The Reporter (Lansdale, PA)

Transition employment assistance available for military spouses

- Marcus K. Wardlaw Deputy Regional Administra­tor U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

Approximat­ely 200,000 men and women transition from U.S. military service to civilian life annually. Like military spouses in transition across the nation, those in Montgomery County face obstacles to securing good jobs.

What do you need to connect with meaningful employment? As we grappled with major changes in the workforce and the pandemic’s many challenges, that’s the question we asked military spouses who were transition­ing with their service member from active duty last year.

The answer we received: Better informatio­n on the job search and applicatio­n process, from crafting a compelling resume to marketing themselves to negotiatin­g salaries.

In order to meet these needs, and provide a successful path to plan and prepare for job searches, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service created a series of free, stand-alone virtual workshops that we call TEAMS — Transition Employment Assistance for Military Spouses.

During Military Appreciati­on Month, we rolled out several virtual workshops that included a focus on federal hiring, interview skills, Linkedin profiles and job searches and salary negotiatio­ns. Next month through August, we are offering the following:

• Your Next Move

• Career Credential­s

• Mastering Resume Essentials

• Marketing Me Participan­ts can engage with the facilitato­rs and get expert feedback, and we offer these live classes on a monthly basis across many time zones to meet the needs of military spouses stationed worldwide. Our goal is to provide current and relevant employment training, tools and resources for military spouses.

More than 558 people have already attended the courses, and they’ve described them as “very helpful,” “eye opening” and “great.” Visit veterans.gov/milspouses/events today to learn more and register for upcoming workshops.

The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service recognizes the importance of empowering spouses and ensuring they have the necessary tools and resources to thrive in all facets of their lives, including in the workforce. We couldn’t be more excited for our latest workshops dedicated to helping military spouses in Montgomery County and throughout the country find the job of their dreams!

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