Getting a Job in the Foreign Service

“Diplomat” The word conjures up images of fancy parties, fist-slamming negotiations, and peacemaking in the great capitals of Europe. The truth of the career is that it’s a job that demands hard work but gives great satisfaction. The State Department has been ranked third among ideal jobs for college graduates, the best place for women to work in the federal government, and among the top ten places to launch a career. Furthermore, the New York Times recently reported that they’re increasing positions. The State Department is the flagship foreign affairs agency in the US government. State’s workforce consists of civil service employees, Foreign Service specialists and Foreign Service generalists. When most people talk about American diplomats, they’re talking about generalists, also known as Foreign Service Officers.

Foreign Service Officers are the frontlines of American foreign policy. Each officer has a “cone,” or career track: consular, management, public diplomacy, economic or political. It should be noted that although all officers choose cones, they’re also considered generalists. For example, every officer will spend one of her first tours as a consular officer, and it isn’t considered unusual to do jobs out of cone.

So, how do you become a Foreign Service Officer? Getting a job as a Foreign Service Officer requires quite a bit of time. The process starts with a written exam, a panel review, and an all day oral exam. After the oral exam, applicants are subject to medical and security clearances, and are put on a waiting list. Candidates are offered positions in the order of their scores. Expect the process to take at least a year (if was in college again, I’d take the test my junior year rather than my senior). New hires are given a two month training course (A-100) in diplomatic principles, writing, history, and receptions. Yeah, reception training is pretty fun, much more than actual diplomatic receptions. Getting hired is not, however, the end of the selection process. New hires are only contracted for five years, at which point anyone who hasn’t been tenured gets the boot (don’t lose any sleep though—97% get tenured).

The average new employee is 32 years old, so it’s often a second career. It’s also a great place to start right out of college, as candidates are judged on their test scores rather than their job history. New hires are paid between $41,000 and $76,000. If you count the free housing and cost of living difference between much of the world and the U.S., it’s a very reasonable salary. Getting a job as a Foreign Service Officer isn’t about the salary, though. It’s about serving your country, interacting with foreign cultures, and maybe witnessing history. I hope this article doesn’t sound like a commercial—the job has some negatives too. Nevertheless, I’ve never spoken to an officer who said he regretted career choice.

From: The Hegemonist