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I feel really, really ridiculously good about the FSOT this morning! I finished with an hour left, but that was with checking my answers and adding a paragraph to the essay. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it felt more like a quiz you'd take on Facebook. Anyway, I didn't see this in this OP, so I thought I'd toss it out. Real Post Reports has a collection of FSO/USAID/expat opinions on life in different countries. It's a pretty good read.
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Jun 7, 2010 19:50
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That's exactly my experience. I feel pretty good, but man do they care about commas and whether or not I like talking on the phone. Virtually zero history/government questions until the essay.
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Jun 7, 2010 22:41
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gently caress. NARA/eVetRecs can't find my service record. What the gently caress? They said contact the Florida Adjutant General/Department of Military Affairs, which says to contact NARA/eVetRecs. This is loving stupid. I have a DD214 around my house somewhere from when I was a PFC, but it's not my final DD214, which I need not just for the veterans preference for State, but I also need for the Maryland Bar. Goddamnit.
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Jun 7, 2010 22:47
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Aliquid posted:I just really want to work overseas. Anyone not make it through the FSO program and hook up with a contractor? What's my best bet as a history major who could work in Iraq or Afghanistan tomorrow with no qualms? I'm interested in demography, sociology, etc. I work for a contractor currently and we are supporting several efforts internationally.. if you have clearance I can probably hook you up with something in Iraq/Afghan/NATO if you want in that bad. But don't want to poo poo up the thread. (and I also kind of recommend you work for State/USAID over contractors.. its another world, I guess you can say) Swatjester: that sucks, wouldn't Vet Affairs have your copy? since you're out. Also good luck with the maryland bar. Heard it was tougher than DC's
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Jun 8, 2010 04:50
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What's your email? The Department of State is my Harvard, application-wise. I've been jobless for a year and really can't see myself waiting another two without something major in-between.
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Jun 8, 2010 05:00
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Huge long shot, but in case someone knows for sure and can get back to me within 30 minutes or so... Any chance of being able to walk into the testing center at a different time than my scheduled testing time and be able to take the test? I'm supposed to take it tomorrow at 1:30 and have a conflict with something else. I'll do the FSOT over it, but it could potentially cost me a lot of money. I remember from last year they're a lot more casual on the timing now that they've got us doing it on computers. I got there 15 minutes before my scheduled time and there were already people taking it, and people continued to show up well after the start time and weren't turned away. So if I showed up a few hours before my time...? Yeah, I don't think this will work. Oh well, paychecks are overrated. quote:I work for a contractor currently and we are supporting several efforts internationally.. if you have clearance I can probably hook you up with something in Iraq/Afghan/NATO if you want in that bad. But don't want to poo poo up the thread. (and I also kind of recommend you work for State/USAID over contractors.. its another world, I guess you can say) And what if you don't have a clearance? Nothing? This sucks. I'm easily clearable, I'm willing to go anywhere, I consider 50 hour workweeks light. You'd think someone would be interested, but nope.
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Jun 8, 2010 14:41
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Kase Im Licht posted:Huge long shot, but in case someone knows for sure and can get back to me within 30 minutes or so... I would also like to do something like this but the chances are pretty slim for the regular joe.
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Jun 8, 2010 15:17
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Skandiaavity posted:I work for a contractor currently and we are supporting several efforts internationally.. if you have clearance I can probably hook you up with something in Iraq/Afghan/NATO if you want in that bad. But don't want to poo poo up the thread. (and I also kind of recommend you work for State/USAID over contractors.. its another world, I guess you can say) You would think, but National Guard is handled differently, and National Guard that were activated are handled differently still.
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Jun 8, 2010 21:27
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Also, if anyone is interested in the Foreign Commercial Service Assessment, apparently a lot of people are passing that right now. I have no idea what it is, but I could add it to the OP if someone gave me info. People are talking about it on the mailing lists. Apparently their register is simpler and easier than the FSO register.
