Step 1 -- Determine My Skills
You know that you did not like your last job. Think about the things that you did not like about it. For instance, you may have used a set of skills that you do not enjoy using. Just because you used that set of skills before does not mean that you should find a job that uses those skills.
Your skills come from all of your life experiences. You may have babysat, cleaned house, balanced the household budget, cared for animals, cared for an elderly parent, or any number of experiences. Think about the skills that you learned in each of these situations. Next, think about the skills that you enjoyed using in each of those situations.
As a military spouse, you have a unique set of skills and qualities. Military spouses tend to be determined, dedicated, responsible, calm under pressure, adaptable and show up to work on time. These are just a few of the desirable qualities that employers look for in their employees.
Before you look for your next job, determine the skills that you enjoy using most. Then you can match those skills to occupations that use those or similar skills. The following resources will help you discover your skills and match them to occupations. You may choose to search on your own using online Web sites; or you may want one-on-one assistance with a career specialist in-person or over the phone.
- O*NET Skills Search - Review skills, interests and work values of matching occupations.
- CareerOneStop Skills Profiler with Gap Analysis - Get a profile of your skills then choose an occupation of interest. Comparing your skills to this occupation will help you to determine which skills you are missing or where might need additional training before pursuing that occupation.
- Career Resource Library Assessment Resources
- Military Spouse Career Center articles
- One-Stop Career Center, or installation Family or Education Center to use the Discover program and other assessments.
- Military OneSource Spouse Education and Careers Support call center - Spouses can call Military OneSource for specific information, resources and referrals. Military spouses may receive career support for education and career goal identification, and aptitude test planning. Visit www.militaryonesource.com -or- Call 1-800-342-9647.