As a military spouse, I often get asked by people that I meet along the way what do I do for a living, how I manage, how to get started, and what can they do to find work, too. All these are valid questions that I wish more spouses would explore—because the help and resources are out there. It’s just a matter of knowing where and how to get started. Which is also why in light of Military Appreciation Month, I am doing my due diligence to help out my fellow spouses.
Here’s the cold truth. I often hear from spouses I meet that they can’t seem to find a military spouse-friendly job. They feel like they aren’t viewed in the same way as other candidates do. That mindset and thinking has to stop! We are strong, we are amazing, and we also serve along with our husbands and fellow spouses. Let me tell you now, there are jobs that are military spouse-friendly. In fact, some of them are in the convenience of your own home—like being a blogger, which is what I do for a living. With access to the internet and a home computer, any military spouse can start working from home. Working from home, as your own boss or for a company who supports military spouses can give you the freedom to be available as a military spouse whenever you’re needed and ensures you have a job no matter where you reside.
Today I’m going to feature my top 5 Military Spouse-Friendly Jobs along with some tips.
5 Jobs That are Military Spouse Friendly
Work for a company that supports military spouses
Veterans and military spouses face significant employment challenges. While overall veteran unemployment rates now hover around the national average, nearly 53% of U.S. military experience some period of unemployment within 15 months after leaving the service, according to analysis by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Military spouses have an even harder time landing jobs and growing careers when they may need to pull up and move with a new military deployment. That’s partly why the unemployment rate for spouses of active-duty military is at least 4x the national average.
This is where companies like T-Mobile can make a difference. T-Mobile specifically has long been recognized as a leader in military support and was named a Top 100 Military Friendly Employer by Military Friendly® for the 12th straight year. They are committed to military spouse employees, so that they can prioritize their career, while staying with their partners. If a military relocation is expected in the future, T-Mobile offers a formal process for military spouses in their retail community to request a transfer to another retail store within 50 miles of their new location – and they do their very best to make it happen every time!
Learn more about how the experience you’ve gained as a military spouse matches with careers at T-Mobile here.
Want to venture out and give different work a try?
Check out the following ideas …
Personal Business
You can start working at home on your own personal business. This could be selling crafts or something that you make at home. If you’re a crafty person, Etsy is a great place to start selling items from your own personal craft business without leaving your home.
Online store
There are many ways to set up your own online store, thus allowing any military spouse the freedom and comfort to work at home while being their own boss. Shopify is one of the most popular ways many people work to get their own online store created to start working at home.
Virtual Assistant
Working at home as a virtual assistant is for sure a military spouse-friendly job. You could search for opportunities at companies that hire virtual assistants or start your own virtual assistant business. Simply take your administrative skill experience and put them to use from your home office.
Become a Blogger
While you may not make a lot of money at first, being a blogger is a wonderful work-at-home job that is military spouse-friendly. Simply choose what you’ll blog about, decide on a domain name, get your theme set up and installed on your hosting account. Then you’re ready to start writing.
All of the above will require that you manage your own expenses and to help cut down the cost. With that in mind I highly recommend checking out T-Mobile ONE for Military rate plan. The Un-carrier is committed to supporting military and their families – every day!
T-Mobile ONE
Each of these 5 employment options are military spouse-friendly BUT they take dedication, self-motivation and a real vision to make it work out for you. If you are on the job hunt, it is important to look for companies that proactively support military and their spouses. At T-Mobile, they have an employee network group specific to supporting and advocating for military and their families – the Veterans and Allies Network. Not only is it a place to share stories across the company, but the network provides feedback on how to make T-Mobile the best place to work for Veterans, Military and their families.
I hope that this information has inspired you to look further into doing what you love, make some extra money, and help your family thrive and make the most of your military lifestyle.
Amber Myers
May 29, 2019These are some great ideas! I am a military spouse, and blogging has helped me out for work! I’m glad I have opportunities through it.
laurenofalltrades
May 29, 2019These are some great ideas! Your readers could also consider jobs like GrubHub and Uber which has a very low barrier to entry and a ton of flexibility. The biggest obstacle is that the service has to be offered in their city and that car is needed.
Stacie
May 29, 2019This is such a great resource for any spouse of a military person. Being the partner of military personnel is so much different than anyone else.
Carolyn
May 29, 2019I have some friends that this post could really benefit. It definitely is hard to start a career if you’re going to be moving around a lot!
Kristine Nicole Alessandra
May 29, 2019These are all great opportunities to earn some income. I love that you wrote this, because there are military spouses who are really looking for work and don’t know where to start.
