Saluting the Strengths that Military Spouses Bring to the Workplace

As a company, AppleOne’s passion has always been people. As we begin the new year of opportunities and possibilities, these val­­­­ues really come into focus. We are here for our candidates as well as our clients. We are partnered with several community programs that allow us to help great companies and great people find each other while giving us opportunities to make a difference. ​One great example is the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP). When our CEO, Janice Bryant Howroyd, heard about MSEP, she was excited to partner with them. And through that partnership we have grown our relationship with the Hiring Our Heroes program, through which we help both veterans and military spouses.

Employers wanting to tap into a highly committed, passionate, and resilient workforce would be smart to consider military spouses. Companies large and small throughout the US have successfully implemented robust military-spouse hiring programs and are seeing the benefits- in employee morale and the financial bottom line. Below are five strengths that make military spouses ideal additions to your team:

Exceptional adaptability and flexibility

Not many civilians can quickly pack up their lives, move their children to new schools mid-semester, and adjust to a new culture. And yet, military spouses do this on a regular basis. They have gone through several ‘uprootings’, helped their families get through it, kept things organized and comfortable- and then networked to reestablish themselves and start their lives all over. While many civilian employees strive to be flexible, patient, and resilient on the job, military spouses have learned to be that way out of necessity- a great advantage for employers seeking employees able to thrive with change rather than being overwhelmed by it.

Impressive calm and efficient under pressure

Military spouses are the opposite of complacent. They are always on the ready in case of a relocation or the need to act swiftly. Employers looking for talent who can keep their composure and positivity, maintain confidentiality, and take initiative will appreciate the security and stability that military spouses bring to the table.

Amazingly diverse skills and experience

Due to constant mobility, military spouses have often found themselves contributing to their household funds by taking on odd jobs. They are the pioneers of what is now called the “gig economy,” working short-term jobs. As with most job seekers who don’t want to appear like they are job-hopping or cannot keep jobs long-term, military spouses often leave out what employers might consider to be valuable or highly specialized work experiences. In the same vein, employers who dismiss candidates that appear to have sporadic employment due to the military way of life may be missing out on hiring a valuable, battle-tested employee.

Military spouses are an often-overlooked workforce. They are the men and women who literally held the home front and developed and possess skills, experience, and work ethic that would make them immediate assets and even MVPs for many companies.