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Just realized I mistakenly put myself down as having not registered for the selective service  .Any idea if that matters for the selection process (still waiting on the QEP) or is it something I will just need to clear up during the background check should I get that far?
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Aug 15, 2012 18:23
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AKA Pseudonym posted:You now have until September 19th to apply for your chance to join the increasingly absurd number of Foreign Service IT goons: It's really starting to get disturbing.
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Aug 15, 2012 18:33
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Vilerat posted:It's really starting to get disturbing. An all goon IRM section will happen.... Also, this is going to be cool when we're all SFS, 1s and 2s. Edit: Heard one of my top posts just sent out 360s on my bid. 
TCD fucked around with this message at 19:31 on Aug 15, 2012 |
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Aug 15, 2012 19:22
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Gold and a Pager posted:Just realized I mistakenly put myself down as having not registered for the selective service You'll absolutely need to do it in the background check, and possibly before, because IIRC it is a bar to federal employment or something like that. Additionally to the IMS call, they are also hiring IMTS quote:We are pleased to inform you that we are currently accepting applications for the following Foreign Service Information Management Technical Specialist positions. radio telephone
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Aug 15, 2012 19:45
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TCD posted:An all goon IRM section will happen.... I am curious on how the gap is going to be filled, tbqh. Seems like a rather large pool for a select few positions.
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Aug 16, 2012 02:09
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Can someone explain 360's to me? Also quote:Hello:
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Aug 16, 2012 06:12
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Diplomaticus posted:Can someone explain 360's to me? Offices and posts looking to fill jobs ask applicants to list subordinates, peers and bosses who will provide references for the bidder. Usually handled/coordinated by the country desk deputy director. Though the bidder can list anyone, the feedback really only matters if the respondents are known to the bureau or post leadership, unless it is bad, then it doesn't matter who it comes from. Also, FSN views don't matter, so only list U.S. direct-hire subordinates, if applicable. I never list my "big guns" -- the senior officers who like me and who are going to help me get the job I want -- when asked for 360s; I simply ask them to lobby on my behalf when necessary. They are busy people, and a quick phone call or email from them is usually what it takes to seal the deal. Also, as bidding season progresses you might find additional requests from a number of desks for 360s, and you don't want to be bothering senior officers with that stuff. FS bidding is awesome if you're on the inside, and probably pretty depressing if you're not.
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Aug 16, 2012 06:34
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If you had "big guns" (Ambassadors, DCMs, etc.) who, despite being extremely busy, would give you a glowing recommendation and would hopefully lock up the job for you if asked in a 360, would you put them on there? I guess I'm trying to figure out the logic between asking them to actively lobby for you, vs. having them be available to be a reference if asked. It seems to me like that's two sides of the same coin. Obviously it's academic for me for a couple years until I bid again, but still.
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Aug 16, 2012 07:30
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Diplomaticus posted:If you had "big guns" (Ambassadors, DCMs, etc.) who, despite being extremely busy, would give you a glowing recommendation and would hopefully lock up the job for you if asked in a 360, would you put them on there? 360s tend to be in questionnaire format, and each job you bid might request different information on different schedules, so it is common to have to ask references to resend their comments several times. More significantly, though, the final arbiters never see the 360s. DASs get a vetted short list (good 360s might get you on the short list, and bad ones will keep you off), but they don't read most 360s. A well-timed email or call from their SFS friend, though, they'll pay attention to. Why fight it out in the trenches when you can make the decision quick and easy for them? Note that all this applies mainly at the O-1 or sometimes the O-2 level and above, i.e. jobs the bureau really cares about. For O-3 level jobs or for less-desirable jobs in less-desirable places, 360s tend to matter (since jobs are effectively being filled by the deputy office director with the blessing of the bureau superiors).
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Aug 16, 2012 08:56
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Applied for the test again. Luckily the closest test location is doable for a day-trip, hopefully I can get a weekend test time and don't have to take a day of vacation for the test.
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Aug 16, 2012 09:37
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Skandiaavity posted:I am curious on how the gap is going to be filled, tbqh. Seems like a rather large pool for a select few positions. What gap are we talking about? Also, this is my first time bidding and whoa... It's a lot of phone calls and emails. The advise I heard is that you only use your big gun reference for your top bid where Post as shown intrest. So you don't list an Ambo as a 360 reference. Instead, you use the Ambo to make a call on your behalf to whomever the decision maker is.
