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Dr. Red Ranger posted:Fred's and Rite Aid getting bought out with mass closures, Walmart had a mass firing in the pharmacy department and restructured to single pharmacist per business day wherever possible, starting salaries are down in retail from ~60/hr to 40 and dropping, further squeezes forecast because pharmacy schools can't slow down pumping people out or they collapse and PBM's aren't disappearing. It's miserable work and it's only going to get worse for the foreseeable future. Rumor mill has Walmart targeting $30-35/hr for new grads within a couple of years, which is unconscionably low for people getting out of 7-8 years of school with $200k in debt and will have to fight for 6 months or more for jobs. I've been stuck for nearly 2 years as a PRN only pharmacist because my big blue company would rather hire new grads they can skin alive than someone who graduated in 2015. So I average between 10-40 hours per month based on how many people need to take a vacation or have to retire because they had a stroke at work and scheduling wouldn't help them find coverage. Man, that sounds totally depressing. Courier would definitely be a change of pace, but I just want to echo what people have said about the challenges of being a courier. You are on the road constantly and work ridiculous hours (Saturday from 2 am until 8 am) because of having to orient your life around international flight times. I've seen some couriers burn out pretty hard - but then a lot of them love it! It all depends on your tolerance for travel and your family's tolerance for separation. With the amount of education you have, I would also encourage you to look at other jobs in the Foreign Service - everything from GSO Specialist to FSO Generalist. I'm not a courier btw, but a DS Agent. I work with couriers a lot. I don't have much advice on applying to this specific job, but there are some things that hold true for all gov jobs. Read the vacancy announcement very carefully and be familiar with what it says - particularly before any interviews or written exams. Your resume needs to be crafted to reflect the listed job requirements. I recommend going as far as using the exact language from the job requirements on your resume - just find a way to work it in. Also, once the process starts be very proactive in following up on the status of your application. Even if they tell you they will call you when it's time for the next step - call them anyways and make sure things are moving along and they haven't forgotten you. Good luck and keep us posted.
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Aug 2, 2019 02:21
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Casual Yogurt posted:All I want to do is live abroad and travel non stop. In June I hit 6 countries in 2 weeks, navigating the "coup attempt" in Ethiopia and delivering skateboards. For 3 years I was a passport courier in Los Angeles going to all the foreign consulates submitting passports for visas on behalf of others and now I work in international logistics but behind a computer not in the field. I'm going to put as much effort into this application as possible but with my lovely college transcripts and just the odds of 1000 apps for 2 spots, I'm quite certain I'm not DOS material. I don't think anyone is going to care about your college transcripts so long as you meet the minimum education requirements. Just go all in and cross your fingers. You never know what is going to happen with the hiring process - that's why it's so important to follow through. People applying for jobs like this are usually applying for every job like this. They may get selected, but then decide to follow a different opportunity. It's not unheard of for someone way down the list to suddenly get a class date - especially if they are proactive about it. Dr. Red Ranger posted:Thanks, I appreciate the advice! To be honest, I know it's a little selfish of me but I've always wanted to work overseas and see what was out there, but my education didn't allow a semester abroad. I never really wanted to just go vacation somewhere either; it doesn't feel right to me to go enjoy someone else's beaches or libraries or whatever as a tourist without giving something back. I like learning languages, mythology, food culture and so on anyway. I'll definitely look into that GSO/FSO work as well. Right on. Looking at the available jobs page (https://careers.state.gov/work/available-jobs/) I see IMS is also hiring. Also, if you think maybe you don't want to spend your entire life overseas but just get a taste of it, consider the Consular Fellows program - also hiring.
