New employment coaching for military spouses

By Lookout Production on Sep 20, 2024 with Comments 0

Peter Mallett,
Staff Writer

—

With the summertime posting season slowing down, military members on the move to and from bases and wings across the country are settling into their new homes.

Military spouses and partners facing disruptive relocations or deployments now have a free support program at the ready to help find new jobs or maintain existing careers while juggling complicated schedules.

“The intent of CareerCOACH+ is to help individuals make informed career decisions, set and achieve career-related goals and overcome challenges in their professional journeys,” says Vanessa Walsh, a Senior Manager of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS).

CareerCOACH+ is a new online initiative launched by CFMWS and powered by private sector human resources firm CareerJoy to deliver the service. It boasts free bilingual virtual career coaching with its career professionals and useful online resources.

“CareerJoy has collaborated with CFMWS to ensure that every coach involved in this support program comprehensively understands the distinctive career challenges encountered by military spouses,” Walsh says.

Demand for help is urgent, says Walsh while noting a recent survey by the Director General Military Personnel Research and Analysis indicated 42 per cent of military spouses report employment is one of the to three challenges they face. Military spouses also report feeling under-employed or overqualified for their current role, added Walsh.

“Prolonged absences of the family’s serving member due to deployments or operations and frequent relocations can act as barriers for employment and career advancement,” she said.

The resources are now just a mouse click away for partners of Canadian Armed Forces members, both Regular Force and Reserves. It pledges to provide clients the power, autonomy and flexibility to shape career development regardless of career history, career goals or geographic location.

Walsh says there has been a strong uptake and interest in the program in other locations across the country with almost 300 military spouses utilizing the program.

“We hope more people in Victoria take advantage of this opportunity,” said Walsh. “It is a strong example of the commitment by CFMWS to improving the resilience and well-being of military family members and empowering individual skills and training.”

For more information, visit cfmws.ca/careercoach.

The support includes five hour-long virtual coaching sessions on Zoom, MS Teams, or telephone. A dedicated career coach will provide counseling and advice on topics including career exploration, assistance with employment searches, resume and cover letter support, interview tactics, social media utilization and professional networking strategies.

With their registration, clients can also gain access to the CareerCOACH+ learning lab. It offers online access to a resource portal with modules in career development, growth and advancement tips on what to expect when working with a career coach, preparing for interviews, upgrading LinkedIn Profiles and negotiating future employment.