Not ready to storm the Hill? Here are 4 practical steps you can do RIGHT NOW to bring your career out of the shadows:
- First and foremost, ALLOW yourself to have a career dream. Many many times I talk to military spouses who have simply counted out any possibility of them having a career. They took one look at the military life (or even multiple looks) and decided that they had no choice but to put that part of themselves on a shelf never to be revisited or at least not revisited until after their serving member retires. If that is you right now, please remember that as great as it sounds to see your service member retire and then “take your turn,” it will be much much harder to enter the workforce when your last relevant position was more than 20 years ago. DREAM AND DREAM BIG.
- Enlist the help of your serving spouse. Talk to them about your career goals. Regularly. If your dream career is truly not attainable in your current duty station (I’m looking at you, spouse living in Angola), ask them what duty stations could be next. Brainstorm together about creative ways you can still work toward your career goal right where you are. Can his/her schedule be flexible long enough for you to go to a conference? Who do you trust in your local area to take your kids if something unexpected comes up while you’re gone? Can your spouse take on the bedtime routines or morning routines for the kiddos so you can pursue a new certificate, professional development course or degree without losing every single evening with them? Dig in. TOGETHER.
- Talk to other working military spouses. Since I’ve started working with In Gear Career, I’ve been amazed at how many creative solutions I’ve heard that I would never have thought to look into for myself. The solution may be right under your nose!
- Use your network. Beyond other successful military spouses, go back to contacts you’ve made in previous positions or people in the industry you’re pursuing. Can they think of ways for you to take your skills on the road? Do they know anyone they can introduce to you who may be able to provide you with a job or even relevant volunteer work to help you further your career?
Please understand, I am a veteran and the spouse of an active duty Navy chief. I in no way want us to forget, or even slightly belittle the service to our nation provided by today’s service members and veterans. I am also not suggesting anyone should prescribe to the hated idea that being a military spouse is the “hardest job in the military.” I do, however, want to challenge the unspoken rule that suggests military spouses are somehow required to live only in their service member’s shadow.
The bottom line for military spouses is this: wanting a satisfactory career is not unpatriotic. Just because it occasionally (or regularly) makes life chaotic for your service member or your family does NOT mean working outside the home isn’t worth the paycheck. The solutions will likely require a lot of creativity, and they will look different for each family, but there are solutions. You can be a military spouse with a career and a patriot, so serve Uncle Sam: Fight for your career!
