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DylanAngel
12-07-2007, 08:37 AM
That's what's driving me crazy... I was hoping my exception would be a super awesome master's degree that they couldn't pass up...

I haven't done any recent research... but I believe that there were few options in my area for paid internships... I will check that out again, though.

"But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible, logical, responsible, practical..." ;D

LOL, quoting a cheesy Supertramp song!

Unfortunately, a master's degree with no experience still only qualifies for entry level in most areas. In my industry (advertising), a master's degree still only qualifies you to be an assistant account executive to start off with. It might be different with your chosen profession though.

I've said this before but it bears repeating:

The degree is only a General Admission ticket to the concert. You have to work your way up front to see the band better.

xdamage
12-07-2007, 08:42 AM
The degree is only a General Admission ticket to the concert. You have to work your way up front to see the band better.

It is the same in Engineering, and Science fields. There can be a good pay off later in life, in one's late 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, very good salaries and benefits, but experience is required for that. There is no reason we would hire anyone into a senior position who has no experience (or pay them senior level pay and benefits).

DylanAngel
12-07-2007, 08:51 AM
It is the same in Engineering, and Science fields. There can be a good pay off later in life, in one's late 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, very good salaries and benefits, but experience is required for that. There is no reason we would hire anyone into a senior position who has no experience (or pay them senior level pay and benefits).

Thanks for the info about other fields, but I don't think she's expecting a senior position. I do think she was thinking that a Masters would at least qualify her for something mid-range rather than entry level.

And when I mentioned the Asst. Acct. Exec postion, btw, that was WITH some experience and a Masters. With just the degree and no work history in the field, you'll only start out as an admin or maybe an entry level Traffic person.

Jenny
12-07-2007, 10:19 AM
Yeah - I've gotta say that I'm in the camp of "I don't know how people live on $12 an hour." I have a roommate; I take public transit or walk; pretty much all my clothes are second hand (I'm not much of a shopper). Like it's not a crazy thing to think, and I don't think it makes you spoiled - it essentially means that you have low to middle middle class tastes and expectations.

Although I will say that putting off "real work" for stripping because you don't fancy the idea of working for an entry level salary is not the most forward thinking. You'd be better off taking the poor salary and stripping once a week for an extra few hundred - best of both worlds! Because nobody is going to enjoy working for $12 an hour more when you are 30 or 35. It's not like by putting it off you can change the workings of entry level positions.

AudreyLeigh
12-07-2007, 11:57 AM
No shit! I'm all excited to be getting a 70 cent raise to make $8.20/hour!

Why didnt they wait until the new year? Jan 1st min wage goes up to $8/hr anyway.... So technically youre only getting a 20 cent increase....

Sophia_Starina
12-07-2007, 12:18 PM
Why didnt they wait until the new year? Jan 1st min wage goes up to $8/hr anyway.... So technically youre only getting a 20 cent increase....

O RLY? Is this a national thing or just in your area?

$8 minimum wage, Hell Yeah!

Sophia_Starina
12-07-2007, 12:21 PM
aww shuxxx that was a HOT QUOTE.

Why, Thank ya. ;D

Sophia_Starina
12-07-2007, 12:25 PM
Lastly, please don't forget internships, they are valuable and viable options for practical experience. This way you're not committing yourself and I don't know about all, but I hired my interns on a part time basis. So you could still strip while doing one without having to work two full time jobs (and you'd get the summer off!:) )

I'm doing an unpaid internship right now. It's great for my resume and fun. Think that the experience has a value so I don't mind taking a pay cut. My next internship will most likley be a paid one... just because I am kicking so much ass! But even if a project came along with say... Martin Scorsese, I'd work for him for free.

Katrine
12-07-2007, 12:40 PM
I'm scared that I'd suck at it. :-[ How hard/expensive/long were those training programs? A girl at work told me that they were really intimidating and long


Its not that hard nor expensive. Most firms will reimburse you for the cost of licensing, or even pay for them outright. It isn't easy though. You'll need a good memory, decent math skills, and study discipline....



I the job itself was competitive, stressful, and hard to do well in. I feel like people would look at this young girl (me) and be like, I'm supposed to let YOU tell me how to invest my money??


