Priscilla Said:

Would a career in the Foreign Service be correct for me?

We Answered:

Unless you want to serve your country (an admirable thing), foreign service is a thankless job. You may get great experience and travel, but you could do that on your own. Look at any of the security related government agencies and their contractors. They all need people who speak Arabic, Farsi and Mandarin and oftentimes offer six figure starting salaries.

Consider double majoring in political science with an international politics concentration. Money can't buy happiness but it can make happiness easier to come by.

Randall Said:

Career as a foreign service officer?

We Answered:

Go to this link which gives you a wealth of information:
http://www.careers.state.gov/officer/

Vera Said:

Can anyone in the working for the foreign service give me tips on how to succeed in this career?

We Answered:

People will tell you that you need to know someone, or to study certain subjects or learn languages. None of that is true. The way to join the Foreign Service is to pass the written and then the oral exam, to be a high school graduate and to be a US citizen on the day you are sworn in. Any skills or languages you will need are taught to you as you need them. For example, during my own career I learned one language on my own and three at the Foreign Service Institute. The one language I learned in school I have never used. And when I took the oral exam, I was with 11 other people who were all political science majors and the like: none of them passed, but I did (an anthropology major who was working in a factory).

Here is an excellent web page. And if you look, you can find sample FS exam questions on the web: Good luck!
http://careers.state.gov/officer/index.h…

Sonia Said:

I am considering a career in the foreign service could someone explained the pros and Cons? Thank you so much?

We Answered:

I would also add to Curious One's comments that these days there is a growing element of risk. Diplomacy isn't a non-contact sport anymore. Any number of embassies and consulates have been attacked over the years in a variety of countries. Not to mention Foreign Service officers serve in countries that get caught up in wars that are not directed against the US, like Israel and Lebanon a year ago last summer. So, that's something to at least consider as we continue to live in interesting times.

Quite aside from that, it can be very difficult for spouses to enjoy their own careers. As children get older, the number of posts that have international middle and high schools drops in number. Not only do you have to pass the medical requirement to serve anywhere overseas, but so does your family. On top of all that, a number of posts overseas do not allow dependents these days for security reasons. While you do have some say in where you go, someone will be going to each and every post, and you can't be sure, it won't be you.

Having said all that, it's very hard to find a career more varied. Not every moment of every day will be interesting, but many of them will be. And you can never be certain what will happen from one day to the next.