For the women looking for a professional change in the New Year, Forbes provides a list to get you thinking in the right direction. Collected by job expert Laurence Shatkin, these jobs are almost guaranteed to provide women with more than just financial security; they are also the jobs that make women feel satisfied and successful. What more could we ask for?

The number one job on Shatkin’s list is post-secondary teaching. In this position, salaries can range from about $59,000 for women who teach foreign language and literature to $94,000 for law teachers. In addition there are an expected 55,000 openings each year with a projected growth rate of 15 percent.

Job number two for women is anthropology. Women anthropologists make around $54,000 a year. This field is expected to see a 28 percent increase, but has much fewer job openings than number one, with just 450 openings a year.

Number three has even less job openings at about 100 a year—oceanographers. The annual salary is much higher at about $72,800 and the field is estimated to see a 26 percent growth increase.

Provided you hear that special calling from the Lord, you can take on the fifth job in the list: clergywoman. This job pays about $43,970 annually.

Further on down the list is a job for women who enjoy being the boss. Number seven is the chief executive. If you choose to take on this job, you can expect to make about $165,000 a year. Although there are about 11,250 job openings for CEOs a year, this job has a one percent decrease.

Number nine is the prestigious medical professional, which includes dentistry and optometry. With about 36,000 job openings a year, the medical field could see an increase of up to 22 percent depending on the type of profession. In addition, medical professionals can expect to earn $94,990-$166,400 a year.

Job satisfaction for women is different than job satisfaction for men. Forbes details that women value a job’s contribution to their community and the world. Women are also in general better adept at interpersonal and verbal skills. While these jobs made it to the top of the list for women fulfillment, jobs such as food preparers, retail salespeople and administrative assistants landed at the bottom for least job satisfaction.

The Complete list of Satisfying, Best-Paying Jobs for Women:

1. Postsecondary Teachers
2. Anthropologists
3. Oceanographers
4. Natural Sciences Managers
5. Clergy
6. Surveyors
7. Chief Executives
8. Geoscientists
9. Medical Professionals
10. Aerospace Engineers

Being a double minority in the workplace brings its own set of unique issues, and when you add age into the mix—whether you’re the most junior of the group or the seasoned employee—these factors can pose a triple threat—or advantage.

Medill Reports recently profiled three young Chicago women, asking them how being young, black, and female in the work place either works for or against them. Their experiences made me think about my own struggles with a previous employer. I had never felt like any of those qualities mattered—except for the time I was asked to fact check slang words to make sure the editor was using the right ones. In a few years I had become the youngest, first black, and first female editor of a publication and I was the youngest and only black editor in my group, but oddly it wasn’t until I got that promotion that suddenly my age became the focus of everything I did and how I was treated.

Instead of the freedom and respect that comes along with becoming an editor, I was reduced to having to run everything by someone else because “you’re just so young.” Conversations were held behind my back about how I had a lot of potential, but I was just “so young,” and it’s not that I don’t think she’s capable, it’s just—I know, I’m so young. It’s hard not to think some of that age discrimination was just a cover for what their real issue was—the fact that I’m so black—but of course they couldn’t say that out loud.

On the other hand, there are environments where being a young black female works to your advantage. One of the women profiled in the article was Brittany Foster, 25, a Howard grad who works in marketing and said being the only minority has its perks.

“It works for me because I am the only young black woman on my team. It’s like of course we know who Brittany is. People tend to gravitate towards the minority sometimes as far as like opportunities and things like that and are willing to give them a chance. But at the same time you have to keep in mind that when they give that chance they might have underlining thoughts like ‘I hope she can do this and I hope she can do that.’”

