On 5 April 2023, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the annual career education campaign, the Job Shadow Day. Diplomats in their daily work were followed by 38 job shadowers from across Latvia.
The Ministry’s “shadows” were addressed by the Parliamentary Secretary Gunda Reire: “The diplomatic service system around the world is based on career diplomats and politically appointed diplomats-ambassadors. There are also mixed systems. The system of career diplomacy is operational in Latvia. At times, it does not begin with taking up the post of a senior desk officer but with participation in the Job Shadow Day. We have a very good example – a student who participated in shadow day in 2013 has been our colleague for ten years, and has just returned from work at the Embassy of Latvia in India.
Diplomats are professionals and they work with a huge amount of information, they have a deep knowledge of different topics. I hope you will learn something valuable and interesting today, and after secondary school, you enter higher education and become part of the diplomatic service. By participating in the Shadow Day, you are are building your career based on an informed choice. Even if reality does not live up to expectations, there is nothing better than a thorough, realistic preliminary research, an unbiased examination of the situation, and drawing of conclusions.”
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, experienced diplomats introduced the students to the diplomat's profession and career opportunities, and shared their experience in the diplomatic service. The students had the opportunity to learn what knowledge and skills were useful in the work of a diplomat, what challenges could be encountered while pursuing a diplomat’s carreer in its diversity, how important it was to keep calm and retain the ability to act rationally in times of crisis. Experienced diplomats called on the young people to follow their dreams while taking determined and well-considered action in pursuit of their calling by studying both history, political science, economics and other areas.
This year, students had the opportunity of shadowing the Parliamentary Secretary Gunda Reire and diplomats from the State Protocol, the Communications Group, the Security Policy and International Organisations Directorate, the European Union Coordination and Policies Department, the International Organisations and Human Rights Department, the Financial Policy Department, the Development Cooperation Division, the Foreign Economic Contacts Promotion Division, the Asia and Oceanian Division, and the Middle East and Africa Division.
The students followed diplomats in their daily work – discussed schedules, took part various meetings and helped with drafting documents, thereby getting hands-on experience of the Foreign Service’s dynamics. The job shadowers also met with foreign ambassadors and visited the Protocol divisions serving the Saeima and the President of Latvia.
At its Shadow Day events, the Foreign Ministry welcomed students from Auce Secondary School, Daugavpils State Gymnasium, The Friendly Appeal Liepāja City Secondary School No. 5, Dobele State Gymnasium, Ērgļi Secondary School, Jelgava Spīdola Gymnasium, Jelgava Secondary School No. 4, Jelgava State Gymnasium, Jēkabpils State Gymnasium, Jūrmala Kauguri Secondary School, Ernst Glück Alūksne State Gymnasium, the Latvian Distance Education High School of Sciences, Liepāja State Gymnasium No. 1, Liepāja Rainis Secondary School No. 6, Mārupe State Gymnasium, Salaspils Secondary School No. 1, Talsi Christian Secondary School, Varakļāni Secondary School, Ventspils State Gymnasium No. 1, and schools located in Riga – Riga State Gymnasium No. 1, Riga State Gymnasium No. 2, Riga State Gymnasium No. 3, Riga French Lycée, Āgenskalns State Gymnasium, Riga Cultures Secondary School, Riga State German Grammar School, and Riga Secondary School No. 49.
The aim of the Job Shadowing Day in Latvia is to introduce students to the specific requirements of various jobs and sectors, helping young people with their career choices and preparing them to enter the job market. For 18 years, the programme has been successfully integrating career-related subjects into the educational process, and encouraging young people to make plans for their future while still in school. By building cooperation between schools, society and potential employers, the Job Shadow Day promotes inclusion of young people in their community and increases their connection to the future labour market.