Amanda McCue’s Post

Why are military spouses overlooked in today's workforce? This can be due to six factors: 1. Frequent Relocations: Military families typically relocate every few years due to the nature of military service. This frequent mobility can make it challenging for military spouses to establish stable careers or advance in their chosen professions, as they may need to repeatedly seek new employment opportunities with each move. 2. Employer Perceptions: Some employers may perceive military spouses as less desirable candidates due to concerns about their potential for relocation or the gaps in their employment history. This bias can lead to discrimination in the hiring process and make it more difficult for military spouses to secure employment opportunities. 3. Lack of Supportive Policies: Many workplaces lack supportive policies or programs specifically designed to accommodate the unique needs of military spouses, such as flexible work arrangements, remote work options, or portability of professional credentials across state lines. Without these supports in place, military spouses may struggle to balance their career aspirations with the demands of military life. 4. Credentialing Challenges: Military spouses often face challenges in obtaining and maintaining professional credentials and licenses, particularly when relocating to a new state or country. The process of transferring credentials can be complex, time-consuming, and costly, leading to barriers to employment in certain fields or industries. 5. Isolation and Social Networks: Military spouses may experience social isolation and a lack of professional networks, particularly when living in communities with limited access to job opportunities or support services. Without access to networking opportunities or mentorship programs, military spouses may struggle to connect with potential employers or advance their careers. 6. Dual-Income Families: In many military families, both spouses work to support their household financially. However, the challenges faced by military spouses in finding and maintaining employment can place additional strain on the family's finances and overall well-being. Overall, the unique circumstances and challenges faced by military spouses, including frequent relocations, employer perceptions, lack of supportive policies, credentialing barriers, social isolation, and dual-income family dynamics, contribute to their often being overlooked in today's workforce. Addressing these barriers and implementing supportive policies and programs can help ensure that military spouses have equal opportunities to pursue meaningful and fulfilling careers alongside their service member partners. #military #spouses #families #challenges #policies #perceptions #relocations

🇺🇸🤝 The Unseen Challenges of Being a Military Spouse 🤝🇺🇸 As a military spouse, building a fulfilling career while supporting our service members is an incredible journey filled with unique challenges. Often, our dedication to the military community overshadows our own career aspirations. Let's shed some light on this issue and emphasize the importance of recognizing the career-oriented military spouses among us. 💼🌟 👥 Unseen Contributions: Military spouses play a pivotal role in supporting our service members. However, it's essential to acknowledge that we are also talented professionals with dreams and aspirations. Our contributions extend beyond just being a support system. 📚 Constant Adaptation: Frequent relocations and deployments can disrupt our careers, but we learn to adapt, embrace change, and seize new opportunities. The resilience we develop is an asset to any employer. 🌐 Building Networks: Creating connections and professional networks can be challenging with the transient nature of military life. But we are adept at forging relationships and are often the glue that holds the military community together. 📈 Dual Ambitions: Balancing the career ambitions of both the military spouse and the service member is not just possible; it's necessary. Encouraging and supporting each other's goals creates a more fulfilling and resilient family. 💪 Elevating Career-Oriented Spouses: Let's not underestimate the determination and drive of military spouses. We're not just "supporting" careers; we're building our own, too. Employers, recognize our potential, adaptability, and dedication to our professions. 👏 Celebrating Successes: Military spouses deserve recognition for their career achievements. Share your stories, support your peers, and let the world see that we are more than just a "military spouse." It's time to rewrite the narrative and celebrate the ambitious, career-oriented military spouses who are not defined solely by their partner's service. Together, we can overcome the unique challenges we face and prove that we are professionals with endless potential. 💪🌟 #MilitarySpouse #CareerAmbitions #Professionalism #Resilience #SupportEachOther

As a military spouse for over two decades, I've navigated the unique challenges of maintaining a career while supporting my partner's service. Career Pursuit CIC was born out of my own journey, and I'm thrilled to share how we're making a difference for fellow military spouses and partners. After leaving a specialist career in the NHS due to frequent relocations, I realised there was a significant gap in centralised career support for military families. Despite my efforts at local and national military information centres, finding comprehensive assistance proved elusive. That's when I decided to take matters into my own hands. Career Pursuit is your go-to resource hub, bringing together a wealth of employment and entrepreneurial support in one accessible platform. We've done the research so you can focus on building a flexible career that aligns with the military lifestyle. But it doesn't stop there! We actively engage with organisations to advocate for military spouses/partners, addressing the unique challenges they face, and help them to build support for their employees. We raise awareness at events about the different types of support and policies that need to be in place to support employed military spouses/partners. I'm proud to sit on the MOD partner employment steering group, driving positive change forward. Additionally, I'm part of the organising team for the Celebrating Forces Families awards, because the resilience and achievements of military families deserve recognition. Having a career alongside military life isn't easy, but you're not alone. Career Pursuit is here to help you find understanding employers, business networks, mental health support, and resources to create a career that adapts to the demands of military life. 📖 Curious to learn more? Dive into our online magazine: https://lnkd.in/e6ygBhED 📬 Prefer a hard copy? DM me, and I'll send one your way (it's on the house)! 🌐 Explore our website for a treasure trove of resources and upcoming events: www.careerpursuit.co.uk 💚 Download our free mental health and wellbeing guide from the homepage. 📧 Ready for a monthly dose of career tips? Sign up for our newsletter on the Contact page: https://lnkd.in/e4HYtjCw scroll to the bottom and fill in the 'stay in touch' box. #CareerPursuit #MilitarySpouses #Empowerment #CareerJourney #SupportOurTroops

