MILITARY SPOUSES JOB HUNT: MARKETING YOURSELF FOR CAREER SUCCESS
Military spouses might find it hard to find a job or stay on a current job, especially due to the constant relocation due to the military being transferred to different bases, which can be a challenging part of finding military spouse jobs. It is known that relocating is just one of the reasons why it might be hard for military spouses to find a job.
Data shows that military spouses towards their employment have a higher unemployment rate compared to the general population. According to statistics from the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, unemployment is at about 22-24%.
Given that many of the military spouses tend to relocate, they have a lower chance of being employed. The challenge is how to market their skills, what they can do, and showcase it on their resume. Given the situation of the constant relocation, it might not look good on the resume.
In this article, we will help you find jobs and learn more about how to network, find a job, and how to create your finances.
How Military Spouses Can Find a Remote Work
In this generation, a lot of opportunities have arisen, especially when the pandemic hit. Companies tend to do remote work instead of in-person work, which makes it a lot easier to find jobs. Depending on the military spouses’ skills, they could easily find remote work in a situation where they need to constantly relocate.
There are several platforms that military spouses can look into to help them find a job, no matter where they are located. Here's a couple of them that we know:
- LinkedIn: Almost working like Facebook, LinkedIn is a networking platform that helps people connect with recruiters, build a personal brand, and find remote roles. It also offers job filters, groups for military spouses, and tools to highlight skills.
- Indeed: A job board with postings across all industries where you could also find remote work, depending on how you would explore the platform.
An organization called Hiring Our Heroes also offers services and programs where military spouse jobs are available, and they can find a job remotely, depending on their skillset, without having to worry that they will need to relocate every few years.
How to Network as a Military Spouse
One of the key things we can do to find jobs is to network within the military community. Military spouses can connect with others through the use of social media or even through local events. Milspouses can build a relationship within the community, and from there, they can refer one another in order to find a job.
Another way we all know a milspouse can do a job search is by networking with military spouses groups on social media. These groups are highly known to be helpful because they often share job advice and support. It's also good to make use of the existing network – friends, family, and former coworkers as some referrals can help open new opportunities, making it a good way to find military spouse jobs.
Continuously Build Your Resume
Relocation every few years can cause a gap in your resume, but it's important to address this in your cover letter and acknowledge it briefly and confidently. It's also important to highlight that the milspouse is active during the gaps by doing volunteer work or doing relevant projects included on your resume.
Focus on the skills you've gained – adaptability, problem-solving, multitasking, communication, etc. These are the key things that should be put on your resume, as your future employer will look into those.
Get Into the World of Entrepreneurship
Milspouses are creative in this generation – according to statistics, about 21% of milspouses are self-employed or business owners, and 87% of milspouses feel it's the right job for their family. With these statistics, milspouses indeed turn out to create business opportunities instead of applying for work. It’s no secret, indeed, that it’s challenging to find a job as a military spouse.
According to the 2022 Blue Star Families Annual Survey, milspouses tend to be business owners or be self-employed; it's the viable career option for them, given the constant situations they are in, such as relocating.
Regardless, there are always jobs and opportunities for them - may it be remote work, being a business owner, or self-employment.
Read Next:
- Milspouses Transition, Too! Military Transition Tips & Tools for Milspouses
- Veterans Benefits For Spouses: What They Are & How to Get Them
- How to Communicate Better with Your Spouse Who Is a Veteran
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