By Lisa Woodrum
Military spouses face unique challenges when it comes to securing employment; one of which is the lack of networking in their local communities. The Military Spouse Fellowship Program (MSFP) answers this need. It is a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and is a nationwide initiative with eight locations throughout the U.S. to help veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses find meaningful employment. The program connects career-ready military spouses and military caregivers with exceptional professional opportunities.
Fellowships provide military spouses with professional training and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce. At the completion of the program, spouses have expanded their credentials and marketability, providing them with an added edge in an increasingly competitive 21st-century job market. The overall goal is for companies to host fellows and align them with open positions after the fellowship. Since 2015, more than 7,000 people have participated in the programs with more than 500 host companies. Within 90 days of completing the program, 93% of our fellows receive a job offer.
The MSFP evolved from the Corporate Fellowship Program which was created for transitioning military members to civilian employment. It was acknowledged that this template could be utilized for finding employment for military spouses. So, in 2017, a pilot program was launched, finding great success the first year. Most recent statistics from 2021 show 232 fellows over the eight locations with 92% job offer rate. MSFP has an excellent track record as they have facilitated 600 fellows through this program.
Visit the website, hiringourheroes.org/fellowships to complete a brief “pre-screening” application (to determine eligibility) in the military spouse section.
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