May I? May I not?

Well, here we are. It's May. I submitted my PNQs more than a month ago. I submitted my OMS application more than a month ago.

And as of yet, I still do not know the outcome. There's a beauty in that. No news means no one has said NO yet. That was a highly awkward sentence. Too many Nos. Anyway, I'm still waiting.

I got a jumpstart to my anxiety when it was reported that some OMS OA invites went out last week. No one has reported any rejections yet, but of course this all means that if invitations are happening, rejections are sure to follow. They can't invite all 1000+ of us who applied to an OA, after all. We don't all get the shiny star. Unfortunately, there is no consolation prize. All or nothing.

Well, that's all pretty bleak sounding. I don't mean it to be! My life is marching on. I'm enjoying my job in a way I never have previously. My boyfriend and I are solid--we're taking a vacation to the mountains at the end of this month, and in July we're headed to Colorado for his family reunion. So... some travel in the cards, the weather is good...

But COME ON! I need to know. Seriously.

The Waiting Game

Personal Narratives = Submitted.
OMS Application = Submitted.

What do I do now? Wait.

There is so much waiting in this process. So. Much. Waiting. Sometimes I don't mind. I play it cool and tell folks that it doesn't matter either way what happens. If only that were true! It totally matters. I want this year to be my year.

I want to get some good news. I've been at this stage before, and while I'm happy to be here again (knowing that so many don't get this far), I'd like to experience the joys/frustrations of the next stage.

Before I can experience any of that, however--I wait.

Pondering the QEP

The sun is shining today, and after a few errands, I'm going hiking with mi novio. It's going to be a good day.

My highly awesome friend (of Tabbies in Tow fame) is headed to DC today to begin her career as an FSS-OMS. She's a BAMF in case anyone was wondering. I hope to catch up to her at post someday.

However, that is pending QEP. What phase will the moon be in when my file is reviewed? Will my file reach the bottom of the staircase first? Who will I have to thunderdome with to get what I want?

I write in jest, but the QEP is a heartwrenching stage in the FS hiring process. After each round, the rejected think "Why not me? Don't they know that I cured cancer? Don't they know that awesomeness pours from my butt?" In case of that last question, they should probably get that checked. At any rate, QEP can seem opaque. People get butthurt over the results, and it's hard to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe... the narratives weren't quite right. Or the application wasn't worded appropriately. Or the test scores weren't good enough.

You can speak three SCNLs and still be a tool, after all. That's just one part of the package.

I've failed the QEP once. It sucked, and I was not amused. However, most people I know in this process have failed the QEP at one point in time or another. Here's what is heartening--some of these people have gone on to PASS the QEP the second (or third) time around.

Anyway, the QEP is imminent. I've got my narratives written and revised, and I feel good about them. I'll look at them in another few days, but right now, I am letting my head clear. One thing I learned about writing is that it's good to let your work sit for a day or two. It gives the brain a chance to reset, and fresh eyes catch things tired eyes don't.

In the meantime, I will enjoy the sunshine.

Writing Personal Narratives

Jane Austen likened her writing to etching on a tiny piece of ivory, three inches wide. It was fine work, but small and precise.

This is how I'm trying to think of the Personal Narratives. We have 1300 characters (including spaces) to tell a story based on our experiences and answer questions about those experiences. It's not a lot of room to get the job done. There is no room for excess information and detail, and the need to answer those questions is dire. They're not Yes/No questions. Explain. Detail. Describe the steps. That sounds straightforward, but given the character limit, it's simply much more challenging. How much is too much? How little is too little?

I wrote the first of my narratives yesterday. It took me a couple of hours, but I think it's moving in the right direction. I'm going to work on more today. How can so few words take so much time? Well, it's the thought behind it. I write out my first pass. I think about it. Edit, rewrite, revision. I look at the questions. I look at what I wrote. I look at the guidelines on the DoS site. I look at what I wrote. I rewrite. I edit. I think.

It's a fine bit of ivory. I don't want to scratch it.

I Must Have Tiger Blood

Well, after a harrowing couple of days refreshing the Results webpage, swooning when I saw a new PNQ prompt on my registration page, and trying to remain focused (failing, mostly), I've discovered that I have passed the February 2011 FSOT!

Whew!

However, there's a twist--there are SIX Personal Narrative Questions this time around. Two essays on the FSOT, six PNQs... thanks a pantsload, DOS.

