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Skandiaavity posted:oh, SoCal weather is great. I think the CDO is trying to say that for the stupid career advancement track to Senior Foreign Service, the "serve at 15% or more hardship post" tickbox doesn't count on a directed tour. A policy that is total loving bullshit I might add. You do get the money. As far as equity goes, I served at a 20% danger 20% hardship post, and I got my 3rd place pick, and the two ahead were in the same bureau as my first post so I was essentially ineligible for them. On the third tour, it's all you. Networking, bidding, 360's, it all depends on you and who you know.
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Aug 5, 2012 06:48
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ATI Jesus posted:I think the CDO is trying to say that for the stupid career advancement track to Senior Foreign Service, the "serve at 15% or more hardship post" tickbox doesn't count on a directed tour. A policy that is total loving bullshit I might add. You do get the money. And just to add - if you're on a limited med clearance, you have to have your CDO and MED sign off on every intended bid before you even lobby. And that process can take up to weeks depending on the number of posts they have to vet. *twiddling thumbs* 
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Aug 5, 2012 08:50
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I think he means that new hire directed tours don't count for clearing out your fair share. But that should also mean that it shouldn't matter cause your first two are directed and your fair share ticker shouldn't be started yet.
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Aug 5, 2012 09:57
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Vilerat posted:I think he means that new hire directed tours don't count for clearing out your fair share. But that should also mean that it shouldn't matter cause your first two are directed and your fair share ticker shouldn't be started yet. Yeah, that's true. CDOs try to keep equity in mind when directing the first and second tours, but ultimately it does come down to who they can fit into each posting and still make the timing work. I believe last ELO bidding cycle, they moved in "tranches" instead of basing the whole thing on equity points. Those with higher equity simply got a first stab at the available postings and HR figured it out from there.
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Aug 5, 2012 10:56
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Yeah your CDO doesn't seem to know what equity is and is confusing it with the fair share (15% hardship every 8 years or whatever it is) requirement. Equity % = hardship % + differential % + any other % modifiers like HDS. When doing 2nd tour bidding, they do it in equity order. The 20%+ tranche bids first, everyone else bids second. Theoretically within your tranche, they start with the person with highest equity and work down, but who knows if that actually happens. Equity is ONLY relevant for your 2nd tour, it ceases to exist after that.
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Aug 5, 2012 12:17
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Vilerat posted:I gotta stress that networking is 80% of this job and you're all starting with a HUGE advantage. Don't let that advantage go. I've heard this before advise before and I know this is kind of a dumb question, but I've never really been in a position where networking is a 'thing'... Any suggestions on how to get this done? For example, we have class mentors and individual mentors, should I be reaching out to these people? Think of things to ask?
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Aug 5, 2012 13:44
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Thanks! Yeah, definitely looking more like my CDO confused Equity with Fair Share. It was mentioned along the lines of "Equity/hardship doesn't count for your first two tours" so people were like WTF. I'll let them know the CDO was confusing things.
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Aug 5, 2012 15:20
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So, I've seen it mentioned off-handedly in the thread before, but no one seemed to go into much detail. I was wondering about getting residence in States that don't have an income tax before you begin working abroad. From my research, it looks like there are seven States without an income tax: Alaska Florida Nevada South Dakota Texas Washington Wyoming I guess my first question is - is this legal? Just becoming a resident so you can then leave and avoid taxes, it sounds a little fishy. And the other question is - how do you go about becoming a resident in a short period of time? Is it just get an address in order to get a drivers license and change your voter registration, usually? I don't have a job abroad or anything, I was just curious how it all works.
