Job Searching as a Military Spouse During COVID-19
Military Spouses know a thing or two about dealing with things that are beyond our control. We are equipped to handle obstacles, even in a time of crisis. Since COVID 19 has forced families across the country to shelter at home, military families now face a new form of adversity. Fortunately, flexible choices remain for spouses to find employment during this crisis.
I have been a Military Spouse for almost seven years, and I like to compare Military life to a rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns. This latest turn happened during PCS season, when many military families, including my own, were preparing to move. There was fear that our move would be delayed due to COVID-19. Luckily, we were able to continue to our duty station and settle into our new home. However, other families were not as lucky.
Currently, there are more than 120,000 troops unable to go on to their next orders. Some service members stuck between moves are paying rent or mortgage bills in two places due to the military’s 60-day stop move order. Many military spouses were also searching for a job near their new home when the global pandemic hit.
What can military spouses do to find a job during a pandemic? As companies and organizations require employees to work from home, this offers a unique chance for jobseekers to find remote positions. Remote work can be a great fit for military spouses. Remote jobs provide work-from-home and portable employment opportunities which allow you to relocate with your service member with less of an impact on your career.
There are companies that are still hiring. It is crucial during this crisis to do your part to keep your career search from becoming stagnant. Don’t hold off on sending your resume to employers and networking on Linkedin, both of which can be done from home.
How do you find remote work?
There are several ways to describe remote positions. Companies describe these jobs using different terms, and it’s important to use each of these search terms while looking for remote roles.
• Remote work
• Telecommuting/Telecommute
• Work from home
• Online job
• Telework
• Anywhere job
• Virtual job
• Distributed team
• Home-based
• Off-site job
Where to Search for Remote Jobs
Below are some vetted resources that feature remote employment opportunities:
Hire Heroes USA Job Board You will see “Featured Employers” with hot jobs and “Partnered Employers” all of which we have formed partnerships with recruiters and can help streamline your applications. Make sure to create a detailed account by completing your profile and uploading your resume.
Grow with Google Google Search makes it easier to find quality remote jobs. Now, you can search for jobs that match your skillset, like “sales jobs” and filter your location to “work from home” to see relevant job listings that meet your criteria. Remote work requires its own kind of expertise, so Google created hands-on training that offers helpful tools and advice to set military spouses up for success in remote jobs.
FlexJobs allows you to access hand-screened remote, part-time, freelance, and flexible jobs—quickly and easily.
Instant Teams enables companies to scale and manage their remote workforce while delivering remote work options to untapped talent pools of professionals.
Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) seeks to strengthen the education and career opportunities of military spouses by providing career exploration opportunities, employment readiness assistance, and training that can help them reach their career goals.
Virtforce VirtForce is reducing the unemployment rate for Active Duty MilSpouses and Veterans by connecting employers seeking to diversify and distribute their talent network to qualified virtual candidates within the military community. Join their newsletter to receive great remote opportunities. USNLX Virtual Jobs partnership collects and distributes job openings exclusively found on corporate career websites and state job banks.
Organizations hiring Virtual Assistants
• Boldly
• Patriot Advantage
• Wise Advise + Assist Team
• Squared Away
If you are a military spouse in need of employment assistance, register for Hire Heroes USA’s Serving Spouses program! We offer free resources to help military spouses succeed in the workforce. Each spouse client is paired with a Transition Specialist who will guide them through their job search from start to finish, staying in touch along the way to coach, listen, and encourage!