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Your fine. Some people get a prep book and start reading Economist or some other international news sources but I always found that silly. I didn't find any of that necessary, I took it hung over after four hours of sleep on a Saturday morning after my alarm woke me up because I'd forgotten I scheduled it. I think it really just depends how comfortable you are with what the test throws at you. I've always felt the test was very easy. It's a z(t?) score test to cut off bottom 50 or x percent after all, not to weed people out via difficult foreign policy, international relations and US constitutional law type questions. It's everything that happens after FSOT that's hard. I will say the only part I "studied" that was useful was reading up on how to structure the essay correctly in the format they like to see, that helped as I'm not used to writing that way normally. Your results may vary, I've passed the test twice but never made it past FSO QEP. I'm currently on the FSS IMS register.
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May 30, 2013 05:33
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re: kids, one thing I've seen done is having the FSO's spouse bring the kids back to the US early (maybe a month or two before the FSO finishes their tour assuming they are on the summer transfer schedule) so they can get settled in for the school year. The FSO then joins at the completion of their assignment. This obviously requires a) you have a house back in the DC area, which typically FSOs with kids do, and b)only really works for long-term training like language. I don't really know how it works when you're transferring from overseas post to overseas post, but I imagine you will really have to look hard at during the bidding process as far as start/end dates are concerned, and you'll have to negotiate with your gaining/losing posts.
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May 30, 2013 08:20
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not to mention, i think the international schools are a little flexible on start dates. Like if you arrive a little late - say in October, they can squeeze your kids in on that (just you missed everything else). someone with more experience chime in though, plz
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May 30, 2013 09:31
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"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?" One thing that the Virginia schools require you to have is a local address in the school district that your kids will be attending. I think all three Oakwood properties are in different districts. The Oakwood won't give you an adress until you move in. Thankfully we got here at the beginning of summer so we have a while to figure it all out. I wouldn't doubt that people use borrowed address'
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May 31, 2013 01:25
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Skandiaavity posted: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. Revisiting this as I'm in the middle of an back and forth review of initial base salary. It looks like even after accounting for housing, I'm taking a 20-25% pay cut after OCP is added in--how "safe" is it to count on Comparability Pay not being canceled/not renewed due to budget cuts? I hate that I'm in the position that it matters enough, but if it wasn't there, I probably wouldn't be able to go forward.
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May 31, 2013 14:54
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That's a tough one to call I think because it's ultimately up to a combination of where Congress looks, how far the Department is willing to push for it, how effective the FS lobby is in directly lobbying to protect it, and what else is on the table at the same time. I think it's safe to say that we're not going to see the next tranche of OCP any time soon, if ever. As for losing what we've got now, I don't know what the odds would be but it's certainly a real possibility. Is the pay cut you're taking after the matching that they already offer (up to a certain point?) Or I don't know, maybe they're not doing that anymore but when I was applying they would match your last 90 day's pay up to a maxed out FS-4.
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May 31, 2013 15:11
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Diplomaticus posted:Is the pay cut you're taking after the matching that they already offer (up to a certain point?) Or I don't know, maybe they're not doing that anymore but when I was applying they would match your last 90 day's pay up to a maxed out FS-4. They do matching for FSO, but according to Registrar, not Specialists, otherwise this would all be a non-issue. Specialist (based on SOP 134) seems to only be calculated via years experience/degrees.
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May 31, 2013 15:41
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mute posted:They do matching for FSO, but according to Registrar, not Specialists, otherwise this would all be a non-issue. Specialist (based on SOP 134) seems to only be calculated via years experience/degrees. Correct. Specialists get calculated based on degree and experience. Plus if you are a current Federal Employee they match you (as close as they can) to your current salary and whichever is in your favor. For me I am coming in maxed out (current Fed. employee) but I'm still taking a pay cut (not counting loosing my wife's salary since she will no longer be working). However, when my wife and I looked at things, not having to pay for housing (assuming we can sell or rent our house - don't get me started on that), plus having utilities covered, and not taking in to account hardship, COLA, danger, etc we "think" we will be ok. I think someone said on here that they had never heard of anyone in the FS struggling financially. But everyone needs to take there own needs in to account before making the decision whether or not to accept the offer..
