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Xandu posted:Thanks for the response, guys. Interesting stuff. It's a cool country, but sounds like a difficult place to be when working for the US government. Inshallah. Because that would mean they're going to pull a lot of folks off the register.
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May 21, 2013 11:43
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Diplomaticus posted:Banana's suits are very well cut to make you look like you actually belong in a suit, roomy enough even for bigger guys, last forever, high quality, lightweight, and super comfortable. Then once you've bought it, get it tailored. Get non-pleated (flat-front) trousers, they look much better than pleated (exception: fat guys, and by fat I mean "you need to shop at big and tall and you're 280+", not just that you could stand to lose a few.) Buy a couple dress shirts that match, and a tie for each shirt. Get your shirts tailored too. Now you've got the core of a wardrobe, and can expand from there. In other news, the link to the practice test from the test location confirmation page is broken, and I saw something about having to buy a practice test on page ~130; are these two facts related?
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May 21, 2013 11:53
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I find the J Crew Ludlow suits are surprisingly well made for the price (I now have three). I'm fortunate in that I need surprisingly little tailoring off the rack (usually just a hem for the pants), but the jackets have a nice graceful cut for slimmer frames. Other suits just look kind of boxy on me. Once you're out and assigned, keep an eye on how folks around you dress and follow their lead. In Rome I was able to swing really well cut slacks and suit coat combos and nobody batted an eye. Probably wouldn't have done that in Riyadh, though. Better yet, if you're in a country with a good garment industry, get your suits custom made. A buddy of mine in Bangkok got like three suits and five shirts for less than a grand.
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May 21, 2013 12:15
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Thanks for all the suit tips. I've never been a suit guy & am in the 1 suit crowd. It is a little intimidating to buy them when you know nothing about them. In other news, I was thinking that I wouldn't be in DC until late summer (or at all), but now it's looking like I might be there & gone before the goons waiting for the next specialist class. It's amazing how fast things can change.
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May 21, 2013 14:27
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1of7 posted:In other news, I was thinking that I wouldn't be in DC until late summer (or at all), but now it's looking like I might be there & gone before the goons waiting for the next specialist class. It's amazing how fast things can change. What's the new plan?
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May 21, 2013 15:18
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1of7 posted:Thanks for all the suit tips. I've never been a suit guy & am in the 1 suit crowd. It is a little intimidating to buy them when you know nothing about them. Another dress-up tip: ALWAYS WEAR AN UNDERSHIRT!!! That may sound stupid and obvious, but I've run into a few attorneys, including a prosecutor, who would wear white dress shirts with no undershirt. Nobody wants to see a guy's nipples. Also, if you tuck your undershirt into your underwear, it will prevent the undershirt riding up and making your waistline look messy.
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May 21, 2013 16:26
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Diplomaticus posted:Suits for dummies: Agree with everything Diplomaticus said about suits. I have purchased several bespoke suits from an online company called Indochino, and have been happy with the quality.
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May 21, 2013 16:41
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Quarex posted:But you might be saying that 5'4" 280# guys are the ones who should be in pleated pants. Yep, it's for short tubby guys. The pleats distract the eye from the fat roll the body tends to accumulate there, the shape it makes is less awkward looking.
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May 21, 2013 22:09
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Uhg  .
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May 21, 2013 23:44
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TCD posted:What's the new plan? Well TCD, the plan is TBD.  Curtailing, but not sure of the time frame. Most likely a few weeks. Also, I no longer have an onward assignment, so I got that going for me. 
