7 Extreme Job Hunting Tips for Military Spouses

It’s no secret that trying to find a job as a military spouse isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Then again, in the current economy it’s not exactly a cake walk for anyone to get hired. College degrees ( see these STEM colleges for women ) no long help guarantee job placement after graduation. Companies are downsizing on personnel as technology steps up to replace jobs. And some of the biggest successes in the news are CEO’s like Mark Zuckerberg (a guy famous for quitting college when he came up with a bright idea that made him billions.) When you start to think about things that way it’s a bit hard to see statistics that say that as high as 80% of military spouses feel like they can’t get hired because of their status as military spouses. It makes me wonder if there is more to it than just being military affiliated. Especially since in the past few years so many companies have made a pledge to be veteran and spouse friendly. Could the problem be qualifications? That maybe they aren’t applying for the right jobs? That they aren’t going into interviews as prepared as their non-military affiliated counterparts? If that’s the case it might be time to look at the problem in a different light. At the 2016 Military Spouse Town Hall event Susan Reynolds said something that really stuck with me: The first part of finding a solution to a problem is to figure out what the problem really is. For military spouses that are having trouble finding employment the following tips might help ease a little of the frustration and narrow down where the problem really is. 1. Research the S*** out of Military Friendly Companies It’s imperative that you know what you’re applying for. Research the company and find out if the company you are interested in is considered a Military Friendly Employer . You are going to have a much easier time finding a job that understands the military life when they already identify as Military Friendly . Companies like Starbucks and Capital One have programs in place to make sure that military families don’t have to give up their jobs every time new orders pop up. Use this knowledge to your advantage and search for the companies that really want you to be a part of their community. Some of these companies actually look for veterans and military spouses to identify themselves so don’t let your fear of being turned away stop you from being honest. It might actually be the thing that gets you hired over another candidate. 2. Make Sure YOU are Qualified For the Job This is a great breakdown for you on how to make use of the military spouse preference hiring when it comes to finding a federal job and even her first suggestion is to make sure you are qualified. There is nothing wrong with taking risks when you’re applying for jobs, but if you have never been through a licensing program that the job requires and you say you have or admit you don’t then you have to understand the company is going to go with someone that is a better fit for the position. 3. Edit 'dat Resume All military members that are preparing for separation from active duty are required to go through a separation class. In that class, we are taught how to write a stellar basic resume and then told that we are never to send that resume out. Sounds crazy right? It’s not. A basic outline of a resume is a wonderful thing to have, but in order to get the big jobs you want it is vital to take that resume and tailor it specifically to the jobs you want. This goes back to researching the company you are interested in. Their websites and their job descriptions will have some buzz words that you would be smart to include in your resume. Often times, companies have an automated scanning system that does a quick pass at any submitted resume. Unless it included a set number of their keywords, the resume never even gets to the hands of the hiring manager. Keep that in mind when you’re playing up your strengths! 4. Brag on Your Volunteer Work I understand that for military spouses there are gaps between jobs. But that doesn’t mean there needs to be gaps in your personal strengths. Use your volunteer experience to help you fill in the gaps between jobs if you were unable to work at a past duty station. If you work within your church or community in some way that contributes to your skill set, list it! Hiring managers want to know that you and your personal abilities are going to fit the billet of what they look for in an employee. Again, tailor this section of your resume to line up with company values. 5. Follow Up, without being annoying Once you’ve researched the companies, tailored your resume, and sent off all the documents a position application requires, it’s not time to Hurry up and wait . Get on LinkedIn or on the company website and figure out who it is you need to talk to in order to make things move. Find out who the hiring manager is and touch base to ensure they received your application. When you finish a conversation with those people sign off with a statement like, “I look forward to setting up and interview with you soon.” Let these employers know you WANT to work for them and aren’t just looking for something to kill time while you’re at the current duty station. Be the proactive type of employee most companies are looking for! 6. Preparation, Preparation, Preparation There are so many lists of the do’s and don’ts of interviews . I won’t bore you with all of my pointers - just the one I think is most important. Once you’ve gotten the call that a company is interested, it’s time to do just a little more homework. Find a few key facts about the company that line up with why you want to work for them. Interviewers will appreciate that you did your research and it could set you above the pack. 7. Never. Give. Up. (for real, you're too awesome) You know the old saying “If at first you don’t succeed?” Job hunting is not likely to be an easy, fun adventure. Try looking outside the box of traditional jobs and finding something you can do from anywhere. If you’re the driven type, being stuck in job-hunting mode might propel you to finally start that business you’ve been thinking about for years. No matter where you find yourself in the hiring journey don’t give up. Something will happen if you keep at it. And you just might surprise yourself when you fall into the perfect situation for you and your family. Connect with us on Facebook!

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