Summertime and the Military Spouse Job Hunt

*Written by Sidney Hubner, CPRW, Serving Spouses Transition Specialist

With PCS season fast approaching, kids on break, travel plans and all the changes summer brings, it is easy for your career search to take a backseat to the many other priorities in your life during this season.

However, summer is a hot time in the job market, and you don’t want to let a great position slip past you. Instead, here are six quick tips about staying active in the job search amid a crazy, busy summer:

1. Create Your Own Schedule

With the lack of “normal” structure during this season, it is easy to let a day, week or even months sneak away without notice. There is a true joy in foregoing the alarm clock, but maintaining some structure throughout the season can help keep everything on track.

Set aside one hour per day, three hours per week, or whatever works best for you and your family to make some career progress during the summer. Intentionality is key and making an agreement with yourself and sticking to it will eliminate time slipping by without realizing how long it has been since you last checked LinkedIn.

2. Manage Expectations

For you, your family and even hiring managers, setting out what to expect during this season can eliminate many frustrations.

Make sure your family knows you are still actively applying so if the perfect offer comes through, everyone is prepared for potential schedule changes and new commitments.

When applying, clearly communicate your availability. If you cannot begin until school starts on August 1, it’s perfectly okay to apply, but be realistic with your prospective employers about your start date. At Hire Heroes USA, our recommendation is to starting applying within 90 days of your availability. As long as you are in that window and share your timeline with the employer, summer is still fair game.

3. Leverage Your Activities

Summertime opens the door to a myriad of activities and new connections: soccer practice, swim club, Vacation Bible School. When you are sitting next to another parent on the field and making small talk, remember that this could be a budding networking opportunity. Invest in these new relationships to explore the possible doors they can open.

4. Give Yourself Credit

Speaking of activities, a lot of responsibilities can pile up in the summer. For you, it may be a volunteer opportunity, organizing yet another move or a variety of other commitments that can stretch and grow your skillset.

There is no rule that says you need to receive a paycheck to build viable skills and add resume experience. As you contribute to your family and the community around you this summer, reflect on your accomplishments and make sure that your resume and other job search materials reflect those accurately.

5. Keep Your Job Skills Fresh

We often hear how much academic progress is lost for our kiddos over the summer, and as parents, we step in during that season to knock out reading lists, educational adventures and more. As the daughter of an educator, I grew up with many summertime worksheets.

My challenge for you is to learn and grow just as your babies do. When it’s time to sit down and read, read something for yourself, too. Participate in self-paced online learning, explore a certification or try something new to grow in your field. You can find opportunities to learn even while your toes are in the sand.

6. Crack the Coconut

With that said, remember to unplug from time to time. Whatever helps you relax and recharge, do it. Just because we want to stay active in the job search over the summer does not mean we need to be busy 24/7. Take the trip, give yourself a week off LinkedIn, put it all away. But do it with intention.

Ultimately, the best advice for a successful summertime job search is have purpose behind your both your search strategy and your enjoyment. Happy Hunting!

Sidney is a Transition Specialist with the Serving Spouses Team at Hire Heroes USA where she has supported more than 800 spouses and veterans in finding meaningful employment…so far. She is a military spouse herself, married to a USMC Veteran and has personal experience in navigating the balance between career, family, and military life. 

Check our HHUSA’s website for more  Tips on Employment and Job Search