State: District of Columbia (United States)

I demanded a raise based on my work. I reminded them I have gone beyond the call of duty for the past two years. Don't you think it's time to do a performance review and give me a raise!

If you want to be taken seriously, DO NOT COME to work looking like you are going to the mall or the club. Your boss and your colleagues are just humans, prone to talk about inappropriate outfits. Speak like a professional and speak like an adult, leave the "I was like..." and the slangs and double negatives at home and retrieve them later. Behave like a professional and you will be treated as one.

I went back to school to pursue a degree in Legal Studies, which I earned in 2004. Along the way, I also earned a Certificate in Paralegal Studies. The certificate was awarded after a certain number of credits and I used that Certificate as my inspiration to go for the "gold," which was the Bachelor degree. Because I was also working full time and has a family, I opted to take a combination of Face to Face (FTF) and distance courses. The Distance courses honed my legal writing skills! I planned my path so that I would get the degree before I turned 50. I succeeded and along the way was invited to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society and graduated with a 3.87 GPA.

What proved to be impressive to the panel that interviewed me, and my boss, was not entirely the grades or honors or Dean's List I was on but I was told that the "initiative to better herself, the discipline to go back to school to improve herself, to actually take time to do that..."

Being a contract paralegal for the government is cerebral and fulfilling. It is a professional position. I work with other professionals be they contractors or my colleagues in the Government contracting shop where I work. I work under the direct supervision of the Contracting Officer. The things that will make one succeed are excellent written and verbal skills, attention to detail, ability to understand contractual implications,positive attitude, professional demeanor and presentation, and STRICT adherence to ethics in dealing with Contractors.

Since I was hired, the government has sent me to off-site government contracting courses to ensure that I have the best practice skills in the profession. To this extent, I have earned a Master Certificate in Government Contracting.

Universities that offer a certificate in Paralegal Studies require a Bachelor's degree. Universities that offer a Bachelor in Paralegal Studies may also grant a certificate after 36 credit hours. My last advice is for someone who may consider becoming a government contracts paralegal: Get the certificate or the degree, get your foot in the door either as a contracts specialist or a paralegal, charm your way into taking specialized courses to get you a jumpstart on the field, (the government has contracts with providers of these types of courses; the challenge is to get the authorization to take them - tip: your legal writing classes will help you be your best advocate) and REMEMBER, come to work with a happy attitude. When you are happy, everyone at work will help you succeed. Do not take yourself too seriously! Before you know it, you are getting raises and opportunities. It happened to me, it can happen to you!

Let them know your expectations.

My advice for anyone that's in the nursing field and looking to do better for their family moving up north is the key to sucess. I have been in Norfolk, VA for 9 and a half years and this is the worst-paying city I have ever lived in. I have even tried jobs outside of my field, and still the same ol pay.