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xanthig posted:Does anybody ever get horribly drunk and make a fool of themselves? Vilerat posted:You would only make this mistake once I think. I wasn't floating that as a way of having fun at embassy parties, I was fishing for stories of embassy hilarity. Also, haha I'm screwed at A100 if I ever make it in. The distance between my house and the Washington monument, 37 miles as the bird flies.
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Apr 9, 2010 01:30
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Business of Ferrets posted:Friday the 30th, two days from now. Well, I do seem to have the darndest luck. Friday is the one night I can't make it. You crazy kids have fun, any other night....
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Apr 29, 2010 14:36
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Invitations to schedule the June FSOT went out today.
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May 3, 2010 21:06
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Happydayz posted:The written exams are normally done is large auditoriums or testing halls. That was the good old days. Now it's all done on computer and is extremely casual. It is definitely worth trying to sign up, but be thorough and don't rush through the application; what you write will be referenced at literally every step of the process.
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May 4, 2010 00:57
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Miss Fats posted:My biggest regret is that I didn't do as much research as I should have into the application process. I applied on a whim and my application was finished in 20-30 minutes. I thought the application was only relevant to getting accepted to take the test but as has been said it's not and it worries me more and more the closer we get to learning the QEP results. Not only is it referenced in the QEP, but the examiners in the 2 on 1 interview section of the Oral Exam will have a copy of your application. In fact, it is the only thing they will know about you when the interview starts; my examiners, at least, did not have copies of my QEP responses.
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May 5, 2010 15:16
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I finally got acknowledgement of receipt my FOIA request for my OA results. I sent it in about 10 weeks ago, I wonder how long it will take to get an answer.
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May 5, 2010 15:20
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Rabid Koala posted:
Short answer, no.
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May 11, 2010 03:41
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Omits-Bagels posted:It has been said that reading The Economist is a good way to keep abreast on current events (which is helpful for the FSO test). How in-depth should I be reading it? They are just packed with so much information it is hard to know what is important. Like all journalism, the Economist is great when they are writing about things you know little about, and extremely frustrating when they write about subjects for which you have in depth knowledge. That said, I've subscribed to the publication for 15 years now. My suggestion to get the most out of reading it: pick a few sections to read intensely every week, like 'Business' and 'Asia', and then also read the 'leader' articles. Then skim through for anything else that interests you. Finally, recycle. Those fuckers stack up fast if you let them.
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May 13, 2010 03:50
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Vilerat posted:You're eyes will glaze over and you won't use any of it, sorry. Some interesting things regardless! This brings up an interesting question, how useful would it be to be EMT or Paramedic certified while working DoS as a generalist? Do you think it would help in the the bidding process later on?
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May 13, 2010 03:53
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Business of Ferrets posted:My second night in the Foreign Service, a number of my new officer colleagues got together with our families and went over the bid list we had received that day. Afterward, my wife said, "Wow. You are all the same person." I wonder to what extent people start out the same, and to what extent people are made the same by going through the same process. Kind of like having been in the military.
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May 26, 2010 05:00
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The Mantis posted:1) I'm almost 100% that if you decline your invitation (when they call your number), you have to go through the process again Mo, I think you get to defer A100 once, and you get put back on the roster. Refuse to start class again and you will be dropped from the roster. The DIR who gave the Pre-OA seminar I attended told everyone how she turned down A100 the first time DOS called, and while it's possible to do this she was lucky to get called again.
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May 27, 2010 04:49
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Miss Fats posted:I am banking on getting denied by DOS this time around (probably won't get past the QEP) which is why I went ahead and started the Peace Corps process. Why do you think you won't make it past the QEP?
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May 28, 2010 03:36
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SWATJester posted:There were a few people on the A-100 list that mentioned that they passed the OA, retook the FSOT for another cone and didn't pass the QEP even though they submitted the same PNQs. dang. And here I was thinking at least I don't have to worry about the QEP the second time around.
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Jun 2, 2010 04:13
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SWATJester posted:I take it you saw the post that one chick made calling the assessors racist because she failed the SI? Imagine being stuck at a small hardship post with this person.
