Somehow, since I started this blog in the Summer of 2021, a few people have reached out to me on the AMA page and sent me emails asking some good questions. Although I have replied to them independently, their questions were fantastic and I thought I would start a little series over the next few
I am happy to post that this week I finally got my security clearance, apparently cleared suitability, and am now on the Foreign Service Specialist Register as a Medical Provider. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning on January 12th to find an email from REGISTRAR, in bold letters, congratulating me on
A few weeks later and still no news. When I passed my Oral Assessment in May of this year, the folks at the State Department that did my exit interview said they would be surprised if I had my security clearance by the end of the year, so this is expected. It doesn’t make waiting
It’s been a few weeks since I posted anything, and if there’s anyone out there that’s curious, there hasn’t been much movement. I am still in the security clearance process. I’m sure because my spouse was born and raised abroad (but as a US citizen in a friendly country), this gets more scrutiny. Considering half
About 10 years ago I was just starting my FNP program, when I was checking out a popular nursing website that featured a thread asking other NP’s, “what is the best NP job you have ever heard of”? One of the answers talked about an NP living in Manila, taking care of diplomats at the
If you’ve cleared the suitability hurdle, you’ve done it. No, you’re not quite hired, but you’ve cleared all the hiring barriers, and now you get to do some more waiting. A job offer and invite to orientation can come at any time. It can come the day you’re added to The Register, or up to
The finish line is in sight. If you have made it past the Medical and Security Clearance process (and every step before it), congratulations! You’re nearly there! The Suitability Review Panel is a group of individuals working for the State Department/Foreign Service, that reviews every candidates application/security package head to toe, and decide if you
Search some popular internet forums like Reddit, and you will quickly realize that the Security Clearance process is one of the most vague and time consuming steps in the Foreign Service hiring process. You will read stories about folks with previous drug use, dual nationality, lived abroad for a decade, and have a Chinese born
*Updated April 2024 to reflect the new medical clearance requirements. So you just passed the Oral Assessment and signed your conditional offer of employment. Congrats, you did it! You’re Hired!!! Oh wait….not so fast. Make no mistake, passing the Oral Assessment means you have cleared more hurdles than the vast majority of candidates that applied
So you applied for a job with the Foreign Service, and just got that sweet, sweet email telling you that you passed the QEP, and will soon get an invitation for an Oral Assessment (OA). Congratulations! I’m not sure what percentage of MPs or other specialists make it this far, but for Generalists the FSOT