Chad
May 29, 2019These are all amazing options especially the online business. It is such a great investment and you can do it from any location.
adriana
May 30, 2019Supporting military wives is such an important thing to do as they sacrifice a lot for our freedom. I am glad companies offer jobs that are suited to them.
John
May 30, 2019Excellent post and some great ideas for working from home. I would also recommend eBay and Amazon FBA as these can be very rewarding. We recently interviewed a grandmother who went from zero to $2000 per month with Amazon FBA in just 4 months!
Thesimmerwinediary
May 30, 2019All my admiration goes to firms like T-Mobile for doing their best to be flexible for military spouses. More should follow their example.
Krysten Quiles
May 30, 2019I never thought about how hard it would be to find work if you’re moving around. These are all great options though!
Anagha
May 30, 2019It’s good that some of the companies are providing jobs for Military Spouses. I have seen many spouses using blogging as one of the jobs.
Hannah Marie
May 30, 2019I think this will help a lot of women out there. Work from home is a quite a storm nowadays. This makes a lot of valid points.
Ntensibe Edgar Michael
May 30, 2019Nnniicceeeee….very good of you, Angie to share these stats on unemployment amongst military spouses and families in general. Something needs to change about that!
Janet Foxx
May 30, 2019Good ideas. In a way, when you do these jobs, you serve the mil and the state as well.
Emman Damian
May 30, 2019i think being a blogger gives more flexibility especially on time. You can also take care of your kids.
Paula Stewart
May 30, 2019It’s great that T-Mobile is offering military spouses the opportunity for great jobs. I wish more companies would follow their lead.
Erin Knight
May 30, 2019These are some great tips on how to find work for military spouse. Having our own online business is the best idea as we can work wherever we want to so move does not really affect us much.
Tiffany La Forge-Grau
May 30, 2019I definitely agree that spouses are often overlooked. I believe the families have it rougher than the soldiers themselves.
Lyosha
May 30, 2019I think it is your most important post so far. I lot of military spouses I know are having a hard time finding job.
themommyspice
May 30, 2019I am not a military spouse but I have quite a lot of girlfriends who are so I will be passing on this informative post to them.
Ronnie
May 30, 2019These are great options! All my family is military as well and these are many options we have taken on over time. My mom also loves to babysit other military parent’s kids as well, which is a win-win situation.
Shannon gurnee
May 31, 2019These are some great ideas for jobs that are military friendly. I personally love being a blogger (even though my husband is not currently in the military). 🙂
Jessica Hughes
May 31, 2019My best friend is a military spouse, will send this her way!
Anonymous
May 31, 2019Some military families I know tend to shift places time and again so I find that a job that is geograghicaly mobile would be amazing.. Good enough, the online world is here so I vouch for blogging, having an online shop or work from home jobs.
Arun
May 31, 2019Hey, I am from military family and proud of it. I teach at the school and do blogging work. You have given good job options in the post. Will share with our military family group. Thank you.
Heather
May 31, 2019Great post. and thank you for all the service from your spouse to and for our country!
Alexandra Cook
May 31, 2019Wow, this is a really great resource. I have a sister who is figuring a lot of this stuff out right now!
Natalie
May 31, 2019This is such a great resource for those in a similar situation. I had not idea T-mobile is a leader in military support.
Vicky
May 31, 2019I was a military kid, so I saw the hardship from the wives. This is a fab post and will help some families out for sure.
Steph social
May 31, 2019Being a military spouse sounds challenging!! My neighbor is away for years and his wife and kids are here and I know it’s tough! These are some great job opportunities that allow for flexibility which is so helpful I’m sure! It’s awesome that you share these insights for military spouses! Salut!
Kimberly Caines
June 1, 2019Those are such good thoughts! I know a friend who needs this. For sure she would be happy for this. Thanks!
Chad
June 1, 2019I never imagined a military spouse would need to navigate issues such as these.
Alexandra Cook
June 2, 2019My sister is a military wife. She’s been a blogger for 5 years and I am happy for her that she really found the right work for her.
Bree
June 2, 2019This is a great list of ways to earn money as a military spouse. I think they are all very reasonable, good ideas that many people can do!
David Elliott
June 3, 2019I can imagine how it would be difficult to find work to go with the flexibility you would need as a military spouse. Blogging and freelance are certainly jobs which work.
Kiwi
June 3, 2019Great informative post! I think these are lots of great jobs military wives can look into!
Trina Dinnar
June 3, 2019Your post is very insightful and has given me inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and ideas!
Nelly
June 5, 2019I know someone who would really appreciate reading this. I will go ahead and share it with her. Thank you.
Lala
June 5, 2019I love how you talked about this topic. The most common now is working online as it’s easy access anywhere too. Great tips!