Global Employment Initiative / Strategic Networking Assistance Program (GEI/SNAP)
The Family Liaison Office's Global Employment Initiative / Strategic Networking Assistance Program (GEI/SNAP) is dedicated to assisting Foreign Service family members with career development and identification of employment opportunities while developing partnerships with multinational corporations, organizations and NGOs interested in recruiting from the professional and mobile talent pool of Foreign Service family members.
GEI/SNAP in the Field
Since it's inception in 2002, GEI/SNAP has continued to expand its field operations overseas. A team of Global Employment Advisors (GEAs), country-specific employment experts working out of U.S. Missions, represent the program on local, regional and virtual levels overseas. Global Employment Advisors assist family members in identifying employment on the local economy by building networks of potential local employers and providing coaching, workshops and other career development services.
GEI/SNAP services overseas are divided into three categories:
- In-Country GEI/SNAP Offices are located within the U.S. mission and are represented by a full-time or part-time Global Employment Advisor (GEA). GEAs provide regular program services on-site, including local economy networking, job placement assistance, and career development services, to the family members of USG employees assigned to these U.S. missions.
- Regional GEI/SNAP Services are extended to areas where the relative size of the U.S. missions, the opportunities for local economy employment, and the cultural, geographic and economic similarities all coincide. Regional GEAs provide regular program services to family members at these U.S. missions remotely (via email and phone) and have a designated number of on-site visits throughout the year.
- GEI/SNAP Virtual Support Services allow for some of the program services to extend to a greater number of family members overseas. Virtual Support GEAs provide career counseling and professional development services remotely (via email and phone) to family members at these U.S. missions.
GEI/SNAP currently offers these services in the following locations:
- In-Country Offices: Pretoria, South Africa
ASIA
- In-Country Offices: Seoul, Korea
EUROPE
- In-Country Offices: Berlin, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; Helsinki, Finland; Kyiv, Ukraine; London, England; Madrid, Spain; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Vienna, Austria; Yerevan, Armenia
- Regional Services: Bonn, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Munich, Germany;
- Virtual Support Services: Geneva, Switzerland; Lisbon, Portugal; Luxembourg, Luxembourg; Moscow, Russia; Skopje, Macedonia; Tbilisi, Georgia; Valletta, Malta
MIDDLE EAST
- In-Country Offices: Cairo, Egypt; Kuwait, Kuwait; Tel Aviv, Israel
- Regional Services: Jerusalem
THE AMERICAS
- In-Country Offices: Bogotá, Colombia; La Paz, Bolivia; Lima, Peru; Mexico City, Mexico; Panama City, Ottawa, Canada; Panama; San Salvador, El Salvador; São Paulo, Brazil
- Regional Services: Brasilia, Brazil; Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, Canada;
- Virtual Support Services: Asunsion, Paraguay; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Caracas, Venezuela; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Managua, Nicaragua; Montevideo, Uruguay; Quito, Ecuador; Rio de Janeiro and Recife, Brazil; San Jose, Costa Rica; Santiago, Chile; Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Further Information on GEI/SNAP
Foreign Service family members represent a wide variety of professional fields such as education, architecture, engineering, medical professions, human resources, management, legal professions, finance, information technology, communications, international development, and many more. In addition, many family members speak a foreign language and/or have experience living in diverse cultures and working in foreign markets. However, the regular relocation of the Foreign Service presents challenges to family members who are working professionals.
Family Member employment is a vital recruitment and retention issue for the Foreign Service; it reflects today's economic reality - dual career, dual income families. Multinational corporations, NGOs, and international organizations face a shortage of talent for overseas assignments as well as several barriers to overseas placements such as relocation costs, language requirements, and work permits. Foreign Service family members provide a practical solution and cost-free recruitment for corporations and organizations looking for highly skilled individuals ready, willing and able to work overseas.
For corporations or organizations interested in working with GEI/SNAP, please download a Corporate Brochure and Brochure Insert or contact a member of the FLO Employment team to learn more.
For family members of USG employees assigned to a U.S. Mission overseas who are interested in GEI/SNAP services, please download a Family Member Brochure or contact a member of the FLO Employment team to learn more.
Related FLO Programs
Manpower Employment and Training Services
Manpower, a worldwide human resources recruitment and placement agency, has entered into a global partnership with the U.S. Department of State aimed at providing on-the-ground support, job placement services and access to thousands of online training courses to Foreign Service family members around the world. The Department of State's partnership with Manpower Inc not only increases career opportunities for family members, but provides free access to thousands of online courses through Manpower's Global Learning Center.
Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office
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