portable careers Archives -

“I’ve Been Able To Cobble Together A Few Side Hustles And I Love It”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

NextGen MilSpouse is going beyond traditional career tips and tricks for military spouses! We are sharing the real stories of working military spouses (just like you!) and their professional success stories on Wednesdays.

Name: Kimmie Fink

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your profession:

Identity Writer, Romper

Consultant/Facilitator, Welcoming Schools

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Romper – hourly, Welcoming Schools – contract

How long have you been working in this career field?

Writing – six months, Consulting – one year

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

Writing – telecommute from Starbucks; Consulting – at area schools

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I love Romper because I get paid to write about my life (and find funny GIFs)! Welcoming Schools is awesome because it helps me be active in the fight for LGBT equality.

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

I’d had my own blog on diversity and equity in education for about six months when my sister suggested that I try my hand at writing about parenting. I’d been trying to get published on a mommy website for a few months when I finally got a “yes” from Sammiches and Psych Meds.

Romper rejected my pitches four times, but in the last rejection they mentioned the Identity Writer position. I completed the edit test and got hired right away.

I blogged for almost a year without pay, and now I have two jobs because of it!

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I was a teacher for 13 years. I was trained in Welcoming Schools in 2014. My trainer knew I was having a baby, quitting my job and moving out of state. She stayed in touch and invited me to facilitator training in D.C. at HRC headquarters.

It was hard getting into schools here in Texas at first, but now that we have some grant money, work is picking up.

The program director noticed all the writing I was doing and hired me on to write their blog as well!

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

When I got married and then immediately pregnant, I knew I wanted to leave my teaching job and be a stay-at-home mom.

I got married when I was older, and I honestly felt like I’d already accomplished what I wanted to in my career. Having to move was actually a great excuse to get out of a draining job.

However, I soon found that I wanted something just for myself.

I’ve been able to cobble together a few side hustles and I love it. I work remotely, so moving isn’t a problem.

The biggest challenge is that I work when my daughter is at Spanish school or napping, which doesn’t leave me much time for maintaining my household, and my husband is gone for a year.

How do you feel about failure?

I’d like to say it’s an opportunity to learn, but really…I hate it.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

When I was leaving a terrible job, my former boss told me “You don’t even need their recommendation. It’s just a blip on your radar.” That gave me the courage to quit.

Who is in your support squad and what role do they play in supporting your career?

Spouse – encouragement

Mom – reads everything

Sister – motivation, inspiration

Military family (other spouses) – promoting my writing, letting me crowdsource them, providing ideas

Expert trainer – tips and tricks, overall makes me feel good about myself

Romper boss – great feedback, she’s also understanding and hilarious

Former bosses – career advice

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

We did before he deployed!

In the morning, he would feed the pets, sanitize bottles and empty the dishwasher before I got up. I took care of the baby and household chores during the day.

When he got home, he watched the baby while I made dinner. Then I’d bathe her while he cleaned up the kitchen.

Related: 9 Inevitable Reintegration Fights

Share your best life-hack for saving time or sanity during the work week.

I’m a writer, so I use my morning commute to brainstorm ideas. If I have an idea during the day, I’ll add it to my Notes app on my iPhone or iPad so I don’t forget it.

I use my morning commute to brainstorm ideas. If I have an idea during the day, I’ll add it to my Notes app on my iPhone.

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What’s your favorite app for making the most of your day?

Wunderlist

Must-have song on your productivity playlist?

Hand Clap

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do?

Take a nap.

Related: Why I Don’t ‘Just Move Home’ During a Deployment

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

I have a toddler, so I would have a bionic eye with a camera that snapped video or picture whenever I wanted.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

Be patient. I blogged for almost a year without pay, and now I have two jobs because of it!

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

“We Move A Lot, So Being In A Role That Is Not Virtual Is Not Much Of An Option For Me.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Beth Paschos

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your profession:

Senior Recruiter/Human Resources

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Full time

How long have you been working in this career field?

11 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

Telecommute for now

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I love helping candidates find jobs that they love AND I love helping our clients find great talented professionals.

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

I was working in this field before I became a military spouse, but I have had to tweak my career goals to fit military life. I found my current role as a virtual recruiter through networking on LinkedIn.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

The biggest challenge has been that we move a lot, so being in a role that is not virtual is not much of an option for me. But my company always has great opportunities for me and I am constantly challenged.

