Because many women take breaks from their career or plan on working past 65, it is imperative for them to keep their skills fresh.
While not working full time, women can still continue to develop their skills by working on a contract basis through the gig economy, Collinson suggested.
And women who are in the work force should make sure they take advantage of benefits that enable them to continue to hone their skills. That means taking advantage of classes to expand their professional abilities, even if they’re not pursuing a degree, Collinson said.
When negotiating a new position, women should be sure to negotiate their pay. But they should also look at other ways to add value.
“It’s not just about salary,” said financial advisor Heather Ettinger, founder of Luma Wealth Advisors in Cleveland. “It’s about other perks that may add up over time.”
Ettinger advised one female executive who was looking at a job to include the conferences she wanted to attend in the agreement. The cost of attending those events added up to an additional $10,000 to $20,000 in value for the executive. And the visibility in the industry that they created for her meant that she had multiple job offers when that job eventually came to an end.
“It’s knowing what’s negotiable, not to be adversarial, just to get what you’re worth,” Ettinger said.