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May 31, 2013 16:28
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mute posted:They do matching for FSO, but according to Registrar, not Specialists, otherwise this would all be a non-issue. Specialist (based on SOP 134) seems to only be calculated via years experience/degrees. Wow, that sucks for IMSs.
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May 31, 2013 17:01
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I've heard that FS retirement is meant to be very good so there's also that. Speaking of retirement, how does that work for people who come into the FS a bit older and aren't able to work the full 20 years before mandatory retirement at 65?
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Jun 1, 2013 11:26
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Hey dudes. I have landed in DC and will be here for the next few months (living in Falls Church Oakwood.) I'd be happy to organize a happy hour in the coming weeks for whoever is interested in meeting in person. Drop me a PM with a contact email or get it to me through some other means. Once I have the contact list put together I'll drop an email with some location/time suggestions.
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Jun 1, 2013 17:33
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Bruxism posted:Hey dudes. I have landed in DC and will be here for the next few months (living in Falls Church Oakwood.) I'd be happy to organize a happy hour in the coming weeks for whoever is interested in meeting in person. Drop me a PM with a contact email or get it to me through some other means. Once I have the contact list put together I'll drop an email with some location/time suggestions. Did you move into Oakwood today? How did you swing that?
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Jun 1, 2013 18:13
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Homie S posted:Did you move into Oakwood today? How did you swing that? Nope. Staying with the in laws at the moment. Will be moving in there tomorrow.
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Jun 2, 2013 00:15
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Basically my last day in the Foreign Service, and of course I come down with Menelik's revenge. Ironically the day I found out I got in, I was in the hospital for stomach problems so I guess I'm sort of going out the way I came in (not going to the hospital or anything today, just miserable.)
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Jun 2, 2013 09:38
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Diplomaticus posted:Basically my last day in the Foreign Service, and of course I come down with Menelik's revenge. Ironically the day I found out I got in, I was in the hospital for stomach problems so I guess I'm sort of going out the way I came in (not going to the hospital or anything today, just miserable.) Good luck dude and stay in touch.
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Jun 2, 2013 14:20
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Diplomaticus posted:Basically my last day in the Foreign Service, and of course I come down with Menelik's revenge. Ironically the day I found out I got in, I was in the hospital for stomach problems so I guess I'm sort of going out the way I came in (not going to the hospital or anything today, just miserable.) That's how we "take care" of "people" who try to "leave the family." You'll always be looking over your shoulder!
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Jun 2, 2013 14:32
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 Business of Ferrets is part of the cabal now. I wouldn't say no one in the FS is not struggling for cash - our pay scales all vary, and everyone's situation is different based on their lifestyle and other factors. I wouldn't say everyone is well-off (certainly a good number seem to be), but it certainly appears that money is less of an issue; people talk that they pay off student debts faster, as they become more cash equitable as per the overseas life.. Also nobody really talks about money like other jobs, unless its what you pay for driver/maid/cook salaries or how much you got your house/car for, that type of thing. I suppose you may hear more talk about it if you're posted in London, Vienna, Kenya, etc - places where the cost of living is very high. and I know during some recent evacs over the last few years, people were stuck spending a good chunk of savings while poo poo (hotels, reimbursement, etc) was still getting sorted out. Living out of hotels for a month or two, etc.
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Jun 3, 2013 02:13
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What should people still in college be doing if they are interested in the Foreign Service?
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Jun 3, 2013 03:34
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Snipee posted:What should people still in college be doing if they are interested in the Foreign Service? Taking the FSOT? Also, study abroad and getting a difficult language nailed down seems to help on the FSO path.
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Jun 3, 2013 03:38
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Bruxism posted:Hey dudes. I have landed in DC and will be here for the next few months (living in Falls Church Oakwood.) I'd be happy to organize a happy hour in the coming weeks for whoever is interested in meeting in person. Drop me a PM with a contact email or get it to me through some other means. Once I have the contact list put together I'll drop an email with some location/time suggestions. I get there at the beginning of September; you still going to be around?
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Jun 3, 2013 07:26
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Skandiaavity posted:
How did you manage to construct a triple negative??? Other news: don't put off 8 months of shredding until your last day. My back is killing me and I've literally filled 400 pound industrial size shredder. Yeah I puts out product. Also, apparently my suicide box comments are becoming the stuff of legend.
