This week we celebrate our country’s military veterans, as we should. At the same time, we cannot forget about the family members that serve by their sides and support military members throughout countless moves and deployments. According to a 2013 study by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University and the Military Officers Association of America, 90 percent of responding female spouses of active duty service members report being underemployed, which means they possess more education or experience than needed at their current or most recent position. Fifty-five percent of spouses said it was difficult to find their most recent job, and 85 percent said it’s difficult for military spouses to get hired.
As a military spouse, you are an asset to an organization. How can you make employers believe you are the solution versus a problem? Rebrand yourself. Translate what you do every day into terms an employer understands. Your goal is to focus on your energy and what you bring to the table.
Most of these characteristics are not things that are easily taught. You’ve lived through difficult situations that prove you can perform above average on most tasks, no matter what comes your way. It’s your job to educate employers, and let them know that you and other career-minded military spouses offer the following value.
Resourceful and results-oriented. You’ve set up shop in a new city every few years. This has meant finding stores to buy the things you need, learning a new language, finding new schools for your children and organizing a new home. You can and are willing to do what it takes to make things happen to meet your family’s needs.
Translation: You are imaginative and will find the answers you need to accomplish tasks and help an employer achieve its goals. You are proactive — someone who can’t sit still for long and wants to move things forward.
Adaptable. As a military spouse, you thrive in a state of ambiguity. You may learn where you are moving only weeks before an actual move. And you’ve moved a dozen or more times. You’ve raised children and/or handled emergencies alone in foreign countries and languages.
Translation: These challenges have made you stronger, and you will respond the same to work. You will have no problem setting up your home office in your new location, and you will put in the time necessary to get work done, no matter the time difference.
Dedicated. You are committed to what you take on, whether it’s volunteer or paid work. You support your spouse and friends through tough times each day.
Translation: When an employer understands and respects your lifestyle and offers you flexibility, you are exceedingly loyal and will stay put for the long term. And even when things get tough, you will stick it out because you will quickly find solutions to any and all problems that you face.
Self-motivated. As the person in charge of setting up your home in a new location, you never need to be told or reminded what to do. You do these things out of necessity.
Translation: When offered flexibility on the job, you are motivated to work harder, and your productivity soars. You do what you need to do to complete work on time while exceeding expectations.
Contributor. Although the place you’re living is likely new to you, you refuse to sit at home. You find places to explore, people to meet and activities to take on, whether it’s recreational, volunteer or work.
Translation: Every team needs people who add this kind of value. When things are slow or you are faced with the unknown, you simply find new ways to contribute or new things to tackle. Who wouldn’t want that person on their team?
The key when branding yourself during a job hunt is to focus on the positive aspects of your lifestyle rather than the drawbacks. What have you gotten out of it that translates to the workplace? Most importantly, be well-prepared to dispute any doubts put on the table during an interview.
Time differences mean you can work while headquarters staff is asleep. Technology allows you to communicate “in person,” online, and you have the tools necessary to stay in constant contact. Relocating every few years has little to no effect on your ability to stay connected, and it costs the employer nothing except maybe your vacation time. It’s time to turn the conversation around and tell them what you have to offer and how these unique, immeasurable skills will benefit them now and for years to come.
Marcelle Yeager is the president of Career Valet, which delivers personalized career navigation services. Her goal is to enable people to recognize skills and job possibilities they didn’t know they had to make a career change or progress in their current career. She worked for more than 10 years as a strategic communications consultant, including four years overseas. Marcelle holds an MBA from the University of Maryland.
More from U.S. News
15 Awesome Jobs That Pay More Than $90K
The 6 Best Jobs for Work-Life Balance
How Military Spouses Can Strengthen Their Brand in a Job Interview originally appeared on usnews.com
