Since graduation is inching closer and closer for me, I’m presently in a panic as to what to do after I get my very own B.A. in Anthropology. More than one person has suggested to me that I take the Foreign Service Examination, so I went ahead and Googled the hell out of it, and got a fair-to-middlingly good idea as to what it’s all about (and despite the fact that I likely won’t be posted in say, Brussels, it still sounds fairly exciting to me, if anything for the experience).
Has anyone here ever gone down that route?
I can tell you the test is quite difficult and by the time you get through the orals, they will have eliminated a bunch more folks. Try for it, but have a backup plan!
I’m not an FSO, but I’ve worked a good amount with the State Department. Here’s my take, YMMV: the upper echelons of the foreign service include some of the brightest and most capable people the US can produce. Unfortunately, the middle and lower ranks include far too many people who are apparently good at taking the entrance examinations and not good at producing work or relating to people. For the outstanding wheat that is produced in the foreign service, IMHO it is astounding how much chaff there is.
I’d say most FSOs really like their career, but it is difficult. Moving around the world every couple of years takes a toll in many ways: it is extremely tough on families. Unless your spouse is another FSO or stay-at-home type, what kind of career can they really have if they have to move with you every few years? But most FSOs can go home each day feeling like they made a contribution to something (once you get past a tour of stamping visas and such) – things like overseeing a US funded project to bring clean water to poor villages or helping develop foreign businesses to trade with US companies or pressing a government to better respect human rights can be very personally fulfilling.
The best advice I can give is that if that line of work is for you, you’ll be drawn to it. FWIW, there are also civil service positions in the State Department for those with particular interests (if you’re an old China hand, you can work at the China Desk) and a lot of other international careers.
My spouse and I were Foreign Service Specialists for six years, serving in Portugal and Africa. Prior to that, the last four years of my military service were with the State Department, and I spent two years as a contractor working in embassies. I agree with Ravenman’s assessment of the people, although something peculiar happens to them when they become ambassadors. A large percentage believe that they have to be “odd” in order to be an ambassador, and a lot of those quirks are annoying. Also, ambassadors who are appointed by presidents tend to be precious and very demanding.
As a new FSO, you will probably be working the visa line, regardless of your specialty. It’s a grind and it’s frustrating work, and you’re dealing with the stinky masses eight hours a day. You will have little-to-no say in implementing the policies of America until you reach the middle-high ranks.
On the plus side, you can put away large amounts of cash in the TSP very quickly, especially if you bid on posts in the third world, where there is not much to spend your money on. Vacation is generous - in fact, it’s bountiful. You get 30 days home leave between assignments in addition to your annual vacation of 30 days, and it is all cumulative. You live in nice quarters in most countries, and household help is cheap in many areas. There are parties all the time to help kill the boredom, and of necessity you make good friends with people who you probably wouldn’t associate with in the U.S.
It’s not a bad life, and the retirement can be substantial. We just got tired of the government bullshit, the power that petty people can exercise over you, and the politics that motivates everything.