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I've put off testing for another year while to build up my resume. I applied for a Fulbright ETA and I find out by the end of this week if I move on to the second round of cut offs. This waiting is giving me flashbacks to when I was waiting to hear if I made it to the OA stage. Congrats to getting on the register, Skand and to anyone taking the FSOT coming up, good luck. Ffffffffffuck this waiting game. Fake Edit: Top of the page E/N post, classy.
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Jan 18, 2012 21:47
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Skandiaavity posted:Yay! On the Register!
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Jan 19, 2012 00:14
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Given that it's not technically an embassy, is AIT treated like a regular assignment as far as getting assigned/working there goes?
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Jan 19, 2012 02:37
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Yeah, it's been answered previously in the thread, but I don't feel like searching for it. Rest assured, it is an embassy in every regard except name.
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Jan 19, 2012 02:56
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Zoots posted:At least it's not goose patrol. Do they still have those ridiculous cardboard foxes on the grounds? Yes. The geese give no fucks, and that one rear end in a top hat goose attacks his own reflection in the cafeteria side door constantly. My first week at A-100, I had to kick a goose that charged me while walking to class. Punted that fucker a good 10 feet and he still kept coming. Skandiaavity posted:Yay! On the Register! Yes. If specialists have a "shadow register" like generalists do, you might be able to crunch the numbers based on your score/rank, number of invites, and such to get a rough estimate of when you might be called. Xandu posted:Given that it's not technically an embassy, is AIT treated like a regular assignment as far as getting assigned/working there goes? Exactly the same, it appears on my bid list just like everything else.
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Jan 19, 2012 09:46
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¿Hablas español? http://careers.state.gov/calnasp
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Jan 19, 2012 20:19
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Well, I got my OMS OA date. Feb 3rd. Seems pretty quick!
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Jan 21, 2012 05:44
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Diplomaticus posted:Yes. The geese give no fucks, and that one rear end in a top hat goose attacks his own reflection in the cafeteria side door constantly. My first week at A-100, I had to kick a goose that charged me while walking to class. Punted that fucker a good 10 feet and he still kept coming. That reminds me of a memorial they held on the FSI campus a couple years back. Apparently some geese had chicks nearby and the bastards were attacking the family members during the event. US Foreign Service and FSOT Megathread: Goose Punters Anonymous
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Jan 21, 2012 13:53
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Whats up Long time lurker here. Going for economic and will take the June written test. I'm a current MBA student. Worked in Japan three years before this MBA thing and my undergrad was in economics. I also did the Army for two years before undergrad. I speak Japanese and qualify for 10 point vet pref. Just a few questions - 1. How common are MBAs? Do they mostly go economic or management? 2. Do the bonus points stack up or do they cancel out? For example, I get language (.17) and vet (.35). Do I get the total (.52) or just the highest of the two (.35)? Thanks all. Great thread here.
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Jan 21, 2012 17:40
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Speaking for my class, not super common. Maybe 5 or 6 out of 90+. If your MBA is financial, Economic is probably where to go. Language and vet points stack, I believe, but I'm not 100% sure. Either way, with 10 point vet pref, you're in good shape so long as you pass the orals.
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Jan 21, 2012 18:19
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Figured that. I'm in a fairly large program and I'm the only one here even considering a career with the government, let alone the FS. Hopefully it gives me a little edge on the bio and QEP.
