A Female's Secrets to Career Success
Janet Yellen is a well-known economist whose first national, high-profile job was head of the economic advisory team to a US President several decades ago. Later she was the head of the Federal Reserve Bank (the “Fed”) of the U.S. government. In January 2021 she became the first female Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, a Presidential Cabinet position.
Mrs. Yellen is a Harvard University graduate and married.
As of 2021, the field of Economics remains a career path occupied by 75% men (mostly White) and 25% women.
In an interview published in the Washington Post (9/2/21), Mrs. Yellen recalled that she was one of very few women in her economics class at Harvard. She was never invited to share a lunch table with male students and never invited to participate in their discussions about economic issues. Thus, she felt socially and professionally isolated.
Despite the challenges of being a gender minority within her chosen career, Janet Yellen “kept going” by publishing, teaching and “working my way up”, eventually running the U.S. economy.
Her secrets to career success:
1. Prepare thoroughly for each task; be as knowledgeable as possible; never “wing it” – such preparation yields self confidence
2. If you hate parts of your job, learn to cope with those parts; (she hated public speaking but decided it “came with the territory” so she had to do it to the best of her ability although she would never truly enjoy it.)
Janet Yellen concluded that you can both love and hate your career. Just do every job well through persistent efforts. These remain her secrets to success.
(Editor’s note: obviously, these “secrets” are equally applicable to both women and men.)
CONTRAST: ONE MALE’S PERSPECTIVE
Paul Domowitch was a sportswriter for the Philadelphia Inquirer for several decades. He announced his retirement in an op-ed piece published by the Inquirer on 9/5/21.
Paul’s father’s first long-time job was a “coal breaker” which literally describes his daily employment tasks. Later he became a factory worker. His father hated both jobs but to Paul’s adult dismay looking back, his father never took the career risk of pursuing his talents and interests as a carpenter / handyman or as a chef.
Paul’s father’s advice: pick a career you love.
Paul knew from an early age that he wanted to be a sports reporter, but his employment applications were rejected by 150 East Coast newspapers (Editor’s note: possible exaggeration…….did he really keep an accurate count?…….regardless, the point is made: he was persistent!). Eventually Paul was hired by a small Texas newspaper without even an interview! For a first job in the field of his dreams, he didn’t mind – initially – the minimal compensation earned. But eventually Paul produced a quantity of writing which was persuasive enough to be hired by the sports editor of a larger newspaper in a larger Texas city.
After continuing to write about sports in an interesting way, Paul was able to present himself as a qualified candidate for an opening in the sports section at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where he remained for several decades, earning coveted pro game coverage assignments and recognition by his peers.
The biggest career challenges for Paul were (1) daily pressure to meet publication deadlines (Paul motivated himself to start his work earlier rather than later) and (2) having to cope with his first editor, whose daily routine involved much screaming and hollering along with threats of Paul’s imminent job termination. Paul hated being disrespected but gradually all his managers came to appreciate his dedication to his writing craft and the quality reporting which resulted.
(Editor’s note: Self pressure to work hard each day and learning to cope with unpleasant job tasks are easily understood “secrets” to success and job satisfaction obviously applicable to both males and females.)
