FORT RILEY, Kan. - The idea of working from home is catching on with more and more Soldiers and spouses on post. The Employee Readiness Program of Army Community Service sponsors periodic Work From Home workshops to make participants aware of the cost, training, discipline and other factors involved in starting a business at home.
In a recent workshop, more than 50 spouses and Soldiers came to the ACS building on Custer Hill. Guest speakers represented different companies and networking organizations who offered advice for specific employment fields from child care to online work.
Career Step is one company that presents at the workshop. The company offers career online training in medical transcription and medical billing. It also offers direct placement upon training completion.
"They have companies that only want their graduates," said Stephanie Johnson, ERP program support assistant who coordinates the workshops. "So it's not a situation of just getting a certification and then thinking, 'okay, what do I do with it'' They have direct placement opportunities."
Companies and organizations represented at the workshop also realize that military spouses are very mobile.
"One of the great things about our workshop is that the two people from Career Step flew in from Utah, where their company is based. They were here last summer, as well, and they'll be back," Johnson said. "They know we refer a lot of folks to their program."
Of the four other presenters, three were local military spouses who have virtual careers. One spouse, Celeste Snyder, represented the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network, a nonprofit corporate direct-hire program.
"They act as a personal job search agent if you have a well qualified resume on their Web site," Johnson said. "It's dedicated to military spouses."
The workshop sheds light on both pros and cons of starting a home business. Among advantages of working from home are work schedule flexibility, managing Family time, and being able to move the job to a new post when PCS orders arrive. Disadvantages include limited personal contact and technical difficulties that may delay communications or work production.
Teresa Johnson, ERP manager, cautioned those who are thinking about working in an online career field.
"Be certain of the site. Use the Better Business Bureau to make sure that site's legitimate, and if they ask for money up front, just don't do it."
The popularity of working from home is growing at Fort Riley. In the past, ERP staff conducted workshops in classrooms. However, so many people signed up for the January event that ERP had to hold the training in an enormous open area of the ACS building.
"There were folks calling up to say they couldn't make it to the workshop, but they wanted the information," Stephanie Johnson added.
The next Work From Home workshop will be 1-3 p.m. May 21 at the ACS, Building 7264. The deadline for reservations is May 14. Call 239-9435 for more information.
Social Sharing