CAREER PURSUIT

and misunderstood yet have a vast range of skills that make them a hugely talented group. They come from diverse backgrounds and have life experiences beyond the usual. The majority are women – and mums − who are the continuity at home during long- term deployments by partners. They move their families regularly – sometimes to other countries. They have the ability to re-network into new communities. This offers a resilience, adaptability and resourcefulness unlike any other. Rusila Halofaki, a sourcing specialist for BAE Systems (as part of our Liquid Workforce), has a typical work history for military spouses: “I wanted to follow in my parents’ footsteps and become a high school teacher. I did that for a few years before moving into international marketing for a few years. I got married and moved to Cyprus to join my husband in his Army career. From Cyprus to Germany, I had administration roles and took a career break in Belgium before returning to the UK. Upon our return I took up the next available job working for the catering company on our camp before having to move again.” Rusila is now an award-winning team leader for BAE Systems, in addition to being an advocate for members of the Commonwealth in our Armed Forces. She has also been nominated for an award at this year’s Women in Defence Awards. Most of our candidates have degrees. Some are bilingual or trilingual. There are military spouses who are entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers and more, and, in order to work, many take jobs they are overqualified for. CVs may look potted with job changes or gaps. But consider the skills developed in that time and the reasoning behind them – commitment, resourcefulness, adaptability and resilience. Doesn’t that sound like an ideal employee? Paul Modley, Global Talent Acquisition Director at Alexander Mann Solutions, says: “In amongst this group of individuals there are numerous technical and transferable skills that employers are missing out on.” However, the opportunity to work remotely and flexibly, at a level representative of their experience, is a rarity. Recruit for Spouses work to enable employers to realise the quality of candidates they could have working for them – they bring real tangible benefits to businesses, and when given the opportunity, this group of individuals thrives. As Paul Modley states: “There is no complex formula that needs to be implemented to attract these individuals – it’s simply a case of shifting mindsets.” We work with progressive businesses that want to have a positive influence in their recruitment and selection processes. They see the benefit of an agile, flexible workforce that displays loyalty and adaptability to their changing environments. This under-utilised talent pool of military spouses is here and is more than ready and able to work. They are hungry for the challenge, and Recruit for Spouses works tirelessly to bring these amazing individuals to the fore and provide them with the opportunity to show businesses what they are truly capable of – far more than a tray of cakes. “Recruit for Spouses was, for me, a platform for women who understood my struggles and my challenges as a spouse that had been moving around too many times and not being able to establish a permanent career.” Rusila Halofaki, Military Spouse 45 C A R E E R P U R S U I T 2 0 2 0