State Department Career Advance: Foreign Service Officer

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am brand new to the site guys, and it looks like I am going to get some great advice.

I just graduated from college with a degree in Political Science (with like a 3.1GPA) and decided to take an outside healthcare sales job just to get some real-world experience. I have always been a sap for anything related to politics, current events, etc and created a site during college that promoted political dialogue, which I actually sold for enough to pay for college (yay). I chose sales after school because people around me convinced me that my major and my interests are "a waste."

What I am finding is that I just do not fit with the typical "business people." and money is not motivation enough for me. I do not mean this offensively, my passion is in poliitcs, foreign affairs, etc.

So my question is how likely am I, if I study the intense reading list the State Department tells peoeple who want to take it's Foreign Service Officer's Exam (about 50 books), to get a job in that organization? It would truly be a dream of mine to work in a US embassy, and study the world around me (on any level).

So my plan is to do my sales job for a year, save some money, and read 1-2 books on that State Department reading-list each week at night. Their site explains the program better than I can: http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/index.html

Another way to answer my question might be to just tell me about some other likely careers that are reasonably possible, for a young person like myself, and interesting.

The bottom line is that I would love a job where I am surrounded by people who have similar geeky-political and foreign-policy related interest.

Sorry for the lengthy "question"-I just want to make sure my situation is clear.
THANKS!

2

I apologise in advance for typos, my keyboard is a little messed up

3

I say go for it! Some additional things you might do to prepare are 1) join Toastmasters or take a Dale Carnegie course. The ability to express yourself professionally will make a big difference. Even if you took public speaking in college and did well at it, and even if confidence is not a problem, there are very few new college grads who express themselves with the capability of an experienced professional. 2) Take a good business writing course, for essentially the same reasons.

Another option would be to get involved in the upcoming presidential campaign. 2008 is right around the corner. This could have you surrounded by polical geeks 24-7 if you want. And it could open doors for you to pursue the foreign service angle later.

4

Do you speak another language? Or, better, a couple of other languages?

5

Yes, public speaking is always something to work on, and I speak some spanish but I purchased a Rosetta Stone program to polish it a little bit more, and an arabic version (although I am sure I will only be a newbie at arabic hehe).

The field just seems right down my alley if they let me in :slight_smile: I am willing to do anything that can help my chances…ANYTHING :wink:

6

Have you spoken to their HR people? Done an information interview with an FS officer?

7

No, I am going to do this now. My friend just told me they give preference to Peace Corps people too so if I dont make it this time I might be wise to do the Peace Corps for 2 years maybe (it’d be cool to do anyway).

8

Is your background squeaky clean? There will be deep background checks digging up all your secrets.

9

There are plenty of such jobs and careers, without having to work for the State Department. Quite a few companies with international offices need such folks, and not just the proverbial banking and legal arenas.

I took the Foreign Service Officers exam many moons ago. Whatever I could remember probably wouldn’t help now.

I do recall an anecdotal story that the State Department used to hold a graduation party the night before graduation for all graduating FSOs with an open bar, lots of food and a great opportunity to meet quite a few career diplomats, FSOs and others in the diplomatic corps. It was a celebration having passed all the training, exams, yadda, yadda, save one. The next day one would receive the results of the real final exam – anyone who got drunk at the party the night before failed and would not be posted as a FSO.

10

My dad was career State Department. It’s a great career if you can get in, but getting in isn’t easy. The test is pretty hard.

Learning a language is a good idea, but getting pegged as a specialist in a certain language can get you bracketed in some ways. My dad knows French and Italian but once he learned Portugese for a tour in Brazil, he was only sent to Portugese speaking countries for the rest of his career (not that bad, really, since a lot of it was spent in Rio).

My advice, get fluent in a language that’s a little off the beaten path. Spanish and French speakers are a dime a dozen. Get fluent in Arabic or Japanese or Korean. Then ace the test as well.

11

Let me speak bluntly: reading books is good, but the nut to crack in the FSO hiring process is the oral interviews. It’s kind of like play-acting a real FSO in various situations – your ability to relate to people, memorize facts, prioritize assignments, negotiate, and so on are the keys to passing. Many, many smart people can ace the written exam, but many of those people just don’t have the social skills – maybe you can call it business skills – to make the cut.

I was just talking with someone yesterday about our impressions of FSOs: the highest ranks, like ambassadors or DCMs, are nearly always the most on-the-ball people you’ll meet anywhere. I’ve never failed to be impressed by an ambassador who rose through the ranks. Below that level, you have a mixture of a handful of people you know are going places, and a bunch of damned bureaucrats in striped pants. Perhaps that’s unfair… striped pants went out of style long ago.