This is all true. Females seldomly make it doing what I do. Out of approx. 50 people in my office, ther are probably 15 females doing this. However, only 4 of us are very successful at it and in the top producer tiers. Most women leave within their first year.

You have to have knowledge, skills, and attitude. Or at least two out of those three. You can fake the third till you make it. Oh, and confidence. They will likely pair you up with a more tenured planner for a while to get you on your feet.

And you must exude confidence and sales skills. Create a personal relationship with your clients, get to know them. Never use your sexuality to try and get business, it WILL backfire on you.


I was going to start off salaried at Fidelity and they start at 40k a year... Are there other places?


Of course, there are a shitton of companies. Plus there are banks, discount brokerages, full-service investment firms. insurance companies, other mutual fund pimps like Fidelity, etc....



I heard that most FP's are self-employed, but I don't feel that I'm very competitive right now... I mean, I only majored in psych. :-\
What did you get your masters in? Was it hard? Do they really kick you out if you make less than a B in a class? Oh yea, and does anyone have any experiance with those online masters programs?


Some FPs are self-employed once they have a good sized book of business. Don't worry about that right now.

My masters was in international business. As far as I know, the program doesn't kick out students who make less than a B. I got my MBA at a university so I am not sure how the online programs fare.

I hope this helps!

AudreyLeigh
12-07-2007, 12:47 PM
O RLY? Is this a national thing or just in your area?

$8 minimum wage, Hell Yeah!

Ummm. I know its the state wage.

Check this out



WHOA - Kansas' min wage is $2.65!

Some states have no min wage...

Oregon and Washington are at $7.85 and $7.93... no increase at the new year....

So far CA is the highest.... oh, Mass is also going up to $8 on the first...

Sophia_Starina
12-07-2007, 12:49 PM
Boooo! In NJ the minimum wage will only be 7.25.... in 2009. At least it's moving in the right direction ...

AudreyLeigh
12-07-2007, 12:57 PM
Boooo! In NJ the minimum wage will only be 7.25.... in 2009. At least it's moving in the right direction ...
Dont complain - look at some of the other states - OUCH!

Sophia_Starina
12-07-2007, 01:02 PM
Dont complain - look at some of the other states - OUCH!


I know... but being that I am smack dab right next to NYC in tax-abatement HELL my cost of living is going through the friggin stratosphere. I'm afraid that if I stand still for too long I'll get turned into a "Luxury Condo" :yuck: like everything else in this city. The median income of the population is going way up (since so many ex Manhattanites are showing up) and the cost of everything is out of control.

I guess I just wish that all states paid a fairer wage... I want everyone to be happy, yah know? I'll go meditate on peace and love and fairness.

Sorry to detract from your thread Bella.

I'll see myself out

paintgoddess
12-07-2007, 01:06 PM
Ummm. I know its the state wage.

Check this out

http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm



^^^Hey thanks for posting this. I was about to go crazy googling. Minimum wage is PATHETIC in my state!!

AudreyLeigh
12-07-2007, 01:16 PM
Your welcome - I know, its crazy.

Heres federal.



In 1938 it was $0.25 :D

I thought all states had to be at least Federal and could be higher. Guess I was totally wrong...

2007 was the first raise in 10 years!!! Ridiculous...

OK, sorry hun. /threadjack

BrunetteGoddess
12-07-2007, 01:21 PM
Why didnt they wait until the new year? Jan 1st min wage goes up to $8/hr anyway.... So technically youre only getting a 20 cent increase....

Yeah.But in 2.5 months I will be getting another raise.

BTW, SF has their own city minimum wage of about $9/hour.

Sorry to be OT.

AudreyLeigh
12-07-2007, 01:23 PM
Yeah.But in 2.5 months I will be getting another raise.


Sorry to be OT.

Oh, ok... that makes sense then!

Casual Observer
12-07-2007, 02:53 PM
The degree is only a General Admission ticket to the concert. You have to work your way up front to see the band better.

More broadly I have to agree, though it doesn't seem to work that way at all in IT.

Additional degrees really offer an employer more insight as to your potential, rather than your actual performance. That's why getting your foot in the door is really important, even if it's an entry-level slot. They can't see what you can do until you're at the ground level and on their clock.

