The most recent issue of the Foreign Service Journal has a featured article from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) Vice Presient for Dept. of State, Steve Kashkett, that talks about the overseas employment challenge. (NOTE: The full version of the FSJ will be available once their next issue comes out.) I think it is pretty telling when the opening sentence reads: One of the hottest “hot button” issues that AFSA hears about regularly from members is the widespread frustration over the difficulties of finding meaningful employment for spouses and partners overseas.
It is rather encouraging to read the rest of the article that goes on to talk about the need for real and professionally challenging jobs to be offered through U.S. Embassies for Foreign Service family members. Mr. Kashkett also makes a good point about the need to pursue more aggressive development/identification of job opportunities on the local markets in overseas locations.
Another quote:
We are no longer in the 1950s. The foreign service family has changed. Foreign Service professionals typically have highly-educated spouses and partners who are also professionals and who already have to make tremendous career sacrifices to accompany the member overseas.
This is certainly true. However, I think some of the burden of professional development needs to be placed on the partners to find or create opportunities for themselves. To this end I am glad to see the development of Strategic Networking Assistance Program (SNAP) from the Department of State. The program has admirably achieved varying success in different U.S. Embassy communities worldwide. At the same time, I think that spouses/partners need to be more proactive in finding ways to network for jobs and create their own niches that will survive international relocations. Relying on the U.S. Government to do the majority of the work is simply not realistic nor appropriate. There are plenty of training and entrepreneurship websites that can be adapted to the overseas lifestyle.
As the Foreign Service continues to implement the “transformational diplomacy” concept outlined by Secretary Rice, spouses/partners will expect to be able to have real careers while living overseas. I think this is an area that has enormous potential for job opportunities both in freelancing as well as more organized employment openings with local and international companies.