What's a good career move for me? [more inside]
posted by photo guy on Dec 16, 2009 - 8 answers

I'm very seriously considering the foreign service, but I've never been any good at languages. Will I likely be able to learn a language, with the intense training the Foreign Service provides, without a natural apptitude for languages? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Nov 18, 2009 - 7 answers

Are you in the foreign service? Do you like it? More inside. [more inside]
posted by GilloD on Nov 10, 2009 - 4 answers

Any tandem couples / trailing spouses out there working for the US Foreign Service? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 12, 2009 - 2 answers

Are there any bureaucratic alternatives to the US foreign service? I currently have a BSN. Fluent in Japanese, English of course, and nearing fluency in Spanish. Chinese and Russian are on the list but I'd like to first get better at my current languages. I was thinking about medical school but such a route doesn't inspire the same kind of passion I feel for stuff like international politics. Being a Foreign Service Officer seems like the dream job. However, I'm a permanent resident of the US, and acquiring citizenship as well as going through all the FSO requirements seems like I'll putting a lot of eggs in one basket. Also, I don't like moving around, I like going to one area and staying put ideally for decades but 5-10 years is fine. I'm only 22 but I'm old enough to know I hate moving around too much. [more inside]
posted by fairykarma on Aug 30, 2009 - 8 answers

US citizen, long time resident abroad, approached to engage in opposition politics by local representatives of this particular party. Query: what exactly counts as "service of a foreign government" from the viewpoint of The US State Department? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 15, 2009 - 17 answers

StateDepartmentFilter: tell me about entering the Foreign Service with a non-FSO significant other. [more inside]
posted by trouserlouse on Feb 25, 2009 - 5 answers

What do you do when circumstances require you to come up with a new dream job (and you’re not over the current/past one)? [more inside]
posted by Maarika on Dec 26, 2008 - 13 answers

US Foreign Service filter: What's it like to leave school and future career to become a trailing male spouse? [more inside]
posted by lockestockbarrel on Jan 16, 2008 - 19 answers

Security Clearance/Foreign Service-filter: I'm thinking of a career in the Foreign Service when I get out of college (T-minus 4 years), which I am just now entering. While metafilter has had questions about this before, but my situation is am bit different (so I'm hoping the Foreign Service mefites from those threads can chime in). The most important distinction is that I'm looking to be a Security Engineering Officer, or in some other sort of engineering related role (which falls under "Management" I believe) not a diplomat. Much more after the jump... [more inside]
posted by phrontist on Aug 8, 2006 - 12 answers

The US Department of State Foreign Service Written Exam is coming up in just about three months. For those who have taken it in the past, any suggested readings or study tips? For anyone planning on taking it this year, how are you preparing?
posted by NotMyselfRightNow on Jan 24, 2005 - 8 answers

I've decided to take the Foreign Service Exam next time it is offered, and I was wondering if anyone has taken the test/worked in the foreign service. Any advice? (a little more inside) [more inside]
posted by BuddhaInABucket on Nov 19, 2004 - 9 answers