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.

It suddenly feels real

So I finally received the email I've been waiting for these last 3 weeks. I... passed the FSOT!! Suddenly, I'm not just someone interested, I'm someone who actually has a shot. I'm both thrilled and freaking out at the same time. That's one hurdle, one step of many, that has been cleared.

This is how I look at the process:
Step 1: Pass FSOT
Step 2: Submit Personal Narratives & clear the Qualifications Evaluation Panel (QEP)
Step 3: Pass the Oral Assessment
Step 4: Pass the Background/Credit/Health checks
Step 5: Enter a training group & secure an overseas assignment

So, step 1 has been completed! (does a little dance) Just 4 more left to go. (starts hyperventilating)