The foreign service refers to a country’s entire consular and diplomatic staff. Many people use the term “foreign service” to refer to the US Foreign Service, which is part of the State Department. Members of the diplomatic and consular corps perform a variety of duties abroad, including representing their home country’s interests and promoting international understanding and cooperation.
Historically, foreign service positions were filled through appointment, and they were highly competitive. Appointees tended to be wealthy, powerful, or both, and they used their positions to promote their own business interests abroad as well as represent their countries’ interests. Most countries have abandoned the appointment system, instead selecting only key positions for appointment and hiring other members of the foreign service through competitive job searches. Candidates are selected based on experience rather than political clout.
Candidates who want to join the foreign service usually need to do well on both written and oral exams. They have excellent resumes that include fluency in at least one foreign language, and many have at least a bachelor’s degree in foreign relations, political science, or related fields. Members of the military must also be adventurous, outgoing, and dedicated to their countries’ interests.
The importance of consular and diplomatic personnel, as well as the need for privacy and secure communications, is frequently recognized host countries, who grant them special privileges. Because there is a risk of abuse of these privileges and for foreign service positions, candidates must pass background checks to ensure that they will not have conflicting loyalties and that they will not be distracted from their work obligations or conflicts at home.
Foreign service test dates are scheduled on a regular basis, and those interested in joining the consular or diplomatic corps can inquire about the next test date contacting the government agency that oversees the foreign service in their country. Many foreign service exam study guides have been published to assist people in studying, increasing their chances of passing the exam and giving them an idea of the content covered. If hired, candidates will also receive government training to learn how to assist citizens abroad, the nuances of developing and implementing foreign policy, and how to deal with the wide range of situations that members of the consular and diplomatic corps may face both abroad and at home.