Among the reasons for leaving the service, military personnel most often cite “Quality of Life.” If this applies to you, it would be prudent to use it as one of your evaluation points as you seek out a civilian career and evaluate job offers.

Although you probably hear and use the phrase Quality of Life (QOL) often, have you ever stopped to consider what it actually means? Let’s start by distinguishing it from its sister phrase, Quality of Work (QOW).

QOW deals with the internal elements of the job. Consider these: working conditions and environment, job satisfaction, corporate culture, co-worker relationships, and advancement opportunity. QOL addresses issues beyond the workplace. Where you live, your commute, personal time for family, hobbies, interests or community service, and compensation are among those elements that impact most people’s QOL.