Invite!

Okay, about four hours after being added to the Register I received an e-mail invitation to the April 25 Class.  Great timing.  Monday I'll be sending my acceptance notice and start the next part of the process and gather all the necessary paperwork.

WOOOHOOO!!!

Yay! On The Register

Okay I got my letter, I'm . . . well here is an excerpt ...

So I called an I'm number 8 on the list.  Didn't think to ask out of how many.  But when I called they asked if I was interested in the April 25 class.  Yes I Am!  So I'm waiting for a call back this afternoon.  Wish me luck!

Patience is a virtue...

Well continuing on with my clichés, patience really is a virtue and I have really been focusing and trying to maintain my patience.  All in all I think I’ve done pretty good, there were a couple of weeks where I broke down and called HR twice in one week and even a week where I called on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  All of the contacts were with friendly people eager to help, but with my packet still in FRP there was little they could do.  Still I sit here patiently waiting for an email.  As I see other bloggers get their invites it is a little disheartening but I stopped to think about it and even if I don’t hear anything until February 28, that is still two months; well eight weeks prior to the start of the class I’m hoping to get invited to.  So, I will continue to be patient, hope for the best and expect the worst. 

It really is like watching paint dry

Okay,  so I called on Monday and though I was hoping for a "You're on the list and hey come to training on..." I was not really expecting it.  Hope for the best expect the worst, and you'll never be disappointed. I don't think I'm as anxious about this right now, though, my wife might disagree with that statement.  Anyway, back to the call, I was told that possibly Wednesday it would be done and a letter would go out snail mail.  Lets see it takes 2-3 days for a letter to make it from DC to home so the earliest I think I can expect a letter is about Saturday.

This really is a slow process and I knew that going into it.  But, as this part of the process is nearing completion, that anticipation grows and the anxiety swells.  Just thinking how well that sentence would fit in some racy novels...again I digress, so that process is long and I just have to be patient and not drive my wife crazy.  I've decided not to call again until Friday, unless I get a letter before then.  In the mean time I'll continue to work on the house and get it ready for market.

To those others out there in the same boat.  Hang in there!

Just a little closer

I know I spoke with HR on last Friday and they said they got my packet to the FRP, but I got a little antsy so I called them back yesterday just to verify that it did in fact get sent on.  I was pondering what message to leave when I got to the voice mail; all of a sudden a real person answered, I wasn't expecting that.  Anyway long story short yes it did make it and should be back today or tomorrow.  So keeping my fingers crossed and praying for a positive outcome!

UPDATE:
Called today they said call back Monday.
Heavy sigh........

Anticipation

Have you ever wanted something so bad you can taste it?  I know its a cliche question, but there is something to be said for cliches.  I digress, but that's the purpose of the "Random" blog entry right?  So, I think the trigger for me to create this specific entry is a frustrating day at work.  I've only been here 3 hours.. wow has it been three hours already? Anyways, it's already been a frustrating few hours, trying to get work completed, submitting documents, getting request to change said document with no reasoning.  I am the type of person that definitely more productive when I know the WHY.  I know I won't always get it it, but you know it's good to know the reasoning behind a decision and like I said I'm more productive with it.  Everyone needs a reason to do what they do... right?  I could go on and on about what frustrates me at work today, but I know everyone has days like this.  So more to the point, for me anyway, it is all compounded by the fact that I am greatly anticipating the call/e-mail saying I'm on the register and invited to the next class.  Still waiting on final suitability review ...  So close yet so far away... Yes another cliche, but again I find it very fitting. Well, the day to day frustrations of my current job  will continue and I will remain in great anticipation of a positive contact from HR. Well I think I've rambled on enough for now.

Slight Delay . . .

Well I'm going to have to update my time line...

Due to something beyond my control, it turns out my packet wasn't submitted to FRP when I had thought.  On my latest call to check on the status I was informed that HR had not received my clearance verification and had not sent my packet to the FRP.  So, looks like my packet will be submitted on Monday 2/7 if it didn't go on Friday. 

Looks like I have to wait a couple more weeks before I find out if I made it and where on the Register I will be.  I did verify my disabled veteran points have been added and their are currently 14 people on the Register. 

I have to admit I was a little frustrated at the delay.  But, after pondering on things for a day I realize that HR is working on a great number of applications.  Being in the Government now, I can relate to the "do more with fewer resources" and I know they are doing the best they can with the resources they have.  So I have come to terms with the delay and I am still greatly anticipating the results. 

So has anyone else experienced a delay or setback in their process?

The Grotto

Okay so it is my intent to upload pictures from out travels. Well, we haven't started with the FS yet. But, it occured to me that there are quite a few beautiful places here state side. So, I wll start with the Grotto...


 The Grotto can be found in West Bend, Iowa. You can get more information at their web site: http://www.westbendgrotto.com/. This place is amazing, the whole place is made from crystals and minerals of all types, shapes, and sizes from all over the world.

