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re: Question for those that travel a lot for work
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:12 am to 12
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:12 am to 12
I’m in a slightly different shade of life than you. I absolutely love my job and I work about 3300 hours a year. I’m a workaholic but trying to put it in the bank on the front end of my career.
I’m in my 30s and been traveling for work about 5-6 months out of the year for five years. I don’t have kids, although I have a fiancé my job works for us. Her personality does well being alone and handles me being gone 2-3 weeks at a time. She also holds down the house and a career.
I also handle being gone well but it does wear on me some times. I think about the fishing trips I miss with my Pops or crawfish boils at the house while I'm gone. I do want a family and if I get that chance, I will most definitely cut back on working out of town or look for a job that allows me to be home and not have to chase OT on the weekends. I dream of being a great family man and I’m envious of my peers who are. It’s just not in my deck of cards as of yet.
I’m in my 30s and been traveling for work about 5-6 months out of the year for five years. I don’t have kids, although I have a fiancé my job works for us. Her personality does well being alone and handles me being gone 2-3 weeks at a time. She also holds down the house and a career.
I also handle being gone well but it does wear on me some times. I think about the fishing trips I miss with my Pops or crawfish boils at the house while I'm gone. I do want a family and if I get that chance, I will most definitely cut back on working out of town or look for a job that allows me to be home and not have to chase OT on the weekends. I dream of being a great family man and I’m envious of my peers who are. It’s just not in my deck of cards as of yet.
1
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:29 am to LafTiger
quote:It seems this happens with a bunch of companies, taking the travel job is almost an initiation that results in another better job.
When I went to a 50% travel job it was about getting to another role
In my situation, I would still be in the role and that was 8 years ago. It is a pyramid and the guy at the top aint gong anywhere. He is good at his job, well liked and entrenched.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:34 am to 12
quote:
I feel like I bring my job home now and I don’t like how that effects my home life
quote:
The plus side is that I will work from home
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:35 am to 12
quote:
on the road about half of the year
ask anybody who works offshore how it is to miss half of everything at home
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:41 am to 12
I had a job with heavy travel a few years ago. Burned me out in a a matter of months, and I only had a dog at home to think about.
The evenings in business hotels, waiting at the airport, rolling around in different rental cars, and getting fat eating random restaurant and fast food wear on you pretty quickly, not even mentioning you missing your wife and kids.
The evenings in business hotels, waiting at the airport, rolling around in different rental cars, and getting fat eating random restaurant and fast food wear on you pretty quickly, not even mentioning you missing your wife and kids.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:42 am to 12
Are you going to the same places every time you go out of town or is it all random locations?
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:49 am to 12
How many of you were regulars on the Monday 6a BTR - ATL?
I did that for years and it was always the same faces. I also racked up thousands of dollars in gift cards for taking bumps on oversold flights.
Also, if your spouse starts to imply you’re cheating on the road, they’re probably cheating. That ain’t my household, but I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.
I did that for years and it was always the same faces. I also racked up thousands of dollars in gift cards for taking bumps on oversold flights.
Also, if your spouse starts to imply you’re cheating on the road, they’re probably cheating. That ain’t my household, but I’ve seen it happen plenty of times.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:52 am to 12
I don't travel much for work now...but did for about 20 years. It all depends on what your % travel will be.
Mine was supposed to be 50% travel, but was closer to 75-80%. Here are some things to consider:
1) How far do you live from the airport? I lived about 15 minutes from ours, and it made it pretty easy for the early Monday morning flights out, and the late Friday arrivals.
2) What do you have at home that needs care while you are gone? I can tell you that if you aren't home, your wife and kids will learn to operate without you being home...which makes it hard for the times you are there. You being gone will become the new norm. Be prepared to miss some things and to feel like you are on the outside of things when you are home.
3) Stuff...you will be paying a mortgage on a house you aren't living in, and payments (if you have any) insurance and taxes on a car that is sitting in a parking lot most of the time.
4) Advancement...this can go either way. Your flexibility and insight received from traveling can move you on a faster track for advancement...unless you work someplace where facetime with an individual at your office is important. Understand, will this help advance your career, or could it take a step back?
Here is what I had as a result of travel: Wife is now my ex-wife. Oldest kid got used to me not being home so he has a much closer relationship with my ex than with me. I was home every weekend...but for one 6 month period, I was in the office for 2 days. I was exhausted, and resented the work, even though it helped me advance rapidly.
Don't jump in until you have vetted it completely and weigh the potential consequences...get agreement with your spouse on how you will stay checked-in and find out how flexible the travel schedule will be.
Just my 2 cents.
