I’ve written in the past about how college kids are looking for one thing out of college, becoming rich. Many say that’s their career goal. At least according to quite a few studies I came across.

So, I was happy to read the results of a new survey that actually shows the opposite.

The study by accounting firm KPMG of nearly 2500 college students who were business majors found:

57 percent said that career opportunities would be their primary consideration when choosing an employer, followed by 22 percent who said work/life balance. Only 12 percent felt that the salary and benefits package would be their primary consideration.

And while many (53 percent) respondents only expect to stay at their first job for three to five years, the survey found that students largely have a ‘wait and see’ attitude. An overwhelming number (74 percent) responded “maybe” when asked if changing jobs is necessary for career opportunities.

“While there is no doubt that companies need to think of quality of life issues when trying to attract new recruits, ‘millennials’ want jobs that help them build a career and create opportunities for the future,” said Manny Fernandez, KPMG’s National Managing Partner – Campus Recruiting. “After accepting an offer, new recruits look at the career value proposition and employers must offer a rewarding career path to retain new hires.”

This idea is based on what was once a simple theory — paying dues in order to climb the ladder of success.

I know, the idea of paying dues is so old school. But folks, that’s typically the way a person rises in their career. It also gives you a chance to figure out if you really like your chosen career path, or if you really like the industry or organization you’ve found yourself in.

I include a whole chapter in my book about how many of the nation’s top CEOs paid their dues.

Here’s one story I thought was a great lesson learned:

William D. Novelli, CEO of the AARP
When Bill Novelli was in college he read a book by David Ogilvy called “Confessions of an Advertising Man”, a book he says basically espoused the theory that “if you want to sell gasoline, from a marketing standpoint, you have to go out and pump gas.” Understanding and accepting that concept served Novelli well when he was struggling to pay his dues.

“I was hired with a bunch of other Ivy Leaguers to go into the big detergent emporium, Unilever. In order to go into marketing, I had to go through sales training first. In those days, it was 1964, you had to pay your dues,” he explains.

The indignities he faced as a salesman sometimes made him question his resolve. At Grand Union supermarket in his territory, he had to deal with a store manager that had a reputation for being nasty. “He would throw salesmen out of the store at the drop of a hat. At one point, he told me I was persona non grata,” he recalls, angry with Novelli for reasons he still can’t explain. “This was a big store in my territory and I couldn’t be kicked out,” he says. “I told him I wasn’t really a salesman and he said, ‘oh yeah, what are you then.’ I told him, ‘I’m a marketing trainee and that I thought you’d make a great teacher.’ He said, ‘okay, I’ll teach you retail. The first think you can do is build a big end aisle display with 25 cases of Nabisco crackers.’ So there I am building it and I hear my boss come up behind me. He was a regional sales manager. He said, ‘what the hell are you doing?’ I explained the situation. He said, ‘are you aware that’s not our product?’ I told him I had a strategy and finished the display. My boss thought I was nuts but from then on I had the grudging acceptance of the store manager. It did teach me humility.”

Ah, humility. When was the last time you heard that word?

There’s been a lot of debate lately around products that come from poor nations such as China. The big issue has been product safety concerns. I wrote about my concerns as a mom for MSNBC last week.

But we need to be thinking more about how workers in these poor nations are being taken advantage of. There is a disheartening article in the New York Times this morning about manhole covers that are made in India for New York’s Con Edison. The story talks about how workers in India are making those manhole covers in horrific conditions with little safety precautions:

“…barefoot, shirtless, whip-thin men rippled with muscle were forging prosaic pieces of the urban jigsaw puzzle: manhole covers.”

The photograph of the scene of these men toiling made me feel sick to my stomach. It looked like some sort of medieval steaming dungeon.
Many people think we’re bringing prosperity to these nations by sending all our manufacturing there. But often we create slave like conditions for the people there. U.S. companies claim they are unaware of what’s going on in these factories. That isn’t good enough.

