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Business of Ferrets posted:No, but tenured officers do get a 20% bump here for the long hours. I don't mind my job, just wish I could decompress a bit more. Should have been there as a specialist.
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Aug 23, 2010 21:15
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Crosspostin: Diplomat sappin' mah teleporter! quote:Forwarded msg:
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Aug 23, 2010 22:54
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Vilerat posted:Should have been there as a specialist. 'tis true.
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Aug 24, 2010 05:40
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The sounding board is the best thing ever. DumbassFSOs.txt up in here.quote:I am now retiring after almost 27 years of whining by non-FSOs about how they are treated as second-class citizens. I suggest that America just get rid of any distinction at all in any capacity for any job or service that recognizes some groups of people sacrifice more for their country than others. That way, Marines, Foreign Service Officers, Rangers, SEALS, Firefighters, Police, etc. can just wither and die due to lack of volunteers. Let's just make everyone the same. The term "comrad" comes to minde.
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Aug 25, 2010 17:57
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As an FSO, I can attest that it is an acquired skill to both walk and look down one's nose at the same time.
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Aug 25, 2010 19:00
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Business of Ferrets posted:As an FSO, I can attest that it is an acquired skill to both walk and look down one's nose at the same time. The real difference between FSO's and Specialists? We come in with a pre-existing skillset 
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Aug 25, 2010 19:47
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it's late August, I'm starting to get antsy for the test sign-ups.
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Aug 25, 2010 23:10
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Vilerat posted:The sounding board is the best thing ever. DumbassFSOs.txt up in here. That qoute was an amazing statement on Sounding Board ... on a postive note nobody really suported that comment, and most seem interested in moving beyond titles and towards a team effort. Personal news ... Got assigned to the EAP region (leave it that for now) and training is progressing. Looking forward to my first posting 
Slingshot Smith fucked around with this message at 02:13 on Aug 26, 2010 |
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Aug 26, 2010 02:11
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harperdc posted:it's late August, I'm starting to get antsy for the test sign-ups. According to the site you can register as late as 9/28
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Aug 26, 2010 02:29
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Pompous Rhombus posted:According to the site you can register as late as 9/28 yeah but I want to get signed up for the test now because I'm a big impatient gorilla. and apparently they're sending some test invites out now....I'm probably overly worried about this.
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Sep 1, 2010 00:09
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Yeah, don't worry so much about the FSOT invites. It's the OA invites you should be more worried about. PS: I've now been in final suitability review for 2 months. Not a single word.
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Sep 1, 2010 01:14
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Okay I got my FSOT invite, but when I log in I can't find where to register for a test time....ummmmmm. edit: nevermind! It just popped up! Double Edit: October 6th at 5:30!!! Some Gestalt place. Hopefully this time will go better than the last. CherryCola fucked around with this message at 15:37 on Sep 1, 2010 |
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Sep 1, 2010 15:32
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SWATJester posted:Yeah, don't worry so much about the FSOT invites. It's the OA invites you should be more worried about. And those should be available in about two weeks from today.
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Sep 2, 2010 06:55
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xanthig posted:And those should be available in about two weeks from today. Really?  As far as I know, my references haven't talked to anyone. This does not bode well.
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Sep 2, 2010 13:14
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BaseballChica03 posted:Really? Same here. I'm trying to stay cautiously optimistic, but I'm preparing myself for the reality of hitting a brick wall this close to the end of the process.
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Sep 3, 2010 03:03
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BaseballChica03 posted:Really? From years past, that seems to be the norm. I wouldn't read into it.
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Sep 3, 2010 12:50
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Quite a few life circumstances have led me to this thread and I'm starting to feel like FSO is the life for me and my family. I'm 26 years old, married and I have an an 18 month old son. I've recently been contemplating going back to school and getting a degree. I've always wanted to learn a second language, so I was considering studying Poli Sci / IR with maybe a minor in Spanish or French. I was looking online for possible career paths for this and decided to google "US Diplomat" and was led to the DOS website. I've read all 45 pages of this thread and I'm pretty well convinced this is the perfect fit. My wife and I love to travel and we'd hoped to one day visit a lot of exotic locales and this seems like the perfect way to do that. She wasn't on board right away, but when I told her a bit more about the life of an FSO family she warmed up to the idea. After reading about some of the amenities offered to families of FSOs I'm feeling much more comfortable about taking my family globetrotting with the FS. I would probably get my degree and plan on going into teaching at first. The opportunity to be a History or Government teacher at the HS or College level would be great and a career path I would never regret. That way I could have a good job while waiting to make it into the FS. I have very little international travel experience, just a trip to Canada and Mexico for vacations. I don't see how I could study abroad or volunteer with PeaceCorps while keeping the bills paid at home so that's probably out. Would international mission work be acceptable experience? I have some friends at a local church that travel to Central America, especially Haiti, quite often to build houses and schools. Its church related, but that seems like it would look good for my personal narratives.
