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I am FINALLY on the register (OMS). Timeline: Application submitted and accepted Feb 2012. Passed the dreaded PNQs March 2012. OA July 2012. TS granted Oct 2012. Medical granted Dec 2012. (took longer than my security clearance) Register Dec 2012. I'm going on do not call status until August so I can see my kid off for his first day of kindergarten. I'm high on the register (5.9 score) so I've got a good chance at getting into the first available class after I come off do not call status (I hope). For comparison since I had 2 other applications going: FSOT passed 6/2012 PNQs passed 8/2012 OA invite declined 9/2012 I think? I applied under PD and then decided I'd rather do consular but still wasn't sure and was out of paid time off so couldn't really go anyway. Decided OMS would get me a really good look at the various cones and stuff so I could make a more educated decision and then mustang it if I wanted. Information Resource Officer Application accepted 7/2012 gently caress you email received about PNQs 9/2012 More proof that the PNQs are a mystery. I thought those were the best I'd written and it's the position I'm most qualified for with the library degree and digital archives and outreach experience. *shrug*. My preference is to eventually transfer to that, mustang is 2nd choice once I figure out where I'd best fit in. That particular IRO vacancy though looked like it wasn't as library focused and more marketing. So no biggie. So yay! Edit: #5 of 19 on the register. Miscreant Fromage fucked around with this message at 17:09 on Dec 17, 2012 |
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Dec 14, 2012 20:11
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Miscreant Fromage posted:I am FINALLY on the register (OMS). Congratulations!!
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Dec 14, 2012 22:08
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I'm going to be at FSI in February. Just mentioning it cause I know there's one or two people here joining the January classes. I'd be happy to share some beers and give out questionable advice to any brand new IMSs, or anybody else for that matter.
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Dec 17, 2012 18:51
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AKA Pseudonym posted:I'm going to be at FSI in February. Just mentioning it cause I know there's one or two people here joining the January classes. I'd be happy to share some beers and give out questionable advice to any brand new IMSs, or anybody else for that matter. I will be glad to take you up on your offer AKA. PM me your contact info if possible. Thanks!
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Dec 17, 2012 20:33
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AKA Pseudonym posted:I'm going to be at FSI in February. In the spirit of, I should be back in DC on R&R in the last half of January. If anyone's around we should meet up for beer o'clock.
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Dec 17, 2012 21:58
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You don't have a plat account so I can't PM you. No worries though. I already know somebody else who's going to be in your class, I'll be checking in with that person anyway so you should be easy to track down. We can talk more as the date approaches.
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Dec 17, 2012 22:06
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AKA Pseudonym posted:I'm going to be at FSI in February. Just mentioning it cause I know there's one or two people here joining the January classes. I'd be happy to share some beers and give out questionable advice to any brand new IMSs, or anybody else for that matter. Say hi to Pete for me. He's probably been wondering.
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Dec 18, 2012 02:31
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Well, the Foreign Service must wait a bit longer. Got my register letter in the mail for DSS Special Agent on Saturday. Not in a great position to get an invite anytime soon. Good luck to everyone ahead of me. I'll be retaking the FSOT in June as well. “Never, never, never give in!” ― Winston S. Churchill
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Dec 18, 2012 04:33
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astolfo83 posted:
Congrats! Almost there. Let us know if you get a class invite and when you'll be starting. A lot of us know people in the upcoming BSAC's. Bruxism fucked around with this message at 15:37 on Dec 18, 2012 |
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Dec 18, 2012 04:40
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astolfo83 posted:“Never, never, never give in!” Friends from an A-100 during the big hiring crush tell me one of their classmates took the exam like 10 or 12 times. Now that's persistence.
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Dec 18, 2012 09:54
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High five fellow non-competitively ranked DS candidate!
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Dec 18, 2012 13:38
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Zoots posted:Friends from an A-100 during the big hiring crush tell me one of their classmates took the exam like 10 or 12 times. Now that's persistence. Honestly, and I don't mean any disrespect to anyone here, since I don't know everyone's background, but I've always thought that if it takes someone more than three tries to pass, they should have to pass twice in a row to show it wasn't a fluke.
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Dec 18, 2012 14:35
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I feel like that about the bar, but not the OA. With the OA, other people can affect your performance in the group exercise (to an extent) and that alone could sink you. And, isn't everyone who reaches the OA supposed to be capable of passing it (that's what the QEP is for right?) So flip it around and you could argue that failing might be the fluke. Plus it's not a technical skills test. With the bar, if you fail it's your own fault. If you fail repeatedly, but then squeak by, that does not bode well for your knowledge of law. But we're not expected to go into the OA with substantive knowledge of practical diplomacy.
