People move to NOVA to start a good career!!! (home, live)

[Mike10]

After a hot debate with a few friends, I have come to the conclusion that people move to this area to start a good job. Does this start to compromise "fun-time" outside of work?

My question is, how many hours do you work a week on average?

[jzcrandall]

When I worked in telecommunications I worked around 50 hours a week. Now I teach special ed, and i leave shortly after the bell rings (except during wrestling season)

[CAVA1990]

I work from home so it varies but probably an average of 40 hours a week in my day job plus a few more running a couple of on-line businesses. However, I sometimes do it at non-traditional business hours. During the winter I go outdoors at lunch time to exercise since it's too dark after work. Not having to commute to an office is a huge enabler of work-life balance.

The career I have now isn't the one I had when I moved here. NoVA can also be a good place to start over.

[Kembek]

Zip - retired now. But, when I did work I worked 40 hours/week. That does not include the 10 hours/week commuting. "Fun time" after work was definitely compromised. I lived for the weekends.

[oneasterisk]

I work pretty much 40 hours on average. There are days when things come up and you have to stay late or dial in after hours, but it's not constant nor consistent.

[Caladium]

It varies depending on the work flow. Right now we're in a slow period and I'm essentially working a part time job. We're expecting a big job to start fairly soon and then you guys won't see much of me for awhile because I'll be working, working and working so we can get it completed before Christmas. After that things ease up a bit.

As for the thread title "People move to Nova to start a career," well, I'm not sure I agree with this completely. IMO there are a variety of things that draw people to this region. On the other hand, it's true that young people don't move here for the beach scene, for the party scene, or to be discovered by Hollywood.

[poloi3eai2]

People move to NoVA/DC for Gov't/Political related jobs. Even if you don't directly work for the gov't or a political office, just about EVERY company in NoVA/DC is somehow tied to the Gov't.

I don't think the issue of compromising fun time is tied to just NoVA. People all over the country work long hours, take long commutes, and work multiple jobs that leaves them little or no fun time.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by poloi3eai2

People move to NoVA/DC for Gov't/Political related jobs. Even if you don't directly work for the gov't or a political office, just about EVERY company in NoVA/DC is somehow tied to the Gov't.

My job isn't. We supply services for doctors and research scientists. There is a lot of research going on in this area, much of which is financed by private grant (not government). I suppose you could argue that some of the people who hire us work in programs that are somehow connected to the government, but that's as close as we get.

[VRE332]

I work 24/7 .. that includes work, 2 hour commute and a full time father.

[alibaba1579]

We moved here last year, and my Dh's hours have DECREASED quite a bit. He probably works 50 - 55 hours a week now, compared to the 60-65+ that he could do in a refinery (he's a chemical engineer). So 50 hours a week is a real treat for us all. And really, there are lots of people in his building that work a true 9-5. He's an overachiver at times. He's 10 years into his career, so maybe if he were just starting, he'd be doing more? I think 45-50 hrs a week is the norm for most though.