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Aug 6, 2012 03:40
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Barring the morality of it - A) you still pay federal taxes. You can't get out of that without some creativity. B) also New Hampshire I think. Basically the way it works is you pay no state income tax. However, you also have to reside there for more than X days of the year. If you don't, it defaults to your other state - which will want its taxes. If you live in that state before you go abroad, i believe you can claim the last state you lived in. C) However, i think you have to live there X months of the year.. I don't know if anyone checks, but to transfer a driver's license is at least 60 days? Varies from state-to-state. If you have friends/family in the area, that would be better since you can say you lived overseas but they were your U.S. 'residence' & got your mail, etc. If you actually buy a place there, then i think you're entitled to whatever the state offers. just my understanding. it's not tax advice and should not be understood as so. For more in depth i'd probably say see the tax megathread or a tax accountant/tax lawyer. The goon in the tax thread is very knowledgeable about such subjects. (edit: the IRS collaborates with states & vice versa FYI. What you said is actually a pretty common form of tax fraud / tax mistakes. So if there is an audit and someone finds a disrespecancy; they'll work together - with you - to find out how much you owe and what penalties apply. States are usually very serious and aggressive about it, especially these days with the budget.) Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 04:49 on Aug 6, 2012 |
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Aug 6, 2012 04:39
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OA IMS this Friday. Any heads up on what tech topics I should review?
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Aug 6, 2012 05:23
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peredur posted:OA IMS this Friday. Any heads up on what tech topics I should review? "How are you with 20kg bags?" "50kg?"
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Aug 6, 2012 06:52
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Vilerat posted:"How are you with 20kg bags?" Oh come on, a body weighs more than that. Of course, I suppose it all depends on how many bags you use. . . .
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Aug 6, 2012 10:23
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Saho posted:I've heard this before advise before and I know this is kind of a dumb question, but I've never really been in a position where networking is a 'thing'... It's a bitch in your first tour, because you don't know how to go about meeting these magical people who you're told will MAKE OR BREAK your career. Relax: it's easier than you think (if you're not a lazy git). 1. Don't be an rear end in a top hat. Nothing spoils your ability to network like the rumor that you're an rear end in a top hat. 2. Get out of your section and meet people in other sections. Volunteer for after-hours projects to help other offices. Sponsor newcomers, go out of your way to be friendly to TDYers. All of these are ways to get to know people. 3. Be really good at your job. Let your bosses and coworkers tell others about how good of a job you're doing, not you. 4. Try not to gossip about your coworkers. It's hard, and to a certain extent unavoidable, but really - do it as little as possible. (Caveat: if your coworkers are trying to decide on a position, and you know one of the applicants is an absolute terror to work with, state your case _diplomatically_.) 5. Play the eternal FS game of figuring out when and where you've served with mutual friends. Example: last night I talked to one of our A/RSOs at the chow hall, and I realized that I served in Saudi with the DS agent who is his son's godmother. Boom, instant connection. 6. Don't be an rear end in a top hat. Don't be that person no one wants to serve with. DON'T BE AN rear end in a top hat.
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Aug 6, 2012 10:27
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Business of Ferrets posted:Oh come on, a body weighs more than that. And how finely you chop it.
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Aug 6, 2012 10:28
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the_chavi posted:It's a bitch in your first tour, because you don't know how to go about meeting these magical people who you're told will MAKE OR BREAK your career. Relax: it's easier than you think (if you're not a lazy git). Talk to people, don't be an rear end in a top hat, be good at your job. Edit: Hey another TDY for a week!
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Aug 6, 2012 10:46
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the_chavi posted:And how finely you chop it. For some reason, the section of the pouch instructions that we have inside the mail room has the parts about "no human remains/crematory ashes" and "no weapons" bolded.
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Aug 6, 2012 10:54
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Diplomaticus posted:For some reason, the section of the pouch instructions that we have inside the mail room has the parts about "no human remains/crematory ashes" and "no weapons" bolded. Which is probably why we can't pouch ourselves new livers, no matter how badly we all need them...
