Passing the overseas service exam is crucial for employment with the US Department of State. Deadlines are important, and studying topics such as American history, economic policy, and political science is recommended. After the written test, candidates may be called in for an extensive oral assessment.
Preparing for the overseas service exam is a crucial part of obtaining employment with the US Department of State. Without passing this exam, there is no chance of joining the state department in any official capacity. However, with a little preparation and understanding, preparing for the field service exam is usually not a problem.
The first step in preparing for the overseas service exam is to determine the dates in your area that the exam will be administered. This will give you a good guideline on how much needs to be studied and how quickly that study needs to be done. Preparing also means meeting certain deadlines, outlined on the state department’s website. Those who do not meet these deadlines will postpone entry into this area of public service.
Deadlines are important for the foreign service exam, not only for applicants within the United States, but also for applicants outside the United States. It should be noted that deadlines for written exams for the foreign service are different for those inside and outside the United States. Generally, the deadline for testing sites outside the United States is one week before the deadline within the United States.
Once the application process is complete, the candidate will receive an email indicating when they can take the test. The test is offered several times a year. Seats may be reserved for testing on a first-come, first-served basis. Those who fail to do so may have to wait several months for their next test date. There are commercial testing centers available throughout the United States and in some countries.
The US Department of State offers a study guide, which can be very valuable for anyone who has never taken the foreign service exam before and wants to be absolutely sure they understand what is being covered. Other topics to study or review are: American history, economic policy, human behavior, and political science. Also keeping up with current events is a good idea. Together, these areas will provide a good foundation for the field service exam.
After the written test, there will be more paperwork that needs to be filled out and the candidate, if everything passes and looks good, will likely be called in for an oral assessment. This may be one of the most extensive oral interviews a candidate has ever had, starting at 7 am and ending at 6 pm. This assessment addresses issues such as composure, depth of knowledge, judgment, experience, and leadership qualities. Focusing on these issues and being mentally prepared for a long day is very important.
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