So there is more than one way to work in the government. It doesn't always mean working in Washington, D.C. and sitting in an office doing mysterious government things. There are thousands of Americans working overseas right now as diplomats.
I know many Americans are angry about the current foreign relations of the United States and are upset about the way Americans are viewed by other cultures. Well, don't just sit there! do something about it. The first step to becoming a government employee overseas is by taking the Foreign Service Exam.
Registering for the Foreign Service Exam is the first step of the process. The registration process is relatively simple. You can do it online and it takes about two hours to complete. The hardest part is choosing which track is right for you. Your choices are Consular Affairs, Economic Affairs, Management Affairs, Political Affairs or Public Diplomacy. Make sure you fully understand what each of these do, because once you choose one you can't switch to another track.
After you register and pass the exam, (don't freak out if you fail the first time or two- most people do!) The last step of the testing process is an oral assessment to make sure you have teh knowledge, skills and ability to perform well in the Foreign Service.
After you get through the oral assessment and are accepted into the Foreign Service, you get medical clearences and security clearences and you're ready to serve the United States overseas.
If you decide foreign service isn't for you, there's always civil service. But more about that later.
Foreign Service Exam
Some Advice
Hello all, currently there's been no new updates in my job search. I've been trying to make contact with my connections, but busy people with jobs are always so hard to contact. Of course, as my mom never forgets to tell me "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." She has a point (I hope she never reads this post or I won't hear the end of it). You got to keep calling and e-mailing to show your determination. I always struggle with this aspect, because I always feel like I'm being a bother. But in the end, you might be a pain in that person's rear, but you're showing them how determined you are, and that usually reflects pretty well on yourself. However, always remember to be TACTFUL and RESPECTFUL. Recently, I have had trouble with various people not getting back to my first e-mail so I'll just keep sending the same e-mail over and over again until I finally get a response. Be persistent and don't give up.
Another word of advice for my readers who aren't quite ready to search for full time employment but may potentially be interested in politics or government. I would strongly recommend, especially for would-be politicians, to get some kind of internship in it before hand. Get exposure. Politics especially can be a rough and tumble world, and sometimes things get ugly. You should do some sort of internship or volunteer work to get acquainted with it before you dedicate your life to it. I have seen some interns I have worked with who are just completely alienated by the whole process. Its better to learn that before you decide to dedicate your entire college career to it. No matter what you think as a third person observer, you might find that after you actually have participated in the process and seen it up close that you hate it. Find out as soon as possible. It would be awful to graduate, work in politics and/or government and discover that you are miserable.
Of course, you might be a real sicko like me and find it absolutely amazing and thrilling. I have loved every minute of my experiences in the wonderful world of politics. I've seen the glamorous side of politics and I've seen the hidden, deceptive, manipulative side up close and I love it for both of them. But you may not. Find out!
The Democratic Primary Muddle
To my dismay, I'm starting to think that this Democratic race may not be settled until the convention. I discussed this in my last post and how it is really screwing up my plans after I graduate. I've decided that the momentum is with Senator Barack Obama, and I think he has the better chance of being the nominee, so I've decided I'm going to start looking for jobs with his campaign. It is a risk, because certainly Senator Hillary Clinton cannot be counted out yet. However, things certainly are not looking good for her.
So as I begin my job search, this first thing I've done is to reconnect with my contacts and look for new ones. I am not too picky about where I end up, I just want to end up somewhere where I am getting paid, preferably close to an urban area because I am definitely a city person. What is nice for me is that the Obama campaign website has a lot of easily accessible information about jobs right there. When I looked at the Clinton website, I could not for the life of me find any information for those looking for employment. Its really nice that the Obama campaign puts all of that information right up front, and they even give me an e-mail address where I can send my resume to.
Anyway, I'll be back next week to talk more about my job search. I've just gone through a real tough spot as far as school work goes. I had so many papers and things due, so now I've got some time to really buckle down and focus on my job search.
Looking for a Job in Government
President George W. Bush released the budget earlier this month. And although it isn't the perfect budget, it calls for the creation of more than 2,000 new jobs in government. Now, this is pretty exciting for me. I will be graduating in May and I will be looking for a job, actually I already am looking. I would like that job to be in the government, but more specifically on Capitol Hill.
I help in my quest to find a job, I have joined many job search mailing lists and Web sites. Here are a few that I find especially helpful.
JobFox- This Web site allows you to create a personal profile and be matched to jobs that best fit you.
DCjobs- This Web site is very similar to JobFox.
The number one way to look for a job in government (or anywhere else) is through networking. If your employer can connect you to someone he or she knows, then you are more likely to land an interview, and possibly a job. Moral of the story, never miss an opportunity to network in Washington, D.C. I know I don't!
Living in the city...
And so the semester begins. This is my last semeter at Kent State University, but I am spending it interning in the city. Yes, Washington, D.C. Let me just say, I love this city. It is amazing.
Last Tuesday was "Fat Tuesday," but it was also "Super Tuesday." Super Tuesday is the most important day of the presidential primary season. This year 22 states cast votes. Usually after Super Tuesday, a front-runner emerges. Many states want to be part of super Tuesday because they feel that their voice gets heard more with an early voting date. Well, not this year. The democratic vote is split almost 50/50 between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton. It looks like those states voting later are going to be the ones that matter most. It makes me pretty excited to cast my vote in Ohio on March 4.
Back again
Hello all, I'm back for my final semester blogging for Experience. I'm a Senior in my last semester and while I plan to go to Law School, I made the decision to take some time off before going to law school. Therefore, I am going to be looking for a job after I graduate. Since this blog is about working in government, I thought a great theme for my final semester is to blog about my job search and how its going. So each week, I'll be writing about my experiences on the government/political job market.
Its kind of terrifying not having a job yet as graduation inches closer. I know a few friends who have already landed big time jobs after their graduation. However, I comfort myself with the fact that I know an even greater number of friends who haven't got the slightest idea what they're doing after graduation. I am luckily in that I know exactly what I want to do. My problem is that I don't WHO to apply to!
Let me explain. What I want to do after graduation is to work for the Democratic nominee for the President. I feel like I will be a fantastic candidate. I have internship experience with two campaigns, one Presidential campaign and one U.S. Senate campaign. Plus, I have a few connections who I think could definitely help me land a paying job on the campaign. So, I've pretty much put all my eggs in that basket. The problem is, and if you've been following the race for the nomination you already know this, I don't know who the hell to apply for! The race for the Democratic nomination is nearly deadlocked! It could happen that there will be no clear winner and the nominee will have to be decided at the Democratic National Convention. When is this convention? AUGUST! I graduate in May! So if there is no nominee, who do I apply to? I love both of them, and I have trouble on settling on a favorite. So if this scenario comes to fruition, then I suppose I will just have to pick one and hope that they win the nomination. Of course, once there is a nominee, there is no reason to suspect that he or she won't snatch up all the employees of the other contender. However, it would just be nice if I knew exactly who I was applying for.
As it is now, I am just waiting and hoping that this situation will resolve itself soon, so I can get to work finding a job! Not only would such a deadlock hurt my job situation, but more importantly I would not be good for the Democratic Party at all. So, I'll be waiting, and hopefully I'll have some readers following my journey on this blog. If you're a Republican, hopefully you can still enjoy this blog. This blog will be more about my job search, and it won't get too partisan so hopefully you can enjoy this blog whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Independent or Third Party.
