Underutilized and Highly Qualified: The Military Spouse

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Underutilized and Highly Qualified: The Military Spouse

They say, “not all heroes wear capes,” and when it comes to the World of the Military, that phrase becomes even more true. While the veteran or service member receives, “Thank Yous”, free meals, and discounts on family fun activities, it’s often the spouse who is left quietly in the background holding that service member up. These military spouses are not victims though. Spouses, in every branch, are faced with the majority of the family stress; dealing with finances, child care, balancing jobs, and moves across the country. These spouses are the backbone to military successes and fluidity. They are invariably dependable, resilient task masters, and detail oriented problem solving machines that aren’t getting the jobs or the recognition they deserve. According to the US Chamber Foundation, 40% of Military Spouses are underemployed thanks to countless moves, gaps in their work history, and lack of qualified experiences.

When we were stationed in Colorado Springs I decided I wanted to do something for me, so,  I applied for 52 jobs.

Fifty. Two.

I received one callback….and I didn’t get the job because I was overqualified.

I begged another place to let me work the late night barista shift even though my résumé stated that I’d previously been an Executive Director for a non-profit company, but they said they weren’t looking for someone like me. I was already so nervous while applying for jobs I didn’t even tell my husband that I had applied for any of them. When I was turned down by a coffee shop, I sat in the car and just cried. I was too embarrassed to call my mom, call a friend, or admit to my husband that I couldn't get a job. I just wanted something to be proud of, something to invest into myself, and something to call my own, but clearly, the doors weren’t opening this time.

This isn’t just a story you hear about from Military Spouses though, according to Forbes, this is a growing trend, for the past thirty years in fact, among college graduates too. You’ll find around every cup of coffee, every waiter and server, that you are likely in a similar situation.

Underemployment can cause stress, depression, shame, and acts as a deterrent for the once-a-go-getter to now a sit back and just accept it personality. For the Military Spouse, this is something that is easy to settle into as you move from place to place and never really feel ready because in the back of your mind, you know this is only a 10-18 month assignment. But what no one told you when you signed on to this way of life was that the military was actually preparing you for skills you haven’t figured out  how to market.

You see, through every PCS, Hurry-Up and Wait, Deployment, Swing Shift, and phone call with Tricare, you were picking up skills that are desired among some of top companies in the world. Today, we will focus on four.

1) Extreme Multi-Tasking Ability  I’m pretty sure that under the definition of this skill you’ll see a picture of a Military Spouse. Everyday we single handedly juggle schedules to make sure that the kids get to all the right places, help out the neighbor because her spouse is deployed, and  if the squadron needs another 48 cupcakes, you’re on it. Every few years we are asked to pack up our bags, fill hundreds of boxes, coordinate moves, and pick up right where we left off in a new city, a new home, and in a new line of work for our service member. While the stress is intense, it’s something that gets done because you make it happen whatever the environment.

2) Initiative Did a deployed service member’s wife have a baby? You set up the meal train. Did you get short notice orders and now you have to take on the great responsibility of orchestrating  a move across the country or around the globe? You did it down to the last detail like the best project manager a company could hope for. You step up to the plate when duty calls and you know when to be the team leader or one of the supporting actors, you’re there, taking action.

3) Critical Thinker Whether it’s researching neighborhoods, schools, or even figuring out how much travel time and gas your spouse will need while living off post, you’re doing the research over and over again, coming up with possible outcomes, analyzing data, and thinking outside the box to come to a solution.

4) Organization and Efficiency Move over Marie Kondo, the military spouse has this down to a science. Whether you’re doing a DITY or having the military move you, you’ve taken photographs, invoiced every piece of clothing, DVD, and sports trophy. You’ve packed suitcases for all types of weather, and a suitcase full of household goods just in case your stuff doesn’t come on time. You’re a  pro and you planned out each stop you’ll make along the way. You are an efficient worker who has had this planned out months in advance because you didn’t know when those orders would get cut.

On January 15, 2019 US News and World Report cited “A 2018 executive order that noted that being an accompanying military partner ‘often impairs the spouse’s ability to obtain and maintain employment, and to achieve career goals.’” But what the article didn’t say was how life changing these difficulties can be in a positive way. The Military Spouse doesn’t sit down and take a bad assignment lightly. She takes a few moments to herself, maybe even punches a few pillows, but then, she dusts off that cape, puts it on, stands up tall and gets to work. She sets up her home, finds a village, and enjoys all the little things about the assignment and makes friendships that last a lifetime. You might not have realized it yet, but through all of the rough times,  the military has been secretly teaching and training you; you now have unique experiences, an excellent work ethic, and a little more grit than the average employee. Military Spouses can use these to their advantage in every workplace.