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After a little over the 4 days it's taken me to read the entire 200 pages of this thread (thanks 10kb/s Ethiopian air card!), I just want to thank everyone for the immensely helpful info. I'm planning on taking the FSOT in either Feb. or June (depending on if it's offered in Addis) and am having a really tough time deciding between 2 tracks. My background fits well with Public Diplomacy but I also think I'd genuinely enjoy Consular... since I would be perfectly happy with either, I'm just wondering if anyone on either of the registers could shed light on how large each of the lists are right now? Also, since the only foreign language I speak to any decent level is Amharic and, IMHO, not worth the effort to make sure I'm at a 2, how damaging to my chances do y'all think it is that I don't speak anything else? Should I work on picking up another language in the meantime? Sidenote: Leif, I wish I'd known about this thread while you were still in Addis! I've been here for a year now.
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Sep 29, 2013 00:27
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problematique posted:So DS actually let you know of a restriction before coming onboard or bidding a position? I was curious if I'd have one or when I'd found out if I did (dual-citizen here) but it sounds like I don't... When I emailed to check on my security clearance, they told me that my clearance was granted and that I had a restriction from serving in Russia. At first my registrar wouldn't give me the full .4 bonus points, because of my restriction. It wasn't until I asked about it on the "career forum" that she gave me the full points.
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Sep 30, 2013 08:42
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Interesting article on Ars via Wired UK. It's about the Dutch and Swedish embassies putting together a hack-a-thon. http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/09/diplomat-ngo-hackathon-tackles-freedom-of-speech-and-sustainability/ I though the artist ideas were a bit strange, but all in all, interesting.
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Sep 30, 2013 19:05
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U.S. Embassy Manila had one of those. Did not directly sponsor one, but it was a joint effort between PAS and NPO. (Called IRRI/Bigas2) http://rice-hackathon.irri.org edit: Embassy Istanbul also teamed up with Google / a middle eastern NPO and had one this year as well, I believe.
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Oct 1, 2013 00:52
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Welp
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Oct 1, 2013 05:24
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I read that embassies/consulates and citizen services won't shut down if the government does, but anyone have any idea if the October FSOT (domestic or abroad) will be canceled if they haven't figured out a solution in a week?
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Oct 1, 2013 06:40
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The DCist is keeping a running tally of all the shutdown specials in the district for all you kids on the involuntary vacation: http://dcist.com/2013/09/government_shutdown_roundup.php quote:Being declared "nonessential" certainly isn't ideal, but it's also not necessarily a bad thing for people in the D.C. area who are hungry or want to get drunk. Several bars and restaurants around the city, as all as some museums, will offer discounted goods to federal employees. Email tips@dcist.com with an additional deals.
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Oct 1, 2013 07:27
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Awesome. 
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Oct 1, 2013 11:49
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Very few furloughs from State right now, though. If this lasts a month it will be an issue.
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Oct 1, 2013 15:22
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Giodo! posted:Very few furloughs from State right now, though. If this lasts a month it will be an issue. Isn't all of FSI (and students) furloughed?
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Oct 1, 2013 19:24
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Zoots posted:Pork Barrel BBQ : "Free pulled pork sandwich for any gov employee if there is a shutdown. 1 per day, must have gov ID & EXCLUDES CONGRESSMEN."
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Oct 1, 2013 19:50
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TCD posted:Isn't all of FSI (and students) furloughed? We're still attending, but FSI isn't offering specific guidance. My guess is they're going to use up the rest of last FY's funds before they tell people to stay home.
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Oct 1, 2013 22:31
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TCD posted:Isn't all of FSI (and students) furloughed? Apparently not.
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Oct 1, 2013 22:36
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Gold and a Pager posted:I read that embassies/consulates and citizen services won't shut down if the government does, but anyone have any idea if the October FSOT (domestic or abroad) will be canceled if they haven't figured out a solution in a week? 
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Oct 1, 2013 22:53
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Homie S posted:We're still attending, but FSI isn't offering specific guidance. My guess is they're going to use up the rest of last FY's funds before they tell people to stay home. Well nobody has contacted me so still chilling on homeleave / furlough I guess. TCD fucked around with this message at 00:41 on Oct 2, 2013 |
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Oct 2, 2013 00:21
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TCD posted:Well nobody has contacted me so still chilling on homeleave / furlough I guess. From http://www.state.gov/m/rls/2013/214880.htm PCS travel may continue as long as funds remain available; Also, Personnel in domestic travel status, including students in training and on authorized travel orders, who are not performing excepted functions should make arrangements to return or deploy to their duty city as soon as informed by the Director of the Foreign Service Institute or the bureau involved. We'll see if carlson lets me get to post when class ends in 3 weeks, or if I have pay for the ticket myself.
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Oct 2, 2013 01:52
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ATI Jesus posted:
But the travel is on your orders right? If the orders were cut before FY2013 ended then you should be fine...
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Oct 2, 2013 02:24
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ATI Jesus posted:From http://www.state.gov/m/rls/2013/214880.htm Yeah, that's been my current guidance from my gaining post as I already have a paid for and partially traveled on ticket. Just not sure of my current status.
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Oct 2, 2013 02:47
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Overseas FSOT examinations should remain as planned/scheduled (read: open for business) U.S. Embassy Manila will be offering the FSOT on Sat, Oct 5 as scheduled. Please contact your individual Embassy for further inquiries.
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Oct 2, 2013 02:54
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TCD posted:Yeah, that's been my current guidance from my gaining post as I already have a paid for and partially traveled on ticket. Just not sure of my current status. You're that much in limbo? gently caress, that sucks. Sorry dude.
