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The Rewards of A Non-Traditional Career The concept of a "non-traditional career" generally brings up the notion of women working in roles that historically have be the primary preserve of men. While that is the common understanding of "non-traditional career", a less frequently discussed, but very common occurrence is the use of a trade, profession or experience in a non-traditional way. This article will explore the latter, and the rewards that come when women apply their skills in the marketplace in non-traditional careers. I have had the privilege of working with a number of very talented women during the course of my career and have found that the majority of those who are most satisfied with their careers and overall work-life balance have tended to take "the path less traveled by". Sometimes these non-traditional choices are made strategically, other times by default and yet at times, due to necessity. The consistent theme among each of these individuals is that they build on their education, experience and skills to create a career within their life rather that wrapping their life around a career. A physician who I have come to know well, spent several years practicing medicine but never felt the full degree of satisfaction she had anticipated at the outset of her career. Suddenly becoming a single mother of three, and challenged with long hours and emergency calls, she felt she had to make a change. In assessing her life's needs for time with her children, predictable hours, and a driving need to contribute to society, she successful sought out a teaching post at a local medical school. Her passion for medical ethics and the holistic practice of medicine was imparted to hundreds of students over the years. Through her teaching, writing and publications, she became nationally recognized as one of the country's leading experts on medical ethics and today, commands generous speaking fees at medical conventions. In this case, personal necessity was "the mother of invention" resulting in a fascinating career that fit in to her life. History, English, Math or Science... name the teacher and find them running small businesses, selling products and services, training employees and acting as communications consultants. We know them, but we don't necessarily think about how these people developed their non-academic careers. Fundamental to the skill sets required by educators in the ability to impart knowledge and have it "stick". Breaking down information in to "bite-sized" chunks, communicating it clearly and following up to ensure understanding, is critical in every aspect of business. "Teachers" , in my experience, do this very well... so well in fact, that some time in the College of Education might be in order for Business School students. Pharmacist as Marketing Executive? Absolutely!!! Healthcare is (at last count) approximately 11% of the GNP and growing. The complexity of the chain of care, from point of research and development for new drugs, devices and procedures, to patient care and insurance adjudication seems to increase daily. Along that chain pharmacists are a critical component... and not just in the traditional sense of dispensing medicine to patients. Pharmacists play a very strategic role in the marketing, branding and distribution of pharmaceuticals throughout the system. A young women, two years out of pharmacy school took a chance fourteen years ago with a small healthcare supplier. Her job? Work with drug manufacturing companies to ensure that the products were efficiently priced for her employer's customers. This work included the development of formularies, working closely with customers in assess their needs, studying demographic changes and developing internal marketing plans to drive cost efficient programs through the system. The job paid 70% of what she earned in a traditional pharmacy role, but she had a plan. She wanted to one day be president of a company that provided pharmaceuticals to patients. When she looked up the steep latter of the chain pharmacy where she worked, she couldn't see the top. Through hard work, determination and a plan to use her professional credentials in a non-traditional way, she is now the President of a 400 Million Dollar a year pharmaceutical manufacturing company. Negotiating, problem solving, fact finding and closing... all the skills needed to effectively practice law. These also happen to be the same skills that are critical to managing the day in and day out challenges of executive recruiting. Lawyers as recruiters? Yes, there are a number of them. This non-traditional career provides intellectual challenge, flexibility and requires the relentless desire to "win". One of the best executive search people I know practiced law for several years before she decided that the "billable hours" were controlling her vs. her controlling the hours. After some serious self assessment, supported by a career counselor, she made the switch. She partnered with an experienced executive search consultant and learned the ropes of research, analysis, behavioral interviewing techniques and "match making". Within two years she had replaced her salary as a lawyer. Within five years, she had doubled it. She billed for results, not for hours and ended up working fewer hours and earning a greater income. In each of the examples I've used, woman have been willing to "break out" of the expected mold established by their education and credentials to creatively use their abilities to create a dynamic, fulfilling and economically rewarding career on their terms. It is not easy, and there are always a few set backs along the way, however the rewards can far out way the risks when one dares to step outside the box and build on top of it. |