Top 5 Job Search Tips for Military Spouses
Like most American households, military families often rely on two incomes to get by. However, military spouses experience chronically high rates of unemployment—over 20%, significantly higher than the national average. While we continue to advocate for meaningful change to simplify military spouses pursuing their careers, we’ve gathered our favorite resources to help you kickstart your job search successfully.
Here are the top five tips every military spouse needs in their job-search toolkit.
1. Build and Leverage Your Network
Networking is key in any job search, and getting started could be as simple as visiting one office at your local installation. Military and Family Support Centers provide several services to help navigate military life, including spouse employment support. From tailoring resumes and conducting mock interviews to networking events (and there are lots!), having an experienced guide to help you is just a visit away.
Difficult to meet during regular office hours, and prefer to network virtually? LinkedIn and online forums are other great options. Military spouses transitioning to a new location due to a PCS move qualify for one free year of LinkedIn Premium. Groups like NMFA’s Professional Networking Groups, VirtForce, Hiring Our Heroes, and MilSpouse Money Mission are active platforms full of leaders and mentors—you can’t go wrong!
Either in-person or virtual, don’t hesitate to reach out and introduce yourself—your next career opportunity could come from the spouse you meet at your next unit gathering or online chat.
2. Tailor Your Resume to Highlight Your Unique Skills
Military spouses are masters of adaptability, multitasking, and problem-solving. Emphasize these strengths in your resume and cover letter.
The U.S. Department of Labor has a Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses (TEAMS) resource with sample resumes and tips on translating military spouse talents into practical accomplishment statements.
3. Stay on Top of Employment Scams, Especially Remote Roles
Remote and flexible work options can be ideal for military spouses who need a career that can move with them. In the last 5 years, remote work has become more commonplace, along with job scams.
A recent Military OneSource Podcast asked, “What could be better than earning from home?” The answer: “Too often ads make promises about earnings, merchandise, and marketability that sound great, but aren’t truthful. The result is you’ll get ripped off.”
According to the Better Business Bureau, military spouses and veterans lose significantly more money to employment scams. Therefore, protecting your personal information and staying on top of scam alerts is important.
4. Utilize Military Spouse Resources
Make use of the many resources explicitly dedicated to military spouses. Programs like the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program and Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) provide no-cost career coaching and support. NMFA’s Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship Program is also an option if you’re thinking about entrepreneurship or other career goals. These options can be done on your own time and remain flexible, allowing spouses to pace or accelerate their job search and skill development.
5. Stay Persistent and Positive
It can be frustrating facing rejection or hearing silence after applying for jobs, especially when you’ve put significant effort into applications. Stay persistent, keep a positive mindset, and remember that each job application is an opportunity for growth. Hear it directly from spouses like you who have shared their More Than A Spouse story with us. Their inspirational journeys (and maybe your next set of LinkedIn connections) can be the perfect combination of support and guidance you seek.
Remember, You Are More Than A Spouse
Your career journey as a military spouse may be filled with ups and downs, but with these tips, we know you’ll go the distance and find what works best for your family. Remember, your adaptability and strength are your greatest assets—the hallmark of a military spouse. Use them boldly, and your next career opportunity may be closer than you think.
By: Angela Sablan Tenorio, Content Manager
