Money Matters
splotch716
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Long time lurker needing others thoughts!
I have been lurking for about three years now. I plan on doing an intro later.
I have been working as a paid intern in my current field for the last two years as a CDPT (addiction counselor but as a trainee). I take my state exam on the 18th to become a CDP. This will come with a significant pay raise once I pass the exam, probably around $30,000 a year before taxes. I currently only make about $24,500 before taxes and union dues. They have a range of between $29,105-34,500 topping out. I commute 5 days a week and spend $108 a month on a bus pass as well as about 2-3 hours a day on a bus. As it is right now I get up at 5am to get my daughter ready to leave with my husband. He works 4/10s. Then I get ready. I get home between 6:30-7 each night. I earn 23.76 hrs of PTO per month but have to use it if I want to take any federal holidays off. I have fully employer paid health care but can't afford the spouse and dependent coverage or the copay for that matter.
In May I found a posting for a DV advocate at a local nonprofit. I have always wanted to be in the DV field. My overall career goal is to get my masters in mental health counseling so I can work with survivors of trauma. I have been to two interviews and got a call today regarding the position. I was already at work so I couldn't answer it. I have no idea what the pay is. It includes employer paid benefits for me but I was told spouse and dependent coverage can be somewhat spendy. I would earn 8 hours of vacation a month, plus personal days, and all federal holidays off. The office is located within 1 mile of our apartment. Our morning routine would change as I would drop DH off at work at 6:30, then LO at MILS, then go home, get ready, head to work, then pick DH up at 5ish. DH works within 1/2 mile from our apartment so the commute between offices and the apartment wouldn't be very far.
My dilemma is with my upcoming certification. If I leave the field what would that do to my license to practice? What would it do to future opportunities in the field or if I needed a fall back? I'm struggling with giving it up for something that is unknown. If the new job pays enough I could keep up with my CEU's required to keep my license but I'm worried what it could say to a potential employer.
Any thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?
Sorry this was so long! If you made it this far, I greatly appreciate it! I really do plan on doing an intro soon!
I have been working as a paid intern in my current field for the last two years as a CDPT (addiction counselor but as a trainee). I take my state exam on the 18th to become a CDP. This will come with a significant pay raise once I pass the exam, probably around $30,000 a year before taxes. I currently only make about $24,500 before taxes and union dues. They have a range of between $29,105-34,500 topping out. I commute 5 days a week and spend $108 a month on a bus pass as well as about 2-3 hours a day on a bus. As it is right now I get up at 5am to get my daughter ready to leave with my husband. He works 4/10s. Then I get ready. I get home between 6:30-7 each night. I earn 23.76 hrs of PTO per month but have to use it if I want to take any federal holidays off. I have fully employer paid health care but can't afford the spouse and dependent coverage or the copay for that matter.
In May I found a posting for a DV advocate at a local nonprofit. I have always wanted to be in the DV field. My overall career goal is to get my masters in mental health counseling so I can work with survivors of trauma. I have been to two interviews and got a call today regarding the position. I was already at work so I couldn't answer it. I have no idea what the pay is. It includes employer paid benefits for me but I was told spouse and dependent coverage can be somewhat spendy. I would earn 8 hours of vacation a month, plus personal days, and all federal holidays off. The office is located within 1 mile of our apartment. Our morning routine would change as I would drop DH off at work at 6:30, then LO at MILS, then go home, get ready, head to work, then pick DH up at 5ish. DH works within 1/2 mile from our apartment so the commute between offices and the apartment wouldn't be very far.
My dilemma is with my upcoming certification. If I leave the field what would that do to my license to practice? What would it do to future opportunities in the field or if I needed a fall back? I'm struggling with giving it up for something that is unknown. If the new job pays enough I could keep up with my CEU's required to keep my license but I'm worried what it could say to a potential employer.
Any thoughts? Ideas? Opinions?
Sorry this was so long! If you made it this far, I greatly appreciate it! I really do plan on doing an intro soon!
Re: Long time lurker needing others thoughts!
If your long term plan is a masters degree - it appears to me that your work with DV would not only prove helpful, your quality of life will improve.
You are a trooper for keeping a job with a 2-3 hour bus ride every day! I agree with the other PPs, this sounds like an amazing opportunity to stop with that awful commute. Plus you'll save that $100/month bus fare. Although I am not in that field, I would think your (hopefully) new employer would see a CDP license as an asset...even if it is not as directly related to that type of therapy.
I think if they offer you $30K, or close to it, that should be an easy decision. Don't be afraid to negotiate for that number if they start lower. You can certainly point out that you will have your CDP license soon and that is a typical salary for your skills/certification/experience.
Thank you everyone for all of your input and encouragement! I would have to renew my license every year and keep up on CEU's every two years. I plan on keeping my CDP no matter which way I go. I will have to check on the possibility of reimbursement. The more I think about it the more I long to have more time with my family and spend less time on the bus every day.