This will be the last AMA post for a bit unless I get some more that trickle in. I am thinking of applying for the Foreign Service, but I’m worried about what that might mean for my husband and his job. Would he be able to work abroad or is he relegated to stay at
“It’s a fire hose”. That is how a Regional Medical Officer that I befriended a couple years ago described the tidal wave of information and stuff you have to do once you finally get an offer from State. The past few days have been a whirlwind of information, planning, and telling family/friends about our plans.
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
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
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
