I am moving to Peru, and I am interested in working at the US Embassy in Lima. I have the website. Everything I read says that you have to be a related to a family member to work there either that or I am misunderstanding what EFM (eligible family member) means. Isn't that nepotism?
Embassies & Consulates - 3 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Most noncareer jobs at US embassies and consulates throughout the world (except those few requiring security clearances) are filled by natives of those countries, who are likely far better than you would be in understanding the political culture and in maintaining important contacts. I do understand your resentment at the preference given to family members, but you must understand that they too have had to pass security clearances, and if their husbands/wives were not on foreign-service duties might have had careers of their own in the US. If you don't think you can pass a foreign-service examination, there are alternatives: courrier, security officer, computor expert, communicator, secretary. But you can only get these through the State Department, and, as always, you have no assurance they will send you to Lima.
2 :
If you are relocating to Peru on your own, with all of the necessary residency and work permits, then you would be eligible to apply for embassy jobs as an OR (Ordinarily Resident). If you are the most qualified, then you would be offered the position. However, if an EFM (or other, similar designation) applicant and you are equally qualified, then preference would be given to the EFM. This is not nepotism, but rather a way to provide job opportunities to adult family members who have accompanied their embassy employed spouses/parents overseas - it is standard practice throughout the US foreign missions. I recommend that you contact the HR department of the US Embassy Lima directly: Embassy of the United States Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n Surco, Lima 33, Peru Telephone: (51-1)434-3000 Fax: (51-1)618-2397 Hours of Operation Monday - Thursday 7:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Friday 7:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M. http://peru.usembassy.gov/job_opportunites.html
3 :
Look at this another way. Let us say that you are qualified for a position in the US emabssy in Peru. Of course you and your family will be relocated to that country. You have a son who is of legal age and can't find a job there because he does not speak the language. He may work for the embassy as he is given priority, which is EFM. Same thing goes for your wife. The reason behind is you have all been subjected to security clearances before you left. I deals more with security that anything else.**
