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Business of Ferrets posted:Actually, between POL and ECON, the latter has by far better employment prospects outside of government. MGMT and PD are up there, too. POL and CONS operations are so distinctly governmental in nature that they are disadvantaged when looking for private-sector work. I imagine that for the subset of FSOs that are also lawyers, POL offers lobbying prospects and business development/consulting prospects for MBAs. CON probably offers lawyers some easy inroads with immigration law, but that's kind of a rough prospect.
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Dec 20, 2010 19:17
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SWATJester posted:POL offers business development/consulting prospects for MBAs. Did you see that one cone called Econ?  At least at this Post, business development and consulting is the world of the Econ Off and USAID. BoF can answer better obviously.
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Dec 20, 2010 21:25
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Anyone hear back about the Personal Narratives yet?
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Dec 21, 2010 01:58
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Ramms+ein posted:Anyone hear back about the Personal Narratives yet? in the letter they e-mailed out, it said "January." It's still December, so I'm not getting too antsy 
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Dec 21, 2010 02:04
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Today was an awesome day. One of those days where you really know you helped the USA. 
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Dec 22, 2010 19:22
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TCD posted:Today was an awesome day. I didn't accomplish a single noteworthy thing all day 
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Dec 23, 2010 02:59
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Vilerat posted:I didn't accomplish a single noteworthy thing all day Ahh, federal employment. indeed.
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Dec 23, 2010 19:42
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So turns out that two brothers who were in my playgroup when I was a baby are both FSOs, one from State and one at USAID. Odds...
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Dec 26, 2010 10:31
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While I was in the hospital today getting a tube stuck down my nose to figure out why I was puking up blood all day, I get this little gem in my email-- The Registrar's Office is pleased to extend an appointment offer for the March 28, 2011 - Junior Officer Class.  I have until the 4th to make my decision.
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Dec 29, 2010 06:28
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SWATJester posted:While I was in the hospital today getting a tube stuck down my nose to figure out why I was puking up blood all day, I get this little gem in my email--
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Dec 29, 2010 06:37
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I have to have the talk with the woman.
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Dec 29, 2010 08:51
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Woooo, finally heard back from DSS. Test/interview in mid February. I thought they were passing on me after so much time had passed after applying without hearing anything. Maybe State doesn't have it in for me after all.
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Dec 29, 2010 09:08
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SWATJester posted:I have to have the talk with the woman. The offer is great news! Before you even think of not taking the job, just keep in mind that March historically is the easiest class for POL offers (due to coming on the heels of the January invites and the unwillingness of many to abruptly end school in the middle of the semester). If you have the chance, take it.
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Dec 29, 2010 10:49
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I'm 99% sure I'm going to, I just need to sell it to her family.
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Dec 29, 2010 17:47
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Kase Im Licht posted:Woooo, finally heard back from DSS. Test/interview in mid February. I thought they were passing on me after so much time had passed after applying without hearing anything. Maybe State doesn't have it in for me after all. Gratz! I would theorize that the reason they took so long for you might have something to do with the lack of a budget for a while; when I was emailing HR about when the next A-100 classes were going to start, they told me they wouldn't know because they hadn't been giving hiring authority yet for them (this was a few weeks ago). I would imagine that on the DSS side it was a similar situation.
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Dec 29, 2010 17:48
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SWATJester posted:I'm 99% sure I'm going to, I just need to sell it to her family. Well our conversation was just between us... Foreign Service can be difficult once you get families involved as the chance to see each other (if close) can be trying.
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Dec 29, 2010 19:26
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Yeah, the final decision lies with me anyway, and she'll go along with that, but we don't want to have to do a big gently caress you to her parents.
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Dec 29, 2010 21:12
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If you don't take it I will be upset because I am living vicariously through you. Just one more thing to consider.
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Dec 29, 2010 21:37
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Kase Im Licht posted:Woooo, finally heard back from DSS. Test/interview in mid February. I thought they were passing on me after so much time had passed after applying without hearing anything. Maybe State doesn't have it in for me after all. There's some good info buried in this very long thread, but the signal/noise ratio is pretty dismal.
