5 Creative Careers for Military Wives

Military families are familiar with the constant moving that interferes with a spouses career. Even though moves may be frequent, a career for a military wife is still possible. While it is true that traditional work places may be wary of hiring someone who moves frequently, a career is still a viable option. Creativity and 'out of the box' thinking, helps to make a military spouse career possible.

Tutoring Careers

As a teacher, I spent much of our military life creating my own job opportunities. With the importance of standardized test scores linked to grade advancement, every school district needs tutors. School boards keep a list of tutors that they refer parents to. Contact your local school board and advise them you are a tutor for hire. Charge a reasonable fee and set hours that would fit a working parents schedule. Concentrate on teaching the areas you are certified in or have an interest in. Also, advertise your tutoring services in local papers and on the military base. It helps to be a certified teacher, but anyone with knowledge in a specific area can make a nice income from tutoring students in need.

Substitute Teaching

This served as a great career for me during our military time. Each district pays differently, depending on your experience and degree. Contact your local school district to figure out how to apply to be a substitute teacher. Some districts hire their own subs while others hire through a contract agency. Do not forget about private schools when looking for substitute work. I once spent a year in Beaufort South Carolina working at a Montessori school. I was called almost full time as no one else had thought about applying there! The great thing about substitute teaching is that anyone can do it. Very few school districts require a teaching certificate. The greatest thing about this career is that ease that it allows you to transfer to a full time teaching career. If you stay in the area where your spouse retires or leaves duty, you can often transfer to a full time teaching career, if certified. This is how yours truly became a full time Special Education teacher.

Home Based Business

So far, careers have concentrated on teaching. What if your desire is to be in the business world and own your own business? A lot of reputable home based businesses offer the option of a career that can transfer with your move. Of course most people are familiar with Avon, Mary Kay and Amway. Some other lesser known companies for home based businesses are Home Interiors, Yankee Candles, and Shure Pets. Many of these companies have a very low start up rate- basically the cost of your start supplies and order books. I have looked into Home Interiors and Shure Pets in the past. You of course want to pick an area where you have an interest. When your family settles into a more permanent home, a home based business will look great on your resume.

Nursing

If nursing is your career choice, you still can have a career while your spouse is in the military. On call nursing is an option, allowing for temporary work that fits into family hours. Pay is often great, as on call nurses are hired by contract agencies. Another option for nurses is home nursing either through advertisements or hospice agencies. Often due to the nature of the assignments, the job is temporary or part time. Also advertise your nursing services in a local military paper. There just may be a military family who needs your skills.

Financial Advisor

If your preferred career is in finances, accounting or banking, you also have military career options. Some military bases hire financial advisors. While I was working as a Spouse Abuse Prevention Specialist at Paris Island Marine Base from 1984 to 1986, our office hired a financial counselor. Bases are more apt to hire miliatry wives, understanding the nature of their spouses military moves. The lady who was hired by my office,was a Navy wife herself. Another option is to start a financial advising consulting business. Each state varies on licensing requireemtns so check before starting your business.Tax season offers endless job opportunities for a financial advisor,with many tax services hiring temporary workers. Sometimes military bases also offer this temporary tax service, so check with them. In addition, many bases have on base banks, who again understand frequent military moves, and are more opt to hire a military spouse.

While a military spouse's career may not be ideal, it can be fun, productive and can lead to a stellar resume in the future. Keep close tract of all your work while living the military life, even documenting career related volunteer work. When civilian life beckons, your great resume will be your first step in landing a civilian job.