Foreign Service Officers

Employers

The Foreign Service isn't a single organization. Prospective officers actually apply to join one of two different agencies: either the Department of State or the Bureau of International Information Programs. The Department of State develops and implements foreign policy, while the Bureau of International Information Programs explains these policies and actions to the world by engaging in public diplomacy. When hired, officers are offered an appointment to one of these agencies. There's very little moving between agencies. About 14,400 Foreign Service Foreign Service officers work in Washington, D.C., or are stationed in more than 170 foreign countries that have U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions.

Starting Out

Many people apply to the Foreign Service directly after finishing graduate school through the USAID's Foreign Service Junior Officer Program, while others work in other government agencies or professions. (USAID is a government agency that "leads the U.S. government's international development and disaster assistance through partnerships and investments that save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people emerge from humanitarian crises and progress beyond assistance.") Some serve with the Peace Corps or the military, gaining experience with foreign affairs before applying, or they work as teachers in American-sponsored schools overseas. Some work as Congressional aides or interns.

Before being offered a job with the Foreign Service, you must take and pass the Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT), which is administered three times per year. The FSOT is a computer-based test that consists of four separate sections: Job Knowledge, English Expression, Situational Judgment, and Written Essay. The U.S. Department of State offers a practice test (https://careers.state.gov/fso-practice-test-main-instructions) to help applicants prepare for the exam. The most-qualified candidates are invited to take the FS Officer Assessment, which includes three components: Case Management Exercise, Group Exercise, and Structured Interview. Candidates who receive a passing score receive a conditional offer of employment and move to the next step, which involves meeting minimum medical qualifications, passing a security clearance background investigation, and receiving a positive evaluation from a suitability review panel.

But completing these steps doesn't necessarily mean employment; passing candidates are placed on a rank-order list based on their test scores. As jobs become available, offers are made to those at the top of the list. Applicants receive additional credit for language ability in certain languages and being a military veteran.

The number of positions available varies from year to year; typically, thousands of people apply for fewer than 500 positions. The Foreign Service has been known to cancel its annual exam because of too few job openings.

The U.S. Department of State publishes a list of 11 qualities it seeks in a Foreign Service Officer candidate. Visit https://careers.state.gov/career-paths/foreign-service/dimensions to view the list.