Dom Got a Job!

After being unemployed for seven months, I’m finally back to work. With an office job, no less. No more showing up to work in shorts and beer shirts to throw kegs around for 8 hours. Don’t get me wrong, I tried to work in the beer industry here, but COVID has severely limited job opportunities. Instead, I have an office with a computer, a work phone, and (eventually) a view. When I wake up in the morning, put on my business-casual outfit, and look in the mirror, I can’t help but think…

It’s pretty strange. After spending all this time on the beach or by the pool, sleeping until 10, watching tv, and lounging with Mochi, I might just be putting in more hours than Misha through my first three weeks. Her work is certainly more meaningful, but I seem to be on a lot more conference calls. So what exactly am I doing?

I am an assistant for the Environment, Science, Technology, and Health (ESTH) section at Embassy Branch Office (EBO) Tel Aviv. Now, if you’re like me, your first question is probably, “Why wouldn’t they rearrange the letters into something easier to pronounce?” I mean, seriously, ESTH is only marginally easier to say than the word salad it stands for. Why not call it SETH, HETS, or my personal favorite, SHET?

Kidding aside, my role is both super interesting and something I sort of backed into. I originally applied to be a Roving Administrative Assistant. This is a common role for EFM’s like myself. It’s an entry level position that gives newcomers to the State Department a foot in the door, which is especially helpful for people who do not have the experience for most of the jobs available in embassies. It also provides an opportunity to start the security clearance process, which takes months. Thus, my strategy was, “get the Roving job, get the clearance, and hopefully something more interesting opens up in the meantime.”

The “Roving” part in the Roving Admin Assistant means that I can be plugged into any section that needs help. Stints could range anywhere from a few days to many months. It’s possible to dabble in many different sections in the course of a few months, allowing one to see many different aspects of embassy life. The position is available at most embassies and consulates around the world, making it easier to find jobs at future posts. It was through this process that I was put into ESTH.

I am currently in the early stages of training, where I mostly sit in on phone calls, read endless emails, and try my best to familiarize myself with the pace of the work. The EBO is on an A team-B team alternating schedule, so I go into the office every other day for varying amounts of time. Our section deals with several areas that I am very interested in, namely environmentalism, space, sustainable energy, international relations, and new technology. A few things that pertain specifically to the Israel mission are as follows:

–The Abraham Accords
-The Artemis Accords
-Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD)
-Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD)
-Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC)
–Trillion Trees Initiative
-Tracking and Reporting on COVID-19

It definitely feels strange having an office job, something I only experienced for a couple months after college while doing an internship. Luckily, the transition has been slow and steady, so it shouldn’t take too long to get into the swing of things. I can’t wait to really get going and make an impact!