PhillyDancer1982
12-07-2007, 03:38 PM
What were my plans with my BA in psychology? Well, HR or financial planning (both would require further training/licensing). I decided that FP is most likely NOT for me... HR would be cool, but... I mean, I'm making so much money now and I'm only 24. I'm only getting older so this is when I'm making my money at what I'm doing. Why give that up for a crappy-paying job for a fresh outta college girl? So, I'm thinking I'll just stay in school and continue to put my money away for when I'm older. I'm over school, so I really don't want to bust my ass... But I'm looking at some sort of Master's Degree. People think that an MBA would be good... I'm wondering if it would be too hard? Does anyone know anything about those "online" masters programs? University of Phoenix or something? Would some fluffy master's hurt me, help me, or not affect me at all a few years down the line?

I couldn't tell you exactly what the point of this thread is... I guess I'm just looking for some other experiances, advice, etc. I feel guilty for stripping after my degree, since I've always told myself that I was stripping through college. I know I just need to see it as, "This is what I do, I make a lot of money, and why the hell should I work a 9-5 and cut my salary in half?"

Although you might be making a lot of money dancing right now in your life, remember that someday you'll probably want to get a job in your field, but it is harder to find a job in your field if you have been out of school for a while with no experience.

If you are not yet ready to plunge into the full-time workworld yet, it might be good timing to go to graduate school. But keep in mind a few things I heard from others about graduate school:

1) A lot of Americans that get an MBA without relevant work experience have a hard time finding jobs afterwards. This is because employers would rather hire a person with experience and a Bachelors, than a person with no experience and an MBA. I heard that it is best to pursue an MBA after you already have a few years of work experience and/or already hold a position in a company and need the MBA to move to a higher position.
2) Graduate school is very expensive! But a lot of schools offer full rides(or close to it) if you are top of the class, become a Teaching Assistant, etc. If you can get free tuition to grad school, I say go for it! But if no schools are offering you scholarships, then I'd probably reconsider grad school until you are working for a company that has a tuition reimbursement program.
3) Most professional fields require a higher degree(Masters or PhD) to get into the field. But some higher degrees(MBA, Masters of Education, etc) might hinder you, jobwise, if you do not have solid experience in your field(I'm basically reiterating point #1).

If I were you, I would first try to apply to grad school for a professional program. If I'd get a large-sized scholarship or grant, then I would go straight to graduate school and keep dancing alongside it. It sounds like you'd have fun doing that. If I do not want to pay for grad school or cannot get enough scholarships, then I would suck it up, get a job in my field, and keep dancing part-time or on weekends just for fun and extra dough.

If you're reeeeeaaaallly dreading entrance into the "normal job" workworld, then perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing to dance for a few months before starting your jobsearch. Dancing a few months post-graduation will give you time to breathe and relax, now that you won't have to worry about the stress of college grades. That's what I did a few years back. :)

DylanAngel
12-07-2007, 03:44 PM
More broadly I have to agree, though it doesn't seem to work that way at all in IT.


Completely agree with you on that one; most of our IT people have more practical experience than education.

Nicolina
12-07-2007, 03:56 PM
Bella, here's what I think:

Don't go to grad school just for the helluvit, or so that you can keep dancing and feel okay about it because you're still "paying your way through school."

I know exactly what you mean when you say you are "over school," trust me. So I'm thinking you should maybe take a year to reassess. Use dancing as a way to take some underpaid internships that you find really interesting. Research grad programs in various fields, and see if you find one that really excites you. You probably need a little break from academia. If you recharge your batteries, you might find that you really do want to go to grad school in psych or a related field. (I like psych, so I think you should try to stick with it if you can. Research psychology is so cool!)

Jenny is right that it is no fun to find yourself, at 30 or 35, finished with stripping and qualified only for jobs that pay around $12/hour. So, even if you keep dancing or continue with school, make sure you consider your resume; try not to have too many gaps. Voice of experience here. Though you sound much more together than I, and probably wouldn't make the same mistakes I did. Still, just thought I'd weigh in...

PhillyDancer1982
12-07-2007, 03:57 PM
What about the holes in my resume if I was only stripping and not going to school or doing anything else? I know there have been threads about it.. linky?

