köhler joined the civil service in 1976, when he was employed in the federal ministry of economics. in 1981, he was employed in the chancellery of the state government in schleswig-holstein. he served there under prime minister gerhard stoltenberg. in 1982, köhler was made head of the ministers office in the federal ministry of finance. he rose to head of department in 1987, with responsibility for financial policy and federal industrial interests. in 1989, he became head of the department for currency and credit.