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P Career Mapping MilLife Connection

CS moves are a fact of life for military families, and, unfortunately, they can mean military spouses

change jobs often or experience unemploy- ment. Don’t wait to get ahead of the trend. Jump-start your job search right away. Leaving a job? You might qualify for

unemployment compensation because you’re a military spouse. Check www.moaa .org/spouseblog and search for “unemploy- ment” for the updated list of states that offer this benefit. Gather personal and professional

references, including endorsements on LinkedIn. References are your strongest professional advocates. Maintain healthy relationships with them and keep them apprised of your journey. With the many career shifts military spouses encounter, a

reference from a job three moves ago could be the key reference for your next job. Reach out to your references today. Do your homework. Research your new location with Military OneSource and installation and community resources, such as employment readiness offices and the local Chamber of Commerce. Become a fan of local Facebook pages, the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, and Hir- ing our Heroes to get more job leads. If you’ll need child care, contact your

installation’s child development center as early as possible. Research any additional child care centers in the area. Military One- Source, Sitter City, and Care.com can be helpful in this process. Set yourself up for success. Put your job search on your PCS checklist today!

Military Spouse Symposia

Attend a MOAA Mili- tary Spouse Sympo- sium Keeping a Career on the Move®. MOAA brings its signature professional-develop- ment conference for military spouses to Norfolk, Va.; Washing- ton, D.C.; and Tampa, Fla., this year. Even if you’ve at-

tended a MOAA spouse symposium in the past, you’re bound to pick up helpful new tips and resources or meet a new connection to steer your career in positive directions. As MOAA Transition

Center Director Capt. Jim Carman, USN (Ret), emphasized at a 2014 symposium, “résumé-writing is an ongoing exercise.” Everyone has room for improvement, and MOAA’s trained career counselors will be on hand at each event. For more informa- tion, articles about past symposia, and a video summary, visit www.moaa.org/ spousesymposium.

online: Find more MOAA military spouse resources at www.moaa.org/spouse. ILLUSTRATION: KELLY LEIGH MILLER FEBRUARY 2015 MILITARY OFFICER 27