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Jun 8, 2010 21:28
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So I took the FSOT in Cairo today. Overall, it went pretty smoothly- there were about six people taking it, including myself and my girlfriend. We took it at the US Embassy in Cairo, and it was actually proctored by a *real-life* FSO! After I finished the test, I talked with her a little bit- only about 30 seconds or so- and found out that it took her a few times to pass as well, but eventually she made it in. Also a highlight- we had one guy in the group who: a. couldn't remember his user name or password when it came time to log in to the testing suite. b. couldn't remember his cone that he registered for. "Uh...I think it was public economics?" was one thing he said. and c. at the end when we were walking out, escorted by another FSO, he said, "So hey- what question did you guys get for the writing portion?" The FSO turned and looked at him with this big, wide-eyed expression as if to say, "What part of NDA did you not understand?" :facepalm: Although just watch- ten to one this guy makes it to the OA and I miss the QEP cutoff again.
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Jun 8, 2010 21:46
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SWATJester posted:Also, if anyone is interested in the Foreign Commercial Service Assessment, apparently a lot of people are passing that right now. I have no idea what it is, but I could add it to the OP if someone gave me info. People are talking about it on the mailing lists. Took a look at it, requires at least two years of specialized experience if you have an M.A., three years without. I'm getting really frustrated at this. Should I just forget about any government related job until I've been working for like another five years? It seems pretty difficult to get anything right out of school. Stupid academia.
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Jun 9, 2010 00:55
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CherryCola posted:Took a look at it, requires at least two years of specialized experience if you have an M.A., three years without. I'm getting really frustrated at this. Should I just forget about any government related job until I've been working for like another five years? It seems pretty difficult to get anything right out of school. Nah, don't give up on it completely. Keep applying and applying, just find something to do for a living in the interim that hopefully won't make you go insane. If you get in to a government job that you really want, bail on your private sector gig. As someone who has spent the last four+ delightful economic years in the private sector believe me when I tell you that your potential employers will view you as "profit unit #3687" and treat you as such. Never feel bad about moving on to the next, better thing. They wont hesitate to shitcan your rear end if they see the need to.
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Jun 9, 2010 01:13
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Bizob posted:Nah, don't give up on it completely. Keep applying and applying, just find something to do for a living in the interim that hopefully won't make you go insane. If you get in to a government job that you really want, bail on your private sector gig. Yeah, that's what my plan is. I'm currently working as a temp while I look for something in DC, since there aren't many jobs for a Hindi/Urdu speaker in Minneapolis. I'm just trying to figure out exactly the types of positions I should/can apply for straight out of grad school. *sigh* And I won't give up. Even though I think I just got rejected by ANOTHER government agency. Welp, just have to keep workin and studyin. CherryCola fucked around with this message at 01:49 on Jun 9, 2010 |
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Jun 9, 2010 01:45
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echoing what Bizob is saying as the truth. The pay is a little bit lower, but you'll 9 times out of 10 be happier with el federales employment. I know we *are* hiring people now (we hired 800 last month, still more to come..), not sure if clearance is a necessity [it is for overseas efforts]. I'm not in HR (I'm on the other face), so maybe you can present your case of 'easily clearable' to them. If you want me to put you in the system, I'll be glad to help fellow goons out, but again I really recommended the FS. :P email me your resume/ omp_doug[at]hotmail.com and I will send you a link to look for specific jobs (which will tell you if clearance is necessary, not, or clearable), and I'll call the hiring manager/try to give you a leg up on that position, it's the best I can do :|
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Jun 9, 2010 15:04
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Just got back from the FSOT. Felt about how I did last year, a bit better actually. Really looking forward to doing the QEP again. I'm really confused about what they want on the biographical section. If the question is: Are you: a) The best b) Great c) okay d) bad e) incompetent And they don't ask for justification, what are you supposed to put? Am I an idiot for ever putting anything other than the best answer? Do they somehow look for answers to justified and unjustified questions to match up?
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Jun 9, 2010 21:23
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SWATJester posted:You would think, but National Guard is handled differently, and National Guard that were activated are handled differently still. Think I finally figured it out.
