The Oral Assessment is grueling. It is the last hurdle before the finsh line (well, technically before the starting line). There has been an oral assessment portion in the Foreign Service examination process since it was instituted in 1924.
You have one day to show that you measure up in thirteen dimensions:
• Cultural Adaptability
• Experience and Motivation
• Information Integration and Analysis
• Initiative and Leadership
• Judgment
• Objectivity and Integrity
• Oral Communication
• Planning and Organizing
• Quantitative Analysis
• Resourcefulness
• Working with Others
• Written Communication
• Composure
You’re given three opportunities to demonstrate these 13 dimensions: a group exercise, a case management exercise, and a structured interview. I keep mentioning the 13 dimensions because they really are the only criteria used during the orals. Apparently, these make up the ideal Foreign Service Officer. The days when all you needed was a tie with Princeton colors are over. I’ll talk in depth about each specific activity later in the week.
Here are a few other resources that might help:
- Veteran Foreign Service blogger Consul-at-Arms has written two posts on the Oral, an encyclopedic one and another last week. I highly recommend both of them.
- There is a phenomenal Yahoo! Group devoted to the Oral.
- Take a look at the official info, if you haven’t already.
- The single best thing you can do to prepare is attend one of the official prep sessions. I can’t recommend these enough; they’re generally lead by a Diplomat-in-Residence at a local University who will walk the class through, step-by-step. They also have some cheesy but informative videos (that may have started as film strips–they’re brilliant!)
Get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, and relax the day before. Don’t chew gum, insist that you’re not allowed to talk about your last job because it was classified, or (if you’re a guy) take off your coat at the first opportunity. People did all three of those the day I took the oral, and they weren’t in the briefing when we were told we passed (although I admit it’s difficult to tell how many other people passed, everything is sort of secretive at the end). So, I’ll leave you with the traditional toast of the Oral Assessment, “May everyone pass today, and no one tomorrow!”
This post is part of my unofficial Guide to the Foreign Service Exam.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Man, you’re making me regret not joining the services.
I think I meet those criteria.
Meh.
On the opposite side from the commenter above, you’re making me actually consider applying. Whereas previously I had been led to believe that it was near-impossible, now that I have been reading your blog and your entries about the process, it has given me quite a bit of hope. I’d be an atypical candidate, but after reading your posts, I think I have a lot of traits that would be seen as helpful.
Thanks for the mention and the links.
I’ve linked back to you here: http://consul-at-arms2.blogspot.com/2009/01/re-foreign-service-oral-assessment.html
I am a college student preparing for the oral interview– I have not had any paid jobs other than retail employment as of late. Other than that I’ve done internships with the federal government. Do I mention internship experience or retail jobs to show that I have been employed or shall I just say that I am a college student and have not been employed in the field?