How long does it take to become a foreign service officer?

A safe bet is to consider the whole process, from your decision to apply to when you are offered the job, to take an average of 1.5 years. What do you do during this time? The FSO selection process consists of the: Application.

How old are foreign service officers?

To enter the Foreign Service, you must be an American citizen between the ages of 20 and 59 and, although there is no educational requirement to become a Foreign Service officer, the vast majority of applicants hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Do foreign service officers get time off?

Annual Leave Vacation/Personal Leave; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 30 days per leave year for employees assigned to the US; maximum ceiling or limitation of accrual is 45 days per leave year for employees assigned overseas.

How many hours a week do foreign service officers work?

40-hour
The basic workweek for Foreign Service officers (FSO) and Senior Foreign Service (SFS), is a 40-hour week, with biweekly pay periods derived from per annum salaries, during which employees accrue and charge leave under chapters 3 FAM 3300, 3 FAM 3400, and 3 FAM 3500.

Do foreign service officers choose where they go?

At this point in their careers, FSOs can settle into a niche area of foreign service and tailor their future placements to fit their unique interests and abilities. For example, some foreign service officers choose to focus the remainder of their time in the field working with a specific country or region.

Do Foreign Service Officers choose where they go?

Is a foreign service officer a spy?

So, let’s be clear: Foreign service officers are NOT spies. They do not work for the CIA, FBI, DIA, or anyone else in the IC (Intelligence Community). It is very likely that you’ll have some security clearance and deal with classified information as an FSO, but you are not a spy. You’re a diplomat.

Do Foreign Service Officers fly for free?

The United States government pays the travel expenses incurred by Foreign Service Officers and their dependents when traveling to overseas assignments. At overseas posts where the government neither owns nor leases accommodations, Foreign Service Officers are given a Living Quarters Allowance.

Is the Foreign Service Officer Test hard?

The FSOT is a very challenging exam with a low pass-rate (hovering between just 30% and 50% of test takers). So you should not underestimate the need to study for this test. In addition to a great overview of all the subjects, it provides a straightforward and highly-effective plan for using your study time well.

Is it hard to become a Foreign Service Officer?

The search for extraordinary U.S. citizens to serve as Foreign Service Officers is intense and the qualifying process is rigorous, demanding and highly competitive. If you are interested in becoming a Foreign Service Officer (FSO), you must first register for and take the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT).

What do diplomats do all day?

The main functions of diplomats are: representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending State. initiation and facilitation of strategic agreements. treaties and conventions.

How many people pass the Foreign Service officer test?

Only about 40% of applicants pass the Foreign Service Officer Test, and then only 40% of the remaining applicants pass the QEP essay round and are invited to the Oral Examinations. 20% of the interviewees pass the Oral Examination, which is only 3% of the original applicants. Most diplomats went through this process more than once, as did I.

When do I get my Foreign Service clearance?

July 15, 2016: After months of obsessive email-checking, I officially receive my security clearance and am put on the Foreign Service Register, a list of super-qualified diplomat-wannabes. We are ranked only by our Oral Examination scores, so many people will make it this far and still never receive a job offer.

How does the Foreign Service Interview Process Work?

I annoy my friends with constant in-depth explanations of the three part, all-day Oral Examination, which involves a timed group negotiation challenge, a situational one-on-one interview, and a written case study. Evaluators watch silently throughout the day, and even the lunch break feels like a test.