How do you feel about failure?

I don’t see failure as a negative thing because that is where you learn and grow.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

Focus on where you are now and do your best in that role. I think too many times people want to rush to the next step. Leadership opportunities will come, but for now I am focusing on doing my best in this season.

Who is in your support squad?

My husband, #1. He has always supported my career ambitions. My best friend is also a military spouse with a career, so we talk about that a lot!

And of course, my mom. She has always told me I could do it.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

Yes when he is here! I also hire a housekeeper. With kids, full-time job and my husband’s crazy schedule, I have recognized that I am not super woman. So I do have cleaners come every other week.

Share your best life-hack for saving time or sanity during the work week.

Meal prepping on Sundays! I cook up my food that I eat during the day to save time and make sure my diet is healthy.

Also, I do one thing a week for myself, whether it’s hanging out with my friends, mani/pedi or just a bath.

Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without that isn’t your phone.

Alexa! I’m always having her add things to my shopping list!

What’s your favorite app for making the most of your day?

The Weather Channel, so I know what to wear and how to dress the kids, if we can play outside after I pick them up, things like that.

Must-have song on your productivity playlist?

Run the World (Girls) by Beyonce

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do?

I would take a nap!

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

I would love to be able to fly. Then I could go visit my friends and family more, and get errands done quicker.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

Network!!!! Go to meet ups, get on LinkedIn and stay as connected as possible to professionals in your field.

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

“As Military Spouses We Have To Create Our Own Opportunities.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Stacie Husmann

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your profession:

I own my own business, Cooking Thyme with Stacie.

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Part-time

How long have you been working in this career field?

6 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

I host my cooking classes in our home.

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I love being able to share my joy of cooking and hospitality with others.

Being a military spouse and moving every two years can be difficult when trying to provide a happy home as well as nurturing relationships. I find that sharing a meal can create an environment that helps make the most of the time spent with friends and family.

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

When I turned 40, our daughter was starting high school and our son was entering middle school. I realized that being a full-time stay-at-home mom was coming to an end.

What would I “do with myself?”

What was I qualified to do?

I had always had a small home-based business, from selling jewelry to home decor products, but what really was best suited to my talents and was still portable? My husband still had a number of years left on active duty and I still wanted to have a flexible schedule to be available for my family.

We had served for three years in Paris, France, when my husband was the assistant naval attaché at the American embassy. I developed my culinary and entertaining skills through dozens of events we hosted.

I also had taken a number of cooking classes outside of Paris in my free-time with a group of ex-pats. I loved the mornings I had spent cooking with them. I decided I could replicate the class experience and add my own experiences hosting international diplomats and military members!

I opened Cooking Thyme with Stacie in Hawaii in 2012. I have taught hundreds of students in Honolulu, Hawaii, Yokosuka, Japan and now Fairfax, Virginia.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

The constant moving and having to start over every few years (or less) is always a challenge!

It does not get any easier. Each new location has its own unique set of issues, especially when you do it with kids. I find I have to jump in right away, otherwise time passes and I have not invested in my community or in relationships.

Now that I have one child in college and a senior in high school you realize it is imperative to make the most of where ever you are! Whether you are alone while your spouse is deployed or not, don’t wait “for a better” time to do…fill in the blank.

It is not the place…it’s the people you invest in that will last!

How do you feel about failure?

Failure is not a word I use very much. Even if I fall short of a goal, it is a learning experience to build upon.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

After having my own home-based business for several years I have learned the importance of boundaries.

I could work more if I accepted bookings at night and during the weekends, but I found that it is too much of a strain on our family life. I feel my work needs to enhance, not complicate our family life. I need to set the goals for success, not what others think I should do.

I am much happier now that I have learned to say “no” on occasion.

Who is in your support squad?

My husband and children are very supportive of me and my business. Since we have moved three times since starting my business, I have also had to depend on my network of military friends to get the word out about my business each time I have to re-start it. Their assistance in marketing has enabled me to continue after each PCS.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

Communicating clearly is what I have found works best for our family. I do not assume the kids or my spouse know instinctively what needs to be done around the house. I find there is much less friction when I plainly list what needs to be done and ask for help with tasks.

In addition, since I am cooking frequently not only for our family but for my business as well, my husband knows how meaningful it is to me when he jumps in and cleans all the dishes.

