How does one become a foreign service officer?

Question

How difficult is it? What college majors are they looking for? Does fluency in a language engender an anvanced standing?

Answer 1

It is difficult to become a Foreign Service officer, as you have to pass two rounds of tests.  However, they are reformatting the exam this year, and it's now a bit more subjective then it was previously.  

There really isn't a set format of what they are looking for.  Previously, it all depended on your scores on both the written and the oral.  I've seen everyone from a commercial fisherman to a former college professor come in as an entry level officer.  Some didn't even go to college.  But that's the point.  They are trying to recruit people for the Foreign Service who are outside the normal realm of those who have degrees/advanced degrees in international relations/politics.

Fluency in a foreign language will help you in the standings only if this is a critical needs language, i.e. one that not many people in the service speak or one that is not widely spoken.  So if you speak fluent Russian, Korean, Arabic, Mandarin, etc. then that will help you.  If you speak a Romance language fluently, that doesn't help at all, really.

Answer 2

Take the foreign service exam. Look on the Department of State website.  Of course, language skills help . I know of a NY taxi driver who passed the test. Go for it. It is a wonderful career with good benefits and we need ALL the diplomacy we can get, no? Maybe you can help the U S win back its friends again.

Also there are State Dept Internships for semesters which give you a taste of it.