Be Inspired

Sian

"I applied for the position as a call operator just over two years ago via the Forces Families Jobs website. Having moved around with my husband every two years and always having to find a new job that would fit around us relocating and childcare I was hoping this job would fit around the military life.

Having interviewed for the position and being offered the job I couldn’t have asked for more. Working from home has ensured that I am there for my family and given me job security. I started off working part time and as a call operator and eventually took on a full-time position working weekdays 5pm-1am. I work within a small team taking calls out of hours for clients and dealing with emergency situations.

After putting in the work I was promoted to the Out of Hours supervisor position, which I enjoyed immensely. The people I work with are great, helpful, friendly and the management team also understand the pressures of being a military partner and how disruptive it can sometimes be.

I have recently been promoted to Helpdesk Manager, I am so proud of how far I have come. I always thought that being a military spouse meant I would be looking for work every few years and would never be settled in employment, but I am and the company I work for have provided that for me."

Melissa

"My husband currently serves in the armed forces at Catterick Garrison. We moved here in 2022. We have two children who both have additional needs which had caused an eight year gap in my resume as I spent this time looking after my children. I searched and applied for multiple jobs when I moved to Catterick but found some employers were not too accommodating around my husband's work schedule. As a military wife we have a lot of obstacles to jump when it comes to finding a career for ourselves.

Then after months of searching I came across the advert on Forces Families Jobs for an OOH position that was work from home – with everything supplied. I had applied for the position via the link and just a few days later I was having an interview. It was a massive relief to find that this was a military friendly company that really did want to make life easier for people like myself.

I have now been with the company for about 15 months, I have found not only a job but a career path (which is a dream for most military wives) I am being put through for a level 3 business administration course and being trained to do multiple things for different departments of the company. I now have an even better family/work life balance, I can rely on the company being accommodating and supportive to any issues that may arise.

What would I say to those fellow military wives?

Keep searching, you will find something when the time is right for you. There are employers out there that are big on giving military spouses a chance to shine and be more than just a spouse or parent. I would 100% recommend keeping a look out on the Forces Families Jobs site for jobs and if you come across the company One Eighty, apply as soon as you can. You will find such understanding and amazing people within the company and will not be disappointed."

Zoe

Meet Zoe, a military spouse who has just moved back from overseas to the UK and found her new job using Forces Families jobs:

How did you hear about FFJ?

When working as the Community Liaison Officer in Norway a few members of the community were looking for employment. When searching through websites and social media platforms I came across FFJ.

Did you find FFJ easy to use?

Absolutely – it’s great that you can edit the location and use keywords. This made it so simple when searching for remote and part-time work.

How important do you think FFJ is for military families?

It’s really important as many forces spouses and dependants now want to work and moving around with the Service person can make finding a job difficult.

How does FFJ differ from other employment websites?

For me it was the confidence of knowing that the employers were forces friendly and understood why I had changed jobs every two years and had gaps in my career where I have been living abroad.

What advice would you give to other spouses who are also having difficulties finding work?

Perseverance – everything happens for a reason, the right job is out there! I would also advise other spouses to tailor their CV to the jobs they are applying for and highlight the strengths that go with the job description.

Would you recommend FFJ to your friends?

Absolutely, I already do – it’s easy to use with a wide range of jobs!

Is there anything that FFJ should do differently?

Maybe add a tick box for remote working so it’s easier to find jobs that can be done from home as lots of people, especially spouses, are looking for jobs they can move with. However, I used the search bar, and it worked just as well.