How to Find a Job as a Veteran or Military Spouse

Veterans often worry about finding steady employment after their time in the military while military spouses want to find employment while their partner is currently active duty. Regardless of why you want to have a job, it’s not always easy to find an open position you’re qualified for. In this blog, we’ll go over the challenges of finding a job as a veteran or military spouse, and the resources and tips available to help you find steady employment.

The Challenges of Finding Employment as a Veteran or Military Spouse

While there are many benefits to being a veteran or a military spouse, there are some challenges both these groups face when trying to find stable employment. Some of the most notable reasons for difficulty with employment include:

Discrimination

It doesn’t happen everywhere, but some employers discriminate against military spouses in regard to hiring, promotion, and pay. Some employers may also worry about military spouses and their ability to commit to a role long-term due to the chance of PCSing with their active duty spouse, which can make them less likely to give the position to a military spouse. If they are given the position, some employers may give reduced hours compared to other employees in the same position.

Transition Difficulties

Veterans who are transitioning into the civilian workforce may find it more difficult to translate their experience and skills from the military into a civilian job. As a result, it can often be more challenging for veterans to find work quickly after leaving the military.

Veterans may have to consider getting additional training to qualify for certain positions or may need to consider a new career path altogether, which affects their ability to find employment right out of the military. And unlike their secure employment in the military, veterans will now have to deal with the possibility of losing their jobs.

Lack of Support

Due to the military lifestyle, veterans and military spouses may have less support than their civilian counterparts. They could live in unfamiliar areas with few friends and no family to help them get on their feet or network with employers. Military spouses may also face challenges finding childcare, which can limit their job opportunities since they’ll have to stay at home to care for their children while their spouse is at work.

Additional Challenges

There may be additional challenges for military spouses have to face, such as cultural barriers or language barriers when they move somewhere they are unfamiliar with. Moving frequently can also create gaps in their employment and make it harder to go beyond entry-level employment, even if they’re highly qualified in their field.

Resources for Employment

If you’re trying to find employment as a veteran or military spouse, consider using the following resources to help you land a job:

• Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP): This DoD program is designed to pair military spouses with employers who are willing to work with and are dedicated to hiring military spouses. You can find plenty of resources through MSEP, including employment with non-profits, education and training, job postings, and more.
• Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO): You may not be ready to apply for work just yet, but you want to get a head start. Through SECO, you’ll receive training and guidance at every stage of your employment search so you can build your resume and find a job when you’re ready to start looking.
• Hiring Our Heroes: This 12-week program assists current active duty service members as they transition out of the military so they can find steady employment after their service. This program can also assist veterans and military spouses to help them corporate experience so it’s easier to find a job.
• USAJOBS: On USAJOBS, you can search for federal employment as a military spouse or veteran. You can sort jobs based on who they can hire so you’ll only see jobs you’re able to apply for rather than those you can’t.
• Veterans Preference: Many jobs offer veterans preference, which gives veterans a leg up when applying for a position. You can find jobs like these on USAJOBS if you want federal employment, but you can also find private organizations that prefer to hire veterans.

Tips for Finding a Job

It’s not always easy to find employment as a military spouse or veteran, but it’s not impossible. Below are some tips to help you find a position that works for you.

1. Capitalize on Your Skills

Similar to active duty service members, veterans and military spouses have unique skills that make them valuable in the workforce. Part of being one of these individuals includes having the ability to organize and work independently, which many employers are seeking. If you’re applying for jobs, capitalize on the skills you developed in service or as a military spouse to make your application stand out from the competition.

Be sure to highlight any special skills you have too. If you’re a veteran, you developed a lot of skills while you were int he military, so be sure to include these in your application. If you’re a military spouse, these can be skills you developed at a previous job or as the spouse to an active duty service member.

2. Leverage Your Military Experience

If you’re a veteran, your experience in the military will be beneficial as you’re applying for jobs in the civilian world. You developed a lot of skills during your service that will help you stand out against other applicants. For example, if you worked as a mechanic in the military, you may be able to land mechanic roles in the civilian world that would otherwise require more training or certifications if you were a civilian applying for the position.

You can also frame your military experience in a broader sense to showcase your skill set. For example, some skills you may have developed in the military include leadership, adaptability, teamwork, determination, and more. These skills have their own place in the civilian workforce, and you can talk about them in cover letters or during interviews while looking for a job outside of the military.

3. Build Your Resume and Practice Interviews

Your resume is an employer's first impression of you during the hiring process. You’ll want to make sure your resume is as impressive as possible so it stands out against the rest. Highlight your experience and show an employer why you’re a good fit for a specific position. If you need help creating a resume, you can find plenty of resources online to help you,

You’ll also want to practice your interviews so you can nail the real thing. Try asking a friend or your spouse to hold a mock interview where they pretend to be a potential employer and you are a potential candidate for a job. Doing this can help get rid of some of the nerves you’re feeling before an interview and can help you feel more prepared when it’s time for the real thing.

4. Contact Your Network

Whether you’re a veteran or a military spouse, you have a vast network to support you. If you’re having trouble finding employment, try reaching out to your support network to find any openings or opportunities you might not have found on traditional job boards. You can do this by contacting your friends, previous coworkers, family, or even support groups and social media groups focused on assisting veterans or spouses.

5. Keep Applying

No matter what, it’s important to keep applying to jobs, even if you get discouraged or don’t land the first job you want during the application process. Determination will get you a long way, and you’re bound to find a job that suits you if you keep trying. Even if you don’t think you’re the perfect fit for a role, try applying anyway. You may be surprised to find that you’re exactly what a company or employer was looking for.

Carry What You Need for Your Career With a Bag From MLC

Whether you’re a spouse or veteran, Military Luggage Company has you covered with our bags and accessories for the everyday professional. We have a wide range of backpacks and computer bags you can use to carry supplies to the office or worksite, as well as plenty of admin accessories to ensure you’re prepared for your day. Veterans and military spouses can also access our warrior discount as our way of saying thank you. Check out our selection to get started or contact us today with your questions.