Things I Wish I Knew About Building a Career That Moves With You
If I could give one piece of advice to every new military spouse, it would be this:
Never stop investing in yourself.
I know firsthand how difficult it can be to build a career while navigating deployments, frequent PCS moves, and the unpredictability of military life. Every time you begin to feel established, orders arrive, and you're starting over in a new city.
It can be discouraging.
There were times when I wondered if it was even worth trying. Looking back after 17 years as a military spouse, I can confidently say that it absolutely is. Having a career, or simply continuing to build your skills, is about so much more than earning a paycheck.
It's about confidence.
It's about purpose.
It's about knowing that wherever military life takes you, you'll always have something that's yours.
Your Career Doesn't Have to Look Like Everyone Else's
One of the greatest things I've learned is that success looks different for every military spouse.
Your career might mean:
Working remotely from wherever you're stationed
Starting a small business
Earning a certification or finishing a degree
Taking temporary positions after each PCS
Working part-time while raising a family
Volunteering to build skills and experience
Every experience matters. Every skill you learn becomes something you carry with you to your next duty station.
Why It Matters
Over the years, I've seen too many stories of military spouses who devoted everything to supporting their families, only to find themselves unexpectedly needing to re-enter the workforce years later without recent experience or professional connections.
Life doesn't always go according to plan.
Whether it's an unexpected hardship, a career change, retirement from the military, or another major life transition, having your own work experience, professional network, and financial independence gives you choices.
That's not about expecting the worst. It's about preparing yourself for whatever life brings.
Resources That Can Help
Thankfully, military spouses have more career resources available today than ever before.
Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP)
The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) connects military spouses with hundreds of employers committed to hiring military families.
Hiring Our Heroes
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring Our Heroes program offers career coaching, networking events, hiring fairs, resume assistance, and military spouse fellowships.
USAJOBS Military Spouse Hiring Authority
Federal agencies often have positions specifically available to eligible military spouses through the Military Spouse Hiring Authority.
FlexJobs
If you're hoping to build a career that moves with you, FlexJobs is one of the most trusted websites for vetted remote and flexible jobs.
Temporary Staffing Agencies
One thing I wish I'd considered earlier was working with a temporary staffing agency after each PCS.
Temp agencies can help you find work quickly while you're settling into a new community, and many temporary positions lead to permanent careers.
Some excellent national agencies include:
Keep Learning
Even if now isn't the right season for a full-time job, you can continue investing in yourself.
Military spouses have access to incredible education opportunities through programs like the My Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) scholarship.
You can also explore career planning, education counseling, and employment resources through Military OneSource.
Every class, certification, and new skill is an investment in your future.
From Cabrie
After 17 years as a military spouse, one of the biggest lessons I've learned is this: Your dreams matter too.
Military life asks us to be flexible, resilient, and willing to start over more times than we ever imagined. While supporting your service member is something to be incredibly proud of, it's also important to continue investing in yourself along the way.
Your career may not follow a traditional path, and that's okay. Every job, every certification, every new skill, and every opportunity adds to the person you're becoming.
Wherever military life takes you, your knowledge, experience, and confidence will travel with you.
That's one of the reasons Madison and I created Coast2Coast Connect. Yes, we're passionate about helping military families buy and sell homes, but our mission goes far beyond real estate.
We wanted to create a place where military families could find trusted resources, honest advice, and practical tools to help them thrive through every stage of military life.
Whether you're searching for your next job, your next neighborhood, or your next place to call home, we're honored to be part of your journey.
We're cheering you on every step of the way.
— Cabrie Fradella
Comments