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Pompous Rhombus posted:It's vague as hell what a "foreign contact" constitutes (investigator said as much too). Do I count one of my roommates in Australia in 2004 that I lived with for a semester and haven't had any contact with since? What about the one I'm friends with on FB but rarely interact with (although we were pretty chummy back in the day)? Or the British dude I backpacked through Cambodia with for a month (no contact details except for an old MSN address he never uses)? Old penpal from HS who I haven't written to in 5 years? 11 Chinese students I was teamed with in rural China for a university internship? The penpal probably won't count. The british dude probably won't count. The Australian probably will. The Chinese students, depends on the internship -- if you lived with them, you probably will.
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Jul 20, 2010 18:38
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xanthig posted:This question is not asking for the name of every foreigner you ever met in the last seven years, it is only asking for the people who could hold influence over you. That British guy you backpacked with has no place in your answer here. But if your wife was married to a foreigner? Well, that does belong here. There will be time later to go over your foreign contacts- the random foreigners who you know but who hold no influence over you, but you should take care to only answer the question that is being asked. I'm not saying don't be thorough, but too much information doesn't help either. Yeah, the problem is that "influence" and "ties of affection" are rather vague. I mean I'm quite attached to some of them far'ners, but not to where I'd hand over state secrets to/for them, regardless of how much trouble they were in or thought they needed them (and I like to think we're good enough friends that they'd never ask for something like that to begin with). I guess in my spare time I can go through stuff chronologically and write down everyone with as much contact details as I can find/remember and a brief description of how I knew the people, and let the examiner pick and choose. BaseballChica03 posted:Well, yes, but if I would enjoy both, why not choose the one that I have a better chance of getting hired for? There's no need to get snpapy about it. Political sounds "more exciting" on paper, but both have their advantages. The one I decided on happens to have a higher bar. If I don't pass this time, I think I would try for Consular if I did it again, not solely because there is a smaller pool of applicants, but because I think I would also really like it. If consular sounds interesting, then go for it! From your first post it sounded like you were looking at it just as the easiest way in to the FS, which probably wouldn't be the best choice for your long-term career satisfaction. Consular didn't sound like something I'd like at first, but OTOH I like helping people and could probably do without the extended work hours and type-A personalities that the political cone seems to attract. Yeah, I've been to the ACS section of a couple embassies and a lot of the people coming in are grumpy/pissed off/distraught about something, but I've had a couple jobs before where I had to deal with that and don't mind it so much. Pompous Rhombus fucked around with this message at 22:18 on Jul 20, 2010 |
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Jul 20, 2010 22:15
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Pompous Rhombus posted:I've got a feeling I'm gonna hate life if/when I ever go for a TS or above You and me both. Between the idiotic poo poo I did in college and the foreign contacts I have from traveling in the Middle East, my SF-86 is going to be as thick as a loving phone book and will probably need an appendix.
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Jul 21, 2010 00:11
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Pompous Rhombus posted:If consular sounds interesting, then go for it! From your first post it sounded like you were looking at it just as the easiest way in to the FS, which probably wouldn't be the best choice for your long-term career satisfaction. My current job is with a state-level elected official. We have a smallish staff, so what I do now is a bit of policy work on areas I'm assigned to, part constituent work, and a little bit of management (I'm the community outreach director, so I supervise the rest of the constituent liaisons). Most days, I enjoy my job, or at least the IDEA of my job. So I feel like either the policy work of a political officer or the bureaucratic work of of consular would be just fine with me. I actually really like the fact that I do a little bit of both, so it's hard to think of the cone structure as being so rigid. Can the current FSOs in the thread say a little more about that? Do you get a chance to help out on other things occasionally, or is it just the same thing year in, year out?
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Jul 21, 2010 16:09
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BaseballChica03 posted:My current job is with a state-level elected official. We have a smallish staff, so what I do now is a bit of policy work on areas I'm assigned to, part constituent work, and a little bit of management (I'm the community outreach director, so I supervise the rest of the constituent liaisons). Most days, I enjoy my job, or at least the IDEA of my job. So I feel like either the policy work of a political officer or the bureaucratic work of of consular would be just fine with me. You can do excursion tours and in fact our political officer is consular cone, several consular officers are pol/econ etc etc. It can be difficult to get excursion tours however and you have little chance of formally switching over and doing another cone. I believe there are career penalties if you spend too much time not doing your own cone as well, at least officers have spoken about needing to spend more time in their primary field or they would be in trouble come promotion time.