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Aug 16, 2012 14:24
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So for those of you on the register, the yahoo group is reporting that Sept. is the last ELO class of the year, with no classes scheduled yet for next year (until budgets are figured out).
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Aug 16, 2012 18:34
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Diplomaticus posted:So for those of you on the register, the yahoo group is reporting that Sept. is the last ELO class of the year, with no classes scheduled yet for next year (until budgets are figured out). A friend at post who passed last years Oct FSOT and is now on the register put himself on the do not call list and turned down an offer as he's going to be a tandem. Welp.
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Aug 16, 2012 18:54
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Diplomaticus posted:So for those of you on the register, the yahoo group is reporting that Sept. is the last ELO class of the year, with no classes scheduled yet for next year (until budgets are figured out). Uh. That's interesting. Maybe I don't need to put myself on DNC status, haha.
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Aug 16, 2012 19:10
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Business of Ferrets posted:360s tend to be in questionnaire format, and each job you bid might request different information on different schedules, so it is common to have to ask references to resend their comments several times. More significantly, though, the final arbiters never see the 360s. DASs get a vetted short list (good 360s might get you on the short list, and bad ones will keep you off), but they don't read most 360s. A well-timed email or call from their SFS friend, though, they'll pay attention to. Why fight it out in the trenches when you can make the decision quick and easy for them? Exactly. With just a year's more knowledge over my first midlevel bids last year, it's incredible how much more I know about bidding this time around. The best person to serve as a 360 for you is someone who has asked you to 360 for them - virtuous cycle of love. For 03 and 02 positions, you rarely have anyone higher than the deputy office director looking at your applications. In A-100 you're told that "let's talk about it over the phone" is the secret code phrase for a bad 360, in case you don't want to put anything bad in writing. That is not completely true - I had to be a 360 reference for my supervisor last year (I wasn't in a position where I could say no without retaliation), and my pleas for phone conversations actually led to incredibly awkward phone calls with four or five offices - only one office took the hint and said thanks but no thanks.
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Aug 16, 2012 19:44
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the_chavi posted:Exactly. With just a year's more knowledge over my first midlevel bids last year, it's incredible how much more I know about bidding this time around. The best person to serve as a 360 for you is someone who has asked you to 360 for them - virtuous cycle of love. For 03 and 02 positions, you rarely have anyone higher than the deputy office director looking at your applications. Not always, but usually, yes.
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Aug 16, 2012 20:35
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heh, in Triage class. It is certainly an interesting... duty
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Aug 21, 2012 21:05
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Oh yeah, 0200-0400 OT tonight/tomorrow AM, and I get to work a full day as Acting IMO. Fun times... fun times.
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Aug 22, 2012 18:58
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I apologize if this has been addressed, but I didn't see it mentioned in the OP: Is it feasible for a husband/wife to both join the foreign service and be assigned placed together? My wife and I are both interested in the foreign service, but we wouldn't want to be split up. We have more or less the same qualifications.
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Aug 22, 2012 19:10
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Thesaurus posted:I apologize if this has been addressed, but I didn't see it mentioned in the OP: It's possible to be posted to the same place, it's also possible to have to serve in different spots or take bottom end posts to be posted together. If you are both in the same cone/specialty, this makes it much more challenging. About half the tandems I know have spent at least one tour apart. Long distance stuff is common in the FS. For example we rotated out the same time as our good friends in Rwanda. She was 6 months pregnant and the husband was already at their onward post. (I helped her with her bags and stuff). She was alone from month 4-8 of her pregnancy. They are however posted to the same post. This happens, if this isn't something you can do, and you both want to be employed as direct hires, I might reconsider the job.
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Aug 22, 2012 19:55
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It's possible (tandem couple service) but not always easy. May want to consider only one of you joining and the other working as an EFM in an expanded professional associate position, if one is available, or some other EFM job if one is not. Granted, you have to start over again each assignment, but you won't be apart.
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Aug 22, 2012 22:11
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For prospective FSOs: apparently ACT is updating their study guide and will release the new one in Sept. http://www.act.org/fsot/store/index.html quote:ACT has put up the following on their website:
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Aug 23, 2012 14:14
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TCD posted:It's possible to be posted to the same place, it's also possible to have to serve in different spots or take bottom end posts to be posted together. And of course if you go the FS for one/EFM job for the other, at some point you'll still probably face an unaccompanied tour and time apart at some point, perhaps more than once.
