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xanthig posted:I think you get to defer A100 once, and you get put back on the roster. Refuse to start class again and you will be dropped from the roster. The DIR who gave the Pre-OA seminar I attended told everyone how she turned down A100 the first time DOS called, and while it's possible to do this she was lucky to get called again. The Registrar's Office will allow you to go on the Do Not Call list for as long as you wish, though this counts against the 18 months you can stay on the register. So, if you know you will not be able to accept an A-100 offer for the next six months, you can ask them to call you only after that time has passed. There are still no guarantees, and I think you get to say "no" once, and the second time you are removed from the register. plutonyum posted:So once you start A100, you're on the hook, eh? In debt to the State Department so to speak? I was wondering where the point of no turning back was. If you start with State and resign before you complete a year at your first tour, you technically can be required to repay all of State's costs up to that point. When you factor in the cost of training and, especially, per diem for multiple months in D.C., the number can become substantial.
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May 27, 2010 18:43
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Business of Ferrets posted:If you start with State and resign before you complete a year at your first tour, you technically can be required to repay all of State's costs up to that point. When you factor in the cost of training and, especially, per diem for multiple months in D.C., the number can become substantial. Yup, and shipping costs of HHE, UAB and vehicle. Depending on your posting, if you make it out to the field in 12 months, that could be around $100,000.
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May 27, 2010 18:56
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Miss Fats posted:I am banking on getting denied by DOS this time around (probably won't get past the QEP) which is why I went ahead and started the Peace Corps process. Why do you think you won't make it past the QEP?
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May 28, 2010 03:36
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I had what I think are pretty strong personal narratives except I have zero overseas experience. I've studied international relations, I've studied foreign languages, I've been great friends with exchange students. I don't have a passport and I've never left the country. You never know though.
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May 28, 2010 06:23
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Miss Fats posted:I had what I think are pretty strong personal narratives except I have zero overseas experience. I've studied international relations, I've studied foreign languages, I've been great friends with exchange students. I don't have a passport and I've never left the country. Almost all the people I know in the FS, usually have some international experience prior to coming onboard. Some specialists can get away with not that much, but most generalists were FS brats, former PC, worked for NGOs, previous .mil, traveled extensively etc or embarking on a second career and much more worldly, even if not traveled. Good luck
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May 28, 2010 13:45
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don't be too crushing on her now. Girl's gotta have hope!
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May 28, 2010 14:36
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TCD posted:Almost all the people I know in the FS, usually have some international experience prior to coming onboard. Some specialists can get away with not that much, but most generalists were FS brats, former PC, worked for NGOs, previous .mil, traveled extensively etc or embarking on a second career and much more worldly, even if not traveled. Would 5 months studying abroad (in the UK) and a few weeks vacationing in Europe be considered serious international experience?
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May 28, 2010 16:04
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Skandiaavity posted:don't be too crushing on her now. Girl's gotta have hope! Guy, but it couldn't possibly matter less. I know that, TCD, I just haven't had the opportunity for travel. Like I said, that's why I'm also looking for positions with NGOs and other orgs as well as applying for PC.
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May 28, 2010 16:58
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welp. Just talked with HR, found out I applied for the IMS, not IMTS. :facepalm: I am, however, still qualified for the IMS, I believe. However, I need to get my university to confirm that their IT degree is integrated within the Business department and show proof the certification company is giving me a workaround but otherwise I should be OK. The nice lady at HR did mention she'd have to take it to the Director! (to make a decision) 
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May 28, 2010 22:33
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To be fair, my international experience is pretty limited. I did some vacationing when I was a teenager with my family, and then an Iraq deployment in the military. That's about it. Though I did work with some foreigners while here in the US.
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May 29, 2010 00:42
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Skandiaavity posted:welp. Just talked with HR, found out I applied for the IMS, not IMTS. :facepalm: I am, however, still qualified for the IMS, I believe. However, I need to get my university to confirm that their IT degree is integrated within the Business department and show proof the certification company is giving me a workaround but otherwise I should be OK. You chose... wisely. I'm an IMTS/R finishing up my skill code conversion to IMS and you absolutely without a shadow of a doubt made the 100% right decision. Embrace it, don't turn back.
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May 29, 2010 01:16
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thank you for those words of encouragement! I guess I fit right in then, since I do a lot of network vulnerability, system security, content management & system admin type of work.. (that IS what an IMS does, right?) (edit: the work I do now is on the policy / I do have a CCNA exam coming up though, not looking forward to having to recertify myself. Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 01:32 on May 29, 2010 |
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May 29, 2010 01:28
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Skandiaavity posted:thank you for those words of encouragement! I guess I fit right in then, since I do a lot of network vulnerability, system security, content management & system admin type of work.. (that IS what an IMS does, right?) (edit: the work I do now is on the policy / Take everything you think of concerning sysadmin work and dumb it down to the drooling moron level. That's what you're going to be required to know. There are some seriously stupid people running IT at some posts.
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May 29, 2010 02:11
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Vilerat posted:Take everything you think of concerning sysadmin work and dumb it down to the drooling moron level. That's what you're going to be required to know. There are some seriously stupid people running IT at some posts. Hahaha Yup.
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May 29, 2010 10:38
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No really all the heavy lifting is done by DC. In fact they are even beginning to take away patching from us! Most of your job is showing people how to use outlook and informing them that their computer isn't working because it is in fact turned off. For this we are very well paid 
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May 29, 2010 14:37
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Vilerat posted:No really all the heavy lifting is done by DC. In fact they are even beginning to take away patching from us! Most of your job is showing people how to use outlook and informing them that their computer isn't working because it is in fact turned off. I once had the privilege of telling someone that their computer wasn't working because it wasn't there.
