Current FSO checking in. It’s one of the best jobs I’ve ever had, and one of the most interesting jobs in the world.
To add to what others have posted above, yes, the exams are competitive, but don’t let that dissuade you. The written one is fairly easy, or at least I found it so, but the oral exam is challenging. Sign up for the written exam and take it - you might just pass and surprise yourself.
There are several study guides, and the recommended reading list is a good start. As for my personal preparation, I just read the Washington Post and New York Times for a year and was good to go.(Although that degree in international politics with 2 study abroads might have had something to do with it…)
Previous international experience is not a prerequisite, just a keen mind and an interest in foreign policy. Since it sounds like you already have that, take a crack at it. They’ve changed the oral exam since I’ve been in the service – I entered in 2002 and took the oral exam in March 2001.
Assuming you do pass, there’s an officer orientation course of 12 weeks that you have to take, no tests at the end or anything. You’ll get assigned to a country through a systematic process that I believe involves drunken monkeys and a dartboard. I kid, I kid. Actually, you have a list of the open jobs and you have to prepare a list of 20-25 countries that you’d like to serve in with justification. Your ability to get a medical clearance may affect your posting.
Once you get your job, you go through tradecraft courses to prepare you for the job you’ll be doing, language classes so you can communicate and protocol classes so you know which fork to use at state dinners. After a few months, you fly out to the country that you’ll call home for the next two years.
It’s a great way to travel, and seeing as your housing is paid for and people’s first 2 tours are generally in the developing world, a good way to save money. If you serve at a 20 percent or above “hardship” or differential post, there’s also a student loan repayment program.
Language proficency is not a requirement, they’ll sweat you through what you need. I’ve seen many other officers who had qualifications similar to what you describe --don’t sweat it, just take a chance.
I’ve been in Peru for nearly 2 years, and before this was in Sri Lanka from 2003-2005. I’ll be going to Afghanistan in September for 12 months, and after that I hope to go to Bangkok.
If you have any questions my email’s in my profile --feel free to send me a message. And if any other Dopers have questions about what I do, I’ll start a thread if there’s interest.
