Skandiaavity posted:

etc... but then again the type of person to apply for JET isn't really likely to be a scholar or person with (serious) business interests. The ones that are, obviously get the jobs.

Lemmi Caution posted:

So completely wrong on both counts, especially these days.

Business of Ferrets posted:

Also, thank goodness we don't have the kind of drivel here you see in the FSWE Yahoo! group since the results came out; so many misunderstood special snowflakes, so many conspiracy theories. . . .

Barracuda Bang! posted:

Is that for the generalist position?

Miss Fats posted:

Just got my e-mail saying I've been approved to take the FSOT. poo poo just got real.

anonymous IMS posted:

Here's the breakdown of the Information Resource Management (IRM) positions:
IMO -Information Management Officer. Top dog for the IRM sections in the country. Oversees not only the big picture for the Embassy but also for the countries Consulates. Handles the focus on what everyone should be working towards.
IPO - Information Programs Officer. Reports to IMO. Works in the Consulates only. Oversees local and American staff. Supervises projects that ISO's and IMS's need to focus on. In larger posts, only deals with the daily operations a bit. In medium to smaller posts, they usually are involved just as much in the daily work.
ISO - Information Systems Officer. Reports to IPO. Works in Embassies and Consulates. Usually handles all the network administration, software applications, setting up user accounts and granting security permissions.
ISSO - Information Systems Security Officer. Usually this is just another title given to the ISO. But it can be any of the IRM staff. Duties involve auditing and reviewing security standards at post. Making sure everyone abids by the rules and regs when using the Internet, Intranet and network resources. I'm an IMS that took the ISO position here in Vlad, and I'm also the ISSO. More on that later.
IMS - Information Management Specialist. The grunts . Anyone applying for the 2880 job position comes into the Dept of State/Foreign Service as an IMS officially. IMS's report to everyone from an ISO, IPO, IMO and even another sections Manager if there's no other IRM staff at post. IMS's can handle anything. At bigger posts, they may have a speciality and rotate with other IMS's every so many months at post. At smaller posts, they end up wearing many hats. Duties involve any form of communication at post; helping manage/administrate the server networks, fully responsible for radios, telephones, mail, etc. They are trained before they start their first tour on all the technical aspects of the job. They could manage local staff depending on the size of the post. Bigger posts - no, smaller posts - yes.

Your statement is correct. IMS's not only work on the system admin side but also with Dept of State's other IRM duties, like Diplomatic mail, digital telephone switch systems, HF & VHF radio systems, etc.

anonymous IMS posted:

DoS is definitely a couple steps behind state of the art tech. We're still running Windows 2003 server if that gives you an idea. Most posts finished upgrading to it after extensive security testing.
I broke down the job titles earlier. So let me explain how people move around. I started out as an IMS. After my first two tours as an IMS, I "bid" on a tour in **** for the ISO position. Since this title is above the IMS, it's called "bidding on a stretch assignment". Since **** is one of the several hardship or difficult to staff posts, there wasn't a lot of competition from other DoS IRM'ers. I spent a little time getting to know the guy doing the job at that time and talked about what I wanted to do for my tour there. The post decides who they want to pick from the available candidates and I was selected. Even though it was a govt grade higher than what I'm currently at. I wanted a post where I had more control over what gets done and also thought it would let me learn more being in charge. After a couple years, I can say it has.

So to answer you question, there's no set pattern on what path you have to take as long as you're doing a tour at your current grade or something higher. If you get promoted, then it looks bad if you go from a higher position to take a lower position. Like an IMO at a big post to an IMS at a small one. You could get by being the IMO at a small post and doing an IMS tour at a big post. But there's not too many small Embassies around so that doesn't happen very often.

