The military lifestyle presents unique challenges to military spouses who are looking for employment due to frequent relocations. The Employment Readiness Program (ERP) was originally created to specifically address the employment needs of today's military spouses by providing them with the tools they need to successfully search for and obtain employment.
Located inside Army Community Service, Building 2494, Ricker Road, our Resource Center contains a well-stocked library with books and DVDs on career options, résumés, cover letters, job interviewing, federal employment, customer service training, office etiquette, and entrepreneurship. Whether you are new to the job market, changing careers, or a seasoned professional, the Employment Readiness Program can help you gain the tools you need to stay competitive in today's job market.
SPOUSE EMPLOYMENT ORIENTATION
Are you a military spouse new to the area and seeking employment? The Employment Readiness Program has partnered with Project Endeavor to deliver orientation weekly to educate spouses on services available to them and employment opportunities in the local area. Orientation is held at ACS, Building 2494 Ricker Road every Monday or Wednesday at 10 AM.
KEY DOWNLOADS FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU:
- Job postings
- Computers, Copy & Fax machine
- Resource Library
- Career Coaching
- Army Spouse Employment Partnership Program (Visit http://www.myarmylifetoo.com for details!)
- Free Job Search Skills workshops & Job Fairs
- Small & Home-Based Business Counseling
- Attire for Hire
- Virtual Assistant Training
- Operation RE/MAX / Spouse to Teachers
ATTEND A FREE JOB SEARCH SKILLS WORKSHOP:
- Writing a Winning Resume
- Creating Connections for Job Search Success: Networking to Get Working
- Ten Steps to a Federal Job
- Ace Your Next Job Interview!
- Career Exploration & Planning
- Jumpstart Your Job Search
- How to Mobilize Your Home Business
Free childcare available for military spouses to attend a workshop with pre-registration and advanced reservations through the Child Development center! Class schedule can be downloaded on this website or at ACS.
ONLINE WORKSHOPS AVAILABLE!
Not able to attend a face-to-face workshop? Still need assistance with preparing your resume or going on a job interview?
Free online training guides are available at www.susanireland.com in:
- Resume and Cover Letter Writing, Interviewing, E-resumes, and Salary Negotiation.
- Over 100 samples and tips are also on the site to assist you with your job search training.
NEED COMPUTER TRAINING?
- Online Computer & Software Training: Learn basic computer skills as well as popular software programs like MS Word, Excel, Access, & PowerPoint by visiting www.free-ed.net All classes are delivered in an online format and are available at no cost.
- Self-Paced Computer Lab: Goodwill Industries Workforce Services Department offers free computer training in a variety of software programs such as Internet Basics, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access. Location: 1155 Westmoreland, El Paso, TX 79924 915-778-1858. Hours of computer lab are Mon - Fri 9:45 am to 5:00 pm.
Attire for Hire Program
What would you wear to your next interview? One goal of the ERP is to empower military spouses with the tools they need to successfully obtain and maintain employment. Attire for Hire is available to assist you with obtaining professional business attire to go on job interviews and enter the workforce with style! Business suits and professional attire are provided at no cost to military spouses through donations of nearly-new items from the military community. If you need assistance in building your career wardrobe, visit the Junior Enlisted Family Center, located at the rear entrance of Building 51, Slater Road. Hours are Tuesday - Saturday 9 am to 3 pm.
Interested in starting a local small or home-based business?
Representatives from the Women's Business Border Center are now available ACS by appointment to speak to you about entrepreneurship and available avenues to get your business idea up and running. They specialize in educating potential business owners on writing business plans, marketing, start-up considerations, permits, licenses, contracting opportunities, and loan packaging.
Military Spouses Leveraging the Internet to Start "Portable" Careers as "Virtual Assistants"
Military spouses face unique career challenges resulting from a lifestyle that often involves frequent relocations-sometimes to remote, isolated posts, high-cost areas, and areas where the prospects for employment are less than ideal. These moves, necessary though they may be, not only impact employment prospects and family income, but the spouse's career progression as well. It is a difficult situation for many, but thanks to the growth of the Internet and the emergence of the virtual assistance industry, military spouses with expertise in administrative support and related areas are finally finding it easier to spread their entrepreneurial wings and develop viable, portable careers.
Virtual Assistants (VAs) are self-employed individuals who provide off-site business- support services to their clients. These services vary from one VA to the next, based on their experience and expertise, and can include day-to-day administrative tasks, competitive research, website design, resume writing, accounting, bookkeeping services, marketing support, translation, and graphic design. Work assignments are communicated through e-mail, phone, fax, mail, diskette transfer, and real-time online messaging. The virtual nature of these relationships lends itself easily to the transient or "nomadic" lifestyle that is so much a part of military family life.
Your Employment Readiness Program Coordinator has been certified by Staffcentrix, LLC, a company that specializes in training military spouses to become virtual assistants, to deliver their exclusive Portable Career & Virtual Assistant Training ProgramT. As the name implies, this Program is designed to teach military spouses to launch and grow their own virtual assistant businesses, and thus embark on a rewarding, challenging, and truly portable career. The Program is delivered in a series of several workshops Participation is limited and spouses will be selected based on the criteria and information they provide in their training application.
Candidates for the Program should have a minimum of two years of administrative support experience, Internet access, a good working knowledge of basic software, a computer with a Windows 95 or newer operating system, and-above all-a strong desire for employment or employment change.
If you are an active-duty military spouse who would like to participate in this free training program, please complete and submit the online application at http://www.msvas.com/application_bliss.htm or call 915-568-1132 for more information.