Sharon is a billing coordinator for an accounting firm.  She runs financial reports, analyzes them, and can explain them to colleagues and clients.  She often manages multiple tasks at once and coordinates with colleagues.  She developed the organizational, analytical, and communication skills to do this work over a series of administrative and billing support jobs. Sharon noticed that the firms she worked for, especially the larger ones, invest only in the professional development of their senior staff, so she seized opportunities to invest in herself.  Through guidance from colleagues, some training, and her own initiative, she mastered important workplace skills and learned many billing and project management software programs.

Sharon has been strategic in her job transitions. She started as a receptionist at a law office, became a billing specialist, and has had a series of jobs in law and accounting firms of varying sizes.  She observed differences in how these workplaces treated their employees and used this information to navigate to jobs that met her preferences.  She found that in small firms, she received more professional development support as well as a more welcoming workplace culture. While she lacks a degree, her real-world experience seems to be valued in the field as she continues to get job offers. She has made multiple job transitions to higher-paying jobs over the years and during the pandemic found a new job that allows her to work from home. Sharon looks forward to retiring in a few years.