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Jul 21, 2010 17:11
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*pshew* finally, I made it through all 43 pages of this awesome thread. First, thank you guys for making this thread. I had originally thought that I would never have a chance at a FS type position, but this thread has encouraged me to give it a shot. I have a few questions, and I realize that no one can really give me a real answer to the first one. My background is a BS in Urban Planning (Minor: History), and a Masters of Industrial Design. That's an odd combo to start with, but I'm hoping it isn't too odd to get into the FS. Furthermore I have very very limited international experience/exposure, is that going to sink me right from the start? I don't have many options to get any of that experience either, because I'm pretty much scraping by right now with my business. Would running your own business count for much in lieu of much international/leadership experience? This is a business owned by my wife and I, and we are the only employees (https://www.oslopress.com for reference). I am going to sit for the FSOT in October (Management track) but I am wondering if I should consider my FS chances to be any higher than "a shot in the dark". I have no foreign language skills and I am not a veteran. I am basically at the point in my life (30 years old) where I either need to go after a pension (find employment with the government) or wealth (continue to grow and diversify my business) within the next five years or so. This does give me a little time to make several attempts at the FSOT, but I feel like if you get caught out on the Personal Narratives and then don't have many more international life experiences to add the next year, then you would likely get the same result. My second question is about Printing Specialists. This is a Specialist position that I might qualify for, but where all of the other specialist positions on the DS website show when the last opening closed, this one doesn't. That tells me that the last opening was probably a long-assed time ago. I can see this job probably being scaled back of eliminated/outsourced, so my question to those of you in the FS: Have you ever even seen/met a Printing Specialist? Do they still exist and are they valid? Or is it just a few leftover old farts the department is waiting on to retire/die? tl;dr I know, but thank you all for making this thread, it is an awesome resource!
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Jul 22, 2010 03:17
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GEMorris posted:I have a few questions, and I realize that no one can really give me a real answer to the first one. My background is a BS in Urban Planning (Minor: History), and a Masters of Industrial Design. That's an odd combo to start with, but I'm hoping it isn't too odd to get into the FS. Furthermore I have very very limited international experience/exposure, is that going to sink me right from the start? I don't have many options to get any of that experience either, because I'm pretty much scraping by right now with my business. Would running your own business count for much in lieu of much international/leadership experience? This is a business owned by my wife and I, and we are the only employees (https://www.oslopress.com for reference). I am going to sit for the FSOT in October (Management track) but I am wondering if I should consider my FS chances to be any higher than "a shot in the dark". I have no foreign language skills and I am not a veteran.  entrepreneurial industrial design buddy.I have a similar background and made it to the Orals last cycle, so I can say from personal experience that it can be made to work for you on the QEP. I found the experience of running one's own business to be fertile ground for PNQ answers; of the five PNQ questions, only one of my answers was related to international experience, all my others came from running a business. Of course it helps that, like you, I'm applying for the management track. You might want to boost the international experience end of things enough to give you an anecdotal story or two to use in the PNQs and the orals, perhaps take a trip abroad or take some language classes at a local university. The more adventurous you are about it, the more likely you are to get something that you can use. Edit: Isn't there some sort of art related specialist position that involves archiving things and decorating embassies? After looking at your website, you might want to consider that track as well. A Masters in ID can open some unexpected doors; I had one employee with a Masters in ID go from designing consumer products for me, to designing displays at the Smithsonian. xanthig fucked around with this message at 05:12 on Jul 22, 2010 |
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Jul 22, 2010 05:04
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Remember that international experience does not necessarily have to be volunteering abroad or studying abroad or something of the like. Obviously that stuff is great, but, for example, it could also include tutoring or mentoring refugees within the United States. It's been awhile since I did the personal narrative (almost two years, when you did it before taking the written test), but if I recall correctly, they asked your interactions with another culture, not explicitly another culture outside the US. Obviously answering such a question is quite a bit easier if you lived with a tribe in the Amazon for four years, but it could also be as simple as growing up on a farm in the Deep South and going to school in, or even having a roommate from, a big city like New York. Moreover, having no international experience can be an ironic boon if you actually do pass the orals, because foreign contacts are the most obnoxious part of any security clearance investigation. HeroOfTheRevolution fucked around with this message at 05:12 on Jul 22, 2010 |
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Jul 22, 2010 05:10
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Downside was a I dislocated/popped/tore something in my knee during the drill so know it's twice the size of my other knee. TCD fucked around with this message at 22:09 on Dec 8, 2015 |
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Jul 22, 2010 16:02
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TCD posted:We had a Marine drill the other night and I pulled off a ninja move and got the drop on the Marines and shot the new Sergeant in the face with the red plastic handgun. Crossposting this thread in LF : Join the FS, kill marines!