Some stereotypes do come with the territory, though, she says:

“I was at work and I remember one time this Caucasian girl goes, ‘if I got into a fight with Brittany I would be scared. I feel like you would beat my A$$’ And I’m like ‘do I come across that way?’ That was a misconception that I was down to do something I don’t even necessarily agree with, because you think ‘oh she’s black, and she always has something sassy to say.’ There are just so many things people think about black women that just aren’t even true. You don’t take the time to get to know any of us because you already have these thoughts manifested in your head. So you’re already thinking ‘she’s going to pop off.’”

There’s also a double edged sword that comes with people’s perceptions about black women, banker Maria McKiever, 27, said:

“One aspect of being a black female is having to be this iron-clad women. In a negative aspect, people think that you’re going to have a certain attitude and you’re going to cause certain problems, but on the positive aspect, you’re already naturally considered strong, which we are, but it makes it hard to ever have those moments to let your guard down.”

You also have to pick your battles, she noted:

“You kind of have to find that balance between what I should stand up and fight for and what I should let slide. If you’re working amongst white men, it’s like what jokes do you let slide so you don’t come across looking pro-African and sensitive and when do you take that stance. You have to find that fine line.”

Black women are no stranger to walking that fine line and if the corporate culture of your work environment embraces diversity, you can easily take what seem to be three strikes and make them work for you. You won’t always be the youngest on the team, and hopefully not the only female or minority, but the lessons you learn about corporate America, office politics, and even your own abilities when you’re in that situation are invaluable.

How does being young, black, and female affect you in the work place? Does it work to your advantage or disadvantage? Does one trait seem to overshadow the others?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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By Charlotte Young

Ladies, when you take a look at your college campus, you probably shake your head and ask the same question again: Where are all the men? It appears as if they’ve all stepped to the side to make way for an increase of girl power in college and it’s not just your imagination. The International Business Times reports that on some co-ed campuses, the ratio of girls to boys is almost three to one.

The National Center for Education Statistics observes that the college enrollment increased 38 percent between 1999 and 2009, in total. But during that time span, women enrollment increased by 40 percent compared to the 35 percent increase by men.

And according to them, the disparity between the sexes will only continue to grow. The NCES estimates that by 2013, women will account for 57 percent of students in undergraduate study programs across the country. By 2019, NCES estimates a jump to 59 percent in undergraduate programs.

Advanced degree programs are also experiencing a ratio change. In 2008, women made up 61 percent of the master’s degree students and 51 percent of the doctoral students. That percentage is expected to grow to 61 percent across all advanced degree programs.

The rising numbers of women in college were also observed by the US Department of Education. In 2010, they stated that women “account for a disproportionate share of the enrollments of higher-education institutions at every degree level and are likely to become an even more dominant presence on campuses over the coming decade.”

For African-Americans, the gender difference in school leans even heavier in women’s favor.

So much for meeting your future husband in college.

Linda Sax, professor in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA recognizes that the gender gap is changing concerning women enrollment, but also notes that men are enrolling in school in high numbers as well.

Then why can’t we see them? Sax tells the International Business Times that it’s simply the balance in population.

In addition, she says, “the growing gender gap in college enrollments is attributable primarily to increases in college attendance among women from groups historically under-represented in higher education — namely, African Americans, Latinas, older students, and lower-income students.”

Now with that question solved, here comes the next question: with more women graduating from undergraduate and graduate programs than ever, why are men still likely to advance higher in the work world than women?

According to the International Business times, 53 percent of entry-level new hires are women. But if you take a look up the working hierarchy, the percentages begins to diminish with 37 percent in lower-middle management; 28 percent at the vice-presidency level; then only 14 percent at the executive committee. At the very top, women only represent 3 percent.

There are unfortunately, still several unfair hoops that women must jump through to make it to the top. Another explanation can be found in the degree programs women choose to complete compare to men.

The Chronicle for Higher Education reports that “certain majors in university remain dominated by men,” such as engineering and computer and information sciences.

It seems in addition to focusing getting into school, women must also take into consideration which majors lead to greater professional and financial gain.

