First, you should know that a college degree of any type is NOT a requirement for entry as a Foreign Service Officer.  Passing the Foreign Service Officer exam is, as well as the Oral Aseesment if you pass the exam.    That said, a lot of the questions asked on the exam can be learned through some college level eduation, but they can alsoe be learned from reading.

Although experience is highly valued, other factors are important too.  You are not penalized if you do not pass the Foreign Service Exam the first time and wish to take it again.  Indeed, many do.

Even if you have just graduated from school, perhaps you have work experience due to summer internships or work during the school years. Each individual’s situation is different.  Language and personal travel and experience also are highly regarded, as well as one’s ability to think on one’s feet, and manage projects with less than straightforward guidance.

Test aside, life experience and previous work experience do help FSOs adjust to their first posting overseas.  It allows one some additional context when problem solving in the work place, and helping navigate what is often a first experience working overseas.

Good luck!

First off, thanks for maintaining this site, it has been a very helpful resource in learning about the Foreign Service!

I'm about to enter my junior year in college and I am strongly considering the Foreign Service as a career. Is it possible to join the foreign service right out of college? That is, is it difficult for college students (with no other prof. experiences besides a few internships in the summer and during the school yea) to make the cut? My concerns lie in the QEP/oral assessment, where they are looking for the "total candidate," and they may not view a super-recent college graduate seriously because of their lack of real-world experience. I am a political science major and I can speak Spanish and have some rudimentary French skills as well as a year of Arabic under my belt.

Also, regarding the timeline, if I wanted to join the foreign service right out of college, should I take the test this coming October or could I wait until February, considering the waiting period?

Thanks very much in advance!

Sincerely,

Danny M.

When you came to the USA you were a minor, and so the act of overstaying your visa was not in your control.  You will not be punished for the acts of your parents.  Indeed, by showing that you corrected the problem legally,  you show good judgement and I see no problems at all with the clearance process.  But I say all this based on just what limited info you disclosed above, and DSS will do detailed research and decision making.

If I can’t come into a salary agreement with the SRC, then there will be no job.  You can appeal one time as long as you have new information that was not listed on your original application - but if you can't come into an agreement - then you'll have to move on.

I have no idea why accepting an orientation class date comes first.  I have never met anyone who gave it any thought, so I really don't have an opinion about that.  I don't see it as an issue.  Until you sign the salary statement they will not spend any money on moving you to Washington fort training.

If students can’t pass the 16-week IMS class what happens to them?  I believe they get one chance to make up the failed parts.. but as I am not in that career field I do not have an accurate answer.  I will ask some of my colleagues.

I do not know of the DOS English classes.  Again, I will ask around and see if anyone has ever heard of this.

Got a couple of pre-orientation/IMS class questions for you. (These are “what if” scenario questions):

What if I can’t come into a salary agreement with the SRC? What happens then?

Why is it set up where accepting an orientation class date comes first instead of working out salary negotiations coming first?

If students can’t pass the 16-week IMS class what happens to them?

Within the DOS is it possible that foreign spouses (my wife is Japanese for example) can attend DOS sponsored English language classes?

Roger. Thanks!

Well, you have two options, and neither is what you want to hear.

You can sell the 2nd car, or ship it (or store it) at your own expense.  The State Department will only ship (or store) one car at Government expense - no different than in the military.  Sorry I do not have better news.

Peter

Hello! My name is Terrence Andrews. Currently I work as a GS-11 IT Specialist for the U.S. Army Fort Shafter Honolulu Hawaii for the last 13 months. Before that I retired after 20 years of active duty service in the U.S. Navy (Yokosuka Japan).  I will be receiving from my registrar soon the IMS orientation acceptance letter soon and I want to get the ball rolling now to set things up for myself, wife, and 13 year old boy.  I currently have 2 cars (2010 Scion, 2002 VW Passat). I know that the State Department has a policy of only dealing with one vehicle.  So besides selling the second vehicle (I really don’t want to sell the Passat because I just love this car!) what options do I have? Thank you in advance of your answer. Mahalo from Hawaii!

Second, your annual appraisals are very important to ensure that you not only exceed the minimum standards, but demonstrate that you are ready for more responsibility.

Third, when you bid on new assignments, your resume and letters of recommendation are key to ensuring you get the job position you desire.  This is a competitive process, and what your co-workers, supervisors, and subordinates think of you are take very seriously.   This is called a 360 eval, and most assignments (after your initial 2 directed assignments) require these recommendations from all around you.  They weigh a lot, so your performance along with this "corridor image" is critical.  

In all of the above reports, it's often what is NOT said, or how something is worded in an eval that gets taken very seriously.  Because of this, a well meanin, but poorly written  evaluation or recommendation will do more harm than nothing said at all.

Peter

What are the work days like?  Is it sitting at the desk all day... What does a FSO do, especially a brand new one?

We are entering this career later in our lives, we are in our forties, can you tell me your thoughts about starting this career later in life, do you see other new older FSO's and what are your observations about getting into this later in life?  My husband is currently a pretty successful and well paid professional, with a lot of responsibility at work and while we are excited about FS lifestyle and ready to make a change, I'm a little concerned about him sitting at a desk doing very basic tasks... But I know other older professionals such as lawyers enter this field, so there must be more challenging opportunities within this job. 

They will give you a nice FS book to take home, and I highly recommend you keep it and read it.  OMS training is also 3 weeks, and that seems too short too.   But you will be posted only in positions designed for new hires, and in most cases you will not be working alone.  Most of these slots have a more experienced OMS working along side you.   Be sure that once you get to post you quickly become good friends with the other OMSes in the Embassy.  They will be your lifeline!

Also, and this works for any new hire in any field, the FSN's or Foreign Service Nationals (local hires) following sections are critical to your success and enjoyment at any post.

• GSO, especially housing!
• Facilities Maintenance
• Financial Management, especially the person in charge of time sheets!

Meet them, learn their names, greet them often, and most importantly listen to what they have to tell you!  They have been working at post for many years, and some for many decades!  They know what works, and what doesn't.  If you have some bright new idea to make things better – they have seen it done before.  They will tell you if it works or not.  The sad part about U.S. Government employees is that we feel we have to always IMPROVE some process, as if the current process is never the best solution.  Thus good ideas last a short while and then get reverted to something ugly and ineffective by a new employee.  The FSNs see this cycle all the time!

And never forget the Marines!   Be sure you always greet them each morning with a smile and wish them a "goodnight when you go home.  Often, the same Marine will be there both times, as they often work 12 hour shifts in a small box with stale air, no internet, and usually no reading material.  They have the hardest job of all.

Oh about Pakistan, no language was required, however I did have to take Foreign Affairs Counter Terrorism (FACT) course, which was a week long.  I have a big write-up on this on this blog.  Being assigned to Pakistan is not like any other Embassy, except perhaps Afghanistan or Baghdad.  It's more of a military base!  You'll make a lot more money, but learn less about the Foreign Service.  I don't recommend it as a first tour; I did it because I had already worked within FS as a spouse-hire for 6 years.