That was my #1 biggest concern about dancing instead of finding a full-time job in my field...I wouldn't have an honest explanation for the time I spent dancing. That is why it is important to always have a back-up agenda...take courses, volunteer for an important cause, a part-time job, or make stripping part-time alongside a full-time "normal" job. It seems that the longer you go without a job on your resume, the less employers want to hire you.

You could also bring up sympathy stories. For example, my mother passed away not long after college graduation when I didn't have a job lined up alongside stripping. When I filled out applications and had to explain the "employment gap" after graduation, I explained that I had a death in the family and took some time off from jobsearching to tend to that. I wasn't lying, but it wasn't the full truth either, but it was an explanation that worked decently for me. I REALLY wouldn't recommend this idea though.

britt244
12-07-2007, 04:33 PM
^ well, you could also say that what you've been doing since school doesnt apply to your field so you left it off your resume to make more space for things that you felt better represented the work you were looking to get. thats what a girl at work told me when i asked her what to do about my resume. i know that mine is pretty full as it is since i had to do community service and internships for school. so saying i left things off that arent relevant, such as bartending or something, would work.

you could also say you traveled. you had a chance to do other things and not go straight into the work world without knowing exactly what path you wanted to take.

DylanAngel
12-07-2007, 09:31 PM
so saying i left things off that arent relevant, such as bartending or something, would work.

you could also say you traveled. you had a chance to do other things and not go straight into the work world without knowing exactly what path you wanted to take.

You could say that, but I still wouldn't hire you as it doesn't amount to real "white collar" business experience.

Nicolina
12-07-2007, 09:45 PM
^Yes, it's much better to not have to explain any gaps if you can help it.

Also, Bella, consider the fact that even if your straight-job take-home pay is lower than your dancing income, you don't have to worry about paying taxes and social security. Also, the medical/dental/401K benefits you might get from a regular job would add value to the net income if you compare it to being self-employed as a dancer, y'know?

IOW, if you took a straight job that paid 40K and offered excellent benefits, that would probably be the equivalent of making...what? 50 or 60K as a self-employed dancer? Maybe much more, depending on individual circumstances? I don't know the numbers, I'm just guessing. Just something to consider.

DylanAngel
12-08-2007, 07:07 AM
IOW, if you took a straight job that paid 40K and offered excellent benefits, that would probably be the equivalent of making...what? 50 or 60K as a self-employed dancer? Maybe much more, depending on individual circumstances? I don't know the numbers, I'm just guessing. Just something to consider.

Your numbers are pretty valid Nic. Because most jobs have multi-faceted insurance (major med with small copay, dental, vision etc), 401K matching and other perks, they can easily add up to another 10 to 20K per year.

TheSexKitten
12-08-2007, 12:18 PM
And hey if you dance one night a week, say that's another 300-800 bucks... awesome! Your income would goup even higher!! :D

Sophia_Starina
12-08-2007, 12:19 PM
Yeah... dancing can be like icing on the cake.

DylanAngel
12-08-2007, 12:22 PM
^^^Yup. This is a great suggestion. You could still make great money stripping and it would probably make you even more since you don't have the stress of it being your primary income.

Bella21
12-08-2007, 12:26 PM
Thanks for everyone's input on this! I think I'm going to try to get a job in HR and then dance on the side. It's going to be more work than I'm used to, which sucks... but I'm sure I'll thank myself for it in a few years.

britt244
12-08-2007, 03:50 PM
is there any way you can get a part time hr job to get your foot in the door? thats what im doing.. 3 days a week at my job that i went to school for, and 3 days dancing. which still gives me only 4 days of work a week haha.

AudreyLeigh
12-08-2007, 04:35 PM
Yea, I was kinda assuming you would still dance on the side... Thats what Im going to do. Get my f/t job and supplement the income with dancing a Saturday here and there... if I danced 2 nights a month and worked 40 hrs a week at $9/hr the dancing would double my income! And THATS crazy....

