How does the real world work: Government (foreign service), business, and medical

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

<p>I'm all caught up in what colleges are the best that I forgot about the real world. If you are from the government, particularly foreign service and diplomacy, from business, or from medical fields, give me some input.</p>

<p>What do they look for?</p>

<p>Are GPA as important as the college you go to?</p>

<p>Is experience more important than school and grades (meaning that I should go to Northeastern)</p>

<p>Does going to college in Canada (I'm considering McGill) hurt my chances anywhere?</p>

<p>What does the world want from me?</p>

2

<p>Regarding government in the US, college experience is pretty irrelevant. They hire based on working experience, and the longer you are away from school the less relevant your degree becomes. Majors don’t matter much either, so it’s best to major in something practical that can be applied universally (Accounting, Computer Science, Information Technology, Math). Most government applications just require a minimum amount of education (Bachelors), if you fullfill that requirement and the other minimum criteria, you are eligible to apply. GPA doesn’t matter much, as long as it’s respectable. </p>

<p>I assume you want to work for the Canadian government and I can’t comment about how they hire or their system. Obviously, working for the US government is problematic because, 1) Any federal application asks if you are a US Citizen, and 2) It’s very difficult for a foreign citizen to be granted a Security Clearance.</p>

<p>Foreign Service is a tricky animal. I have no idea about Canadas system, but in the US there really isn’t a set hiring criteria. They hire based on need, which is evolving. Plus, every Poli Sci/IR student wants to work in foreign service so it gets competitive.</p>

<p>They longer you work (in any career, except academia), the less important and relevant your education is, it becomes more of a checkmark than a selling point. Your education is best used for your first push into the workforce, after that employers care most about your aptitude and performance in the working world. </p>

<p>I’ve done some hiring, and never once did I base my decision on school, major, or GPA. I based my decision on which applicant impressed me the most during the interview process. I liked sharp applicants who I felt were capable handling multiple responsibilities.</p>

3

<p>I’m actually an American interested in working for the US government (or Business or Medicine. I havent decided yet). I asked about Canada since I want to go to school there, but I want to work for the US government. Will these seem suspicious to them? Also, would it be more practical to major in a language (like Arabic or Farsi or Chinese) than PoliSci/IR since it would mean I already have a valuable anguage skill?</p>

4

<p>If you want to work for the US government in a cleared position I wouldn’t go to school in Canada. When going through the clearance process, foreign contacts are often more scrutinized than drug use and other background information.</p>

<p>For example, you will have to provide a contact list of all your foreign contacts. If you go to school in a different country, that list will be enormous and create tons of problems during the adjudication process. Plus, you will have to provide documentation for any part-time jobs you worked in Canada along with the proper paperwork to show you followed legal procedures.</p>

<p>It would be a nightmare and honestly, if I were the background investigator I would just recommend that your background history is to complex to accurately judge.</p>

<p>I will put this as bluntly as I possibly can, because it this appears to be a recurring problem with incoming college students who want to work in government.</p>

<p>If you major in Farsi, or any other obscure language just because you think it will get you a specific job, you would be an outright idiot. I mean, what happens if you don’t get the job you want? You will be stuck will a degree in a major that is basically unspoken in the United States. Way to throw money down a hole.</p>

<p>1) The needs of the government continually change. What is needed today may not be needed tomorrow, so don’t base your education on what you feel is that “hot skill.” </p>

<p>2) Native speakers make the best translators. Why would they hire you when they can just use somebody who has spoken the language their whole life, knows the sland, dialects, and accents? I’m not saying a self-taught speaker can’t get hired, becaue they can, I’m just saying it’s much different than you think. Remember, we’ve had assets in these countries for nearly a decade, so it’s not like the government is sitting around saying, “God, please send us a college student who can speak Farsi and get us out of this mess!!!”</p>

<p>3) To become fluent in a language (especially a middle eastern language) would require a long-term immersion program. Which means you’d have to go to Afganistan or some other country where the language is spoken for an extended period of time. Not only is that not safe, but it will just severely complicate your future clearance process. I mean, a college kid who goes to a hostile country to live for an extended period of time is a MAJOR red flag. </p>

<p>4) Say you did major in Farsi and were able to get hired by the government down the road. What do you plan to do in the meantime? The jobs you want aren’t entry-level positions, and the application process alone can sometimes take years. Quite the gamble I’d say. </p>

<p>If you want to learn a language like Farsi, walk on down to the Army Recruitment Office, sit down and tell them you want to be a translator. If you are fit for service, you will go to bootcamp, take the qualifying tests, then begin your language training.</p>

<p>After you complete the training and become proficient/reliable you will be deployed to use your skills. If that doesn’t sit well with you, then you need to re-evaluate, because that’s the reality. If you don’t want to be deployed to a high-risk area, pick another path. </p>

<p>That experience, combined with a college degree will make you a strong candidate to work in a government service. It gaurantees you squat, but makes you competitive.</p>

<p>Examples of good majors would be Computer Science or Finance. They are universal and can be applied in nearly any organization.</p>

5

<p>Well, I’ve already lived in the Philippines for 14 years, so my foreign contact list is already HUGE. </p>

<p>Also I want to study overseas. Are you telling me in order to get a job that allows me to travel (Foreign Service), I have to not travel at all until I get that job?</p>

6

<p>Are you a US Citizen? </p>

<p>No, I’m not telling you that. I’m telling you that foriegn contacts aren’t fondly looked at during the clearance process.</p>

<p>If you study overseas, it will be scrutinized. Living in the Philippines for 14 years will be heavily scrutinized. </p>

<p>Travel to any unfriendly/hostile countries will result in major concerns.</p>

<p>If you haven’t been paying attention lately we are suffering from major security leaks - WikiLeaks. Because of this, our information storage/security process will probably become even more restrictive and foreign contacts during the clearance process will problably become an even a bigger deal.</p>

<p>I’ve traveled overseas and was able to complete the process, as have many people I know. However, you must be smart about it. Applicants are a dime a dozen, it’s much easier for them to just “move on” and play it safe than make a mistake. There are always applicants to take your place.</p>

<p>I know lots of people who studied overseas for a semester and received/maintain clearances from several agencies. It’s mostly about transparency and the ability to pass a polygraph test.</p>

<p>You also need to get realistic. Foreign Service is a small community and every Poli Sci/IR major in the US applies and believes they get hired. 95% don’t, then what?</p>

<p>If you want a job that allows you to travel, become a teacher and travel during your summer breaks. Or better yet, join the military and travel all over the world on the DOD’s dime and serve your country.</p>

<p>Or perhaps a cruise line.</p>

<p>P.S. Different agencies have different standards and alot depends on the kind of clearance that is required. There is no clear-cut answer, however I’d prepare for a plan B. Because either way, you won’t be working in the foreign service directly out of college - that is very rare. </p>

<p>You’re better off getting a very low GS Scale (5) position working within the State Department then trying to work your way up.</p>

7

<p>Btw, I’m not trying to argue with you in case you thought I was. I’m just trying to learn and am thankful for your help</p>

<p>Yes, I am a US citizen. I’m white if that matters. </p>

<p>I’m interested in travel, but not in those other jobs you recommended. I am not a good teacher and I am not the kind of person who enjoys combat or combat training. </p>

<p>So you recommend that someone who starts wants to join the foreign service start low and work their way up? What is a GS scale position?</p>

<p>Also, you seem very informed. Are you working for the government?</p>

<p>And are there any other jobs that you would recommend? Maybe business or something. I read about something called Independent Diplomats. What is that and is it just a small and selective organization?</p>