Finding work as a military family stationed overseas

An overseas assignment can feel like a career pause, but there are usually five ways to keep working: a federal job on the installation, a job with a US government contractor, remote work for a US employer, a job with a local employer, or your own business. Which ones are open to you depends on the country’s agreement with the United States, so check the rules first and then pick the right resume for each kind of employer.

Your five options

• On-base federal jobs: civil service and nonappropriated-fund jobs on USAJOBS, plus exchange and commissary jobs. Military Spouse Preference and, overseas, Family Member Preference can apply if you are eligible.
• US government contractors: defense and civilian contractors supporting the base often hire family members locally for IT, logistics, admin, health and training roles.
• Remote work for a US employer: possible in some countries, restricted in others.
• Local (host-nation) employers: international companies near the base and local firms, often requiring the local language.
• Self-employment or a home business: usually needs command approval and may need local registration.

Check your country’s rules before you apply

Your status overseas comes from the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) and related agreements, and the rules for working differ by country and change over time. Taking the wrong job can affect your SOFA status, your taxes and your benefits.

Some examples from reporting by MOAA and Stars and Stripes in 2022 and 2023, to show how much the rules vary:

• Germany: SOFA status generally works as permission to work for a German employer. That income is taxed in Germany, with German social security, and TRICARE alone is not enough health insurance for that job.
• Italy and Belgium: spouses have had to give up SOFA status to work off base, including remote work for a US employer.
• Japan and South Korea: remote work for a US employer has been allowed. Home-based businesses need approval, which can take months.
• Always confirm with your installation’s legal office and Employment Readiness Program (part of the Military and Family Readiness Center; the name varies by branch) before you accept an offer.

Don’t overlook government contractors

Many dependents find their best overseas jobs with the companies that hold US government contracts at the installation. These jobs are posted on the contractor’s own careers page, on ClearanceJobs and on general job boards, often under the base or city name, and are rarely on USAJOBS. The contractor jobs guide explains how to find them.

Ask which contractors support your installation, then search their careers pages for the base name. Contract jobs follow the contract, so ask how long the contract runs and whether the role is a local hire.

Status rules apply here too. In Germany, contractor jobs that come with SOFA-type status are approved through the DoD Contractor Personnel Office (DOCPER), and a family member who takes a contractor job may need a different status. Check with the employer and your installation legal office.

Use the right resume for each employer

• USAJOBS (on-base federal jobs): a federal resume of no more than two pages, with month/year dates for each job. See the federal resume guide.
• Government contractors: a US resume of one to two pages that mirrors the contract job posting’s required skills, certifications and clearance, if any.
• Remote US employers: your usual US resume, tailored to each posting.
• Local employers: the local format and, usually, the local language, for example a German Lebenslauf. International companies may accept English but still expect local conventions.

Present moves and gaps in one honest line

Recruiters on and off base know military life. A short line such as “Relocated overseas with military family” explains a move or gap better than a long story.

Volunteer roles on the installation, such as family readiness or Red Cross work, count as experience. List them with dates and results like any job.

Start before you arrive

• Ask your sponsor or the Military and Family Readiness Center at the new base which jobs spouses there usually find.
• Prepare your federal, US and local-format resumes before the move.
• Check the local language level employers ask for, and state your own level honestly using the CEFR scale (A1 to C2) in Europe.
• Use the free career coaching from Military OneSource’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program and the Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) job board.

FAQ

Can I keep my US remote job when we move overseas?

It depends on the country and on command approval. Germany, Japan and South Korea have generally allowed it, while Italy and Belgium have required giving up SOFA status. Ask your installation legal office before you move.

Do I need a work permit to work for a German employer?

Generally no: SOFA status usually counts as permission to work in Germany. The income is taxed in Germany and you need German health insurance for that job. Confirm details with the installation legal office or the local German-American community office.

Where do contractor jobs overseas get posted?

Mostly on the contractor’s own careers page, ClearanceJobs and general job boards, searched by base or city name. Ask the Military and Family Readiness Center which contractors support your installation.

Should I send a US resume to a local employer abroad?

Usually not. Local employers expect their own format and often their own language. International companies may accept English, but a local-format CV still reads better.

CareerPulseAI keeps one profile of your real experience and builds each version you need: a tailored US resume, and through Global Intelligence the same experience in the host country’s format and language, such as a German Lebenslauf, without inventing anything.