Foreign Service Officer Qualifications

What qualities do we seek in a Foreign Service Officer 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.

#1

#1

Composure

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

#1

Composure

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

To stay calm, poised, and effective in stressful or difficult situations;

#1

Composure

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

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

#1

Composure

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

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

#1

Composure

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

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

#1

#2

CULTURAL ADAPTABILITY

Don't be a fish out of water - be a fish in it

#2

CULTURAL ADAPTABILITY

What does cultural adaptability mean?

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.

#3

EXPERIENCE & MOTIVATION

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

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.

#4

INFORMATION INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS

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

#4

INFORMATION INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS

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

By absorbing and retaining complex information drawn from a variety of sources;

#4

INFORMATION INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS

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

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.

#4

INFORMATION INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS

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

To evaluate the importance, reliability, and usefulness of information;

#4

INFORMATION INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS

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

To remember details of a meeting or event without the benefit of notes.

#4

INFORMATION INTEGRATION & ANALYSIS

#5

INITIATIVE & LEADERSHIP

#5

INITIATIVE & LEADERSHIP

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

#5

INITIATIVE & LEADERSHIP

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

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.

#5

INITIATIVE & LEADERSHIP

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

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.

#5

INITIATIVE & LEADERSHIP

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

#6

JUDEGMENT

What does judegment mean?

#6

JUDGMENT

What does judgment mean?

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

#6

JUDGMENT

What does judgment mean?

To discern what is appropriate, practical, and realistic in a given situation;

#6

JUDGMENT

What does judgment mean?

#7

Objectivity / Integrity

#7

Objectivity / Integrity

What is objectivity and integrity?

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.

#7

Objectivity / Integrity

What is objectivity and integrity?

#7

Objectivity / Integrity

#8

Oral Communication

#8

Oral Communication

#8

Oral Communication

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

#8

Oral Communication

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;

#8

Oral Communication

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;
By conveying nuances of meaning accurately;

#8

Oral Communication

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;
By conveying nuances of meaning accurately;
By using appropriate styles of communication to fit the audience and purpose.

#8

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;
By conveying nuances of meaning accurately;
By using appropriate styles of communication to fit the audience and purpose.

#8

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

#8

#9

PLANNING & ORGANIZING

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

Prioritizing and ordering tasks effectively;
Employing a systematic approach to achieving objectives;
Making appropriate use of limited resources.

#10

PLANNING & ORGANIZING

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

Prioritizing and ordering tasks effectively;
Employing a systematic approach to achieving objectives;
Making appropriate use of limited resources.

#10

Resourcefulness

#10

Resourcefulness

#10

Resourcefulness

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.

#10

Resourcefulness

#11

WORKING WITH OTHERS

#11

WORKING WITH OTHERS

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

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;

#12

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

How does the U.S. Department of State define written communication for a foreign service officer?

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

#13

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

What does quantitative analysis mean?

#13

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

What does quantitative analysis mean?

To identify, compile, analyze, and draw correct conclusions from pertinent data;

#13

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

What does quantitative analysis mean?

To identify, compile, analyze, and draw correct conclusions from pertinent data;
To recognize patterns or trends in numerical data;

#13

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

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.

#13

QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

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.

State Department Diplomats

have diplomatic dimensions

Our Leaders

have diplomatic dimensions

YOU

have diplomatic dimensions

Back to

START