As a military spouse it can be difficult to find a career that is adaptable to the fluctuating schedule of military life. Many employers can show hesitance in hiring military spouses due to frequent relocation and limited long-term career development. Luckily, the tech industry offers military spouses flexible and fulfilling opportunities that align nicely with military life’s demands, allowing spouses to build a meaningful career.
Benefits of Virtual & Remote Tech Careers
Virtual and remote work in tech has opened the door for military spouses to enter the workforce, contributing to a lower unemployment rate and long-term professional and career development. According to QuickStart.com, an online IT training platform, remote careers in tech offer many benefits for military spouses, including:
- Customizable hours
- Global collaboration
- Virtual work teams
- Freelance projects
- Remote Networking & Job Sharing
Military spouses who work remotely are better able to adapt to the unique needs of the military lifestyle while also contributing to their own personal growth and development. With the continued rise of remote work in the tech industry, military spouses should consider the benefits of following a career path in tech to achieve their professional aspirations.
Tech & IT Careers for Military Spouses
Fortunately, careers in the tech industry continue to grow thanks to the constant evolution of digital technology. Both big and small tech companies offer more remote and virtual positions as technology advances and allows for collaboration outside of the office. This is perfect for military spouses looking to break into the tech world but cannot commit to one location for a long period of time. Some popular tech career paths that can offer remote work to help military spouses achieve the flexibility they need are:
- Software Engineering & Development – Military spouses can learn programming languages through online boot camps and courses. Creating applications, websites, and software solutions are common projects for a software developer.
- Cybersecurity—With the rise in cyberattacks, IT leaders have prioritized putting the right tech talent in place to combat threats and mitigate risks. Candidates such as military spouses with an eye for detail and a knack for identifying vulnerabilities would excel in this area.
- Project Management—Frequent relocations, navigating new areas, and resettling with new families, school systems, etc., are par for the course for military spouses. Needless to say, organizational skills, attention to detail, and proactive task-mastering often go hand in hand for a military family. These transferable skills are ideal for many project management roles, which can often be done remotely to keep complex IT projects on track.
- Tech Support/Consulting—Military spouses with strong communication skills, the ability to adapt to new settings, and the ability to network with new people could pursue roles in tech support and consulting. This is also helpful for remote positions, as work is generally conducted over the phone and through online customer request portals that can be easily managed off-site.
Military Spouses Suited for AI Jobs
As AI continues to develop and become a bigger presence in our lives, positions related to supporting and enhancing this new technology are in demand. According to Katherine Webster, founder of the nonprofit VetsinTech, many veterans and military spouses are suited for careers in tech and AI, even if they are unaware of it.
The use of AI in many non-tech industries, as well as AI-powered tools for productivity, marketing, sales, and more, opens up new avenues for military spouses to follow on their career journey. Even with minimal specialized tech skills, there are growing opportunities in this sector.
Military spouses are in a unique position as they balance the demands of military and family life and their own personal goals. Due to the evolution of technology, the industry offers growing amounts of remote and virtual positions that can allow military spouses to succeed in meaningful careers while also allowing them to remain flexible to the unpredictability of military life. SSi People, through its ServiceStrong Veterans Program, is uniquely positioned to assist veterans, military spouses, and their families in finding meaningful and fulfilling work in the tech and engineering industries. Contact us today to learn more.