From Layoff to Landing Her Next Role, Marine Corps Spouse Proves Success is Earned
For Marine Corps spouse Savana Dempich, 2025 had the potential to be a very difficult year. After unexpectedly losing her job due to a layoff, Savana found herself unemployed for the first time since beginning her career. To make matters worse, much of her professional network was facing the same challenge, leaving her with fewer contacts to lean on and more competition for every open role.
“I knew it was going to be a tough job search to find something in my field, fully remote, all while competing against my own network.”
Savana Dempich
She was experiencing a difficult mix of circumstances many military spouses know well: the need for flexibility and remote work, combined with a saturated job market and a nontraditional career path. Rather than letting those obstacles define her year, Savana began looking for solutions that were tailor-made for military families.
From Resourcefulness to Resources
Savana recognized that, as a military spouse, she had a variety of resources available to help her overcome these employment challenges. She began working with several military spouse organizations and veteran service organizations to earn a Google Career Certificate at no cost to her, sought resume assistance, worked with an industry mentor, and gained access to private job boards. These programs gave her structure in a season of uncertainty and reminded her she didn’t have to navigate the process alone.
One opportunity that stood out was Hiring Our Heroes’ Amplify, which was scheduled for an in-person session in her local area. Savana decided to register, seeing it as a chance to deepen her job-search skills, practice her elevator pitch, and participate in a hiring fair.
“I knew the benefits Amplify could provide to me as a spouse, so I was eager to attend,” she says.
Related: See the motto by which Savana lives her professional life.
Hands-on Learning
The two-day, in-person Amplify touched on every part of the job search—resumes, applications, networking, interviewing, and optimizing LinkedIn profiles—and culminated in a hiring fair. For Savana, it was more than just a checklist of topics; it was a way to pull all the separate pieces of her job search into a clear, actionable plan.
“Amplify provided foundational knowledge that I was then able to practice at the job fair,” Savana explains.
At Amplify, Savana was able to tailor her resume in real time, practice her elevator pitch with employers, and receive live feedback on how she presented her experience.
From Community to Career Network
In addition to the classroom learning and practical applications, Savana found unexpected value in the community she built during the workshop.
“I benefited from meeting local spouses at my installation and being connected to local resources there, ensuring that when the workshop was over, we still had support and assistance when we needed it,” she shares.
She left those two days of professional development at Amplify with a network of peers who understood the unique challenges she was facing, along with ongoing support from local organizations and professionals who could continue to guide her search. She credits the workshop with providing a big boost of confidence at a time when her confidence had been shaken by the layoff.
When Timing Meets Tenacity
Looking back, Savana describes the timing as almost uncanny. Amplify was hosted at Camp Lejeune just as she was processing the shock of her layoff, giving her a concrete next step when she needed it most. But while she claims “the stars aligned” when Amplify came to the installation, it was her tenacity and perseverance—showing up, doing the work, and applying what she learned—that turned that timing into employment success.
“By applying the knowledge I gained, I am glad to share I received several offers and accepted a fully remote position that is a great fit for my career in less than two months.”
Savana Dempich
Savana’s experience shows how, when military spouses combine their own determination with the right support and training, they can not only bounce back from setbacks but move forward to roles that fit their lives and their long-term goals.
