The Foreign Service Journal, April 2013

12 April 2013 | the foreign Service journal State Releases a Mobile App for FS Careers I n January, the State Department’s Office of Recruitment, Examination and Employment launched DOS- Careers , a well-designed and user- friendly free app for anyone interested in a Foreign Service career with the State Department. HR/REE, as the office is known, has been an early adopter of social media and other Web-based tools for reaching potential and current For- eign Service candidates. The office began using social media in 2005 and has continued to expand its online profile ever since. Rachel Friedland, its recruitment marketing consultant, has been pushing for an app for several years. When the opportunity arose for funding through the Information Resource Management Bureau’s Innovation Fund, HR/REE seized it. Overall, the State Department has made great strides in shaking its longtime reputation as a technological laggard. Beginning in 2001, Secre- tary of State Colin Powell made upgrad- ing access to, and use of, information technology a top priority, starting with granting access to the Internet to employees on their desktops in Foggy Bottom and overseas. Today, there are numerous Twit- ter feeds, YouTube channels, flikr photostreams, blogs and Facebook pages coming out of the department and embassies worldwide, and State is now seen as a leader among federal agencies in this regard. This DOSCareers app was developed and published by MetroStar Systems, though all the content is provided by HR/REE. It offers generalist and special- ist career track descriptions, videos of employees from different tracks, Foreign Service Officer Test sample questions, and information about the selection pro- cess, including a flowchart of the exam and the hiring process (that could be a bit clearer in distinguishing between Foreign Service officer and Foreign Service spe- cialist steps to the job). The app also includes useful links to Diplomats in Residence and recruitment events around the country. These information sessions and career events have grown in number in recent years, and the app can help users find and keep track of what’s hap- pening in their area. Users can also set up calendar alerts for upcoming events. One espe- cially useful feature is an interactive map for events. The app’s name seems unfortunate, however, given that “DOSCareers” is not widely recognizable to the public, and the app is somewhat difficult to find if you don’t already know the name. In searches of the iTunes and Google Play app stores for “Foreign Service,” “Foreign Service Exam,” “State Department” and “Diplomacy,” the app did not show up at all. A search for “FSOT” does get you to DOSCareers , which is listed after a num- ber of unofficial test prep apps. A few users have expressed concern about the size of the app, rather large at 50 MB. However, early reviews are gener- ally quite positive. Foreign Service Journal Editorial Intern Jeff Richards, speaking as a member of the target audience for the app, commented: “I think it’s really great! I especially like the quizzes and the infor- mation about the tests. The app is very fast and extremely interesting and useful, and it has a great interface.” —Shawn Dorman, Associate Editor Attacks on the Press Mount Worldwide O n Feb. 14 the Committee to Protect Journalists released Attacks on the Press , a yearly assessment of global press freedom (or the lack thereof). The study documents an unprecedented rise in the number of journalists killed and impris- oned during the past 12 months, as well as the success of many governments in instituting state censorship and cracking down on independent reporting. “When journalists are silenced, whether through violence or laws, we all stand to lose because perpetrators are able to obscure misdeeds, silence dissent and disempower citizens,” notes CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. The Committee to Protect Journalists identified 70 journalists who lost their talking points Overall, the State Department has made great strides in shaking its longtime reputation as a technological laggard. Beginning in 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell made upgrading access to, and use of, information technology a top priority, starting with granting access to the Internet to employees on their desktops in Foggy Bottom and overseas.