Disaster Program Manager - Chicago
Pros
Helping others was the greatest(and only) reward.
Cons
This is not a job you would want if you have a spouse/children. I was “on call” 24 hours a day for almost 2 years in a row. Serving so many counties that were a great distance from home required that a 90 minute timeframe for service to clients was an unreachable goal. Supervisors would not allow you to respond to home fires alone but would also reprimand you if a client was not served because you couldn’t find a volunteer to go with you. This is a job that you will do well at if you choose to make your life’s focus answering calls, emails, texts and being called away from home in the middle of the night 3 times a week minimum. You still have to work a full day after you respond to a fire at 1am-5am. Supervisors in my location would not allow for paid time off to be taken. This is a job for young people fresh out of college who are willing to be driven into the ground until exhaustion for very little pay and no recognition.
