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Checklist for Overseas Employment

The Family Liaison Office Employment Section can provide USG family members with information to help you make educated employment decisions prior to your arrival at post. As part of that process, we suggest the following steps:

Update Your Resume or Application to reflect your most recent employment. There are tools and training available to you in this effort:

• Enroll in Post Options for Employment Overseas (MQ 703).  Course dates are available on FSI's Transition Center web site.
• Contact the Career Development Resource Center (CDRC) at (202) 663-3042  CDRC Intranet website /  CDRC@state.gov.  Make an appointment for individual resume counseling.  Read more about their services.
• More information from FLO on Resumes.
• Review FLO's publication Employment Options for Foreign Service Family Members. See Chapter 9, Applications and Resumes.

Obtain a copy of the Family Member Employment Report (FAMER) for your post of assignment. The FAMER is one of the few documents available on the Department of State Intranet site only.  Family members can ask their sponsor to download it for them or contact FLOAskEmployment@state.gov for a copy. The FAMER is a snapshot of employment available both inside and outside the mission. It will illustrate positions currently and previously held by family members, position titles and grades, and the hiring mechanisms used to place employees in the positions.

Subscribe to Global Employment Connections.  This quarterly newsletter covers information, resources, and job search strategies to help build a global career within a mobile lifestyle. It features real-life success stories and employment advice from family members in the global workforce. 

Network, Network, Network.  Once your sponsor's assignment notification has gone out to post, USG family members should feel free to contact the Post Community Liaison Office Coordinator (CLO) to apprise him/her of your interest in continuing employment while at post. The CLO is our front line advocate for family member employment in the Mission. Family members can email a cover letter and resume to post. Include skills and area of interest. The CLO works closely with the post MGT/HR office, the best source for employment issues both inside and outside the Mission. Post MGT/HR can advise family members on local employment considerations, including work permits and work agreements.  Check to see if your post of assignment has a Strategic Networking Assistance Program (SNAP) office.  SNAP offices are staffed by trained Global Employment Advisors (GEAs) who can assist you in your overseas job search and point you in the right direction for added resources and networking contacts.

FLO Overseas Programs Find out about the Global Employment Initiative (GEI) , the Strategic Networking Assistance Program (SNAP), and the services of Manpower Inc.  These programs are in place to assist Foreign Service family members with an overseas job search, training, and networking. 

Network before departure and after arrival at post Before departure, check if other U.S. foreign affairs agencies, U.S. companies and other organizations of English speaking countries (e.g. non-profit, British Council, etc.) are present at the new post. If so, try to make some contacts there before departure.

After Arrival You may want to see if there is a valuable career or employment organization, international organizations, professional organizations to network and give you support in your transition and job search.

Employment Inside the Mission Positions inside the Mission tend to be support in nature and vary in compensation levels from FP-04 to FP-09 (see additional links below for salary tables).  Position availability varies from post to post. This is where the FAMER will be most helpful to you. Some but not all posts will allow you to apply for positions prior to arrival. Check with the CLO or MGT/HR at your post of assignment on their current employment policy. See Working in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Overseas. 

Employment Outside the Mission Check out Working on the Local Economy, which contains specific information on bilateral and defacto work agreements and important links to the regulations and requirements for working on the local economy.

Job Search Websites Review FLO's job search websites pages for companies and non-government organizations (NGOs) located in your country of assignment.

Training Opportunities for Foreign Service Family Members. Several valuable professional training options are available for Foreign Service family members. Opportunities include enrollment in the Foreign Affairs Spouse Teacher Training Project (FAST-TRAIN) sponsored through George Mason University, enrollment in online courses through the Foreign Service Institute, courses offered through Manpower Inc., and Special Employment Initiatives like the Professional Development Fellowships.

Feedback, Feedback, Feedback  FLO needs to know what works for family members and what doesn't. Family members working on the local economy can be a valuable resource for those contemplating an ongoing assignment. Please help to smooth the way for other by sharing your experiences. Send us an email at FLOAskEmployment@state.gov  so we can give other family members the benefit of your insight. 

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office