We (military spouses) are rockstars. Point blank, military spouses are a different mindset than a lot of spouses...
– Katie on military spouses and the different skillsets military spouses bring to the workplace.
Meet Katie, Communications Strategist and Military Spouse
On this episode of the Work From Home Forever podcast, Katie, a dedicated communications strategist at a prominent defense contractor, exemplifies the power of remote work for military spouses and working moms. Returning to full-time employment after a hiatus as a stay-at-home mom, Katie’s story underscores the importance of work-from-home opportunities.
Here are the key takeaways from our interview with Katie
- Her commitment to her young children, combined with her husband’s military service, compelled Katie to seek a flexible career path. As her husband’s retirement approached, remote work enabled her to rejoin the workforce while maintaining her vital role as a parent.
- Katie finds immense satisfaction in balancing motherhood with a fulfilling career, emphasizing the unique skills military spouses bring to the table, including time and financial management, travel planning, and project management.
- Furthermore, she highlights the profound impact of flexible work policies on military families and the importance of companies offering remote work options. Katie’s journey includes networking through a Vets to Industry virtual mixer, proving that persistence and resourcefulness pay off.
- She advises job seekers to focus on showcasing their skills effectively rather than labeling themselves as “unicorns” in the job market. Katie’s resume includes her role as a “House Manager,” quantifying her accomplishments during her time as a full-time mom and military spouse.
- Katie’s personal experience with social anxiety and PTSD post-deployment emphasizes the benefits of remote work. She thrives in a distraction-free environment, and the COVID-19 pandemic has normalized family presence during virtual meetings, promoting a more supportive work culture.
- As she prepares for a move, Katie plans to design an ideal home workspace with a dedicated office area, emphasizing the need to prioritize her mental well-being and work-life balance.
- In essence, Katie’s inspiring journey highlights the significance of remote work for military spouses and working mothers, demonstrating the value of flexibility, adaptability, and self-care in today’s evolving work landscape.
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Connect with Katie
- 🔗 LinkedIn: Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to our show!
If you liked hearing about Katie’s challenges as a military spouse and the importance of remote work, you may also want to check out episode 1.10 with Catherine.
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Q & A with Katie
Why did you want to Work From Home Forever?
- It’s a multi-faceted reason: one aspect is being able to still be home with our kids while my husband was in the Army, then there is the social anxiety/PTSD that I have that makes driving and being in public spaces extremely hard and stressful for me. Being able to have a real career while minimizing my mental health load is so huge for me.
How long have you been Working From Home, Forever?
- Just over a year.
What trade offs, if any, did you make in order to Work From Home Forever?
- I really haven’t had any. My job is amazing in that if the kids are home and I need to step away to play with them or make them food or handle a fight, I can. But also, if something happens while I am actively on a call/Zoom meeting, there is never any issue from anyone if a kid pops up on screen or if I turn my camera off to handle something. With that being said, I ensure that I do my best to keep my kids out or to minimize the distractions while working.
How do you manage work/life balance Working From Home, Forever?
- It is HARD. The biggest problem I have is that even when my husband is home, that because for so long I was the primary caregiver and who the kids came to for everything, they still do. Even if I am on a call. So we are still working on that balance now that my husband is retired and home all of the time. But there was definitely a struggle in the beginning to get my kids to understand if I am at my desk, I am at work, even though I am home. Only come to me when you NEED me.
- But again, I am very fortunate. I can step away and take the kids to camp or school or pick them up or go get them early when they’re sick and there isn’t an issue. I can take a call on the road, I can take my computer anywhere.
- Last month, I went to CA for a week to help my sister transition back to work after having her daughter. I worked from CA while I watched my niece all day and there was zero issue with that.
- Currently, I do have the ‘walk by and check’ problem since my office area is in the middle of the house. Which I am getting better about now that we are moving. Our new home has a dedicated office for me, so that will be less likely to happen there.
- I also remind myself that when I walk away from my desk, unless there was a pressing issue happening at 5, I am off. No need to check my phone or computer or worry. I also have the best manager and team who really stress the balance mentality and encourage PTO or using our Flex Time to really live our lives.
What’s your best advice to others who want to Work From Home Forever?
- Understand why you’re doing it. There are definite differences between the office and WFH. I am not a social person, so I don’t crave the human interaction that comes with being in office. I am totally fine with Skype calls and Zoom meetings. That is one of the reasons why I want to WFH.
- But if you are doing it just to do it, just to avoid a commute because you hate the idea of commute, but you know you thrive when with people, think hard about if this is right for you. If you know this is something you want to do, find a company that doesn’t hide remote work opportunities. If they aren’t hiding it, it won’t likely be taken away in the future.
What are your three must-haves to Work From Home, Forever?
- Must haves…and these are for my next office because my current set up is a get me by set up: a good chair with a high back to make sure I have a head rest; a foot rest thing under my desk- I have short legs so I have the foot rest thing to try to have the most ergonomically correct set up; a desk that fits my set up- I need screens galore because I am very unorganized when I work. Pure chaos.
- So making sure I have a desk that fits my screens and keyboard and mouse and pens and a place to write and all the other things and still be comfortable and ergonomic, super critical. But it also still needs to look nice. I don’t want a desk that looks like an office building, I want my home office to be comfortable and me.
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From Cocktails to Content: Navigating Career Shifts in the Remote World (Best Of) – Work From Home Forever
As we wind down season two of the Work From Home Forever podcast for the summer, we will bring you some of our favorite episodes from seasons one and two.
In this Best Of episode, we want to replay our original episode with Maria Healey. Maria has a great story about how the pandemic forced her to rethink priorities and how she sought out remote work and is thriving in a fully remote environment.
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Maria Healey shares her journey from being a stay-at-home mom to working in various industries, including gaming and employment law, before finding success in remote work.
Maria discusses her background, including her experience in the gaming industry and her transition to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility and networking in finding remote opportunities, highlighting her use of platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook groups.
As an "ex-introvert," Maria shares how she pushed herself outside her comfort zone by taking on roles like a bartender to improve her social skills. She emphasizes the significance of building relationships with team members through one-on-one meetings, even in a remote setting, to foster a strong team environment.
To connect with Maria Healey:
LinkedIn
Maria's website
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- From Cocktails to Content: Navigating Career Shifts in the Remote World (Best Of)
- 2.19 From Landscaping to Coding: Thriving with Autism in a Remote Environment
- 2.18 From Corporate Disillusionment to Entrepreneurial Empowerment
- 2.17 Building Belonging: The SAIR Collective Story with Corey Williams
- 2.16 Yvette Estime, Co-Founder of Dirty Celebrity: From Toxic Corporate Culture to Fashion Entrepreneur