Learning to network effectively can definitely take your career to the next level. Thus, it’s important to make an effort to attend different types of networking opportunities from the company bowling night to casual drinks at the local pub. In fact, most networking opportunities tend to be on the casual side. However, sometimes you may be called upon to attend a more elegant affair where you can meet the real power players in your industry. At these events, it’s important to step your game up to impress these fancy folks. Here are some tips to be successful at a shi-shi networking soiree.

When you’re putting the finishing touches on your look, you don’t leave your hair and make-up undone or go without shoes and accessories, do you? So why would you neglect your nails? Popular fashion designers are completing their collections with rich nail colors to help you polish your look. Whether you’re feeling for a bright bold lacquer or a demure hue, here are 5 ways to let your nail polish complete your look:

Have your ever turned down a date by, or are you considering pulling the plug on a relationship with a great guy because you’ve heard remarks like “he’s not on your level?” Are you a professional woman feeling pressured to turn down a great guy because he doesn’t have the abbreviations M.D. or Esq. after his last name?

For black women who have chosen to pursue the levels of higher education and profession, I think many have observed the lack of eligible male (particularly black male) counterparts. But for some professional black women fortunate to find a great guy, these same women are sometimes faced with the dating dilemma of feeling like their family, friends, and/or associates are frowning on their decision to date a blue collar man.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to deal with this pressure. And I grew up observing how the “white collar woman and blue collar man” can be a great match. My father is what many would consider a “blue collar man.” He never went to college, and owns his own company. My mother attended prestigious universities, and earned her doctorate. They have been married almost 30 years- and for as long as I can remember, my father has loved and devoted himself to my mother and his daughters (myself included). Because of this, I’ve always looked for a man that mirrored similar qualities as my father. Furthermore, I grew up knowing that there wasn’t anything that a white collar man could give me that a blue collar man couldn’t.

And while I would never advise a woman to lower her standards (assuming she has reasonable standards), or just date anyone that approaches her, I do believe that sometimes women miss out on relationships with great men because we get too caught up in the superficial qualities of a man (like if he has a Ph.D. or drives a Mercedes), as well as what other people think.

At the end of the day, it’s your choice on who you love and who you build a life with- no one else’s. Moreover, I believe the best relationships are made by partners that are not only similar, but complement one another. Where you’re weak, your man is strong- and vice versa. This is what I saw from my parents- and it’s something I aim for as well. So if you’re a white collar woman who’s looking for true love, think twice before turning down that blue collar man who had the courage to step to you- he may turn out to be everything you should have been looking for.

Savvy madames know that networking is a key tool in finding jobs, strengthening our professional ties and building our personal brands.

Read the rest of this entry »

(Entrepreneurs) — “I hate the office,” growls Doug Ellin, the creator and executive producer of the hit HBO series Entourage. “I’d much rather do meetings in a great bar, where people aren’t nervous and you can relax and be more creative.” Even on the show, Ellin rarely allows his achingly suave characters–Hollywood actors, agents, producers and directors–to broker a deal in a boardroom.  Dark bars, pulsating nightclubs and old-school lounges that serve epiphany-causing martinis are the settings for onscreen business maneuvers. “You just need to find the right place and become a regular,” says Ellin, who personally favors a sleek sports bar called Goal in Los Angeles. “I do my meetings there, back to back.”

Read More…

(Entrepreneurs) — “I hate the office,” growls Doug Ellin, the creator and executive producer of the hit HBO series Entourage. “I’d much rather do meetings in a great bar, where people aren’t nervous and you can relax and be more creative.” Even on the show, Ellin rarely allows his achingly suave characters–Hollywood actors, agents, producers and directors–to broker a deal in a boardroom.  Dark bars, pulsating nightclubs and old-school lounges that serve epiphany-causing martinis are the settings for onscreen business maneuvers. “You just need to find the right place and become a regular,” says Ellin, who personally favors a sleek sports bar called Goal in Los Angeles. “I do my meetings there, back to back.”

Read More…