I love the Foreign Service. That being said, I believe in full disclosure, and the Foreign Service, like any job, has its downs as well as its ups. Yesterday I listed the positives, and here are a few negatives.
5. You Have to Pay Your Dues
It doesn’t matter how many Ph.D.’s you have, you’re starting as an Entry Level Officer, and for some people, that sucks. You’ll do visa work, control work for visitors from Washington, and the other stuff no one else wants to do.
4. Tough on Family
My grandfather worked for another agency traveling from Embassy to Embassy throughout his career. One of his kids turned out perfectly normal, but two of them turned out really weird. I’m convinced that moving every 2-3 years was part of it. Spouses will have trouble with their careers. It is also painfully difficult to have a long-term homosexual relationship.
3. Isolation
I’d always heard about diplomats living in compounds and only hanging out with the elites, but I thought I’d lived abroad before and that it would be different for me. I was wrong. I’m not sure why, (maybe because Embassy communities are so strong?) but diplomats never get quite the level of immersion that other ex-pats seem to.
2. Homesickness
I lived abroad a couple of times before joining the Foreign Service, and homesickness never really bothered me. Nevertheless, I’ve found myself homesick much more frequently as a diplomat. I think it might be that I’m paid to talk about America, and the career sort of rubs my nose in the fact that I’m not there, or perhaps it’s that my previous travels were for limited durations, and the Foreign Service is the rest of my life. In any case, it’s something to think about.
1. Expectations
I think the biggest problem with the Foreign Service is that people come in with exceptionally high expectations. You’ve studied, you’ve been through a long, highly competitive selection process, and you’ve been dreaming about this job for some time. You’re not going to be an Ambassador or negotiate a treaty for a long time, if ever. I love the Foreign Service, but it’s a career, and you’re not going to love every single minute. For the last sixteenish years, the Foreign Service has had waning policy influence; there’s a lot of optimism with the new administration, so we’ll see.
There you go. I love the Foreign Service, but I thought you should know the whole truth. If you feel bad, go re-read yesterday’s post; that should cheer you right up!
This post is part of my unofficial Guide to the Foreign Service Exam.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Can you be close to 50 years old and try to be in the Foreign Service?
You can’t take the foreign service exam if you’re over 65. So if you’re close to 50, I’d say you’re golden! :)
Is a College degree required to apply to a Foreign Service Officer?
Also does prior Military service look favorably on you for the application process?
No & yes, I think. More info at http://www.careers.state.gov. Best of luck!
Taking the exam tomorrow morning, found your site today. Thanks for giving your truthful opinion. I definitely needed that :) From someone already in the field.
I am a FSO who just happened upon your blog. It’s awesome. Keep up the good work.
Great honest info! Thank you for your honesty.
I was wondering if you have any other suggestions of careers paths in diplomacy which offer better options for the LBGT community?
I have always dreamed of working internationally, being an Ambassador and helping the world yet after reading the link on #4 wonder if the Foreign Services is going to work for me.
Thanks again and best of luck pursuing your dreams,
I just finished an internship at a US Embassy I would very much emphasize that beyond some of the glossy perks of the job… it can actually be quite mundane. Take away the overseas aspect and some of the social perks, and its generally just another office job. I was in a Western European post and I was somewhat surprised how insular it was, you certainly aren’t out wheeling and dealing, and shaking hands with foreign big-wigs everyday. Maybe Ambassadors or DCM’s… but that’s a LONG path. Expect to sit behind a desk like any other government employee. Don’t get me wrong, being a part of the diplomatic community, and just representing your country abroad is a great experience. But, I would very much go into it with a level head and a very humble and open mind about your role in the Embassy and at State. If you go in overjoyed about landing your dream job, ready to tackle nuclear proliferation and global poverty… reality will sink in soon after arriving to your first post, and you will have to sit back and accept it, and just enjoy the ride. If you think you are too good to stamp paperwork because you have a masters or PhD, I’d suggest going back into academia, because in the real world EVERYONE has to pay their dues.
I have mixed thoughts on it being on the inside. It’s great not to pay rent, to have a dip passport, etc but what if you get sent to a country you hate? That’s 2 or 3 years of your life. And sometimes the gang that’s there during your tour are just bad seeds. It’s all timing. So I don’t like how out of control your life can feel, how big portions of your life are decided by others who couldn’t care less about you. That part is pretty hard, made harder when you are single with a lack of singles at post and where the locals are not an option. Being in the FS can be a huge sacrifice on many levels. People on the outside don’t realize how much we give up to do this.
I am right with you on the homesick issue. Never was before abroad, now I feel like asking for my “Mommy” at the slightest hint of trouble. Pathetic! But true… This career can bring you to your knees sometimes.
