A lot of you may think that as a military spouse, you're not entitled to a career, only a job, that too if you're lucky. Military spouses are expected to be sacrificial in nature when it comes to their careers, moving from one base to another, being uprooted from their careers just when they were about to settle in, get promoted or learn new skills or job responsibilities. Being a military spouse is not just challenging, it can also be self-defeating if you are dejected about not having a steady career to hold on to. I understand how that must feel, and want to share with you some lucrative careers for military spouses in technology, medicine and so on that are slated to boom in this coming decade.
Consider jobs in the medical industry, like those of Registered Nurses (RN), Pharmacy Technicians and Medical Transcriptionists. Being a pharm tech or an MT is easy to do—just find an online vocational training school that offers courses online for an affordable sum, and sign up to complete coursework in as less as 4 months. With the pharmacy technician program, you can gain insight on the pharmaceutical industry and work your way up towards a Pharmacy degree if it interests you. Medical transcription is also a great way to break into the healthcare industry, and offers a flexible option to work from home as well. Other courses like CompTIA A+ certification in order to become a certified computer technician can help you break into the IT field. And if you’re more inclined towards desks jobs, there are positions for administrative assistants that require knowledge of MS Office and other clerical software. Jobs like these can grant steady incomes to your family because of the sellable skill that you have, either in terms of technology skills or knowledge. It’s a great way not only to break into these fields and advance on to better pay scales and positions, but also to earn a steady income despite the shifting nature and unpredictability of your spouse’s job. Online jobs like medical transcriptioning ensure that you still have one even in a geographically remote location, when you don’t have ready access to a car or you’re unsure that your spouse will be home in time to babysit the kids. The best part of these programs is that if you wish to do a short training course that will help you be certified or better prepared, you can complete them in short courses online at vocational training schools. Look for a military-friendly school, offering military funding through tuition assistance under the MyCAA program. Medical Transcription Training for instance, can cost as little as $2695 and be covered under MyCAA funding. It's a wonderful opportunity that you should take advantage of, especially if you fall under any of these categories: e1-e5, w01-wo2, O1-O2 wife (other categories are also available)
There is a lot that the federal government and Department of Defense is doing to honor military spouses and their contribution to their families and country. DoD's Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) helps connect military spouses with jobs. The Partnership’s member companies have pledged to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses in portable careers. Already, more than 22,000 military spouses have been hired through the MSEP with more than 446,140 jobs posted on the MSEP jobs web portal. Don't be discouraged or disheartened because of your constant moving around, take charge of your career with these helps and turn things around for you and your family!
Nancy is a 36-year old stay at home mom of two. She worked as a medical assistant for five years before taking a break to be with her children. Her experience as a medical assistant gave her valuable insights in to the medical billing and coding industry, which she likes to share with others through her writing. Medical billing and coding programs often find mention in her writings. Her expertise in Medical billing and coding training stems from her extensive research on the subject.
Her other interests include gardening and baking. She stays with her husband and two daughters.