Foreign Service Officers
The Foreign Service is how the State Department fills positions in embassies and consulates throughout the world. Of the more than 100,000 applicants for State Department FSO positions between 2001 and 2006, only 2,100 became Foreign Service Officers. Do you think you have what it takes? Odds are you don't.
There is a great deal of prestige involved with becoming a FS Officer. 2/3 of all ambassadors are appointed from among the Foreign Service ranks.
Most Basic Requirements
- US Citizen
- Between 21 and 60 years old
- Available to go anywhere in the world
There are no educational requirements to get in, but there is a test. And it's like no test you've ever encountered.
The Testing Process
First there is a written test which breaks down into four parts. An essay, job knowledge, English, and a biographical piece on yourself. Something like 55% of the people fail this on their first try.
If you pass the written test your information is sent off the Qualification Evaluation Panel that operates sort of like a black box because no one knows for certain what goes on during this part. Either you make it on to the next part of the exam or it ends here, you will not be informed why you were not chosen.
Only about 25% of the original applicants will be invited to the Oral Exam. Which is nerve racking and on location in Washington DC. There are three parts to this exam.
- Group Exercise - Work with 3-6 people also taking the test. Given fictional scenarios and you need to create a proposal that you can all agree on.
- Case Management - Given a made up memo from a superior asking you to solve such and such a problem. Review material, solve problem.
- Interview - The interview is interesting. You will be given an emergency situation and you need to come up with answers about what you would do.
- Example (things always get worse)
- A plane just crashed in your country what do you do?
- 8 Americans were on that plane, now what do you do?
- Your boss was on that plane.
- Your boss' wife is calling you, she wants to know what is going on.
You Passed!?
Only 1 in 5 people that took the oral exam will be offered a conditional job offer. Passing the test does not guarantee you a job! I know it's messed up. You need to pass a health exam that proves you are healthy enough to live in areas with significantly reduced access to health care AND you need to get Top Secret security clearance. Which involves them digging into your life and interviewing your friends and family.
If you pass all those tests you will be added to a list and you might get a job.
This whole process takes about a year.
Good fucking luck.
...oh and your boss is Hillary Clinton.
Other Resources
- State.gov
- Others
Report broken link