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Jun 9, 2010 22:44
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Skandiaavity posted:echoing what Bizob is saying as the truth. The pay is a little bit lower, but you'll 9 times out of 10 be happier with el federales employment. can you be more specific about what you mean by we? are you associated with the foreign commercial service? I'll happily send you my resume, it couldn't hurt! I'd be happy with pretty much any overseas position, though would definitely prefer to be in South Asia somewhere. Anyway, I'll just go ahead and send you my info. ( no stalking, plz) edit: whoops just scrolled up and realized you said what you're doing. I have awesome short term memory. CherryCola fucked around with this message at 00:07 on Jun 10, 2010 |
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Jun 10, 2010 00:05
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CherryCola posted:oh...well, I'm out of the loop over here in the midwest. Is it an okay place to work for? I applied for that hiring event as well. If my supervisors at my FEMA internship were serious, it's a good place to work if your interested in intel and supposedly this is a much larger hiring drive than normal for entry level positions. Fingers crossed. Skandiaavity posted:
Totally going to take you up on this offer since I just moved to D.C. and I'm looking for something steady that isn't temp work or retail. Handsome Ralph fucked around with this message at 00:46 on Jun 10, 2010 |
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Jun 10, 2010 00:25
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SWATJester posted:LANGUAGE poo poo drat. I'm very excited to get into the FSOT just for the language training. I'm currently going to major in French and minor in Arabic. Do I need to have a 'real' job in mind, or would it be possible to have a job that just focuses on knowing a couple languages for interpretation purposes? Thanks for this thread SWATJester, I'll be reading up on it this weekend!
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Jun 10, 2010 04:10
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I've been writing essays for the past couple of days in preparation for the exam tomorrow. I've finished ten minutes early all three times. I also completed the grammar section in 20 minutes with three mistakes (all questions about the most concise word choice). I'm excited to take the test tomorrow in Seoul, though I'm a little pissed that the (supposed) Saturday test date filled up so quickly. I hate missing a full day of work just to go take a three hour test, but what can I do? I'm a little worried about the Job Knowledge portion of the exam, but I know the amendments like the back of my hand, and I'm familiar with how the government works. I'm going to be so happy once this monkey is off my back. Tomorrow marks the culmination of three months of studying. Ugh. Kase Im Licht posted:Just got back from the FSOT. Felt about how I did last year, a bit better actually. Really looking forward to doing the QEP again. From what I've read, there is some overlap between the questions, so they must be checking to see how your answers relate to one another. That's why, as I read in one of the documents in the Yahoo Group, attempts to "game" the Biographical Section will fail. If you're lying, they'll catch you when you slip up and answer differently on certain questions. Then again, I've never taken the test, so I could be totally off (I probably am). Rabid Koala fucked around with this message at 04:24 on Jun 10, 2010 |
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Jun 10, 2010 04:19
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Just got home.. and replied to most of your emails :P SWATJester: oh you got it? please explain it  (i do think the VA handles Nat'l Guard? I don't know. VA's system/processing is.. interesting to say the least.)CherryCola - no stalking necessary! am married; but anyway - we do have overseas offices and jobs, but it really depends on what you'll be doing. i.e. the office in Egypt is like a five-man shop that handles most of Egypt's government affairs (yeah), while the site in Abu Dhabi is something like 600 people. (I just checked the system, we do have a site/people working in Thailand, Cambodia and India, but dunno if jobs are open there.) by we, i don't really want to namedrop, but we're a top-five federal contractor and we're associated with Carlyle Group. All I know is we pay well :\ Typically We handle all kind of support services, mission assurance, intel, analysis (business, financial, economic, you name it), government support, engineering, those type of things. Myself, I do a variety, but mostly, IT & Disaster Planning/Recovery efforts. Isaac asimov- you can try shooting for analyst positions! State, the Intel agencies & Homeland always love people who can speak fluent French & Arabic. [Failing that, USAID, or the U.N]. With those two languages you shouldn't be out of a job in the next ten years. RabidKoala - good luck! Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 04:25 on Jun 10, 2010 |
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Jun 10, 2010 04:23
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Boondock Saint posted:I applied for that hiring event as well. If my supervisors at my FEMA internship were serious, it's a good place to work if your interested in intel and supposedly this is a much larger hiring drive than normal for entry level positions. Fingers crossed. Okay, awesome...maybe 5th agency is the charm? I never thought I would be so determined to work for THE MAN. Also, Skandiaavity is totally awesome. Thanks for the halp! CherryCola fucked around with this message at 04:32 on Jun 10, 2010 |
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Jun 10, 2010 04:27
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Skandiaavity posted:Isaac asimov- you can try shooting for analyst positions! State, the Intel agencies & Homeland always love people who can speak fluent French & Arabic. [Failing that, USAID, or the U.N]. With those two languages you shouldn't be out of a job in the next ten years. Well, that's my ultimate career goal after school anyway. I understand how important Africom will be in the future and of course the middle-east never fails to deliver, so like many people I'm hoping to capitalize on that. None of those DC jobs really seem to offer language training though, they just want the most qualified person right away.
