Showing posts with label Foreign Service Officers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foreign Service Officers. Show all posts
Friday, February 26, 2010
Here I go again
Well, a month ago I gave the Oral Assessment my best shot and failed. It was tough and I left DC a little heartbroken. I remember looking at my results and wondering if I could put myself through all that effort and stress again. But the Foreign Service Officers who gave me my results were encouraging that I should try again and my score wasn't that far off from the 5.25 I needed. I am confident that having gone through the process once, I am much better prepared if I make it that far the next time. So, here I am, picking myself up and today I submitted my application for the FSOT. Here we go again.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Julie & Julia
The husband and I went to see the movie Julie & Julia today. I went in expecting a cute and touching movie about Julie Child and a blogger whose blog was inspired by her. And it was both cute and uplifting. Being a blogger myself, both here and at my HR blog, I expected the movie to be relevant to me. What I didn't expect was that it would be relevant for more reasons than that. You see, Paul Child, Julia Child's husband, was a foreign service officer.
How cool is that? I never knew that the reason Julia Child was in Paris in the first place was because her husband was a diplomat. Of course, the movie didn't really focus on that much, but it was great seeing them interact at embassy parties, Julia speaking with other diplomats wives, moving to different countries, etc. So many things to look forward to if I get through the rest of this process. Just two more months to go until I find out if they are bringing me in for the oral assessment. *crosses fingers*
How cool is that? I never knew that the reason Julia Child was in Paris in the first place was because her husband was a diplomat. Of course, the movie didn't really focus on that much, but it was great seeing them interact at embassy parties, Julia speaking with other diplomats wives, moving to different countries, etc. So many things to look forward to if I get through the rest of this process. Just two more months to go until I find out if they are bringing me in for the oral assessment. *crosses fingers*
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Personal Narrative
So I have just completed and submitted the answers to my personal narrative. Wow, that strained the brain a little bit. The questions basically assess whether you can provide examples of times when you exhibited certain behavioral traits that are essential to being a Foreign Service Officer. It sounds easy at first, until you realize you have provide current contact information for someone who can verify your examples. I found myself having to reject some examples that came to mind because I did not have current contact information for anyone who could confirm it. That's a big reminder of how important it is to network and keep in contact with the people you meet.
However, I found that once I determined what my examples would be and confirmed I had current contact information, the rest feel into place. I tend to be a succinct writer, as the length of my blog posts will attest, so I never ran out of room for my answers. I just hope I was descriptive enough and provided enough variety in circumstances to show a good range of my abilities.
Now I will have to be patient and wait until October to find out if I will be invited to the Oral assessment. I just hope that I impress the QEP and that I compare favorably to the rest of the Management track candidates. For now though, I will continue to prepare in the event that I do move forward in the process.
However, I found that once I determined what my examples would be and confirmed I had current contact information, the rest feel into place. I tend to be a succinct writer, as the length of my blog posts will attest, so I never ran out of room for my answers. I just hope I was descriptive enough and provided enough variety in circumstances to show a good range of my abilities.
Now I will have to be patient and wait until October to find out if I will be invited to the Oral assessment. I just hope that I impress the QEP and that I compare favorably to the rest of the Management track candidates. For now though, I will continue to prepare in the event that I do move forward in the process.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Why Foreign Service Officer and not a Foreign Service Specialist?
When I first started researching the Foreign Service, I found that I could either become an Officer or a Specialist. The two classifications share many similarities so it can be confusing to determine which path to follow.
Foreign Service Specialists provide specific services based on areas of specialization. Medical, IT, Administration, etc. Specialists are not required to take the Foreign Service Officers Test, though the rest of the selection process mirrors the one for Officers. As I was reading through the description, specialist positions seemed to be more similar to a job opening at a company that you would apply and interview for. Only the company is the State Department and the office is located overseas.
