Employment

The process of seeking and obtaining employment overseas is similar to seeking employment in the United States; however, the availability of jobs is much more limited. It is recommended that you start looking for employment opportunities and applying for open positions one or two months prior to arriving in Germany. There are several agencies that offer employment options in Germany. These include, but are not limited to:

• Appropriated fund agencies
• Nonappropriated fund agencies
• Army and Air Force Exchange Service
• Defense Commissary Agency
• Department of Defense Schools
• Adult education centers
• Governmental contractors
• Private contractors
• Home-Based Businesses
• Off-post employers
• Youth employers

It is critical to hand carry the following documents:

• Updated resume (saved to an external drive)
• Updated SF 171 or OF 612
• Current federal resume (if seeking general schedule employment)
• A copy of your sponsor's orders
• Copies of professional licenses, certifications and/or registrations
• College transcripts
• List of references
• DD Form 214 and SF 50, if applicable

Tuition Assistance

My Career Advancement Application

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, visit Military OneSource.

The average time to find a job on post is calculated from the date you first start looking. In the meantime, why not meet people within the community or learn a new skill? Becoming involved in your community is one of the best ways to find out about potential job openings. Contact our Army Volunteer Coordinator in Vilseck to find out where to volunteer in your new community.

The process of locating civil service jobs is automated and Internet-based. The first step is to prepare and submit your resume as well as provide supplemental information online at USAjobs.gov. It is highly recommended that you use the Resume Builder provided on the website. Next is to search for available jobs and the search should be run regularly as job announcements can open at any time. Apply online when you see a job announcement in which you are interested. The easiest way is to click on the "Apply Online” link provided in the job announcement. CPAC then evaluates the qualifications of applicants and provides selecting officials a referral list of the best-qualified candidates. After the supervisor makes a selection, the individual selected is generally notified via email by USAJOBS or CPAC by telephone. You can see your resume and track job considerations through the USAStaffing web portal which you will be automatically linked to once you apply for a position.

Spouse Preference for Civil Service Jobs

Spouses of active duty military members stationed in Europe may be eligible for the DoD Military Spouse Preference Program. Current or former permanent federal civilian employees, or those with E.O. 12721 eligibility (worked overseas for the federal government), may be eligible for spouse preference and should register in the Priority Placement Program.

An active duty spouse without current or former civil service status may also exercise spouse preference when applying for DoD jobs that are announced to the general public. To claim such preference, the spouse must reside with his/her active duty sponsor in the commuting area of the position. The job announcement has instructions on how to claim the preference.

Employment

The process of seeking and obtaining employment overseas is similar to seeking employment in the States; however, the availability of jobs is much more limited. It is recommended to start looking for employment opportunities and applying for open positions one or two months prior to arrival in Germany. Volunteering is also a good way to start your employment search.