As an entry-level FSO, I would echo what Anonymous has said above. Those considering this career path should keep in mind that it’s not glitz and glam. In fact, the happiest people in this career are not those who are out to change the world or are policy wonks, they’re the people who want to live and work abroad as bureaucrats and enjoy the standard of living that the Foreign Service provides.
Throughout orientation training (A-100), the idea of the “needs of the Service” will be drilled in again and again. And while one would hope that the “needs of the Service” would be the individual needs of its collective members, this could not be further from the truth.
The Foreign Service is rigid, hierarchical, and no one cares what you did before you joined. Coming from the Department of Defense where you coordinated Theater Security Cooperation for a third of Asia and the Pacific? — you’re starting all over kid. You’re an expert on Afghanistan and Counterinsurgency Strategy? You’re heading to a Mexican visa mill and spending two years in a window weeding out intending immigrants. Did you work for the Wall Street Journal and author of several books in the past? No one cares. Your performance and value to the organization will be judged based on your efficiency in the visa window. Your goal: 20-30 interviews per hour.
To be successful within the bureaucracy, you can’t make enemies and can’t make waves. Humility and finding satisfaction some place other than work are key. The average junior officer will spend three years doing consular work, whether it is his/her cone or not. Based on global staffing patterns, the vast majority of those junior officers will end up in Mexico, India, China, and the Philippines. And good luck if you’ve just graduated from a top international affairs program. Most of your colleagues will have no training / background in foreign affairs.
And the Foreign Service will control your life. Where you live. Where you go. What you do. How people interact with you (especially while you’re doing visas). And for at least the first three years, your career may not match what you see as your personal and professional goals. If you express your dissatisfaction, or are overly ambitious, your area for improvement on your annual evaluation will be “interpersonal skills” or “adjust expectations,” which can be career killers.
I don’t want these comments to scare anyone off, I just hope they allow people to consider thoughtfully whether the Foreign Service is right for them, especially given the extraordinarily high “start-up” cost of launching a FSO career.
Another caveat: if you join the Foreign Service and you leave during your first assignment, you can expect to pay back the costs of your per diem during orientation training, your move to Post, and pay your own way home if you resign within the first year of arriving at your assignment (not including time spent in training.)
great post on the realities of life as a junior FSO. much appreciated and just want i needed to hear to make my final decision. thanks.
Oh for Pete’s sake I hope those grumbling fools up there didn’t scare you off. The FS is a wonderful career. Sure it is challenging, but rewarding nonetheless. I have been in awhile and have no regrets, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
My credit is a mess ie below 520. What can i do to get into FS despite a vey poor credit?
What are some alternative government jobs that are similar to a foreign service career?
Military: if gun toting doesn’t suit you… you could work procurement or a slew of other support roles.
Commerce Dept. : Foreign Commercial Service (Very similar)
USDA : Agricultural Foreign Service.
CIA
If you law enforcement suits you: ICE, DEA, FBI are all highly represented overseas.
Very insightful. Thanks for the post and comments.
Can you tell more about the isolation? Is that self-imposed or are FSO’s forbidden from leaving the compound? Is it not allowed or encouraged to get to know the local people, environment, and explore the area?
Doing a project on the reasons why you should rethink becoming a diplomat. This is the only really good website I could find. Thank you for your helpful, truthful opinion.
I am interested in becoming a FSO do they normally place FSOs in big cities? I’m hoping that if I make it through the interview I won’t be placed in some remote location or anywhere to rural. Also, I’m nervous about driving in a foreign country. Do FSOs often get with in walking distance or close to where they work?
( Regarding comment from myself above) I meant in the last line do FSOs get placed in housing within walking distance or close to where they’ll be working. Sorry, for all the errors in my posts but I’m in a rush :-) Thanks for all the helpful info on your site.
Fairlight- No, FSO’s do not always get to be in big cities. Many capitals around the world are not big metropolises. Especially during your first 2 tours as an entry level employee, you do NOT choose where you go, State does. That’s why you have to sign an agreement stating you are willing to go anywhere in the world. So you should think long and hard before you enter into this process if that’s something you can do. Also - the Department doesn’t really care if you don’t like to drive or have a car. You are responsible for your own transportation. So, no, they do not necessarily have housing in walking distance. So that’s also something you’d have to be flexible on.
Jonathan-
Isolation is part of foreign service life. Some of it is circumstantial and some depends on your personality. In places like Beirut, yes you are mostly limited to the compound. It really depends on the post and the security issues. In places where there are fewer security restrictions, you are not stopped from interacting with locals etc. Some people are more into that than others. But one thing is universal, and that is that you are out here alone (even when you have a spouse, kids) - meaning you cannot drive over to your parents’s house, attend your nephew’s baptism, etc… And that does give one a sense of isolation that at times can be hard to take. It’s definitely one of the downsides to the lifestyle. Also, if you are single and end up at a small “family” post, your life could be miserable. I’ve been in this spot, not fun.
