Portability

What is a ‘Portable Career?’

We often hear the term “portable” or “mobile” career when we talk about Military Spouse employment but what does it really mean? Does it mean we need to work from home, in telecommuting arrangements or establish our own business so that we can take it with us? No. Although they are options; there are many ways in which you can successfully pursue a professional career in almost any occupation. A portable career is one in which you can find fulfilling professional employment and advancement despite the changes of location you will experience as a Military Spouse.

Practical Portability Considerations

When examining the portability of your chosen career you should consider the following issues.

Occupational Opportunities

Can you reasonably expect occupational opportunities in the different locations you may be stationed or are you contemplating a career in Marine Biology where employment opportunities may be very location dependent? When considering occupational opportunities it is important to consider the Occupational Family which your Career Field belongs to. ONET OnLine identifies ‘Career Clusters’ which are groups of occupations with similar skill sets. If your specialized career field is location dependent, always keep in mind similar occupations for which you have a transferable skill set. You may be able to maximize your career progression and experience by moving between these types of positions when opportunities in your specialized field are not available.

Career Advancement

Is Career Advancement in your field normally achieved through Seniority or 
Professional Performance? You may wish to target companies who reward performance based promotion as your actual employment time at each location may be shorter than your colleagues. You may also want to consider company locations and branches when targeting employment positions. Gaining a position with a larger company with field offices may be preferable to a single site employer who does not have the potential to transfer you to another location.

Professional Telecommuting Arrangements

Telecommuting arrangements where a military spouse can 
remain with one company for an extended period by working remotely are an ideal solution to the career portability issue. However, Military Spouses must be realistic about the opportunities available for professional telecommuting. While many positions exist for low level sales or call center positions, there are limited opportunities for professional level positions and these are rarely advertised. Expect a company to be far more open to the idea of telecommuting once you are a proven commodity. Consider presenting a telecommuting option to an employer you already work for. They may not have envisioned a telecommuting position but if you already perform well in the position, can prove you are able to do it remotely and provide them with the framework for how you can do this; they may be more likely to consider it as you move to your next location. Military Spouses who have successfully negotiated professional level telecommuting positions with their employers give the following suggestions:

• Work Schedule. Offer to work the same hours as the Company is working (this may mean 3am - noon) to enable efficient email, phone conversation and decision making with other employees.
• Methods of Communication. Present alternatives to current responsibilities that require Face-to-Face contact such as Video Teleconferencing/ Skype or sharing responsibilities with a locational based colleague.
• Contractual Arrangements. Suggest Short Term/ As Required Contracts or Reduced Hours to cover projects that can be completed remotely.
• Non Negotiable Responsibilities in Location. Demonstrate your willingness and commitment to return to the company location for set time periods (such as 2 weeks per year) if some aspects of your position such as involvement at major events can only be undertaken in that location.

Time to Establish Employment Credentials in a New Location

Are you considering moving into a career field where State based Licensure arrangements are a lengthy and costly consideration each time you move. Although efforts are underway to reduce this issue for Military Spouses, you may wish to target locations or understand occupational specialties where you can alleviate this constraint:

Prioritize Service Member Locational Requests

Use resources such as the USA 4 Families Website to understand and stay informed on which States have enacted and passed legislation to support Licensing arrangements for Military Spouses. Consider how this affects your career prospects as a factor when prioritizing Service Member Locational Preference Requests.

Federal Employment

As a Federal Employee working in a Licensed Occupation, you will normally be able to maintain one State Based License. This will allow you to apply and meet all qualification requirements for Federal positions in a new location prior to your move.

Attain Licensure or Certification Prior to Arrival in New State

Research and commence any Licensing Requirements prior to arriving in a new location so that you can apply and qualify for positions without delay. You know your time in any given location is finite. An employer who knows you are a Military Spouse may have be concerned about hiring you if you have a very short period of time remaining in location. Be ready to hit the ground running when you arrive.

Target Complementary Positions where Licensure is not Required

If the time and resources required for Licensing in a particular location are prohibitive, assess which positions you can qualify for that will maintain, build and develop transferable skills that will enhance your Professional Development and complement your long term career path.

Child or Family Care

Is your career field one in which you could reasonably be expected to undertake business related travel or work shifts outside traditional work hours? Do you have children or family members for whom you are the primary care provider? The majority of Child and Family Care Centers across the United States only operate between 6am and 6pm. As your partner may be away for extended periods or with little notice, it is important that you develop robust family or childcare arrangements. For spouses with travel obligations, or shift work requirements, a Nanny or Au Pair arrangement may be more practical than a traditional Child Care Center. Many military bases also have a list of Family Child Care providers who provide childcare services in their own homes and are licensed to practice through the On Base Child Development Center. These Family Child Care Providers may offer Extended Hours to accommodate Shift Workers but cannot provide support for Out of Location Travel. Child and Family Care Resources include:

• Military Child Development Centers are located on most Military Bases.
• Sittercity offers family and childcare arrangements with free membership to all military families.
• Care offers family and childcare arrangements.

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