Of all the FSOs I’ve met, they are by in large very satisfied with the work they do and the opportunities afforded them, but some are discouraged by the lifestyle. Picking up and moving around the world every couple of years is great for someone who wants to see the world, but if you are looking to start a family, it is tough, and if you have a family, even tougher. Many people live for the job, but it isn’t all glamor. (Don’t interpret this as trying to discourage you from being an FSO, but I thought it’d be more useful for you to hear the glass-half-empty story, rather than saying it’s a great choice, go for it, etc. Ya gotta hear both sides before you make a decision, right?)

As far a similar careers, the State Dept also has a sizable civil service contingent who work alongside the FSOs, but don’t have as great career opportunities. There’s always the intelligence agencies, too, and a list of NGOs a mile long that I can’t even begin to list. Other departments like Treasury, Commerce, and Defense have civilian positions relating to international affairs, but competition is also stiff. Working for Congress is another option, and even many lobbyists make a living dealing with foreign countries. Really, there are a ton of jobs in Washington, DC in the general fields you mention, and it is hard to know where to begin listing them.

12

wow great advice guys. It sounds like it is truly very hard to get in. Do you think the peace corps would give me a big edge or should i just try without that and try to get some basic arabic language skills into my brain?

Thanks! This is so helpful

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Hey!! State Dept intern checking in. I actually dont start my internship until next monday, but I will let you know what I do know-

State Dept is very competitive. What are the stats? 30,000 take the test, yet only 350 get offered a job? Peace Corp is a big help but won’t automatically shoe you into becoming a FSO. They are remodifying the test so you get bonus points for relevant experience (instead of before, where it was just flat out you took the test and passed… anyone w/ a fine knowledge of high school civics could pass). I know they give extra points to things like: you have an advanced degree, you know a foreign language (Arabic helps, but not a dealbreaker. I am semi-fluent in Vietnamese and that was a big deal too), worked in harsh conditions (i.e. Peace Corp, USAID, internship, etc.).

The oral examination is a big deal too. You may be the brightest cookie in the world, but if you can’t communciate or articulate your ideas w/ other people, you can kiss the FS goodbye.

14

Other jobs you could look into that involve traveling to exotic lands: U.S. Dept of Commernce has jobs abroad, NGO’s (too many to list… just pick a name out of a hat that is based in D.C.), Peace Corp (i’ve had many friends do this. Good experience, but for me -married and 25+, probably can’t hang.) Are you planning to go to graduate school? State Dept has internship programs you can look into, as well as World Bank, IMF, as mentioned before U.S. Dept. Of Commerce, USAID, UN, countless NGO’s, many research programs offered through a university that offer abroad experience.

Signed,
Vice,
Class of '08, International Development

15

350 people out of 30,000? Wow…I am thinking about Peace Corps and/or Grad School and it’s so uncertain even with all that…scary haha…

Thanks for the advice

16

We have a doper who occaisionally posts here who has one of those exotic jobs of working at either embassies or consulates in other countries.

False God, last I heard was in Chile or Peru-ish. He may be able to give some kind of insite to it all.

17

Yeah, it’s pretty brutal. My dad also had a Masters Degree, 20 years experience as an Air Force officer (which had already included several foreign tours) and a couple of other languages under his belt when he took the Foreign Service exam. That kind of resume was typical from what I saw.

For what it’s worth, I did see a lot of FSO’s (in my experience as an Embassy brat) who had Peace Corp experience. They also tended to have advanced and/or Ivy League degrees but prior Peace Corp or Military experience seemed almost de rigeur. The other constant I saw was that they were smart. Even their wives and kids were smart. The kids on an Embassy compound are the sharpest, most literate and well educated bunch of yuppie spawn you’ll ever see.

18

I see, wow so now I have to wonder, having a 3.1 in Political Science from the University at Buffalo (no Ivy league), and not being a pro at any language if I have even a chance in hell haha.

I mean I am willing to go to grad school, learn some basic-medium arabic, and even the Peace Corps but now I have to wonder if even that is enough to give me a reasonable chance to become an FSO or work for an NGO.

I hope someone can answer that seemingly unanswerable question…even a little bit haha

Thanks again guys, this is a great reality check…sigh

19

If you do well on the test, a graduate degree, a language and some Peace Corps experience will give you a fighting chance, especially if you can pull off an impressive interview.

It’s competetive for a reason. The pay is great and the perks are fantasic (the Dip passports alone are worth the job). If you really feel a call for it, don’t be discouraged. Work on your resume. Even if you don’t get in, you’ll still have a great resume.

20

UB doesn’t have any connections? Hell, I went to Canisius and I’m sure I could drum up SOMETHING from there.

I wanted to learn Arabic, and still do. Fortunately, I live in one of the most densely Arab populaces outside of the Middle East. There’s a GIANT mosque in the area, and I’m on their mailing list. when classes start up again, I’ll be taking them for REAL cheap.

By the way, if you’re interested in Arabic, or things Muslim, there’s a channel that’s broadcast on Comcast, called “Bridges”. They’re based in the Buffalo area. I dropped them an email and asked if they had anything for me. I haven’t heard from them in a while. I’m looking for a job, maybe I’ll drop them another line.