Part of the battle is deciding when, how, and if to disclose our military spouse status. There are situations when it is beneficial and there are situations when it costs you the opportunity. Without delving into the pros and cons further, let’s focus on the indicators and ways that employers know you are military spouse (or at least know you are not their “perfect candidate”):
- “Wow, this person has a LOT of short job experiences and voluntarily left each one.” If you include a chronological work history on your resume that includes durations or beginning and ending dates, then the reviewer will see that you have a lot of short job experiences. If you put that information online, then even if you prepare a creative resume, the employer will likely find the information eventually. Applications often include a line item asking for the reasons for your departure. Voluntary departures are usually the case for military spouses.
- “All of her jobs are different.” When we move, the job opportunities usually vary from place to place. Many of us are adaptable and want to work so we take advantage of the opportunities that are present. This often results in a variety of work experiences.
- “There are a lot of gaps in his work history.” Some places don’t have opportunities-or opportunities that we can’t capture. Sometimes it makes sense to not work. When a move forces a change in work status, it often results in some form of a paid work gap.
- “He lives on a military base.” If the address at the top of your resume is a military address, then your military affiliation is obvious. If this is a concern, consider getting a PO Box off base or listing the nearby city and state only. A full address is no longer a hard-fast standard practice for resumes.
- “Every job is in a different place.” If your resume or LinkedIn profile lists the location of each of your jobs and they are in different places, then it is apparent that you move.
- “She doesn’t even live here.” Many times we apply to jobs in our next assignment location as soon as we get notice. Employers may think they want someone who lives locally so they don’t have to pay relocation or they want confidence that the candidate is committed to local employment. Consider including a cover letter to communicate your intentions and commitment to working in the new area.
- “He has a local address but his most recent job was in a different state.” This makes employers eyebrows raise because they want to know why you are living there without a job already lined up.
- “He is a member of a military spouse group on Facebook and has public posts about being a military spouse.” 90% of employers do research on their candidates online. They may not do it right away but they do it eventually and if you have information that point to your role as a military spouse, they will likely see it.
- “When we ran a credit report, her spouse is employed by the United States [insert branch!] and her past addresses are all over with some on military bases.” Run a free credit report on yourself and you will probably be surprised by the information in there. Not every job requires a credit report but if it does, they will know that you are a military spouse.
- “I see you are married (looking at your wedding ring), what does your spouse do?” Questions like this borderline on illegal but they are often asked anyways and with such creativity that it is hard to call. You can respond in many ways but questions like this often throw us for a loop and we bluntly spit out the information. #10 is that we tell them. Some spouses share it opening through networking, online, cover letters, etc.
Disclosing that you are a military spouse is not always a bad thing but it isn’t always a good idea either. If an employer or decision maker does not value the unique benefits that a milspouse can offer or they focus on the likely short-term employment, then it likely will not benefit you to put it out there, front and center, right out of the gates. However, sometimes you don’t have control over the information accessible to an employer.
Be strategic in how you present yourself. Be aware of what information is out there about you and how that information may be perceived and plan your strategies accordingly. Be creative but don’t jeopardize your honesty and transparency.
Are there other giveaways? Share them in the comments section.
Michelle Aikman is a military spouse and a career management expert. She empowers and equips high-performing professionals to advance their career, make difficult transitions, and experience fulfilling careers. She is the Lead Career Management Consultant at Skilled Assets, a member of Career Thought Leaders, and is one of only 35 writers worldwide to hold the coveted Nationally Certified Resume Writer certification.
Have a career question? Send Michelle your questions and she may feature it in a future article.
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