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Dec 29, 2010 22:13
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SWATJester posted:While I was in the hospital today getting a tube stuck down my nose to figure out why I was puking up blood all day, I get this little gem in my email-- Congrats. I'm still waiting to hear whether or not I'll get an OA spot...at least I should hear about that in the next week or two. Hopefully. Possibly 
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Dec 30, 2010 00:26
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SWATJester posted:Yeah, the final decision lies with me anyway, and she'll go along with that, but we don't want to have to do a big gently caress you to her parents. My elderly parents have visited me at all but one of my posts, and my in-laws have visited at all my posts. Also, we spend just about every summer split between our parents' places, so they actually get to have extended quality time with us and the grandkids. Probably more than if we just lived in another part of the USA and visited for holidays. This is just a fact of life in our career. And a fact of life for many (if not most) Americans, if you consider those who move away from family for school or work. My parents didn't even have passports before they traveled halfway around the world to visit. Don't worry; it seems like a big deal now, but the opportunities and lifestyle more than make up for the drawbacks for most people.
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Dec 30, 2010 05:54
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Swat ... after all the effort and all the waiting ... you have to take it. The right decision will come SWATJester posted:While I was in the hospital today getting a tube stuck down my nose to figure out why I was puking up blood all day, I get this little gem in my email--
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Dec 30, 2010 09:48
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poo poo, what are your possible options if you are going into the Foreign Service but want to keep your significant other? Break-up? Long distance relationship? Marry him/her and take them with you? Could goon FSOs with experience explain the pros and cons of each how realistic the last two options are?
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Dec 30, 2010 17:48
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DasNeonLicht posted:poo poo, what are your possible options if you are going into the Foreign Service but want to keep your significant other? Myself, and 2 other junior FSOs went the marry route who are at my current assignment. There were other marriages in my specialist class that took place during training. Marriage, get them on orders, get them the dip passport etc. 2 of us did the Justice of the Peace. (It's painfully easy in Virginia). I purposed right before I left for training, she came down 2 months later... we talked about it and then went to the Court House after our joint Specialist/A100 ceremony thing at Main State. Otherwise it's the first 2. For heterosexual couples, last I heard, they won't grant the same-sex benefit issue for non-married couples. Meaning, you have to get visas for your boyfriend/girlfriend, you have to pay for their travel, you'll have to pay for their insurance/medevac (holy poo poo expensive) and of course, they won't be eligible during authorized or ordered departure (when poo poo hits the fan). With that said, long distance relationship stuff is pretty common. For example, during ordered departure if you're considered critical, spouse goes, you stay. Training, or rotation periods can have couples spending a few months apart. There's also AIP and other unaccompanied posts which mean, 1 year apart, although you get several R&Rs. Also, you can get to Post and find out your spouse hates it, and thus, you stay (for example, as a new hire, it's pretty difficult to curtail out of Posts) and spouse goes. If you become a tandem couple, I think it would pretty lucky if you both received the same assignments for an entire career. You'll also have to consider on the long distance stuff, you might be directed to a Post on really odd timezone issues to stay in contact. Internet and phone service maybe essentially non-existent at some places aside from the Embassy. These posts are becoming fewer and fewer, but the ones that are still left, well they do have Entry Level positions Basically, my advice is get married or breakup. Flash forward, you break up (or are just single) and now you go to a post, meet a person outside the Mission, when you leave in a year or two, you have to have the same conversation. Even if that person is a FSO, you'll need to have the same talk. I heard of a current tandem that met, when they both already had onward assignments. They still got married, spent 2 years apart, and then re-linked up. TCD fucked around with this message at 18:13 on Dec 30, 2010 |
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Dec 30, 2010 18:10
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TCD posted:Myself, and 2 other junior FSOs went the marry route who are at my current assignment. There were other marriages in my specialist class that took place during training. Marriage, get them on orders, get them the dip passport etc. 2 of us did the Justice of the Peace. (It's painfully easy in Virginia). I purposed right before I left for training, she came down 2 months later... we talked about it and then went to the Court House after our joint Specialist/A100 ceremony thing at Main State. This, and the question that prompted it, belong in the OP.