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Dec 18, 2012 16:38
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Business of Ferrets posted:Honestly, and I don't mean any disrespect to anyone here, since I don't know everyone's background, but I've always thought that if it takes someone more than three tries to pass, they should have to pass twice in a row to show it wasn't a fluke. What about people who pass the test a bunch of times but don't make it through for other reasons. I'm on my second go-round right now and am fully prepared to have to do this several more times if necessary.
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Dec 18, 2012 18:10
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Business of Ferrets posted:Honestly, and I don't mean any disrespect to anyone here, since I don't know everyone's background, but I've always thought that if it takes someone more than three tries to pass, they should have to pass twice in a row to show it wasn't a fluke. The QEP really adds a new dimension that didn't exist all that long ago. Seems like "good" candidates can routinely pass the written part but can be tripped up in the QEP or OA.
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Dec 18, 2012 18:20
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I'm taking the written in February. Did I see current FSOs in this thread offering to read drafts of the QEP answers for applicants? I'm getting ahead of myself, but I figured I'd ask.
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Dec 18, 2012 18:43
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Barracuda Bang! posted:I'm taking the written in February. Did I see current FSOs in this thread offering to read drafts of the QEP answers for applicants? I'm getting ahead of myself, but I figured I'd ask. Yeah - count me in for that too. Send me a PM if you have plat.
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Dec 18, 2012 20:22
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Yeah several of us are willing.
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Dec 18, 2012 21:27
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Barracuda Bang! posted:I'm taking the written in February. Did I see current FSOs in this thread offering to read drafts of the QEP answers for applicants? I'm getting ahead of myself, but I figured I'd ask. Ayup.
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Dec 18, 2012 21:46
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CherryCola posted:What about people who pass the test a bunch of times but don't make it through for other reasons. I'm on my second go-round right now and am fully prepared to have to do this several more times if necessary. Second, is a far cry from eighth - or even 10. Say some other guy was giving you a hard time and you failed the OA, you would analyze what you did wrong, and as a to-do for your next OA attempt, add how to interact (or negotiate) with difficult people. If you're suitable for the job, likely one wouldn't screw things up beyond a few tries. It's true for any job, or even college, really. People can make an assignment hard, but you should still be able to display/do the task if given another random group. P.s. Having useful skills like that can land you just about any [non super-specialized/technical] job; or promote you/give you more work opportunities pretty easily (provided you work hard.) (also fyi, being in former senior management, "the budget/economy" is really just an excuse doled out. It's you.) a more simple/FS line of thought: If you blame having a hard person in your OA for failing you, how would you cope if you passed and found out that same person turned out to be the chief of mission of your post? Skandiaavity fucked around with this message at 04:11 on Dec 19, 2012 |
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Dec 19, 2012 04:08
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http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf For anyone interested. Unclass ARB for the Sept. 11 Benghazi attacks.
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Dec 19, 2012 04:19
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Zoots posted:Yeah - count me in for that too. Send me a PM if you have plat. Diplomaticus posted:Yeah several of us are willing. the_chavi posted:Ayup. Well, you dudes (dudettes?) are awesome. Fingers-crossed that I'll be in a position to take you all up on it.
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Dec 19, 2012 04:28
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Skandiaavity posted:a more simple/FS line of thought: If you blame having a hard person in your OA for failing you, how would you cope if you passed and found out that same person turned out to be the chief of mission of your post? This is an amazingly insightful way of looking at it. My response would be, "it's a challenge that rubs me the wrong way, but rather than turn me off, it'd make me work harder to prove myself." In my experience, those that are hardest to impress are the ones most worthwhile working to do so. They might be a complete shitheel, but one way or another, it can only help to win them over. They didn't get to where they're sitting by being worthless. (At least, in the vast majority of circumstances.)
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Dec 19, 2012 04:56
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Homie S posted:http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf  We got that emergency DS med training, hope I never have to use it.
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Dec 19, 2012 05:23
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Ah yes. That class was... interesting. Freaked out more than one attendee. Could have swore the teacher was a goon, though. Short, stocky, glasses, neckbeard, anime t-shirt.
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Dec 19, 2012 05:32
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Homie S posted:http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf Missed this. This is why I made the decision to join DS, after years of sitting on the fence about the FS and months about DS in particular. I know a bit more than what's said in the ARB report, but the chance to actually be on the ground in this situation, and having that opportunity to make a difference in what the outcome is--that's reason enough for me.
