Salute to Spouses Blog

We're excited to be blogging about the latest topics in military life. We want to keep you informed on topics such as current events, education, career advice, etc. Feel free to post comments or questions to any of our entries.
So, You Want to Change Your Major - Now What?

Once upon a time, a pretty princess really liked to read and write. She liked to write so much that she took every reading and writing college course in the kingdom. In return for all her hard work, the princess was given a degree in English. And she was happy.

That is, she was happy until she remembered that she lives in the Washington, D.C. Metro area, and a degree in English made her about as marketable as a muddy puppy in an Ikea showroom.

So if you haven’t figured it out, I’m changing my major.

Do You Need Strong Communication Skills in Every Profession?

Yes.

Strong communication skills are a must for every professional. Regardless of your career field or what stage you are in, don’t overlook the value of the written or spoken word. Here’s what employers say about communication skills with regard to getting the job, being successful on the job and advancing in your career.

Getting the Job

Volunteer Work is Work Experience

You have organized the unit mandatory fun day and the spouses’ luncheons.

You have worked with dozens of Cub Scouts every week for an exhausting year.

You have taught Vacation Bible School, handled the finances for the FRG and took notes during the PTA meetings.

You have put in hundreds of volunteer hours over the years. Now, do yourself a favor. Put all that experience on paper. It can help you find a job.

When my husband’s orders took us overseas, I was excited at the prospect of finding a new job. New challenges. New co-workers to meet. New experiences.

Tax Refunds - This is Not A Bonus Check

By Amanda Rebmann

April 15th.  Tax deadline day.  Every year we account for our earnings over the past year and to ensure both the federal and state governments have collected the amounts granted them by law (thanks 16th Amendment!) 

Remember- we are a country founded by rather wealthy men who objected to taxation.  Times have certainly changed, and I do NOT advocate going to your local IRS with a bucket of tar and a bag of feathers.  The old adage is true: death and taxes are certain.

Upcoming Job Fairs for Military Spouses

Already on the PCS move? Need a job? You might be able to drop in on a hiring fair at your new duty station or even on the road to your new home!

The U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation is hosting Hiring Fairs all month with Hiring Our Heroes, an organization committed to helping military members and their spouses find jobs.

Check out this month’s list below. Be sure to click on the link and register. Slots fill up quickly and there are no walk-ins allowed.

When you go, be sure to dress for success and bring a stack of copies of your resume and a smile.

Grammar - Going Back to School? You Need to Get it Right!

Recently, an editing client I work with called something to my attention. He is writing his thesis for his master’s degree, and … well, really it was his terrible misuse of common words that got me thinking.

Military Spouses: Score a Nonprofit Job Now!

Military spouses, did you know the good news that you don’t have to choose between your passion for helping charitable organizations and collecting a paycheck?

In the 2015 Nonprofit Employment Practices Survey, nonprofits report a continued trend of increasing their staff size. Half of the 362 respondents anticipate creating new positions and one-third of them reported they might create new ones.

Congress Won't Care Until You Do

Congress is currently reviewing a bill that will ease the financial burden for PCSing spouses who have to transfer their professional licenses from state to state.

That means when a spouse studies and works for two years to finally earn her professional license, only to receive PCS orders a week later, all the money she shelled out, and will now have to pay again in the next state, she can apply as a tax credit for that year (up to$500).

Sounds great, right?

It's likely to never happen.

Didn’t Get Your Taxes Done?

The tax man has come and gone. Still holding that blank form in your hand, unmailed?

Umm, you may want to take care of that, today.

If you have it filled out and ready to go and just never made it to the post office, go. Now.

If you never filled it out and need more time, apply for an extension. Visit this link: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4868.pdf to fill out a Form 4868 for more time to do your math. This will give you until Oct. 15.

Cool Jobs: Air Force Husband Opens Dive Shop in Hawaii

Air Force husband Michael Kurt first looked for work after PCSing to Hawaii with his wife, Christine, for one simple reason: the family needed extra money to send their son to private school.

He landed a job at the NEX in Honolulu, working in the toy section. Across the aisle, however, is where his future waited. The local business, Dive Oahu, ran a booth inside the Navy exchange and Michael spent his extra time chatting with employees there about the sport of scuba.

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