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Business of Ferrets posted:SWATJester, There are a lot of people here who would be interested in learning more from you. What is your background? What is the background of other people you worked with? Do most people come from certain schools/academic backgrounds? What is the average age of a new hire? Can people transition from a FSO position to an CIA type position? I've always thought being an FSO sounded like a great career. If I ever get accepted into the Peace Corps I've thought about giving it a shot.
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Jul 19, 2009 14:43
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Business of Ferrets: Do they like to see foreign language skills prior to joining? I would think about skipping the peace corps but I have nothing about me that stands out. I have a marketing degree from no name state school and the only work experience I have is that I'm currently an AmeriCorps volunteer. From what I hear, some solid experience and a grad degree from a good IR university is the best shot at getting hired. But maybe I'm mistaken.
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Jul 19, 2009 15:37
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Funkameleon posted:Regarding the foreign language aspect, you receive a 0.4 bonus for Critical Needs languages and a 0.17 bonus for other foreign languages. (can only apply once) How many points do you need to be considered for acceptance?
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Jul 19, 2009 17:46
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Is there a fight to get the "good" locations (London, Paris, etc...)?
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Jul 24, 2009 00:05
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Vilerat posted:Honestly not as much as you might think. "Good" locations are typically expensive to live at and they are mostly large embassies which aren't fantastic work environments. I love smaller posts that have more character so I won't be bidding on Paris/London any time soon but that's just me. Interesting, I never thought of that aspect. Do they pas differently based on location? What kind of places/locations would you like to be posted?
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Jul 24, 2009 01:55
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TCD posted:I've been meeting some recent A100 graduates... All their resumes are pretty impressive. Can you give us a quick rundown of their resumes?
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Aug 5, 2009 13:46
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xanthig posted:All resumes count for is getting past the QEP. With the extremely limited space given in the web application to describe previous jobs it can't be that important to the process. I know background isn't that important, but I still think it is interesting to hear the different backgrounds people come from.
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Aug 6, 2009 00:25
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Does the Foreign Service hire many MBAs? I'm thinking about an MBA but the Foreign Service looks really interesting.
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Dec 2, 2009 22:03
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Business of Ferrets posted:You're right, Vilerat. IC --> PC is automatic ban, while PC --> IC involves a significant mandatory wait time (years) and other restrictions after entry on IC duty. I think it is 5 years after end of PC service.
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Dec 11, 2009 17:20
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I am in the Americorps right now and we get the non-competitive hiring bonus on govt jobs for a year after our service is up. Do you know if that would give me a boost on the foreign service hiring scheme? I kind of assume it doesn't.
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Jan 12, 2010 16:11
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Pompous Rhombus posted:
Do you think a 'statement of interest' means cover-letter or do they just want you to state what program/programs you are interested in applying for?
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Jan 14, 2010 06:17
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Vilerat posted:Those don't look like foreign service positions, just GS. From my research it looks like these positions are 'entry level' foreign service positions. You complete two years of this program and then you pretty much a shoe-in for an actual foreign service position. So it looks like an internship of sorts, but it still looks ultra competitive. Omits-Bagels fucked around with this message at 18:06 on Jan 14, 2010 |
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Jan 14, 2010 14:39
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Xandu posted:I'm almost certain that is the State Department's version of the Federal Career Intern Program, where you can "intern" for 2 years after you graduate college and if they like you, it converts to a direct hire position. I knew a guy who did that at DoJ, but he ended up going to the USMS before he finished up. I've heard some people say that it was a loophole for elite student to get into the foreign service (without all the mysterious tests/interviews). Supposedly pretty much everyone has an MA from a top IR school and there are a few PhDs thrown in there. I'm still going to apply though.
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Jan 14, 2010 18:12
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This might have been mentioned before but how are the personal lives of people in the Foreign Service? Are the a lot of people in stable relationships or is there a high divorce rate? What do people's wife/husband do all day... can they get jobs in these countries?
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Feb 8, 2010 17:53
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Vilerat posted:Get married before you get in because it'll be a bitch afterwards. Personal lives depend on your spouse really. Are they Foreign Service material? Moving every 3 years, building a new home in a highly flexible environment all the time? It's up to you guys to decide if you are married. If you aren't, then you're limited to internet dating or finding somebody in your host community you connect with, which can be difficult when you don't speak the language. I don't see a high divorce rate, but I do see a high rate of people resigning because they find they just can't handle the environment. That said the FS is very family friendly and there is a great deal of effort put into ensuring spouses have employment opportunities. They typically work at the embassy in some fashion or there is a "SNAP" program that works with the local business community to provide work options. Do things ever start to stabilize? Like after 6-8+ years in the foreign service? For example, do they station people at places for longer periods of time after they've got some 'seniority' or will they be moving every 3 years for the duration of their career?
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Feb 8, 2010 18:12
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Vilerat posted:If you want to spend most of your time in Washington you probably won't have too many issues but at that point you're gonna have to ask yourself why you are doing this job. From my perspective I don't ever want to be stationed in the states. I make a lot more money moving every 3 years and I'd lose the fun part of the job that I really enjoy. Yeah, I just didn't know if they would stick someone in the same foreign post for 5-10 years. Like some cushy job in London or Paris.
