Civil Service Officers

So I talked in my last post about becoming a Foreign Service Officer at the Department of State. But if you don't want to go overseas to work, you can still work as a Civil Service Officer. And the best part? You work right here in Washington, D.C.

According to the Web site of the US Department of State,"To meet the challenges of the 21st century — and beyond — we need intelligent, creative, strategic-thinking, adventurous individuals who can bring their academic knowledge, professional and personal experiences, cultural awareness and appreciation, and dedication to improving the world in which we live."

So who qualifies?

Pretty much anyone, they need a lot of different people with a multitude of different skills. Check it out, I bet there is something that is just right for you.

I say, if you have a few minutes and are at all interested, check it out. I know I will- looking for a job is hard work, every little tip helps!


This is some more info from the State Department's Web site about the civil service officer's evaluation process:

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated on the quality and extent of your experience,
education, and training relevant to the duties of this position. The evaluation
will be based on information you provide in your on-line resume, your answers to
the vacancy specific questions for the announcement, and a review of the
documents that are requested as part of the announcement.

Interview for the Job
The names and applications of the highest-ranking candidates are referred to the supervisor or selecting official. Selection procedures are subject to Federal Civil Service laws, which ensure that all applicants receive fair and equal treatment in the hiring process.

Undergo a Background Investigation
All Civil Service positions in the U.S. Department of State require at least a secret security clearance. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a U.S. government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations;
unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law, drug or alcohol abuse;
or less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces. Investigations, which
usually take two to four months, include interviews with current and previous
neighbors, supervisors and coworkers. Depending on the nature of the job, you
may begin work on a provisional basis, pending completion of the clearance
process.