How can you use your information integration and analysis skills at the U.S. Department of State?

What does experience and motivation mean to the U.S. Department of State?

How does the U.S. Department of State define initiative and leadership for an FSS?

What does judgment mean?

What is objectivity and integrity?

To demonstrate knowledge, skills or other attributes gained from previous experience of relevance to the Foreign Service; to articulate appropriate motivation for joining the Foreign Service.

To recognize and assume responsibility for work that needs to be done; to persist in the completion of a task; to influence significantly a group’s activity, direction, or opinion; to motivate others to participate in the activity one is leading.

To discern what is appropriate, practical, and realistic in a given situation; to weigh relative merits of competing demands.

To be fair and honest; to avoid deceit, favoritism, and discrimination; to present issues frankly and fully, without injecting subjective bias; to work without letting personal bias prejudice actions.

By absorbing and retaining complex information drawn from a variety of sources; to draw reasoned conclusions from analysis and synthesis of available information; to evaluate the importance, reliability, and usefulness of information; to remember details of a meeting or event without the benefit of notes.

To work and communicate effectively and harmoniously with persons of other cultures, value systems, political beliefs, and economic circumstances; to recognize and respect differences in new and different cultural environments.

What does cultural adaptability mean?

CULTURAL
ADAPTABILITY

COMPOSURE

EXPERIENCE &
MOTIVATION

INITIATIVE &
LEADERSHIP

JUDGMENT

OBJECTIVITY/
INTEGRITY

How can you showcase your oral communication skills at the U.S. Department of State?

By speaking fluently in a concise, grammatically correct, organized, precise, and persuasive manner; to convey nuances of meaning accurately; to use appropriate styles of communication to fit the audience and purpose.

ORAL COMMUNICATION

How does the U.S. Department of State define planning and organizing?

As prioritizing and ordering tasks effectively, to employ a systematic approach to achieving objectives, to make appropriate use of limited resources.

PLANNING
& ORGANIZING

What is resourcefulness at the
U.S. Department of State?

To formulate creative alternatives or solutions to resolve problems; to show flexibility in response to unanticipated circumstances.

To interact in a constructive, cooperative, and harmonious manner; to work effectively as a team player; to establish positive relationships and gain the confidence of others; to use humor as appropriate.

RESOURCEFULNESS

How does the U.S. Department of State define written communication for an FSS?

To write concise, well organized, grammatically correct, effective and persuasive English in a limited amount of time.

WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION

What does quantitative analysis mean?

To identify, compile, analyze, and draw correct conclusions from pertinent data; to recognize patterns or trends in numerical data; to perform simple mathematical operations.

QUANTITATIVE
ANALYSIS

What does it mean to work with others at the
U.S. Department of State?

WORKING WITH OTHERS

INFORMATION INTEGRATION
& ANALYSIS

How does the U.S. Department of State
define composure?

Foreign Service Specialist Qualifications

What qualities do we seek in a Foreign Service Specialist (FSS) candidate? The successful candidate will demonstrate the following dimensions that reflect the skills, abilities, and personal qualities deemed essential to the work of the Foreign Service at the United States Department of State.

DIMENSIONS

To stay calm, poised, and effective in stressful
or difficult situations; to think on one’s feet,
adjusting quickly to changing situations; to
maintain self-control.