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In this episode of Real Work, Real Life I'm talking with Allison Rothwell. Allison does a lot of different things, she has a day job as an Administrative Assistant, she’s an actor, she’s had many different side gigs over the years, but most recently, she’s found her passion as a Declutter Coach.
While my previous interviews tend to focus more on a linear career path to a particular job, so many people find themselves, both by choice and requirement, doing something like Allison. Trying lots of things, balancing stability with excitement and passion, and hopefully, finding something you really love along the way, which Allison has done with acting and organizing. It’s a great reminder that, for most people, work is not, and doesn’t have to be a linear upwards progression, but can be more of life long journey of trying new things, and making different decisions based on the needs of your life at the moment.
If you’re interested in learning more about what Allison does or need help decluttering, you can find her here:
Website: www.iamtheclutterbuster.com
Instagram: @iamtheclutterbuster
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iamtheclutterbuster
Email: [email protected]

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Welcome to Real Work, Real Life where we talk to real people about what they do for work and what that means for their lives. Today I’m talking with Kat, a Physical Therapist Assistant. As you’ll have more in a moment, you can get all the education you need from an Associates Degree program at a community college, graduating with little to no debt to start working in this field 

We also talk about a common theme that seems to happen in a lot of different careers, if you continue your education, you are eligible for much higher paying jobs, in this case as Doctor of Physical Therapy, but, if you had to pay for your education, you have to factor that cost into the potential difference in pay, as well as the lost earning years, particularly if you’re making a change later in life, and probably most importantly, the difference in the actual tasks. Sometimes that level up in education may land you in a job that you like less and paid alot more for. Definitely a good reminder to try to talk a few people in a field before you dive in, just you give you ideas about which path you;re best suited to. 

We also touch on the many different roles at a rehab hospital and both the joys and challenges of working in geriatrics. 

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On this episode, I’m talking with Sam, a CEO and cofounder of a Tech Start-up. Sam is my first returning guest, you can listen back to the episode about Customer Success to hear more about her earlier career.

We cover SO much in this episode, from the joys and challenges of cofounder relationships to structural bias in the start up funding process to the nuances of compensation and benefits in the early stages of a start up to realities of starting something all consuming like this at different life stages. 

So, if you have ever dreamed of starting your own company, this episode is for you!

Before we get into the interview, if you’ve been enjoying the podcast and have an idea for a future episode, please reach out at @RealWorkRealLifePod on instagram or [email protected]. 

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On the episode of Real Work, Real Life, I'm talking with Chris, a Registered Nurse, who specializes in Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.

Being a nurse can be an incredibly rewarding and flexible career. There are many different schedule options, something that is fairly uncommon in most office jobs. There are many different levels of education possible to advance your career, if you wish, and many different fields of practice, so your license qualifies you to work in all sorts of different settings, until you find the one that works best for you. With in patient psychiatry, if you have the interest and empathy, you can play an incredibly meaningful role in someone’s recovery. 

Chris has a lot of great things to say about being a nurse, but it’s important to note that Nursing as a professional is in  crisis. NPR recently reported that nearly ⅓ of all nurses are planning to leave the profession. A shortage like that is compounding, as more nurses leave, it leaves fewer nurses to do the work nationwide, further contributing to burnout and attrition. There’s also a shortage of nursing educators, leaving qualified and interested students waiting to begin training. All of this escalated during the pandemic, but it was already happening before. 

On the other hand, high demand for your skills means some degree of power and agency in your career. The last thing I would want to do is discount the challenges nurses face in our country, but if you were dedicated to this career path, and you feel you could manage some of the more challenging aspects, the opportunities are endless.

If you would like to be interviewed for the podcast, or are interested in hearing about a particular job, please reach out at Real Work, Real Life @ gmail.com. Let’s get into it!

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In this episode, we'll talk with Mikaela, a recruiter working in the healthcare industry.

Recruiting is one of many jobs that it doesn’t seem like many people necessarily dream of doing as kids, yet, there are many people working in the field as an adult. After listening to this interview, you'll see why.

 It’s needed across industries, so you when one industry is suffering, you have transferrable skills that work in another industry. It’s a job that, with a lot of experience is possible to do on a contract basis, which could be a benefit in different stages of life. It’s one of a lot of jobs that has really gone remote since the pandemic, so if you’re looking for a path that will let you really live anywhere, this is one to consider. 

It’s also a job that while it typically requires a bachelor’s degree, it doesn’t matter so much what it’s in, so if your degree isn't opening up the opportunities you expected, this might be a path to explore. Finally, because it often includes full benefits, a base salary, and commission, it can be a nice balance of stability of income, with the ability to earn more if you’re a high performer. 
 
 Listen to the end for Mikaela's advice to her younger self on work: Learn to hold boundaries to protect your personal life and prevent burnout earlier!

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On this episode of Real Work, Real Life we'll talk with Amy, who works in Business Development and Partnerships in the Biotechnology Industry.  Business development can be summarized as the ideas, initiatives, and activities that help make a business better. If you're good at it, you'll bring a lot of value to your company, which in turn, gives you a lot of power and agency in your career. 

Listen to the end to hear Amy's advice to her younger self: stay curious, expect that things will end up differently than you think right now, and don't be afraid of letting go of a dream you invested a lot of time in if it isn't serving you any longer. 

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In this episode, we'll talk with Natalie, a Manual Rater and Coder for a commercial insurance company. For the right person, insurance can be a rewarding and interesting job in a stable industry, with the potential for excellent benefits, hours, and and flexible location, and the opportunity to participate in helping people and companies rebuild after challenging situations.
 
 Listen to the end for Natalie's advice to her younger self on work: It will be there tomorrow. Set boundaries early to avoid burning out. 

If you’d like to be interviewed, or would like to suggest a job, please reach out at [email protected]. 

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In this episode, we'll talk with Alison, a social worker based in Canada. Social work is a highly in-demand job, and can be a great career path for people that love to help others, are empathetic, are skilled in navigating systems, and, for long term success in the field, have the ability to compartmentalize a bit, to carry on with this invaluable work through the many challenging parts of life you’ll encounter.

We also discuss some of the differences between work and life in a country where many benefits and services are provided by the government, like Canada, compared to the United States, where those same things are provided by private companies. 
 
 Listen to the end for Alison's advice to her younger self on work: Try to be honest with yourself about the income you need to live the life you want when choosing a career path. 

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In this episode, we'll talk with Julie, a Fisheries Biologist for a state government in the southeast of the United States. Julie’s job in fisheries seems to have a nice balance of hands on work, adventure, and the stability of a full time, professional job, which can be a tough balance to find in many professions.
 
 Listen to the end for Julie's advice to her younger self on work: Find the work life balance that works for you early in your career. Don't allow your job to define you.