Working in IT for the Department of State

Good morning,

The Department of State was recently hiring for Information Management Specialist vacancies, but closed on 7/24. I've been planning on tackling the application process the next time they start hiring (sometime next year hopefully). My question is for anyone familiar with the life (IT and non IT related) once you begin working for them. What is it like? Also, and this can be answered by anyone really, how do you mention/bring up the idea of living/working abroad to your significant other when not married?

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Comments

kiki162

I'm not sure where you are in your career, and whether you are just getting out of school, prior military, or have an interest in getting a gov't job, but there's a couple of things that you should take into consideration when dealing with gov't jobs in general.

Anytime you see a Competitive Status type of job out there, even if it's posted public to all U.S. Citizens, in most cases there is a "rule of three" that comes with that, 3 from the outside and 3 from the inside, however it doesn't always apply. Anytime you have someone that is prior/retired military, or on the PPP list (coming from overseas) they will always have preference over you, and are normally hired. They do take a list from the outside (u.s. citizens) and a list from the inside (priority mil. former/current Comp service). You really have to look at the qualifications in each job post.

The other type of job postings to take a look at is the Excepted Service, which is a little easier to get into. However a lot of those IT/Excepted Services jobs out there now require National Guard/Reserve membership.

As far as living overseas, if you get that far in your journey, you would probably have to look at something off base if you get your significant other to move with you. Good Luck!

da_vato

I am planning on doing the exact same thing the next time the position opens. The link at the bottom is the most comprehensive write up I have come across. I am former military and have lived abroad for over 10 years (including combat zones) and the main thing I can tell you, is the culture shock is the hardest part to get used to. You will be expected to more or less adopt the host coutries customs and courtesies like bowing in some countries or not speaking to the women in others and so on. There are a couple of youtube videos that elaborate a little bit about what to expect.

My whole family is aware that I am no longer comfortable in the U.S. (don't get me wrong I love being a U.S. citizen but there are things here that you don't deal with in other countries). Back to my point I flat out told my family that I need to get back overseas the nomadic lifestyle is all I know. The longest I have lived anywhere in the last 15 years is 3 years and I get anxious so to speak.

If I were you I would sale the adventure factor, going abroad and traveling is exciting and an adventure. If your significant other wants to follow you around the world they can just at your expense and mostly I mean the plane ticket and benefits like medical.

The U.S. Foreign Service - Crossing over to a Diplomatic Career - Topic

colemic

I've also heard that you don't get to pick your first two assignments, and they can be worldwide...family may not be able to come with. (I wouldn't want to take mine to Pakistan, for instance). Your only realistic options for DoS stateside are DC and Miami (I think). MAYBE a few other locations but it is very, very limited.

da_vato

From what I've researched.... (so take with a grain of salt). You are entirely correct colemic however the people assigning duty locations rarely send first termers to hazardous duty locations. How likely are you to stay on if your first assignement is Iraq or Afghanistan? Believe it or not there are plenty of people that volunteer for these assignments that they rarely need make someone go. So theoretically it would most likely be your third tour before you saw a dependant restricted tour.

Nyblizzard

da_vato wrote: »

I am planning on doing the exact same thing the next time the position opens. The link at the bottom is the most comprehensive write up I have come across. I am former military and have lived abroad for over 10 years (including combat zones) and the main thing I can tell you, is the culture shock is the hardest part to get used to. You will be expected to more or less adopt the host coutries customs and courtesies like bowing in some countries or not speaking to the women in others and so on. There are a couple of youtube videos that elaborate a little bit about what to expect.

My whole family is aware that I am no longer comfortable in the U.S. (don't get me wrong I love being a U.S. citizen but there are things here that you don't deal with in other countries). Back to my point I flat out told my family that I need to get back overseas the nomadic lifestyle is all I know. The longest I have lived anywhere in the last 15 years is 3 years and I get anxious so to speak.

If I were you I would sale the adventure factor, going abroad and traveling is exciting and an adventure. If your significant other wants to follow you around the world they can just at your expense and mostly I mean the plane ticket and benefits like medical.

The U.S. Foreign Service - Crossing over to a Diplomatic Career - Topic

Mother of god that an informative posting I could not even finish right now. Will definitely finish it some time tonight!

da_vato

Now you know when I say "Comprehensive" I mean business