Military spouses find jobs with Sheppard's help

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Candy Miller
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  It's a big concern for military families when a military member receives a permanent change of station, especially for a spouse with a steady job.

Spouses may have to quit their jobs and look for a new one when they move. But assistance is available through the Airman and Family Readiness Center Career Focus Program to help military spouses in their job search.

"It's a core service we provide," Michelle Schroeder, community readiness consultant for the center, "It's a concern most individuals have when they PCS."

The Career Focus Program offers different options for its customers.

Local businesses looking for employees often e-mail the Airman and Family Readiness Center to share job opportunities with anyone looking for work. The program puts businesses together on a local employment sheet for spouses to use as a resource.

Mrs. Schroeder said most job applications are automated and can be filled out online. If a customer is looking for a job but doesn't have online access, the center offers a resource room for customers to do job searches online.

The Career Focus Program also helps with resumé building, she said.

"A resume represents the individual; they write in their own words what their strengths are," she said, "We just tweak it."

The center's services don't stop after the job search and resume is completed. Ms. Schroeder said the program provides mock interviews to prepare individuals for a face-to-face meeting with a potential employer. The individual plays the role of the interviewee, which includes dressing up for the occasion. If the interview is to prepare for a particular business, the center will research and ask questions similar to what that business could ask.

The Airman and Family Readiness Center also provides the Military Spouse Virtual Assistance Program, which allows spouses to create a business and work from home. 

For additional information on the Career Focus Program or the Military Spouse Virtual Assistance Program contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at 676-4358.