<p>How difficult is it to get an entry-level civil service job at the state dept.?</p>
<p>Why don’t you try and find out:</p>
<p>[USAJOBS</a> - The Federal Government’s Official Jobs Site](<a href=“http://www.usajobs.gov/]USAJOBS”>http://www.usajobs.gov/)</p>
<p>If you are coming right out of college, it is VERY difficult. Take the Foreign Service Officer position…</p>
<p>You first need to qualify for the test by submitting your application (I believe 50% of applicants qualify, give or take). Once you take the test, you need to be one of the 10-20% of test takers (5-10% of all applicants, if you’re keeping score) invited to submit personal statements. These statements are comprised of your answers to five-ish questions. If you are among the 20% (1-2% total) whose answers meet expectations/requirements, you will be invited to an interview and background check stage. If you do well and pass all of your background checks, you will be offered a job. Somewhere between 0.4% and 1% of all initial applicants wind up getting the jobs.</p>
<p>There are non-FSO jobs with the State Department.</p>
<p>Any federal civil service job tends to be difficult to get - they generally have low turnover and veterans have statutory preference in hiring.</p>
<p>it is EXTREMELY difficult.</p>
<p>In Summer 2010, State put out its entry level announcement, and the cutoffs for VISA type jobs were around 98. The cutoffs for the positions where you actually work foreign issues were over 100 (read: only veterans could get them).</p>
<p>In Summer 2011, there was no entry level announcement.</p>
<p>Don’t know about 2012.</p>
<p>There is also the position to become a contractor that works at State, but generally contractors have a little experience, since they can’t be trained (at least, can’t be trained on the government’s money). But some contractors (like Booz Allen) hire tons of entry level people every year.</p>
<p>Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply, just that it is very difficult to get government jobs right now, so you shouldn’t expect something quickly.</p>
<p>just for the unpaid summer interns, they get 12+ applications for every spot.</p>
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<p>The O/P asked about civil service positions, not foreign service.</p>
<p>There is really no connection between the two (other than things like security clearance, etc.)</p>
<p>Generally to get into entry-level civil service with the State Dept. (apart from FSO) you need an “in” aka it is extremely difficult/competitive. If you are really set on getting a civil service job with the State Dept be sure to apply to the State department internships (pathways, student experience, or summer clerical programs). One of my classmates interned there for 2 semesters and then got a full-time job offer as a result. Don’t expect much though - my one coworker interned there for 8 months and she loved it there - but they had no full time positions to offer her so she had to take a job with another agency. Also look into the Virtual Student Foreign Service program that they hold- not quite a real position, but still would look good on the resume if you were applying for a entry level position. Also, quite a few people get into the State Department through the Presidential Management Fellows program (PMF) that you apply to during grad school.</p>
<p>For the FSO, as chrisw said, it is ridiculously competitive. Even if you pass the written exam/personal statements, you still have to wait for interview rounds (which can be months or even years) before they actually call on you.</p>
<p>Other paths in civil service, true in other agencies as well as State:
HR
IT
Financial Management</p>
<p>i mean, there is basically every career field in the federal government</p>
<p>True enough soccerguy. However these specialities at State consistently have openings and the OP asked the very basic question about civil service gigs at State.</p>
<p>Regarding difficulty of getting the gig - it helps to have current certifications in IT, an accounting degree for financial management.</p>
<p>agreed dudedad… I was just trying to say that if you want to work something like IT or financial management, that is not unique to State, so you have a lot more options. However, if you want to work on diplomatic issues, State is the only place you can go.</p>
<p>If your career choice isn’t specific to State, then you shouldn’t narrow your search to that.</p>
<p>State isn’t the ONLY place for diplomatic issues…just depends on your view of the world–peaceful or offensive :)</p>
<p>well, I would describe those other places as foreign policy, which is not as restrictive as diplomatic issues =P</p>
<p>personally I prefer the more… <em>ahem</em> forceful (and sneaky) arm of foreign policy, but the State Department does play a role, when the nice people of Foggy Bottom are finished with cocktail hour and actually do some work (just kidding)</p>
<p>Received in an email from the career service at Department of State:
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