On 6 April 2022, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the Job Shadow Day 2022, diplomats in their daily work were followed by 18 students from across Latvia.
A diplomat’s profession is exciting, inspiring, responsible and demanding, while also offering gratification. We are able to achieve pivotal decisions at both the national and global scale, the Foreign Ministry’s Parliamentary Secretary, Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, noted in her address to the young visitors. The Ministry is often working under crisis conditions, at this point in particular, with the war being waged by Russia against Ukraine, the Parliamentary Secretary underlined.
A presentation of the diplomat’s profession and career opportunities with the Foreign Ministry was made by the Press Secretary Jānis Beķeris. He noted that working for the foreign service meant working for one’s country; this calls for energy, versatility and strong commitment as diplomats are both representing Latvia’s interests worldwide, and those of Latvian nationals abroad.
This year, the participants had the opportunity to shadow the Parliamentary Secretary Zanda Kalniņa-Lukaševica, the Deputy Chief of the State Protocol, Inese Liepiņa, and the staff of the State Secretary’s Office, the Communications Group, the Development Cooperation Policy Division, the Asia and Oceania Division, and the General and Institutional Affairs Division of the EU Coordination and Policies Department.
The students gained an insight into the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, learned more about the diplomats’ duties, as well as visiting the Saeima (Latvian Parliament) and attending an accreditation ceremony for the Ambassador of Bangladesh in Riga Castle.
At its shadow day events, the Foreign Ministry hosted students from various schools in Latvia – Riga State Gymnasium No. 1, Riga State Gymnasium No. 2, Riga State Gymnasium No. 3, Riga French Lycée, Sigulda State Gymnasium, Ogre State Gymnasium, Jelgava Spīdola Gymnasium, Liepāja State Gymnasium No. 1, and Iļģuciems Secondary School.
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. Conversely, for potential employers, this is a good opportunity to raise the profile of their companies and attract future staff members.