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Jun 3, 2013 09:10
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Diplomaticus posted:How did you manage to construct a triple negative??? Send me a copy...
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Jun 3, 2013 12:35
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Diplomaticus posted:
Oh my.
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Jun 3, 2013 12:48
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Skandiaavity posted:
Depending on ones personal financial situation I would think the potential is there to put away a good amount of bank. Of course, if you are trying to live like a big money player...
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Jun 3, 2013 12:56
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TCD posted:Send me a copy... Share! Share!
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Jun 3, 2013 18:01
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Nutrimentia posted:I get there at the beginning of September; you still going to be around? Unfortunately, I probably will not be. I bet there are plenty of people that WILL be around still at that point.
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Jun 3, 2013 21:54
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the_chavi posted:Share! Share! Please please! You've gotten our curiosity up now.
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Jun 3, 2013 22:14
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Zoots posted:Please please! You've gotten our curiosity up now. I'm picturing Jet Blue flight attendent-style departure, complete with rubber slide and beer.
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Jun 3, 2013 22:28
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Bruxism posted:Unfortunately, I probably will not be. I bet there are plenty of people that WILL be around still at that point. I will be one of those people. edit: someone send the suicide box to my personal email as I don't have access to .gov for the next couple of weeks!
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Jun 3, 2013 23:00
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Is it on the main forum? Or whatever the gently caress they call the discussion board.
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Jun 3, 2013 23:31
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Yeah TCD or someone remind me your personal email and I'll send it when I get back to the U.S. and have solid internet.
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Jun 4, 2013 06:48
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Quarex posted:I know my Dad had a lot of trouble getting his clearance in the late 1970s, and his life was about as drama/vice-free as mine (but with similar random handfuls of foreign friends he kept in contact with, no mean feat for pre-Internet communications). What do you mean, things might have changed in 35 years? Wait, is it actually bad to say what kind of non-American friends you have on the FSOT?
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Jun 4, 2013 16:21
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I seriously doubt it, getting a clearance is a different process from getting selected for the Foreign Service. And, to be clear, you shouldn't neglect to disclose things like foreign friends during your clearance process. Far better to have it take a while to get cleared than to get rejected for lying, and those investigators can be very thorough.
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Jun 4, 2013 16:32
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Well, now that they are wheels up, IT lead for working with the White House Communications Agency on a VPOTUS is pretty interesting. Hopefully, no more VIPs until I PCS... please. Also, Dip, that statement was total 
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Jun 4, 2013 19:13
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TCD posted:Well, now that they are wheels up, IT lead for working with the White House Communications Agency on a VPOTUS is pretty interesting. Hopefully, no more VIPs until I PCS... please. I worked with WHCA ("wocka") in Riyadh. Nice folks.
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Jun 4, 2013 20:05
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the_chavi posted:I worked with WHCA ("wocka") in Riyadh. Nice folks. Yeah, all things considered, it went really well.
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Jun 4, 2013 20:12
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my best friend is in 'wocka.' pros & cons of workin there. They're really hard-drivin but hella nice folks, suggest any IMS or such to take the opportunity to work with them if able. can party quite hard, i also understand.
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Jun 5, 2013 01:09
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Skandiaavity posted:my best friend is in 'wocka.' pros & cons of workin there. They're really hard-drivin but hella nice folks, suggest any IMS or such to take the opportunity to work with them if able. Not as hard as the Secret Service... Honest to God, they called me at 3 AM a week out from POTUS and had me come in to the Embassy to unlock their conference room door (inside the Embassy) because they'd forgotten the four-digit combo to get inside, and they wouldn't let me text it to them for security reasons. It was 1234.
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Jun 5, 2013 02:03
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Hooray! I have a travel authorization. Oh wait... it looks like it's based off an old itinerary I had deleted and shows me going somewhere that I am no longer going to. So, basically it's useless and I'm back to waiting. 
1of7 fucked around with this message at 08:00 on Jun 5, 2013 |
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Jun 5, 2013 02:12
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On the much brighter side, I just found out where I am going! I want to make sure it's a done deal before I say where. (But, TCD, it looks like that long shot that I told you about came through!)
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Jun 5, 2013 12:37
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