What’s your favorite app for making the most of your day?

I love Instagram. Not only to keep up with current trends, but I loved being able to see my daughter’s posts while she was studying abroad.

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do?

If I had an extra hour a day I would spend it reading. I would like to read not only for pleasure, but to expand my knowledge.

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

Being able to be in two places at once would be an ideal super power!

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

As a military spouse sometimes we have to create our own opportunities. Being stationed for short periods of time in numerous locations does not allow for one to build up a resumé with stable job experience many employers require.

What are you passionate about that you can share with others? If you can say to yourself “I would do it for free, I love it so much,” that may just be something you can turn into a profitable business.

Lastly, you need to have the confidence that your skills and expertise are worth paying for!

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

“You Have Absolutely Nothing To Lose By Trying. You Have Everything To Lose By Not Trying.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Rebecca Alwine

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your profession:

Freelance Writer and Social Media Director for PCSgrades

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Freelance, including a part-time

How long have you been working in this career field?

5 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

I currently work from my bedroom/office.

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I absolutely love telling other people’s stories, and making a difference in the lives of those who read them.

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

A friend, who was an editor, took a chance on me. The rest was a combination of hard work, networking and luck.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

Don’t rule out anything. Consider all options, even though it may not be the exact job you’re looking for.

How do you feel about failure?

It’s inevitable. It’s how you react to failure that defines you.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

The biggest challenge is the military community itself. Outside of the community, I’m an accomplished writer. Inside, I’m an enlisted spouse.

It feels like no one takes me seriously, despite my portfolio and accomplishments. Oh, and that paycheck I earn, all on my own.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Tell us the worst too, while you’re at it.

Best – You have absolutely nothing to lose by trying. You have everything to lose by not trying.

Worst – Don’t bother applying for that, you’re going to move soon.

Who is in your support squad?

In the past, my support squad has consisted of amazing child care providers, my spouse and my children.

While it isn’t easy to have two parents working, my children are amazingly resilient and helpful when it comes to those times I have to work and they are home. My parents and in-laws are also very supportive and willing to help with child care whenever possible.

PCSgrades social media manager Rebecca Alwine shared her best PCS tips in Happy Hour Episode 74.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

We split household tasks as much as possible depending on his current position.

Last year, I did the majority of the tasks, as his work hours were very long and high stress. This year, he’s home more and able to take more on.

I’ve also been known to outsource household chores as much as possible, thank you Walmart grocery pickup!

Share your best life-hack for saving time or sanity during the work week.

Going to the gym is a must for my sanity.

And as for saving time, I haven’t quite figured that one out yet. But I do manage to get quite a bit done in the mornings before anyone else gets up.

Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without that isn’t your phone.

Alexa – she helps keep me straight, play my favorite tunes and entertains me with jokes.

What’s your favorite app for making the most of your day?

It feels like everyone uses a different app! I like Basecamp and am learning to tolerate Trello. But I am still on the hunt for my favorite.

Must-have song on your productivity playlist?

I’m not really a music person, but I do like a good Sousa march to get me motivated.

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do?

Read a book!

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

Teleportation. I would love to go more places, but be home for dinner.

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

“Look To Your Active-Duty Spouse For Help With Your Resume.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Sherry Kellogg

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your job title/profession:

Global Study Manager

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Full-time

How long have you been working in this career field?

8 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

Telecommute from my home office

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I love that every single day is challenge, but more importantly, I love that me and my team are bringing life-saving medical products to the market.

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

I like to think of this job as a miracle. Throughout my time in the clinical research industry I have been aware that the industry is full of home-based positions, but they are insanely competitive and even more difficult for military spouses to land.

For the last three years, I submitted probably 100 applications – each one rejected within a few days of submission.

Just when I was about to give up, my husband vowed to help me land a home-based job. He revamped my resume to mimic an OPR/EPR, essentially highlighting my accomplishments and downplaying my multiple job moves. Five applications later, I landed this home-based job that perfectly aligns with my education and level of experience.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

The obvious is perseverance, but beyond that look to your active-duty husband/wife for help. I hear so many people say that our active-duty husbands/wives do not know how to write a resume, but that honestly could not be farther from the truth.

Our husbands/wives are required to write really strong OPRs/EPRs annually, and those reviews really highlight their strengths and accomplishments, which is extremely useful for a military spouse resume as it downplays employment gaps and multiple job moves.

