How many jobs have you applied to over the last month? How many automated job rejection emails have you gotten? It can be frustrating, right? Probably pretty defeating too. I know, I’ve been there. More than likely, most of us have.

My Burnout:

I approached my job search completely blind. With a four-year gap while living overseas and growing my family, I was terrified to re-enter the workforce. Without a care of the type of job I got, I applied to anything and everything. After many interviews and many rejections, I received a call for another interview and I couldn’t even remember what the job was I had applied to.

I went into that interview with very little hope and very little excitement because, by now, I was just exhausted from being told no. Low and behold, that interview went great.

I was finally so excited about a potential job. I had the second interview, and I was nervous. I wanted this job. I knew that I belonged at that organization.

My Breaking Point:

I got a call a few days after that second interview; I didn’t get the job. Again, I was devastated. I felt like a failure. I didn’t belong. After all my hard work to receive a degree and supporting my husband overseas while starting my family, I wasn’t good enough to be in the workforce anymore.

I needed a break. I gave up on hopes of ever finding a job that I would enjoy. I thought “all I’ll ever be, is a military spouse.”

The Turning Point:

Like so many times before, a call came for an interview. I finished the interview with a feeling it went horrible and expectations of nothing more than the automated rejection email . To my surprise, the company called and offered a second interview.

It was at that moment I decided to embrace who I am and no longer hide it. I am a mom of 2 young children. I am a military spouse.

I got the job!

My story is just like so many of yours. Maybe you’re in the beginning. Maybe you’re in the middle of the burnout. Maybe you’ve given up hope. Wherever you are in your journey, I’m here to tell you, it gets better.

Do what I didn’t do and utilize your resources.

At Hire Heroes USA, we have a team full of Transition Specialists who are also military spouses ready to help. We work with you to revise your resume and teach you how to tailor your resume. We share tricks and tips on how to navigate the job search. We offer mock interviews, industry specific mentor sessions, webinars, virtual career fairs, and our very own job board. All our services are offered at no cost to our clients.

What is standing in your way of finding your next job? We’ve been there. We get it. Let us help.

Written by: Lauren McKnight

Lauren McKnight is a Transition Specialist with the Serving Spouses Team at Hire Heroes USA. As an Army Spouse, she understands the hardships that come with each PCS. Lauren has been through the fear of not being able to find employment after living overseas and raising her family for a few years. Because of that, she wants to be able to help other spouses overcome those same challenges.

Lauren has a background working in non-profits and higher education. In her most recent experience, she worked in HR and learned recruitment processes. Now, she is able to advise and guide her clients utilizing her recruitment knowledge and HR skills. Lauren has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and is so happy to finally be giving back to others in a way that impacts her very own community.

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