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Sep 3, 2010 16:24
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Did anyone else get a Notice of Results email from the Career Entry Program this morning? I'm not sure how to decipher it nor do I know which information on it is personal and which I can share. It said my rating was 91...so I hope that's a good thing.
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Sep 3, 2010 17:49
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I'm just going to add to the flood of posts from FSO hopefuls, now. I'm an enlisted logistics specialist in the US Navy. I currently serve overseas, and have previously done a tour as an advisor to the Afghan National Army. Am I wrong in thinking that my experience both in terms of my work and travel uniquely suit me to the Management career field of Foreign Service, or to the Office Management specialty? At closest, this would be something like 6-8 years from now, after getting out and going to school. On one hand, the Navy is "force shaping" and there is the ever-looming specter of getting the boot (honorably) at the end of this enlistment, and I'll need to look for a new career. On the other hand, if I end up retiring from the military service, State seems to make a good long-term goal for a suitable second career. Does it translate? The mandatory fun, endless red tape and the occasional woes that come with living at a posting far from home sound strongly reminiscent of many aspects of the military service.
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Sep 3, 2010 18:01
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DownByTheWooter posted:I'm just going to add to the flood of posts from FSO hopefuls, now. MGMT cone sounds closest to what you do. http://careers.state.gov/specialist/opportunities/genserv.html Maybe this? Or this? http://careers.state.gov/specialist/opportunities/facmaint.html
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Sep 3, 2010 19:02
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Vilerat posted:MGMT cone sounds closest to what you do. Or the security specialist positions might work.
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Sep 3, 2010 19:31
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Cunninghizzizam posted:Did anyone else get a Notice of Results email from the Career Entry Program this morning? I'm not sure how to decipher it nor do I know which information on it is personal and which I can share. It said my rating was 91...so I hope that's a good thing. I got my results too... 97 for both the Foreign Affairs Specialist and the Program Analyst. I pretty much answered yes to everything that could even be remotely true. I'm still waiting to hear from the Passport Specialist positions.
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Sep 3, 2010 19:34
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Got my seat registered for the FSOT in October — and I even had my choice of dates and times still! And I don't have to drive out of town, either. Awesome. Now, to study 
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Sep 3, 2010 19:43
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Cunninghizzizam posted:Did anyone else get a Notice of Results email from the Career Entry Program this morning? I'm not sure how to decipher it nor do I know which information on it is personal and which I can share. It said my rating was 91...so I hope that's a good thing. oh my god! me too! I didn't know it was from the CEP. It was so drat cryptic, but yeah I got an 85 for the Foreign Affairs Specialist position and apparently that qualifies me? Not quite as awesome as I was hoping...but there was really no other helpful information...so I'm not sure what happens now. edit: also thank god for the forums, I was pulling out my hair trying to figure out what the heck was going on (since i've applied for about three hundred jobs in the last month) CherryCola fucked around with this message at 21:11 on Sep 3, 2010 |
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Sep 3, 2010 21:03
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Vilerat posted:http://careers.state.gov/specialist/opportunities/genserv.html The General Services specialty sounds pretty much spot on to what I do for the military, although my work is typically on a much lower level. At various points in my career, I have already dealt with Contracting, Logistics, Motorpool, Space Management, Inventory, and Facilities. What's being described overall sounds much closer to what a Supply Officer would do in the military; that is, rather than some enlisted dude who would deal with only nuts-n-bolts and details of these various support functions, this job is concerned with "big picture" management and administration. To be fair, though, that's the sort of job I'm ideally working 10 years from now, military or elsewhere. The difference between now and then isn't anything I won't be able to overcome, especially with a little more experience and education. Is State full of veterans? President Obama has appeared on AFN making a big deal about getting vets jobs quite a lot recently, which makes me think that my opportunities for getting into State Dept will improve over the next few years. Edit: The section of that page concerning professional experience seems to be shouting out loud that they're looking for military veterans for this job. "All such experience must have been of a progressively responsible nature in the general services specialty. This experience must include three or more of the ten general services areas listed above and must have been gained within the last ten (10) years. Experience working and/or living in a multicultural environment is desirable." Is the Management Cone a similar fit? The brief description of it on careers.state makes it seem so. US Berder Patrol fucked around with this message at 21:48 on Sep 3, 2010 |
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Sep 3, 2010 21:29
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DownByTheWooter posted:Edit: The position opens up from time to time. Just sign up for email alerts.
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Sep 3, 2010 21:49
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DownByTheWooter posted:The General Services specialty sounds pretty much spot on to what I do for the military, although my work is typically on a much lower level. At various points in my career, I have already dealt with Contracting, Logistics, Motorpool, Space Management, Inventory, and Facilities. I'd say in the generalist world you see more lawyers and career manager types but in the specialist world very much yes. quote:Edit: The jobs open up routinely, I'll ask my mgmt officer how often GSO hiring comes available. Really the best way I can describe State is all the good parts about being in the military without all the stupid bullshit. The environment is very similar to my USAF time but no 2 am bag drags. Also you get treated a lot better and you get paid bank.
