The lack of family member employment is a main cause of overseas assignment failure in the private sector. Given that it costs the State Department almost half a million dollars to move a direct-hire employee to post, it’s important to assist qualified family members in finding meaningful employment overseas.

A 2006 worldwide family member survey by the Family Liaison Office (State Magazine, July/August 2006) found family member employment is a vital recruitment, retention and quality-of-life issue. Foreign Service families are often dual-career, dual income couples who weigh the availability of continuing employment when bidding on overseas posts.

From its start in 1978, FLO recognized employment as a top concern. To promote family member employment, FLO negotiated bilateral work agreements to allow family members to work in the local economies of host countries. There are now 107 bilateral work agreements and 46 de-facto arrangements to allow local employment in nearly every country with U.S. diplomatic posts.

Currently, about 25 percent of all family members under chief of mission authority work inside the mission. Predicted budget restrictions in the future will likely impact the hiring of family members inside the mission, however.

Local Jobs Needed

Therefore, employment options must be found locally, and professional training must be provided to family members not currently employed. The 2006 survey found that 75 percent of Foreign Service family members have at least a university degree; of these, half also have a graduate or professional degree in such fields as education, business, health and law. These professionals could work for local and global businesses, especially since multinational corporations and telework are expanding.

To boost family member employment, FLO created the Global Employment Initiative/Strategic Networking Assistance Program in 2002. The program provides employment services and resources to 40 posts through 24 SNAP global employment advisers and serves nearly 9,000 family members and members of household. GEI/SNAP has successfully placed more than 1,200 family members in jobs around the world in industry, commerce, government, nongovernmental organizations and academia.

GEAs provide job placement, career coaching and leadership support and help with resume preparation, interviewing and job searches. A survey found that assistance in finding employment and supporting the employment needs of family members were the most important benefits GEI/SNAP offers; 93 percent of GEI/SNAP users surveyed supported continuing and expanding the service and 70 percent said GEI/SNAP is very important when bidding on future posts.

FLO’s Global Employment Initiative works at the headquarters level with multinational companies, NGOs and academic institutions to develop networking and identify employment leads. FLO has a no-cost partnership with Manpower Inc., which provides career development services and online training opportunities for family members worldwide.

High Satisfaction

GEI/SNAP participants express high satisfaction for successfully sustaining and developing their careers overseas. The program has helped family members find jobs in their fields and establish home businesses globally. For example, GEI/SNAP recently placed a client with a multinational company at a six-figure salary.

Here are a few other GEI/SNAP success stories:

>>> On arriving in Panama, Charles Todd Apple met with FLO’s SNAP coordinator, who noted his experience in music and theater and arranged a meeting with the director of the International School of Panama. Apple got a job as the director of the school’s drama program and as a full-time teacher. The coordinator also managed to work in an agreement with the school on fulfilling Apple’s Air Force commitment.

>>> A psychotherapist with 33 years of experience, Jim Collins attended a SNAP workshop on Web-based entrepreneurship and decided to extend the Internet-based counseling program he had developed. He now has clients around the globe.

>>> Victor Williams discussed his U.S. experience in selling vehicles over the Internet with Pretoria’s GEA, who suggested using his experience to target the diplomatic community in South Africa. Williams created Douglas Diplomatic Services, which is named for his son and provides special deals and rates for the diplomatic community.

>>> In Lima, Christine Elsea Mandojana worked with SNAP to grow her business by offering free seminars on financial planning and taxes. Both seminars were well attended. Now SNAP is coordinating video teleconferences for her to deliver financial planning and tax presentations to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in neighboring Ecuador.

Success Breeds Success

As GEI/SNAP expands, so do its contacts. GEAs share their information and contacts with other GEAs and CLOs, and GEI/SNAP graduates share job leads with GEI/SNAP. As these networks grow, the opportunities for family members to find meaningful employment will grow. For more information about FLO’s programs, visit its Web site at www.state.gov/m/dghr/flo.