So if you find yourself in North Central Iowa, make sure you get out to the Grotto. It will definately be worth your time.

Hurry Up and Wait...

Okay my application process has followed the "hurry up and wait" philosophy.   I gathered all my relevant paperwork, resume, DD Form 214, etc... and got everything submitted on USAJobs.gov and applied for the IMS position.  This was early 2010.  I don't remember the actual date, actually I had forgotten that I applied for the job until one day in September 2010 I received a FedEx package inviting me to the Oral Assessment (OA).

After receiving this package, I stepped up my research and reading about the FS and the State Department in general.  I found several blogs similar to this where individuals chronicled their experiences.  Other than that I did not find to much information on the OA process.  Most of the postings were extremely vague and cited NDA.  Having signed my Non Disclosure Agreement, I will not be sharing any details either.

In general my OA started with me finding transportation and a hotel for my stay in Washington.  All of this was on my own dime.  I suppose that is by design to aid in weeding out those who are not completely interested in a position with the FS.  With some cheap tickets and some planning, I was able to make the whole trip on about $350.  That doesn't include the cost of the new suit I bought for the interview.

I scheduled my flight to come in the day before and leave the day after my OA.  I got a decent night sleep and on October 8, 2010 I started my short trek from my hotel to the building where the OA would take place.  A nice stroll to the Metro station, a short train ride from Crystal City to L'Enfant Plaza and finally a 5 block walk to the State Department building.

My OA's took the same format as what is posted online HERE

Here is an excerpt from that site...

Candidates forwarded by the qualifications process are invited to travel to Washington, D.C. at their own expense to the Foreign Service Assessment Center to participate in an oral assessment test that consists of a writing exercise, a structured interview, and an exit interview. The new format for some specialties also requires a competency exam (online technical multiple-choice test.)

When you come to the Oral Assessment, you will be asked to read and sign the following three forms pertaining to the conditions for taking the Oral Assessment and conditions of employment in the Foreign Service. If you are not willing to abide by these conditions, you should not schedule an Oral Assessment.

    * Three Conditions of Foreign Service Employment (pdf)
    * Medical Clearance for Eligible Family Members (pdf)
    * Non-Disclosure Form (pdf)

Writing Exercise:
Candidates will be asked to write either an essay or will be presented a hypothetical problem set in an embassy environment related to the candidate’s area of specialization. The candidate will be required to write a two-page memo outlining how to solve the problem presented. The candidate will have 45 minutes for the writing exercise. He/she will have a computer available to use, but may write the essay or memo in longhand.

Structured Interview:
The interview will be conducted by two examiners, a Foreign Service generalist and a Foreign Service specialist or generalist working in your field. The interview generally takes about 75 minutes.

There are two parts to the structured interview. In the first part of the interview, the candidate will be asked about his/her motivation for joining the Foreign Service and about background experiences that might be relevant to their work as a Foreign Service specialist. In the second part of the interview, the second interviewer will ask questions in the candidate’s field and provide hypothetical workplace problems to resolve. Candidates are expected to use common sense and good judgment and to make assumptions they believe are appropriate in responding to the hypothetical situations.

Competency Exam:
Candidates may be given a computer based multiple-choice exam that presents a series of technical and/or situational judgment questions. It is intended to measure job-related knowledge and how the candidate might apply that knowledge on the job. This exam is timed and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The exam is designed to present more questions than can generally be answered in the time allowed, so candidates should not expect to answer every question.

Exit Interview:
At the conclusion of the interview, candidates will return to the waiting room while the examiners consolidate their scores. They will then be asked to return to the interview room where the examiners will inform them whether or not they reached the cut-off score which will enable the State Department to continue the candidacy. If the candidate reaches the cut-off score, the examiners will brief him/her on the next steps in the pre-employment process.

Well after several nerve racking hours, during the exit interview I was congratulated on passing the OA!  Next steps, Security Clearance, Medical Clearance and Final Review.  Below are the dates I completed each of the steps.  Currently my package is with the Final Review Panel.  Once the panel determines whether or not I am suitable for the Foreign Service, I will be given a score based on my OA and Veteran status.  Then I will be placed on the Register of cleared applicant.  I will be put on the list based on my score.  When it is time to fill a class they start at the top of the list and work their way down to the necessary number.  .

OA completed: 10/8/10
Med Submitted: 11/2/10
Med Cleared: 11/17/10
Sec Interview: 11/22/10
Sec Adjudicated: 1/7/11
Sent to FRP 1/24/11

Well this is where I stand as of today, I have called and checked on my status a couple of times, most recently yesterday.  I was told to call back on Friday  February 4....

Hello World!

Well for those programmers out there they will recognize this as my first posting.  Typically your first computer program you write displays "Hello World!"  Okay now that the geeky stuff is out of the way...

I thought I would start this blog to chronicle my journey through the application process to join the Foreign Service as an Information Management Specialist (IMS), and hopefully mine and my family's journey with the FS.

Well, just a brief introduction.  More to come later.