How do you feel about failure?

I’m definitely afraid of failure, but I treat it like a constant force, pushing me to do better. Failure is my motivator.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

In the military spouse community, I hear a lot of buzz about home-based jobs and how this is great for those in our community who want to work.

The reality is, however, that these jobs are just as appealing to civilians, making it insanely difficult to land home-based jobs as well. Even though clinical research management is heavily home-based, I am still having to compete with civilians who likely have stronger resumes than me.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Tell us the worst too, while you’re at it.

The best career advice I ever received was to treat every work experience as a lesson – the good, the bad, and the ugly. We have all experienced bad bosses – learn what not to do from them.

The worst career advice I ever received was to “apply for jobs well below your education and experience level just to get your foot in the door.” This advice really devalues your worth as an employee. I hear this advice given to so many military spouses and it really breaks my heart. It essentially creates this vortex of us being perpetually underemployed.

In my experience it is best to shoot for the stars. There will be an employer out there who will see your value and will hire you.

Who is in your support squad and what role do they play in supporting your career?

Hands down, my husband. There have been so many moments when I wanted to give up, and he was always there to push me toward my dreams. He picks bases based on where I can work and not necessarily what is good for his career.

We’re a team, and we do whatever it takes not to let Uncle Sam rule our lives and diminish our dreams.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

Yes! There is definitely and ebb and flow to our household tasks. There are times when I am busier, so he picks up the slack, and vice versa. It’s all about rolling with it and knowing when to pick up the slack.

Share your best life-hack for saving time or sanity during the work week.

I make going to the gym a priority. It’s how I de-stress and clear my mind. It’s like all-natural Prozac!

I am also all about meal prepping and crockpot dinners. I can work all day, get in some gym time, and have dinner on the table in 30 minutes.

Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without that isn’t your phone:

My Kindle

What’s your favorite app for making the most of your day?

Our Groceries is a grocery list app that both my husband and I can view – it makes managing grocery shopping so much easier.

Boxed is essentially online Costco without membership fees. We don’t have time to run these sorts of errands, so it’s extremely helpful to have bulk items delivered right to the house. Plus, Boxed is known for creating a great work environment for its employees.

What’s your must-have song on your productivity playlist?

“Angel in Blue Jeans” by Train

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do with it?

Cook! I love to cook. Besides working out, cooking puts me in my happy place.

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

Don’t we all wish we could slow time?!

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

Episode 87: Bleisure, It’s A Thing

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

This week we welcome Ashley Metesh-McCoy, owner of Kinship Vacations. Ashley tells us why being a travel agent is a great career for military spouses and gives us major wanderlust for our next vacation.

Plus Amy is back from her California vacation! We know you missed her as much as we did.

This Week’s Guest: Ashley Metesh-McCoy, Kinship Vacations

The Happy Hour is thrilled to have Ashley Metesh-McCoy as this week’s Military Spouse Who Works It and podcast guest. Ashley is the owner and Head Experience Curator at Kinship Vacations. Kinship Vacations provides start-to-finish travel planning and booking services for people that really want to connect with their kin through unique travel experiences.

Ashley is a military brat, veteran and military spouse. She enlisted in the Army National Guard before completing ROTC at the University of Washington in Seattle. She spent the remainder of her military career as a Military Intelligence Officer, including one deployment to Afghanistan where she met her husband.

After Ashley’s career in the Army, she earned an MBA from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She then worked for Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise conglomerate, where she created the company’s first Competitive Intelligence Program.

If you are interested in learning more about being a travel agent, join Ashley’s Facebook group. Ashley’s free Virtual Travel Career Summit starts on Monday, August 6.

Learn more about what Kinship Vacations offer on their website or if you just love travel tune into her Wunderlust Weekly for inspiration.

You can read Ashley’s Military Spouse Who Works It feature article here. Are you a military spouse who works it? We want to feature you on NextGen MilSpouse. Click here to complete the Military Spouse Who Works It questionnaire.

NextGen MilSpouse Posts That Have Us Talking

Every military spouse needs to take a vacation just because (and it doesn’t have to break the bank).

19 Bible studies and Christian books to help military spouses in every situation.

Amy Brings Us The News From Military.com

Get Amy’s rundown of which proposals made it into the 2019 Defense Bill and which ones didn’t.

