The Foreign Service Journal, November 2005

Problems with FSI Tests I recently completed a 10-week internship at Embassy Vilnius, and my superiors there suggested that I consider joining the Foreign Service as an FSO. Between such a sugges- tion and an FSO name-badge lies a difficult obstacle course: the Foreign Service Written Exam and Oral Assessment. Some time ago I read an article titled “State Department Struggles to Fill Posts. Diplomats Don’t Want Jobs in ‘Hardship’ Areas,” in the Houston Chronicle. The article stat- ed that for the 2002 assignments cycle, there were no bidders for 74 mid-level positions. Sixty percent of U.S. embassies and consulates are designated hardship posts for reasons including security threats, poor hos- pitals and schools and oppressive weather. From Nigeria to Kazakh- stan, U.S. missions report a vacancy rate 50 percent higher than in more developed countries. The 2005 list of Historically Difficult to Staff posi- tions does not show improvement in the State Department staffing short- ages across the globe. The current method of staffing the State Department was okay when Benjamin Franklin was sent to Paris. Times have changed, but State human resources management has not. The State Department’s Board of Examiners actually accomplishes only randomization of FSO selection to prevent staffing by hereditary can- didates. The State Department could save a lot of money if it used roulette to select Foreign Service candidates instead of the expensive current testing process. The results would be the same. Many contract employees and specialists bypassing the examination process do very well at the same jobs as FSOs, yet cannot pass the tests after numerous tries. After three tries, the test looks to 10 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / N O V E M B E R 2 0 0 5 L E T T E R S u 2400 Virginia Ave., N.W Washington, D.C., 20037 Tel: (202) 293-2000 E-mail: leasingoffice@columbiaplaza.net Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:00 AM-5:30 PM Sat 10:00 AM-4:00 PM 24 Hour Front Desk Garage Parking Avaliable Controlled Access Potomac River Views Minutes to Fine Dining Newly Renovated Kitchens Market at Columbia Plaza Directly across the street from Main State, minutes to Kennedy Center and Georgetown Beautiful and Spacious: Efficiencies, 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms available for immediate occupancy Utilities Included Complimentary Voice Mail Courtyard Style Plaza Polished Hardwood Floors Private Balconies Huge Walk-in Closets Capital Living With Comfort and Convenience 24 Hour Fitness Center columbia plaza apartments Casey’s Coffee Now Open!