To help guide you in the training and education advancement, there's a Career Development Officer (CDO) that touches base with all his/her clients. They will help advise you on what you should focus on to help get promoted, bring job skills up to date, what posts are available and when it's time to bid for your next tour. With your background, that can be used in several of the different IRM positions. Mainly the ISO and ISSO duties. After you reach the IPO and IMO positions, you're more of a supervisor and director and spend more time with staff.

anonymous IMS posted:

You're correct, our first two assignments are directed. But we do get a list of all the available "directed" openings. The first tour only had a list of about 20 different places. So the class I was in basically had 17 people all picking from that list. Some people wanted the same posts, while others we're the only ones bidding on a place. I know I was the only one that bid on Sudan and I was given that as my first assignment. I figured I'd do a hardship tour and if I survived that, everything else would be easy. I ended up enjoying it very much and I'm glad I did it. I worked with two other guys at the Embassy there in Khartoum, the captial. The second tour gives you a longer list to choose from. You still have to select a directed tour post from it. I picked **** since I was coming out of a hardship tour and I had a better chance of going to a nice post compared to someone that's already serving in London, Rome, or Tokyo.

My 3rd tour was my first pick, since it was a hardship, I had a better chance of getting the "stretch assignment" than if I was competing with someone who was already at grade trying to go to a post like Paris or Buenos Aires. So it can be difficult to match up the job and the place starting out. But after you get promoted and put in a few years, the chances get better.

I've seen some guys that get promoted and never serve a tour in DC. But that's rare, usually your CDO will advise you after 3-4 tours it's best to come back to do a domestic tour in DC. I think it's wise, because it gives you a chance to put your face with your name. You get to work on developing projects that will be rolled out to post world wide, or can work in several different groups that handle the domestic side of things for foreign posts, like telecommunications, messaging centers, training facilities, even joining a team that travels with the Sec. of State to setup communications for her and her staff when traveling and visiting foreign heads of state.

In five years, I've met Sec of State Rice, Pres. Bush, and the Prime Minister of Australia. So there's a lot of interesting things that can happen when you work in the Foreign Service no matter what post you end up at.

SWATJester posted:

Seriously at this rate we'll take it over.

problematique posted:

IMS stuff.

TCD posted:

A few things, IPOs can be found at Embassies and ISOs can also report directly to the IMO and or the Mgt Officer. "Depends" essentially.

Otherwise pretty accurate. Our bid list was 14 posts for 13 people, and a bureau axed a spot so it was 13/13. Depending on the class, you can essentially work out your picks ahead of time, and then nearly everyone gets their preference. Just a warning, if you're single, CDOs often won't consider you for Seoul but Lagos looks mighty good!

I'm trying to get an all goon comm center. That would be hilarious.

TCD posted:

A few things, IPOs can be found at Embassies and ISOs can also report directly to the IMO and or the Mgt Officer. "Depends" essentially.

Otherwise pretty accurate. Our bid list was 14 posts for 13 people, and a bureau axed a spot so it was 13/13. Depending on the class, you can essentially work out your picks ahead of time, and then nearly everyone gets their preference. Just a warning, if you're single, CDOs often won't consider you for Seoul but Lagos looks mighty good!

I'm trying to get an all goon comm center. That would be hilarious.

problematique posted:

Did you do the standard pick a really lovely hardship tour your first time to get a better pick on the second tour? I'm also surprised that all 13 of you wanted to go to different posts with no contention.

SWATJester posted:

The FSOA list is rapidly becoming a helpful tool in exercising my self-control. Every so often there is a post on there that I want to reply to (snarky or otherwise) and sometimes I get to drafting the email before hitting discard. I'd rather not sabotage my application with the risk that some HR person is reading the list.