Jessica Tells Us What’s Trending On Social Media

Make some PCS resolutions this year.

Happy belated birthday Harry Potter! This meme is an oldie and a goodie.

NextGen MilSpouse’s Happy Hour Podcast is the official podcast of NextGenMilSpouse.com. We offer a fresh and modern take on military life for today’s military spouse. From navigating your career to surviving your next move, NextGen MilSpouse has you covered.

Our news and current events are brought to you by our friends at Military.com. Make sure you never miss a show or a story by subscribing to our podcast on iTunes or GooglePlay and by signing up for the NextGen MilSpouse Newsletter at NextGenMilSpouse.com. Still want more? Connect with us and other listeners in our Happy Hour Facebook Group.

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“I Didn’t Have Any Experience As A Travel Agent, But I Jumped In And Never Looked Back.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Ashley Metesh-McCoy

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your profession:

I am the owner and Head Experience Curator of Kinship Vacations. Kinship Vacations is a travel design firm that serves three very important needs:

We are a network of military spouses and veterans that helps people plan unique travel experiences that create new memories and deepen connections
We also provide fun, fulfilling, and long-term career opportunities to military spouses and veterans that provide them unlimited income potential in a portable business model that can go wherever life (or, the military) takes them
We are a social enterprise, pledging 10% of our profits to the Fisher House Foundation to help military families stay together in their greatest time of need.

If you know someone that needs help getting away on vacation to reconnect with their loved-ones, or a military spouse or veteran that loves travel and has an entrepreneurial spirit, please send them our way!

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Full-time

How long have you been working in this career field?

4 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

Home

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I get to be my own boss and teach other milspouses how to do the same!

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

I worked in the travel industry as a Corporate Competitive Intelligence Manager with Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise conglomerate where I was exposed to the opportunity of being a travel agent.

I learned that the career (of a travel agent) is not dead like many thought, but alive and if done right, thriving.

I recognized that it would be difficult, if not impossible to maintain a career at the level I sought with my husband’s military career; therefore, decided to open my own business.

I didn’t have any experience as a travel agent, but I jumped in to get educated. I surrounded myself with a supportive community and I never looked back.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

Network. The only way to get jobs is to know someone to get your resume and cover letter in front of the eyes of the hiring manager. It doesn’t matter how many jobs you apply for – if no one ever sees your resume, it’s all for naught.

How do you feel about failure?

Failure is scary, but regret is scarier.

I look at failure nowadays more as a learning opportunity than I had in the past.

As an entrepreneur you really must change your mindset around mistakes and failure as you will inevitably face these in your business and professional journey, but if you let them stop you from pursuing your dream or vision, then you will probably face regret and that is more scary than “failure” to me.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

I am an Army veteran – former military intelligence officer. After I got out, I got a Master of Business Administration from a prestigious school. I have had a hard time maintaining a career equal to that of my business school peers due to constant moves, which leads to periods of unemployment, underemployment, and inconsistent career opportunities at my level of skill and education.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Tell us the worst too, while you’re at it.

The best piece of career advice I ever received (as a woman) is to do it like a man. A man wouldn’t hesitate to ask for a raise, toot his horn, ask for a promotion, or say he deserves all these things.

Therefore, why should a woman do any different?

Though it is harder for us to do these things (and there are a million reasons why), we really should change the game by playing by the boys’ rules, not society’s rules for women.

The worst career advice I received was anytime someone told me to change who I am to conform to an organization’s culture. If you don’t fit, you don’t fit. Don’t waste another minute of your time in a place that doesn’t work for you.

Who is in your support squad?

My spouse and my mother are really supportive.

But, I am part of a great community of other travel entrepreneurs (online with occasional in-person business retreats, etc) and we really have each other’s backs. I can’t say enough about how valuable this has been to me. I couldn’t do anything without them.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

Yes. It ebbs and flows. Sometimes he’s traveling for work, sometimes I am. So, it all lies on the individual at home to get everything done.

We have a four-year-old daughter, so that adds to the challenge. We coordinate our annual calendar together to deconflict travel dates.

We split the household chores when we’re both home.

Share your best life-hack for saving time or sanity during the work week.

I hired a bi-weekly housekeeper.

I outsource some of the aspects of my business.

I time-block when possible.

Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without that isn’t your phone.

My Customer Relationship Management system – Traveljoy.com

Favorite app for making the most of your day?