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Aug 6, 2012 11:16
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the_chavi posted:Which is probably why we can't pouch ourselves new livers, no matter how badly we all need them... I'm in Recife for a week. Nothing better than a caipirihna on the beach. Also, try to TDY. You meet more contacts and network better that way ( be a low maintenance tdyer. Don't be one of those whiners about the room, taxis, etc. It goes back to not being an rear end in a top hat)
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Aug 6, 2012 12:50
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TCD posted:Also, try to TDY. You meet more contacts and network better that way ( be a low maintenance tdyer. Don't be one of those whiners about the room, taxis, etc. It goes back to not being an rear end in a top hat) Very true. After staffing I don't know how many visits, from policy analyst on up, PLEASE be kind to your control officer/responsible person. We share war stories, and if you're a dick the word WILL get around. Examples of things not to do as a visitor to any post: check your Blackberry during official meetings, make local staff buy you a new curling iron because yours fried out at your last stop and refuse to pay the "inflated" price for it, cancel a key meeting we worked on for weeks to get because you would rather go shopping, get drunk at dinner with contacts. All of these have happened on visits I've staffed.
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Aug 6, 2012 13:21
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I took the FSOT last year, passed, was smacked by QEP, blah blah blah, taking it again after coming home from an intensive 12-week Chinese program that ends next week -- will hopefully help boost that BIO score up some and give me more interesting stories to give the QEP folks. But I've been reading through some of thread and was wondering: for those of you who are doing the IMS job, what kind of education, job background and certifications did you folks have before being accepted?
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Aug 6, 2012 16:09
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the_chavi posted:Very true. After staffing I don't know how many visits, from policy analyst on up, PLEASE be kind to your control officer/responsible person. We share war stories, and if you're a dick the word WILL get around. Examples of things not to do as a visitor to any post: check your Blackberry during official meetings, make local staff buy you a new curling iron because yours fried out at your last stop and refuse to pay the "inflated" price for it, cancel a key meeting we worked on for weeks to get because you would rather go shopping, get drunk at dinner with contacts. Especially don't do the BB thing when you're mid-conversation with fellow FSOs.
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Aug 6, 2012 17:40
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Business of Ferrets posted:Oh come on, a body weighs more than that. whoa whoa, the pouch has a limited capacity.. and uh,...don't try to hide it in peanut butter is all I can say.. also if it hasn't been said yet: Don't be an rear end in a top hat. Don't be "that guy" (or girl). Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 21:58 on Aug 6, 2012 |
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Aug 6, 2012 21:52
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Skandiaavity posted:whoa whoa, the pouch has a limited capacity.. and uh,...don't try to hide it in peanut butter is all I can say.. All these comments about not being an rear end in a top hat leads me to believe the foreign service is full of assholes.
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Aug 7, 2012 10:06
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Not full of them; there are a few, just enough to be the cautionary "that guy".
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Aug 7, 2012 10:40
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Omits-Bagels posted:All these comments about not being an rear end in a top hat leads me to believe the foreign service is full of assholes. You can see why this could attract certain personalities that we're cautioning against. Just don't be that guy. 
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Aug 7, 2012 11:34
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Omits-Bagels posted:All these comments about not being an rear end in a top hat leads me to believe the foreign service is full of assholes. "It varies from post to post". I've been at a post where drat near the entire mission met for beers after work and it was the most amazingly chill and awesome work environment ever. You really felt appreciated and everybody pulled their own weight. Then I've been to a post where two people didn't make tenure in a single year. It was a tiny post.
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Aug 7, 2012 11:41
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Omits-Bagels posted:All these comments about not being an rear end in a top hat leads me to believe the foreign service is full of assholes. You try serving in a forty-person post where you're on lockdown 23 hours a day. You identify that one rear end in a top hat reeeeally quickly. Kidding (mostly), but being overseas and working in a diplomatic bubble magnifies character flaws and quirks. If you're easy going and can find your happy place easily, it's manageable. Otherwise, you need a weekend away to recover your cool.