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Jan 21, 2012 18:42
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I'm looking at applying soon even though I know now isn't the best time with the supposed cut-backs and all. -Would taking medication for anxiety work against me at all? -I don't really know any foreign languages, but intend to take a class learning soon. Out of the list of critical need languages, I think I'm leaning more towards Chinese just because I think I'd enjoy being stationed there more than African or Middle-Eastern ones. Is there any downside to choosing to pursue Chinese besides the difficulty of the language? Would it maybe be more beneficial to learn French, which I'm already a little familiar with, because I would be more likely to reach S-3 level in that before reaching S-2 status in Chinese? -Are you more likely to get a job offer applying to be a FSS over a FSO? If so, how much easier is it? -Is there a list of what the hardship posts are? Is China on there at all? hayden. fucked around with this message at 17:10 on Jan 22, 2012 |
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Jan 22, 2012 16:40
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Some would say a downside to learning Chinese would be that if you get the points then you'd have to serve in China. LOL I would think the Chinese would be more valuable (but, maybe I'm biased since I'm in China & speaking Chinese would make my life much more enjoyable.) All the China posts have hardship differentials - http://aoprals.state.gov/Web920/location_action.asp?MenuHide=1&CountryCode=1123 As a side note: holy poo poo! Chinese New Year is unbelievable. I just sat through over 5 hours of CONSTANT fireworks. They are still going on, but at least there are moments of silence now.
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Jan 22, 2012 18:10
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hayden. posted:I'm looking at applying soon even though I know now isn't the best time with the supposed cut-backs and all. Well, in the land of shrinking budgets, right now, we're looking at reduced hiring, and the talk I've heard of is letting positions go unfilled, not necessarily RIFs for Americans. Depending on how the elections go, and the Foreign Policy priority of the administration, it could either stay the same, or get worse with RIFs. TCD fucked around with this message at 18:37 on Jan 22, 2012 |
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Jan 22, 2012 18:21
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1of7 posted:Some would say a downside to learning Chinese would be that if you get the points then you'd have to serve in China. LOL From what I've read one of the two first tours has to be a hardship post. If I had to have a hardship post anywhere from the ones I've seen, it'd probably be China.
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Jan 22, 2012 18:53
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1of7 posted:Some would say a downside to learning Chinese would be that if you get the points then you'd have to serve in China. LOL I guess you could technically serve in Taiwan as well. But good luck getting that on your first 2!
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Jan 22, 2012 20:08
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hayden. posted:I'm looking at applying soon even though I know now isn't the best time with the supposed cut-backs and all. Go with the language you are most comfortable with and most confident in passing the test whenever you will take it. Also remember that one class of Chinese is not going to cut it by a long shot. I studied Asian languages in one of the best universities in the world for the subject (Hawaii)...and looking at the rating scale, I would say that students didn't hit S-2 in Chinese until their 3rd year of study. So keep that in mind.
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Jan 22, 2012 23:09
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TCD posted:Well, in the land of shrinking budgets, right now, we're looking at reduced hiring, and the talk I've heard of is letting positions go unfilled, not necessarily RIFs for Americans. How much was the State Department's budget cut?
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Jan 22, 2012 23:11
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PrezCamachoo posted:Go with the language you are most comfortable with and most confident in passing the test whenever you will take it. Also remember that one class of Chinese is not going to cut it by a long shot. Totally understand, I was reading the requirements for S2 and even that was what I'd call upper level intermediate by most standards. I guess you're right though, in terms of time I'd like to get in before 3 years, so I should probably go with something easier like French.
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Jan 22, 2012 23:53
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Thank you so much for this thread. I am currently going to school right now majoring in international studies. And this is one of the career path that most interesting to me. What did you do for internships in college?
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Jan 23, 2012 07:13
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I didn't intern in college, as I was in the military so summers were either training, deployments, or taking summer courses to make up lost time. In law school I had an internship (we call them summer associateship because you are paid basically the same as a 1st year associate and are doing associate work under the supervision of a partner and senior associate team) at a 2000+ lawyer firm doing immigration/human rights/asylum law for refugees fleeing Iraq because they were known to have assisted US forces. A month or two before I started, the legal jobs market started to collapse. A week before I started, the firm fired nearly 100 attorneys and almost 300 support staff, and cancelled that summer class. So I missed out on that one. I did do a clinical practice my third year which was nice, and provided tons of fodder for my QEPs and OA. About half of my answers on each were based off of clients/cases from clinic.