About the ONLY thing that it's been useful for, at least until I decide to find a study group.

problematique posted:

Here's the breakdown of the Information Resource Management (IRM) positions:
IMO -Information Management Officer. Top dog for the IRM sections in the country. Oversees not only the big picture for the Embassy but also for the countries Consulates. Handles the focus on what everyone should be working towards.
IPO - Information Programs Officer. Reports to IMO. Works in the Consulates only. Oversees local and American staff. Supervises projects that ISO's and IMS's need to focus on. In larger posts, only deals with the daily operations a bit. In medium to smaller posts, they usually are involved just as much in the daily work.

quote:

ISO - Information Systems Officer. Reports to IPO. Works in Embassies and Consulates. Usually handles all the network administration, software applications, setting up user accounts and granting security permissions.

quote:

ISSO - Information Systems Security Officer. Usually this is just another title given to the ISO. But it can be any of the IRM staff. Duties involve auditing and reviewing security standards at post. Making sure everyone abids by the rules and regs when using the Internet, Intranet and network resources. I'm an IMS that took the ISO position here in Vlad, and I'm also the ISSO. More on that later.

quote:

IMS - Information Management Specialist. The grunts . Anyone applying for the 2880 job position comes into the Dept of State/Foreign Service as an IMS officially. IMS's report to everyone from an ISO, IPO, IMO and even another sections Manager if there's no other IRM staff at post. IMS's can handle anything. At bigger posts, they may have a speciality and rotate with other IMS's every so many months at post. At smaller posts, they end up wearing many hats. Duties involve any form of communication at post; helping manage/administrate the server networks, fully responsible for radios, telephones, mail, etc. They are trained before they start their first tour on all the technical aspects of the job. They could manage local staff depending on the size of the post. Bigger posts - no, smaller posts - yes.

Your statement is correct. IMS's not only work on the system admin side but also with Dept of State's other IRM duties, like Diplomatic mail, digital telephone switch systems, HF & VHF radio systems, etc.

SWATJester posted:

For those of you who have successfully navigated through the October 2009 FSOT Cohort: FSOA registration opened up today. You have until the 12th I believe. Get on it.

Omits-Bagels posted:

This might have been mentioned before but how are the personal lives of people in the Foreign Service? Are the a lot of people in stable relationships or is there a high divorce rate?
What do people's wife/husband do all day... can they get jobs in these countries?

Vilerat posted:

Get married before you get in because it'll be a bitch afterwards. Personal lives depend on your spouse really. Are they Foreign Service material? Moving every 3 years, building a new home in a highly flexible environment all the time? It's up to you guys to decide if you are married. If you aren't, then you're limited to internet dating or finding somebody in your host community you connect with, which can be difficult when you don't speak the language. I don't see a high divorce rate, but I do see a high rate of people resigning because they find they just can't handle the environment. That said the FS is very family friendly and there is a great deal of effort put into ensuring spouses have employment opportunities. They typically work at the embassy in some fashion or there is a "SNAP" program that works with the local business community to provide work options.

Omits-Bagels posted:

Do things ever start to stabilize? Like after 6-8+ years in the foreign service? For example, do they station people at places for longer periods of time after they've got some 'seniority' or will you be moving every 3 years for the duration of their career?

Vilerat posted:

If you want to spend most of your time in Washington you probably won't have too many issues but at that point you're gonna have to ask yourself why you are doing this job. From my perspective I don't ever want to be stationed in the states. I make a lot more money moving every 3 years and I'd lose the fun part of the job that I really enjoy.

Really the best answer is no, if you join the FS be prepared to enjoy the world until you retire.

Omits-Bagels posted:

Yeah, I just didn't know if they would stick someone in the same foreign post for 5-10 years. Like some cushy job in London or Paris.

Vilerat posted:

I'm in Montreal, I have a friend who's in Kigali. That person might want to leave Kigali after 3 years whether or not I'm really ready to leave a nice place. Thems the breaks!

TCD posted:

Vilerat posted:

That last part is basically correct.
If anybody has any questions I can answer from an IPO perspective at a small one man IT post, as an IMS, or as an IMTS/R radio tech.

Vilerat posted:

I don't see a high divorce rate, but I do see a high rate of people resigning because they find they just can't handle the environment.