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Sep 3, 2010 21:50
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Thanks for the responses, even after multiple edits!Vilerat posted:Really the best way I can describe State is all the good parts about being in the military without all the stupid bullshit. The environment is very similar to my USAF time but no 2 am bag drags. Also you get treated a lot better and you get paid bank. This sounds Dope As Hell. Is there still a pension like the military's and does my time in the service count towards it, because that might influence whether or not I stick around at the end of my enlistment (if given the choice). Don't worry too much about getting good gouge RE: Job Openings for me. Like I said, this is half a decade down the road from me, at soonest.
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Sep 3, 2010 22:14
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DownByTheWooter posted:Thanks for the responses, even after multiple edits! You can buy your military time and apply it towards your retirement. For buying 7 years it cost me something like $3000.
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Sep 4, 2010 03:30
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I skimmed the thread but didn't see what I was looking for: I'm taking the FSOT this October, I've looked at a lot of sample questions and while I feel like I'll have no problem with a lot of it, most of the questions about very specific US policies or US History threw me off (I'm in Psych, okay  ). Can anyone suggest me any good study guides or similar knowledge banks for these sorts of questions? I've never been a history/poli-sci guy and I wouldn't even know where to begin absorbing this kind of knowledge, but if someone can point me in the right direction I don't see it being a problem.
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Sep 4, 2010 05:28
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Blunt Force Trauma posted:I skimmed the thread but didn't see what I was looking for: Get a subscription to The Economist. There's also a reading list in the study guide (you did buy the study guide, right?)
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Sep 4, 2010 13:35
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Blunt Force Trauma posted:I skimmed the thread but didn't see what I was looking for: I agree that The Economist is a good one. Articles from The New Yorker can also be a great resource because I find that they like to delve into every nitty, gritty background detail when talking about current events. (Perfect example, there was a great story a few months back about violence in Mexico that had a history of drug cartels buried in it.) You won't find something in every single issue, but the articles on-topic are helpful, if editorialized. Also, the sample questions are way harder than what shows up on the actual FSOT.
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Sep 4, 2010 14:56
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When taking the FSOT, are we provided/allowed a calculator or scratch paper for the math stuff? I'm really awful at doing anything more than basic math in my head.
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Sep 5, 2010 16:09
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Get a subscription to The Economist. There's also a reading list in the study guide (you did buy the study guide, right?) I did, but it hasn't shown up yet. Thanks for the responses, I have a friend who had a subscription to The Economist so hopefully I can just borrow his back issues. 2 Track EP posted:When taking the FSOT, are we provided/allowed a calculator or scratch paper for the math stuff? I'm really awful at doing anything more than basic math in my head. When I signed up for the test, it said: "Permitted Aids: Note Board (provided by test center)" which I assume will be usable as scratch paper Blunt Force Trauma fucked around with this message at 16:32 on Sep 5, 2010 |
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Sep 5, 2010 16:23
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2 Track EP posted:When taking the FSOT, are we provided/allowed a calculator or scratch paper for the math stuff? I'm really awful at doing anything more than basic math in my head. I believe I was given one piece of scrap paper. Trust me when I say that's all you'll need for the math questions if anything. It's ridiculously easy, mostly basic math. I don't think there was anything harder than basic algebra in there.
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Sep 5, 2010 16:58
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Blunt Force Trauma posted:When I signed up for the test, it said: "Permitted Aids: Note Board (provided by test center)" which I assume will be usable as scratch paper Yeah, I got a little dry erase board and a marker. I only needed it for a couple of questions. If you check out the practice book, it's things like exchange rates and percentages and such. It's pretty straightforward math. Just remember is/of = rate/100. I find that is easier than trying to deal with a lot of decimals without a calculator.
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Sep 5, 2010 17:17
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Finally got the news, I'm on the register! Now to get my bonus points! -e- also I was in final suitability review for 2+ months because someone tried to be a buddy fucker. But in the end, justice prevails. Leif. fucked around with this message at 04:39 on Sep 8, 2010 |
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Sep 8, 2010 00:35
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Last night one my PNQ references/verifications got a call from State asking if my story was accurate (and unless he secretly hates me he said it was). By noon today I'd received the letter telling me I'd failed the QEP (again). I'd only had a couple hours to wonder if him getting a call (none of my references got a call last year) meant I'd passed.
Kase Im Licht fucked around with this message at 16:13 on Sep 9, 2010 |
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Sep 8, 2010 17:45
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Hmm failed the QEP. My PNQ answers were exactly the same as last year, when I passed. The only difference between this year and last year? This year, I passed the SCNL test for mandarin Chinese. I can't think of a better way of showing how subjective the QEP process is. xanthig fucked around with this message at 18:42 on Sep 8, 2010 |
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Sep 8, 2010 18:40
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My understanding is that QEP is where they simply arbitrarily weed out people to meet the right hiring number. So if that number is higher or lower than it was in previous years, two identical PNQ answers can result in two different outcomes, depending on that hiring level.
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Sep 8, 2010 18:43
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