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Jul 22, 2010 18:27
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TCD posted:We had a Marine drill the other night and I pulled off a ninja move and got the drop on the Marines and shot the new Sergeant in the face with the red plastic handgun. No invite to the Marine Ball for you this year ... lol Slingshot Smith fucked around with this message at 19:29 on Jul 22, 2010 |
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Jul 22, 2010 19:27
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Slingshot Smith posted:No invite to the Marine Ball for you this year ... lol Nah, the Gunny thought it was pretty funny 
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Jul 22, 2010 19:37
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I received my detailed scores today. I passed the test by 1 point. Apparently, I did fine on the Job Knowledge section, even though I guessed on almost half the questions. I got an abysmal 48 on the Biographical section, even though I elaborated on nearly every question with a short statement about my relevant work experience. I aced the Grammar section and earned a 9 on the essay. I wrote a full five-paragraph essay to earn that score, so do with that information what you will.
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Jul 23, 2010 15:05
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Slingshot Smith posted:No invite to the Marine Ball for you this year ... lol Hah, knowing the Marines I know from my time as a DiploBrat, the whole detachment would probably pool up and pay your ticket themselves. Also, this thread has made me very happy to see. Learned some poo poo about my mom's job that I didn't know before. Mostly 'cause she was too lazy to tell me.
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Jul 23, 2010 22:49
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How is the security clearance / final suitability review timeline working out for everyone who passed the OA earlier this year?
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Jul 25, 2010 17:13
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My security clearance went through in about 6 weeks (with a 2 week gap between when I passed the OA and when my clearance investigation started, so total of 8 weeks after the OA before it finished). I'm still in Final Suitability since the beginning of this month, but that's a "special case"... normally it should only take a week or so.
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Jul 25, 2010 20:49
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Thanks so much for this thread; I've learned a lot from these 43 pages. I really appreciate it. I had a couple of questions and I was hoping that maybe some of you could fill me in. I am taking the test in October. I have applied for the management cone. 1) SWATJester, somewhere in the previous 43 pages of this thread, you mentioned that you went to law school. I was wondering whether you think you have been able to parlay many of the things you learned in law school with your current career. Did it help you with the test? On the essay section did you structure your answers in IRAC format? Are you glad you went? Also, after law school and an LLM in international law, I now have some pretty substantial student debt, how adversely will this affect me during the security process (as debt has been mentioned as an actionable item)? 2) If you know someone that currently works for the Foreign Service, would having this person put in a good word help my chances of being selected? Would the analysis change depending upon whether this person is something like a third-year FSO or something like an Ambassador? 3) Is there any way I could meet with a FSO, and take them to lunch or something, just to pick their brains in person? I live Spain doing graduate work and would love to just take a train up to Madrid or Barcelona and sit down with someone from the Management sphere. 4) I am thinking of buying the FSOT study guide, but if possible, would rather help a Goon out and would rather buy a used one from one of you. Would anyone that has taken this test be interested in selling me your study guide? 5) It sounds like the QEP stage is sort of the magic-eight-ball of this whole process, insofar as nobody really understands what how the committee reaches their conclusions. Is this a place where degrees might be considered, or is one’s educational background completely irrelevant? I hope I don’t sounds like a tool asking this, but I did my JD at a tier 2 school, and got an LLM at a foreign school that isn’t Oxford or Cambridge, so part of me is hoping that having some degrees helps, but that I wouldn’t be penalized for not going to an Ivy league school. 6) I noticed that there is a U.S. Interests Section in Cuba. Is the process for being selected to serve there the same as it would be at any other Embassy or Consulate? Or is it different in virtue of being a Interests Section instead of an Embassy or Consulate? 7) I feel like I am asking too many inane questions… what is your favorite color? Seriously guys, thanks a lot for sharing this wealth of information, and I appreciate any guidance you might have.
