Super Critical Needs Languages
The terribly-named “Super Critical Needs Languages” are Arabic, Mandarin, Dari, Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu. If you speak one of these languages, you can take a telephone test 4-5 weeks after the written portion of the FSOT. You’ll get a bonus if you speak one of these languages at a “limited working level” (a 2/0 for those of you familiar with the government scale). There’s no punishment if you fail, so try even if your language skills are very basic.
Personal Narratives
Applicants who pass the written portion of the FSOT are then asked to write several “personal narratives.” The questions ask for experiences that demonstrate the talents, knowledge, and expertise that an applicant brings to the job. Once you pass the written portion, you have three weeks to answer these questions. They shouldn’t be longer than 200 words, and you have to give the name of someone who can verify the story. Last year, the idea was to show abilities in the six “core competencies” that FSOs use for promotion: leadership skills, managerial skills, interpersonal skills, communication and foreign language skills, intellectual skills and substantive knowledge. People aren’t being asked for that specifically this year, but you may want to include it. I’ve also heard (admittedly, from a less credible source) that the key is including evidence of the 13 dimensions tested on the oral assessment, so that’s another option.
The Qualification Evaluation Panel
Your test scores, original application, and personal narratives are all sent to a panel of three Senior Foreign Service examiners (the much-maligned Qualification Evaluation Panel or QEP) who look at you as a “total candidate” to determine whether or not you’re invited to the oral exam. Most of this process has been included to allow State to consider resume experiences in addition to test scores. The QEP looks at each candidate and puts her in a rank order based on competitiveness as a “total candidate.” Management then invites everyone up to a certain number to the orals. There’s a lot of criticism of this new step. (Read Rick Polney’s account from the Foreign Service Journal for one example.) If you pass the test but not the QEP, you’re not told why. Both race and gender are removed from applications before they’re sent to the QEP; this isn’t affirmative action.
If I’ve missed anything important, please include it in the comments!
This post is part of my unofficial Guide to the Foreign Service Exam.
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T- thats wild man, congrats!! yea idk what their deal is maybe it wasnt about age.
what types of experience did you have and what did you write about? i could really benefit by learning all of the stuff i need to work on. best of luck!
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