Building Your Network as a Marine Spouse
Many Marine spouses are experts at networking, but often these networks are cultivated around children, deployment support, PCSing, social groups, or religious activities. When you are looking for employment start with the network you already have, continue to cultivate it, and start growing your professional network both in person and online.
Your in-person network includes:
- Your friends & family
- Former classmates & coworkers
- Other Marine spouses from your Marine’s unit
- Other Marine spouses at your installation that you meet through installation programs (like Marine Corps Family Team Building and the Volunteer Program)
- Other parents from your child’s school, scout troop, sports team, or other activities
- Other members at your place of worship, the gym, volunteer organizations, or social clubs
- Neighbors
Your online network might include:
- Social media. Sites like Facebook and LinkedIn where you are connected to people who may also be in your in-person network.
- Military spouses are eligible for a 1-year LinkedIn premium job seeker account with each permanent change of station, career change or job loss. Register your free account.
- Spouse groups on social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Many installations have one or more closed groups on Facebook that are not officially affiliated with the installation but can be extremely helpful and informative for Marine spouses. To find one, search for “[your installation] Spouses Network.”
- SECO has an MSEP Spouse group on LinkedIn where you can network with other military spouses as well as MSEP companies.
- The MILSPO Project. This organization strives to empower and educate military spouse entrepreneurs through live leadership events, online educational resources, and local chapter meet-ups.
- The eMentor Program. This online program allows program participants to receive personalized job search & career guidance, advice, support and inspiration from more experienced spouses, career mentors and veteran-friendly employers.
- Career Spark. This online program helps spouses network with each other, learn job search best practices, and track job search progress.
- Veterati. This online veteran and military spouse friendly mentorship platform offers flexible virtual mentoring opportunities.
- American Corporate Partners (ACP). ACP connects active duty military spouses with corporate professional mentors in their 1 year mentoring programs.
- Marine for Life Network. Marine for Life Network offers a networking forum through the National Marine for Life Network group page on LinkedIn. Spouses are welcome to join the group and ask for professional guidance from Marines, employers, recruiters, and other spouses. In addition to the national group, the Marine for Life Network offers regional groups where you can network with people in your area.
Still looking for more in-depth assistance with networking? Contact your installation’s Family Member Employment Assistance and Transition Readiness staff or ask the Marine For Life Network on LinkedIn.