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Jun 4, 2010 17:31
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TCD posted:I tried to get on SA for 4 hours tonight. That's how awesome our internet is here in Rwanda. There's a very good chance I will be in Rwanda for most of January. Kigali goon meet? On an altogether different topic, what do you DoS folks know of USAID? Is there much interaction between USAID FS and the DoS foreign service personnel? xanthig fucked around with this message at 06:17 on Jun 23, 2010 |
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Jun 23, 2010 06:12
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TCD posted:Sure, if I'm around. What are you doing in Rwanda? It's part of an MBA program I'm starting this fall. In order to imbue us students with a sense of reality with regards to doing business outside of the developed world, we're all being sent out to consult for businesses in developing countries. I just found out today that I won't know for certain if I'll be going to Rwanda until mid August, but there is very little competition for Rwanda, as opposed to Peru. This all raises a question I have been mulling over. A flight from D.C. to Kigali is about $1800, while D.C. to Nairobi is $1200. This got me thinking, how reasonable would it be to fly to Nairobi and then spend a week making my way over-land to Kigali? My wife is convinced that this is the fast-track to her becoming a widow; I'm guessing it's on par with backpacking through Laos and Cambodia. Edit: The program is being coordinated with USAID, which is why I asked about that organization earlier. xanthig fucked around with this message at 03:38 on Jun 25, 2010 |
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Jun 25, 2010 03:27
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Skandiaavity posted:Xanthig, I wouldn't do that if I were you. I mean hell, you going through Uganda, Tanzania? Don't go through Lake Victoria or you'll get hands-on education with Hippos, and those will be a few of the nicer things you'll encounter. I gotta admit, though, taking it south to the Serengeti does look interesting. maybe you can buy a truck for a few hundred bucks Where's your sense of adventure?  Actually, your reaction got me to reading the DoS travel information on these countries- as I suspected it seems the biggest dangers are bad roads, bad drivers, and lack of adequate medical. All told, I'm statistically more likely to fall victim to violent crime living in Baltimore than I am travelling as a tourist in these countries. TCD posted:It would be awesome to do the Nairobi->Rwanda drive. One of my co-workers was going to drive to the Serengeti on his motorcycle. Did he do it? How did it work out? I wonder how much a used motorcycle in Nairobi would go for? If I make it to the OA again this cycle and time the trip right, I could have a good source anecdotes to draw on for the SI.
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Jun 26, 2010 01:23
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Aliquid posted:Is this about the start of when we could get our FSOT results? Last year results became available for the June FSOT on July 1; so yeah, its about that time.
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Jun 29, 2010 18:04
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I guess I passed, but I haven't gotten any notification yet. On the other hand, the PNQ section is open to me now. Hmm, exact same questions as last year. Now I have to decide whether to use the same answers or not.....
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Jun 30, 2010 16:41
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Vilerat posted:Did you get past this part last year? Yep, made it past the QEP and bombed at the orals. WHERE IS MY COFFEE posted:QEP question: Is it better to write with brief, plain language, or should I elaborate on the particulars of my experience with my cultivated mastery of precise diction? There is a hard 1300 character limit to each answer. To get a good idea of your constraints, imagine trying to fit the entire essay into a five twitter posts.
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Jun 30, 2010 21:34
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Vilerat posted:Even though our 4th of july event (not party, don't you loving dare call it a party) was wholly after hours and it was mandatory attendance with assignments and you weren't allowed to eat/drink any of the event food, we are now being told no comp time because the opportunity to attend the event and expand our careers is enough benefit. So did you just have to stand around without anything in your hands trying to look like you were enjoying yourself while socializing with guests were eating and drinking. It sounds like an awkward time for everyone involved. How was this supposed to advance your career? Did senior staff get to eat and drink?
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Jul 8, 2010 20:59
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Miss Fats posted:I think the most important rubric to follow with these questions is: If you have to ask whether or not you should, you should. It really depends on what question you are being asked. The SF86, for instance, is quite specific as to what type of contacts should be listed. quote:Do you or have you had close and/or continuing contact with foreign nationals within the last 7 years with whom you, your spouse, or your cohabitant are bound by affection, influence, or obligation? Include associates as well as relatives not already listed in section 18 (where you list your relatives). This question is not asking for the name of every foreigner you ever met in the last seven years, it is only asking for the people who could hold influence over you. That British guy you backpacked with has no place in your answer here. But if your wife was married to a foreigner? Well, that does belong here. There will be time later to go over your foreign contacts- the random foreigners who you know but who hold no influence over you, but you should take care to only answer the question that is being asked. I'm not saying don't be thorough, but too much information doesn't help either.