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Jul 25, 2010 20:57
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Amjur posted:Thanks so much for this thread; I've learned a lot from these 43 pages. I really appreciate it. I had a couple of questions and I was hoping that maybe some of you could fill me in. I am taking the test in October. I have applied for the management cone. 1) I'll let SWATJester answer this one. 2) It would not help, regardless of who it is. 3) You might try emailing the embassy and asking. Couldn't hurt. 4) I'll let others answer this one. 5) The QEP considers background, education and experience. No Ivy League education necessary. 6) The process is essentially the same. 7) I really like blue.
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Jul 25, 2010 21:04
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Amjur posted:Thanks so much for this thread; I've learned a lot from these 43 pages. I really appreciate it. I had a couple of questions and I was hoping that maybe some of you could fill me in. I am taking the test in October. I have applied for the management cone. Some of the negotiation skill that I learned in clinic helped with the group exercise. The case management section is not suitable for IRAC style at all. Quite the opposite, in fact. You need to write the essay section as if you are an HR manager, or like a psychologist. You're always asking "Why". "Why did this person take this action. What is their motivation for it? How can I address the underlying motivation here?". I'm glad I went to law school before taking the test, but I think that the school itself was largely irrelevant -- people that do well in law school are kind of naturally the type that will do well on the FSOA. Student loan debt is a big deal, but they understand that everyone with a J.D. and LLM is going to have it. The question is, can you pay it, do you have plans to deal with it, do you understand how the system works, do you have a prior bad history with debt etc.. The investigator told me that for student loans especially they do continue to check up on you after your clearance goes through, to make sure you're following up and taking care of the loans. quote:2) If you know someone that currently works for the Foreign Service, would having this person put in a good word help my chances of being selected? Would the analysis change depending upon whether this person is something like a third-year FSO or something like an Ambassador? Won't happen. quote:3) Is there any way I could meet with a FSO, and take them to lunch or something, just to pick their brains in person? I live Spain doing graduate work and would love to just take a train up to Madrid or Barcelona and sit down with someone from the Management sphere. What BoF said. quote:4) I am thinking of buying the FSOT study guide, but if possible, would rather help a Goon out and would rather buy a used one from one of you. Would anyone that has taken this test be interested in selling me your study guide? They're useless. The questions on the study guides are about 15 times harder than the ones on the actual tests, they won't help you out at all. quote:5) It sounds like the QEP stage is sort of the magic-eight-ball of this whole process, insofar as nobody really understands what how the committee reaches their conclusions. Is this a place where degrees might be considered, or is one’s educational background completely irrelevant? I hope I don’t sounds like a tool asking this, but I did my JD at a tier 2 school, and got an LLM at a foreign school that isn’t Oxford or Cambridge, so part of me is hoping that having some degrees helps, but that I wouldn’t be penalized for not going to an Ivy league school. What BoF said. My undergrad was at a state university, and my law school was at American (although, it's known for international service) so definitely not Ivy material. quote:6) I noticed that there is a U.S. Interests Section in Cuba. Is the process for being selected to serve there the same as it would be at any other Embassy or Consulate? Or is it different in virtue of being a Interests Section instead of an Embassy or Consulate? quote:7) I feel like I am asking too many inane questions… what is your favorite color?
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Jul 25, 2010 22:11
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xanthig posted:How is the security clearance / final suitability review timeline working out for everyone who passed the OA earlier this year? I passed the OA in February and got on the register in mid-June.
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Jul 25, 2010 22:24
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Amjur, I can't speak to most of your questions, but I think the general feeling on the study guide is don't. I certainly passed without a study guide, or even most of the books on the recommended reading list. If you keep up with current events, have a firm grasp on American history and culture, and can bs a little management jargon and computer knowledge, you'll be fine. I just submitted my answers to the QEP and I hope the magic 8 ball works out for me! 
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Jul 25, 2010 22:27
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The omnibus skill code conversion program is a success. I'm now an IMS from IMTS.
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Jul 27, 2010 17:22
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Vilerat posted:The omnibus skill code conversion program is a success. I'm now an IMS from IMTS. Congrats dude.
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Jul 27, 2010 17:52
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Vilerat posted:The omnibus skill code conversion program is a success. I'm now an IMS from IMTS. Well done!
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Jul 27, 2010 18:23
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Vilerat posted:The omnibus skill code conversion program is a success. I'm now an IMS from IMTS. Congratulations!
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Jul 27, 2010 20:07
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Now you're one of the cool people. Congrats.
