The Programme

The Career Transition Partnership is delighted to support Service spouses with personal development through the Spouse Employment Support Trial. The support can encompass the following:

Direct Support

A meeting or telephone call with a Career Consultant to discuss and develop your Spouse Development Plan (SDP). This will last up to an hour and will enable you to outline what you want to achieve, the actions to take, and the resources you can use, including applying for your Training Grant. Or a one-day Job Finding Workshop that will cover:

• CV preparation
• Networking and social media
• Job search skills
• Job applications
• Interview techniques

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Development of a Spouse Development Plan (SDP)

• The SDP records goals and actions, skills acquisition, barriers, contacts and milestone dates
• The SDP allows the Service spouse and the CTP team supporting them to keep track of their progress
• The SDP can be used to plan a Service spouse’s training needs and potential courses, and help with the completion of the Training Grant Application Form

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Access to myPlan

myPlan is the personalised area of CTP website, which includes:

• Career Assessment Activities: Values & Drivers; Interests, skills and strengths; Thought-Provoking Statements; Strengths Analysis
• Checklists allowing Service spouses to create virtual “to do” lists for specific topics
• CV Builder - create and edit a CV in 4 easy stages, with tips, hints and formatting tools
• Access to RightJob for vacancy search (see Job finding Support below)
• Plotr career matching game
• Interview Simulator
• CTP Video Library – over 500 video clips featuring employers talking about what makes a successful job search, from CVs to networking to interviews

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Online resources

The CTP website provides all Service spouses with an extensive menu of information on all aspects of career change and job search. Key elements of the CTP website include:

• “Focus” monthly e-newsletter - the latest news from CTP including employer recruitment programmes, new events and courses
• Links to useful websites
• Job finding information including the Employer Focus Directory – employer micro sites with information and job opportunities, and Employment Events Calendar with online booking facility

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Enhancement webinars

Service spouses will have access to a comprehensive range of webinars to enhance knowledge and skills, or develop new skills to assist with their move to a new career. These are still being developed but will include:

• Networking - introduction to LinkedIn and Social media
• Interview Techniques
• CV development
• Job evaluation and salary negotiating

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Start Up Support

• Signposting to the Wolverhampton University Business Start Up Programme. For further details and to register for the Business Start-Up programme contact the Armed Forces Coordinator on [email protected] or 01902 321677
• Access to Cobra online research facility for starting a business – available through myPlan
• Referral to X-Forces for mentoring and assistance with applying for a business loan

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Other Resources

A Job Finding Workbook with information and guidance on CV writing, networking, applying for jobs, and interview techniques. This will be in electronic format.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

Employment Events

A comprehensive programme of employment events is scheduled throughout the year and across the whole of the UK, and Germany. The events are designed to inform Service spouses of the opportunities and entry requirements for sectors and companies they may be interested in, and to meet employers who have opportunities for Service spouses. They take the following formats:

• Regional Employment fairs, held at large external venues, with circa 60 stands manned by employers, employer organisations, and support agencies, and capable of accommodating up to 500 attendees
• Company open days – held at an employer’s venue, involving presentations and a tour for invited Service spouses
• Live chat events with employers on the Employer Directory on the CTP website

________________________________________________________________________________________

Job Finding Support

• Access to RightJob, Right Management’s bespoke jobs and job-matching database developed for the CTP, to search thousands of vacancies by job title, job type, job description, required skills and qualifications, industry sector, location and region. Suitable matches are presented based on skills, qualifications, and aspirations and preferences
• Access to opportunities with Brook Street, part of the Manpower Group of companies
• Central Employment Team available 0830 – 2000 weekdays and 0830 – 1400 Saturdays for queries regarding myPlan and RightJob