Employment

The National Capital Region (NCR) has an abundant and varied job market with plentiful opportunities in areas such as Defense contracting, association/non-profit management, healthcare, education, retail sales and of course federal employment. A significant portion of these jobs are located inside “the Beltway” where commutes are shorter but housing costs higher. While DC, Alexandria, Arlington and Crystal City offer the highest concentration of government and defense affiliated opportunities, there are several suburban corporate centers around the Beltway that offer ample employment options as well. Examples of these beyond-the-beltway commercial centers include Reston, Tysons Corner, Silver Spring and Bethesda. The Fort Belvoir area, where many military families choose to live, will see increased employment opportunities as current BRAC initiatives relocate several agencies there with up to 21,000 additional personnel by 2011. 

According to Department of Labor statistics, the Washington–Baltimore–Northern Virginia median mean wage is $24.80. Sample private sector median wages follow: retail cashier ($9.00), secretary/administrative assistant ($19.95), medical assistant ($14.89), registered nurse ($32.00) and network administrator ($33.22).

With a current unemployment rate of 6.1 % for the Northern Virginia-DC metro region, the area has not seen the same drastic unemployment crisis that other regions have. Those seeking entry level, middle or upper management positions will find no shortage of job openings; however, the region has a highly skilled work force so competing for your dream job requires patience and flexible expectations! There are many local staffing agencies which offer temporary positions and this route provides more immediate income while pursuing your long-term career objective. Higher education institutions are plentiful in the region and job seekers would be wise to consider expanding their skill set through additional training and/or college courses if their job search is moving slowly. This is a great time to go back to school for  military spouses.  

Numerous resources exist for employment assistance in the area. The Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) has offices in several Northern Virginia locations and offers resources and help for finding jobs—the VEC is also the agency to visit if filing for unemployment compensation; however, unless you’ve worked in Virginia in the last 18 months or have just returned form a federal position overseas, you will likely need to file in the state where you were last employed (see VEC website for details). The Arlington Employment Center, a “Career One Stop” center, is located near Fort Myer and is easily accessible by Metro. It is highly recommended that job seekers employ a “multi-resourced” approach to their search. The more agencies and contacts you utilize, the more powerful your job search network will be!

A large presence of DOD agencies and military installations are located in the DC area. These organizations offer ample federal employment opportunities most of which are posted on usajobs.gov; however note that many departments (i.e. Army, Navy, DLA, FBI, etc.) require resumes to be built and submitted through their own individual web sites. NAF (Non Appropriated Funds) positions exist in a wide variety of areas that support Soldiers and their families. Positions may be found in child development, food and beverage management (Clubs), bowling, recreation, hotels and billeting, clerical and administrative, to name a few. NAF programs offer many benefits and extend hiring preference to eligible military family members. NAF opportunities exist at all DOD installations around the region, so include those sites in your search.

Depending on the jobs targeted, especially in the federal sector, it’s important to carry several documents with you that may be required when applying for jobs. For example, prior federal employees will need a copy of their last SF-50–essential for military spouses who wish to enroll in the DOD Priority Placement Program. Other necessary documents may include your marriage license and PCS Orders (to determine eligibility for spouse preference), college transcripts, performance appraisals, certificates, licenses and social security card. 

The Family Member Employment Program (FMEP) at Henderson Hall provides counseling and assistance with job skills assessment, resume writing, federal applications and navigating the local job market. Clients are also provided computer, printer and fax access for job hunting purposes and can also find employment leads through our job board. To schedule an appointment, call (703) 693-8441 or 703-614-6828 (DSN) 223-8441 or 224-6828. Separating or retiring Marines are encouraged to register with Transition Readiness at 703-693-9144 (DSN) 223-9144. Transition Readiness offers a wide range of employment assistance services along with benefits counseling to transitioning Marines.

Good Prospects

Many positions are available in the following sectors: government, legal, information technology, defense and construction.

Fair Prospects

Some positions are available in retail sales and telecommunications.

Poor Prospects

Very few industrial jobs exist in the area.  

MyCAA

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, call 703-614-6828/8441 or visit Military OneSource.

Contact the Marine and Family Programs Career Resource Management Center at 703-614-6828 or 703-693-4881 for assistance. In the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area – which is inclusive of the District of Columbia, southern Maryland and Northern Virginia – the employment opportunities are good in most professional areas, including blue collar and construction. The majority of local business is dependent on the needs of the federal government.