Jobs and the Military Spouse


Book Description

Discusses how a military spouse can find an interest, explore their options, create a resume and cover letter, and negotiate an offer.




Working Around the Military. Challenges to Military Spouse Employment and Education


Book Description

Successful recruiting and retention of the active duty force relies in large part on the extent to which service members and their spouses experience both job satisfaction and contentment with life in the military. In his February 12, 2001, speech at Fort Stewart, Georgia, President Bush acknowledged the importance of caring not just for service members but their entire families, pledging, "We owe you and your families a decent quality of life. ... Service members deserve a military that treats them and their families with respect. A major challenge to ensuring familywide quality of life is overcoming the hurdles to military spouse employment. Data indicate that the majority of military spouses are in the workforce; however, research indicates that they have difficulty finding jobs and that limited career opportunities for military spouses may be a factor in military personnel leaving the service. Given its impact on service member contentment and retention, spouse employment and education is thus an area of significant concern to the military. This study seeks to (1) provide a richer and more detailed depiction of military spouse employment and earnings, (2) explore the degree to which employment is problematic for military spouses, and (3) identify policies to reconcile spouse employment issues with the military's need to retain qualified personnel.




The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses


Book Description

Military spouses also deserve a career! The challenge for military spouses is being relocated every two to four years. Finding permanent, career positions with frequent relocations is difficult. But the one employer with positions and careers at every military base is the US Government. This book is dedicated to helping military spouses navigate the complex federal job application system. This book covers four different ways to land four different kinds of positions with the federal government: USAJOBS competitive hiring; Excepted service jobs; Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) jobs; Military Spouse Preference (MSP) jobs. Each of these paths requires different job search techniques and tips. Kathryn Troutman, known as the Federal Resume Guru, shares straightforward strategies based on her 40+ years of expertise with resume writing and career coaching. Military spouses will be encouraged and equipped to take control of their career. This reader-friendly publication contains: Updates with the latest federal hiring changes and initiatives; Before and after resume samples; Clear step-by-step instructions.




Working Around the Military


Book Description

This research confirms that, while many spouses of military service members work and seek education similar to their "look-alike" civilian counterparts, they often lag these equals in terms of finding jobs and receiving comparable pay. Based on the input of more than 1,100 military spouses concerning their employment and educational pursuits as well as other data analysis, the RAND researchers offer recommendations for the Department of Defense to improve quality-of-life issues for its members and spouses, which in the long run will help the department retain the qualified personnel it needs.




Married to the Military


Book Description

Focusing on military wives' contribution to family income, the authors find that, in contrast to civilian wives, military wives are willing to accept lower wages rather than search longer for jobs. They work less than civilian wives if they have young children but more if their children are older; are less probable to work as they get older; and respond to changes in the unemployment rate as workers with a permanent attachment to the work force, not as "added workers."




Military Spouse Employment Programs


Book Description

"Why GAO Did This StudyThe approximately 725,000 spouses ofactive duty servicemembers facechallenges to maintaining a career,including having to move frequently.Their employment is often important tothe financial well-being of their families.For these reasons, DOD has takensteps in recent years to help militaryspouses obtain employment.Moreover, the federal government hashiring mechanisms to help militaryspouses obtain federal jobs.The National Defense AuthorizationAct for Fiscal Year 2012 requires GAOto report on the programs that helpmilitary spouses obtain jobs. Thisreport examines: (1) DOD's recentefforts to help military spouses obtainemployment, (2) DOD's steps toassess effectiveness of these efforts,and (3) the hiring mechanisms to helpmilitary spouses obtain federal jobs.GAO conducted interviews with DOD,the Office of Personnel Management,and two advocacy groups; conductedsite visits; analyzed relevant data; andreviewed relevant documents, laws,and regulations.GAO RecommendsGAO recommends that DOD considerincorporating (1) key collaborationpractices as it develops its spouseemployment guidance, and (2) keyattributes of successful performancemeasures as it develops and finalizesits performance measures. DODpartially concurred with the tworecommendations, citing steps it hasalready taken. GAO recognizes DOD's"