Mine was supposed to be 50% travel, but was closer to 75-80%. Here are some things to consider:
1) How far do you live from the airport? I lived about 15 minutes from ours, and it made it pretty easy for the early Monday morning flights out, and the late Friday arrivals.
2) What do you have at home that needs care while you are gone? I can tell you that if you aren't home, your wife and kids will learn to operate without you being home...which makes it hard for the times you are there. You being gone will become the new norm. Be prepared to miss some things and to feel like you are on the outside of things when you are home.
3) Stuff...you will be paying a mortgage on a house you aren't living in, and payments (if you have any) insurance and taxes on a car that is sitting in a parking lot most of the time.
4) Advancement...this can go either way. Your flexibility and insight received from traveling can move you on a faster track for advancement...unless you work someplace where facetime with an individual at your office is important. Understand, will this help advance your career, or could it take a step back?
Here is what I had as a result of travel: Wife is now my ex-wife. Oldest kid got used to me not being home so he has a much closer relationship with my ex than with me. I was home every weekend...but for one 6 month period, I was in the office for 2 days. I was exhausted, and resented the work, even though it helped me advance rapidly.
Don't jump in until you have vetted it completely and weigh the potential consequences...get agreement with your spouse on how you will stay checked-in and find out how flexible the travel schedule will be.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 8:54 am to cubsfinger
I accepted a job offer at the end of 2019 to be the Corporate Director of BD for a company that had offices across the Southeast and Texas. I am married with 4 kids. When I started the job, the oldest 2 were in college and the others were 14 and 10.
At first, I found the idea of traveling a bit for work to be exciting and the novelty of it was for about 6 months. And I wasn’t on a 50% away from home schedule. I averaged about 8-10 days away a month. I set my own schedule and would work around my kids extracurricular activities most of the time.
Even with that, it got old. I grew to really dislike being in airports frequently, picking up and dropping off rental cars, etc.. The novelty of it ran its course rather quickly.
Fortunately, I was asked to come back to my previous company in a lateral move where I would travel only to take clients on entertaining trips. I take a 2-3 day trip once a month now.
Everybody is different and some people love the travel aspect of a career if it is available as an option. It just wasn’t as great as I thought it would be even with the flexibility. But it also wasn’t so bad that I would have looked for another job if my current one wouldn’t have fallen in my lap. However, I was doing 20% on the road and not 50%. That is a big difference in time away and I have no experience with that. Heck, I grew tired of it at just 20%.
At first, I found the idea of traveling a bit for work to be exciting and the novelty of it was for about 6 months. And I wasn’t on a 50% away from home schedule. I averaged about 8-10 days away a month. I set my own schedule and would work around my kids extracurricular activities most of the time.
Even with that, it got old. I grew to really dislike being in airports frequently, picking up and dropping off rental cars, etc.. The novelty of it ran its course rather quickly.
Fortunately, I was asked to come back to my previous company in a lateral move where I would travel only to take clients on entertaining trips. I take a 2-3 day trip once a month now.
Everybody is different and some people love the travel aspect of a career if it is available as an option. It just wasn’t as great as I thought it would be even with the flexibility. But it also wasn’t so bad that I would have looked for another job if my current one wouldn’t have fallen in my lap. However, I was doing 20% on the road and not 50%. That is a big difference in time away and I have no experience with that. Heck, I grew tired of it at just 20%.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:10 am to MyRockstarComplex
quote:
I did that for years and it was always the same faces.
A few years ago I did a project down in San Antonio and the 7am DFW-SAT was always loaded with familiar faces and everyone it seems had status. Those American MD80's would have 100+ people on the upgrade list
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:44 am to 12
I don't know how much my travel compares to others on here, but in 2022, I've flown 86 times and have stayed 120+ nights in hotels. It's tough no doubt, but if you have a great wife at home and a solid support structure, it's absolutely doable. In my opinion, the key is making the most of your home time or whenever the kids are out of school. We've committed to taking some memorable trips during Mardi Gras break, Spring break, summer, etc and it's definitely helped keep things sane.
When you get to a certain point in your career responsibilities and earnings, it's hard to take a step back and potentially earn less money. The question of being worth it not, depends on a ton of variables in my experience.
When you get to a certain point in your career responsibilities and earnings, it's hard to take a step back and potentially earn less money. The question of being worth it not, depends on a ton of variables in my experience.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 9:47 am to MaxDraft
quote:
The question of being worth it not
I've traveled for a living all of my adult life, don't even want to count up how much of my life has been spent in hotels, loved every minute of it and wouldn't change a thing
Posted on 12/19/22 at 10:04 am to 12
Depends. Where will you travel? You going to be staying at a Marriott suites in a business park or in a nice downtown?
