studio as well as be a personal trainer? West Seattle personal trainer Duncan Sailors shares his story of how he took his life's passion for fitness and turned it into a successful management career.
I have five main areas of duties: sales, marketing, facility upkeep, training and personnel. My main sales duties include: following up on leads, scheduling free sessions, entering sales data, maintaining sales and client database, retaining clients, and providing accurate sales reports to the owner. My main marketing duties include: managing in house and outdoor signage, doing internet outreach, maintaining a presence in social media such as Facebook, blog, YouTube and Yelp. I also do business to business collaboration, seminars, street fairs and In house contests. On the service side, I do training sessions (15 to 30+ per week), client follow-up, nutrition programs, exercise programming, and fitness assessments cards (birthday, anniversary, thank you, referral requests). I also handle all client contact and client safety communications via e-mail, phone and text. From the facilities standpoint, I manage cleaning, equipment maintenance, new equipment acquisition, recycling, office equipment and consumables: water, towels and fruit bowl. On the personnel side, I hire, train, review and fire trainers as well as run staff meetings. There are also lots of other small tasks the manager of a personal training studio does each day.
After many years as a competitive athlete, I decided to change my professional focus from contracting to personal training. I wanted to share my passion for fitness with people and assist them with improving their quality of life. I wanted to help people get the most out their workouts by avoiding the biggest pitfalls of exercise: injury, lack of motivation, boredom, and (worst of all) enduring hours of hard work without seeing results. I now work as manager and personal trainer for a well-established, upscale West Seattle personal training studio.
I love to see people working hard to not only change their bodies, but to change their lives. I have seen a 340 pound man, who could barely make it up the stairs of our West Seattle training studio, transform into a 260 pound fit strong, healthy man. He came to us because he was afraid he was going to die. Helping people like him is what I love about this job. I love the pride a client gets when they can pick up their own body weight. We are big on progressions and benchmarks. When a client does more than they did a month ago, they feel awesome. Their boost of confidence is very satisfying for me.
The challenge of this personal training job is that you want to be able to help everyone, but not everyone is ready to be helped. I have met with prospective new clients that needed our help, but for one reason or another, they were not ready or willing to make the necessary commitments. That is heartbreaking. Another challenge in our West Seattle gym is overcoming unrealistic expectations. The media floods people’s minds with what they should eat, how they should look, how they should exercise, and what the latest Hollywood actor is doing to get "skinny." There is no magic pill. That fact is hard to swallow for some people.
When first entering the personal training field people usually do it because they love to work out and want to help other people love to work out too. They focus on the technical aspects of the job - what exercises to do and how to do them. Knowing all that is great, and important to a point. However, people will keep coming back to you for who you are and not what you know. If you honestly care about a client and their goals and aspirations, you will get a client for life. All of our West Seattle personal trainers were hired because they are great people with technical knowledge. This is what sets us apart from other gyms.
At our West Seattle personal training studio, people work hard to accomplish their fitness goals. There is sweat, pain, racing heart rates, tears and laughter. It takes courage to want to change. That courage and drive to want to be stronger, fitter, healthier, for whatever reason, is amazing.You can get a real feel for the types of successes you can be part of in this industry by reading some of our personal training clients' success stories.
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Name: Eileen Wood
Job Title: Wellness and Life Coach, Writer, Inspirational Teacher
Years of Experience: 20 years
Where: Raleigh, NC
Current Employer: Self-Employed
Education: East Carolina University, BA; Atlantic University, MA
Salary: See the PayScale Research Center for median life coach salary data.
What is a life coach? The simple answer is that a life coach can help clients to reach personal goals and make life changes. Making career changes, learning to manage stress more effectively, or pursuing long neglected dreams are just a few examples of why someone might hire a life coach. In this Salary Story, Eileen Wood, a wellness and life coach in North Carolina, explains what being a life coach means to her. She describes her approach to life coaching, offers advice on becoming a life coach, and talks about the challenges and rewards that are a part of transforming people's lives.
As a wellness and life coach I encourage and inspire others to take control of their lives. Self-empowerment is a very strong attribute that reflects in all areas of life. It is the key to success and having a fulfilling life. By working with the mind, body and spirit, an individual can become more aware of what their purpose is in life, what is important to them, find their strengths and change their life for the better. Life coaching is like training for a marathon, only this marathon is for your life's journey. Just like an Olympic athlete uses a coach to help him/her excel at a sport, an individual will benefit immensely from using a life coach to help him/her excel in daily life experiences. Through the written word in articles and books, as a writer and aspiring author, I offer people opportunities to gain insight into their own self preservation. The pathway to personal success starts with the self and then moves outward. “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people” - Chinese proverb.
As a teacher I work with meditation, stress management, philosophy, metaphysics, science and ancient wisdom in order to help others understand themselves and how they fit in the world.
I became interested in wellness and life coaching after suffering from Fibromyalgia for over seven years and self-healing myself in three months. Realizing I could be in control of my life rather than allowing a medical condition to control me, I found myself seeking answers to life's biggest question. Who am I? As a result I began to study, education, train and practice in Eastern philosophy, metaphysics, spirituality, philosophy, transpersonal studies and the balance between logic and the creative arts. This includes learning modalities such as Reiki and Arching Light; learning about the different systems of the body such as chakras, meridian and etheric; understanding the emotional self and how it relates to the physical self; and realizing the importance of thoughts, intention, attention and beliefs. Through my experiences I have evolved and transformed into a new person who is uplifted, always growing in a positive direction and enjoying the benefits of living.
I love my job because it allows me to share my success with others and see them transform their lives in the most positive and healthy way possible. I have a client who was stuck in an unhealthy situation with what seemed like no way out. Through coaching and guidance this client was able to move beyond the victim mindset, converting into an "I can be and do anything" mindset, setting the foundation to set himself free. Through this freedom he has been able to gain his true identity and self back, leading him to success in personal relationships, his career, family relationships and hope for a bright and fulfilling future. Seeing the amazing transformation of this client is the best reward I could have, for his success is my success. If I can make a difference in someone's life, even if it is only through a smile, then I have done my job.
The biggest challenge in my job is working with individuals who are resistant to change and want to continue to sabotage their moving forward in life. It is a challenge to help people understand the power they have in personal strength through self-empowerment. Learning how to say "no," how to have a voice and express feelings or opinions, to be in silence and to be still can be difficult for some people. If someone wants to be a wellness and life coach it is important to understand that for many people it is a slow process that will challenge them at the very core. Patience, understanding and being a good listener are very crucial for the success of helping others help themselves.
The most important advice that I can give is to be strong and persistent in following your heart's desire no matter what others may say about your career choice. One of the things that I wish I had before starting in this career was to have let go of any fears or doubts about my opportunity to be successful. It is best to have 100 percent belief in yourself and the work you do; otherwise there is a chance it may take longer to reach the destination you are striving to arrive at.
The most amazing and interesting things that have happened while doing this work is the information that comes forward once a person begins to transform. It is like a present has been unwrapped and opened, showing the receiver the most beautiful and wonderful gift or gifts. When a person realizes who they are, what they want to be doing with their life, how they can achieve their dreams and become secure within themselves, a whole new world opens up. The neatest part of this type of work is how synchronistic things become, including dreams, chance meetings, information that appears from any source, increased intuition and understanding the law of attraction.
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