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Aug 23, 2012 14:51
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Miscreant Fromage posted:And of course if you go the FS for one/EFM job for the other, at some point you'll still probably face an unaccompanied tour and time apart at some point, perhaps more than once. Right. Also, even if you are both tandems, sometimes, during an evacuation, one FSO might be considered essential, and the other may be ordered to evacuate. This lifestyle doesn't favor people/couples/family who require being together a majority of the time. The longest I have to be apart from my wife was 5 months. That's a pretty common separation duration at least with most of my friends and colleagues.
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Aug 23, 2012 17:32
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TCD posted:Right. Often, you have to pick one person's career to take precedence - say one person gets the sweet assignment, and if the priority is family > career, the second person will have to take a less exciting position, leave without pay, or a downgrade position in order to make it work. Conversely, if you are both too far apart in seniority, you eventually get to the point where the more senior partner will be in a supervisory role over the other partner, which requires some creative bureaucratic workarounds to avoid, and not every post/boss is willing to work with you on that. My husband's trying to join State too, and a lot of people end up marrying another FSO once they're in the system. (I swear, I think every A-100 class has a lasting romance!) Everyone has to pick their priorities and go from there. As long as you're both flexible (which you should be in this job anyway) you can make it work.
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Aug 23, 2012 19:33
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Skandiaavity posted:heh, in Triage class. It is certainly an interesting... duty Is this part of Crash and Bang? Or is this another class?
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Aug 23, 2012 19:34
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Quick question for you guys: how do state embassy employees and contractors who are reservists take care of their drilling/AT commitment?
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Aug 23, 2012 19:54
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Anyone have experience with the Skill Code Change process? Specifically going from generalist to specialist. From what I've found online I know it is theoretically possible but it seems like meeting the requirements (something like 30 months out of the past 6 years in a job that fits the desired skill code) would be difficult to meet, and actually getting a conversion would depend on factors completely outside your control.
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Aug 23, 2012 20:10
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Tyro posted:Anyone have experience with the Skill Code Change process? Specifically going from generalist to specialist. From what I've found online I know it is theoretically possible but it seems like meeting the requirements (something like 30 months out of the past 6 years in a job that fits the desired skill code) would be difficult to meet, and actually getting a conversion would depend on factors completely outside your control. I did a skill code conversion from IMTS to IMS by completing a tour as an IMS to give me the required 30 months. The skillcode you are trying to go for has to be a high need one and it does have to be paneled, but as long as your CDO is on board it shouldn't be a big issue. The hardest part is getting that first shot in the new skillcode and to do that you pretty much have to either know somebody or bid on a real shithole. That's how it works for spec - spec, don't know if it works like that for gen - spec. -edit- Hey Chavi, are you in Tripoli?
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Aug 23, 2012 20:56
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Vilerat posted:Hey Chavi, are you in Tripoli? Yes indeedy, completing the paperwork to extend a year. Sorry boys, this job's off the market! (For all zero of the people out there interested.) What's up?
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Aug 23, 2012 21:02
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Hey Everyone, I've been going cross-eye reading all 120 pages of this sub-forum, but its great and packed with really good information. Thanks to all for posting and keeping it going, especially the experienced FS folks. I'm a noob IMS, starting in the Sept 10th specialist orientation, and the info in this thread has really been helping me to get a grip on what I'm getting into.  Anyway, so far, I've gleaned the following nuggets from SA: * Don't be "that guy" (asshat, douchebag, etc) * Get along with everyone * Suits only for the first three weeks, maybe casual business after, but it depends on instructor * Bring donuts to class if you can * As an IMS, tech training is going to be vague at the beginning * Ask the mentors/cdo questions after class/in the hallway * Get used to "it depends" Any other tips/nuggets of wisdom/words to live by? I've a wife and 3yr old boy. Any tips from those who brought family to training? Also, I'm shipping my car, but it won't get there until mid-week or the following week (maybe bad idea, but now i'm stuck for it). should I rent a car and drive to the first day at State? Or is the shuttle reliable enough to get there before 0745? Thanks again! And btw, anyone already at FSI want to meet up for lunch or something? Is that even possible in the first three weeks or is it way too busy?
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Aug 23, 2012 21:16
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TCD posted:Right. 5 months isn't bad...course coming from someone in a military marriage where we've practically spent every other year apart, my perspective is pretty skewed. Either lifestyle is not good for people who have trouble being apart, whether from spouses or from kids or both.
