The Foreign Service Journal, January 2007

somewhat; 5 = agree strongly; 6 = non-applicable/unable to answer. A clear majority, 54 percent, agreed strongly that “The work I do at post is interesting.” Another 28 percent agreed somewhat. But there was less concurrence with the view that “The language/pro- fessional training I received prior to arriving was adequate to prepare me for my assignment here.” Only 42 percent agreed, while 30 per- cent disagreed (half strongly, half somewhat). It’s a good thing that most respondents like their work, because there is plenty of it for them to do. A plurality (41 percent) agreed strongly with the statement, “I regularly put in overtime to keep up with my workload.” Another 25 percent agreed some- what, while just 24 percent said they did not agree. Even more tellingly, nearly two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) said they and their colleagues have experi- enced “extensive staffing gaps requiring employees to cover for colleagues over long periods.” On the other hand, three-quarters said they were able to take reasonable amounts of leave and R&R. Two questions geared to un- tenured personnel elicited mixed responses. About a third agreed strongly or somewhat that “I am allowed to choose between finan- cial compensation and time off for my overtime work,” while a quarter disagreed. A 52-per- cent majority of entry-level officers “have received men- toring and have been given opportunities for profession- al development.” Just 20 percent disagreed with that assessment. C O V E R S T O R Y J A N U A R Y 2 0 0 7 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 27 Over 1,300 Foreign Service personnel completed the online survey, offering feedback on their experience living and working at more than 200 posts.