Should you keep your job as a civilian? If no, what would make you stay in that field other than the pay?

PO2 Riva Norris — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:30:34 -0500

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 9:35 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:35:56 -0500

I'd definitely keep doing intelligence given the opportunity. Same job, similar benefits, and better pay. Can't complain about that.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 9:44 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:44:44 -0500

Do you mean, that you would keep your military job if it was transitioned into a civilian role?

I was an infantryman. For some that's a career.. as I grow older I prefer less action, and more routine.

Response by SPC Jesse Akers made Jan 12 at 2016 9:52 AM

SPC Jesse Akers — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:52:40 -0500

56M (Chaplain's Assistant) I wouldn't mind it at all- the problem with why I didn't go through with being a Chaplain and why I wouldn't make it as a pastor out in the real world is that I just like to help people- I don't belong to any particular denomination and I have my own set of Christian beliefs and values... I could have just chosen some soft non-denominational or liberal church group- but I found most of them to be shallow.

I enjoy helping people solve problems in all facets of their life, except maybe paying taxes or making a budget! :)

88M- Truck driving... over the road- heck no. I don't mind the travel, its OTHER drivers that I hate. I wouldn't mind doing tow truck or some other big rig type work- but overall just not my thing and I spent too long in the military doing it- should have switched MOS's sooner.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 10:02 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:02:10 -0500

No, I would not. I enjoy being an MP but have no desire to be civilian law enforcement anymore. Other than pay I believe the major issue for me would be the hours and the toll of working with some of our less than stellar citizens on a consistent basis. My hats are off to the ones who choose to do it but I no longer feel that calling.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 12 at 2016 10:14 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:14:55 -0500

There actually is a direct civilian equivalent to my job, and that is, in fact, what I plan to do when I grow up...

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jan 12 at 2016 10:19 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:19:52 -0500

If I could do it from the local area here... Absolutely! Not so much if I had to move out of God's Country (foothills of the Smokey Mountains).

Response by MAJ Ray McCulloch made Jan 12 at 2016 10:20 AM

MAJ Ray McCulloch — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:20:41 -0500

If given the option with no penalties, I'd go back on Active Duty. I am completely disheartened by my civilian career (mainly because it isn't what I expected coming off AD).

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Jan 12 at 2016 10:28 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:28:56 -0500

As a worse case scenario I loved driving trucks, but now that I have a degree and sit behind this nice desk everyday at a College Campus. Nahhh I am good doing what I do now on the civilian side!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 10:50 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:50:15 -0500

Given unlimited (or at least vastly more) resources...I'd much rather be doing something other than what I currently do. That's probably true of 99% of the population. Thus far, however, no one's offered to pay my bills for following my passions...so I suppose I'll continue to work :)

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Jan 12 at 2016 12:22 PM

GySgt Carl Rumbolo — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 12:22:14 -0500

Would I do something else - that is a definite no. In fact in my last annual review my boss asked me what I would do if I won the lottery. My response was keep doing what I do - I get to play with all sorts of fascinating technology related to information systems, cutting edge projects and plus I work from home, highly compensated - it's sort of like I already won the lottery. Plan on working till I am 65 and walk away just like I did with my military career - satisfied.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 12:44 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 12:44:36 -0500

I have a At Sea rate so coming off active duty There's practically no civilian job for me unless I go into another field. The Exam is the only time I see anything relative. So if could stay in your field I'd say stay if not then do whatever makes you happy. Sometimes we don't have the choices we'd like. If I understood that question right

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 1:27 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:27:31 -0500

I stayed within the general field of COMSEC when I retired because I believed my experience was valuable and that it would have a positive impact on my earning power. Now I've working to expanding that subject matter expertise into related fields such as IT and Project Management. it's a strategy that has worked well for me up to this point, and i plan on continuing to improve myself to ensure I'm ready to move forward when the right opportunity presents itself.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 12 at 2016 2:03 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:03:55 -0500

The people.

Response by SPC Donald Moore made Jan 12 at 2016 2:07 PM

SPC Donald Moore — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:07:20 -0500

PO2 Riva Norris - You have to evaluate what it is that made you take the job you have. It is different for everyone.
I love working with computers, so I have been working with computers in several different jobs.
If you took a job that you don't care for just for the money, you might feel unsatisfied.
You first need to figure out what things that you are interested in, could actually earn a living.
For example, if you are interested in video games, it will probably be a poor choice for a job.
If you are interested in programming, you might need to get a degree, but that could be a good choice.
Ultimate job satisfaction has nothing to do with the pay. Doing something that you love, that will make you happy. You just have to learn to live within the budget that your pay can provide.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 13 at 2016 3:06 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 15:06:39 -0500

I would suggest writing down attributes like: fellow employees, managers, values, pay, total compensation, flexibility to have a more insightful analysis :)

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jan 13 at 2016 9:26 PM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 21:26:51 -0500

I would at least stay in a job that I was unhappy in until something better came along. In fact, that's why I left my last job. It was an easy job (NMCI Help Desk) but the pay wasn't all that great (about $18 an hour). I probably would have stayed with it until I got a lateral transfer but I got a cold call for a position out of state and haven't looked back since.

I love my current job, and it pays really well, but I'm actually leaving it at the end of the month for a new job that is more in line with what I want to do in the IT field. It also doesn't hurt that it pays $4K more per year and a regular Monday through Friday 9-5 type schedule. I currently do shift work, and I had enough of that in the Navy.