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January 22, 2010
Ever Considered a Career in the Foreign Service?
Working as Foreign Service Officer can be a challenging and extremely rewarding career, offering the opportunity to be involved in international law and policy while living and traveling abroad. If you’ve been intrigued by this career but have wondered how it all works, then keep reading! A 2008 alumna of CWRU School of Law who has just completed the application and acceptance process shares with us her experiences and advice:
To learn more about the career and the hiring process directly from the Department of State, go to: http://careers.state.gov/officer/index.html.
The Career:
Foreign service officers are diplomats who represent the United States in embassies, consulates, and missions abroad, and sometimes work in domestic posts as well. Every few years, we change to a new post and take on a new position. If you join the foreign service, you will do so in one of five "cones" (Consular, Economic, Political, Management, or Public Diplomacy) that help will help shape the course of your career in the foreign service. Not every position you take over the course of a career will be in your cone. Foreign Service Officers help Americans in trouble overseas, adjudicate visas, meet with foreign ministers, write reports for Washington, write Human Rights Reports... the list is lengthy and diverse. See: http://careers.state.gov/officer/meet-our-people.html
There are many lawyers in the foreign service. Some of the lawyers entered directly after law school. Others joined the foreign service mid-career. Although we are not practicing law, legal training is helpful. My law school education definitely helped me prepare for this career.
The Application Process:
Though the foreign service is experiencing a hiring surge, hiring is always very competitive. Applying to the FS is an arduous and lengthy process! It took me 11 months from the day I took the written test to my first day of training, and that is not unusual.
Here is a rough overview of the process: First, you take the written test. If you pass the written test, you move on to the qualification evaluation. At this stage, a panel considers your "personal narratives", resume, education, references and general qualifications. If you clear the panel, you are invited to the oral assessment. At the oral assessment, you will experience a whole day of interesting activities including a group exercise, a series of hypothetical questions, and a structured (traditional) interview. If you score highly enough, you will be given a conditional offer. Then you have to undergo security and medical clearance processes which can take many months. Finally, you are added to the "registry" of qualified candidates. Traditionally, candidates have spent a long time on the registry waiting for a position to open. However, during this surge, some candidates are getting offers to start employment on the same day that they are added to the registry (myself included). Learn more about the process at: http://careers.state.gov/officer/employment.html
Personally, I would recommend taking the written test in the summer between 2L and 3L years. (Or if you are already a 3L, then as soon as possible). You can only take the written test once in a 12 month period, but it is offered several times a year. If you get through to the registry before you graduate, there is a process by which you can place your candidacy on hold for some months.
Find out More:
You can also reach out to a foreign service officer who is serving a tour as a Diplomat In Residence at a University: http://careers.state.gov/resources/diplomats.html#list
My Own Experience:
I just started training in October, and am looking forward to my first "Flag Day" on Monday. That is when I will discover where my family and I will be moving, when we are leaving, what kind of training I will be receiving before we go, and what kind of position I will be filling.
This graduate has graciously offered to answer additional student questions. If you would like to learn more, please stop by the CSO and talk to a counselor for additional information.
Posted by hdd5 at January 22, 2010 08:55 AM