Click here (http://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/ce) to read the vacancy announcement, and to start the online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is December 16, 2011.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 20 years old to apply and at least 21 years of age to be appointed, able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance, and able to obtain an appropriate medical clearance.

All potential applicants are strongly urged to read the entire Vacancy Announcement for all qualifications and requirements.

Career mobility opportunities at State include The Mustang Program, which lets employees compete to become Entry-Level Generalist Career Candidates. Generalists serve in one of five career tracks, known as “cones”:

• Management
• Consular
• Economic
• Political
• Public Diplomacy

A written application is scored to determine eligibility for the Foreign Service Oral Assessment.

Eligibility

• Tenured Foreign Service Specialists, grades FP 06-04
• Career-status Civil Servants, grades GS/GG 05-12
• At least 21 years old
• Have at least three years’ service at State

Since you will not have taken the FSOT, you will instead refer to your bachelor’s and/or advanced degree relevant to Foreign Service work.

You will also need a record of continuing education related to the Generalist functional cone you seek to enter, comparable in duration and rigor to a college semester, from among:

• Approved Foreign Service Institutes
• University or correspondence courses

Application/Info

The Bureau of Human Resources, Career Development and Assignments Office, Entry-Level Division (HR/CDA/EL) accepts applications year-round, although the FSOA is only given periodically throughout the year (in different cities).

As with the FSP, the basic application is the completed DS-1950 (Application for Employment), specifying in this case the choice of cone. Other attachments (again assuming no history of passing the FSOT) include:

• The latest SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action)
• College transcripts (unofficial or unsealed are OK)
• Continuing education transcripts or documentation
• Signed acknowledgment of the policy on failure to attain tenure within five years of a Career Conditional appointment
  (return to prior grade, with accrued seniority, and reassignment within the original skill code)
• An autobiographical narrative statement of about 1,000 words, emphasizing events and consequences in one’s personal and professional development, and constituting a writing exam
• A 250-word Statement of Interest describing one’s secret superpowers: how one would use prior education, experience, skills, and personal qualities to advance U.S. foreign policy in a new career

Of course, the Official Personnel File is also reviewed, so the eOPF must be up to date.

Selection and Further Options

To be covered in a later post.

Please note that you must be a U.S. Citizen to apply, and must be able to obtain medical and ethics clearances.

Click on the link(s) below for more information regarding qualifications and requirements, and to start the online application process on USAJobs. Applicants are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting an application package. Your application may not get full consideration if you do not follow the instructions as outlined.

You can also find these links on the Jobs in Iraq Vacancy Announcement page (http://careers.state.gov/iraq-jobs/vacancy-announcements).

• Support Services Specialist (DC): Deadline to submit completed applications is 9/29/2011.
• Administrative Specialist (DC): Deadline to submit completed applications is 9/30/2011.

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/seo) to read the vacancy announcement, and to start the online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is November 4, 2011.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 20 and 59, able to qualify for a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, and be available for worldwide service.

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs) to read more about SCEP, and to start the application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is September 30, 2011.

To be eligible for this program, you must be:

• At least 16 years of age
• A U.S. citizen
• Enrolled in a degree, certificate or diploma (minimum half-time) program
• In good academic standing at your school (minimum 2.0 GPA)
• Able to meet security requirements

You can also visit the Student Programs forum (http://careers.state.gov/engage/forums/student-programs) to post questions or read discussions about this program.

To be eligible for this program, you must be:

• At least 16 years of age
• A U.S. citizen
• Enrolled in a degree, certificate or diploma (minimum half-time) program
• In good academic standing at your school (minimum 2.0 GPA)
• Able to meet security requirements

You can also visit the Student Programs forum (http://careers.state.gov/engage/forums/student-programs) to post questions or read discussions about this program.

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/fmo) to read the vacancy announcement, and to start the Gateway to State online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is October 14, 2011.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 20 and 59, able to qualify for a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, and be available for worldwide service. Please read the vacancy announcement carefully for all qualifications and requirements.

Click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs) to read more about the Student Internship Program, and to start the Gateway to State online application process. Please note that the deadline to submit completed applications is November 01, 2011.

To be eligible for this program, you must be:

• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a full- or part-time continuing college or university junior, or graduate student (including graduating seniors intending to go on to graduate school).
• Have good academic standing
• Successfully complete a background investigation
• Be able to receive either a Secret or Top Secret clearance.
• Please read the entire vacancy announcement carefully for all qualifications and requirements.

You can also visit the Student Programs forum (http://careers.state.gov/engage/forums/student-programs) to post questions or read discussions about this program.

“Effective with the October 2011 FSOT, all language testing will be administered only for candidates who pass the Oral Assessment.  There will be no language testing prior to the QEP for any candidate.  All other policies and procedures applying to post-FSOA testing remain in place.”

This is very interesting because it necessarily means the Department is not giving bonus points for high demand languages like Mandarin.  I know the need for Chinese speakers did not disappear so I wonder what’s going on here.  Will let people know what I find out.

The Department is “still accepting applications for the following Foreign Service Medical/Health positions”.

So doctors and nurse practitioners aren’t flocking to an exciting like overseas.  Deadlines for Health Practitioners and Regional Medical Officers is October 16 and for Regional Medical Officer/Psychiatrist it’s November 18.

The Department is “still accepting applications for the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Office Management Specialist positions”.

OK folks, this one is a no-brainer.  If you still can’t beat the FSOT or FSOA this is your entry way into the Department!  APPLY and worry about the FSOT and FSOA later.  If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance you’re unemployed.  So why sit this out, vainly trying to pass the FSOT while you can apply to be an OMS and GET PAID while preparing for the FSOT?  Deadline to apply is September 2.

Last but not least, here is the list of all locations the Department will be offering the FSOT: