Foreign Service Life
Many of the Department of State’s Foreign Service officers, for example, start their jobs with 2-year stints. This period may include being a consular officer and interviewing people for immigrant and tourist visas. After this, most move to other jobs as part of the political or economic departments.
Life in the Foreign Service allows its employees to travel around the world, which is one of its main attractions. After Foreign Service officers commit two years to a post for two tours, they will typically have three to four years at each subsequent post. Officers need to vie for new positions by bidding every time a tour concludes. There are many available posts for Foreign Service officers at the end of their tours, as numerous openings can be provided by consulates and embassies in many countries around the world.
Being reassigned to different jobs in various locations has its advantages and disadvantages. If an officer finds his or her current tasks tedious, a more appealing position can be applied for in the next tour. On the downside, you will be reassigned even if you find your current job and location satisfactory.
New and old officers are required to learn the basics of the languages of the countries they are assigned to. This can be difficult, especially as Foreign Service officers move to new locations after their tours. However, the State Department does provide intensive language training, which can span a number of weeks to several months, based on the proficiency of the officer in training, as well as the complexity of the foreign language. Many positions require the officer to achieve intermediate levels of knowledge in the language before they depart for a particular country.
Officers are also required to select a career path, or “cone.” However, this does not mean that all the job openings the officer can choose from are confined to that path only. Even if an officer chooses to remain within the “cone,” there are numerous job options, with different specialties needed for different countries. A Foreign Service officer who works in the economics department may, for example, discuss labor concerns with unions, talk to municipal officials, or do field work to observe certain developmental projects, all in the span of a few days.
Some people may prefer the variety of tasks one does in a specific job, while others may find the constant change overwhelming. What often happens is that officers are abruptly given certain assignments, and expected to become pros in a short span of time.
United States embassies often have tightly-knit communities, with being American the common denominator and uniting factor. One may wish to mingle with the locals and learn more about the country wherein one is assigned, although it may be hard to veer away from the embassy community.
There are many benefits to becoming a Foreign Service officer, with free travel, a regular salary, and embassy-provided housing among them. The State Department also shoulders any expenses you may incur when moving from one post to another. A 2-year stint also comes with a free airplane ticket to the U.S. for a short break. Home leaves are also a plus. At your assigned post, you can take advantage of federal holidays in the United States, and in that country as well.
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