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Jun 10, 2010 04:31
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Isaac Asimov posted:drat. I'm very excited to get into the FSOT just for the language training. To my knowledge there aren't any generalist positions that are just like interpretors. But regardless, you're going to learn them eventually no matter what your job is. You are actually probably in a really strong situation -- you can talk about your AT experience, as well as your military experience (didn't you go to selection?) and you can definitely play the "I am doing this because I want to continue to serve my country". You have a sick-rear end resume of stuff you can bring to the table. If I weren't already past the testing process, I would be drooling to be in your shoes. Leif. fucked around with this message at 05:10 on Jun 10, 2010 |
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Jun 10, 2010 05:04
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Isaac Asimov, There's a reason for that, typically in DC you're put right into the fray. From the first day on my job it was pretty much "do it or get out". DC is the central hub or front line for a lot of places, so they want to rest assured that you can take care of the issues without necessarily looking after you. Say, if you're doing business with Thailand, and something goes wrong you need to have your guy here smooth it out with the Thai Embassy, or you need to do immediate research on thai protesters, or something. To do that should require someone already fluent in Thai - so that your results are the best they can be. If someone requires training in thai, the results would be not as good as someone who is fluent.. It really does work backwards a little bit in the private sector here. Any other place would grab you right up and help you further your career. I mean they'll pay you what you're worth obviously, but it is backwards that most don't provide training and expect you to already have it on your own. That's why federal employment is such an attractive prospect here because they do provide you with that training. Oh, does anybody actually hire people from USAJobs? I keep hearing it's the 'runaround' in federal employment, like if they tell you "go to USAJobs" then they're kind of giving you the shaft. I have never heard of anyone actually getting hired via USAJobs, someone please tell me that's not true.
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Jun 10, 2010 05:05
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Skandiaavity posted:Just got home.. and replied to most of your emails :P Nope. VA handles medical records, but State REQUIRES a DD-214 for your veterans points (actually, they might take a DD-215, they weren't entirely sure, but it doesn't matter because VA doesn't have those either). NARA has a branch called NPRC that handles most vet records, including some, but not all (or even most), National Guard records -- especially recent ones. You have to contact someone from your state's National Guard Bureau -- except in Florida, the National Guard Bureau does not carry those records either. Thankfully, I FINALLY got someone from NPRC that had a phone number for the Adjutant General's office in Florida. Apparently the Adjutant General's Office of Military Personnel Records tracks these things and either stores them at the State Archives, or they share joint responsibility, I don't know. So no, I dont have my record yet, but I apparently have found the right place to send my request form. I faxed it in, hopefully I'll have it before the MD Bar rejects me (which would suck). quote:by we, i don't really want to namedrop, but we're a top-five federal contractor and we're associated with Carlyle Group. All I know is we pay well :\ Typically We handle all kind of support services, mission assurance, intel, analysis (business, financial, economic, you name it), government support, engineering, those type of things. Myself, I do a variety, but mostly, IT & Disaster Planning/Recovery efforts. WTF is the Carlyle group? Are they the people that everything in my neighborhood of Alexandria is named after? Like, my building is Carlyle Place, the next door building is Carlyle Towers, there's like Carlyle Mills, or whatever. Nobody seems to be able to tell me.
