For 2 years I commuted from central Virginia into DC. Would wake up at 0300, arrive in DC around 0500, go to the gym, then head into the office around 0700. This job was near 100% travel as well, so I would be in the DC office for a day, then another city for a day, etc...
I calculated that each week I was only at my house from Saturday at 0100 - Monday at 0300.
So, why did I do this? There are a number of reasons.
1) Money. Where I live in Virginia there are no information security jobs OR they pay 60K. The amount of money I was making allowed me to pay down debts and provide a nice lifestyle for my family.
2) Housing. If we were to live in DC, we could not afford a house, so we would be stuck in a 1300SF apartment. Nice if your single or have a significant other, not so much fun with a wife and twins. For the same price of this 1300SF apartment in DC I can afford a 4000SF house where I am currently at.
3) Industry experience. I knew that by working at this organization in DC it would legitimize me as a security professional - I would be able to get out when I needed to and find another info sec job.
4) Landscape. No offense to DC, but it is flat and ugly. I live in the Shenandoah valley - the scenery alone gives me great joy.
I now work near 100% remote. I have to commute once every 6 weeks or so into our corporate office (about 4 1/2 hours away), but it allows me to be home for 5 weeks with the kids.
Without the sacrifice earlier working out of DC, I would never have landed in the role I have now.
For 2 years I commuted from central Virginia into DC. Would wake up at 0300, arrive in DC around 0500, go to the gym, then head into the office around 0700. This job was near 100% travel as well, so I would be in the DC office for a day, then another city for a day, etc...
I calculated that each week I was only at my house from Saturday at 0100 - Monday at 0300.
So, why did I do this? There are a number of reasons. 1) Money. Where I live in Virginia there are no information security jobs OR they pay 60K. The amount of money I was making allowed me to pay down debts and provide a nice lifestyle for my family. 2) Housing. If we were to live in DC, we could not afford a house, so we would be stuck in a 1300SF apartment. Nice if your single or have a significant other, not so much fun with a wife and twins. For the same price of this 1300SF apartment in DC I can afford a 4000SF house where I am currently at. 3) Industry experience. I knew that by working at this organization in DC it would legitimize me as a security professional - I would be able to get out when I needed to and find another info sec job. 4) Landscape. No offense to DC, but it is flat and ugly. I live in the Shenandoah valley - the scenery alone gives me great joy.
I now work near 100% remote. I have to commute once every 6 weeks or so into our corporate office (about 4 1/2 hours away), but it allows me to be home for 5 weeks with the kids. Without the sacrifice earlier working out of DC, I would never have landed in the role I have now.