Careers at the U.S. Department of State: Heidi

Foreign Service Officer Heidi discusses her experiences working at the U.S. Department of State. Full Text available at: http://careers.state.gov/resources/transcripts.html

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• careers
• foreign
• service
• state
• department

[statevideo]

Thanks for your question! Foreign Service Officers bid for positions that are open at a given time. Ideally, they're able to serve at their preferred post, but this depends upon a number of factors.

[Wrtbrgr87]

Amazing, I studied abroad in Buenos Aires last year. I love Argentina and I love Buenos Aires! I have a question though, are you able to pick which countries you go to? For example if I have a preference for Argentina and there is an opening, would that be possible to express a preference? Please let me know. Thank you!

[statevideo]

Foreign Service Officers participate in a bidding process prior to being selected for their next assignment. The process takes into several factors such as experience and skills that would be best suited for their new assignment. You'll be assigned to your preferred post the best fit based on the bidding process.

[4merCIA]

About gays, don't worry about the laws in foreign countries, we don't have to obey their primitive laws-we impose our laws on them. As Ariel Sharon once said, "We are a Master Race...blah,blah". It's obvious that our laws are better. Why, look at their societies n look at ours. Their accus that we r the cause of the drug epid bec of r huge consump of cocaine n heroin is just Islamic Fundamentalist propaganda. What can u expect from people who's means of transport spits on people n never shaves.

[4merCIA]

I hope you get assigned to the Middle East, you deserve it!

[Mikeygnoth]

hello, im looking towards becoming an agent of the DSS, if you have any refrences to the selction please tell me. thank you

[bbvideoful1]

great spot!

[Shika4eva]

That is a horrible thing to say!

[LexPhilogus]

You're posting here on this comment board aren't you?

[kitsuhiko]

FSO's must have Top Secret clearance. And depending on the 3 countries where you lived, the background process will go differently...Spending your formative years in Iran as opposed to Belgium, for example...although certainly any language skills will be viewed positively.

[Zingu00]

What type of security clearance do you need to work in the foreign service? I was born in France to a multi-national couple (i'm a dual citizen), and have lived in three different countries growing up.

Would that be considered a strength or something detrimental due to security concerns during the admissions process?

[Wrtbrgr87]

I have one more quesiton, sorry to bother. If someone is gay and wants to be in the Foreign Service, would the State Department assign them to a country where being gay is illegal, dangerous, and/or even punishable by death or jail time? For example, assigning a gay diplomat to the Middle East, in my opinion, may not be such a great idea.