The Top 3 Marketable Skills for Veteran's Spouses

In an earlier blog post, I addressed the most marketable skills that military service members possess. However, what about their spouses? I truly believe it takes a special kind of person to be a military spouse. The spouse may not serve in the military, but they are affected by the service nonetheless. Here is a list of what skills I believe most every veteran's spouse can market.

Adaptability and Flexibility
Adaptability can be defined as the ability to adjust to different conditions. Flexibility is the capability to bend, modify, or adapt without "breaking." The military spouse often follows their service member from one location to another, across the U.S. and worldwide. Throughout this process they learn to change, adapt, and modify to whatever situation, conditions, or location in which they may find themselves. This can bring value to a company by being open to change, being able to "hit the ground running," and being open to new policy, procedure, or technology.

Initiative
Military service members work long hours and can be deployed for months or years at a time. The spouse who is left at home must take the initiative to care for the home and the family if they have one. No matter what comes their way, military spouses find a way to overcome challenges. I find most military spouses to be incredibly self-sufficient and strong-willed. A military spouse seems to naturally have a can-do attitude that translates well into the job market and can add value to most any employer.

Organization and Efficiency
When you have to move your family and household from Arizona to Korea and then to Washington, D.C. within the span of 18 months, you learn to become organized and efficient in order to make the process go as smoothly as possible. Military spouses learn to plan, they learn to organize, and they learn to streamline. Otherwise, when they do have to move (and they inevitably will have to) the process would be unbearably difficult. These planning and organizational skills combined with a common dedication to efficiency can offer unlimited benefits to an employer.

Career Advice for the Military Spouse

If you are married to a military service member, you don’t have control over where or when you will move. However, you can take control of your career. Following these tips will give you a head-start on your next transition.

Be Proactive
With the use of the internet, the job search possibilities have widened. As soon as you find out your next assignment, proactively begin to research employers in the area. Use social networking tools such as www.linkedin.com and www.facebook.com to gain entry to the local network. Start by connecting with people and building a support network before you even get to the new location.

Identify Your Skills
As a military spouse, you have a skill set that is all your own. You are flexible to new environments, you have the ability to quickly adapt, and you are resilient. In addition to these skills, identify what you bring to the table in terms of transferable skills and personal traits. It is very difficult to sell a product – yourself – if you don’t know its features and benefits.

Volunteer
Being perceived as a job hopper is one of the biggest challenges of being a military spouse. To counteract this, consider volunteering your time to build some consistency on your resume. Whether you volunteer with your children’s school, lead a Girl Scout troop, or work with local women’s shelters, build a consistent theme of making a difference and adding accomplishments to your resume.

Consider Alternative Employment Options
You may consider starting your own business and working from home. Starting an eBay store or contracting for a medical billing company can be done no matter your geographic location. Self-employment is not for everyone, but it is another option to consider.

Focus Military-friendly Companies
Consider working for the federal government. Once you enter the federal employment system it is much easier to transfer among your locations. Alternatively, Military Spouse magazine (www.milspouse.com) publishes an annual list of military-friendly companies. Among them are USAA, Home Depot, Re/Max, U-Haul, and HealthNet Corporation. Working for a company that understands, and embraces, the military culture will make your transition easier.