Foreign Service or FCS?

[Anonymous]

After many years of Foreign Service Exam failures (going all the way back to college!) I now find myself with offers from both the State Dept Foreign Service (econ cone) and Commerce's Foreign Commercial Service. Wondering if anyone out there can comment on good and bad, trade offs, etc. of each service. Lifestyle seems pretty similar in terms of benefits, training, frequency of moves, etc. How is attrition - I heard that econ officers quit at a higher rate than others - possibily owing to having more marketable skill sets than political or consular officers.

I don't really have an illusions about making ambassador someday so that the fact that FCS folks rarely make ambassador doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

I'm an Econ-coned FSO and generally say I handle policy issues while FCS does export promotion. But that's a very broad statement - we work very closely with FCS to promote US business interests. They do trade shows, trade delegations and direct support to US firms. We do more reporting and analysis of all Econ issues, including everything from health/infectious diseases, IPR protection, nuclear safety, entrepreneurship, etc. while commerce focuses more on specific business deals and the private sector. At posts where FCS isn't present, State EconOffs perform the commercial functions.

I don't know about attrition rates, but more of my FCS colleagues have transitioned to private firms, in my experience.

I think either are great opportunities - I've had some awesome FCS colleagues over the years and they do great and important work.

[Anonymous]

i keep passing the FSO test but never getting invited to orals.

I only apply to the econ cone. i've struck out three times. what are they looking for?

OP and 1257, did you guys have really strong work experience prior to joining the foreign service?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to the FSO for the helpful response.

In response to 13:06: Yes, I had about 10 years of relevant work experience before my applications went anywhere. I think the experience not only made me look better on paper but over the years it allowed me to build up better speaking, presenting and other skills which were valuable on the exams. Like I said, I'd bombed many FS exams going back to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks to the FSO for the helpful response.

In response to 13:06: Yes, I had about 10 years of relevant work experience before my applications went anywhere. I think the experience not only made me look better on paper but over the years it allowed me to build up better speaking, presenting and other skills which were valuable on the exams. Like I said, I'd bombed many FS exams going back to college.

pp here - thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i keep passing the FSO test but never getting invited to orals.

I only apply to the econ cone. i've struck out three times. what are they looking for?

OP and 1257, did you guys have really strong work experience prior to joining the foreign service?

I know tons of people who have entered the FS, and it seems to be a total crapshoot. Some are straight out of college, some finished their MAs in international affairs, some have JDs, some had no relevant work experience. Total and complete mystery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i keep passing the FSO test but never getting invited to orals.

I only apply to the econ cone. i've struck out three times. what are they looking for?

OP and 1257, did you guys have really strong work experience prior to joining the foreign service?

I know tons of people who have entered the FS, and it seems to be a total crapshoot. Some are straight out of college, some finished their MAs in international affairs, some have JDs, some had no relevant work experience. Total and complete mystery.

yeah its frustrating.

[Anonymous]

FCS has fewer posts overseas. They all seem to know each other. If you are an econ officer you have the option of doing "out of cone" work but as A FCS don't think that's the case.

[Anonymous]

I've worked at Commerce and been on several TDYs where I got to know the econ shop. FCS requires more sales-type people skills. You're supposed to make deals happen - you're kind of like a match maker between US firms and local business opportunities.

The econ cone within state is more analytical and your main counterpart would be the Finance Ministry rather than US companies, although yes they can and do fill the commercial functions when there's not an FCS. However, I'll note that Commerce has FCS posted at their most important countries, so it's like not an FSO Econ person will be doing the full FCS job when Commerce doesn't have it covered - it's not covered because there's less demand, it's not a large enough portfolio to warrant a FCS posting.

State FS is also more fluid. In smaller embassies, political & econ are often joint. Even as an Econ Affairs officer, you're still considered a generalist. You're mostly doing diplomacy, with a slant towards econ, energy, and commercial issues. If you were an FCS, you would be doing promotion of US business interests only, or at least mostly.

[Anonymous]

FCS seems to go to mostly pretty nice places (a few exceptions) while FSOs go all over to every fly-blown pest hole. So if you'd rather not spend three years in Kinshasa, Chisnau or Juarez FCS might be better.