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Jan 23, 2012 11:31
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The more I look into getting accepted to OA the less likely it seems it would happen for me. I've finished college and have been working full time for about half a year, but I've really not done anything noteworthy or especially applicable to a FSO career. The personal narrative in particular is what's bothering me - I haven't really done anything to write about and would certainly have no idea who I could use as a personal reference for the narrative. This combined with looking at work history (nothing amazing, just data analysis) and education (undergrad in Finance) just seems like the odds are heavily against me. Can anyone confirm whether most accepted people really do need something noteworthy or have plenty of experience? I also noticed on a spreadsheet that the FSOT wiki has that they listed their experience living or working abroad. I've never even left the country before. Do they care about experience living abroad?
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Jan 23, 2012 17:05
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hayden. posted:The more I look into getting accepted to OA the less likely it seems it would happen for me. I've finished college and have been working full time for about half a year, but I've really not done anything noteworthy or especially applicable to a FSO career. The personal narrative in particular is what's bothering me - I haven't really done anything to write about and would certainly have no idea who I could use as a personal reference for the narrative. This combined with looking at work history (nothing amazing, just data analysis) and education (undergrad in Finance) just seems like the odds are heavily against me. I'm currently awaiting my QEP results along with another guy (family member who works an EFM job in the RSO section) at work. We both have undergrads, no masters, and overseas experience, plus Embassy work experience. I'll post his and my results when we know. Also, as to the question of living abroad, I have to imagine that living overseas helps a candidate. There are certain stresses and challenges that come with living overseas, and having those experiences gives you good stories and also demonstrates to the QEP/OA board that you can hack it in a shithole. With all that said, taking the FSOT is pretty easy, with nothing to lose so why not try and take it? TCD fucked around with this message at 17:16 on Jan 23, 2012 |
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Jan 23, 2012 17:11
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hayden. posted:I've really not done anything noteworthy or especially applicable to a FSO career. The personal narrative in particular is what's bothering me - I haven't really done anything to write about and would certainly have no idea who I could use as a personal reference for the narrative. I think you have, you just don't know how to phrase it yet  FS really varies.. "it depends" as they say in State. Experience matters, yes, (especially for Specialist jobs) but so does your perspective on things. I've seen plenty of people who have a lot of international experience not get invited to the OA, even, possibly because they thought they were hot poo poo for the job. A quick glance at the Yahoo Boards can tell you the same thing. Someone on the thread once said, and I agree with the notion, that experience may come second to "do i want to work with this person?" At the OA, I noticed everyone is trying to prove themselves. Like they know the most, come from the best school, or worked abroad for x years, or whatever. But BEX isn't necessarily looking for that (god knows what they decide on), it's as-if they want to know what kind of person you are, if they'd like you to be the guy next to them in a non-favorable post. My advice.. your life is probably more interesting than you think. I'm sure you have the experience, it just may take a positive, inventive approach. Que sera sera, but you won't know it until you try it. If you give up now, you might as well not apply. If you're serious about it, don't look at it as getting to the OA. That is just one mountain that everyone in the process has to face. Going in, going out, everyone is the same. Just apply, be yourself, and see where it leads. If you don't make it, at least you've learned something about yourself.
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Jan 23, 2012 17:22
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I appreciate the feedback guys. I thought about editing my post because it sounds like I already feel defeated, which isn't entirely the case. I still plan on taking the FSOT and trying my best, I just don't have my expectations high at this point. As an aside, I'm feel pretty good about the economic cone. I'm more of an introvert (an introverted goon?! never!) and while still perfectly sociable, I strive better in environments of writing and analysis than giving speeches, networking, and learning the intricacies of bullshitting with people (though I understand those are important to an extent in any cone). Consular and management would be easier to get into, but I feel like it's the sort of thing I'd regret not trying for the economic cone. Plus doing bitch work with visas and supervising embassies doesn't sound very interesting. hayden. fucked around with this message at 17:35 on Jan 23, 2012 |
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Jan 23, 2012 17:31
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hayden. posted:I appreciate the feedback guys. I thought about editing my post because it sounds like I already feel defeated, which isn't entirely the case. I still plan on taking the FSOT and trying my best, I just don't have my expectations high at this point. You still get 2 years of bitch work with visas  Also, QEP, what the gently caress, it's almost the end of Jan.
