Should You Mention You Are a Military Spouse During a Job Interview?

Job interviews are always a nerve racking experience however well prepared you are to answer questions and pose your own. But should you mention to a prospective employer that you are a military spouse? Military spouses come from all walks of life. Some have worked hard to obtain an Ivy League education or its equivalent and have been able to build successful careers despite the frequent moves that come with their spouse's military lifestyle, while many others have devoted their time and energy to staying home to care for the home and children. Whatever path a military spouse has taken those who attend a job interview will want to make sure that they present the best possible image to a prospective employer.

Employers do not just want to see a well qualified candidate for the job who is able to floor the prospective employer with their experience and know how. It matters, but it does not always clinch the job. Some military spouses, particularly those who are just entering the workforce for the first time, spend too much time talking about themselves and not enough time concentrating on the job at hand and trying to convince the interviewer that they would be well suited to the position.

One common mistake that employers often notice from job candidates is that they mention early on that they are a military spouse and that they will only be living in the area for a year or two. While there is no need to hide the fact that you are a military spouse when you attend a job interview, it is very off-putting for an employer to hear what the job candidate's plans are. It betrays a lack of professionalism and gives the impression that the job interview is more of an afterthought rather than a serious pursuit. The interviewer could easily reason that if the military spouse will only be in the area for a relatively short period of time, that they should look at an alternative job candidate who is more serious about the job and able to commit more fully to the job.