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Speak a Foreign Language
The Foreign Service needs people who speak foreign languages. If you speak a common language, like Spanish, you add .17 to your oral score (boosting your 5.25 to a 5.42). State also designated a few languages as “critical need languages” or “super critical need languages” that will earn you .4 points. Arabic (and only Arabic) will earn you a whopping .5 points! (Thanks to Walker and Mark!) You have to speak the basics of the language in an all-or-nothing phone test. I know at least one young officer who learned Turkish just to get that big bonus; right now she’s happily employed.
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Veterans Preference
I’m going to admit that I don’t know a lot about how veteran’s points are given. As per the FSOA Yahoo! Group, “The increase for veteran’s preference ranges from 0.17 to 0.35 additional points, depending on a complex ranking system. Not all current or former members of the military will qualify for veteran’s points: the BEX [Board of Examiners] system follows the same requirements and restrictions (active service, service period and location, injuries suffered, etc.) as the rest of the federal government.” I’ve never met anyone who joined the military for these points, but if I do, that person will be my hero.
Ok, you got a great score on the oral exam, you got some extra bonus points, but you just have to get two final clearances (now you know why I planned a month to talk about this process). These clearances generally take about two months, but can take longer if you have complications.
Medical Clearance
You have to be able to show that you’re capable of being world-wide available. You don’t have to be in perfect health, but you have to be able to manage any medical conditions you may have in the worst circumstances in the world. I’m not a doctor, but State has an e-mail you can contact at medclearances@state.gov
Security Clearance
When I turned 18 I went to register to vote. I planned on registering as a communist, because I thought it would be HILARIOUS. My 11th grade government teacher happened to be doing the registering, and he refused to register me as a communist. Thanks to him I instead became a republican and eventually got security clearance. In retrospect, I am so grateful to that teacher. The final step of the process is getting a Top Secret clearance from Diplomatic Security. Law enforcement types will interview you and verify your former employers. Tell the truth. I know officers who have smoked a lot of marijuana, but I don’t know any who lied during the security process. I don’t know that being a former communist will make you ineligible, but I’m glad I didn’t take that risk, despite how hilarious it would have been.
This post is part of my unofficial Guide to the Foreign Service Exam.
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First of all, I just wanted to say thanks for your blog. It is wonderfully helpful and a great service.
I would like some clarification on the language bonus. It is my understanding that profeciency in any ‘Critical needs language’ results in a boost of .4 points AFTER passing the Oral. For example, boosting a 5.25 to 5.65.
However, regarding the ‘Super Critical Needs Languages,’ I understand that they are also worth a .4 (or .5 for Arabic) boost. In addition, the SCNLs are tested after passing the FSOT, but before the QEP review and before the Oral Assessment, and thus can increase your value in the eyes of the QEP.
So the differnce between SCNLs and CNLs, if I understand correctly, is that the profeciency in the SCNLs can help someone get invited by the QEP to the Oral? Do the SCNLs also affect your performance in the Oral Assesment? As in, are they more likely to pass someone who speaks a SCNL?
Thank you for taking the time to write these articles, but I have a question regarding the point bonuses.
If you know multiple languages, say for example German, French, and Russian (or Arabic), would that be +.84 for all, or just +.4 for the CNL?
I plan taking a few courses in a nonlatin alphabet language before I leave college regardless of whether or not it boosts the score, but I am curious to how you would figure out the bonus if you were to pass the phone test for multiple languages.
You only get points for the highest rated language. If you know Chinese, Russian, and Spanish, you only get .4 boost.
After all, State can really use only one language at a time.
And also, I believe Arabic is a .5 boost
Thanks for the comments, and for pointing out the Arabic omission. I’m changing it asap.
@Matthew - that’s right; SCNLs won’t help you pass the orals, but they will add points to a passing score.
@Anonymous - thanks or your question and good luck with your studies!
@Mark - thanks for answering the anonymous question!
Maybe you answered this somewhere else, but if you pass the written portion and then fail the oral assessment, do you have to retake the written portion in order to reapply? Thanks.
Does the Foreign Service employ a polygraph?
Can anyone confirm Mark’s comment that knowing multiple languages improves your score by only the points assigned to the highest rated language?
Couldn’t State use your multiple languages by rotating you between posts that utilize different languages?
Even if it doesn’t improve your score and thus your position on the register after passing the oral exam, could speaking multiple languages still boost your appeal to the QEP in order to get an invite to the oral exam?
I doubled majored in Chinese and International Relations and am currently finishing my second year of law school. I plan to start studying Farsi soon. Would my time be better spent brushing up on my Chinese?
I have the (unfounded?) impression that although Chinese (Mandarin) is still a Super Critical Needs Language, it’s burgeoning popularity among undergrads renders my Chinese ability not all that remarkable.
I’d appreciate anybody’s thoughts on the above. Thanks.
You’re awesome..
If you have scnl skills - will they still rotate you out of that area? (Hindi) or will you typically always be posted in (Hindi speaking) countries - India, Nepal, Mauritius…
If I PREFER to use my second language - thats one of my interests - what are the chances of being posted elsewhere? (I don’t quite understand the 2 years - then rotate - is it mandated?)
Thanks!
Hello everyone.
I am considering taking the foreign service exam after I finish my graduate degree here in Germany.
