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If you are interested please send your resume to Bianca Nafpliotis, Career Corps Volunteer Program Coordinator at [email protected].
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I always think of the opportunity cost as what this specific opportunity has cost me. For instance, spending five hours binge watching a television show costs me five hours of productivity, time with my kids, or sleep I could have gotten instead. In the case of the $500 investment, this means you can’t only think about the money you earned. You also need to think about other uses for that money (and the benefits to that investment), as well as how much you may pay in terms of childcare, flexibility, time with family, and minor expenditures (gas money, equipment necessary, etc.). This list is not exhaustive, but it is a good start.
So, why this focus on economics?
Each decision we make related to our careers brings with it potential returns and risks (or losses). Thinking through what they might be can help us to make informed decisions.
Let’s say you are considering getting an additional degree, which will cost you $80,000.
If you can’t work while in school, it will also cost whatever income you won’t be earning while you are in school.
However, the degree may also lead to an increased earning potential of $10,000 a year.
You have to weigh the cost of the degree (dollar value of degree + loss of income) against the opportunity to make $10,000 a year (per year you would stay in the job that requires the degree). (This calculation is a bit more complex than a simple ROI calculation.)
You also have to consider other factors. If you've spent a lot of time earning an education, you might not be willing to spend more time getting another degree or certificate. If an additional certificate could result in your making another $1,000 a year, you might be unwilling. Your time may be more valuable than $1,000 even if it’s $1,000 for 20 years. If that same certificate increased your income by $50,000 a year, you'd probably be more willing to consider.
No matter what decision you are making professionally, ask yourself if it’s (potentially) worth it before you say yes.