You can judge a nation by how employers treat their workers. And that applies also to those employees who aren’t within our borders.

I have no problem with corporations looking for inexpensive ways to make products. I understand we live in a global economy. But we need to keep on top of how workers are being treated, and the materials being used in these products. Companies just can’t commission a product made by the lowest bidder. There has to be some accountability.

What do you all think?

How do you make a two-income household work?

I address the issue in a blog entry on the Huffington Post today. I was frustrated because of yet another survey on working women as it relates to work-family issues.

This is a perpetual problem. We always look at the woman of the house as the CEO of the house.

But we need to be turning to both the woman and the man. Welcome to our modern society where women, as well as men, are human beings beyond the kitchen and nursery.

Hence my decision to promote, when ever I can, the co-CEO household concept.

Do you have such a household? Do you and your significant other share responsibilities at home?

Tell me your story!!

Too often we hear about how the aging of the U.S. workforce is going to mean shortages of workers. That may indeed be true. But there is more to it than that.

With an aging workforce comes an increase of workers who’s bodies are also aging. That means more cases of employees with a host of ailments. And expect chronic ailments to be at the top of the list, everything from arthritis to diabetes. I address this issue in my MSNBC column tomorrow.

It seems obvious. The older the workforce the more illnesses we’ll be seeing. Once upon a time, someone with cancer may have checked out of the daily grind but today, thanks to a host of drugs, people keep on working and living their lives. Elizabeth Edwards is a prime example.

I like the idea that people can continue with their lives even though they face what was once a totally debilitating disease. But I’m uncomfortable with the notion that we should just keep chugging along no matter how our bodies are battered. We need to be mindful that maybe we can’t be exactly as we were before and pull back a bit. There is nothing wrong with changing your career to accommodate your illness. You might end up finding something that makes you even happier.

What do you all think? Have you gone through this or know someone who has?

I’ve written a lot over the years about how hard it is to make a switch in your career, take a cut in pay, or chase your dream job.

Taking that step away from a job you’ve had for a long time and don’t love is tough, but those who take a chance always say it was the best decision they ever made.

What do you need to make a move?

Persistence, self awareness, belief in yourself, endurance, and a willingness to sacrifice. Often following your dream job may mean a cut in pay, so be ready to eat more Ramen noodles and peanut butter.

And, if you are married, there is one other big thing you need. A supportive spouse.

I recently got a letter from a reader of my MSNBC column Young; and he understands this first hand:

“As an actuary, we have everything, job security, good money, and prestige. After working for the same insurance line for 18 years, I am about to jump off the ship and switch gear into something completely different type of insurance. I do this to challenge and develop myself. Its little scary, given that I am taking 30% pay cut with four children’s to take care of. However, my wife has been a champion in my decision. I believe job hunting without your spouse’s support is doom for failure.”

You need all the members of your two-person partnership to be on board with any career decision. It’s critical. You go to work everyday. The money you make impacts how you live. The ups and downs of a new path are often so intense you can become an emotional basket case. Given all that, a wife or husband with a wife or husband that it bitching, not supportive and angry over a move you make will only make your life a living hell.

So, I wrote about how so many job candidates are skipping out on the job interview today on MSNBCcom.

That’s sort of disrespectful, and pretty crummy if you don’t show. If you make an appointment to meet someone you show up people. Is that a lot to ask?

I know, these head hunters screw you and treat you like crap, but come on, we’re better than they are!

If you commit, then you must show up!

My dad would have busted my ass if I didn’t show up to an interview, even if it was for a pan washer at the local bakery.

One of the toughest professions around is nursing. It takes so much physical and emotional strength.

It has also been one of the most under-appreciated professions, and many speculate that it’s because women predominately make up the nursing ranks. Similar to teaching, this job has been notoriously underpaid.

Lately, the realization that a nursing shortage is killing this country’s health care system (and will only get worse as the nation ages), has led to increases in nurses’ paychecks, and some upgrades in working conditions.