Trello

What’s your must-have song on your productivity playlist?

Anything David Bowie

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do with it?

Paint or make art!

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

To influence people’s thoughts and moods.

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

“I Have Learned So Much More From My Varied Jobs Than I Ever Would Have If I Had Stayed In One Place.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Kira Shuman

Years as a military spouse: 9

Tell us your profession:

System administrator at my current base, but usually I work in cybersecurity

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Full time

How long have you been working in this career field?

10 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

Work from home now, but I have telecommuted in the past

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

At my current job I love the atmosphere and the people. I always love learning about new networks and configurations, and since I am relatively new to this job, there’s still a lot to discover!

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

I used USAJOBS to find positions available, applied, interviewed and was hired. I was very lucky to get a job here as there are limited slots in my field and it’s a gamble whether or not one will come open.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

Get some mentors and grow! Jobs will come as a byproduct.

I have a handful of mentors. It’s nothing formal but I look to them when I have career questions. I recently found a new one through Veterati, a free program for military spouses. I already had all the cybersecurity credentials I could think of, and he gave me a new path and passion.

I have another mentor who helped me rewrite my resume for government jobs. She knew nothing about my job but she knew everything about resume writing! I had a sparkling resume already but she really made it shine!

How do you feel about failure?

It’s depressing.

It’s hard.

I beat myself up over it.

Then I let (failure) become the flame that lights the fire of my passion to do better, be better.

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while trying to maintain a career while living the military lifestyle?

The diversity of locations for my spouse’s job…where there are limited or no jobs for me.

I’ve been lucky and was able to largely maintain the same career field, but at times I work in other extensions of my career field. I don’t mind though. I often find these positions to be edifyingly broadening and highly educational.

I have learned so much more from my varied jobs than I ever would have if I had stayed in one place.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received? Tell us the worst too, while you’re at it.

The best was always keep growing and learning. There’s an infographic I saw that said if you read one hour a day about your chosen profession you will be an international expert in seven years. That inspired me. Seven years can seem like a long time, but after 10 years in cybersecurity I can say all that reading (and growth) hasn’t hurt.

The worst was “I now see you as my peer.”

This was from a former boss after I passed a certification test cold that he had struggled to barely pass. I had long known I outqualified him in education, experience, and general knowledge, and he had been on my hiring panel. But…it took a side by side comparison after working with him for two years for him to even see my qualifications as equal to him.

I made a resolution that day to never underestimate and devalue anyone on my team the way he did me.

Who is in your support squad and what role do they play in supporting your career?

My spouse. Always. First and foremost. He is my everything, my rock, my sounding board, my partner in everything. He is the one person I can always count on no matter what. He’s the man behind this woman.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

Split. The percentage depends on his position. He has had easier positions that allowed him time to do more, and more demanding positions that allow less flexibility…And deployments or geobach assignments that meant no help. But that’s the military life we love.

Share your best life-hack for saving time or sanity during the work week.

Sync calendars.

Since I work I can usually share and sync my work and phone calendar with my spouse’s calendar. It keeps us connected with our kid’s school’s events, our work, and any errands or extracurriculars we have.

Tell us one piece of tech you couldn’t live without that isn’t your phone.

TV. It’s my one escape from hectic schedules!

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do?

Catch up on sleep.

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

Ability to read and absorb knowledge at unimaginable speeds.

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.

Military Community Resource Spotlight: The Paradigm Switch

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Our Military Community Resource Spotlight is an Q&A that provides information about organizations that serve military spouses and their families. The purpose is to connect military spouses with available resources designed to help them thrive in military life.

This week’s military community resource spotlight is The Paradigm Switch.

Organization’s Name: The Paradigm Switch

Year Established: 2017

What is The Paradigm Switch’s mission?

Vision: Unleash the unlimited potential of military spouses.

Mission: Empower military spouses to work anywhere.

Tagline: The Paradigm Switch – Putting Military Spouses First.

Core values:

We are AUTHENTIC. We keep it real.

We are BRAVE. We take a stand – even when it’s hard.

We are KIND. We are considerate of others.

We are DOERS and DREAMERS. We walk the talk.

We get to YES. We find ways to make the impossible happen.

What services does your organization offer military spouses?

We are building a global digital community for military spouses by military spouses, offering a full spectrum of resources that enable spouses to unleash their unlimited potential both personally and professionally. We discover and provide access to resources and communities that empower military spouses to take control of their careers.

