| First Lady Unveils New Military Spouse Hiring Effort
First Lady Michelle Obama today announced a new hiring effort intended to deliver thousands of portable, flexible job opportunities to military spouses and veterans in the coming years. Jill Biden, the vice president's wife, launched this national initiative last year to rally the nation in support of troops, veterans and their families. "Military spouses often are the most talented and most resilient and most employable people around," she said. But while challenging, a military lifestyle also equips spouses with a vast array of in-demand job skills, the first lady said. The first lady's announcement comes in advance of next week's Joining Forces anniversary. And flexible work hours offer a better work-life balance, particularly for spouses caring for children or elderly parents. Since then, they've focused much of their efforts on employment issues for spouses and veterans, the first lady said, and have "made strides all along the way. Wanting time at home with their baby daughter, Shaffer found a job as an at-home client service professional, which offers her both portability and flexibility. "I absolutely love what I do. Also on the call, Air Force wife Dawn Shaffer recounted the employment challenges that drove her to find the at-work flexibility she needed. Shaffer started out as a veterinary technician, but was unable to find work in her field after she and her husband, Air Force Staff Sgt. The first lady noted the value of flexible, portable jobs for military spouses, who must balance work and home life with military-related demands. "Having an opportunity to have a decent job … is one of the most important ways we can support these families. This new effort will offer spouses thousands of at-home employment opportunities in areas such as customer support and telemarketing, as well as jobs which are physically located near military installations, a White House news release said today. This commitment will make a "huge difference" for military spouses, Obama said during a teleconference announcing the initiative. These companies along with their job opportunities will be integrated into the Defense Department's Military Spouse Employment Partnership, the release said. "Whatever comes up in life along the way, these types of jobs will give them the sort of flexibility and portability they'll need to succeed, not just in their careers, but the rest of their lives as well," Obama said on theconference call. Military spouses shoulder a significant burden, Obama noted. The first lady praised the companies that have stepped up to support spouses and veterans. ". |
Thursday, 5 April 2012
First Lady Unveils New Military Spouse Hiring Effort
