Unable to access one of our coworking hubs due to location restrictions, Jenny is an avid user and keen supporter of our brilliant Online Community.
If you don’t live on the patch or are posted abroad, although you are technically part of the military community, you can at the same time, feel quite disconnected from it, physically and emotionally.
The MCN provides a valuable and vital point of connection to the people who understand and get you and your lifestyle, and that can make all the difference.
More about Jenny
Like many military spouses before her, Jenny enjoyed a successful career until an overseas posting in 2018 changed her path. After over 14 years working in Human Resources (HR) in both the higher education and retail sectors, Jenny was forced to give up her career and change course so she could be with her husband
It was during her USA posting that she discovered a passion and skill for blogging.
In 2021, the family returned to the UK, and Jenny began working as a writer for various organisations and publications, including the MCN. But she was still exploring her options and debating what career path to follow.
In March 2022, Jenny joined the MCN Online Community.
The online events run by the MCN were a great way for me to explore the types of jobs I could do that would fit well with the military lifestyle. I joined several, including one on how to become a virtual assistant, and one about getting into proofreading and copywriting. Hearing the stories of other people who had ‘walked my walk’ was so insightful and useful.
Jenny now operates a successful CV writing business, which combines her Human Resources (HR) knowledge and expertise with her writing skills and understanding of the military community.
Now I tend to join the events that are more aligned to where I am now in my career, so things like bookkeeping and sales, which support my business management and growth. In fact, I’ve been inspired to host one or two events myself as a way of giving back to the community. For example, I ran one on how to write a good CV and how to beat the bots in the job application process.
Something for everyone
Here at the MCN, we are all about enablement. Whether you’re looking to start out on your career, or return to work after a long break, seeking to change course, learn some new skills and explore your options, or perhaps even set up your own business, we do our best to cater to you and your needs.
The important thing about the MCN is that there is something for everyone at every stage of your career or indeed life’s journey. The Online Resource Library is packed with useful resources and articles on a wide range of topics. The online events are just the right length too, and I love the structure of the new virtual coworking, which is punctuated by pockets of networking and fun socialising.
The Spotlights on Organisations that offer support to military spouses are great too. It’s so useful to have all the information you need in one place. There are so many organisations and charities offering support in this working military space, often with overlapping products and services, that it is difficult to know who to approach. Even finding out who’s operating in this space can be a challenge. Finding that information can be overwhelming, and that sense of overwhelm can hinder you seeing the right path for you.
So, having an impartial third-party like the MCN pull all this information together for you, allows you to make the right decision. Of course, you could reach out directly, but sometimes you’re not ready to do that. The MCN spotlights allow you to research, gather your information, whilst at the same time remaining anonymous and safe until you are ready to take the first step and make that first contact.
Even the monthly eNewsletter and regular updates on upcoming events serve an important function. I don’t check out the MCN website daily as I have other things to do, so these communications remind me to look. If I see something that interests me, I click!
The Impact of Military Life on Career Choices and Emotions
If you want to keep your job, your husband and your family with you, the best job for a military spouse is often a remote one. You could say that it’s part and parcel of military life. However, working remotely automatically brings with it loneliness and isolation.
Once the kids are at school, and your husband is out of the door, you’re on your own. So, having online opportunities to connect, especially when you can’t access a hub, is really important.
Having the chance to interact with people who get you and your military life, who understand the pressures you are under or the challenges you face, is like gold dust. You don’t have to explain anything. They already know.
And of course, when your partner is away on exercise or operations, they provide an important lifeline and become a vital door to essential companionship.
The MCN is about the whole person and not just the worker.
For me, what makes the MCN unique is its holistic approach. They’re not just about you, the worker, but also about you, the person.
A lot of the opportunities and resources they create are focussed on wellbeing and connection.
They recognise that isolation and loneliness are a core issue for many military spouses, and often underpin other challenges we face. The MCN really understands how to tackle these head on and make a difference to the lives of its members.
If I had to sum up the MCN Online Community in one word, I’d say ‘ESSENTIAL'.
About Jenny
Jenny runs Military Spouse Works, providing tailored support for your next career move, from auditing/writing your CV, to optimising your LinkedIn profile, and preparing you for your next interview.
Jenny has been a military spouse for over 11 years and understands the complexities and unique challenges of looking for work when you’re part of a military family.
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