Ah well. Here's my score breakdown this time around:

JK: 56.76
Bio: 62.30
EE: 59.67
Total: 178.73

Essay: 8

I'm most surprised about the essay part of it. An 8? Really? I must have been off my game that day! Oh well. I hadn't practiced writing an essay in more than a year at that point. For all my work as a technical writer, I really write very little new content. I need to get in the habit of writing in my free time. Plus, I miss writing.

So that is that! On to Phase 2: PNQ Thunderdome.

FSOT of the Damned

Well... I took the FSOT yesterday. As you know by now, it was my second round, the first being in October 2009. Back then, I picked Consular. This time, I picked Public Diplomacy.

I cannot reveal content due to the NDA, but hooooooey, there were some headbangers on that Job Knowledge section! That test certainly did not leave me with a warm and fuzzy feeling. I remember walking out of the October 2009 test thinking, "Hmm. That seemed alright. I don't feel too bad!" This time, I walked out thinking, "Well, that was unpleasant."

EE was fine. Bio was fine. Essays were worded trickily, but they both went well enough. I did the usual five paragraph crank-out for both essays, and they were coherent. It seems that JK is going to be the wild card.

We'll see how it goes. Results will be reported in 3-5 weeks.

Here we go, here we go, here we go again

I said, Here We Go Again!

Today I received my invitation to schedule a seat for the FSOT. All the PD invites are starting to go out today, and fortunately, I was among the crowd.

I am still freaked out to be pursuing such a competitive cone, but I think it's a good fit. If it's meant to be, it'll happen. And it might not happen for a while... but that's okay. I'll keep trying.

So yes. I'm scheduled for the test. February 7th is the big day. I'd rather take the test on a Friday, but the testing facility isn't open on that particular day of the week. At least the facility is closer! And at least the facility is in the same town as my boyfriend. It'll make things easier. I can crash at his place, and then I can get up and be ready to go at the exam in ten minutes flat. This works for me.

I think I'll try to recreate my testing experience from last year as much as possible. Sunday, I'll take it easy. Have a good derby practice, eat a leisurely lunch, and get a pedicure. No studying. Drive to my boyfriend's place. Monday will be the test. I'll take that whole day off from work--keep my mind clear for what's important.

Game time. I love having crazy study goals like these. I haven't cracked a book yet, but I will start today. I'm not worried about the essay, even though there will be TWO of them this round. I'm also not worried about English Expression. I might skim a practice test in that, but English is my strength here. Bio... well, I'll do what I can! As always, the mysterious beast is Job Knowledge.

I feel strangely exhilarated by all of this. I always kind of enjoyed studying and taking tests in school. I think that's why I liked being on academic teams. You got questions? I got answers!

Anyway... I'm off to plan out my curriculum.

Project FSOT like it's hot begins NOW.

A New Year

Well, duh. Of course it's a new year. Everyone knows that. Except for people operating on a different calendar.

Anyway, today I submitted my registration for the FSOT. This will be my second attempt at the exam, and this time I signed up for the Public Diplomacy cone. I thought a long time about the various tracks, and the reality is, I like more than one of them. But after reviewing my resume and thinking about my work experience, I realized that PD is the best match for what I've already done with my life. It is also a good match for what I hope to do with my life, which is to help cultures build bridges and appreciate one another.

Ugh. I vom a little just seeing myself write that. I mean, I believe it. Deeply. This is what I'd like to do, but it simply sounds like such a Girl Scout thing to say. I was never a Girl Scout.

Needless to say, I'm nervous and excited. I passed the FSOT last time, but I didn't make it past the QEP stage. Now I've picked an ultra-competitive cone at a time when the registers are full, full, full, and the government decision makers are cut-cut-cutting the State Department's budget.

What can I do? Study hard and take the FSOT. Everything else is beyond my control.

I did try for the OMS position again when they reposted it. I wrote a pretty kickbutt series of narratives for the job application, too. Unfortunately, 12 months had not passed since my slapdash attempt at the OMS job in February. Next time. Next time.

I guess... stay posted for further updates. I'm awaiting an e-mail invitation to schedule my test. PD invites have not yet gone out, and as I am a very late registrant, I might not get a seat for the February window. I'd rather not wait until June, but shit happens.