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May 22, 2013 01:10
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Zoots posted:I find the J Crew Ludlow suits are surprisingly well made for the price (I now have three). I'm fortunate in that I need surprisingly little tailoring off the rack (usually just a hem for the pants), but the jackets have a nice graceful cut for slimmer frames. Other suits just look kind of boxy on me. To be perfectly honest, i own a range from super high-end brands to "bought the fabric myself" suits -- the brand name doesn't really matter aside from personal preferences, the only difference is the quality of fabric they use. when you buy a suit, no matter where it is from, you immediately want to turn around and get it tailored. Buying a suit '1/2 - 1 size too big' can be recommended as the tailor will slim it down for you. It's for that reason they 'generalize' suit sizes. If you're not sure on anything, men's warehouse is actually a pretty good starting place. i know they have one in tyson's corner. you don't have to buy anything if you're not happy with their selection, but they will explain to you the different cuts and sizes involved. When you get your suits tailored, if you want to look slim, ask for an English cut. basically it slims the underarms and back, then curves down to your waist. It will make you slim, opposed to the (american/"italian")-style cut, which is basically to look intimidating/like a NFL linebacker/mob enforcer. also, to those DS - don't forget to account for firearms if you use them, when getting your duty suit tailored. I'm not sure if you want to show that huge bulge, but if your suit is tight-fitting around the upper torso, it's fairly easy to grab. 1of7: at least you're leaving, so that much is good? :P
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May 22, 2013 10:03
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Homie S posted:Totally unrelated but does the AQ Burger in Sanaa still have good swharma? AND THE CAKES. For USG in Sanaa... we all live in a hotel. We are there or at the embassy. That's it. It used to be that people could go to the Hadda area for the resturants... not anymore though. Luckily, the government has taken over the building offically, so the food options are much better. Still, it's hotel food all the time. (Side note: The new name of the Sheraton is the Diplomatic Transit Facility... or DTF. You can't make this stuff up) And YES, AQ Burger is the poo poo. We smuggle it in sometimes (our FSNs are the best). Sadly, I have had more Yemeni food when I visited Cairo then in Sanaa. mtreecorner fucked around with this message at 10:23 on May 22, 2013 |
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May 22, 2013 10:09
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mtreecorner posted:For USG in Sanaa... we all live in a hotel. We are there or at the embassy. That's it. It used to be that people could go to the Hadda area for the resturants... not anymore though. Luckily, the government has taken over the building offically, so the food options are much better. Still, it's hotel food all the time. I showed up as a TDYer just as everyone was moved off of residences and into the hotel. I will NEVER forget that place, it almost killed me in all sorts of ways. I just remember the burgers and the cake.
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May 22, 2013 12:10
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mtreecorner posted:For USG in Sanaa... we all live in a hotel. We are there or at the embassy. That's it. It used to be that people could go to the Hadda area for the resturants... not anymore though. Luckily, the government has taken over the building offically, so the food options are much better. Still, it's hotel food all the time. The Yemeni restaurant in Addis (it's called Beit al-Mandhi, website should show up in google) is loving amazing. Best hummus I've ever eaten anywhere in the world. And it's dirt cheap.
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May 22, 2013 14:47
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did i say 8 pounds earlier? I meant 38 pounds! MED just weighed today. Had  faces
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May 23, 2013 03:37
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So I managed to make it to the OA. Any tips for the memo section or any good ways to practice it? Are there any benefits for taking it in July or October? I have more questions but I'm on vacation and typing this in a kindle is a pain. Thanks!
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May 23, 2013 17:32
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http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20130523/AGENCY01/305230006/House-committee-plans-deep-2014-spending-cutsquote:The State Department and foreign operations would see a 16 percent cut. It's cool though, DoD gets an increase. Thank you House...
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May 24, 2013 02:37
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cramerthegr8 posted:So I managed to make it to the OA. Any tips for the memo section or any good ways to practice it? Are there any benefits for taking it in July or October? I have more questions but I'm on vacation and typing this in a kindle is a pain. Thanks! I found that practicing with timed writing sessions at least made me feel more comfortable going into it. If you're on the Yahoo FSOA board they have some samples. I think I practiced with a 60 minute timer with those. Pay attention to the directions and give everything they ask for. Take a few moments after reading (and re-reading) the directions and the material to plot out what you want to write, make sure you're covering everything, then go for it. Give yourself some time at the end to read through it again. Try to relax and have fun. For the group session, remember that it's about communication and teamwork, not about getting your project funded. Don't abandon your own too quickly but don't feel that it damages you if others have something better. I used a four-pane prep tool (double bisected piece of paper) to hit the four elements of my presentation. I forget exactly what they were but I think it was General Details, US Interests, Negative Factors, Costs, but please don't hold me to that. Some people recommend reviewing the 13Ds and trying to formulate your personal interview answers in those terms. I think its a good idea to regularly review the 13Ds but I found it cumbersome and unnatural to try to explicitly tie things to them. Again, relax, be yourself, and have fun! Good luck!
