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Business of Ferrets posted:SWATJester, don't you start soon? Monday.  Although I have things going on before then.
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Mar 24, 2011 19:52
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TCD, 1of7, Thanks! Time to fill out some forms.. then get my spouse to fill out some..
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Mar 24, 2011 20:46
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SWATJester posted:Monday. It's alright, it's a 3 week vacation as far as I'm concerned. edit: err 5 week? I think A-100 is longer? I don't remember.
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Mar 24, 2011 22:35
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hit the bricks pal! fucked around with this message at 17:07 on Dec 3, 2016 |
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Mar 26, 2011 22:56
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brotastrophe posted:I'm currently a junior in college and want to take the FSO test in an attempt to find a job when I graduate. Should I wait until graduation next year to test or is it something that I should start, say, in my last semester to minimize the wait of what I figure is a lengthy application process? Do it ASAP. The process takes forever and many successful applicants need to take it more than once anyway.
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Mar 26, 2011 23:12
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brotastrophe posted:I'm currently a junior in college and want to take the FSO test in an attempt to find a job when I graduate. Should I wait until graduation next year to test or is it something that I should start, say, in my last semester to minimize the wait of what I figure is a lengthy application process? Just take it as soon as possible, it is good practice anyways.
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Mar 27, 2011 06:35
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1of7 and TCD posted:Timeline of events for IMS hiring Is there a general amount of time it takes between the OA stage and the actual date you're expected in DC? I got asked for an OA last week, but since applying 5 months ago, started a new job that I enjoy and wouldn't want to quit immediately, but if it's going to take another 9-12 months before I'd get clearance and be expected to pack up move (presuming everything went okay and I passed all checks/assessments), it might be worth spending the money on a plane ticket to pursue.
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Mar 27, 2011 07:36
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mute posted:Is there a general amount of time it takes between the OA stage and the actual date you're expected in DC? My oral exam was in August of 08 and I started in end of March 09. With possible murmurings of hiring freezes, I'd go ahead and continue the process.
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Mar 27, 2011 12:40
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I got the invite to the OA in August, scheduling it for October. I'm starting in April (just 29 days!)
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Mar 27, 2011 13:51
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Well the FSO get-together was fun! And it's interesting how some of the names I know off the mailing lists were instantly like the first people I met. Also first day of work tomorrow
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Mar 28, 2011 05:26
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Cool -- keep us posted! I'm sitting in a hotel room in Kuwait City right now. . . . See the world. . . . Business of Ferrets fucked around with this message at 07:55 on Mar 28, 2011 |
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Mar 28, 2011 07:53
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SWATJester let us know how it goes. I will be there in 4 weeks.
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Mar 28, 2011 16:07
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Day 1 of A-100 down, except not really because it was the day at Main State in which we do absolutely nothing related to A-100 and just process paperwork all day. There are a LOT of political officers in my class, which itself is huge (almost 90, which is something like 30 more than normal). The class sponsoring us is all basically getting ready to leave for post. Quite a few China and India posts (I heard Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Calcutta off the top of my head). One guy going to the Marshall Islands (WTF?) Another is going to Nassau (awesome!) Main State is huge and I got completely lost trying to figure out how to get back to the conference rooms from the cafeteria. I ended up walking literally 2 DC city blocks (I ended up by 21st St and started near 23rd) before figuring out that I had gone the wrong way. This is all underground in identical looking hospital-style corridors, mind you. The conference rooms are awesome. Pic to follow, but they look straight up out of the UN.
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Mar 28, 2011 22:23
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Also I got awkwardly recruited by the latino networking group (I forget the official name) despite being not in the slightest bit mistakable for being latino. I signed up anyway, because hey, if it helps me when I'm negotiating for posts, I'll take it. I was much less awkwardly recruited by the GLBT organization, which I signed up for despite not being any of those letters. State's stance on same-sex relationships is about as forward-looking as you can get in the government, which is nice, although the finance people were quick to point out several areas where it's not a 100% comparison to a heterosexual couple in terms of benefits. Spending your first day going into great depth about your retirement benefits was also a little surreal but eh.
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Mar 28, 2011 22:37
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Just submitted my registration for the written exam. Didn't pass the last time. I think the essay and personal questions clobbered me I hope two months is enough time to practice. Just venting/sounding.
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Mar 28, 2011 23:00
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Bad news: I hear they added a second essay to the FSOT and did something with the QEP (maybe an extra question on the PNQs? I forget)
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Mar 28, 2011 23:05
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Also apparently the May class got cancelled.
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Mar 28, 2011 23:05
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SWATJester posted:Bad news: I hear they added a second essay to the FSOT and did something with the QEP (maybe an extra question on the PNQs? I forget) May class being cancelled will.... create a backlog that screws anyone who hasn't already been offered a position? Not really sure what that means for their hiring logistics
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Mar 29, 2011 01:34
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It probably screws over some people who were borderline. The registers are already really long, so some people in the long term are going to get bumped out by higher scorers, or Pickering, that would have otherwise made it in. I don't know how many, or if there is any plan to compensate. Hey, at this rate, who knows when the next class will be.
