Portable Jobs for Moving Spouses

November 8, 2005

By Elizabeth Saloom

The Departments of Labor and Defense are business partners with Staffcentrix, LLC, of Woodstock, Conn., and are working together on a program to help Defense Department spouses train for and find portable work.

The objective of Staffcentrix’s program for military spouses is to train them to build successful businesses that are financially viable, portable and gratifying.

These businesses should be able to help the spouses overcome the career obstacles they often face because they move frequently and sometimes are assigned to isolated posts. This should also improve satisfaction with the military lifestyle for the spouse and his or her family.

“Military spouse virtual assistants” (MSVAs) are self-employed people who offer support services to businesses via the Internet, phone and fax.

Staffcentrix provides training to the spouses to enable them to become MSVAs. The Portable Career & Virtual Assisting Training Program for Military Spouses™ is presented in phases—using a combination of on-site

training and online support. Training covers the following topics: “Exploring Entrepreneurship & Self-Employment,” “Anticipating Changes in the Household,” and “Launching and Marketing Your Virtual Service Practice.”

The training is not open to everyone—to participate, military spouses have to apply and be accepted into the program.

Spouses interested in applying must at least have the following requirements:

• a minimum of two years of administrative support experience within the past eight years;
• Internet access and a good working knowledge of how to use the Web, e-mail, attachments, browser, etc.;
• a home office (or the space and resources to set up an office);
• a computer with Windows 95, 98, 2000 or XP operating system and basic software applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.);
• a strong desire for employment or an employment change; and
• the ability and willingness to attend all phases of the program.

Staffcentrix has another program tailored to Department of State spouses, who also are often required to move. See next week’s issue of Federal Employees News Digest for more on this program, which is called E-Entrepreneur.

For more information, go to www.msvas.com.