- History of the
- U.S. Department of State
- The oldest cabinet agency
- (1789)
- Thomas Jefferson was
- the first Secretary of
- State
The Secretary of State leads the Department of State team that: - Serves as the principal advisor to the President on foreign policy issues
- Coordinates foreign policy issues for the U.S. government
- Implements the President's foreign policy decisions and programs
- Protects U.S. interests abroad
Who We Are - Approximately 57,000 employees
- 11,500 Foreign Service Americans
- 6,600 Generalists
- 4,900 Specialists
- 9,200 Civil Service
- 37,000 Foreign Service Nationals (non-US citizen employees at overseas missions)
Where We Are - Over 265 posts abroad in more than 180 countries
- Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- Passport agencies and various field offices are located throughout the US
Where We Are in the World - Blue: WHA, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs Orange: AF, Bureau of African Affairs
- Green: NEA, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Pink: EUR, Bureau of European Affairs
- Purple: SCA, Bureau of South and Central Yellow: EAP, Bureau of East Asian and Asian Affairs Pacific Affairs
- Organization of an Embassy
- Human Resources
- Financial Management
- Logistics
- Information Systems
- Medical
- Community Liaison
- American Citizens’ Services
- AID
- Commerce
- Agriculture
- DOD Attaches
- Military Mission
- Others: Battle Monuments, Commission, Coast Guard, Customs, DEA, Energy, EPA, FAA, FBI, GAO*, HHS, INS, IRS, Library of Congress*, NSF, Peace Corps staff, Secret Service, Treasury, VA, VOA
- (*Legislative Branch)
- Environment,
- Science &Tech
- Press
- Culture
- Exchanges
- Online Library
- Cultural Center
Student Programs - Student Programs
- Civil Service
- Foreign Service Specialists
- Foreign Service Officers
- Now that you know about us,
- How Can You Work at State?
- Student Internships - Summer, Fall, and Spring in Washington and overseas
- Cooperative Education Program (Co-op)
- Stay-in-School Program
- Student Disability Program
- Summer Clerical Program
- Fellowships
- Visit careers.state.gov for details
- Majority of Civil Service positions are in the United States
- The Civil Service and Foreign Service both perform the same variety of functions in Washington, DC. However, the selection processes and career patterns are very different.
- There are two ways to apply to the Civil Service:
- Apply for a particular job online through USAJobs (www.usajobs.opm.gov)
- There are a limited number of entry-level positions for the Civil Service. The best tactic is to apply for all jobs for which you qualify.
- The Civil Service Career Entry Program (AKA the Federal Career Internship Program)
- Access USAJobs through the careers.state.gov website to see State Department jobs
- Familiarize yourself with www.USAJobs.gov
- Create an account, including a profile & resume
- Create search agent for email notification
- Search widely, using different criteria
- Identify the jobs you want
- Check grade level and Who May Apply
- Review vacancy announcement carefully
- Confirm that you have necessary qualifications
- Follow the application instructions carefully
- Log into your USAJobs account to check application status, and follow up a few weeks after announcement closes
- General Schedule (GS) Guidelines for grade and
- qualifying education:
-
- GS-5 Bachelor’s Degree
- GS-7 3.0 GPA upon completion of B.A. OR
- 1 year of Graduate-level education
- GS-9 Master’s Degree, LLB, or JD
- GS-11 Ph.D. or 3 years graduate education
- Competitive salaries with locality pay
- Paid federal holidays
- Annual and sick leave
- Health/Life Insurance
- Retirement system includes pension, Social Security, and Thrift Savings Plan (401k with 5% match by USG)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (pre-tax medical and child care funds)
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Transit subsidies
- Flexible workplace/time arrangements
Foreign Service - Foreign Service Officers (Generalists) and Foreign Service Specialists promote U.S. interests and protect U.S. citizens at U.S. embassies and consulate posts overseas and in Washington, DC
- Foreign Service Officers work in five broad career tracks
- Foreign Service Specialists perform a variety of technical functions worldwide
- Most of the Foreign Service career is spent overseas
- Worldwide availability is a requirement
- 20 specialties in:
- Security
- Administration (e.g. Human Resources, General Services/Logistics, Financial Management, Office Management)
- Construction Engineering & Facilities Management
- Information Technology
- Medicine and Health
- Strong subject matter expertise required
- Resume-based application process
- Specialized Oral Assessment
- Foreign Service Specialists
Foreign Service Officers - FSOs declare one of the following career tracks when applying:
- Consular Affairs
- Economic Affairs
- Management Affairs
- Political Affairs
- Public Diplomacy
- FSOs must be flexible with their international assignments
- Emergency Services to Americans
- Birth to Death Services to Americans
- Organization of an Embassy
How Do I Become an FSO? - Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT)
- Medical & Security Clearances
- Qualifications Evaluation Panel (QEP)
Register for the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) - Tests are given multiple times a year, with rolling registration throughout the year
- Register online at careers.state.gov
- Application includes experiential information, along with a Personal Narrative
- The FSOT is given around the country and at overseas locations
FSOT Info - The Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) includes:
- Job-related knowledge, including U.S. and world history and culture, American and foreign systems of government, and basic principles of economics
- English expression and usage
- Biographic information questionnaire
- Written essay (scored only if the applicant passes the multiple-choice portion of the exam)
FSOT Preparation - It is expected that candidates will:
- Be widely read and keep current on recent trends that may not be covered directly in a classroom environment
- Read major newspapers and news magazines regularly
- Although current events are not tested directly, contemporary events may influence the topics selected for the knowledge areas and the written essay.
General Knowledge Areas for FSOT - English Composition
- Management
- Comparative Politics
- Economics
- International Trade
- and Finance
- U.S. History
- U.S. Economic History
- U.S. Political System
- U.S. Social and Intellectual History
- World Geography
Qualifications Evaluation Panel (QEP) - If you pass the written test and the essay:
- Your scores, along with your Registration Package (Application Form and Personal Narrative), are forwarded to the Qualifications Evaluation Panel
- The panel will take a comprehensive "total candidate" approach in evaluating your suitability for the Foreign Service
- The QEP determines which candidates are invited to the Oral Assessment
The Oral Assessment is Based on 13 Dimensions - Composure
- Cultural Adaptability
- Experience and Motivation
- Information Integration and Analysis
- Initiative and Leadership
- Judgment
- Objectivity and Integrity
- Oral Communication
- Planning and Organizing
- Quantitative Analysis
- Resourcefulness
- Working with Others
- Written Communication
Oral Assessment - Components:
- Group Exercise
- Structured Interview
- Case Management Written Exercise
- Held in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere in the U.S.
- Successful candidates are placed on a ranked register for their chosen career track
- For more information and prep sessions contact your local Diplomats in Residence
Key Reasons To Join the Foreign Service - Public service
- Overseas lifestyle
- Challenging work
- Lifelong learning
- Constant variety and change
- Learn foreign languages
- Competitive Salary
- Retirement plan at age 50 (with 20 years of service)
- Language and other Training
- Host country holidays (up to 20 total)*
- Housing*
- Cost of Living Allowance*
- Financial Incentives
- Children's Education Allowance*
- Paid Home Leave*
- Rest and relaxation travel*
- Student Loan Repayment Program
- Foreign Service Benefits Include:
Reflect America to the World - We seek a diverse group of the most talented Americans for the Civil Service and Foreign Service, with knowledge, skills, and abilities in a variety of areas.
- All academic disciplines are useful in the State Department.
- Resource Reminder:
- http://careers.state.gov
- Diplomats in Residence
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