What do FSOs Do? Five main areas of specialization (“cones”) –Political Affairs –Consular Affairs –Public Affairs –Management –Economic Affairs

Desired Skill Set “13 Dimensions” Composure Cultural Adaptability Experience and Motivation Information Integration & Analysis Initiative and Leadership Judgment Written & Oral Communication

Desired Skill Set “13 Dimensions” Planning & Organizing Quantitative Analysis Resourcefulness Working with others

Advocacy U.S. policy U.S. interests –American citizens –American corporations –Perceptions of U.S. Intergovernmental organizations –Votes –Candidates –Reforms

What do Officers Do? IT DEPENDS –On the Administration’s policies –On your post of assignment –On the size of the post –On the organization of the post –On the presence of other agencies –On the Ambassador –On the host government

Typical Officer Duties Advocacy Reporting Outreach Visitors

Reporting Host country internal developments Host country external developments Labor issues Environment, science, technology, health Agriculture Resources

Outreach Speeches, seminars, op-eds, visits to –Parliamentarians –Media –Schools & universities –NGOs –Trade associations –Chambers of Commerce –Ministries (Foreign Affairs, Finance, Economy, Interior, Justice, Environment)

Visitors White House Congress State Department Industry delegations Trade associations Lobbyists State, city, county trade promotion groups Other U.S. agencies –Commerce –USTR –Defense –Transportation –Homeland Security –FAA –AID –Treasury –Agriculture –Energy

How Do I Prepare for a Foreign Service Career? The Economist Foreign Affairs Business Week National weekly news magazine (Time, Newsweek) reading list

RESOURCES (American Foreign Service Assoc)

More Resources youtube.com search FSOT Facebook search FSOT, Department of State