Career change... advice?

[Shayanna]

I currently work as a medical assistant 32 miles from home, which is making homesteading rather difficult, as most of my money goes for gas. I'm thinking of a career change that will be closer to home and more enjoyable than the Infectious Disease office.

I'm thinking of becoming a DNR conservation officer. My biggest worry is if I get hired I will have to go to a 22 week academy halfway across the state. I have an almost 2 year old daughter. I would be able to come home on weekends. Dh has been a stay at home dad for the most part, except he works like 20-30 hours a week at a deli.

Is this selfish of me? The pay range blows mine out of the water and I feel really passionate about this. I'm torn, but I want to support my family without always pinching pennies and I want to be happy wherever I'm spending 40 hours/week.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Why would it be selfish to improve your life in so many ways?

Saw this quote just now....

“No money is better spent that what is laid out for domestic satisfaction."

- Samuel Johnson

( I would at "or time" after the word "money." )

[mnn2501]

Would you then be guaranteed to work closer to home?

[Shayanna]

Yes. I would get to pick which counties I would want to work in

[Vahomesteaders]

I say go for it. I know here they have a very long list of officers, military personel ect.. waiting for a DNR spot. So if you can get one grab it! But make sure you pick good areas. Your job will be to in part deal with folks with guns who are breaking the law.

[Shayanna]

I do realize that but I am no stranger to dangerous situations and I feel confident in my abilities to talk down angry people

[kilgrosh]

22 weeks will fly by and is a drop in the bucket when it comes to how much more time you will spend at home than in a car commuting. Also, since you will be working for the State, you could be eligible for a pension when you retire which can be huge in the long run. Furthermore, sometimes your benefits (medical, dental, FSA/HSA/DCAs...) can be much better than in the private sector. Ask family members to help out while you are gone or look to hiring a part-time babysitter so your husband can work. Can your husband increase his work hours to full time and make enough to pay for day care?

I say go for it.

[Shayanna]

That's what we are hoping. But from my understanding, they pay you while you are in the academy. He is currently looking for full time.

This is all assuming I can get in.

[kilgrosh]

Yes you should be paid while in the academy as you are an employee during that time.

Side not bit of advice: when setting up your benefits, elect to contribute at least 10% of your pay to your 401k/Deferred Compensation before your first paycheck. You will never know the money is missing from your paycheck and you should be getting a company match as well. I wish I had done that from the beginning instead of getting used to my paycheck and then trying to cut back to boost my 401k.

[CJBegins]

The best invest we can make is in our education. The results payoff for a lifetime.

More power to you!

[woolieboolie]

22 weeks is almost half a year, but as kilgrosh said, it will fly by. The most important part in this plan, if you get in, should be a way to make sure you can keep in daily contact with your daughter. 2 years of age is a very important time in a child's development when they begin to establish their identities (among other things).

We are a blended family with 6 kids and you can tell which two kids were at about that age when both of our divorces took place.

I realize you are not talking about divorce at all so it isn't quite that serious, I just mean to express how tremendously important it is for we parents to make every effort to be there for our kids at these developmental stages.

I think your plan has merit, just make sure to place this relationship with your daughter at a premium. Make the time to call and interact as much as possible.

[Shayanna]

My biggest worry is being away from her so long. Everyday calls and Skype's would be a must. But I really want her to have opportunities I never had, and where I'm at now has no advancement opportunities. I don't want her to want to do something like sports and ever think, can my family afford it?

[Awnry Abe]

Not selfish at all. It will feel like 22 weeks from heck, but when you are done with it, look at what you have done for your family for 222 weeks. And going into it with the "this is going to really rough" is a valuable coping tool that will actually make it seem "not as bad as you thought".

[tarbe]

Originally Posted by Shayanna

I don't want her to want to do something like sports and ever think, can my family afford it?

I might be a little strange in this regard, but I ALWAYS wanted my kids to think twice about where money has to come from, to have and do the things they want...and I wanted them to wonder if we could afford it.

All part of training them to be careful with money, I guess.

Tim

[Darren]

In WV the physical requirements for DNR recruits are tougher than the ones for state police. You may be able to talk people down. Around here officers have had extremely close calls without seeing or talking to anyone. There are some areas, they stay out of.

That's not meant to dissuade you. Consider all of the aspects. It could be a great career.

[V-NH]

I recommend going for it. My wife and I are really into homesteading, but we also think that career advancement is extremely important. We both have masters degrees and I am working on my PhD (ages 26 and 27). It's really important to keep progressing in some fashion because the world is getting more and more competitive rather than less, while at the same time wages are stagnant and prices are rising. Giving up any kind of an opportunity to get ahead is a huge gamble with your future. Things are going to get more difficult for everyone as automation replaces more unskilled and low skill workers and population/education levels continue to increase. Take the opportunity while it is there, because it might not always be.

[GREENCOUNTYPETE]

do it if your daughter is 2 she won't even remember when she is 8 unless you tell her

improving your quality of life will improve her's , parents who hate thier jobs and go just to bring home a check are can be very resentful , if you like your job it makes for a much better mental and physical well being and a Well and Content person is generally a nice person to share time with.

I know a woman who was a DNR ranger here in WIS, she has since given up her law enforcement role but still works for the DNR now she does projects and makes trails and such not sure what the title is but she likes it and it keeps her out and moving , remember there is no right way to homestead and DNR work may well interfeer with home work also but do what makes you happy

I like to say pick the least worst thing you could do that makes you the money you need to follow your other interest - cause we can't all be profession fishermen and hunters for a living

[Shayanna]

Originally Posted by tarbe

I might be a little strange in this regard, but I ALWAYS wanted my kids to think twice about where money has to come from, to have and do the things they want...and I wanted them to wonder if we could afford it.

All part of training them to be careful with money, I guess.

Tim

I know what you mean. We will teach her the value of a dollar, and homesteading is a huge part of that. but I remember quitting cheer leading, a sport I loved, because my mom was always complaining about not having money and I felt bad.

[Shayanna]

Decision is made. I'm going for it. I am going to bust my @$$ and do this to better myself and family. I am going to start running tonight to train up.

[Jan in CO]

Good for you! I did the medical office thing for years, and docs usually don't pay a lot. If you can have a career you enjoy with just a short time of training, go for it! Good luck, and do let us know how it is going for you!