FAQs

We’re STEM professionals… we always have questions!

I am thinking about joining.

Q : I work and am a student. What membership type should I pick?

A : If you are currently enrolled in 6 or more credit hours, you qualify for student membership.

Q : I am pursuing a degree in a STEM related field, but I also am a career spouse, currently working.  Which membership would apply to me?

A : Congratulations on furthering your education.  We have many spouses who are continuing on their journey while still working. If you are at anytime working towards a degree, we’re pleased to offer you our “Student” membership. This helps us also identify you for resources and scholarship opportunities that may be applicable in the future.

Q : I am looking for a job. Does being a member help me get a job?

A : We exist to advocate for you and to help you connect with other military spouses in STEM and employers who are looking to enhance their talent diversity by on-boarding and retaining military spouse talent. We also share job opportunities as we hear about them. You will need to put in the effort to explore these opportunities but we are building the lighthouse to bring all of those opportunities together to our members.

Q : I am struggling to find the right type of support and services for my career. Will SMSS help me?

A : Many of the support and services available for military spouses do not meet the needs of STEM professionals. SMSS was formed because we realized there wasn’t a collective voice representing the interests and needs of military spouses in STEM and who better to provide that voice than actual military spouses in STEM. You won’t find a lot of support and services provided directly by SMSS but you will find that you are connecting with others who are also searching for the right type of support and you will have access to opportunities made possible through our partners and sponsors. You will also find that you are adding to the power of our collective voice so when we speak with employers, support organizations, politicians, and other influential leaders, we are amplifying our message and advocating for our shared interests.

Q : Does mentorship come with membership?

Great question! Members have access to the Member Directory. If there is someone specific a member is interested in connecting with, he or she can do so directly through all the ways each member has shared on their member profile. Members tend to organically development professional relationships this way. We also have a Member-to-Member support program that any member can submit a request for support, anonymously if preferred.

I submitted a membership application.

Q : I completed a membership application and I received an email informing me that I need to complete one or more steps to complete the process. Please let me know what actions I need to take.

A : This may be a matter of a few things: Could it be that you weren’t sure which membership was right for you?  Maybe, we were looking to verify your military affiliation for security purposes.  All of these are possible reasons why your membership may have been held up in the process.  Please send an email to: [email protected] and we’ll work together to process your application and get you on your way.

I am a member.

Q : Do you have a Facebook or LinkedIn group?

A : We no longer have any social media groups because all of our members are gathered in a closed member portal.

Q : Do you have a job board?

A : Members often share job opportunities with each other and you can tell us about job opportunities which we share with members.

Q : Not sure what I want to do to volunteer. I want to know more though!

A : Great! SMSS is a member-driven organization and we couldn’t run without enthusiastic members like you.  Select your interests in your member profile and watch for our calls for involvement. In the meantime, we hope you will connect and network with other members because that is a tremendous benefit to our organization.

Q : How can I protect myself from fraudulent jobs and what should I do if I encounter one?

A : This Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information page provides helpful information about job scams. If you’ve been scammed…

1. If you encountered a fraudulent posting, company or organization shared through SMSS or our members, partners or sponsors, please contact SMSS via email [email protected], so we can investigate and take appropriate action.
2. Find additional information about actions to take on this helpful University of Delaware’s page.

Q : What can we expect for the future growth of the organization and how can I help?

A : We are growing slowly and intentionally so we can provide members with valuable, sustainable benefits. We don’t want to be yet another organization who is delivering programming that doesn’t hit the mark. We are here to build strategic relationships and be a voice of change so those who are already positioned to provide services and capture your insanely amazing talent can better understand you and help to position you for the success you desire. You are helping to build the organization, and ultimately your benefits, by simply being a member and engaging with your fellow members and our sponsors and partners. Volunteering to be interviewed, quoted, or contribute to our external communications are the top ways you can help us communicate who “we” are!

I am an employer.

Q : Do you have a job board or a place for us to share job opportunities with SMSS members?

A : We love to share great STEM opportunities with our members. You can fill out a form here https://www.smsstem.org/post-a-job/

I am just a curious person.

Q : What will be the fate of our universe?

A : We are working on an answer for you. We will be back soon.

 

Last updated 12/8/2024  |  Have another question? Ask us.