Military spouse employment opportunities and military spouse benefits are always hot topics to discuss, research, and prepare for, thanks to the frequency of location changes during a spouse’s military career and the resulting 22% military spouse unemployment rate.
Thankfully, many organizations and companies recognize the challenge and have created numerous ways for military spouses to improve their education and increase their chances of finding employment and careers they love (including remote options).
Military OneSource is a treasure trove of answers to all things military life, including everyday questions like how to manage a PCS. It's also bookmark-worthy because it’s a consolidated spot for accessing military spouse education and employment opportunities, including determining whether you're eligible to use your spouse’s education benefits, such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33).
Choose the "Browse By Topic Heading" on the main page and scroll to "Education and Employment." There’s a military spouse-specific link. The section describes Spouse Education & Employment Opportunities (SECO). You’ll find relevant topics from financing education to what to know when working overseas.
You can also create an account with the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) program. This program is tied to SECO and offers networking and job listings through its career portal. An added plus of MSEP is the Spouse Ambassador Network, which advocates, mentors, and supports military spouses and their quest for meaningful employment.
You’ll quickly notice that there’s overlap between military spouse education and employment resources, so it can take some time to learn the programs and their subsets. Drop in a new set of acronyms to learn, and it could take some time to find your favorite support system.
The VA has a dedicated Education and Career Benefits page for family members. It’s a good place to start when you’re looking for ways to pay for your education and ultimately expand your career opportunities.
New and seasoned spouses regularly grapple with finding work due to a new marriage, planned or unplanned PCS moves, and many other lifestyle changes, even taxes. In response, the government sought to level the playing field with laws such as the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act and the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act.
These employment resources are a strong start for finding work that fits your unique lifestyle, including remote jobs for military spouses.
The good news is that there are many outlets for military spouses to begin searching for work. Read over these options and see which have the services you would benefit from most. Make sure you connect with them on their social platforms for the most current opportunities.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce website includes the Hiring Our Heroes initiative. This nationwide effort offers veterans, transitioning military personnel, and military spouses helpful resources as they seek employment.
You’ll find the latest news on networking events, informative summits, and hiring fairs. It's one of the longest operating and most trusted resources for military spouses.
Blue Star Careers is widely connected with a long list of companies and corporations you’ve heard of, and they’re ready to guide you through career development resources and job placement support. Because Blue Star is dedicated to serving military families, the importance of remote learning and remote jobs for military spouses is emphasized.
MilitaryByOwner is proud to share its collection of military spouse-centric resources and blog posts. They’re an efficient way to learn a lot of information packaged in one location. Plus, the information comes directly from experienced military spouses who understand the difficulties of finding work and careers compatible with military life.
Some examples:
Remote work continues to be one of the most flexible and sustainable career paths for military spouses. In addition to well-known programs, these resources offer job leads, training, and support tailored to a mobile lifestyle.
If you're soon facing the whirlwind of another PCS, you already know that life will be chaotic for a while. A few pre-move employment searches could ease your anxiety about your future work. Keep this list of education and employment benefits at the ready so you can take on the job hunt with confidence.
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