Job hunting in international relations - is it time to give up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PS - Thank you, PP, for sharing your experience with recruitment 7 years ago. I took their writing test just before the election, and assume that things were thrown into confusion afterwards as I've heard nothing since. Looks like I'll be staying put for a while!

DI or NCS/DO?

it's still a long timeline - esp post-snowden, coe to clearace is 18+ months i hear these days.

have you looked at FSOT for state?

[Anonymous]

DIA, at least pre Trump, was planning on week over s thousand hires this fy. Worth checking out theory hitting fairs.

[Anonymous]

Sorry. Meant well over a thousand hires. This predictive typing app on my phone is meh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS - Thank you, PP, for sharing your experience with recruitment 7 years ago. I took their writing test just before the election, and assume that things were thrown into confusion afterwards as I've heard nothing since. Looks like I'll be staying put for a while!

DI or NCS/DO?

it's still a long timeline - esp post-snowden, coe to clearace is 18+ months i hear these days.

have you looked at FSOT for state?

DI; I considered the Foreign Service but decided to stay in the DC area for personal reasons.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your tips - I will check out the Brad Traverse and DIA listings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are probably thousands of people in your shoes. Many, if not most, people who study IR want to move into the public sector at some point. But the process of becoming a federal employee can be all but impossible if you aren't a veteran or didn't do an internship or the PMF program.

I was in your shoes several years ago and did become a fed, but it was a slow (i.e. 2+ years) process that involved major financial sacrifice...

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm glad you landed on your feet!

[Anonymous]

If you are applying for civil service jobs at State then language really doesn't matter. You will just be at a desk in DC.

[Anonymous]

I'm a writer/editor for a federal agency. It's kind of a tough niche to break into if you don't have demonstrated writing experience and an MA in English or Journalism. Do you have clips? Publications? I think something lots of people don't realize is that trying to go into writing/editing with a degree in something else is not a sure thing. Most of the others I know who do this work (myself included) have MAs in English or Journalism, often BAs in the same area, and have a track record of successful written work. That is, examples of things you've written on the job and/or publications. Like any professional field, having a degree in the area is best, otherwise you have to really prove you're worth the risk.

It's also worth noting that any position at State, or in IR, benefits from overseas work experience. Returned Peace Corps volunteers, for instance, are usually going to get a closer look than people who studied IR but don't have the on-the-ground international work experience.

[Anonymous]

An old friend of mine was able to get in to State as a returned Peace Corps volunteer. I think that's something to take pride in. I'm not in IR, but plenty of folks would love to land a job at State, right? But this friend of mine spent a decade trying to move from his DC-based, non-FSO State job into becoming an FSO. He was miserably single-minded and his attitude and outlook probably did hinder his chances. In some ways, I think it ruined his life in terms of career advancement, mental health, and relationships.

I know you are not trying to be an FSO, but I've seen up close how competitive and self-esteem damaging reaching for that prestige position can be. Take care and remember you are not your job.

[Anonymous]

Wow. Contrary to DCUM's reputation, everyone here has been so kind and encouraging! Thank you for your honesty and wisdom. I've worked overseas as a professional editor, and also publish regularly on IR topics. I think I could still go for relevant federal writer/editor positions without an English degree (I have an IR MA). Your responses have confirmed how lucky I am to have an IR job at all, though. Thank you for reminding me to practice contentment and self-care when the market isn't cooperating. Good luck everyone!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Contrary to DCUM's reputation, everyone here has been so kind and encouraging! Thank you for your honesty and wisdom. I've worked overseas as a professional editor, and also publish regularly on IR topics. I think I could still go for relevant federal writer/editor positions without an English degree (I have an IR MA). Your responses have confirmed how lucky I am to have an IR job at all, though. Thank you for reminding me to practice contentment and self-care when the market isn't cooperating. Good luck everyone!

You are very mature with that response. Very unlike the hordes of petty and sensitive assholes that fill IR type roles in this town.

[Anonymous]

It's always a good time to give up pursuing an IR career. A PP is right, the IR schools are so numerous and their grads so think on the ground here that it is nearly pointless. The think tanks, the risk analysis firms, etc all know they can pay nothing and be flooded with apps. And now that State and AID are essentially going out of business that means even more competition for even fewer jobs.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Just out of curiosity, what is the floor for "pay nothing"? Would be interested to know A: the minimal offer for entry level in the private and public sectors, respectively, as well as B: the baseline pay for ten years of experience in the private and public sectors. This assumes reasonable skills and onboarding time (no handholding).

[Anonymous]

A: So at the time i was following these things which was ten years ago little political risk firms were starting BA holders around $32k. The think tanks about the same. I had an MA (SAIS, Fletcher, KSG, that sort of thing) - and the debt to prove it - and was offered $39k at Control Risks here in DC which is one of the bigger players. I declined but know they filled the position with someone else a few days later.

B: Not sure. Probably a range from $50k to 100k with a lot around 75k. You are much better off in the federal government so most of these outfits lose young people to the feds.