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Mar 29, 2011 01:46
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I thought Pickering still needed to pass the orals? edit: wait, so they just need to pass the orals and they are good to go? No need to worry about the register? Happydayz fucked around with this message at 02:30 on Mar 29, 2011 |
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Mar 29, 2011 02:22
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I have no idea how they work, but they get some sort of fast track in and they all come at the same time.
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Mar 29, 2011 03:39
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SWATJester posted:There are a LOT of political officers in my class, which itself is huge (almost 90, which is something like 30 more than normal). That kind of sucks... I picked the political track for my application and I passed the Mandarin over the phone test... oh well, glad I found a job in China for now.
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Mar 29, 2011 03:59
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Ronald Spiers posted:That kind of sucks... I picked the political track for my application and I passed the Mandarin over the phone test... oh well, glad I found a job in China for now.
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Mar 29, 2011 12:12
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tismondo posted:Did you take the February test or the one before? I ask because I'm a Korean speaker and haven't heard anything about getting a language test yet. Not totally sure where in the process that happens, or how I'm even supposed to request one. Yeah, I took the February one. Korean is a critical needs language, not a super critical needs language like Mandarin. You will be tested after you pass the OA. Checkout the foreign language section on this FSO webpage http://careers.state.gov/officer/selection-process#other
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Mar 29, 2011 12:40
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Happydayz posted:I thought Pickering still needed to pass the orals? FYI, that's how it works for the Mustang Program (DoS GS and Specialist to FSO program). If you're selected, and you pass the FSOA, you get slotted for the next hire class and skip the register. Now to get tenured and pass the FSOT!
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Mar 29, 2011 17:31
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Your resume has been SENT to st00 for consideration on OMS-2011-0004 Foreign Service Office Management Specialist - equivalent to the GS-318 (Secretarial) job series. ---- Gonna claw my way in to the Department by hook or by crook. FSO OA is in May. Two folks from my group exercise practice team have already failed 
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Mar 30, 2011 05:44
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HOORAY posted:Your resume has been SENT to st00 for consideration on OMS-2011-0004 Foreign Service Office Management Specialist - equivalent to the GS-318 (Secretarial) job series. Just get your foot in the door.
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Mar 30, 2011 16:05
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TCD posted:FYI, that's how it works for the Mustang Program (DoS GS and Specialist to FSO program). We have someone in my class who was formerly a specialist but didn't take the Mustang Program and just went through the normal process. I guess she didn't qualify or her post was of a kind where she wasn't really able, I don't know. Also bid list came in today. 90+ positions, maybe 12 or so domestic. There are definitely some dream positions on there for me.
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Mar 30, 2011 22:56
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SWATJester posted:We have someone in my class who was formerly a specialist but didn't take the Mustang Program and just went through the normal process. I guess she didn't qualify or her post was of a kind where she wasn't really able, I don't know. I'm curious as to what the bid list looks like. Is it just a list of position names and locations?
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Mar 31, 2011 00:56
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Pretty much, plus when it starts and what language requirements, and some assorted other info. But basically yeah.
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Mar 31, 2011 01:12
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If there is a job on the bid list that doesn't open up for the same length of time as it would be for you to learn the language at post, what are the odds for your first tour out? Like if it were a Critical or Super Critical (and lets just say that there aren't other people with that particular language).
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Mar 31, 2011 06:17
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I've got a question about the timing of bidding. CDO says my initial IRM training ends late July & there may be additional post specific training after that. Say there was 2 months post specific training, but the position doesn't open for 3 months then what happens for the other month? Can you do additional optional training to fill in the gap or what?
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Mar 31, 2011 15:18
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You can have overlap with the person your replacing. Posts usually like to do that whenever they can since it's an opportunity for that person to show you around and they get an extra pair of hands.
AKA Pseudonym fucked around with this message at 15:55 on Mar 31, 2011 |
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Mar 31, 2011 15:47
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Vilerat posted:Just get your foot in the door. It's definitely a narrow opening and there are a lot of other toes in it already though. I remember applying for that $33k/yr Passport Specialist job in Detroit loving Michigan last year and not even making it to the QEP. But yeah, the only thing you can do is work on your resume/build up skills and keep on keepin' on  Just applying for everything you can helps you learn the hiring process better; I did better on the DSS BEX (still nowhere near good enough) than I otherwise would have because I'd had some experience getting into the mindset needed for the employment history questionnaire, and having done all the prep work for the BEX (and the first stage of it) I probably could go back and at least make it to the QEP for that Specialist position now. Nothing's really changed about my work history itself, just my ability to put it in the sort of light they're looking for.
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Mar 31, 2011 17:03
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Is there any possibility of a break between training & deploying? Just wondering if I'll have a chance to visit my family 1 last time etc...