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May 29, 2010 18:33
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Vilerat posted:No really all the heavy lifting is done by DC. In fact they are even beginning to take away patching from us! Most of your job is showing people how to use outlook and informing them that their computer isn't working because it is in fact turned off. . TCD fucked around with this message at 22:05 on Dec 8, 2015 |
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May 30, 2010 00:37
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TCD posted:Uhhhhg CPM... Hey that's 2 hours OT buddy.
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May 30, 2010 02:06
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I know that Pol is more competitive than Econ, but just how big is the gap?
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May 30, 2010 03:56
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The last sets of POL classes haven't been going below 5.7, though the August class should. It's got 150 something people on the register.
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May 30, 2010 16:45
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Any idea where the Econ classes usually fall, by comparison?
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May 30, 2010 19:29
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I think Econ reached down to about 5.4 for the last class. So there is a substantial gap between that and Pol's 5.7.
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May 30, 2010 19:51
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Business of Ferrets posted:I think Econ reached down to about 5.4 for the last class. So there is a substantial gap between that and Pol's 5.7. Any idea about the other cones?
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May 30, 2010 19:59
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Most hover around 5.4 or so, with PD higher, probably between Econ and Pol, though I think it has occasionally surpassed Pol in the past.
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May 30, 2010 20:13
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Things that don't need to go out NIACT Immediate: Reminders that flags on a public holiday when nobody will actually be at work need to be at half staff. 
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May 30, 2010 21:53
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Vilerat posted:Things that don't need to go out NIACT Immediate: Reminders that flags on a public holiday when nobody will actually be at work need to be at half staff. Hahahaha join the crowd homie. There's another issue going on at Post, so I was like OH poo poo NIACT. Run in, log on... and 
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May 30, 2010 22:40
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I was just sitting down to dinner at my favorite sushi place.I thought Seoul had been nuked or something. They hardly ever do it, so it must be important right? Last time they did it it was something that had been in the news for hours. I'm taking my sweet rear end time next time.
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May 30, 2010 22:50
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AKA Pseudonym posted:I was just sitting down to dinner at my favorite sushi place.I thought Seoul had been nuked or something. They hardly ever do it, so it must be important right? I was trying to add up the cost of this NIACT. This is a fare amount of mandatory paid OT.
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May 30, 2010 22:54
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Business of Ferrets posted:Most hover around 5.4 or so, with PD higher, probably between Econ and Pol, though I think it has occasionally surpassed Pol in the past. CON is in the 5.4s now, but I don't believe particularly deep through them. Econ had a 5.5 in the low 40's out of about 90 who I believe got an offer. PD is out of 130 or so but I don't know how far into it they're going, I think 5.5 is a safe bet. MGMT was at around 60 on the register, and a 5.6 was around 20/60 and got an offer while a 5.3 did not get one and was around 50's. Someone mentioned that there were like 30 DNCs on that list. So right now it looks easiest to get in on MGMT or CON, but any passing score with the bare minimum of language or vet points looks like it can get you an offer in any field except POL. Leif. fucked around with this message at 00:14 on May 31, 2010 |
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May 31, 2010 00:02
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Vilerat posted:Things that don't need to go out NIACT Immediate: Reminders that flags on a public holiday when nobody will actually be at work need to be at half staff. Crossbar fucked around with this message at 14:22 on May 31, 2010 |
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May 31, 2010 14:20
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Crossbar posted:Weird, I didn't get recalled in Jerusalem. I wonder if our phone is working. I really don't know why this was a NIACT immediate instead of an ALDAC.
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May 31, 2010 15:45
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Vilerat posted:I really don't know why this was a NIACT immediate instead of an ALDAC. Maybe somebody was confused.
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May 31, 2010 21:02
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TCD posted:Maybe somebody was confused. For those who don't get the grumbling here's a translation: NIACT Immediate = Night action, immediate precedence. "Go into work right now, no matter the time or what you're doing, and get this telegram go go go!" and ALDAC = All Diplomatic and Consular posts (Everybody)
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May 31, 2010 21:27
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Vilerat posted:For those who don't get the grumbling here's a translation: Yeah.... I wonder if this will be on the Sounding Board.
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May 31, 2010 21:35
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QEP results are out...and I didn't make the cut in the Political cone. To everyone else getting their results today and are going forward to the FSOA, good luck!
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Jun 1, 2010 17:22
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sah deuudes posted:QEP results are out...and I didn't make the cut in the Political cone. Same here. Retrying in a year or two I suppose - if I can find some foreign experience. HELP ME FIND AN OVERSEAS/NGO JOB GUYS PLEAAAAASE. The goon takeover of the FS is in jeopardy and we need your help!
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Jun 1, 2010 18:52
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Well guys, I'm done with Grad school and back in Minnesota. I'm definitely planning on trying again in October, so until then I'll be studying up and also volunteering with Bhutanese refugees. I'm hoping some volunteer experience will help my narrative sound a little better, because I've definitely been lacking leadership experience. Any other thoughts on what I should be doing over the next few months to make myself a more attractive candidate?
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Jun 1, 2010 19:55
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I took the February FSOT and passed, but I didn't make it past the QEP. I was so excited about passing the FSOT on my first try. However, I didn't realize how important the QEPs were, I was overconfident and I thought it was just a formality on the way to the Oral review. For the record, I currently have three years experience working abroad.
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Jun 1, 2010 21:07
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Nah, the QEPs are the most confusing part - they're difficult to pass like the OA, but you don't have any real feedback as to why. There were a few people on the A-100 list that mentioned that they passed the OA, retook the FSOT for another cone and didn't pass the QEP even though they submitted the same PNQs.
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Jun 1, 2010 21:40
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Did anyone make it past the QEPs? I didn't make the cut either.  There's always next year! 
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Jun 2, 2010 00:57
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