Military spouses are known for being flexible and independent, traits that companies offering military spouse jobs value. Amanda Gregory, a military spouse herself, shares thoughts on her own career journey.
Being partnered to a member of the military comes with unique demands. Multiple relocations, having to adapt to new places and living independently from your spouse are all common scenarios you may face. As a military spouse, one of the biggest challenges you might encounter is finding military spouse jobs that help you build your own career path. While it may seem like a far-away dream, having a fulfilling career is possible as a military spouse.
Explore portable military spouse jobs and careers
Portable skills are highly valued by employers, as it means you arrive at the job already understanding the principles. Some examples of portable careers for military spouses are jobs in nursing, construction, education, banking, childcare, pharmaceuticals, information technology and more. Portable skills are universally needed, meaning if you have them, you are a desirable asset to prospective employers.
Amanda Gregory, U.S. Bank Digital Lead and wife of a Navy Chief, was able to leverage her skills as a banker into her future career. “I started out as a part-time teller at 18,” said Gregory. “I wanted to be able to take my skills with me. It’s easy to find banking work and there’s room for growth.”
Benefits of embracing job-hopping
Historically, moving from job to job quickly was frowned upon, as it was thought to demonstrate a lack of commitment. Now, taking your skills from one company to another, also known as job-hopping, is not only commonplace but it can also be strategically used to move up in your career. Studies have shown that job-hopping, when done with respect to the employers involved, can increase your wage growth by 5.3% versus the 4% average increase you receive when you stay at a company.