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Feb 8, 2010 18:21
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So do most people seem to enjoy (or even love) their career? Are there people who are totally miserable? I ask because I work in an office and a lot of people seem like their souls have been sucked out from sitting in a cubical all day. This is something I want to escape and I wanted to make sure that a career in the Foreign Service isn't just cubical work in another country.
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Feb 23, 2010 16:39
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Where can we learn more about each cone? I did the survey at the DoS site and I scored pretty similar in the in the Political/Econ/PD.
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Feb 25, 2010 23:55
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Business of Ferrets posted:The FSOs I know who are most unhappy have some part of their lives that cannot harmonize with the FS lifestyle. Usually this means that their spouse or significant other lives far away from them to keep a job back home or in another country. I have known two or three officers -- incidentally, all women -- who have resigned due to the stress from this kind of situation. But yeah, besides stuff like that, the job is fun. But plenty of people live with their spouse and both partners enjoy the lifestyle? Do they give language training to spouses?
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Feb 26, 2010 16:09
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Not sure if this has been asked but does anyone know anything about the "Career Entry Program?" It looks like it is a two year entry level program that feeds into being a Foreign Service Officer (I think). But the DoS web page doesn't really explain anything.
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Mar 8, 2010 15:57
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TCD posted:That appears to be on the Civil Service side. Yeah, I know it is an GS 7 pay-grade.
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Mar 8, 2010 17:35
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What do you all know about Diplomatic Security people/careers? I was looking at the DoS website and it looked interesting. I'm sure you FSOs have had some contact with them.
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Mar 22, 2010 01:46
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TCD posted:What specific questions do you have? I'm most interested in the Diplomatic Security special agent position. I guess I just want general information about them. Do they operate on the same 'two year term' type system. Do they get the same language training as FSO? What do they do on a typical day? Do they ride around in armored SUVs with machine guns or do they just bust you FSOs who are selling passports? Do you the the impression that DSS like their jobs?
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Mar 22, 2010 15:16
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Are the political track people the only ones who get to go to fancy parties?
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Apr 6, 2010 04:51
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Vilerat posted:No even IT people have to go to the fancy parties. Fancy parties are not fun, they are horrible work events where you schmooze with people who act moderately important and you try and make smalltalk or else the DCM slaps your knuckles with a ruler. This is what I was afraid of.
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Apr 6, 2010 17:00
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Is the economic track pretty competitive too? Can anyone give me an idea of the type of things economic officers do?
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Apr 6, 2010 23:54
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Vilerat posted:...diplomatic immunity... 
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Apr 9, 2010 15:20
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Business of Ferrets posted:The super-power of lots of the single male FSOs I know seems to be the ability to pick up women pretty much anywhere (except sometimes in the States). I'm reasonably certain this correlates in part with their diplomatic status. Hot foreign chicks? Also, I hate to ask again but can anyone give me a brief rundown about the Economic cone?
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Apr 9, 2010 15:44
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Business of Ferrets posted:I wouldn't go so far as to say they all have good taste, but most find something along the lines of what they're looking for. so prostitutes?
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Apr 9, 2010 16:04
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Business of Ferrets posted:Not so much. Mostly girlfriends or acquaintances. What cone works with anti-human trafficking and sexual exploitation? That is always something I wanted to do.
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Apr 9, 2010 16:33
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is there any harm in just taking the next test just to see what it is like? I'm currently planning on taking the GRE about the same time as the next FSO test is scheduled so I don't want to devote much study time for the FSO test. Can I take it more than once a year?
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Apr 12, 2010 22:03
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CherryCola posted:I don't think so. You only get one try a year, as far as I know. That's why I'm spending this upcoming summer volunteering and working so I can have better stuff to write next October. Dang, I'm about to finish my AmeriCorps term (only 2 more weeks!) but I might push the FSO test off until the fall.
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Apr 12, 2010 22:52
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Vilerat posted:Why would any government agency care if you were in the peace corps? I thought it was the other way around. It is just the CIA/Intelligence Community that cares. I think you're banned for 5 years after you finish the peace corps before you can join the CIA. I guess they want to distance themselves because some countries think somepeace corps people are actually spies.
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Apr 22, 2010 15:16
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The Economist - 12 issues for $12, 1 year for $48 http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3295133 I though your foreign service people would find this interesting.
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Apr 22, 2010 23:07
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Can anyone else give their perspective on the consular cone? In the OP it said that they move to management quickly. Does this mean they don't have to do the 'grunt' work of dealing with visa/passport issues? EDIT: Also, what is the dress code like? Suits? A uniform? Business casual? Whatever you want? Omits-Bagels fucked around with this message at 21:48 on Apr 27, 2010 |
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Apr 27, 2010 16:58
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I'm kind of thinking about signing up under the consular cone... is this a huge mistake? I like the idea of being able to help people out but the idea of being locked in a small box doing visas all day is a little scary. I was hoping that I could grind away at the visa line for a few years and then hopefully things will get a bit more exciting once I move up.
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Apr 29, 2010 20:27
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How do they deal with married couples who are both FSOs? Can they serve at the same place or is that pretty much impossible?
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May 6, 2010 18:37
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I just got my copy of Career Diplomacy. Looking forward to reading it.
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May 7, 2010 15:47
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SWATJester posted:Forwarded msg: What are the chances of being killed in Iraq?
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May 8, 2010 16:28
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Vilerat posted:I was there for a whole year and didn't die once. i bet everyone says that.
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May 9, 2010 04:48
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