Advice to Marla

It seems like Marla is in a contractual form of employment and thus the lack of benefits

including retirement, dental, vision, or pharmacy benefits. What Marla needs to consider looking

for a permanent form of employment with these kinds of benefits. With her Bachelor’s Degree,

she is bound to find a potential employer in this field on a permanent and not contractual terms.

Second, she could seek this kind of employment at her current private work, by discussing her

feelings about the current situation with her employer. She should let the employer know how

she feels about this annual salary as well as the lack of benefits, in the process seeking for either

higher remuneration or additional of the benefits in her remuneration plan. In order to make

herself more comfortable, she should add an educational portfolio specifically by specializing in

this field for example study a master’s degree in the field. She should try to study the labor

market and establish well-paying as well as demanding special area in her field of study, and

enroll in part time classes to add this educational benefit on her career. In terms of networking,

Marla needs to establish professional network of contacts in her field, and seek both professional

advice as well as look for employment opportunities in these contacts. She should in the process

look for employment settings that favor all the said benefits and positions that are in line with her

field of study as well as well-paying in relation with the annual salary. In the 12 months, Marla

should first seek redress with her employer to try and solve the pay gap from her current

employer. If this does not work, she should look for employment outside her current workplace

through networking. She should also add educational portfolio in her career to market herself

better. She should establish a strong framework to determine the most effective employment

position in line with her field of education.