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Aug 2, 2019 06:24
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Dr. Red Ranger posted:So I've done some reading and took the FSO career track quiz, and I think the Political Track looks the most appealing, considering my interest in language, politics and being involved the the communities I visit instead of a passive observer. I don't mind the idea of being overseas for long periods of time, and I don't have any IT skills or proficiencies anyway beyond the basic stuff like word processors so IMS is out. It looks like your host nation assignment isn't determined until after training based on need, so having language skills beforehand don't necessarily help you if you have a particular nation in mind, right? If I've been focusing on Japanese, the fact that we don't seem to have much to worry about with them right now would make that assignment pretty unlikely and I should try and learn something else? I suppose they have to worry about the downstream effects of Chinese trade policy in the region, how our trade war is affecting that, and their apparent need to increase immigration to deal with their labor issues, but that's likely for the economic track folks. Unfortunately, it looks like medical Foreign Service specialists are either physicians, nurses or physician assistants, so my pharmacy degree wouldn't help. I'm not a generalist but I'll weigh in. Once you pass the test and get a orientation course date (called A-100) you head off to Northern Virginia for a few months of training. Towards the end of your A-100 they have "Flag Day" where everyone finds out where they are going. Prior to that you are given a list of every country currently waiting for a new hire to come out to them. You put them all in order of preference and then they direct you to one of the assignments. Your first two tours are directed and at least one of them will be a consular tour - generalists often work in areas outside their cone of "specialty." Your Japanese could have an impact on your assignment, but it could just as likely not. If they send you to another post with another language you will go through intensive language training before heading to that post. Language training can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years before heading to post.
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Aug 9, 2019 00:34
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Dr. Red Ranger posted:Huh, neat. I didn't realize they were willing to put that much time into someone before sending them off at all after the long hiring process. Do you have any opinions on the FSO test itself? It looks like the next date is ~Sep. 28, which isn't too far off. Yea, it's kind of crazy how much time State will invest in language training. The test is hard to pin down - it covers a wide range of topics and the grading criteria are pretty opaque. I'm often surprised at who does well and who does poorly on it. If you are interested I absolutely suggest taking the test - one again there is no penalty for poor performance except waiting a year to take it again. There are some practice tests available on the website I believe - maybe even an app? Once again, if you are at all interested, take the test.
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Aug 13, 2019 03:21
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A rare vacancy announcement for Diplomatic Security Special Agent position is coming up. These are only happening about once a year these days. Happy to answer questions.
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Aug 26, 2019 00:39
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problematique posted:I’m a dummy. I applied for this for shits last year and accidentally said “yes I’ve been rejected from a suitability panel in the last year” and got my rejection a few months later. It's not too late to try again! Unless...you just turned 38?
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Aug 31, 2019 14:03
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Dr. Red Ranger posted:All the FSOT practice material I'm looking at tells me this test is very, very focused on trivia from a wide variety of subject matter including world geography, governments, laws, and all sorts of esoteric things. Do people reasonably expect to make a >50% score on this? I get the feeling I should just wait later in the year for another test date because only prepping for this since August is obviously not enough with the FSOT later this month. It's really not that bad. I say, just go for it. Even if you don't pass it the first time, the sooner you start the sooner you can re-take the test next year. Then you will know for sure what the test is like.
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Sep 18, 2019 01:37
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Dr. Red Ranger posted:Well guys, I'm taking the FSOT on Saturday. Wish me luck. That's what I'm talkin' about. Good luck. Keep us posted.
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Sep 26, 2019 05:35
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problematique posted:You do? Not calling you out, just curious. I’ve never seen a RSO interact with a courier in five years being overseas. Were you at a hub overseas or in some other capacity domestically dealing with them? At my current post not often. At my previous post we had a hub and worked together frequently. They are also part of the DS family so we tend to invite each other to things when we are co-located.
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Nov 5, 2019 12:13
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DS is hiring Special Agents. Application window only open for 1 week. https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/550110300?fbclid=IwAR1wj4otzdF51zL-auAsuW5ZNnKTcvvxzAff4k4GlsOfZnp8amjdPjg9yTo
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Nov 13, 2019 14:39
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Xelkelvos posted:Quoting myself from the USA jobs thread I work a lot with SEOs but am not one myself. I could talk about what they do, but can't offer other insight into their hiring process. If you have questions about their responsibilities shoot me a PM.
