How do I get a job in an American Embassy?

Question

There are a few countries that I would love to live in, I can speak the language(s) but I don't want to sacrifice my big, fat American paycheck. So I figured an embassy or consulate-type job would be perfect. Work for America, at an American wage, in a foreign country. Obviously, my mental picture of the reality of this kind of situation is horribly uninformed. I'm talking Eastern Europe, preferably the Baltic. What kind of positions could I get and what kind of experience and education would I need? How would I apply?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

Study foreign relations, diplomacy, government and geography so that you can become a foreign service employee work in US embassies in other countries.

Answer 2

The US Embassy is part of the State Department.  Here's the address for careers with the State Department.

Answer 3

If you are a US citizen, you essentially have two choices, but only one sounds suitable for your high yield goals:

Get a job through the US Department of State or one of the represented agencies (the pay is higher), or go to the country in which you are interested in working, arrange for your own residence/work permit, and then apply for a local hire position (which generally pays  little more than prevailing local wages).

See the US Department of State website (http://www.careers.state.gov/) and/or research each US foreign mission location you are interested in on their Department of State websites for further information.