At the Hainerburg Army Community Services (ACS) office, Reemployment Counselor Debra counsels job-seekers who are learning to write resumes, understand the job market, plan to return to the U.S. and/or apply for local jobs at the base. I watched Debra advise a dependent spouse/client with their resume. Debra helped him successfully land a part-time job with a contractor. But he was already adding the contractor position to his resume, trying to land a GS civilian position.

Tim Fitzgerald, Employment Readiness Program Manager, says that living in a military community in Europe is "a great place to be under-employed". Tim is with the ACS at Giessen and Friedberg, Germany. He met me at my Hainerburg Resume Writing Briefing and Booksigning on April 7th.

Sitting in Baltimore, MD, answering email everyday from military personnel and dependent spouses in Europe, I really could not imagine the job search challenges of living and working overseas. The emails I receive are from:

• military personnel who are coming back to the U.S. or stay overseas in a civilian job …
• civilians trying to get promoted through Resumix
• civilians who have to return to the U.S. because of the "5-Year Rule"
• dependent spouses who are trying to relocate to Europe - but with a job first
• a myriad of international job search challenges for Americans.

With two weeks and 7 briefings and book-signings I found out about the various job search, career change and planning strategies that are needed to survive and feel fulfilled while living in Europe.

My future Career Corner columns will cover many aspects of the Career Planning needs of military personnel (those retiring after 2-4-7-20-30 years), dependent spouses (career-oriented, part-time job-oriented and future workers) and even their high school students. I learned what they need so that I can give ideas, tips and insight to keep up with jobs, careers, skills, education and everything so that if and when they return to the United States, they can land on their feet and feel confident about coming home again.

Here's a short outline of what I learned on my European Book Tour. I'll write more in future columns.

WHERE ARE THE JOBS OVERSEAS?

HOW CAN APPLICANTS COMPETE BETTER FOR THE FEW JOBS AVAILABLE OVERSEAS? According to Tim Fitzgerald, "in our community of Giessen and Friedberg, Germany, the job-market is very limited (almost exclusively Army community related employment here - AF Jobs, NAF Jobs, bank, Burger King and PX). I tell my clients that it is 'a great place to be under-employed'. Many of the military spouses who are employed here are over-qualified for the positions they eventually get." Next column: Job Search Strategies in Europe - as a military dependent spouse or family member.

CONSIDER ON-LINE JOB TRAINING WHILE IN THE SERVICE OVERSEAS

Get ready for your "next life and career" now. If you are in the military, even if there "really isn't time", it's better to prepare and upgrade your skills one or two years before leaving the military. I'm teaching Veterans in the Washington, DC area who are out of the military. They are struggling to find a job because their skills are not up-to-date. This does not have to happen if you plan realistically for your future job by researching jobs, skills and start reading recruitment ads NOW! Future column: Career Strategies while living in Europe.

SEVERAL RESUME FORMATS ARE NEEDED

There are several resumes that can be handy overseas: The Resumix if you are seeking a civilian position; a one-page resume if you're seeking a retail or part-time interim position (or need to start networking); a two-page resume if you're seeking a professional position with a contractor overseas. Future column: Resume Writing for European Military Community Jobs.

DEPENDENT SPOUSES

I learned that there are many career challenges for dependent spouses. Some spouses would like a good part-time job so that their skills are maintained and they can earn cash; some spouses are seeking professional career positions that are extremely competitive; some spouses should simply take on-line courses, research future jobs and keep current with jobs both in Europe (some people never want to leave Europe), and in the U.S. (in case they return to pick up their life back home). Future columns: Career Tips for Dependent Spouses

RETURNING TO EUROPE:

Yes, I'm planning to return to Europe to give Career Strategy briefings - sometime in Sept.-Oct. 2002. The date will be announced soon. Vogelweh, Ramstein, Heidelberg, Mannheim areas. If you have interest in attending this briefings, tell your FSC, ACS or ACAP office or write to me at Kathryn@resume-place.com and I'll let you know the dates by email. Or sign up for my mailing list for future mailings. www.resume-place.com

ELECTRONIC FEDERAL RESUME GUIDEBOOK & CD-ROM

My book is available at the Bookmark on writing an electronic resume. Please check out the book when you can. The CD-ROM contains 18 sample e-resumes that you can use as a template to write your resume. 106 jobs are analyzed for keywords! You will get the picture! Ask for the book at your AAFES Bookmark.

WRITE TO ME AT KATHRYN@RESUME-PLACE.COM

If you have success or horror stories about job searching from, within and outside of Europe, please write to me. I'll answer one email in each column. Thanks for your interest and following.

I loved Europe and will come back. www.resume-place.com. Sign up for mailing list if you would like emails regarding Federal jobs in the U.S. and tips for job search overseas.

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Kathryn Kraemer Troutman is the President of The Resume Place, Inc. and is an expert in the Federal hiring process and writing outstanding applications. She designed the "federal-style" resume for the government in her book, Federal Resume Guidebook. Kathryn is an in-demand trainer inside of government on career development and resume writing. She writes a popular column on federal jobs: Career Corner found at her website: www.resume-place.com.

COPYRIGHT AND PERMISSIONS

Feel free to forward this Career Corner column to friends and colleagues. You may use this column for training in career classes with recognition of the author and website. You may not link this column to other websites without permission. For information about licensing this content write to Kathryn at kathryn@resume-place.com.

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