30 SEPTEMBER 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL The Rise of Remote Work An interconnected world makes it feel like the problem is getting worse. Facebook groups for spouses allow us to see beyond our own front door, and we realize the problem of finding a job is more common than we knew. Yet this connected world also offers new opportunities for some. Jessica, a lawyer and EFM, has been working remotely since 2013, and she says remote work was more rewarding in the years before COVID-19. “When the pandemic hit, I felt like everyone could work the way I was, but what happened instead was virtual working became a lot more like working in an office,” she says. “People substituted calls for actual work. I was on backto-back video calls all day, working in an EST time zone while based in Europe, and the work became exhausting. And because it was all on video, I had to be in-seat in front of my computer, giving me so much less flexibility than I had previously.” Still, says Jessica, the ability to work remotely has allowed her to build her résumé in the field she chose before she got married. “What helped me maintain a 20-year career in law while hopping from country to country was to take ownership over my career. Though I did hold one EFM position at USAID, I largely sought work on my own terms. But I had to do so in a flexible way. I think where it gets really challenging is when spouses have a very specific career track in mind that doesn’t blend with an expat lifestyle.” The Problems with EPAP The jewel in the EFM job crown is the Expanded Professional Associates Program (EPAP). The program was created in 2008 as a way to fill empty Foreign Service officer slots at post while offering well-paying, professional jobs to qualified family members. There are currently about 400 centrally funded EPAP positions shared across regions, plus up to 50 information resources positions and 30 facilities management positions. These coveted positions are, however, getting harder to win. Seth, an EFM currently based in Africa, found the process of getting from application to paycheck riddled with frustrations, saying: “The fact that the program is run by Washington, but applicants only have contact with post HR, exacerbates the problem.” As he explains: “Requiring a top-secret security clearance for EFM positions while waiting to initiate the clearance process until after an offer is given is untenable for people on two-year assignments. In my case, I’m losing out on an entire year of my wife’s two-year assignment.” “What was supposed to be a great program has become a great way of creating strife and divisiveness among EFMs,” says another spouse with experience working in human resources at post. “The qualifications for specialists are still too strict, which makes it hard for anyone to break into a specialist EPAP position and easy for the same people to keep getting them at different posts. It’s a perpetual cycle, and I know of some trying for more than 10 years to get an EPAP position in their field of choice.” The program “should be run by posts,” this spouse suggests, “and all EPAP positions should have the same year-round hiring flexibility of other family member appointments [FMAs, fiveyear limited non-career jobs created specifically for qualified spouses at overseas posts].” It might feel like you’re alone in your job search frustration. But long-term spouses have some ideas to help you transition into your new work reality. Create a USAJOBs account. And keep it up to date so you’re ready at the start of the EPAP hiring season or after you return to the United States. You can upload multiple résumés and store important documents such as the SF-50, which proves your work history, making it easier to apply for jobs without re-creating the wheel each time. If you know where you’re moving next, you can set up a job alert for specific positions and locations. Get that clearance however you can. “Don’t feel like you have to apply to every job just because one is open,” advises DS spouse Jen. But “having a clearance can be a boost, as you can start work faster down the line. It may be worth it to apply for a rover or even part-time admin position just to get the clearance process going.” Join the FSFRC. Join the Foreign Service Family Reserve Corps (FSFRC) during the next open season, whether or not you’re working. This will help you transition more quickly into new jobs at your next post. Pursue a passion. Jessica advises spouses to stay flexible and be creative, and to think about trying something new. “I know many spouses who have started their own businesses while overseas—many consulting or coaching. It’s a terrific way to work on your own time and chase a passion.” Request an informational interview. Several spouses— including this one—suggest that you ask to meet with the head of human resources when you first arrive at post, to make sure they know you are there and are interested in working. Even go so far as to tell everyone you meet that you are looking for work—you never know who is going to know of an interesting job. —D.S.G. Getting Started: Veteran EFMs Share Their Thoughts
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