Preserving historical truth, keeping remembrance alive, helping today’s and tomorrow’s society learn from the past – these are the challenges we embrace every day. Would you like to be part of this meaningful work? Explore our current job openings and learn more about working at the Arolsen Archives.
Job openings
You might be interested in signing up for our newsletter to find out more about the Arolsen Archives and the work we do.
How we work
Because of the organization’s history, our main working language is German, but we value diversity and welcome new employees from all backgrounds. Creativity, passion, and dedication are what matter to us – if you bring these qualities, we will find a way to make things work!
The same goes for where you work. Thanks to digital processes and flexible working conditions, our employees can work from home – as long as they’re based in Germany. That said, working together in person is important to us too. We regularly come together at our headquarters in Bad Arolsen and in our Berlin office for meetings, creative sessions, and cross-team gatherings – and to welcome guests and partners from around the world.
For more information, see our brochure “Workplace World Heritage.”
Our values
As a team, we do meaningful work that makes a difference. The following things are particularly close to our heart:
Our work gives us a great responsibility for people who suffered persecution and were robbed of their human dignity during their lifetime. This sense of responsibility shapes how we see ourselves and how we interact with each other on a daily basis. Mutual respect, empathy, and appreciation for one another are rooted in our values, as is the unwavering commitment to making our society a better place.
We see ourselves as a team, and we use collaboration and interdisciplinarity to bring about change. We work in a network that is mutually beneficial. Digitizing our archives and providing open access to our data are essential to us. We want people everywhere to be able to access the information in our historical documents, now and in the future. We believe in the power of open data, and we encourage crowdsourcing initiatives.
Racism, antisemitism, and other forms of discrimination and exclusion present a serious threat to democracy and social cohesion. We stand up for respect and diversity, and we anticipate and respond to changes in society and the needs of our target audiences – in Germany, in Europe, and around the world. We are here to serve society.
We provide stimulating content and ideas, and we encourage people to think for themselves. We are proactive, inspiring, and courageous, both internally and towards our partners and society. We especially support the younger generations who will carry society into the future.
The important issues that move us
Digitization and open data:
Digitizing our archives and providing open access to our data are essential to us. We want people everywhere to be able to access the information in our historical documents, now and in the future.
Anti-democratic tendencies and radicalization:
Racism, antisemitism, and other forms of discrimination and exclusion are threats to social cohesion. We stand up for respect, diversity, and democracy.
Focus on Europe:
As an international organization with German roots, we want to be increasingly active all over Europe with our knowledge and campaigns.
Explore our programs for apprentices, trainees, interns, and volunteers
We offer various ways to get to know the Arolsen Archives and start your career journey with us.
The Arolsen Archives offer apprenticeships for Management Assistants for Office Communication and for Media and Information Services Specialists, Subject Area: Archiving.
The training received by Management Assistants for Office Communication is organized as a 3-year sandwich course, i.e. theoretical knowledge is taught at vocational school, and practical knowledge and skills are taught on the job. Part of the training (4 to 6 months) is provided by our cooperation partner, the Berufsbildungswerk Nordhessen, where apprentices receive instruction in “commercial management and control of financial accounting,” which belongs to the field of business and administration.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and Germany’s Federal Employment Agency can provide more information.
The training received by Media and Information Services Specialists who specialize in archiving is organized as a sandwich course and lasts for 3 years. As well as receiving practical training in the archives, trainees attend vocational school in Frankfurt am Main on block release. Lessons in media studies, information science, law, and economics provide the theoretical foundations.
Similarly to the apprenticeship for Management Assistants for Office Communication, the length of the apprenticeship can be reduced to between 2 and 2.5 years. In certain circumstances, this can be agreed when the contract is concluded; alternatively, it can be arranged during the course of the apprenticeship if it becomes evident that an apprentice can achieve the training objective and master the subject matter. An extension of the training period is also permitted by law.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) and Germany’s Federal Employment Agency can provide more information.
The minimum requirement for starting an apprenticeship is a secondary school leaving certificate; good grades in German, math, and English are an advantage.
In addition to lessons at vocational school and training at the workplace, lessons are also held at the workplace once a week on a regular basis. The instructors use these lessons to focus on practical and theoretical content that receives scant attention at vocational school and cover this in greater depth. Apprentices also have the opportunity to work on any deficits they may have.
See our job openings for apprenticeship vacancies.
Our PR and Education units offer 2-year traineeships on a regular basis. As well as contributing to projects and learning from the work they do within their team, trainees can also take external training courses at educational institutions to gain further qualifications.
You can complete a compulsory internship at the Arolsen Archives as part of your studies. We accept applications from students enrolled on a degree program in one of the following fields:
– Archival science
– Information science
– Journalism/public relations
– Digital humanities
– Education
– Social and political science
– Other humanities
Internships should last for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 weeks.
Application deadlines:
– The application deadline for internships during the summer semester (1.4–30.9.) is November 30 of the previous year
– The application deadline for internships during the winter semester (1.10.–31.3.) is May 31 of the current year
Each application is given individual consideration and offers are made in accordance with demand/capacity. A maximum of 2 internships are available per semester. Depending on the field, internships can be completed in person and/or online. We do not provide any remuneration or compensation for expenses.
Your application should contain the following information:
– Letter of motivation
– Curriculum vitae
– Certificate of enrollment
– Certificates, if applicable
– Details of previous education and training and, if applicable, practical experience
– Desired field
– Expectations
– Proof of the obligation to complete an internship (excerpt from the study regulations or equivalent documentation).
If you are interested – or if you have any questions –, please use the contact form to get in touch with us.
School pupils can gain an insight into the work of the Arolsen Archives during an unpaid internship. As a rule, these internships last between one and three weeks.
Your application should contain the following information:
– Letter of motivation
– Curriculum vitae
– Latest school report
If you are interested – or if you have any questions –, please use the contact form to get in touch with us.
The Arolsen Archives are project partners for the international volunteer program of Action Reconciliation Service for Peace (ARSP), which sends volunteers to one of 13 project countries for a year.
ARSP volunteers help the Arolsen Archives to search the digitized archive for information about the fates of individuals who were persecuted by the Nazi regime in an effort to give the people behind the documents an identity and keep their memory alive. They support Polish or Russian-speaking teams by providing translations and processing inquiries. They also work in the area of research and education by contributing to current projects, carrying out research for inquiries from academic researchers or commemorative and educational initiatives, and helping to look after visitor groups.
Volunteers at the Arolsen Archives need to be native speakers of Polish or Russian with a good basic knowledge of German or English. In addition, they should be interested in the history of Nazi tyranny and its impact on subsequent generations.
More information about the ARSP volunteer program.
We have a range of exciting career opportunities waiting for you! Come and work in an inspiring and dynamic environment with flexible hours, remote work options, and fantastic opportunities for professional development. Join us to jump-start your career.
Anna Schieferdecker, Head of Human Resources