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Dec 19, 2012 05:32
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Skandiaavity posted:Ah yes. That class was... interesting. Freaked out more than one attendee. We got it up at WTC from an old crusty DS lady who had her papers in. When she was telling us about her experiences responding to the Beirut bombings, I knew it was going to be a good class. There was another good AF story about a person getting impailed at a construction site near an Embassy or hotel. Dude lived apparently.
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Dec 19, 2012 05:58
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the only class we had with someone putting in their papers? Transportation/Pack-Out. THe person was literally retiring the day after the seminar ended. Needless to say, a lot of the information my class got was incorrect/outdated. The packout company was kind enough to double-check with me to confirm my UAB shipment. See, we were told we could only have basically, a 3 x 4 x 3 meter box.... very glad i got that rectified.
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Dec 19, 2012 08:57
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Homie S posted:http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/202446.pdf There is lots of sad drinking tonight in Tripoli.
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Dec 19, 2012 20:13
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the_chavi posted:There is lots of sad drinking tonight in Tripoli. The report also highlighted that there were a lot of brave Americans that day, who didn't think twice about stepping into harms way to help save and protect each other. To our colleagues there and elsewhere, cheers.
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Dec 19, 2012 21:54
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I am halfway through a master's program in South Korea studying regional security with a focus on the korean peninsula and was just given the opportunity to apply for a short trip to North Korea. I've long wanted to go, just to see it with my own eyes. But I'm also waiting for the results of a State internship app as well as the QEP. This is bound to complicate security clearance right? How much? A lot of the money goes straight to the regime. I'm so conflicted...
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Dec 20, 2012 00:10
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A study guide for oral assessments for FS specialist positions was just published. Check it out: http://careers.state.gov/downloads/fss_oa-studyguide.pdf
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Dec 20, 2012 00:35
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Having been to DPRK, It won't affect jack*. Unless you've been to several certain other countries; especially within 2 years of each other. * provided you just went there for tourism and have evidence to back this up. It's an instant red flag and be real honest how you got in - and out - of the country. Also, if you do go, register with the US Embassy and send a nice letter to the Swedish embassy. (in S. Korea or China) That will probably help your case. (and rear end, if anything goes wrong).
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Dec 20, 2012 00:40
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tismondo posted:I am halfway through a master's program in South Korea studying regional security with a focus on the korean peninsula and was just given the opportunity to apply for a short trip to North Korea. Read this and follow all the links: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_988.html
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Dec 20, 2012 01:50
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Man, what a day. At least I was able to go to the driving range at the golf club during lunch.
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Dec 20, 2012 19:00
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IMS OA date went out for me today. Three weeks. Need to stop rereading the FSS OA guide over, and over, and over.
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Dec 21, 2012 00:40
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Also, It may not be said but I just want to add: your "tour guide" is in fact, either an official or unofficial representative of the DPRK governmnet. They're not there to lead you, but to be eyes on you. Listen to them if they say 'don't take a picture' or anything like that. Have fun if you decide to go.
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Dec 21, 2012 03:31
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Here's a question I feel dumb asking: What is the FSOT perspective on marijuana usage? I don't smoke, and I haven't been near it since college, but I remember applications for LEO stuff where part of the polygraph were questions about recreational drug use, drinking, stuff like that. Does the state department ask similar questions? Is there an ideal situation to shoot for? I've been drug-free for a pretty long while now, especially since that sort of thing is good for the career, but is it even relevant?
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Dec 22, 2012 22:52
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Has anyone here applied for or succeeded in getting the Presidential Management Fellowship? My husband just got selected as a semi-finalist, and we're trying to find people he can study with in DC for the interviews in January or February. All the people I know who've gone through PMF did it long enough ago that we think the process has changed a lot since then...
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Dec 22, 2012 23:06
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the_chavi posted:Has anyone here applied for or succeeded in getting the Presidential Management Fellowship? My husband just got selected as a semi-finalist, and we're trying to find people he can study with in DC for the interviews in January or February. All the people I know who've gone through PMF did it long enough ago that we think the process has changed a lot since then... I was a PMF finalist in 2010. I went to the job fair and secured a few different offers, but decided to go with DS instead. I would be happy to discuss my experience with him. It's a great way to get fast-tracked into DoS (well, any department) civil service and opens the door to a shorter/easier FSO exam.
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Dec 22, 2012 23:59
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