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Aug 7, 2012 21:44
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Diplomaticus posted:Not full of them; there are a few, just enough to be the cautionary "that guy". I would say thus far I have seen far less assholes in the FS than in other fields. I have met many friendly and helpful people. There is always a "that guy" though. The higher ups at orientation stressed that the NUMBER ONE reason people lose out on promotions is "being the person no one wants to work with"
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Aug 7, 2012 23:26
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mtreecorner posted:I would say thus far I have seen far less assholes in the FS than in other fields. I have met many friendly and helpful people.
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Aug 8, 2012 00:37
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There was a funny story about a guy who was recalled from his first post, by orders of the Ambassador, three weeks after arriving. You really do meet all kinds of people. Also, if you're having a party, for the love of god just invite everyone in your class (all cones). If anyone from FSI shows up just invite them too as a networking thing. There was an incident where someone got pissed they weren't invited. The moral of that is: Even roses have thorns. Learn quickly to identify them, or they'll make it a point to stick out. Some may even prick you. 
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Aug 8, 2012 01:32
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Ouch, one of the folks I OA'ed with got dinged by the FRP about 6 weeks after their clearance was adjudicated. I realize they are different standards but I imagine that is that relatively rare, to make it through the security clearance but to then be found unsuitable?
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Aug 8, 2012 04:29
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Not saying or implying they did anything wrong, but yes, I have been told they (HR) would do it with good cause. Whatever that means, I couldn't tell you. If their clearance was adjudicated, maybe that (issue) had something to do with it. To elaborate; it appears Suitability is a whole-package affair. Security clearance is so you can handle/view certain information(/systems). (Good cause is what I imagine to be like, if you're prone to extramarital affairs. You might make it through clearances. But if you're prone to that activity, at some point, you're likely to lose your clearance or get involved with the wrong person. In that kind of case I can see the rationale behind theoretical-HR's decision.) That sucks, though. Is there an appeal process or is it actually a final determination?
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Aug 9, 2012 02:03
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Thanks to all for the third tour bid tips, they are illuminating. Still learning all the ins and outs of IMS’ing. I got Guatemala for my first assign, totally psyched for the upcoming gig!
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Aug 9, 2012 02:14
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Unannounced FS-4 IMS position at my post for the 2013 Summer cycle. Holla!
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Aug 9, 2012 11:42
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Skandiaavity posted:That sucks, though. Is there an appeal process or is it actually a final determination? Yeah he was understandably vague about the reason but said they did tell him why they made that decision. Apparently there is an appeals process but if the appeal is denied there are no further steps to take.
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Aug 9, 2012 12:38
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Tyro posted:Ouch, one of the folks I OA'ed with got dinged by the FRP about 6 weeks after their clearance was adjudicated. I realize they are different standards but I imagine that is that relatively rare, to make it through the security clearance but to then be found unsuitable? I was held up (not dinged, just took a long time to process my review) in Final Suitability for 2 months because some douchebag made up some (demonstrably untrue) rumors about me. They eventually cleared it, but I had to give them a ton of documentation. I recall seeing 3 or 4 people dinged by Final Suitability on the yahoo groups in the past couple of years, though I have no idea why. At least one I know won their appeal.
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Aug 9, 2012 12:59
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So today over office communicator Zoots and I were discussing the possibility of an all-FS Goon gathering. I heartily support this endeavor, as there is much fun to be had... and I also nominate his post to host, as Libya's not exactly on the top 100 of places to go have fun in the world. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my plan.
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Aug 9, 2012 21:04
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the_chavi posted:So today over office communicator Zoots and I were discussing the possibility of an all-FS Goon gathering. I heartily support this endeavor, as there is much fun to be had... and I also nominate his post to host, as Libya's not exactly on the top 100 of places to go have fun in the world. Less neckbeard, more pinstripe! I fear for the front offices of the world, however. With all the OMS goons out there, I fear the missions of the world would grind to a halt.
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Aug 9, 2012 21:06
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When would this be?
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Aug 9, 2012 22:25
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I am receptive to the idea. It depends 
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Aug 10, 2012 02:21
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