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.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
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.
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.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
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.
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.
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