life changing decision...

[Macnarsandlove]

I am having trouble deciding what I should do about my career. I am currently in the air force and I want to get out (great job, not for me). The military is great I just I want to do the "follow your dream" thing (become a ma) but it will mess up my finances and my marriage- I can't leave a job with steady pay and have my hubby doing everything. I have been thinking about this for a while and it's getting close to decision time. If anyone has any advice or struggled with a similar choice please let me know. thanks wonderful specktrettes!

 

[MAC_Whore]

I can see your issue. Not much call for MAs in the Air Force, eh?

Since you are under a time constraint (I am guessing you have to reenlist soon), you should sit down with hubby and really discuss it. Pros and cons. The list method works. If you don't discuss every aspect of it and honestly address everything, it will lead to a lot of stress on your marriage and could hamper your attempts at a new career. I used the words "honestly address", as some of us are really good at hearing only what we want to (yes, I speak from experience

).

If you aren't happy at your current job, you should make a change. However, real life does take priority. By that, I mean:

Are you the major bread winner?
Do you have kids? How will this affect them?
Do you need your job for the medical insurance?

If you feel that you cannot comfortably address all of the important financial and stability issues, you may want to wait. Even if you have to reenlist for 2,3 or 4 years, you can still work towards your goal. Be a freelance MA on the weekends or at night to get your MA chops.

If you want to leave the Air Force, and can comfortably deal with all of the issues besides finance, take another job. Again, get that freelance MA work. At least you won't have the time requirement of the military. That will give you more flexibility when MA opportunities arise.

Do you have any MA experience? Are you looking at schools?

I hope this helps some.

 

[Janice]

I don't have a tailored response, but I can tell you that finding a job that I enjoy (even though the pay is significantly less) has made my entire outlook on life more positive and happy on a daily basis. Work is so important and vital to funding the modern family, at least find something you love and have passion for on a consistent basis.

My husband initially balked at the idea of me not making as much $$$, but when I laid out the importance of my happiness and how closely work correlates to it, he couldn't have been more understanding. Through his work we are able to have health insurance as my new company does not provide it yet. (very tiny family owned and operated business)

 

[Beauty Mark]

Discuss it with your husband. He may be more understanding than you think. I think you pursue your interests, but be practical about it. I hate to be negative, but I've known people who've impractically pursued their interests and couldn't find a job and ended up broke.

I definitely second getting another job if money is truly an issue (that's where a lot of those people failed.) Get something that's less of a commitment but still pays decently with good benefits. See about taking classes, apprenticing, etc. in your free time.

If you don't complete your dream job to the extent you wish, freelancing isn't a bad place to be at all.

 

[Raerae]

Have you thought about doing MA work part time?

By being an MA, I'm assuming you want to be freelance right? Or work for a company doing specifically application? Or do you want to work at the MAC counter?

The other thing to consider is, (not trying to pry) how much pay do you make in the Airforce, and can you make that pay working another fulltime job that is local in your area?

For instance... You choose not to re-enlist, and get a job in a similar field but obviously civilian this time. Dunno what you do in the AirForce, but perhaps there are jobs in the Airline industry that could use the knowledge you have. Or even consultation related firms that need office assistance.

I make $20.00/hr right now just doing Administrative Assistant type work. it's 614 a week X 4 or 2456.00 takehome after taxes. Would doing something similar + doing part time MA work in the evenings and weekends while you build up your client base be sufficient income?

I would focus on finding another full time job first, but one that is flexible in that you dont have to sign on the line saying you will work another X years. This way if in deed your dream to be a MA comes true, and you can start making enough income just doing that, you can always give your job your 2 weeks notice.

But if you can't find work that pays enough to support your current level of income, perhaps re-enlist, and do MA work in your spare time. Even people in the airforce have time to themselves. Who knows what the women around you need in terms of application. I'm sure they get married, have special events, go to parties, and do plenty of stuff where they might wanna look really pretty. They are women afterall

No to mention you could start advertising locally to the civillian population, and start building up a client base/reputation there.

 

[Macnarsandlove]

thanks to all of you who responded to this post. I really appreciate this more than you know. This has definatly made my decision a little easier.