Anonymous, thanks for the feedback. The only isolation that would bother me is being stuck in the embassy all the time and not able to spend time out in the country that I am stationed in.
We are just starting to explore the foreign service world, I’ve been reading the official sites and blogs and after reading your blog (awesome!) I do have a question. Any ideas where I could read more about the obstacles one has to face when applying for one of the foreign service specialist jobs? Thanks!
I am a U.S. citizen currently completing a doctorate in political science. My girlfriend of two years is a Philippine national getting her master’s. We were planning to get married in the next few years. My question: supposing that I became a foreign service officer, would it be considered a conflict of interest to be sponsoring my girlfriend for a fiancee visa at the same time?
There is a process for expedited naturalization of a foreign-born spouse of a foreign service officer.
Anonymous, I’ll be retiring from the US military in a few years. I’ll have a degree in music so I don’t think my degree would help me get this job at all. My basic question is, what are the realistic chances that I’d be seperated from my spouse for my first assignment? We’ve been seperated much over my military career and I’d really enjoy being stationed with her for most of my career if I chose this field. Thanks.
I will be graduating in may, i am a USA citizen. But i was raised in Portugal until i was 18, im now 24 and want to go back, i need my family. I should be taking the exam in June, if i pass would they take in consideration that i am fluent in Portuguese and place me there?
Any other state jobs i should consider, because the salary in Portugal sucks big time….
Junior - If you are also a Portuguese citizen, then no they won’t place you there. The local country cannot recognize you as a diplomat if you are a citizen. However they could (and most likely) place you in Brazil.
Though it may be painful but here are many chances to travel whole world and to be introduced with multinational culture.
Hello there, Happy Fool’s Day!
A man was in a bar. Hoping to strike up a conversation with a distinguished looking fellow sitting nearby, he said, “May I buy you a drink?”
“No,” said the man coolly, “Don’t drink. Tried it once and I didn’t like it.”
“Would you like a cigar?”
“No. Don’t smoke. Tried tobacco once and I didn’t like it.”
“Would you like to join me in a game of gin rummy?”
“No. Don’t like card games. Tried it once, and I didn’t like it.
However, my son will be dropping in after a bit. Perhaps he will join you.”
The first man settled back in his chair and said, “Your only son, I presume?”
Happy April Fool’s Day!
Great article about issues that aren’t mentioned frequently enough. I’m a Foreign Service candidate who stumbled across this thread while doing research. I’m excited about joining the FS, but have to admit I’m also a bit worried, particularly regarding #3 and #4.
My biggest worry is being a single FSO. There seems to be a lot of support for couples and families, but what if you’re single and unattached? How do you handle it? Is dating possible, particularly given the large number of hardship/unaccompanied posts? I’ll have to admit that I’m a bit concerned about this aspect…
i find this blog page so informative..One question here was nt answered. If you have a poor credit score , would that affect she clearance process?
Great blog, everyone! Lots of useful info.
I have seen just a few comments on family life, especially with young kids.
I grew up in Easter Europe, so I am not scared of living and working anywhere, but I have 2 elementary school kids, and I am trying to decide if this life style would be good or bad for them. My biggest concern, of course, is available schools and safety.
A friend of mine went into FS a couple of years back, and I recall her saying that she had to pick 3 posts from a list of locations, and that most of people got either their first or second choice. Is that accurate?
And the pay sucks from what I hear.
Great resource.
My father just retired from a rich and fulfilling diplomatic career, and I’m rather gung ho about following in his footsteps.
Sure, you’ll politically muscled, sent to tough countries, feel isolated, but in terms of sheer excitement value, I can’t think of a better career.
So glad I happened upon this in my quest for becoming a FSO. I’m ready to begin my career in my life after putting aside work and school to start a family, and my children are now older. The foreign services sounds like the right career move for me. I did not graduate with a BA in anything that should secure me a job with the FS but rather, I just had a well rounded college education with a social sciences major, took a minor, and took a language for two years to add to my proficieny in 2 others. It makes me happy to know that I don’t need to have some MIA to be seriously considered-we all start from the same slate and have to prove ourselves.
If one day being an FSO led to being an ambassador I’d be surprised, but that’s not my goal. I want to make it to a senior FSO, and be regarded as a citizen of the world having lived it and exercised it dutifully. Will definitely be bookmarking this site-one of the most resourceful after the State’s website. Thank you for having it!
Thank you for the extremely informative article. I was just wondering because an FSO cannot pick their international post for employment do the Foreign Service Officers sign a contract upon employment?
And if so, is this after they are told of their assignment and for what length of time?
Thank you!