"The unemployment crisis among military spouses is not just alarming—it's an epidemic." - Pam Stanczewski Military spouses have an unemployment rate that far exceeds the national average. The nomadic nature of military life, coupled with significant caregiving duties, often interrupts their professional aspirations. Central Point Partners is on a mission to change that with Operation Mobile Spouses. The program tackles these challenges by not only making military spouses employable but ensuring they excel in rewarding career paths 🚀 Learn more about the program and how to get involved in this article from Erin Gregory 👉 https://lnkd.in/gwW3D99m #employment #jobs #military

As we approach Military Spouses Appreciation Day on May 10th, we at Central Point Partners are proud to spotlight our Operation Mobile Spouses (OMS) program. This initiative is close to our hearts as it directly addresses the unique challenges faced by military spouses, whose potential often remains untapped due to the mobile nature of military life. Thanks to the visionary leadership of our founder, Pam Stanczewski, and the support from Purpose Jobs in the following article, OMS is changing the narrative. OMS is dedicated to employing, equipping, and empowering military spouses, providing them with the skills needed to excel in the staffing industry and beyond. This not only helps in overcoming employment barriers but also supports personal and professional growth. We call on businesses and communities to join us in this mission to enhance workforce inclusivity and flexibility. Together, we can make a significant impact, offering military spouses not just jobs, but careers that acknowledge and integrate their unique circumstances. For more information or to partner with us, please visit https://lnkd.in/eTc-28Xf and email OMS@centralpointpartners.com. #MilitarySpousesAppreciationDay #InclusiveWorkforce #CareerEmpowerment #PurposeJobs #EquipEmployEmpower #CentralPointPartners

📣What are you waiting for? Build a program NOW!👇 Why should you hire Military Spouses? The ASCEND Collective had a post this morning on this very topic and it got my brain running. There are thousands 💥 of reasons Corporate America and any hiring organization should have a Military Spouse hiring program. We could really make one giant list on this topic alone....you know what 🤜"lets do just that."🤛 Here are a few to get you 🚀 started!- JUMP INTO THE COMMENTS ... ...Why do you think Military Spouses should be a part of every hiring plan? 👊Over 80% of Military Spouses are college educated or have professional degrees. 💥They have been part of the global community - they adapt to vastly different jobs and help solve ongoing issues. 🔥They are connected to a very responsive community of resources. ✨Correct a VERY BAD statistic of unemployment rates for our Military Spouses, in some cases as high as 34%. 💨Military Spouses may not have linear careers, but look at the whole experience this talent pool has, they often fill gaps with massive impact in the non-profit and volunteer community. 🚨Employ a Military Spouse and RETAIN them as they move and create a poster for what loyalty and service looks like. 😏You want diversity in thought, character and background...WOW...you'll get all that in the Military Spouse Community. 🤝Want somebody with high levels of cultural sensitivity and awareness...hire MIlitary Spouses! ⚡Want someone who can make decisions under pressure and against tight timelines...they do this everyday! 💲Need someone financially savvy...look no further then Military Spouses? 💪Need grit and staying power...hire a Military Spouse. 👇Friends what would you add to this endless list?👇 Andrea McNamara Singsaas, MBA, PMP I Sonia Vasquez I Kasie (KC) V. Amil Masic I Bruce Thompson, MBA I Michael Quinn I Ryan Patrick Hunt I Chad Pearce I Jordie Kern I Nila (Leonila) Thompson I Karen Santiano Francis, MS, CMCS I Dave Kelley I Jaime Chapman I Monica Fullerton I Alfredo 🤘 Torres #milspouse #militaryspouses #milspouseowned #militaryspouse #military #socialnetworking #hiringmanagers

