The Military Spouse's Employment Pocket Guide

RECOGNIZE YOUR BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT

 

Most people face several barriers to employment. As a military spouse you need to recognize your barriers and take appropriate actions to overcome those you can change or eliminate. While some barriers may be external (beyond your control), others are internal (within your control).

External barriers, for example, might include the following:

  • Institutional: Military/base rules, practices, and protocols - frequent relocations, disruptive deployments, child care, employment restrictions. State residence, licensing, and certification requirements.

  • Situational: Your location, family, weather/climate, spouse's job.

  • Personal: Your age, height, disabilities, current number of children.

Examples of your internal barriers - those things within your control to change - include:

  • Personal: Your weight, attitude, personality, self-esteem, addictions, habits, assertiveness, networks, planning, time management, financial management, volunteering, housing, transportation, marital relationship, parenting responsibilities and skills, and child care costs.

  • Professional: Your education, training, workplace skills, work experience, job search skills, communication skills, computer skills, Internet access, licenses, and certifications.

The key to employment success is knowing what you can and cannot change and focus on changing those things that are within your power to change. It may, for example, mean making decisions that result in taking the following actions:

  • losing weight
  • lowering stress and anxiety
  • eating nutritiously
  • exercising more
  • managing addictive behaviors (tobacco, alcohol, drugs)
  • improving self-esteem
  • becoming more assertive
  • strengthening mental wellness
  • acquiring more education and training
  • meeting state licensing and certification requirements
  • planning daily and weekly schedules
  • budgeting personal finances
  • changing spending habits
  • managing time
  • developing effective job search skills
  • arranging child care
  • organizing transportation

 

SOURCE: Adapted from Ron Krannich, Ph.D., The Military Spouse's Employment Pocket Guide (Manassas Park: Impact Publications), pages 3-4. Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. Copying strictly forbidden.