When I started working at CASY & MSCCN three years ago, I began by working as a volunteer with the opportunity to become a paid Employment Specialist (ES) in the future. While I was volunteering, I was offered a full-time position as a Human Resources Specialist at the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) on post. In a single day, I went from having no job to two offers that I needed to consider. CPAC was offering me a full-time position that came with a paycheck and benefits, but I hesitated.
Even if I was eventually hired as a paid ES at CASY & MSCCN, I knew I would make a lot less money than I would at the HR Specialist job. Furthermore, I knew that it would take longer for me to transition from volunteer to paid
employee than if I took the CPAC position. On a different day, in a different
situation, that CPAC job would have been ideal. Had my family been depending on the income and benefits that job provided, my decision making process would have been very different.
I don’t know where you are in the job search process, or what kind of decisions you have ahead of you this year. But, if I can offer some advice, when it comes to looking for a new position, you should weigh all of the factors you can—monetary and otherwise—before you select the “right” job.
When it came to my final decision three years ago, I knew that one of my main factors would be flexibility. While I do work full-time, I also like to volunteer and need to have time for my family. In a given week, you can find me on the board of the Spouses Club, at a luncheon or a fundraising meeting, running the kids to soccer, updating the wear blue: run to remember website, or running a wear blue Circle of Remembrance. When I worked in the government sector, I found that I could not fully participate in many of the activities I wanted to be a part of because I was new, and didn't have an abundance of vacation days at my disposal. Without any flexibility in my schedule, I lost out on family time nd activities I enjoy.
In Search of the “Right” Job
By: Misty Ferguson
Findling the right door to your next career can feel impossible, but it's there.