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Jan 23, 2012 17:45
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I'd be so happy just to be a FSO that it'd be worth it even doing bitch visa work for 2 years in some poo poo hole as long as I got to do more interesting stuff after that.
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Jan 23, 2012 17:48
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TCD posted:You still get 2 years of bitch work with visas BEX results should be going out today. It depends, see..
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Jan 23, 2012 18:04
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Skandiaavity posted:BEX results should be going out today. It depends, see.. QEP results back. I continue to receive OT!!! (drat)
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Jan 23, 2012 18:51
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QEP results are back, and QEP is a harsh, harsh mistress. Peace Corps, here I come (I hope)!
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Jan 23, 2012 19:09
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QEP results are in: I lose. QEP is pretty harsh; I thought my application was strong.
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Jan 23, 2012 19:15
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Same here, I'm out. Just gotta try again in the fall. I just wish I knew what I did wrong, what I could do better. I did a pretty good job at the written test, and I've got foreign experience up the wazoo.
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Jan 23, 2012 19:24
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My friend here at the Embassy passed and is on his way to the OA for MGT cone. He failed last year's QEP, but improved his FSOT score a lot. Good luck to everyone else!
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Jan 23, 2012 19:38
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Shageletic posted:Same here, I'm out. Just gotta try again in the fall. I just wish I knew what I did wrong, what I could do better. I did a pretty good job at the written test, and I've got foreign experience up the wazoo. Yeah. I'm going to ask to see if I can read my friend's personal narrative to see how he responded. Oh well, now to try and get my Portuguese up to a 3/3 and look at starting a masters.
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Jan 23, 2012 19:41
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Welp. Probably for the best. I'd still be on probationary status at my job and they'd probably be weird about the security clearance question for someone who wanted a new job after a year. Still how do I learn a super critical needs language with a job? nm fucked around with this message at 19:57 on Jan 23, 2012 |
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Jan 23, 2012 19:54
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I am sorry to hear about the QEP guys... I feel like it's getting harder and harder to pass it with the budget cuts. Keep trying.
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Jan 23, 2012 20:06
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mtreecorner posted:I am sorry to hear about the QEP guys... I feel like it's getting harder and harder to pass it with the budget cuts.  I'm going to try the internal conversion program in May. We'll see!
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Jan 23, 2012 20:10
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nm posted:Still how do I learn a super critical needs language with a job? I have a full-time job and take Chinese classes at night. Obviously, it is a much slower pace than say packing my bags and doing an immersion program in Beijing for a semester. So, I may not get to level 2 anytime soon but I am closer than I was a few months ago. I really wish I took classes while in undergrad but it is what it is... The other option I can think of is to take 2 weeks off work and go on "vacation." Use the time to do a quick immersion program in the country of your choice. I know they do exist. For Chinese, I saw this program involving sea turtles (http://www.seaturtles911.org/program/chinese.htm)
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Jan 23, 2012 20:16
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TCD posted:I'm going to try the internal conversion program in May. We'll see! The mustang program? I'm curious how that works as I have been looking at civil service and specialist positions too.
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Jan 23, 2012 20:18
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Really sorry that you guys didn't make it! QEP is so fuckin' weird. I was prepped for the worst after seeing the responses here because I feel several of you are more qualified/as qualified as me, but I made it through. Hopefully more goons will also. This was a Hail Mary for me, I guess I need to start prepping for the OA now.
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Jan 23, 2012 20:21
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