Beating the drum for nurses, and getting them a bit more respect, has been the tireless Cheryl L. Johnson.

She helped found the United American Nurses that today has 100,000 members across the country.

From today’s Wall Street Journal:

“Mrs. Johnson continued in her job as an emergency-room nurse at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor even as she led Michigan’s largest nurses’ union and then the UAN. She became a national spokeswoman for such concerns as a shortage of nurse, staffing ratios and workplace safety.”

You see, nurses are constantly asked to work ridiculous hours and this at a time when their jobs seem to get tougher and tougher. A nurse I know says the obesity rate increases in this country have meant fatter and fatter patients, and nurses struggling to lift and move them. There is equipment today making some of their job easier, but the bottom line is nurses are on the front line of health care in the United States and we need to give them all the props we can muster.

And definitely a big round of props for Cheryl who died of a ruptured brain aneurysm last week.

TV isn’t as fun as it used to be.

At least when it comes to the late night talk shows because the writers have checked out. Well, they’re actually on the picket line trying to get more money out of their employers.
I recently wrote a piece for MSNBC.com on the power that knowledge-based workers still have when it comes to negotiating with their employers.

By knowledge workers I mean those that have skills not easily replaced by cheap labor in third world nations.

I’ve gotten quite a few emails from readers who say, even these types of workers can be replaced. That it’s not just auto workers.

Here’s a sample of what readers are saying:

In my opinion, the screenwriters themselves
really don't possess any special "knowledge" and, if successful, can
only tout the previous approval of their work by certain producers.
One producer may like their work, the next one may shun it.  For
instance, a screenwriter in a country such as China could produce a
script that will be enjoyed.  It is simply too difficult to say that
it wouldn't be successful.  As a result, I see the potential for these
screenwriters to be outsourced if the studios wanted to take that
route.

Is there any job that’s safe?

UPDATE

Did you call in sick today?

If you’re a woman, you’re twice as likely to answer yes to this question than a man.

Turns out women take sick days more often than men in the workplace. I address the phenomenon in my MSNBC column today.

For decades now, women have been more apt to take advantage of their sick time but no one is quite sure why. Yes, yes, it is probably the working mom thang, but there is more to it than that because women without kids also call in more often than men.

What do you all think? What’s going on? Are we just more sickly, or more smart?

Hey guys, a great blogger, Elana Centor, blogged about my story at BlogHer. She made some great points.

I can’t tell you how many emails I get from readers asking me what they should do with their lives. They hate the professions they’ve found themselves in but they just don’t know how to embark on a new career.

The types of people that ask me this question are from all walks of life. Some are stay at home moms who say they probably would have stayed on the job if they liked what they were doing. Others are long time employees, and even managers, who are doing well financially but find they don’t want to wake up in the morning and go to work.

Well, now is probably the best time in our history to consider going back to school to learn something new and embark on a new life.

Why? Because colleges are making it easier than ever to take classes and earn a degree.

There’s a great story in the New York Times today. It’s in a section called Education Life, and it looks at all the ways colleges are molding their curriculums to fit the schedules of busy adults who want to go back to school. One school is offering a degree program you can finish in a week.

You don’t necessarily have to embark on completing a degree, you can just take a few classes to see if it’s something you’d like. Sometimes a few classes in a particular field could help you get that first, entry level job in a dreamed about industry.

A friend of my, who was a graphic artist and took time off to raise her kids, has been taking classes at a local university to become a librarian. She’s as busy as most people today, with two kids and a husband who works long hours, so the option of taking some Internet classes fit her schedule just fine.

Many schools also offer tuition assistance, but what are you guys waiting for?

Start this Monday morning with a new outlook on your life. Think of what you’ve always wanted to do and then find a school, near you, or not, and see what kind of programs they have to offer.

It sucks to spend everyday doing something that makes you miserable. You can actually do something about it now.