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Mar 31, 2011 17:16
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Well, someone needs to get the commission from my 10 bucks as I joined SA due to this thread. I read the entire mega thread, and wish to thank everyone for the quality information. Especially the direct experiences of those currently in the Foreign Service. I hope you will bear with me and this ridiculously long post. I was researching the FS as it sounds like a position which I would greatly enjoy. Service to country, chance to travel and experience different cultures, work with smart professionals, earn a decent living; what's not to like? I am really just kind of kicking the possibility of FSO around right now, and the earliest I could even start the application process would be next year after I redeploy. (BoF, I'm in Iraq also, but not Baghdad. We have a POLAD here where I work, but don't want to bust his confidentiality on SA. I do plan to pick his brain at some point). As a little personal background, I came into the US Army at age 32 and have recently passed the ten year mark. I am proud of what I do and my default position is to stay the next 10 and get the pension before moving on with another career. But, that said, it certainly would be nice to find an end to the continual deployments and other negative QOL issues that come with military life. So I am considering whether I may want to apply relatively soon (within the next year or 2) or just wait about 8-9 years as military retirement time looms. I feel like I would find the work enormously fulfilling and fit in pretty well with the Foreign Service, except in one key way. That may as well be the basis of my first question. 1. How vital is foreign language skill? I speak no other language with any real fluency and I've never felt that language study was one of my strengths. I've seen that it can limit assignments, but I suppose the bigger concern would be that I just wouldn't fit into the organizational culture. Of course if it is vital, I could make it a priority to learn. Would improving on Spanish from HS and college be good enough, or is that to commonly spoken to make much difference outside of the initial points bonus? Please note that there is no latent xenophobia driving this issue for me. I lived in Germany for years and loved it, but unfortunately never picked up much beyond "restaurant German" for a variety of reasons. [Deployments, high operational tempo, and the general willingness of the courteous efficient German people to immediately speak English with US-types chief among them.] 2. How limiting a factor is it to come into FS at a ripe old age? If I wait until military retirement, I would be 52 (or older). I do see that you can join up until you hit age 60, but are those of more advanced age treated differently by supervisors, peer group, and other co-workers? I assume that reaching Senior level is not possible in the short period before mandatory retirement age, so I guess departure at age 65 is a foregone conclusion. Not to get all hung up on status, but is attaining Senior level in 20 years a feasible goal in the case I were to try to come in earlier? 3. Has anyone worked with someone who has retired from the military before joining FS? I do appreciate Vilerat's ex-mil perspective, and see a lot of truth in what he has to say. But I'm curious how someone indoctrinated into military culture for a full 20 finds it. I have had the chance lately to witness a little friction between DoD and DoS types. 4. I read on a .gov site that veterans preference points do not apply for those who retire at a rank of MAJ or above. That would apply to me, so is kind of a bummer. But it sounds like if I were to separate before retirement I'd gain the points regardless of military rank (assuming I passed the whole selection process of course). Can anyone confirm? It would be good to get those points, but it seems on the face of it that it would be a dicey decision from a financial perspective. The military pension is a good bit more generous from my understanding of it. Thank you for the read and the consideration. I wish the best of luck to everyone going through the selection process.
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Mar 31, 2011 20:05
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1of7 posted:Is there any possibility of a break between training & deploying? Just wondering if I'll have a chance to visit my family 1 last time etc... You can ask post for leave if you want. Just be sure to bring it up when you're talking about post specific training and your arrival date, they'll be more amenable to it.
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Mar 31, 2011 22:39
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Dameius posted:If there is a job on the bid list that doesn't open up for the same length of time as it would be for you to learn the language at post, what are the odds for your first tour out? Like if it were a Critical or Super Critical (and lets just say that there aren't other people with that particular language). 1of7 posted:I've got a question about the timing of bidding. CDO says my initial IRM training ends late July & there may be additional post specific training after that. Say there was 2 months post specific training, but the position doesn't open for 3 months then what happens for the other month? Can you do additional optional training to fill in the gap or what? These are both the same question, if I'm reading correctly. All the CDOs have told me is "it depends". I think there is some leeway if the departing officer can work with you, if post lets you overlap a bit, if they think that you can do a better job with a bit more than just 3/3 or 2/1 or whatever the post is LDP coded for, etc. But it's not a guarantee, and I think that if it's more than a couple months difference it's not likely. The CDOs didn't really want to talk about it, they said leave the dates up to them, but I have a situation where there's a really awesome looking POL/MIL position opening up in a couple months, but it's 3/3 French and I have none. It'd be one of my top bids, but I don't think there's any way that I could get it because the times just won't fit no matter what you do.
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Apr 1, 2011 01:35
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Thanks AKA & SWAT. For the most part the IMS positions don't have language requirements or training though, right?
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Apr 1, 2011 03:11
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I'm a generalist, I have no idea about anything on the specialist side. At the minimum though, you should be eligible to take the distance learning language courses from FSI if you want -- if EFMs can I have no idea why an IMS couldn't.
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Apr 1, 2011 03:29
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