Resources include access to untapped networks and opportunities outside of the military community as well as scholarships to skills-based training and certifications in high demand career fields.

The Paradigm Switch is building an inclusive community of military spouses who are switching the conversation from kids to economic empowerment.

Listen to Justine discuss The Paradigm Switch on the Happy Hour podcast.

How does your organization specifically meet the needs of today’s military family?

We are giving the military spouse permission to put herself (himself also) first!

It’s about YOU. YOUR career. YOUR earning potential. YOUR goals and YOUR dreams.

What impact does TPS want to have on the world?

We want to build an ecosystem of independent, confident and employed military spouses who are able to work anywhere.

We also want to educate the general population on the military spouse community and showcase them in a positive narrative.

We also want to provide financial support to educational opportunities that promote careers; not jobs.

What does your organization do differently than any other military community organization or resource?

We are providing scholarships to education opportunities and building an inclusive global community of military spouses who are switching the conversation from kids and deployments to economic empowerment.

What is your most underutilized program/service?

I think it’s too early to tell.

The Paradigm Switch was originally founded in 2017 with the mission to award scholarships for skill-based programs to veterans and military spouses to address unemployment and underemployment. As we began to release scholarships at the beginning of the year, we noticed that only veterans were applying and we were falling into the exact same trap most veteran service organizations are facing.

Spouses were coming second and we wanted to do better.

As a result, we relaunched on May 11, 2018, and have completely rebranded our organization to serve spouses only. So far everything is going great. We have reached well over 100 users in our first week and are just about to release our first round of scholarships.

Anything else you’d like our readers to know about your organization?

We want spouses to know that with The Paradigm Switch, they are first.

We are not asking about your spouse’s rank or what he/she does for a living.

We are not about the divide between officers and enlisted and we certainly do not believe one spouse is better due to years of service or what volunteer leadership roles you have/have not held.

We honor the experience that comes with years of living this life, but we do not value any one spouse over another.

For more information about The Paradigm Swift, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

“If You Make Yourself Indispensable With The Quality Of Your Work You Can Parlay A Consulting Contract Into A Job.”

By NextGen MilSpouse Staff Writer Leave a Comment

Name: Grant Belgard

Years as a military spouse:

Tell us your profession:

Computational Biologist & Neuroscientist

Is this full-time, part-time, hourly, contract or freelance work?

Full-time

How long have you been working in this career field?

10 years

Do you work in an office, telecommute from home (or Starbucks), or a little bit of both?

Mostly telecommute from a home office

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I am always learning!

How did you get this position? Was it a resume, referral, job fair? Spill your magic.

I started consulting for a startup founded by former colleagues, and was then recruited by them. If you make yourself indispensable with the quality of your work you can parlay a consulting contract into a job.

What is your No. 1 tip for a military spouse on the hunt for a job?

Do not take yourself out of the running before you even apply. Let the prospective employer make that call.

How do you feel about failure?

Do not fear it! If you never fail you are not taking enough risks.

I am not talking about risks with a negative expectation value (e.g. the lottery) or where the potential downside can be devastating (e.g. pouring your life savings into the latest fad investment), but calculated risks with a limited potential downside and an unbounded potential upside can be worthwhile.

What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

I was concerned that I would be unable to keep up a career in science remotely, as this is very unusual, but my mentors were very encouraging that I could find a way to make it work in spite of this. (There were some naysayers too.) Obviously this does not look exactly like a traditional career path, but thus far it has worked out well.

Constraints create a crucible for creativity, and one need not be restricted to the most common ways of working.

Who is in your support squad?

My wife has been very encouraging and supportive of wherever I want to take my career.

Do you and your spouse or partner split household tasks? How do you do it?

Yes, and we both work long hours and have a toddler so it is exhausting. We hire help where possible, and prioritize the most important tasks while accepting that we need to let nice-to-have-yet-nonessential tasks slip. (Besides Christmas, seasonal decorations are minimal. Household and yard maintenance wins over home improvement or landscaping projects.)

If you had an extra hour in your day, what would you do?

Family time outside

If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

Not needing sleep

Are you a working military spouse? Do you want to share your career tips and tricks? Fill out the MilSpouses Who Work It Q&A today. Click here to complete our questionnaire.