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Mar 5, 2020 15:54
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zzonkmiles posted:Man, small posts suck. I will never bid on a small post again. I disagree! Glad we hashed that out.
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Mar 9, 2020 13:34
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Family is back in DC and I'm hunkered down at Post for the long run. Hoping this wraps up soon, but the world is looking pretty rough...
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Mar 26, 2020 01:23
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Pershing posted:This is probably a 'no', but is there a foreign service job for someone who works in mental health? I've got a masters in social work and I've been doing mental health therapy for years both in hospitals and in private practice. I'm thinking about a career change and thought why the hell not ask the FSOT thread. I don't think this is exactly what you are asking, but your degrees would still make you competitive to join the foreign service as a generalist if you are looking for a total change of work.
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Jul 8, 2020 07:42
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Tyro posted:Yeah kind of the same here (except I unexpectedly got promoted last year). I'm going to have to finish out my current tour unaccompanied due to the pandemic, so I'm not going to follow it up with a SIP, which was the original plan. We decided that was too much time away from the family. drat, sorry to hear about the separation, brother. I was facing the same thing and seriously considering curtailing. Directly i managed to sneak my family back and we plan to hunker down for our final year here. Smart move calling the SIP. I'll be in DC next year most likely. Be around? Been a while.
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Aug 30, 2020 16:11
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I'm on track for a DC tour next. The writing was on the wall so I put all my energy into a position that will be tolerable and get me right back out afterwards. Nice thing about bidding on DC this year is there is none of the pressure of bidding on competitive overseas spots.
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Oct 20, 2020 15:00
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Very short vacancy announcement for DS Special Agent positions. Happy to answer any questions anyone might have. https://careers.state.gov/work/fore...4bwtU7BSjhXkWz0
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Dec 2, 2020 04:55
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Tyro posted:Wow, this thread has been slow recently. Hope everyone is doing well. I'm hoping to finish the remainder of my career without going down there...Drop me a line if you are in DC, though!
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Dec 30, 2021 01:40
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sadus posted:Ummm, not to be too specific, but is there a preferred method to report USAID FSO's for domestic abuse (while they are leave to visit their family briefly every few years, super fun times)? Is USAID even really part of the State Department, I always just assumed it was for under cover CIA agents, but I guess he does something with power plants allegedly Sounds like someone you know or a personal experience? Are you at post? Tell RSO. Are you in the states? Tell police or USAID OIG. Abuse allegations are taken seriously regardless of seniority.
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Jun 15, 2022 06:50
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sadus posted:Thanks, a friends parent just got done visiting on leave and did some bad things, but already left the states for a new deployment by the time I found out. We will try all of the above Without knowing too many details, if a crime has been committed it should be reported to the police. If the police can't figure out how to approach this due to him being overseas, they should be connected with Diplomatic Security Service, primary law enforcement officers at embassies overseas. Hope you are able to get the assistance you need.
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Jun 15, 2022 18:17
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Tyro posted:I'm getting ready to PCS, but I should be around. Rolling through Rosslyn at some point? Swing by my office and I'll fix you a cup of coffee.
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Mar 14, 2023 03:51
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Tyro posted:Current status, in an airport bar on my way home for R&R from my SIP post. NOW list gave a lot of gifts to DS Agents this year. Might take another look and see if you can jump on sometime before the first Summer 2024 panel.
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Aug 25, 2023 09:55
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Tyro posted:I'll do that, thanks. The spots that were on the NOW last time I looked, the TEDs didn't really line up for me. For the first time in a long time, it looks like the bid list is coming out after the promotion list. Hit me up!
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Aug 26, 2023 02:14
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Carsius posted:Just got the email that I passed the QEP for an IMS role; time for more waiting! Congratulations! I'm not an IMS, though I spent 9 months as Acting IMO at one point, so I can't comment too much on the internal culture. There are definitely some strange characters filling the IMS roles. Great job with lots of benefits, so I say go for it!
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Dec 9, 2023 16:39
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