The Stars Are Lined Up for Military Spouses, 3rd Ed


Book Description

The Stars are Lined Up for Military Spouses for Federal Careers, 2nd Ed., is a federal career reference book for military spouses around the world. The unemployment rate for military spouses is HIGH. The spouses need quality careers. The US government is opening up hiring for military spouses more than ever with EO 13473 - Military Spouse Preference. To keep applicants and fed career advisors up to date, Federal Jobs Guru Kathy Troutman is releasing her cutting-edge 2nd edition of the only guidebook for these job seekers. It shows how military spouses still have an advantage over the general public on USAJobs using the improved Military Spouse Hiring Authority (E.O. 13473). "On USAJobs, the government website for federal positions, there are many jobs marked for military spouses. Military spouse can apply to "competitive / federal employee" announcements via this Executive Order," reports Troutman. "In fact the number of military spouse positions is on the rise, increasing by 70 percent on USAJobs since the 1st edition." The author says many military spouses are unaware that they can apply on the website with the status of federal employee, and instead they go for jobs open to US citizens. Since veterans' preference is used in the general openings, the military spouse doesn't stand a chance. But in fed jobs designated as being for military spouses on USAJobs, vet's preference isn't used. So the odds increase dramatically. Best-selling author Kathryn Troutman is known to be an innovator in the design of the 3-5 page federal resume. In 2010, she created the popular Outline Federal Resume Format, which uses KEYWORDS IN ALL CAPS to help the required skills and abilities catch the eye of fed HR. For the 2nd edition of her guide, she adapted the outline format and created the new Military Spouse Federal Resume. Her goals were to make these applicants stand out and look better than other fed jobseekers. "It's time for military spouses to take credit for what they've done," Troutman asserts. "I decided that they should start putting their Permanent Change of Order (PCS) history near the top of their resumes. The orders show where they've lived and moved over the years as a military spouse. This says up front that they're a military spouse, and it explains why they have changed jobs and locations so frequently." In regular resumes, Troutman says, the job histories of military spouses tend to look like a long laundry list of part-time and volunteer positions. There are often lots of gaps between jobs. Her guide features six excellent federal resume samples from actual spouses that show how the skills mandated by fed HR can be pulled from the typical part-time and volunteer work. The six military spouses volunteered to have their case histories and sample resumes included. Three have already been hired for fed jobs on bases. In the past, it's been tough for military spouses to establish their own careers. The federal government has stepped in to help. Just since 2017, the number of jobs specifically targeting Military Spouses has increased 70% on USAJOBS. This book, the only federal job guide for military spouses, is now updated with the latest winning strategies! SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE 2ND EDITION INCLUDE: o Introduction of the NEW Military Spouse Federal Resume, which features three ways to stand out as a military spouse applicant o 6 excellent sample "after and before" resumesfrom real-life military spouses, showing how to find skills from volunteer efforts and your role in military life to match the announcement's requirements o A chart of keywords to include in resumes for the most popular job series for military spouses o An original list of the number of DOD federal civilian jobs at each base, which shows the bases with the most opportunities o A user-friendly, clear 7-step process is provided. o Fun and attractive two-color layout makes the info accessible. SAMPLE RESUMES from 6 Real Military Spouses Include: ANN J. Hadn't worked in 22 years but landed job as Protocol Officer with skills from volunteer positions and her military life. JENNIFER P. Hired as Contract Specialist while still eligible before husband's retirement. NICOLE B. Has many skills to offer as entrepreneur with own custom cookie business. JAN M. Added Accomplishments to her resume and got a GS-14 fed position in DC. NATALIE G. Wrote resume while preparing to PCS again. Example of resume with more technical experience. BOBBI R. Successful resume shows how an educational "job" block can cover time off work . A military family can use this additional income. So pick up a copy of this helpful guide today!




Remote Work for Military Spouses


Book Description

"... the guide military spouses have been waiting for ... a step-by-step instructional manual ... Military spouses who pick up this book will learn the importance of knowing what they want out of remote and flexible work, how to search for and apply for remote jobs ... manage expectations with their employer, and how to excel and grow in their new work environment ..." —Danielle Lankford, milspouse employment advocate, 2020-2021 AFI Hill AFB Spouse of the Year There are many rewards in military life, but maintaining meaningful employment can be challenging when you frequently relocate for your service member's next assignment. Military spouses often experience interruptions in valuable work experience, missed advancement opportunities, recertification challenges, and what can seem like a never-ending job search. Remote Work for Military Spouses offers a practical road map for military spouses to achieve career continuity, financial stability, and fulfilling work amidst a mobile military lifestyle. Includes strategies and tips for: Discerning if remote work is right for you Assessing your skills and defining your goals Finding the right positions for your interests and lifestyle Creating effective application materials and preparing for remote interviews Establishing your home office and virtual communication processes Planning professional development to grow your meaningful mobile career "... emphasizes the importance of self-assessment, having the necessary tools to land a remote job, and how to do well in the interview process ... advice for advancing in your own career and minding the ethics around remote work situations ... spot-on and timely tips ..." —Janet Farley, EdM, author, emMission Transition: Managing Your Career and Your Retirement




Silent Sacrifice on the Homefront


Book Description

Are you a military spouse struggling to keep your career going while juggling all the competing demands of military life? This book offers a glimpse into the lives of other military spouses who have faced the same challenges and reflect candidly about the good, the bad, and the ugly of their experiences. In addition to sharing these real-life stories gathered in her research, Michelle Still Mehta offers a strategy for managing the conflicts so many military spouses encounter. This 3 M framework provides practical advice in three key areas that must be balanced in order to sustain your career: - Marriage: What support do you need from your spouse to make a career possible?- Motherhood / Fatherhood: What are your expectations and needs as a parent and how do they mesh with your career plans?- Military Life: What aspects of military life need to be reconciled with your career goals (e.g., deployments, unpredictable work schedules, PCS moves)?Michelle Still Mehta, PhD, is a consultant, researcher, writer, and coach specializing in military spouse employment, the psychology of working life, and organizational change. Through her writing, Dr. Mehta hopes to promote open dialogue and positive culture change within the military community. She is also an Air Force spouse and resides with her family in the Washington, DC, area.




Federal Resume Guidebook: Federal Resume Writing Featuring the Outline Format Federal Resume


Book Description

The Guide's New Organization jumps right in with step-by-step directions for writing an easy-to-follow, stand-out Federal Resume using the Troutman-designed Outline Format that OPM welcomes. It then addresses a wider range of Possible Goals of Jobseekers : Part 1: 9 Strategies for Writing a Successful (Outline Format) Resume ; Part 2: 10 Steps to Getting Promoted in Government ; Part 3: Federal Career Change Stories ; Part 4: Special Insights for Information Technology Specialists.