Common wisdom might suggest that planning is everything when it
comes to achieving career goals. But moving around the globe every
few years can derail even the best of plans.
Tammy Robinson is the spouse of a military servicemember on active
duty and that means frequent transfers—and gaps in a resume.
In 2000, Robinson completed a bachelor’s degree in health science
and started working with young adults, doing home visits with
juveniles who were under house arrest. Then the Army stationed
her husband in Germany, where Robinson spent three years in a job
unrelated to her career path.
Real meaning of military-friendly
“When we were about to transfer back to the States, I felt that I had
lost three years of knowledge and experience,” Robinson says. She
decided the best way to get back on track was to advance her
education.
“Being the spouse of a military member, I knew the traditional
classroom environment was going to be almost impossible, so I looked
at online schools and chose Capella,” Robinson says. What helped
her decide? Courses and programs directly related to her career goals,
and Capella’s record of supporting learners with military affiliations.
Preparation meets opportunity
After completing her degree, Robinson made a pleasant discovery.
“When you have something to offer, you can get jobs, even though
your career takes a lot of turns based on location and opportunity.
Because I had that master’s degree, I had plenty of opportunities.”
Now Robinson has a demanding job as the director of social
services at a nursing home, where she looks after the well-being of
the residents and helps their families cope with situations that are
sometimes difficult or complex.
The knowledge she gained at Capella stands her in good stead in her
current job. “What I learned at Capella, I use all the time on my job.”