• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide

  • ABOUT US
  • MEMBERS
    • MEMBER ACCESS (must be logged in)
  • SERVICES
  • RESOURCES
  • AWARDS
  • NEWS
  • JOIN
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
  • MEMBERS
    • MEMBER ACCESS (must be logged in)
  • SERVICES
  • RESOURCES
  • AWARDS
  • NEWS
  • JOIN
  • DONATE
You are here: Home / AAFSW / More About 2020 CCE-EFM Award Winner Janet Heg

May 11, 2021 by AAFSW Content Manager

More About 2020 CCE-EFM Award Winner Janet Heg

We wanted to hear more from our 2020 award recipients — what contributed to the actions that led them to receive the award, advice for others, and more. Read more about the 2020 CCE-EFM Award winner Janet Heg below.

What inspired you?

I used to be an EFM and it was through EFM employment that I learned about the wide range of opportunities available in the Foreign Service.  Until then I hadn’t realized the potential to work in management or one of the specialist fields.  I really enjoyed the feeling of a shared mission with my spouse; it felt fantastic to get in the car with him in the mornings and drive to the Embassy.  It was like I was truly part of his career.  

 

How did you find the opportunity?

I was assigned to Embassy Djibouti as the Human Resources Officer, and EFM employment was part of my portfolio.  Because of my prior experience I knew how important those jobs were, both to the mission and to the employee and their spouse.  I’d seen at previous posts how EFM employment was not always prioritized by HR and I knew that for me it would be a priority.  

 

What barriers did you overcome?  How?

There is a lot of bureaucracy around EFM hiring.  All the paperwork has to be completed just so, and submitted to Washington at the right time and in the correct order.  We work with the regional bureau and several functional bureaus, and each one has a different process.  I hired an EFM to work in HR and she documented all the different processes and put together a package of sample letters and cables that was really easy to use.  

A common complaint about EFM hiring is the length of time taken to obtain a security clearance, and this is problematic for the mission as well as the employee.  It’s definitely improved over the past few years but it can still take a long time, especially with a foreign born spouse.  As soon as an EFM is offered a position we get started on the security clearance, so that no time is lost.  It still takes them time to track down all their addresses and references, so we give them this information as soon as possible.  

 

Any lessons learned that you can share?

EFMs are one of the mission’s greatest assets and are frequently over-qualified and underpaid.  The EPAP program has been great for offering higher level opportunities to our family members.  EFMs are an important part of our mission.  These are real jobs, not ‘make-work’ for spouses, and frequently require a security clearance.  

 

What would you suggest to other HR officers around the globe to provide more opportunities for EFMs?

They should get to know the current and incoming EFMs and find out what skills and talents exist among family members at post.  And think very broadly about what kind of experience can be used to meet the requirements for a position.  It’s great to communicate with EFMs before they arrive, so they know when positions are advertised and they feel welcomed and valued.  I also encourage my colleagues to review applicants for higher steps, based on previous government service or prior experience in a relevant field.  

Filed Under: AAFSW Tagged With: aafsw awards, CCE-EFM Award

Footer

CONNECT WITH US

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide
4001 North Ninth Street, Suite 214
Arlington, VA, 22203
703-820-5420

Our Vision Statement

AAFSW will continue to be a catalyst for beneficial change through advocacy and support for our Foreign Affairs Community. By providing resources, services and engaging programs through our effective network, we promote the goals and serve the needs of Foreign Service and Civil Service employees, spouses, partners, members of household and retirees.

Follow

My Tweets

Copyright © 2022 · Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide · Connecting the U.S. Foreign Affairs Community at Home and Abroad

AAFSW uses cookies to optimize your experience, analyze traffic, and personalize content. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of cookies on our site.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.