In recognition of Friday’s national observance of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, the new NC Military Spouse Transition Network will support State of North Carolina employees seeking similar jobs elsewhere due to their spouse’s redeployment, as well as assist state-employee from other states whose military-member spouse has been redeployed here.
Additionally, the State Human Resources Commission (SHRC) has expanded the Veterans Preference Policy to include active members of the North Carolina National Guard, former members with a minimum of six years of creditable service, and the surviving spouse or dependent of a North Carolina National Guard member whose death was service-related.
“As the most military-friendly state in the nation, North Carolina is dedicated to ensuring that service members and eligible family members receive support in continuing to provide service to the nation and their new home state,” said Governor Roy Cooper.
Barbara Gibson, State Human Resources Director, said the NC Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) is eager to partner with State of North Carolina agencies and other state governments to facilitate connections for state-employee military spouses “Our state agencies and the University System recognize the skills, experience and dedication of military members, as well as those of resilient spouses eager to continue their own public service careers,” Gibson said.
OSHR manages the NC Military Spouse Transition Network, which is a collaboration with the National Association of State Personnel Executive (NASPE). OSHR joins 18 other NASPE member states that have established networks to help connect state-employee spouses to government job opportunities and services, such as resume building, skills translation and informal contacts in the vast scope of state government career fields.
“Some military spouses and their families experience a change of duty station every three years, making it difficult to grow their careers and provide financial support for their family,” said Kristin Siemek, State Talent Acquisition Manager. “We hope to impact the cycle of having to start from the bottom in their career field each time they move – or settle for low-wage jobs that do not offer long-term career options.”
The revised Veterans and National Guard Preference Policy has been updated, and the state jobs application form was revised in March to include the categories of North Carolina National Guard eligibility. Additionally, training has been provided to agency Human Resources Offices regarding how to track eligibility status for the preference policy as well as how to track military spouse status in the Human Resources Information and Applicant Tracking System.
All jobseekers interested in state government career opportunities are encouraged to visit the State of North Carolina Careers portal and create an online profile. That profile is used to apply for positions, as well as to set alerts for postings in desired career fields and preferred locations. For additional information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).