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Jul 27, 2010 20:54
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Congratulations Vile Rat. On an unrelated note. I just got word I passed the Chinese SCNL test. The only discernible difference between failing last year, and passing this year was how well I controlled the conversation. Last year the test lasted almost half an hour and went to some really awkward places like discussing the differences in building construction between the US and China, and health care reform. This year, the test lasted all of five minutes and ended abruptly when I skillfully busted out my favorite chengyu. To which they responded,"I think we've heard enough" and hung up. According to this year's invitation letter for the test, passing scores are valid for five years. Last year's letter did not say anything about that. I wonder if that's a change in policy, or if it just got left out of last year's invitation. xanthig fucked around with this message at 21:46 on Jul 27, 2010 |
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Jul 27, 2010 21:28
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xanthig posted:Congratulations Vile Rat. Wow, nice work. Those points are basically a ticket to the top of the register based on what I can tell from the shadow registers in the yahoo group.
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Jul 27, 2010 22:46
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GEMorris posted:
Self-quoting because I never got a response to this part, likely due to its location at the end of a tl;dr. Anyone?
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Jul 27, 2010 22:52
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Vilerat posted:The omnibus skill code conversion program is a success. I'm now an IMS from IMTS. Congrats Vilerat!!
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Jul 28, 2010 00:21
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xanthig posted:Congratulations Vile Rat. When did you take your test? I took mine about 12 days ago for Arabic and haven't heard back yet.
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Jul 28, 2010 01:01
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Since we're all doing updates...taking the bar today and tomorrow, still in final suitability review. Le sigh.
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Jul 28, 2010 01:10
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suboptimal posted:When did you take your test? I took mine about 12 days ago for Arabic and haven't heard back yet. I took it last week Thursday, 7/22. I think it was the last day of testing. You might want to e-mail them again.
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Jul 28, 2010 01:23
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Speaking of updates ... On my way to DC for class on Monday .... YEY!!!
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Jul 28, 2010 05:38
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GEMorris posted:Self-quoting because I never got a response to this part, likely due to its location at the end of a tl;dr. I was looking at last years promotion statistics which are pretty good guide to how many people are in each cone or specialty and I don't any entry for Printing Specialists. I guess it's possible there are a few around and none of them were up for promotion, but they're either non-existant or vanishingly rare.
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Jul 28, 2010 07:39
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Just wondering if anyone knows anything about working as a Residential Security Assistant at an embassy? I just applied for this position at the US Embassy in London and am waiting to hear back. I applied through the Embassy's website and the position was open to anyone who had the right to work in the UK, so apologies if this isn't the appropriate thread. Edit: Fixed job title. amethystbliss fucked around with this message at 23:59 on Jul 28, 2010 |
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Jul 28, 2010 10:26
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amethystbliss posted:Just wondering if anyone knows anything about working as a Residential Security Adviser at an embassy? I just applied for this position at the US Embassy in London and am waiting to hear back. I applied through the Embassy's website and the position was open to anyone who had the right to work in the UK, so apologies if this isn't the appropriate thread. My guess -- and this is just a guess -- is that you would work with the security office to make sure the embassy housing pool had adequate and working locks, lighting, etc. Possibly tracking keys and coordinating with GSO when a property needs new locks. Also, you might brief newcomers on how to keep their property secure. There should have been a reasonably clear job advertisement; you don't still have a copy of it, do you?
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Jul 28, 2010 20:05
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Oh Hey, Updates!! Vilerat: Congratulations! Do tell me about your new IMS duties  Must have been a grueling process?State Department posted:TO: Skandiaavity  Doesn't that just beat all...Gotta stay positive and avoid the drink tonight, so Cheers/Here's to next fall!
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Jul 28, 2010 20:53
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Skandiaavity posted:Oh Hey, Updates!! Ouch.... Sorry goon. I went to pretty awesome FSO party tonight, thats my update.
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Jul 28, 2010 22:20
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Business of Ferrets posted:There should have been a reasonably clear job advertisement; you don't still have a copy of it, do you? The position is for Residential Security Assistant and the job description mentioned how the role entails serving as the first point of contact for visitors, answering telephones, etc. as well as providing support to crime victims. They emphasized how important it was for applicants to have experience working in environments that required high levels of confidentiality. It sounded kind of like a glorified secretarial job but they also wanted someone who had experience working with crime victims, which threw me a little bit. I'll find out in 6 weeks or so if I have an interview or not but I was just wondering if anyone knew a little more about the specifics of the position.
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Jul 28, 2010 23:58
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