Well, I got bounced out of the OMS running. There is always next year. C'est la vie!
FSOT in October. This time, with feeling.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
MCAS, betch!
Another step forward. This ho done passed her MCAS in Word 2007. THUG LIFE. Now, hopefully, in two months, I will get news I want to hear from the State Department about being invited to the Oral Assessment for the FSS-OMS position.
Fingers crossed. Toes crossed. Cat's tail knotted and crossed. MEOW!
Fingers crossed. Toes crossed. Cat's tail knotted and crossed. MEOW!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Foreign Service Specialist?
Well, I'm still vying for the FS after all. Right after I got my sad news from BEX about my FSO candidacy being shut down, I threw in an application to the Foreign Service Specialist -- Office Management Specialist field.
Basically, the FSS role is the day to day support of US Embassies. They are people who do IT work, HR, Office Management, Doctorin', etc. They aren't diplomats, but they are there in support of the US mission. They get to travel and do the good work, just in a different capacity. So I thought--why the hell not? And happily, I actually have more academic credentials than needed for the position, and some experience that I think translates into Office work.
OMS used to be referred to as FS-Secretary. I'm glad the title has changed! Secretary doesn't really describe what OMS workers do. It's more of a "My Man (or Woman) Friday" role than typist, which is what the word "secretary" makes me think of. I can do this. I can be someone's "Manservant Hecubus." See Kids in the Hall for the reference.
Anyway, I applied. And yesterday, they got back to me--they want to see my MCAS certification in Word 2007! I know it's just a small step forward, but at least they weren't like "GTFO!" or "Who the F do you think you are?" Those aren't my favorite reactions from people/potential employers. I guess I just have to go ahead and get the MCAS now. Hmm. Good thing I already know Word pretty well. Time to study! Thundercats are GO!
In other news, PAE also said I might be a potential match for some of their Embassy Support positions in Moscow/Beijing. And I've been applying for jobs in Kuwait, Djibouti, etc. One of these days, something amazing is going to happen. I just know it.
Breaking news: Ms. Saffy Monsoon is definitely up for an adventure. Yeah, big surprise there.
The Foreign Service is my ultimate goal. Be it as an FSO or an FSS, that is what I absolutely, most definitely want. The moment either of those things become a reality... well, I'd be beyond happy. In the meantime, however, I want to get some international experience. I'm young. I have no husband. I have no children. I should do this. I've talked about it my whole life, so I might as well just work like a dervish and make it happen. It's time to turn dreams into reality.
Basically, the FSS role is the day to day support of US Embassies. They are people who do IT work, HR, Office Management, Doctorin', etc. They aren't diplomats, but they are there in support of the US mission. They get to travel and do the good work, just in a different capacity. So I thought--why the hell not? And happily, I actually have more academic credentials than needed for the position, and some experience that I think translates into Office work.
OMS used to be referred to as FS-Secretary. I'm glad the title has changed! Secretary doesn't really describe what OMS workers do. It's more of a "My Man (or Woman) Friday" role than typist, which is what the word "secretary" makes me think of. I can do this. I can be someone's "Manservant Hecubus." See Kids in the Hall for the reference.
Anyway, I applied. And yesterday, they got back to me--they want to see my MCAS certification in Word 2007! I know it's just a small step forward, but at least they weren't like "GTFO!" or "Who the F do you think you are?" Those aren't my favorite reactions from people/potential employers. I guess I just have to go ahead and get the MCAS now. Hmm. Good thing I already know Word pretty well. Time to study! Thundercats are GO!
In other news, PAE also said I might be a potential match for some of their Embassy Support positions in Moscow/Beijing. And I've been applying for jobs in Kuwait, Djibouti, etc. One of these days, something amazing is going to happen. I just know it.
Breaking news: Ms. Saffy Monsoon is definitely up for an adventure. Yeah, big surprise there.
The Foreign Service is my ultimate goal. Be it as an FSO or an FSS, that is what I absolutely, most definitely want. The moment either of those things become a reality... well, I'd be beyond happy. In the meantime, however, I want to get some international experience. I'm young. I have no husband. I have no children. I should do this. I've talked about it my whole life, so I might as well just work like a dervish and make it happen. It's time to turn dreams into reality.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Don't Give Up
Well, I heard back from the lovely BEX contingent with my QEP Results.
Do not pass go, do not collect $500.
Needless to say, I am disappointed. I had hopes. I know it is not arbitrary, but based on the anecdotal evidence on the Yahoo forums--it certainly seems that way. At any rate, I'm going to retake the FSOT in October, and I'm going to start the process over. If it's as arbitrary as it feels, I could very well be arbitrarily selected next time around!
I may rethink my cone decision however. I had picked the Consular cone, but Public Diplomacy (which is a "tougher" cone to get into) feels like a good fit as well. It seems to play more to my talents and experience, while Consular works with my aspirations to work hard and fight the good fight in the trenches of Diplomacy. Ah well. I have about six months to see how I feel.
In the meantime, I'm going to begin studying French, and I'm going to try to be more active in the community... It's time to get my life a little more in order. Things are better in January 2010 than they were in January 2009. I am not without hope that things will get better. They're already pretty good.
As I learned in X-Files: I Want to Believe--Don't Give Up.
There is always hope. There is always a chance. And hell--at least I know more about the FS than I did before I started this process. I already know that I'm capable of passing the FSOT, and that's definitely an important hurdle.
Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.
Don't Give Up.
Do not pass go, do not collect $500.
Needless to say, I am disappointed. I had hopes. I know it is not arbitrary, but based on the anecdotal evidence on the Yahoo forums--it certainly seems that way. At any rate, I'm going to retake the FSOT in October, and I'm going to start the process over. If it's as arbitrary as it feels, I could very well be arbitrarily selected next time around!
I may rethink my cone decision however. I had picked the Consular cone, but Public Diplomacy (which is a "tougher" cone to get into) feels like a good fit as well. It seems to play more to my talents and experience, while Consular works with my aspirations to work hard and fight the good fight in the trenches of Diplomacy. Ah well. I have about six months to see how I feel.
In the meantime, I'm going to begin studying French, and I'm going to try to be more active in the community... It's time to get my life a little more in order. Things are better in January 2010 than they were in January 2009. I am not without hope that things will get better. They're already pretty good.
As I learned in X-Files: I Want to Believe--Don't Give Up.
There is always hope. There is always a chance. And hell--at least I know more about the FS than I did before I started this process. I already know that I'm capable of passing the FSOT, and that's definitely an important hurdle.
Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.
Don't Give Up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