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Oct 2, 2013 05:23
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HiroProtagonist posted:You're that much in limbo? gently caress, that sucks. Sorry dude. Yeah its pretty awesome
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Oct 2, 2013 05:45
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100 HOGS AGREE posted:I have my FSOT on Saturday I'd like to know this too This is where I'm at as well, domestic, not abroad.
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Oct 2, 2013 06:20
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Slate had a great article earlier that really captured the external perspective that I felt FS personnel serving domestically and overseas were familiar with. Then, the WP really drives the point home for us by drawing stark comparisons between this to failed states around the world. quote:Sometimes a bit of distance can lend some perspective. As someone who frequently writes about countries that struggle to overcome endemic poverty, bloody sectarian conflict and devastating natural disasters ... there are other countries that don't pay prison guards and border patrol but still tell them to show up to work. They're called failed states. Or, in more practical terms: quote:"Constant-shutdown, permanent-emergency governance is so destructive that no other serious country engages in or could tolerate it," The Atlantic's James Fallows wrote on Friday. "The United States can afford it only because we are -- still -- so rich, with so much margin for waste and error." Not that anyone here really needed that perspective, but getting that perspective on this shutdown at all was, frankly, pretty disturbing. e: added quote for clarity HiroProtagonist fucked around with this message at 08:52 on Oct 2, 2013 |
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Oct 2, 2013 08:16
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https://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/imts-uc New vacancy and position, interesting. IMTS telephone and digital just merged into a new position called unified communications (UC). Looks like they did a significant update on duties and responsibilities.
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Oct 2, 2013 16:00
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problematique posted:https://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/imts-uc They closed it. "In accordance with U.S. Department of State guidance regarding operations in the absence of appropriations, we are withdrawing all open Vacancy Announcements that are not related to the protection of life and property. This includes the Vacancy Announcement for Foreign Service Information Management Technical Specialist – Unified Communications. Any candidates who have already applied to this Vacancy Announcement will need to reapply once it is reopened."
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Oct 2, 2013 21:00
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Thankfully that didn't apply to the DS VA. I would have been even more upset with those boneheads in the House.
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Oct 2, 2013 21:06
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One of my buddies from Sao Paulo just arrived in DC after his home leave and barely got computer access before being told to go home at noon. Welp ATI Jesus fucked around with this message at 21:48 on Oct 2, 2013 |
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Oct 2, 2013 21:44
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ATI Jesus posted:One of my buddies from Sao Paulo just arrived in DC after his home leave and barely got computer access before being told to go home at noon. Domestic assignment?
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Oct 2, 2013 23:24
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TCD posted:Domestic assignment? Can I just say that it's a surreal, surreal world at HST now? We are still having meeting, but no one else shows up - had a major interagency roundtable on the books yesterday that ended up just being my bureau and Pol Mil. Also my trip to Beirut this month is totally hosed now.
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Oct 4, 2013 00:28
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the_chavi posted:Can I just say that it's a surreal, surreal world at HST now? We are still having meeting, but no one else shows up - had a major interagency roundtable on the books yesterday that ended up just being my bureau and Pol Mil. Also my trip to Beirut this month is totally hosed now. Crazy. Looks like I'm okay for the time being.
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Oct 4, 2013 01:13
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TCD posted:Crazy. Impact at post so far has been small but significant, particularly for our LES. The longer this goes on the more difficulties we are going to have...
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Oct 4, 2013 07:05
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I've got my FSOT this Monday. I'm just going to show up and hope its still on.
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Oct 5, 2013 22:33
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I did mine this morning, so you'll probably be fine.
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Oct 6, 2013 00:04
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Ashwat posted:I've got my FSOT this Monday. I'm just going to show up and hope its still on. I just got an email from the state department yesterday saying they're still administering the tests this month.
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Oct 6, 2013 02:39
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100 HOGS AGREE posted:I did mine this morning, so you'll probably be fine. Excellent news! Hope yours went well. CherryCola posted:I just got an email from the state department yesterday saying they're still administering the tests this month. That's weird. Neither my fiance or myself got an email. Not that it really matters anyway.
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Oct 6, 2013 02:54
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Ashwat posted:That's weird. Neither my fiance or myself got an email. Not that it really matters anyway. Did you test domestically or overseas? When I administered it in Istanbul I always reminded the test takers the day before, because it was a pain in the rear end to drive an hour to get there and have every single test taker forget to show up.
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Oct 6, 2013 23:18
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the_chavi posted:Did you test domestically or overseas? When I administered it in Istanbul I always reminded the test takers the day before, because it was a pain in the rear end to drive an hour to get there and have every single test taker forget to show up. Oh poo poo, you had an hour commute to work?
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Oct 6, 2013 23:21
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In Istanbul, yeah. But it's 45 minutes in DC, and it was 45 seconds in Tripoli. It's all relative. Like West Virginia.
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Oct 7, 2013 03:47
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the_chavi posted:In Istanbul, yeah. But it's 45 minutes in DC, and it was 45 seconds in Tripoli. It's all relative. Like West Virginia. I've been spoiled for the past 4 years with my 5 minute commutes. 15 with traffic.
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Oct 7, 2013 03:58
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So, I'm thinking about cancelling my FSOT for this round. Partially, I'm just getting back into the office after being furloughed for almost a whole week, and don't want to take that time off. Also, I'm not prepared, and also I'm actually pretty happy where I am right now and want to figure out some other things before I start looking for a way out. Maybe that seems weird, but I guess my heart just isn't in it right now. Perhaps I'll try again in June or whenever the next round is.
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Oct 7, 2013 11:20
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