Can a foreign service officer explain how their work is?

Question

Please explain a day in your life as a foreign service officer.

Answer 1

Well, I know there are at least 2 other FSOs that frequent "Embassies & Consulates", so maybe they'll chime in.  Briefly, your day completely depends on the job you're doing -- either consular, management, public diplomacy, economic, or political work.

In consular, depending on your level of reponsibility, you'll do anything from lots of visas, to lots of passports, to jail visits, correspondence. to management of significant numbers of American and/or local employees.

In management, you may be running General Services, working on financial issues,  managing large numbers of local employeees, etc.

In public diplomacy, it could be managing visitors programs, running an American Corner, handling press inquiries.

In political and economic, you'll be meeting contacts and reporting on issues you hope will be of interest to Washington.

So, briefly, that's how you spend your day.  Of course this all depends on a million different factors -- location, portfolio, Embassy management, etc.

Hope this helps...