Vilerat posted:

If you want to spend most of your time in Washington you probably won't have too many issues but at that point you're gonna have to ask yourself why you are doing this job. From my perspective I don't ever want to be stationed in the states. I make a lot more money moving every 3 years and I'd lose the fun part of the job that I really enjoy.

Really the best answer is no, if you join the FS be prepared to enjoy the world until you retire.

Vilerat posted:

I'm in Montreal, I have a friend who's in Kigali. That person might want to leave Kigali after 3 years whether or not I'm really ready to leave a nice place. Thems the breaks!

problematique posted:

I'm assuming you're on your 3rd tour now? I'd love to hear your shed light on how your tours went overall in respect to difference in
-Job responsibilities/duties (IPO/IMS/IMTS tech)
-Post difficulty/felicity

quote:

Did you start as an IMTS? How do you look working as a one man operation? How does the size of the IT group factor in kind of work you do? Do you enjoy the additional responsibilities and flexibility? Any observation or advice for someone who recently applied for an IMS position?

quote:

Are you married? Is this the number one people leave? Are there any other internal issues that you've noticed make people leave (career development, stifling from superiors, promotion potential, etc) or is it mainly related to the harshness of FS life? I guess I'm asking if its a overall enjoyable, good place for you to work? Are you happy with your life?

quote:

Sort of along the lines of my previous question. When people quit, when do they quit? Is the job generally regarded, once you tenure, as a `I'm staying till I retire/die` or do people leave 4-6 years? The private IT sector has a lot of churn, is it noticeably different at State?

quote:

So you could really be posted in Kigali or somewhere else you may not want to be for 3 years? It doesn't qualify as hardship post for 1-2 year tours? While I understand I could be placed in literally any spot I'm told to go to, is there no mechanism to prevent someone being posted for 3-4 years to the last place they'd ever want to go (during bidding process), does that happen?

xanthig posted:

What exactly constitutes a diplomatic pouch? Is it anything officially shipped to the embassy, or is there more to it than that?

quote:

In your experience, how much impact do the management officers have on the quality of life at various postings?

quote:

If you are having things mailed to you, books and the like, are the subject to the standard customs rules of the host country or are they exempt due to the diplomatic status of the recipient?

Gustaf8000 posted:

Does anyone know if you repeatedly fail and then retake the exam, if this will
affect your chances of passing subsequent levels of assessment (assuming you do
one day past the exam)?

Thanks

xanthig posted:

What exactly constitutes a diplomatic pouch? Is it anything officially shipped to the embassy, or is there more to it than that?

Skandiaavity posted:

I'm not in State (yet ), but -

No, I think hardship is similar to a 'war zone'. Iraq, Afghanistan - those are current hardship posts. I think all 1 year posts are hardships (or all hardships are 1 year posts?)

It's not hardship because you don't want to go there, just a 'lovely draw'. I guess you have to roll with the punches, but you don't have a say in that aside from "don't like it? leave." but think of it positively, if you bring/improve an updated internet connection to Botswana, it looks really good on you. i heard somewhere that people choose hardship posts as a fast-track to promotions.


Re: family and life, From my experience, working in the government is always more stable (you will have job security, steady income, etc) than in the private sector, where it will flux. If you're looking for big bucks, yeah, maybe it's not for you.

I believe the (current) promotion process nearly follows the same pattern as the general government (GS), except it's different pay grade system called "FS." But they have steps up and across, yearly assessments, etc. If course, this may? all change in 2012, but I doubt it.

Re: the posts, Sure, it happens.. it happens anywhere in the world, private or government Just gotta stay on your toes and don't step on anybody elses! Pissing off the bid manager would probably guarantee you a crap post.


in other news, I got the FSOT invite. wonder if it times with my recent application

and my certification exam was delayed again till this Sat. Hope it's not delayed again, snow! Hope the people in HR won't mind, since it's a snow week :P