“I don’t have a job. Bring on the next duty station!” If you don’t have a job, want to leave your current job behind, or can’t take your job with you, then it’s time to start looking forward to new opportunities.
Get your marketing materials in order, including your resume and references.
Do your research to identify potential job openings and companies for which you would like to work. Start applying to positions and connecting with recruiters if possible.
Update LinkedIn and reach out to your network to let them know you are moving and looking for new employment opportunities.
Get your job search in order and get ready for the rollercoaster ride that is PCSing while moving your career. If all else fails, know you are not alone.
“We’re moving, my job’s moving; how am I going to get everything done?” Admittedly, to those in the prior categories, having a job that can move with you seems like an enviable position. However, should you be so fortunate, you still have PCS planning to do.
If you are PCSing, make sure you're communicating honestly with your boss. If you need to take time off, say so. If you will be without internet, say so. If you plan to get as much work done as possible pre-PCS and will then be MIA for a few weeks, say so. Communicate, set clear expectations in advance to avoid unpleasant surprises, and make sure your work supplies don't end up packed with the rest of your household goods.
No matter which PCS scenario you find yourself in this PCS season, good luck, and remember to breathe!
If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of service members, spouses, or dependents PCSing this summer, good luck! Remember to breathe.
Career success is typically about the quality of related experience and education in your field, not the diverse and sometimes overwhelming quantity of previous experience or education you have.