Bella21
12-08-2007, 04:39 PM
Britt, that's kind of what I'm hoping for... I hope it won't look bad. Like, "Why were you only working part time?" I guess I was just paranoid about dancing and doing the financial planning thing incase a client walked in. But, if I'm at a company and a co-worker walks in, it would be as big of a deal (especially if he's married, he wouldn't say anything). Well, also that working a full-time job on TOP of dancing IS more work. But, it's worth it to continue in the manner of living to which I am accustomed. ;)

PuertoRicanPinup
12-08-2007, 05:10 PM
I think that is an excellent idea Bella, working full-time and dancing a night or so a week. Great field too, my girlfriend is 23 years old and makes bank doing HR for a big firm.

britt244
12-09-2007, 08:32 AM
Britt, that's kind of what I'm hoping for... I hope it won't look bad. Like, "Why were you only working part time?" I guess I was just paranoid about dancing and doing the financial planning thing incase a client walked in. But, if I'm at a company and a co-worker walks in, it would be as big of a deal (especially if he's married, he wouldn't say anything). Well, also that working a full-time job on TOP of dancing IS more work. But, it's worth it to continue in the manner of living to which I am accustomed. ;)

maybe im wrong, bc dylan disagreed with my last post, but i would think that it would look good to be well rounded enough that youve had other experiences. you know? like you were only working part time bc you had other opportunities and you wanted to pursue other things before settling down and locking yourself into something that you weren't sure about. that way you look like you were mature enough to "shop around" and now you know what you'd like to do. does that make sense?

DylanAngel
12-09-2007, 08:40 AM
maybe im wrong, bc dylan disagreed with my last post, but i would think that it would look good to be well rounded enough that youve had other experiences. you know? like you were only working part time bc you had other opportunities and you wanted to pursue other things before settling down and locking yourself into something that you weren't sure about. that way you look like you were mature enough to "shop around" and now you know what you'd like to do. does that make sense?

Britt, you're half right. Working part time is fine, but the travelling excuse as to why you have gaps raised a red flag.

Well rounded means nothing when it comes to dealing with clients. You have to start from the bottom with minimal contact and work your way up to being a full on liaison.

Clients can be very demanding and knowing how to appease them without overworking your staff to death is an acquired talent.

britt244
12-09-2007, 08:46 AM
^ well maybe like the other thing i suggested? like saying that you wanted to pursue other paths completely? like for me, i told my new supervisor at my new part time job (yay!!) that i didnt have time to do a lot when i was in school since i was going full time plus interning there 2 days a week, and since i wasnt sure if it was something i wanted to commit to for the long term, i didnt want to jump right into full time there without checking out some other things. she seemed happy with that, i mean, shes letting me stay on part time when they really needed a full time person in the classroom.

the traveling thing was just a suggestion anyway.. you could get really caught up in that, i guess. with my luck they'd ask where i went and i'd lie and it would be someplace they know a ton about lol.

or moneywise, is it really so bad to say that you were doing other things to save up so you could work at a job you enjoyed and not be so stressed? i mean, not to bring up the $12/hr thing again, but i honestly wouldnt be able to work full time at the school on that. is being honest and saying that you really enjoy that line of work, or whatever, but you need to do something else to pay the bills, really so bad? im taking the job there bc i love it. i wont depend on that money at all. im looking at it as a litlte bit of extra. i wouldnt love it if i were resenting the fact that i wasnt making as much as i'd like, or that i went to school for 4 1/2 years and busted my ass to work for a wage that i feel i could get without a college education.

DylanAngel
12-09-2007, 08:56 AM
I wouldn't say that!!! Ever!

It shows you're not willing to sacrifice. And, as we in the "normal" sector know, you don't always get raises when they add more responsibilities to your position. So you're setting yourself up for them to view you as a person who only thinks about money and not a career.

I mean, we all know it's really about money but companies are strange. They want to know you'll be loyal through the hard times and by saying what you suggested, it seems like you'll just bail if something better comes along.

Part time jobs require just as much commitment as a full time job. It's the temp jobs that don't.

Also remember that you are in school. That, in itself is a big help when it comes to explaining gaps. You could say you had a particularly hard schedule that semester and wanted to devote your time to your studies.

DylanAngel
12-09-2007, 08:58 AM
the traveling thing was just a suggestion anyway.. you could get really caught up in that, i guess. with my luck they'd ask where i went and i'd lie and it would be someplace they know a ton about lol.


