Forget the Myths and Follow Your Dreams (Guest Post)

As a military wife, my career in education has taken a back seat to my husband's military career and I'm okay with that. I often have a difficult time finding work, and didn't personally know about many of these resources available to me until I read this fabulous article by Emma, a fellow military wife writing at Smile as it Happens. Since many of my readers are also military wives, this post about how to bust some of the myths around working and being a military wife may come in handy!




Forget the Myths and Follow Your Dreams


Two-income families are becoming more of a necessity, but you may come across a unique set of obstacles when trying to provide for your family as a military spouse. The obvious setback is that your location is always changing, along with other misconceptions that are easily disproved with a little preparation. Once these myths are taken care of, there will be nothing to stop you from following your dreams as well as providing income to the nest.


Myth #1: I just moved here and the only thing that matters is who you know.
Yes, networking is very important in pursuing a career, but there are always chances to become familiar with the right people- and for the right people to become familiar with you. As soon as you settle down in your new location, search for in-person networking events and take advantage of social media. Make sure to keep your location updated on social media platforms so that people of similar interests can find you. Use keywords coupled with your location to search for events related to your career interests. In no time, you'll become connected to the pulse of the job market in your new location.


Myth #2: There aren't any employment assistance programs for military spouses.
There is a national program that was recently created just for military spouses. This newly formed program, Joining Forces, provides resources that help military spouses stay career-ready. Joining Forces promotes license portability, where a military spouse's occupational license is no longer restricted to just one state. Joining Forces also has a Travel Industry Coalition, which partners with airlines and other transportation companies to provide thousands of job opportunities to military veterans and their spouses.


Myth #3: Job-seekers who change jobs often are frowned upon by potential employers.
Employees remaining at their first job until retirement is becoming more and more uncommon by the day. Many more are focusing on gaining new skills and advancing their career; many times not just one company is able to handle the modern day worker’s broad range of capabilities. It’s a common occurrence for military spouses to change locations more often than a civilian, so your changing of jobs because of this is not likely to raise any suspicion with potential employers. When writing your resume, however, be sure to only list the former jobs you have held that relate to the position that you are applying for to keep things streamlined.


Myth #4: Most companies don't care enough about applicants to make exceptions.
This may have been true a few years ago, but companies are grasping the advantages of hiring the cream of the crop and will make adjustments to make sure that they do just that. In an effort to streamline the application process, many companies have started to partner with platforms like JIBE, a mobile recruiting company. These services utilize mobile apps on your smartphone or tablet and allow you to apply for jobs, upload job-related documents and connect with references while on-the-go.


Armed with these truths, you'll feel ready to enter the workforce. When it comes to following your career, a little knowledge along with some patience and preparation will get you what you and your family deserve!

Emma is a mid 20-something year old with a passion for life, love, fitness, and helping others. She loves to be active and get involved in as many sport and community activities as possible. Emma is currently studying to become a Career & Life Coach, and loves to network with people from around the world! Check out Emma’s blog at Smile as it Happens!