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Dec 30, 2010 19:07
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Business of Ferrets posted:This, and the question that prompted it, belong in the OP. What kind of employment opportunities exist for FO spouses? What is education like for the diplo-brats? FAQs, first few pages, &c. DasNeonLicht fucked around with this message at 19:56 on Dec 30, 2010 |
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Dec 30, 2010 19:38
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Business of Ferrets posted:This, and the question that prompted it, belong in the OP. Done.
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Dec 30, 2010 19:58
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Congrats, SWATJester. I have been somewhat following this thread and I think I may register for the exam. Do you think I should register for the Feb. exam? I am leaning towards waiting for the next one so that I can better prepare, and because whatever I end up doing for my summer internship/fellowship will likely be very useful in the hiring process. How long do you have to wait to retake the exam if you fail?
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Dec 30, 2010 22:13
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Tyro posted:Congrats, SWATJester. Just take it. There's little that can really be done to prepare — it's not like the GRE, GMAT or other standardized tests as much of it is things that should be common knowledge and the variety of questions is pretty wide. Plus there's no guarantee you'd get asked to do the Personal Narratives afterwards, so all you're doing if you're interested is wasting time. Plus, there's no better preparation for next time than having done it once. As well, the hiring process sounds incredibly drawn out. What's the worst that could happen? Having to make a decision after getting through the exam, PNQs, and Oral Assessment? Better to have the decision than "what could have been."
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Dec 30, 2010 22:45
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harperdc posted:Just take it. There's little that can really be done to prepare — it's not like the GRE, GMAT or other standardized tests as much of it is things that should be common knowledge and the variety of questions is pretty wide. Plus there's no guarantee you'd get asked to do the Personal Narratives afterwards, so all you're doing if you're interested is wasting time. Plus, there's no better preparation for next time than having done it once. I found the answer to my own question, per State "the test may be taken only once per eleven-month period". The main reason I'm considering waiting is that I am in my first year at an MBA program. I think if I take the exam in the summer or at the beginning of my second year I will have a higher chance of passing the PNQ and OA if I advance to those sections. Also the OA for the Feb dates is "Summer 2011" and I may be overseas depending on what summer internship I get.
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Dec 30, 2010 23:01
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No, just start now. If by some chance you fail (unlikely if you are in a decent MBA program), you will know that you need to study more. If you pass, you know that you didn't waste time overpreparing. Though, do spend some time on the yahoogroups reading about how to do better on the biographical and essay portions, that might pay off. And start memorizing and thinking about the 13 D's. Trust me, you want to start this process early.
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Dec 31, 2010 23:08
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A historic day! For IRM folks anyways
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Jan 4, 2011 08:36
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AKA Pseudonym posted:A historic day! Fucker has been around since late 70s? Edit: Also realized the Feb FSOT weekend I'll be in Zanzibar damnit! TCD fucked around with this message at 17:28 on Jan 4, 2011 |
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Jan 4, 2011 16:59
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Over the holidays I found out that my brother is taking the February test as a recent graduate. He really sold me on the Foreign Service, to the point where I'm considering taking the test myself and switching careers. Are there many families with multiple members in the Foreign Service?
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Jan 5, 2011 18:07
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Have they opened registration for the Feb test? Better not be the 15-16th, that's a DIA hiring event I want to go to >:-0
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Jan 5, 2011 18:57
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AKA Pseudonym posted:A historic day! Now we can talk about how it was in the old days ... when moving information required lots of extra effort. Kinda like having to walk to school uphill ... both ways
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Jan 5, 2011 20:17
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I have big news. Kind of.
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Jan 5, 2011 22:46
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SWATJester posted:I have big news. Kind of. Tease...
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Jan 5, 2011 22:59
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This is a phenomenal thread that has been a big help to me as I contemplate giving the FS a shot, thanks to everyone! One thing I've been wondering is how possible is it to have a position that travels a lot? The FS really appeals to me because I want to travel and live in other parts of the world and I'm totally down with spending 2-4 years in each place. That said, a job where you travel to different corners of the globe would be kinda cool, too. Are there jobs that would allow that for a tour or two as a FS generalist (I'm leaning toward Econ, but examples from any FS generalist position would be welcome)?
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Jan 7, 2011 18:41
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Tyro posted:Tease... Lol. I accepted the invitation.
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Jan 7, 2011 19:12
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