When I moved to Texas and became a military spouse, the most common question I got asked was:
“What are you going to do about a job?”
Prior to moving, I was very established in a career that I worked hard for. I earned my undergraduate degree from UConn, my master’s degree from Boston University and had an established job working at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital – a top hospital in Massachusetts (thankfully Beth Israel allowed me to continue working for them for a while once I moved but eventually they had to find a local replacement. I am forever grateful for their help in my transition).
According to the Military Spouse Employment Partnership Program (MSEP), military spouses experience a 24% unemployment rate and there is a 25% wage gap compared to their civilian counterparts. About 77% of these spouses want or need work, yet frequent relocation is often a barrier to finding and maintaining a rewarding career. The inability of spouses to obtain and retain fulfilling employment as they relocate with the military compromises the quality of life of military families and the readiness of the military force.
Well … lucky for us, many organizations pride themselves on the need to support military spouses and their careers!
One organization in particular is Leidos, Inc. I have been fortunate enough to be a Leidos employee since December 2018 and they have provided me with a job opportunity that aligns with my career path and also allows me to work remotely from home… so when we move to New Mexico in April, it is reassuring to know that my career will not be negatively impacted.
I’ll admit, while adjusting to the military lifestyle, a big fear of mine was maintaining my career. It was hard to imagine how I would be able to keep growing my career without feeling like I had to continuously start over at each new assignment. That was one of my biggest concerns about frequent moves and marrying into the Air Force life – how will I maintain my career that I have worked so hard for and keep supporting my spouse in his commitment and dedication to this country?
It truly makes me so happy to see that military spouse employment is a priority for a lot of organizations.
Now… let’s get into the nitty-gritty of it!
ABOUT LEIDOS
Leidos is a Fortune 500® information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company’s 36,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $10.19 billion for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2018.
WHAT MAKES AN ORGANIZATION MILITARY FRIENDLY?
TONS of companies are striving to be Military Friendly for active duty, reserve and guard service members, veterans and military spouses. Military Friendly is defined as the standard that measures an organization’s commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful opportunity for the military community.
To be recognized as such, organizations participate in a survey and must successfully meet at least three of the following benchmarks:
- New Hire Retention Rate for Veterans is greater than 50%.
- New Hire Retention for Veterans is higher than for Non-Military Employees.
- New Hire Retention Rate for Guard & Reserve Employees is greater than 50%.
- New Hire Retention for Veterans is higher than for Non-Military Employees.
- Military Employee Turnover is lower than for Non-Military Employees.
- Military Employee Turnover is less than 20%.
- Promotions and Advancements of Military Employees is higher than for Non-Military Employees.
- Percent of Military Applicants selected is higher than for Non-Military Applicants selected.
- Guard and Reserve policies exceed federal requirements.
All of this and more can be found on the Military Friendly website.
LEIDOS MILITARY SPOUSE HIRING
Leidos has been striving with hiring military spouses for years. Since 2016, Leidos has hired 90 Military Spouses and their goal is to hire 45 more military spouses by July 2021, as part of Hiring Our Heroes Hiring 100,000 Military Spouses Campaign. You can view the full list of companies committed to hiring military spouses here!
In addition to making it a goal to hire more military spouses, Leidos has achieved some pretty amazing Partnerships and Awards over the last few years:
- 2020 Victory Media Military Friendly Top 10 Spouse Employer (#1 in 2020 and ranked five consecutive years as Military Friendly Spouse Employer).
- Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) Corporate Partner.
- American Corporate Partners Second Lady’s Military Spouse Campaign and Business Summit Series Corporate Partner
FIVE consecutive years voted as a Military Friendly Spouse Employer!!
When I was hired as a Health IT Consultant at Leidos, I had no idea that companies like this one had programs to help aide in the hiring of active duty, veterans and spouses. The team that I am a part of at Leidos is extremely supportive and encouraging. They understand my lifestyle as a military spouse and all that comes with it.
This is a crazy adventure we are all on and there are so many resources out there to help us!
MEET JACKIE
