As it came time for us to PCS and I said goodbye to my government position, I had a choice to make when it came to my next job. Was I willing to sacrifice my interests for the paycheck that I would get at the CPAC HR Specialist job?
Was the work I would do there fulfilling enough to make up for the areas of my life I would be saying “no” to?
When it came time to consider the monetary gains from that job, I learned that even a good paycheck can only go so far. Once I factored in childcare costs, commuting costs (both time and money), and the loss of flexibility I would sustain, I determined that I’d actually be losing out with that HR Specialist job, even though my hourly rate there would be higher than what I would make working for a nonprofit like CASY & MSCCN.
If I started working at CASY & MSCCN, I could work from home and still be able to volunteer with groups that are my passion, allowing me to fulfill an employment and a spiritual void at the same time. For me, this balance was worth more than the extra dollars I could find in that HR Specialist paycheck.
Finding a new job is difficult, whether you’re looking for work due to a PCS, a transition out of the military, or because you are looking
to start a new career altogether. Only you can determine the needs that are most pressing for you and your family.
No matter the decision you make, take the time to really figure out what matters to you most in terms of your daily life, your family needs, and your long-term goals. You’ll never know what matters most to you if you don’t ask yourself that question.
Misty made the career choice that allowed her to have time to work while volunteering.
Misty and her family regularly make time for wear blue: run to remember.
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