Field Problem: Career Conundrum

Dear, Field Problems:

My husband was recently brought back on active duty, so I have become a full-time military spouse. He will be continuing his training at Fort Bragg in a couple of weeks. Prior to my husband being called back to active duty, I worked as a teacher with a master’s degree. Now I am wondering what I can do to get a job on the installation, either teaching or otherwise. Whom would I contact for employment help at Fort Bragg? Also, what is your opinion—is it better to work on or off post? Any help you could pass along will be very helpful.

Emily; en route to Fort Bragg, NC; military spouse

Dear, Emily:

Thanks for writing! We hope to answer your pressing question about pros and cons and employment contacts quickly and fully, in order to ease this exciting but daunting transition.

A Great Place to Start

For you (or any others PCSing with a professional license), there are some additional hoops to jump through, but that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult.

One of our expert bloggers, Julie Cooley, shared these four steps in a recent post, and we think you’ll find them helpful:

• Step 1: Learn about license recognition options by visiting the U.S. Department of Labor’s map at https://www.veterans.gov/MilSpouses. Hover over each state to learn about the specific laws and resources offered to military spouses who work in certain licensed occupations. You’ll also find transference reimbursement programs and reciprocity agreements, all based on the state you’re moving to.

• Step 2: Explore occupation-specific guidance by visiting Military OneSource. Many states have joined interstate reciprocity agreements for certain occupations. These agreements allow some licensees to practice in multiple states more easily. Remember that it is occupation-dependent.

• Step 3: Find your licensing board by visiting CareerOneStop License Finder. The CareerOneStop License Finder provides state-specific information about occupational licenses required, such as the license name, description, and issuing agency contact information.

• Step 4: Contact your licensing board. Start by following any specific instructions for military spouses that may be posted on the licensing board’s website. If you still have questions after visiting the website, contact the licensing board using the tips in the License Recognition for Military Spouses Resource Guide.

Pros and Cons to Working On or Off an Installation

If you work on the installation, you are with military spouses, military children, military-friendly employers, and civilian co-workers who understand the military. If you both live and work on the installation, then you will be working close to home. You likely have to meet certain requirements to become a teacher on-post, but those requirements will be pretty much the same across all military installations, so you do not have to start over at each assignment.

That said, not all installations have schools, so this could be location-dependent.

If you work off-post, you can get a break from military life, contribute to the local community, and meet people that can either totally embrace your military connection or reject it (there is not usually a middle ground here). If you live off-post, of course, you can attempt to work close to home and put your children in school near where you are, but there are no guarantees. You did not mention children, but you will want to consider where they will be comfortable, too, if or when you do have them.

Often in today’s economy, we are pressed to take a job where it is. If you do not end up exactly where you want—on-post, off-post, in teaching, in sales—remember to glean from the experience those things you do like and learn for the next big opportunity. Think of any job as another networking opportunity and do like Military Spouse Coach, Krista Wells told listeners on an archived Army Wife Talk Radio show, “Tell everybody what you are looking for.” We (military spouses) are a unique sisterhood in that we want to help you get what you want. If you succeed, it gives us hope that we can succeed, so expect help in this area and it will be given.

The Rest of Us

Some of you do not know what you want to be when you grow up nor can you fathom how to get there with our full houses and “full-plates.” Krista’s advice applies to us as well. Whatever you are doing, you can be doing it differently or better, and if it is something you do not like, you could work to change jobs and lifestyles completely. Start by telling everybody what you want. Consider it your personal elevator sales speech. Concentrate on having conversations with women who are in a lifestyle choice you are interested in. This lifestyle could be a stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, or work-out-of-home mom—identify and investigate. You can do this in person or online through different communities that cater to these women. Again, you will find everyone will have a suggestion for how you can fine-tune your idea, take baby steps, and ultimately achieve your goal.

One of those baby steps could include a night class or online course. This could be beneficial for those that are not ready to jump in feet first. If that’s you, then you can just start with some training in basic areas: time management, networking, or budgeting. The American Society for Training and Development recently reported that companies that invest in training employees perform more efficiently and earn more than their peer companies. You are your own company, household 6, chief family planning officer, etc.

Whatever stage you are in, please rest assured, you are not alone. Follow the links we shared, seek out a mentor, and read up on how others do what you want to do and do it well.

Best of luck!