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May 24, 2013 07:41
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cramerthegr8 posted:So I managed to make it to the OA. Any tips for the memo section or any good ways to practice it? Are there any benefits for taking it in July or October? I have more questions but I'm on vacation and typing this in a kindle is a pain. Thanks! Look for Traveler's notes in the 'files' section of the Yahoo OA group. His guides for the group exercise and case management sections were a huge help to me when getting ready for the March OA.
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May 25, 2013 15:59
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I wrote a cram guide that's buried somewhere in the yahoogroup files as well. It should be the one called "Cram Guide" or something like.
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May 25, 2013 17:14
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Anyone interested in being an OMS? http://www.careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/oms
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May 27, 2013 00:41
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Bruxism posted:Anyone interested in being an OMS? I am not going to lie, if I were single and thought I actually had two years' administrative experience I would still probably apply. Though I am not sure the idea of a long-term and potentially-deadly career that tops out at $50,000 sounds all that promising. Unless that range is just the starting pay?
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May 27, 2013 01:02
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Quarex posted:Ooh, requiring a top secret clearance for a $35,000/year job is like the federal equivalent of requiring a doctorate for a $20,000/year adjunct professorship! http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/205552.pdf So it starts at grade 7, the range (depending on the step) is 35-50k. After a year you get promoted to grade 6, which is 38-56k. quote:In general, Foreign Service employees with documented satisfactory performance are eligible to receive within-grade step increases annually up through step 10 and biannually from step 10 through step 14. The normal career path envisions promotion to FP-03 during the course of a 20+ year career. Just signed up for the June FSOT. Hope it goes well.
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May 27, 2013 01:06
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Xandu posted:http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/205552.pdf You're right, but just to add, OMS's can get up to an FS-03, which ranges from about $75,000-$110,000 Good luck on the test!
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May 27, 2013 01:17
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Xandu posted:http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/205552.pdf Is the turnaround for these positions any quicker than other positions? Well, probably, since these do not seem to involve the same application process?
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May 27, 2013 01:26
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Quarex posted:Ooh, requiring a top secret clearance for a $35,000/year job is like the federal equivalent of requiring a doctorate for a $20,000/year adjunct professorship! The starting pay for FS jobs is never what it appears in the job announcement. It doesn't take into account things like danger pay, locality pay, post differential, student loan repayment programs, matched contributions to Thrift Savings Plans, per diem, spouse dislocation allowance etc etc. With all these job announcements you can expect to make a lot more than is stated on the announcement. Particularly with being a DS agent due to overtime and LEAP Pay.
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May 27, 2013 04:28
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Quarex posted:Ooh, requiring a top secret clearance for a $35,000/year job is like the federal equivalent of requiring a doctorate for a $20,000/year adjunct professorship! Considering I am in Yemen as a FS-7, I make over 100k a year with all the extras. Don't discount hardship and danger pay, and free housing. I took a "pay cut" for this job from a GS-12... but ended up making more a year. If one stayed in as a OMS for the long run, they can top out as a FS-3 without time in grade requirements. Also, we need a TS a lot more than say a Managment Officer or CONS Officer does. I have been exposed to infromation where the clearence is NEEDED and work with sensitive documents. Plus, once you are in, you realize that a TS is prety run-of-the-mill these days. Overall, if you are young... getting hired as a OMS is pretty limited in your ability to advance. Yet, its much easier to transition into other roles once you are actually in the department. I, for one, enjoy seeing how an embassy really runs. For example, if I ever convert to a generalist position, I will know what cones are a better fit.
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May 27, 2013 11:46
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Requiring a certain clearance doesn't have anything to do with the salary a position pays or even the amount of responsibility involved. If you have to handle and look at classified info, you need that clearance. There's nothing incongruous about an entry level OMS needing TS.