I was just wondering if the State Department is even interested in foreign language ability in European languages. I speak German, French, Spanish and Dutch (and of course English) fluently.
Would they take this into consideration or is this a minor detail for them?
Thanks for blogging! Very helpful!
@voice of reason Yes, you start over at the beginning. It took me three times and it was worth every minute. Most take it multiple times.
@anon1 Not that I know of, but don’t lie.
@anon2 You can only get points for one language. It is good to learn/know more than one lang, but you’ll only get a bump up for one for purposes of the register.
@Greg You’ll be rotated out. SCNLs only are mandated to serve once as an entry-level and once as a mid-level at a post where they can use that lang (per an agreement they sign). You are still worldwide available.
@Brenton You can still get a bump up after you pass. As for passing the QEP, I got in with Spanish. Many French speakers go to Africa; Spanish & Portuguese-speakers to Latin America. Still lots of posts to fill in Europe, and your lang. skills prove you can learn others as needed/desired.
@ IrishEyes, Thanks!
Hello all!
I just took the oral portion of the assessment and received a 5.20! I passed the interview and written portions of the assessment, not receiving a passing score on the group. Does anyone have any suggestions for my second attempt? Thanks!
I actually joined the communist party when I was in the 8th grade as a joke, but now I am thinking about being a FSO would that be a big deal?
So the way I understand it is that you are tested on the SCNL before the QEP. But when? I passed the June FSOT and I turned in the Personal Narratives a little over a week ago, but I haven’t heard a thing about any language testing. Is there something I’m missing? Or is it some sort of tacit failure notification?
jkeel you are definitely missing something. I got multiple emails about the SCNL right on the heels of my email linking me to my congratulatory letter. I would start emailing folks.
Hegemonist / All
Many thanks for your very informative blog…. super helpful. On the scores, two points - if a 5.25 is a pass, what is the subsequent distribution towards 7? Related to this, does anyone know what a competitive score is for the Political Cone at the moment? And yes, I’ll start Arabic….
Hello all,
Does anyone know if having a master’s degree does anything to boost your chances of getting the job?
Hello,
I am an alum of the AmeriCorps program and have heard that this gives me “extra points” when applying for federal jobs. Has anybody else heard this? True?
I wonder if you are getting confused with Peace Corps, or if Americorps has the same equity. Peace Corps and FS specialists can apply for the Mustang Program which allows them to basically jump right to the OA and not have to take the FSOT or go through the QEP. Plus if they pass the OA, no waiting on the register. You go right into the very next A-100. Not bad.
I’m not sure how you apply if your Peace Corps (or possibly Americorps in your case). For FS specialists a cable is sent out once a year I think. I would call BEX and find out what the case is for you.
Good luck!
I am 22, have a MA degree in International Development, speak Arabic, French and Russian yet, the QEP still found me unqualified to proceed to the Oral Exam. Whatever the folks at DoS are smoking, I’m sure glad the people in the private sector are not.
United States Foreign Service, a sad fucking joke.
I passed the foreign service written exam in 1993 but never tok the orals as I chose a divergent career path in business. If I were to rekindle my interest in becoming a foreign service officer would I need to re-take the written or does that passing grade still count allowing me to move directly to the oral exam?
I wish I had the guts to register as a communist.
Hello all,
I have a question about languages. I am bilingual in English/Spanish, which is what I listed on my application. I did at one time study Arabic and rekindled it a bit when I lived in the Middle East, but I believe my skills are so basic they aren’t even worth mentioning, so I didn’t list Arabic in my initial application. I am interested in learning Arabic fluently and would gladly attend classes, but since it’s too late to take the SCNL test (I passed the written and now am working on PNs), should I bother starting it now (for purposes of being a more attractive candidate) or just wait for the opportunity to take classes once I’m hired? Do I have another chance to explain my language experience/skills apart from the initial registration application? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!
I am 23 and very interested in taking the FSOT. I was simply curious about the profile of most entry level FSO’s… do they possess masters degrees? How old are they (avg)? etc…. I would love to know. I received a B.A in Political Science, Lived just about everywhere, and speak Spanish, French, and Portuguese fluently. I’m uneasy about going through what appears to be an arduous process, especially if I’ll be deemed unqualified for being too young or lacking in relevant work experience at the QEP level. Any clarification would be great! Thanks
Hegemonist: Thanks so much for your blog. It has proved wonderfully helpful as I’ve prepared to take the FSOT in the upcoming June window.
I have a question about security clearance. I have terrible credit, including a few delinquencies on some student loans. I’m really worried about that ruining my chances of getting security clearance for the FS. I’m working on repairing my credit, and expect to take the FSOT at least once before continuing on in the process–but I’m wondering whether 1 year will be enough time on those delinquencies to pass security clearance. Any idea how far back they look at your credit, or how recent credit problems need to be to be a problem?
Thanks!
(Oops — I meant, I plan to take the FSOT at least once MORE …)
Anonymous mentioned the Mustang Program.
Could The Hegemonist, Anonymous, or anyone else, please elaborate on the Mustang Program as it applies to Peace Corps volunteers?
Thank you
The tracts are overloaded with people that have passed the OA and are now on the Register. Whatever hiring was done, it didn’t do much. For instance, there are currently 177 on the Public Diplomacy Cone. So unless you have an amazing score after the OA, don’t even bother.