If you’re like the vast majority the military spouse community, you’ve dealt with at least a few frustrations when it comes to your career. I know I have. My story isn’t much different than many other spouses’. When John and I married, I left my job as a high school English teacher, moved out of the state to John’s installation, and realized that it didn’t make any sense to get licensed again… we’d be moving soon and the costs associated with a new teaching license would not justify the enormous probability that I would not find a job before we had to move again.
So I started freelancing and built a writing career instead.
It was hard. Really hard. I totally feel for spouses who have careers and skills that aren’t as easily transferrable to remote, work-from-home, or portable careers.
The truth is, there are a lot of military spouses out there who want to work but can’t thanks to the exceptionally high ops tempos, work schedules of their significant others, and needs of the military. Then there are the holes in resumes (thanks, PCSes!), the potential of moving overseas, and the difficulty convincing employers to take a chance…
It’s rough.
And it hurts military families’ finances (both short- and long-term) and it hurts military readiness as more folks decide that a long-term career in the military isn’t for their family.
One thing won’t fix all of the problems when it comes to military spouse employment, but every little bit helps.
And LinkedIn’s new announcement is a pretty big bit, actually.
Actual free stuff for you
Staring in July 2018, LinkedIn will make available one free year of LinkedIn Premium to every single military spouse during every PCS to a new installation… and at the end of their family’s military service.
That’s right. One free year every time you move to a new installation. (And once your family ends their service, you’ll also get one more free year.)
LinkedIn Premium packages cost $29.99 a month, which means that one year of LinkedIn Premium costs $359.88. And that means that LinkedIn’s new program will save you almost $400… every time you move.
LinkedIn Premium benefits
LinkedIn Premium grants you access to:
- 12,000 LinkedIn Learning courses
- “Get Ahead as a Military Spouse,” their flexible, freelance, and remote work learning path created specifically for military spouses
- The Applicant Insights tool
- See everyone who has viewed your profile and their roles
- InMail
- The DoD’s Military Spouse Employment LinkedIn group
How to access free LinkedIn Premium
To find out if you qualify and to apply for your free year of LinkedIn Premium once it becomes available in July 2018, you will need to set up a MySECO account through the DoD’s Spouse Employment and Career Opportunities portal. Login to MySECO, click your name in the top right part of the screen. Choose MyTransition and click “yes” so that you’re able to receive email about the LinkedIn Premium opportunity. Don’t forget to click “save” so that your preferences.