These articles never change, year over year. Why is that? Well, it's because the current program of record and resulting system is not actually addressing root cause of the problem. From the first paragraph of the article: "The veteran unemployment rate is below that of non-veterans, but obtaining a job is only half the battle. After years spent training for battle or deployed into combat zones, most former service members still struggle to find satisfaction in a civilian work environment." Let's focus on the last sentence. 🎯 Why do service members struggle to find satisfaction in a civilian work environment? 🤔 Here's our take. Service members struggle because they're trying to apply a military mindset to the private sector environment, which is TOTALLY different. Let's reiterate what we say all the time—the military and private sector environments are FUNDAMENTALLY different. As a result, the thinking and decision making they've honed in the military does not carry over well to the private sector. At most, we estimate there's a 10-15% overlap. Stated more directly, because service members are not told there's a huge difference between the two environments, they don't take the time to actually understand the private sector unique nature. We believe that service members will be infinitely more satisfied in their private sector work environment once they actually understand the private sector environment and how they can bring their talent to bear to help their employers perform in this very different environment. Think we're right? Think we missed the mark? Let's hear it by commenting below and have a great weekend. 👇 #militarytransition #transitioningmilitary #jobs #preveteran #betteroutcomes #autonomy

As an Air Force Veteran and former Federal employee with a Master's in Public Administration, returning to the workforce after dedicating years to parenting and military life presents unique challenges. The decision to prioritize family has inadvertently led to gaps in my resume that often overshadow my qualifications on paper. Navigating how to convey the invaluable skills gained during my time as the primary caregiver for my children amidst deployments is a hurdle many face. The ability to nurture, organize, and manage a household solo, while preparing young minds for the world, is a testament to adaptability and resilience. I am not alone in this journey of reentry, and I believe in fostering a dialogue around overcoming perceived barriers to rejoining the workforce. How have you tackled the unspoken challenges of proving commitment and value after a career hiatus? What strategies or unique skills have helped you reintegrate and showcase your potential to prospective employers? Let's share our experiences and insights to empower each other in reclaiming our professional paths and demonstrating the invaluable assets we bring to the table. #militaryspouses #veterans #frommomtoemployee

As my journey in the military comes to a close, I stand at a crossroads, facing the vast and uncertain world of civilian life. The transition from military to civilian life is an experience filled with mixed emotions – excitement for the new opportunities ahead, yet apprehension about the unknown. The Department of Defense recently stated that service members are better prepared for their transition to civilian life today than any other time in history. While this may be true, especially considering we have access to more transition services than ever before, one of the biggest challenges for me is figuring out what to do next. The military lifestyle, with its structured environment and clear hierarchy, is quite different from the civilian world, where paths are diverse and less defined. This freedom of choice, while liberating, can also be daunting. I'm taking this time to self-reflect, reassess my skills, and explore my passions that were put on hold. It's a journey of self-discovery, where I'm learning to translate my military skills into civilian terms and finding out how they align with various career paths. Another challenge is adapting to a new lifestyle and culture. The camaraderie and brotherhood of the military are unique, and finding a similar sense of community in the civilian world takes time and effort. As I navigate through this transition, I'm reminded that change, although challenging, is also an opportunity for growth and new experiences. I'm excited to explore the possibilities that lie ahead and to build a fulfilling post-military career. For those who have walked this path, I welcome your advice and stories of transition. And for those about to embark on this journey, remember, you're not alone. #MilitaryTransition #VeteranCareers #NewBeginnings #LifeAfterMilitary #CareerChange #PersonalGrowth

Exciting News: The Spouse Solution is Here! We are delighted to announce the launch of The Spouse Solution, a passionate endeavor that's close to our hearts. At The Spouse Solution, we've embarked on a mission to transform the lives and careers of military spouses. Our Mission: The Spouse Solution is dedicated to connecting exceptional military spouses with forward-thinking companies. These talented individuals bring a wealth of skills, dedication, and adaptability to the table. They're not just qualified candidates; they're the future leaders and innovators your organization needs. Our Approach: We've established a bridge between military spouse professionals and companies seeking to diversify their talent pool. Through our recruiting and staffing services, we facilitate mutually beneficial connections that enrich workplaces and empower military spouses. Why It Matters: The Spouse Solution addresses the challenges military spouses face in advancing their careers. We're committed to breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating opportunities for those who've already sacrificed so much in service to our nation. How We Can Help: Whether you're a military-friendly company looking to tap into this incredible talent pool or a military spouse eager to explore new career horizons, we invite you to connect with us. Let's embark on this journey together, redefine success, and transform lives. Thank you for being part of our community and supporting this vital mission. We're excited to witness the positive impact The Spouse Solution will have on the professional lives of military spouses and the organizations that embrace their talent. Please don't hesitate to reach out for collaboration, networking, or career opportunities. Together, let's co-create the next chapter! #TheSpouseSolution #MilitarySpouseProfessionals #DiversityandInclusion #CareerOpportunities #HireMilitarySpouses #MilitarySpouse #MilitaryFamily #HireMilitary #MilitarySpouseEmployment