Round II of Fun Fact Friday is here, with a book review spun in there (I tried!):
In real life I work in Human Resources…
and my name is not Linda!
And, I don’t sigh when saying “Monday’s” because its a start of a brand new week…like pressing a redo button! But, I certainly do cheer “Hey, it’s Friday!” 😉
I actually didn’t start my career in Human Resources, I was in sales for 5 years before venturing to the corporate HR world. How I managed 5 years in sales is an accomplishment for me: it certainly helped me develop people skills that would be critical to my career.
In the summer of 2014, I felt compelled to continue learning all I could outside my job so I headed back to grad school and enrolled in the Rutgers Masters in Labor Studies and Employment Relations program. I came to realize I actually liked school when the subject matter at hand was something I was passionate about (took me long enough!). I am glad I waited to go back to grad school later on in my career, as the hands-on experience definitely helped me look at my studies a bit differently. There I go rambling again…sorry, back on the book track now:
For one of my classes I had to read Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. What an eye opening read for anyone – not just an HR professional.
5 disco balls
1st Published: January 1, 2001 by Metropolitan Bks./Henry Holt
Purchase: Amazon
LA Times Book Prize for Current Interest in 2001, American Library Association Alex Award in 2002
Barbara is a journalist who goes undercover for a year to write about working and living on a minimum wage in various parts of the country, working various jobs to get by. The idea was to show that it was not often possible to “live the American dream” on a minimum wage job alone. During her time on the road she walks us through the available jobs she applied for and which ones she was offered, where she could live relative to her commute and earnings, and just how skilled she and her colleagues needed to be to work an “unskilled” job.
Over the past decade our minimum wage has not caught up to cost of living adjustments; I appreciate Barbara telling her story in an effort to communicate her experiences for the benefit of the colleagues she had met along the way. She is an advocate of the working class and her book is an insightful read.
I know I had to read it for school and it’s not your standard fiction read, but I promise its not a stale school study type read. You will walk away with a new perspective and appreciation for others after reading this. It was quick too, you can do it!
QOTD: What do you do “in real life?” 😉
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Saturday Nite Reader 
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I really, really enjoyed the book Nickel and Dimed. I read it quite a few years back and thought it was really interesting. I usually love anything to do with the workplace, whether it be books, movies, or shows. I was a Finance major, so I found this area particularly fascinating. But I think it’s really cool that you work in HR. I always thought that was a field I would really enjoy, as long as I don’t have to recruit people lol. But I think I’d love doing interviews, as well as all of the paperwork on the back end to try and decide who the best candidate for a job was.
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Wouldn’t this book make a good reality tv show concept? Kind of like undercover boss.
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I think it would make excellent TV
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Great Review! seen this book a few times in stores and have always considered picking it up maybe now I will.
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I have also gone back to school as an adult, twice actually. I was a better student the second and third time around 🙂 I haven’t read this book, but it is one I will certainly add to the to-read list. Thank you for a great review.
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Thank you! If you wind up reading it, let me know what you think. Happy Saturday Nite 😉
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Great Review. This book is not my kind of book, but it does looks and sounds very intriguing. Thank you so much for sharing.
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Some companies also raise the starting wage, while not raising those of the people already employed, hoping to entice workers in with the higher base wage.
Great review! I don’t do much nonfiction but this sounds worthwhile.
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I used to work in HR many years ago. I then became the companies debt collector (on the phone not door to door). Great review BTW.
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Love this post!
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Fab post. I know that earning ‘A living wage’ is becoming harder all the time.
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Oooh, I love it when I get to learn about other bloggers. I’m a social worker in real life.
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Great post. Not sure this book is for me though. Sounds like it’s target market is the US.
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I wonder if there is a UK equivalent. Certainly something I would like to look into. Will keep you posted.
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Interesting book. I agree with DJ – it would make a good tv show!
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Great post! I *love* the Kimmy Schmidt video you included. I am obsessed with that show! I’ve been considering going back to school for my Masters in Healthcare Administration. I’m glad that your education has worked out so well for you.
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I’ve never actually heard of the book before (think I must live in a cave), so great though.
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I can get behind this tv conversation! I do believe Lisa does a show like this in CNN though. I do my best to avoid non fiction books though. I act like it has the plague and everything!
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I agree with DJ and the others. It would make a great TV show. Not to mention it would help spread light on how hard it is on the working classes!
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Great review Nikki, I am really glad that this book help you get some insights in the working area. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.
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