One of the most common questions I get is how long it took me to go from applying to hiring when I joined the Foreign Service. There is a headline page at the top of this blog where you can find that information, but based on the questions and page view totals, I know not many people see it, so thought I would share it here.
It is up to date to my current assignment. As a reminder, I went through the hiring process in the peak of COVID, so my timeline is likely a little slower than most folks might experience, especially the application to scheduling of oral assessment phases. The medical and security clearance timelines remain accurate. -Nick
Timeline:
08/04/20 – Applied for the Medical Provider position in the July-August hiring window
08/11/20 – Application status on USAJOBS website updated to notify me my application was referred for additional consideration
10/29/20 – MED HR with the State Department reached out asking for clarification about some part time work I did via email.
01/07/21 – Informed by MED HR that I passed the Qualifications Evaluation Panel, but due to COVID-19, no OA’s were being immediately planned at the time.
05/14/21 – Cold called by State Department, asking if I wanted to take a Virtual Oral Assessment due to a last minute cancellation. Was unable to due to work commitments.
05/25/21 – Called again, asking if I wanted to take a Virtual Oral Assessment due to another last minute cancellation, this time I was off and said yes.
05/27/21 – Completed the two day Virtual Oral Assessment with a passing score of 5.6.
05/28/21 – Received e-QIP invitation to start security clearance process, and Medical Clearance Paperwork. e-QIP was completed and submitted same day.
06/11/21 – Submitted Medical Clearances
06/28/21 – My family and I all received Worldwide Availability on our medical clearances
07/02/21 – Several of my references listed on my e-QIP notify me they have been contacted by the security clearance investigator. A few hours later, he calls me to set up an in person interview.
07/05/21 – Met with State background investigator regarding my security clearance application and e-QIP. Process was very smooth and the investigator was incredibly friendly.
07/07/21 – Background investigator calls again, asking for additional work reference due to one of my old bosses having apparently expired (yikes!). New reference is contacted same day.
01/12/22 – Notified I am on the FS Specialist Register (Top 3rd). I never received confirmation of my security clearance being completed, and never knew I was in Suitability Review. Considering I badgered them every month for updates with no movement even in early January 2022, this was a pleasant surprise. 6 months from security interview to register seems par for the course.
01/24/22 – Received/Accepted invite to April 2022 Joint Orientation. A whole 12 days on the register.
02/08/22 – Received/Accepted Salary Offer (Grade 3 Step 14 for those curious, which is the highest possible level for me to enter at).
02/22/22 – Sent Medical Clearance Paperwork for our newborn daughter (cannot be submitted until a newborn is one month old). Immediately got a confirmation email of their receipt. Figured this info would be useful for anyone wondering how long adding a newborn to your family orders takes.
03/01/22 – Baby daughter received her medical clearance for worldwide availability.
03/07/22 – Recived/Accepted “Final Offer” of employment.
04/11/22 – First day of orientation, combined 164th/210th SOAR and A-100.
05/17/22 – FLAG DAY! First Assignment, Nouakchott, Mauritania.
07/09/22 – First day in Nouakchott, Mauritania!
06/15/23 – FLAG DAY 2.0! Assigned to Peshawar, Pakistan for Summer 2024.
09/01/23 – Whoops…FLAG DAY 2.1! Offered/accepted reassignment to Yangon, Myanmar (Burma) for Summer 2024.
07/26/24 – First Day of 2 year assignment in Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar)
