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We want to take overseas orders…but can I get a job!

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I remember the first time my husband broached the idea of overseas orders…I think we were sitting down for a regular dinner and it went something like…”so I can go to an Aircraft Carrier job out of San Diego or Norfolk … but there is also this option to go to a Base in Italy. What do you think?” To be honest - I didn’t really think..I am quite sure I didn’t even process the first part of his question - I was already envisioning cycling through the Tuscan hillsides and meandering the canals of Venice. It was only after the orders officially arrived and the tickets were booked that I started to think seriously about what this meant for my career.

The chance to live in the middle of Europe for two years seemed like one of those opportunities that we would be crazy to pass up, but once the reality had set in…I’ll be honest - I started to get a bit scared. What if I couldn’t find a decent job. My friends and family consoled me, saying “Well at least you will be in Europe…who really wants to work there…you could travel every weekend…you won’t have to worry about leave…it is all about the life experience!” In part I agreed with them…it was an amazing experience on offer…but the other part of me knew that my work and my career was also an important part of who I was. The longest that I had ever spent between jobs at that time was 3 months, and I knew how hard I had found that. I enjoyed the routine, the challenge, the sense that I was contributing, and the mental exercise of a job - no matter how menial…and I wasn’t sure that I could cope with the idea of a couple of years unemployed.

So what is the reality of an overseas posting for a Military Spouse seeking work?

I think it does depend on the type of overseas posting that you take. If you are stationed at a US Base overseas, there are certainly opportunities and if you are willing to broaden the types of jobs and positions you apply for - you can usually find work. If you are at a location with a very small US presence, perhaps an exchange posting where the Service Member is attached to a Foreign Unit, or a US billet in an International Headquarters - the going can be tough.

So where do you start?

  • The Family Support Center. Without a doubt, the best place to seek advice if you are moving to a US Installation overseas, is the local ACS, Airman and Family Readiness Center, or Fleet and Family Support Center. “Google” the installation and you will find the local installation’s Family Support Center Email address. Almost every major base has a Family Employment Readiness Person who works within the Family Support Center - a Contractor or Federal Civilian who is responsible for assisting and advising Service Family Members on local employment opportunities and local application processes. If you are lucky they will have great advice on the Federal and MWR jobs, but also have links to local contractors who work on the base.
  • Your sponsor. While your sponsor is primarily tasked with ensuring the Service Member arrives safely and securely, they can be a great “on-the-ground” resource for you in your job hunt. Engage your sponsor and ask for a referral or the email address of any working spouses, so that you can tap into their network and ask for advice about the types of opportunities available before you arrive.
  • The Base Newspaper. Many of the local base jobs will be advertised in the local paper. When I first arrived in Italy, I had been targeting USA.jobs to look for a Federal job, not realizing that there was a slew of positions GS-11 and below, that were advertised and filled locally without ever being advertised on USA.jobs. The Base paper may also give you an insight into the contractors working on the installation.
  • Local Human Resources Office (HRO). Once you arrive in location, the US Bases will have a HRO which is responsible for filling the local US Federal Jobs. See what they have advertised, but also try to schedule an appointment with one of the Hiring Representatives. Networking with them in person may give you a lead on positions which may become available in the near term, and advice on the application process.
  • Local US Embassy. If there is a Local US Embassy, they usually have occasional vacancies for Consular Staffing positions which need to filled by US citizens.
Things to be aware of:
  • Status of Forces Agreements. When the US establishes a Base in a Foreign Country, there is usually a Status of Forces Agreement. This governs how US citizens are treated in the event of things like a criminal act, but can also place restrictions on the employment of US Base associated family members in the local community. The Foreign Government obviously wants to protect the employment opportunities for its own population, so many countries prohibit the hire of US Base family personnel without significant paperwork and authority, making off-base opportunities all but impossible.
  • Timing Constraints on “Local Hire US Federal Jobs”. If US Federal Positions are available and advertised for “Local Hiring Preference”, this preference will only be available 30 days prior to your arrival in country. You may have orders 4 months earlier, but will not be eligible to apply and be considered with this preference until 30 days before the report date of the orders. You should also be aware that if you take a position using this preference, you can not remain in it indefinitely. Once your sponsor leaves the country, you can usually only remain in the position and the country legally for another 90 days.
  • The Military Spouse Preference System. Military Spouses receive preferential status when applying for Federal Employment. However - you should be aware that there are many other types of preferential treatment available within the Federal System. Previous US Federal Civilians and US Veterans also receive preference and, based upon their individual circumstances, may receive a higher level of preference than a Military Spouse. There are many Veterans who marry and live around foreign bases and also many Military Spouses who are also Veterans. This means there is significant competition for all Federal positions overseas, and that the Military Spouse Preference does not ensure employment by any means. There are also stringent rules about eligibility for the Preference - if you marry after your Spouse has already received the orders you may not qualify (Military Spouse Appointment Eligibility).
  • Education vs Experience. The Military Spouses I saw struggle the most to obtain employment, were those that had completed higher degrees, but did not yet have formal work experience. Because the overseas bases usually have a more competitive job market, it can make it particularly hard to gain a professional level position without formal work experience. The Spouses who overcame this hurdle were often the ones who volunteered (and therefore networked extensively) within the local community, and were later offered positions because of their reputation.
Despite the challenges, I believe it may actually be easier to enter the Federal System overseas than it is Stateside because of the sheer turnover of positions, and there are certainly a significant number of professional level contractor positions available at most bases. This means that while opportunities may not be available when you arrive, the employment landscape can change significantly within only a few months. Of the four Military Spouses I met in my first week overseas, 2 of us found Federal Employment, and 2 found employment with Professional Contracting Firms within 6 months of arrival. There is certainly a risk associated with overseas orders - that the employment opportunities may be limited…but if you are open and understanding about the risk - the life experience is certainly worth having!!

 

 

 

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