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May 27, 2013 15:50
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Bruxism posted:The starting pay for FS jobs is never what it appears in the job announcement. It doesn't take into account things like danger pay, locality pay, post differential, student loan repayment programs, matched contributions to Thrift Savings Plans, per diem, spouse dislocation allowance etc etc. Giodo! posted:Requiring a certain clearance doesn't have anything to do with the salary a position pays or even the amount of responsibility involved. If you have to handle and look at classified info, you need that clearance. There's nothing incongruous about an entry level OMS needing TS. mtreecorner posted:Considering I am in Yemen as a FS-7, I make over 100k a year with all the extras. Don't discount hardship and danger pay, and free housing. I took a "pay cut" for this job from a GS-12... but ended up making more a year. If one stayed in as a OMS for the long run, they can top out as a FS-3 without time in grade requirements.
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May 28, 2013 01:12
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Giodo! posted:Requiring a certain clearance doesn't have anything to do with the salary a position pays or even the amount of responsibility involved. If you have to handle and look at classified info, you need that clearance. There's nothing incongruous about an entry level OMS needing TS. I'd wager that part of his point is that many TS cleared positions pay well in excess of 100k stateside and even more overseas.
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May 28, 2013 04:10
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Maybe, but there are tons of jobs in the IC and throughout the government in DC that require TS and are not particularly high-paying. My office requires TS and most people come in as a GS-9 ($51,000 in DC).
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May 28, 2013 13:56
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psydude posted:I'd wager that part of his point is that many TS cleared positions pay well in excess of 100k stateside and even more overseas. Many TS contractor positions, yes. Not true for most entry level goverment jobs that need TS (such as the Foreign Service).
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May 28, 2013 14:22
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the other good thing is, once you get a clearance (and can hold it); you are pretty much golden to work in the DC area. Already having an active (or lapsed/can be renewed) clearance is very attractive for recruiters. and yeah, you earn a lot more than the 'base' salary in the FS. once you add up the other things and remove a good portion of your expenses (like housing); within the first few weeks overseas you will start to notice the difference.
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May 29, 2013 05:10
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Been on leave for a week - just wanted to weigh in with suit advice for the ladies. Don't be like me and go to Macy's and buy the cheap $79 suit sets. You'll regret it. Bite the bullet and go to Ann Taylor or J. Crew, both of which have frequent sales online and good quality stuff. Most of my suits are AT at this point, with the exception of a few I bought in Turkey. Sorry that my editees didn't get through the QEP this time around! Hopefully next time - experience with the process is key in this, I think. (But what do I know, I joined before the QEP process was instituted.) I'm still willing to help edit anyone's QEP essays for those who just got through the FSOT round.
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May 29, 2013 13:06
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the_chavi posted:Been on leave for a week - just wanted to weigh in with suit advice for the ladies. Don't be like me and go to Macy's and buy the cheap $79 suit sets. You'll regret it. Bite the bullet and go to Ann Taylor or J. Crew, both of which have frequent sales online and good quality stuff. Most of my suits are AT at this point, with the exception of a few I bought in Turkey. Mine didn't last round either 
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May 29, 2013 16:14
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Thanks, the chavi. If I make it through the June FSOT, I may just take you up on your editing offer. And thanks for the ladies' suit advice. A question for FSOs with kids. How does it work with kids when you need to return to DC to do training? Do kids generally go back to DC too and just enrol in school for a few months?
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May 29, 2013 19:28
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Obelisk posted:Thanks, the chavi. If I make it through the June FSOT, I may just take you up on your editing offer. And thanks for the ladies' suit advice. Beats the hell out of me. My kids have four legs apiece and respectively weigh 12 and 17 pounds.
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May 29, 2013 21:32
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Obelisk posted:
Most people with kids try to time it so they spend an academic year back in DC, so the kids just enroll for a year in a local school. To facilitate this, some officers line up bridge assignments to fill a few months, if needed. Not always a possibility, but sometimes an option.
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May 30, 2013 03:04
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If I register now for the June 8-15 test, will that be enough time to study? Or is this something that requires a lot of preparation in advance?
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May 30, 2013 05:10
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Just take it. It costs nothing, and worst case scenario is you fail. So what? Best case is you pass.
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May 30, 2013 05:22
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