You're no stranger to change, military spouse; flexibility is practically your middle name. But how much of that flexibility, especially related to your work and career, was born from the chaos of a life of service? Probably most of it. Consider this twist on military normal: What if you’re in a season of life when a purposeful work-life pivot is possible?
Meaning, you have the time, energy, drive, and support from your spouse to explore what excites you in the work world. Seems kinda crazy, right?
Military spouses who need work immediately don’t get to spend time finding the magic formula that equals passion, purpose, and great pay, so if you had the chance to do the math, how would you harness the good fortune and truly find the path you were meant for?
Photo from Shutterstock
1) Assess Your Skills and Passions
When you’re not pressed to work immediately, it feels like a luxury to take time to tune into your skills and passions, but really, part of a successful career pivot includes time for self-reflection.
What are your strengths? What activities bring you joy? If you haven’t taken a skills assessment or personality inventory (or it was years ago) to gain insights into potential career paths that align with your attributes, now is the time.
Numerous interesting and inventive methods exist to delve deeper into understanding yourself, such as utilizing tools like the DISC Assessments, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Clifton Strengths Assessment, and the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator, among others. Search LinkedIn for military spouses who've made careers of administering these assessments and provide coaching services; they’ll know exactly where you’re coming from.
If you prefer to start with free assessments, the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, part of Military OneSource, offers four options.
Photo from Shutterstock
2) Define Your Goals
If you’re pivoting with purpose, it means you’ve reevaluated what you want not only from your work life but from your personal life, too. How have your needs changed?
For instance, do you want to work less because you have a young family? Do you now have the time as an empty nester to work more? Are you interested in remote or in-person work? Would you consider entrepreneurship? Can a passion project double as income? Before moving along the employment journey, understand your priorities and consider positions that will fit your agenda.
Photo from Shutterstock
3) Research the Industries You’re Considering
Depending on where you are in your job or career trajectory, you’ll weigh things like growth opportunities, income ceilings, and personal satisfaction, knowing that not all job markets are equal. If you’re considering a career change, do you know about the overall industry trends? For example, careers in technology and IT are always in demand, but how will the AI boom change what types of jobs will be available?
Research the industries you’re pondering and if they’re experiencing growth or have the potential for remote or flexible work schedules if that’s important to you. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics’s Occupational Outlook Handbook is the best place to start. Later, once you’ve narrowed your career paths, you’ll network with professionals in those fields for detailed information.
Photo from Shutterstock
4) Build Your Network
It’s never too early to build your network, even if you haven’t chosen your exact career path. Creating a LinkedIn profile is an easy, free way to meet relevant professionals, understand hiring practices, and learn to unearth employment opportunities. You don’t have to jump in and become a vocal member at first. Start quietly in the background if you prefer, and read articles, comments, and posts written by subject-matter experts in your industries.
Join these groups on LinkedIn for quick access to more information:
- MilSpouse Career Network
- Military Spouse Professionals
If in-person activities are more your style, jump in and attend local networking events, join professional associations, and connect with other military spouses in your area who have successfully navigated career changes.
Photo from Shutterstock
5) Leverage Military Spouse Employment Programs
There’s no shortage of programs created for military spouses looking for work. The trick is to find the program best suited for your needs. Read the details of each program. Some fund higher learning, and others help with resume writing for career changers, but many take on the whole work-life journey from defining your strengths and goals to helping you land a new job.
These programs are highly recommended for starting your career journey. Stay updated on their social media platforms for information on upcoming events.
- Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Professional Network
- Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)
- Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) Program
- Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO)
- USO Pathfinder Program
If you’d like dozens of employment resources wrapped up in one location, read our Ultimate Guide for Military Spouse Employment.
Photo from Shutterstock
6) Develop New Skills
After your research, you might notice it would be helpful to enhance your skill set. Consider online courses, certifications, or workshops that improve your existing skills or help you transition into different skills. Many platforms mentioned above offer free or discounted courses for military spouses.
Act Now Education provides the military community free access to Coursera and 27 certificates from premier programs, including Google, IBM, and AWS.
Photo from Shutterstock
7) Seek Mentorship
As a military spouse, you know taking on an enormous challenge is hard, so don’t waste your energy walking alone. Connect with professionals in your desired field or other military spouses who've successfully pivoted careers. The free, first-hand advice and information can easily save you time and frustration during your transition.
American Corporate Partner’s Military Spouse Mentoring Program is one of the best outlets for finding a mentor. ACP not only connects you withamazing professionals, but they’ll also assist with career exploration, entrepreneurship, résumé review, interview prep, and career coaching.
Additional Tips
Sometimes, the timing is off, and you can’t jump into career exploration like you once thought. There are other ways to make progress.
- Take advantage of installation spouse employment specialists for hands-on assistance.
- Explore the Military Spouse Preference Program for Department of Defense civilian jobs.
- Be open to temporary work or volunteer opportunities to gain experience in your new field.
- Regularly reassess your goals as you move through different stages of military life and beyond.
Purposefully changing careers is exciting because there’s so much to look forward to, thanks to more help than ever. Finding a path that you love and that supports your family is entirely achievable with the right mindset and resources. You can create a fulfilling career that aligns with your passions and lifestyle by taking control of your professional development and showcasing your unique skills.
Stay updated with even more resources for military families with our free newsletter.
If you enjoyed this blog post, please share it on Pinterest with the image below!