HAHAHAHA! I could soooo picture that. You tell them some out of the way place (or so you think) like Yemin and this person happens to be a travel junkie and goes "Yemin? I just got back from there! What did you think of the open air market in such and such square?"

OMG, that would be so classic.;D

britt244
12-09-2007, 09:01 AM
Also remember that you are in school. That, in itself is a big help when it comes to explaining gaps. You could say you had a particularly hard schedule that semester and wanted to devote your time to your studies.

im done school. well, this week. ;D but thats why the gaps wont be explainable. either way, i guess i shouldnt worry too much bc i already have things figured out, at least for now.


HAHAHAHA! I could soooo picture that. You tell them some out of the way place (or so you think) like Yemin and this person happens to be a travel junkie and goes "Yemin? I just got back from there! What did you think of the open air market in such and such square?"

OMG, that would be so classic.;D

it would happen to me. guarantee it.

DylanAngel
12-09-2007, 09:03 AM
im done school. well, this week. ;D but thats why the gaps wont be explainable. either way, i guess i shouldnt worry too much bc i already have things figured out, at least for now.


Congrats on your new job and for finishing school! Now I have to get my butt down to you (in warmer weather, of course) so we can celebrate!

Katrine
12-09-2007, 01:18 PM
When I planned to work a full-time job and "dance on the side", what I found was that the other job kept me busy enough that I stopped dancing on the side pretty quickly.

No matter how much money I made, I didn't save anymore, and made due with my life. Even on $12/hr. As that money is getting directly deposited into a bank account, it just doesn't fly out the door as quickly.

Don't worry about the income change, you are young, healthy, and will adapt very quickly.

The biggest concern about working a corp. job and dancing on the side is running into people from work at the SC. It does happen, all the time. They could jeapordize your career.

PhillyDancer1982
12-10-2007, 10:58 AM
You could say that, but I still wouldn't hire you as it doesn't amount to real "white collar" business experience.

That's EXACTLY what I thought employers would think. That's why I was so self-conscious and embarrassed about the fact that my resume had holes in it. You have no idea what low morale I had of myself as a jobseeker up until I finally started landing decent jobs.

But the sooner you get a job to fill that "hole," the less of a problem it becomes down the road in the future. I think it's getting that initial job after a huge glaring gap and no-relevant-experience that's the hardest part, and after that it gets easier.

Katrine
12-10-2007, 01:34 PM
If I had (or wanted) the power to hire at my workplace, I would never hire anyone stupid enough to put "stripper" on their resume, if they were applying for a high-level position such as my own. However, when I branch my practice off as an independant, and will be looking for a sexy secretary, having a former "stripper" as an admin will not prevent my likelihood for hiring her.

And I'm a woman. And a former stripper. If that's the way I think, imagine what males are thinking....

britt244
12-10-2007, 01:37 PM
^ can i be your sexy secretary?

Katrine
12-10-2007, 02:02 PM
^ can i be your sexy secretary?

Hell yes! }:D

Bella21
12-10-2007, 02:51 PM
Nooo! *I* want to be Katrine's sexy former stripper secretary! *fights britt for the job* ;D

Katrine
12-10-2007, 03:01 PM
Relax ladies. We'll probably need two assistants. I'll more than likely have 1 or 2 partners. Now, which one of you wants to file and which one of you wants to give the boss her massage?

Casual Observer
12-10-2007, 03:10 PM
And I'm a woman. And a former stripper. If that's the way I think, imagine what males are thinking....

I just found out last week that this is essentially how some of the admins were hired two floors down from me. This one "manager" literally made a judgment between two women that applied, with all other qualifications ostensibly being equal, that the chick with the better ass should get the job. She was a friggin' nightmare.

They canned her after six months and replaced her with the second woman just recently. We'll see how that goes...

DylanAngel
12-10-2007, 04:27 PM
Relax ladies. We'll probably need two assistants. I'll more than likely have 1 or 2 partners. Now, which one of you wants to file and which one of you wants to give the boss her massage?

Hey wait! I'm totally qualified!

What's the female version of "dick-tation"?:P