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Jul 20, 2010 17:48
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GEMorris posted:I have a few questions, and I realize that no one can really give me a real answer to the first one. My background is a BS in Urban Planning (Minor: History), and a Masters of Industrial Design. That's an odd combo to start with, but I'm hoping it isn't too odd to get into the FS. Furthermore I have very very limited international experience/exposure, is that going to sink me right from the start? I don't have many options to get any of that experience either, because I'm pretty much scraping by right now with my business. Would running your own business count for much in lieu of much international/leadership experience? This is a business owned by my wife and I, and we are the only employees (https://www.oslopress.com for reference). I am going to sit for the FSOT in October (Management track) but I am wondering if I should consider my FS chances to be any higher than "a shot in the dark". I have no foreign language skills and I am not a veteran.  entrepreneurial industrial design buddy.I have a similar background and made it to the Orals last cycle, so I can say from personal experience that it can be made to work for you on the QEP. I found the experience of running one's own business to be fertile ground for PNQ answers; of the five PNQ questions, only one of my answers was related to international experience, all my others came from running a business. Of course it helps that, like you, I'm applying for the management track. You might want to boost the international experience end of things enough to give you an anecdotal story or two to use in the PNQs and the orals, perhaps take a trip abroad or take some language classes at a local university. The more adventurous you are about it, the more likely you are to get something that you can use. Edit: Isn't there some sort of art related specialist position that involves archiving things and decorating embassies? After looking at your website, you might want to consider that track as well. A Masters in ID can open some unexpected doors; I had one employee with a Masters in ID go from designing consumer products for me, to designing displays at the Smithsonian. xanthig fucked around with this message at 05:12 on Jul 22, 2010 |
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Jul 22, 2010 05:04
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How is the security clearance / final suitability review timeline working out for everyone who passed the OA earlier this year?
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Jul 25, 2010 17:13
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Congratulations Vile Rat. On an unrelated note. I just got word I passed the Chinese SCNL test. The only discernible difference between failing last year, and passing this year was how well I controlled the conversation. Last year the test lasted almost half an hour and went to some really awkward places like discussing the differences in building construction between the US and China, and health care reform. This year, the test lasted all of five minutes and ended abruptly when I skillfully busted out my favorite chengyu. To which they responded,"I think we've heard enough" and hung up. According to this year's invitation letter for the test, passing scores are valid for five years. Last year's letter did not say anything about that. I wonder if that's a change in policy, or if it just got left out of last year's invitation. xanthig fucked around with this message at 21:46 on Jul 27, 2010 |
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Jul 27, 2010 21:28
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suboptimal posted:When did you take your test? I took mine about 12 days ago for Arabic and haven't heard back yet. I took it last week Thursday, 7/22. I think it was the last day of testing. You might want to e-mail them again.
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Jul 28, 2010 01:23
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SWATJester posted:Yeah, don't worry so much about the FSOT invites. It's the OA invites you should be more worried about. And those should be available in about two weeks from today.
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Sep 2, 2010 06:55
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BaseballChica03 posted:Really? From years past, that seems to be the norm. I wouldn't read into it.
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Sep 3, 2010 12:50
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As far as I know, my references haven't talked to anyone. This does not bode well.
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Hmm failed the QEP. My PNQ answers were exactly the same as last year, when I passed. The only difference between this year and last year? This year, I passed the SCNL test for mandarin Chinese. I can't think of a better way of showing how subjective the QEP process is. xanthig fucked around with this message at 18:42 on Sep 8, 2010 |
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Sep 8, 2010 18:40
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peet posted:Hello, fellow QEP failers! I failed too!! Hot drat this year's QEP was brutal. At least we now have it confirmed that someone did indeed pass.
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Sep 10, 2010 02:48
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TCD posted:I also received an outstanding endorsement on Friday from another office so it was good way to end the week. This reminds me, gonna be in Rwanda for most of January. It would be good meet up if you're in town.
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Dec 19, 2010 02:27
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You need to add Moto-polo to that list before you leave Rwanda.TCD posted:
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Mar 2, 2011 04:50
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MiltonSlavemasta posted:2. Does anyone know what percentage of correct answers is passing, or what percentage is good enough to raise eyebrows and/or make the QEP less intimidating? The scores on the written exam are fit to a standard normal distribution. The number you get back is your modified T-Score. It is based on how well you did compared to the mean. To pass, you must average better than 51% of the test takers for that round. In short, it doesn't matter how many answers you get correct compared to the total, it only matters how many correct answers you get compared to everyone else. In case anyone is curios, every 10 points on the written exam score is 1 standard deviation away from the mean. So a score of 60 on the knowledge portion means you scored higher than 85% of the test takers.
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Apr 18, 2011 05:14
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