On the surface, it might seem that I should become a Specialist. I really enjoy Human Resources and have spent a great deal of time and effort improving my skills in it. I have a Master's degree and plan on taking the exam for the Professional of Human Resources (PHR) certification this May. Becoming a Human Resource Specialist in the Foreign Service seems a natural progression of my career.
So, why do I want to become an Officer? Mainly, I want to develop myself and my career beyond an HR specialization. Becoming an Officer puts you on a career track, which is something you don't get as a Specialist. I feel that I will eventually hit a wall as a Specialist and if all I wanted to do was get more HR experience, I don't have to join the foreign service to do it. I see myself joining the Foreign Service, developing my skills in new areas (as well as HR), and securing a great job with a company after I retire. I'm still young; I can have a full career in the Foreign Service and still retire from it well before standard retirement age. Also, I feel there is more prestige attached to Officers. I'm not saying that becoming a Specialist is easy or any less competitive, but more is expected of Officers. They have a greater range of responsibilities and tougher requirements. That level of challenge and accountability comes with more acclaim.
Deciding between a Specialist or Officer track was difficult, but in the end I'm happy with my decision. Now I just need to prepare for the selection process.
Foreign Service Specialists provide specific services based on areas of specialization. Medical, IT, Administration, etc. Specialists are not required to take the Foreign Service Officers Test, though the rest of the selection process mirrors the one for Officers. As I was reading through the description, specialist positions seemed to be more similar to a job opening at a company that you would apply and interview for. Only the company is the State Department and the office is located overseas.
On the surface, it might seem that I should become a Specialist. I really enjoy Human Resources and have spent a great deal of time and effort improving my skills in it. I have a Master's degree and plan on taking the exam for the Professional of Human Resources (PHR) certification this May. Becoming a Human Resource Specialist in the Foreign Service seems a natural progression of my career.
So, why do I want to become an Officer? Mainly, I want to develop myself and my career beyond an HR specialization. Becoming an Officer puts you on a career track, which is something you don't get as a Specialist. I feel that I will eventually hit a wall as a Specialist and if all I wanted to do was get more HR experience, I don't have to join the foreign service to do it. I see myself joining the Foreign Service, developing my skills in new areas (as well as HR), and securing a great job with a company after I retire. I'm still young; I can have a full career in the Foreign Service and still retire from it well before standard retirement age. Also, I feel there is more prestige attached to Officers. I'm not saying that becoming a Specialist is easy or any less competitive, but more is expected of Officers. They have a greater range of responsibilities and tougher requirements. That level of challenge and accountability comes with more acclaim.
Deciding between a Specialist or Officer track was difficult, but in the end I'm happy with my decision. Now I just need to prepare for the selection process.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Hello and Good Evening
Today is my 28th birthday and I felt it was an auspicious enough occasion to warrant the launch of this blog. Recently, a deep down wish finally bubbled to the surface and provided me with a career direction and goal. I'm an army brat, and even though entering the armed forces never had any real appeal to me, I have always desired, deep down, to be of service to my country.
This was how I came to decide to pursue a career as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO). Working in a consulate, overseas in a foreign country, and serving the diplomatic interests of my country holds a great deal of appeal for me. I feel it would be a great use of my education and experience as well as a great way to further my career.
Becoming a FSO is not easy. It's a multi-step process and highly competitive. As I reflect on my birthday it is clear that I am not ready. Not yet, at least. This blog will hopefully start out following me along my journey of preparation and eventually (hopefully), transition into a record of my service as an FSO. I promise to keep it informative, interesting, and entertaining. It's what I do.
This was how I came to decide to pursue a career as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO). Working in a consulate, overseas in a foreign country, and serving the diplomatic interests of my country holds a great deal of appeal for me. I feel it would be a great use of my education and experience as well as a great way to further my career.
Becoming a FSO is not easy. It's a multi-step process and highly competitive. As I reflect on my birthday it is clear that I am not ready. Not yet, at least. This blog will hopefully start out following me along my journey of preparation and eventually (hopefully), transition into a record of my service as an FSO. I promise to keep it informative, interesting, and entertaining. It's what I do.
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