Christine Said:

What careers are like a Foreign Service Officer?

We Answered:

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

Please let me know if you join for any courses - online - I also would love to know..

All the best to realise your ambiition as FSO.

Brent Said:

Can anyone tell me about the Foreign Service, or other International Relations careers?

We Answered:

Hi there. I'm looking into that as well, as a second career. Still in the early stages of investigating, but if I feel prepared, I may try to take the FSO exam this fall.

Basically, you have to submit your resume and register to take the test. The test is a comprehensive written exam, but even the registration process includes some essays.

If you pass the exam, your entire profile is reviewed and "graded". You get points for work experience, foreign languages spoken (especially the critical needs, like Arabic or Mandarin Chinese) and overall "life" experience. I'm reading that people with work experience (not necessarily in foreign relations) are passing better than fresh-from-school college grads, even with advanced degrees.

If you pass the review, then you are invited to take the oral interview.

If you pass THAT, you might get offered a job, depending on how your skill set meshes with what they need.

Again, this is what my preliminary investigations are turning up.

Misty Said:

Planning on pursuing a career as a Canadian Foreign Service Officer, is an anthropology major a good idea?

We Answered:

Anthropology is a great major, and the fact that you are already bilingual is a major plus.

Christian Said:

Foreign Service career track selection?

We Answered:

in order to be able to assist, it would be helpful if you could be more specific in what two choices you are looking at.

Daisy Said:

What is a good major for someone who wants to be a Foreign Service Officer of the USA?

We Answered:

There are a range of subjects that would be relevant to a job in the Foreign Service - International Relations, Modern History, Languages, Economics, Law, Political Science etc.

To be honest it is not about what you study - it is about the transferable skills you pick up in oral and written communication, reasoning, problem-solving and numeracy.

Recommend that you supplement your university education with a couple of internships in charities or ngos. The Foreign Service like candidates with a bit of experience behind them.

Good luck

Rose Said:

If one is looking into a career in Foreign Service, is it worth getting a JD?

We Answered:

Hi Seabass -- If the ONLY reason you're thinking of getting a JD is to join the Foreign Service, then I'd probably say don't bother. I only know a few FSOs who have one (though a good number do have law degrees), and unless you plan on becoming a lawyer for the Department, I really don't see the value when the time and cost are factored in.

It is of course good to know foreign languages, but this is more important after you've already been hired; if you can't make it past the written and oral exams, then you could speak 20 languages and it won't be of any use.

Unless things have really changed since I did it:

For the written exam, I'd concentrate on being widely knowledgable in a lot of things -- kind of like as if you were a good Jeopardy contestant. You should know a little basic geography, a few economic principles, Black History, a little history of U.S. labor, a little about the Constitution and U.S. history, that sort of thing. And you need to be able to write a coherent essay.

For the oral exam, it's important for you to be able to present your ideas clearly and persuasively and to work with others in a group.

Other beneficial factors are if you're a veteran or a minority.

Good luck!