Milestone 4: Redefining work-life balance
A PCS can provide an opportunity for you to reevaluate your goals and seek out new sources of support in your new location. Use each PCS as motivation to reset or reprioritize your individual and family goals, your schedule, your professional development opportunities, and your focus on self-care.
Assessing your new normal and navigating new schedules
Upon receiving orders to a new location, you can start to plan for some of the foundational support systems you may need to continue on your career path. Factors that may change include the availability of child care, your children’s school schedule, and your service member’s day-to-day service-related duties. The sooner you begin planning, the sooner you can grasp how this PCS may impact your career goals.
All done with this step?
Developing professionally
Moving can be tough, but finding resources for professional development doesn’t have to be! Rely on online resources, as many of the same resources will be accessible while you move. Your new location may also open doors to possibilities based on your profession and your location, so revisit a search of local opportunities to continue to develop professionally and find new network connections in your community.
Resources to
DEVELOP YOUR JOB-SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THROUGHOUT A PCS
Develop Knowledge and Skills
REMAIN CONNECTED TO YOUR ORGANIZATION.
If you work remotely for an organization, continue to request information for any workshops or trainings that may be occurring either virtually or in the office. If trainings are occurring in the office, inquire if you can travel in for meetings, trainings and workshops to take advantage of these natural learning, networking and mentoring opportunities.
Develop Knowledge and Skills
CONNECT TO YOUR COMMUNITY
Do an internet search for conferences that may be related to your business. If you cannot attend in person, determine if you can watch recorded sessions or attend virtually.
- Look for local training or workshops related to your discipline in your area.
- If applicable, get on the mailing list for local business associations or educational institutions.
- Borrow books on topics related to your career from your local library.
tips For
DEVELOPING AS A REMOTE EMPLOYEE
Search the following resources to enhance some of the most desired skills for remote employees, including computer, technology, communication, and time management skills.
Training
edX
edX provides access to over 2,000 online courses from leading educational institutions. Highlighted topics: Computer Science, Language, Data Science, Business and Management, Engineering, Humanities
Training
Primer
Primer offers mobile opportunities to explore training on business operations, business management and marketing. Highlighted topics: Communication Skills, Remote Collaboration and Navigating Google Resources
Hiring Our Heroes
Career Forward
Gain industry-recognized skills through a Google Career Certificate in data analytics, IT support, project management, or UX design, then connect with ready-to-hire employers.
All done with this step?
Seeking time for self-care
Remember that self-care chat we had a few crossroads back? Well, here we are again and this time it’s just as important. Make time for the things you love, and bring joy into your life in ways that truly make YOU joyful. No matter where you are on your career journey, your self-care practice should always travel with you.
Weaving Self-Care into your Military Life after a PCS – Assess, Adapt, & Accomplish
- Revisit that list of three enjoyable activities you would do if you had a day away from all of your other responsibilities. Which ones did you complete? Which tasks are still on the list, unchecked?
- Use Google, the newspaper, and social media sites to search for local opportunities to plan at least one of your desired activities in your new location.
- Schedule the activity for a few weeks into the future. Then intentionally weave it into your schedule.
- Invite a new connection to complete the activity with you.
- Go do the activity!
- If applicable, identify 1 to 2 ways that the experience helped you with your career or education (e.g.., mentoring, networking, skill development, teamwork, a creativity boost). Share your thoughts with your new network connection.
- As you become more familiar with your new location, repeat this process and build upon your experiences.
