Become a Foreign Service Officer or Specialist

It takes fortitude and the ability to adapt to changing situations and cultures other than your own to represent America abroad. A career with the Foreign Service may appear glamorous – worldwide travel, government paid housing, generous pay and benefits. While there are benefits, working in the Foreign Service is challenging, demanding and sometimes dangerous. During this career you can expect to be assigned to hardship posts. These posts can be in remote locations, without many U.S.-style amenities. For instance, you may experience:


Foreign Service careers are global and require candidates to be worldwide available, ready to meet the needs of the Service. Typically, each assignment is for two to three years in a designated country. Careers in the Foreign Service offer challenging and interesting work and the satisfaction of serving the United States of America. The Foreign Service consists of a diverse group of highly motivated, intellectually curious, and culturally adaptable professionals who are dedicated to representing America’s interests and responding to the needs of American citizens in other countries. When hiring Foreign Service professionals, the Department looks for motivated individuals with sound judgment and leadership abilities who can retain their composure in times of great stress – or even dire situations, like a military coup or a major environmental disaster. To succeed in the Foreign Service, you must be strongly motivated, enjoy challenges, and possess an ardent dedication to public service. The search for extraordinary U.S. citizens to serve as Foreign Service professionals is intense and the qualifying process is rigorous, demanding and highly competitive.