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Aug 23, 2012 21:24
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Miscreant Fromage posted:5 months isn't bad...course coming from someone in a military marriage where we've practically spent every other year apart, my perspective is pretty skewed. Either lifestyle is not good for people who have trouble being apart, whether from spouses or from kids or both. Oh, by no means am I saying 5 months is long compared to DoD. Just trying to give the overall understanding that even in non-AIP postings, situations of being apart for several months is the norm in my experience. Edit: Take a shuttle to main state, taxi, bus or metro. Parking is going to be pain. Edit2: Rep. Issa on the warpath posted:... conferences more expensive per person than the now infamous $823,000 General Services Administration 2010 conference ... Nine other agencies held 89 conferences that exceeded that benchmark during the same period, Issa said in a news release Wednesday. Those conferences include 22 at the Social Security Administration, 21 at U.S. Agency for International Development and 15 at the Agriculture Department. I don't see State mentioned, but uh, conferences for USAID... Yeah... I have a bad feeling about this one. TCD fucked around with this message at 22:35 on Aug 23, 2012 |
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Aug 23, 2012 21:49
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the_chavi posted:Yes indeedy, completing the paperwork to extend a year. Sorry boys, this job's off the market! (For all zero of the people out there interested.) You guys really wait till the last moment to get visa referral numbers for visitors 
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Aug 23, 2012 22:51
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haggan posted:Hey Everyone, Doughnuts are nice but don't think it's anything like requirement. Everything else sounds about right. I had a car arrive while I was in training and it was nice to have but renting might not be worth it just to cover a week or so. The shuttles are very reliable and the DC Metro is great. Cars are good for getting out of the DC area though and for getting lunch somewhere besides the cafeteria.
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Aug 23, 2012 23:00
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Vilerat posted:You guys really wait till the last moment to get visa referral numbers for visitors You're going out to Benghazi, right? When did you submit your paperwork? Drop me a line at work (draperha) and I'll follow up on it tomorrow. Unfortunately we were at half-strength during Ramadan, and the whole government is closed down this week because of Eid. When are you supposed to fly?
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Aug 23, 2012 23:55
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the_chavi posted:You're going out to Benghazi, right? When did you submit your paperwork? Drop me a line at work (draperha) and I'll follow up on it tomorrow. Unfortunately we were at half-strength during Ramadan, and the whole government is closed down this week because of Eid. When are you supposed to fly? Emailed you! Vilerat fucked around with this message at 00:08 on Aug 24, 2012 |
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Aug 23, 2012 23:57
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the_chavi posted:Is this part of Crash and Bang? Or is this another class? Same course, but different purpose. Taught by the Mobile unit, right? (and i'm interested in places like that as a matter of principle). haggan posted:m a noob IMS, starting in the Sept 10th specialist orientation, and the info in this thread has really been helping me to get a grip on what I'm getting into. Congratulations! We look forward to having you! I'm here until November if you want to meet. I would say you may have the time (or energy), but for orientation, during a lunch? After hours you'll be busy getting to know your classmates and filing out paperwork and doing post research, etc etc. Honestly, I would just wait until October if you'd want to meet, that way you know where you're going, and start to get more involved. But I'll be available in September if you want to meet. Some other bits: * Alternatively you can bring coffee. Your class might (probably) chip in for the coffee. * Most of all, have fun! (and welcome to the FS). For your car, I think you have to take a taxi or the metro (which is ~2? long blocks from oakwood falls church). The first shuttle is at 0730 and I think that's not enough time to make it to main state. And Parking is like, $20 a day at Main State. if you have a zip car subscription, that might be an alternative. I don't know if there is one available, though. Some good advice that was just posted a page back was making sure your family is involved with understanding/being prepared for the overseas life where you're posted. I say that as I don't want to assume anything, but if you haven't lived overseas before, it can be a significant difference in quality of living. Your first two posts (which is ~4 years) are somewhat out of your hands/sphere of influence, so stress management for yourself and those that go with you to post is very critical. A former EFM/LES who switched to OMS in our orientation said being a FS spouse is akin to a 'full time job'. Maybe Closet Nerd can provide some insight from her experiences.
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Aug 24, 2012 03:03
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haggan posted:Also, I'm shipping my car, but it won't get there until mid-week or the following week (maybe bad idea, but now i'm stuck for it). should I rent a car and drive to the first day at State? Or is the shuttle reliable enough to get there before 0745? The FC Oakwood had a shuttle going to main state for the first day last class... so check that first. Overall the shuttles are reliable.
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Aug 24, 2012 03:17
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It has been a hell of a week, let me tell you.
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Aug 24, 2012 14:44
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