Why Adjunct Roles Work for Military Spouses

Military spouses are highly educated, but with a higher unemployment rate compared to their civilian counterparts, they may want to consider the adjunct instructor pathway as an option. It provides long-term career advancement opportunities over time, community resources and support, and flexibility. 

Most data and research show that the spouse unemployment rate has lingered around 20 percent due to factors such as constant relocations, perceived biases (e.g., hiring military spouses means they’ll leave soon), and job accessibility. More resources are being poured into providing Academic and Career Support for Military Spouses than ever before. Legislative support, including interstate compact agreements for portable licensure, has additionally changed the landscape for military spouse employment.

Military spouses who are looking for ways to build upon their education and experience and earn some compensation while doing it, can use the adjunct instructor pathway as a springboard to more opportunities. It also supports their commitment to continued professional growth and ability to stay current in their fields. If you are a military spouse seeking part-time, flexible options, this may be worth your review. 

What You May Not Know About Adjunct Jobs

Adjunct instructors bring current workforce expertise and a diversity of experience, which enhances the pool of instructors at colleges and universities. This is because they either work within the field they teach or they have niche experiences that further elevate teaching and learning practices. Even though the roles are inherently part-time and based on enrollment needs, they offer flexible side income and help build professional experience. 

A master’s degree or higher is not always required to be an adjunct. Many colleges and universities have program areas that look for hard-to-hire and regulated fields, such as medical, technical, or specialized program pathways requiring licensure. Aside from the standard college credit coursework, adjuncts contribute to undergraduate two-year degrees or certificates, non-credit courses, or developmental and remedial classes. 

Regular face-to-face, clock-hour instruction is no longer the only preference, especially as more adults seek workforce credentials or career development. With varying modalities for teaching, adjunct instructors can perform the work completely online asynchronously, live online, in-person, or in hybrid formats that include a mix of both online and in-person or competency-based learning. Oftentimes, adjunct instructors work for more than one college or university, which expands their professional portfolio and exposes them to a broader network, training, and resources. 

How to Land an Adjunct Role

Competition for adjunct roles is usually based on the pool of applicants in relation to the program's needs. For example, if education and business fields are oversaturated at the local community college, it is worth widening the search and learning what programs are needed the most. Employee referrals and platforms like LinkedIn, where you can contact recruiters or other people, help humanize the whole process. This is increasingly necessary in the age of AI and automation. 

Another tactic is to comb through the college’s website for opportunities and not be limited to higher education job platforms. This additionally reveals what vision and strategies the college aims to accomplish and what you can bring to the table. Do not discredit online higher education institutions either. It is more important to focus on accredited organizations that can help you eventually launch a full-time career. 

After applying for the role, it is helpful to directly reach out to program leadership and deans. If there are adjunct job fairs in the area, attend those! It becomes a convenient and solid way to give the hiring leaders a face to a name. If there is not an immediate need to teach in your background area, be open to starting at different levels and types of courses as eligible. Sometimes it is just a matter of getting in and going from there. The key is to get them to see you.

The Human Side of It

Being a nontraditional student resonates in higher education. As a military spouse who is also often a nontraditional student, adjunct instruction can be a way of giving back to those with limited educational options, including military-connected learners. Other military spouses are already walking this path as Military Spouses Redefining Leadership in Higher Education. 

As an adjunct instructor and military spouse, you gain direct access to college or university community resources, professional development, and free or discounted tuition, which often can be applied to family members, children, and spouses. You also build a network of colleagues. At the end of the day, it is always about people connecting with people. The adjunct role can not only serve as a purposeful and flexible job option but also be seen as a future investment that catapults you to something more down the road. 

Refer to Military OneSource for more information on education and employment for military spouses.