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:08 am to 12
I just left an road warrior sales job for a full time at home position, so I can walk you through my thought process.
I was on the road for 10 years at 200 nights a year, so it was a true warrior position. I covered 3 states, left Monday morning after dropping my son at school and got home about 7-9pm on Friday night. It was RARE that I got home earlier unless I had to be there for something.
Pros- see parts of the country you may not normally see, rack up a LOT of hotel loyalty points, eat pretty well (maybe better than you do at home) and feel like you're on vacation a lot since you likely don't spend the night in the same place.
Cons- it's no less stressful, health issues pop up (especially if you have a lot of windshield time in your future), and you miss out on almost everything at home. My boy is 11 and I feel like I barely know him sometimes. My wife (no pics) works fulltime as well and it put a TON of stress on our marriage; she's much happier now that I'm off the road.
It looks as if you won't be on the road as much as I was, but that's my perspective of it. Good luck whichever way you decide.
I was on the road for 10 years at 200 nights a year, so it was a true warrior position. I covered 3 states, left Monday morning after dropping my son at school and got home about 7-9pm on Friday night. It was RARE that I got home earlier unless I had to be there for something.
Pros- see parts of the country you may not normally see, rack up a LOT of hotel loyalty points, eat pretty well (maybe better than you do at home) and feel like you're on vacation a lot since you likely don't spend the night in the same place.
Cons- it's no less stressful, health issues pop up (especially if you have a lot of windshield time in your future), and you miss out on almost everything at home. My boy is 11 and I feel like I barely know him sometimes. My wife (no pics) works fulltime as well and it put a TON of stress on our marriage; she's much happier now that I'm off the road.
It looks as if you won't be on the road as much as I was, but that's my perspective of it. Good luck whichever way you decide.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:17 am to 12
I used to be a M-F consultant, up until year 1 of my marriage. Even then it got to be too much. Having kids now (toddlers and under), I couldn't imagine being gone all the time like I was back in the day - especially without hiring help as my wife works too.
Not sure what industry you're in, but in mine, if they say 50% travel, it's likely 70-80%.
I couldn't go back to doing it, unless I owned the business or had a substantial stake.
I was averaging Diamond status w/ Delta, and hit lifetime platinum with Marriott before I turned 30. It hits you hard in other ways too...eating like crap, sleeping like crap, not working out, always on the phone w/ family, not there for small things that may come up, then missing out on the obvious stuff you already mentioned.
Not sure what industry you're in, but in mine, if they say 50% travel, it's likely 70-80%.
I couldn't go back to doing it, unless I owned the business or had a substantial stake.
I was averaging Diamond status w/ Delta, and hit lifetime platinum with Marriott before I turned 30. It hits you hard in other ways too...eating like crap, sleeping like crap, not working out, always on the phone w/ family, not there for small things that may come up, then missing out on the obvious stuff you already mentioned.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:22 am to 12
quote:half the year? Sounds terrible, especially if you have family or a significant other...
The down side is that I will also be required to be on the road about half of the year.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:28 am to arleen1013
I'm at almost the same point you were when you walked away. M-Th consultant traveling every week, and my wife and I are starting to think about kids. She is an ex-consultant so she understands the lifestyle at least, but it would be hard to keep going at that rate with young kids in the picture.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:30 am to BBONDS25
quote:
Depends. Where will you travel? You going to be staying at a Marriott suites in a business park or in a nice downtown?
This matters a ton. Never traveled 50% or more, but when I did travel/and do travel now its majority big cities/metro areas. I mostly flying into bigger, more hectic airports, but airport lounge options and direct flights make up for the hassle. Hotels are nicer, have better gyms, and often can get good food on site/short walk from hotel. And now with uber/lyft and being specific about location I rarely rent a car. Even if its slightly more expensive its a game changer not having to rent/drop off a car at the airport, even with status with the rental car companies.
I know most on the road don't have this luxury and have to deal with connections, rentals, and driving after flying all day. All that adds up, definitely time and stress.
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:38 am to H2O Tiger
I got so burnt out I straight up quit my job with nothing lined up. Spent 6 weeks licking my wounds then got picked up by current company.
Burn out becomes very real when you're on the road. I'd say bout 10x as fast as being able to be home / commute, at least for me.
OP could hate his wife and all that, and have a side piece lined up that may be pushing the needle here haha
Burn out becomes very real when you're on the road. I'd say bout 10x as fast as being able to be home / commute, at least for me.
OP could hate his wife and all that, and have a side piece lined up that may be pushing the needle here haha
Posted on 12/19/22 at 11:42 am to 12
quote:
My question is for those of you that travel a lot and have families. Is it worth it to you?
The money will make it worth it.
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