“Don’t Settle For A Job That You Know You Will Not Like.”

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: Lisa Treat

Years as a military spouse:

4

Tell us your profession:

Administrative Assistant at a Military Treatment Facility (on-base hospital) for the Chief Medical Officer.

I am really a jack of all trades at this point. I manage and control all incoming and outgoing correspondence to make sure it is in accordance with Army rules and regulations. I prepare policies and procedures for specific departments to adhere too. Make travel arrangements for individuals in my section.

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?

Office

Tell us one thing you love about your job.

I love working with the military personnel and civilians alike. There is constant change and new people coming in to meet. Also, a new challenge and different things to learn with the Army.

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

I applied through usajobs.gov with my resume and help from the on-base civilian office. Little known fact is that there is a huge difference between a civilian and military resume.

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

Be consistent and make sure to talk to the civilian services on your post to receive your preferences within the first 18 months of PCSing.

How do you feel about failure?

I hate it and I am a very persistent person so I normally find a compromise for myself so I don’t feel like a failure.

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

Trying to explain how I can be an asset to a company/organization within the window that I am there.

Also, not really knowing how long we will be in one place is always an interesting conversation too.

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

Don’t settle for a job that you know you will not like. It’s not good for your self esteem and it’s not good for that company either.

I took a job once that I knew was too slow-paced for me but I need to get out of the house so I took it. After a few weeks I spoke to the owner who then told me that she knew I was too high-speed for her company and respected me wanting to move on.

Who is in your support squad?

My husband, my parents, brothers, friends near and far, and my three daughters.

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

Yes and no. He deploys frequently on short missions so it comes a point that it’s just easier if I do it. I have enlisted the help of my children for “chores.”

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

Best life-hack (that I don’t follow enough) pre-make my lunches, pre-pack my workout bag, or generally do as much as you can the night before.

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

Netflix for my sanity and my kids’ sanity; we do not have cable and they have done a great job on the Kids Netflix of promoting educational shows.

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

Anything from 90s Country

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

I would get more into woodworking projects. That is one hobby that I have found an interest in that I never have time to practice.

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

To just twitch my nose (like Samantha on “Bewitched”) and have my house clean! I have hired housekeepers before and didn’t think they did a good enough job so I have stopped and went back to doing it on my own.

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.