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Jun 10, 2010 05:09
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Skandiaavity posted:Oh, does anybody actually hire people from USAJobs? I keep hearing it's the 'runaround' in federal employment, like if they tell you "go to USAJobs" then they're kind of giving you the shaft. I have never heard of anyone actually getting hired via USAJobs, someone please tell me that's not true. My experience is, yes it happens for Competitive Service positions where it is a cost-effective method of meeting required federal hiring laws; it almost never happens for Excepted Service positions, where those laws do not apply.
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Jun 10, 2010 05:12
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CherryCola posted:Okay, awesome...maybe 5th agency is the charm? I never thought I would be so determined to work for THE MAN. I know right? Seriously at this point, I'd be happy to just get a mail clerk job with the feds just so I can gain preference after a year. Also echoing that Skandiaavity is the man.
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Jun 10, 2010 05:56
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The good news is I think I've found a graduate program that will allow me to do Masters International for the Peace Corps. With an MA/MS in the field and Peace Corps experience, I should have QEP in the bag by the next go round, and if I don't I can always go on to get my PHD/JD and work for rich white folks.
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Jun 10, 2010 06:34
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Boondock Saint posted:I'd be happy to just get a mail clerk job with the feds just so I can gain preference after a year. Not sure that it helps much without knowing the right people :-\
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Jun 10, 2010 14:09
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Carlyle group is Illuminatus Veritas; they own pretty much everything and its staffers make at least 90% of the decisions. Decision to contract Blackwater to state? Carlyle. They're a uh "investment firm" or something. In reality they're like the company Jon Voight owns in 24. Bush and Cheney were both board members of Carlyle
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Jun 10, 2010 14:41
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This might sound stupid, in fact it probably is but I'm going to ask anyways. The test is just at a standard testing center right? So is there any need for me to wear a shirt and tie, or will a polo and a pair of pants be ok considering this is just a test?
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Jun 10, 2010 16:04
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Boondock Saint posted:This might sound stupid, in fact it probably is but I'm going to ask anyways. Mine was just at a standardized testing center, although I've heard other people say their test was administered by an actual FSO. I don't think you need a tie, but out of caution don't show up in your "9/11 was a HOAX!" t-shirt.
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Jun 10, 2010 16:20
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Boondock Saint posted:This might sound stupid, in fact it probably is but I'm going to ask anyways. I wore a hoody, flip flops, and jeans. You'll be fine for the FSOT. The FSOA is suit and tie, though.
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Jun 10, 2010 17:50
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I just wore a suit and tie anyway, since I never know
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Jun 11, 2010 01:16
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I took my test at a community college, so attire was not an issue. They're pretty strict about what you can take in with you - I had only my ID and car key on me and they made me put my car key in a locker. Good luck to ya'll taking it tomorrow!
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Jun 11, 2010 01:38
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Good luck to everyone taking the FSOT. I am regularly reminded what an incredible job this is; if you're into traveling the world and doing truly international work, I think you would be hard pressed to find a better gig.
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Jun 11, 2010 19:41
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CherryCola posted:Okay, awesome...maybe 5th agency is the charm? I never thought I would be so determined to work for THE MAN. Would Pakistan-related work be something interesting to you? I got an e-mail about an immediate vacancy opening for a contractor at the Bureau of South Central Asian Affairs (part of the Department of State, position is in DC.) AFAIK it's not exclusive to people on my mailing list, they do require a Secret clearance through DSS but they're willing to pay for that. No word on minimum requirements from what I see, although it looks like previous experience with public diplomacy, etc would be a plus. Let me know by Sunday in this thread (sorry I got banned a couple weeks ago and don't have PM anymore :-\) and I'll forward the e-mail to you. They wanted the resume/cover letter by 10am on Monday.
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Jun 11, 2010 21:15
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I know this is a little off topic but where should us more inexperienced people be looking for international work?
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Jun 11, 2010 21:28
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Business of Ferrets posted:Good luck to everyone taking the FSOT. I am regularly reminded what an incredible job this is; if you're into traveling the world and doing truly international work, I think you would be hard pressed to find a better gig. Until you're in Montreal at a one person shop ready to take leave but are told that there is no rover support available and sorry. No seriously, we might end up sending a volunteer cable for a monthlong TDY cover over here. Anybody wanna TDY to Montreal for a month???
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Jun 11, 2010 21:43
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