How to Join the United States Foreign Service

Foreign service officers often staff U.S. embassies, like this one in Ottawa, Canada.

United States Foreign Service Officers serve either in the states or in other countries representing the United States. In a sense, they are United States diplomats. While a degree is not required, it does help your selection chances. The selection process is competitive.

Instructions

1. Register for the Foreign Service Officer Exam, also known as the FSOT (Find a link in the References section). Invitations to take the exam are sent out about a month in advance and test dates are held throughout the year. Most people will need more than a month to prepare for the initial exam, so begin your preparations a year in advance by reading newspapers and paying attention to world news.

2. Take the Foreign Service Officer Exam (FSOT). The exam lasts three hours and has a low passage rate. It tests all knowledge from pop culture, world geography, world history and English skills. About a month or so after the exam, if you have passed, you will move on to the next phase of the selection process.

3. In the next phase, write five personal narrative essays on topics such as leadership and managerial skills. You are given a due date to turn these in and they are submitted online.

4. If you pass the personal narratives, it is time for the oral interview portion of the selection process. You will be interviewed in person and take personality tests to determine your qualifications for being a Foreign Service Officer.

5. Finally, if you pass all of these tests, you are put on the Foreign Service Officer "waiting list." You will be offered a position when your name comes up with a position for which you are qualified. The entire process can take up to a year.

References

• United States Department of State: Becoming a Foreign Service Officer