An American diplomat who represents the United States around the world is known as a Foreign Service officer. A person with this type of job is sent to a foreign country the United States. A Foreign Service officer is responsible for a variety of responsibilities while working in a foreign country.
He or she may be required to issue Americans replacement passports. A diplomat may also attempt to persuade a country to open its borders to American businesses. Granting a temporary visa to a foreigner wishing to enter the United States could be another job responsibility. All Foreign Service officers strive to build positive relationships with local governments in order to advance American interests and values.
A person must be between the ages of 20 and 59 to be considered for a position in the Foreign Service. Although a bachelor’s degree is not required, the majority of Foreign Service officers have one. It is not necessary for an applicant to be fluent in a second language. Regardless, being bilingual increases an applicant’s chances of being accepted as a Foreign Service officer.
The United States State Department is in charge of selecting officers for the Foreign Service. Candidates with strong written and verbal communication skills are usually chosen. Applicants should have a broad understanding of history, geography, government, politics, world culture, and other relevant subjects.
Candidates for Foreign Service officers can choose from five different career paths. They can apply for public diplomacy, consular, political, economic, or management positions. Foreign Service diplomats must be willing to serve in a variety of capacities, regardless of their chosen specialty. They must also be willing to live in any country where the United States’ State Department sends them.
Applicants for this type of government job must pass an exam that assesses their ability to work in the Foreign Service. Applicants must first pass a written test. Those who pass the written exam will be invited to take an oral examination. The US State Department uses this oral exam to assess an applicant’s communication skills and ability to make sound decisions in a variety of situations.
After passing the oral exam, an applicant must undergo a thorough background check. The candidate is invited to join the Foreign Service after passing the background check. The Foreign Service Institute, the official school for US Foreign Service officers, is then enrolled in him or her. The average training period is nine months.