fsquiz

Foreign Service Career Track Quiz

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Instructions

Review each scenario and select your response on a scale from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree,’ with ‘neutral’ as the default. To receive the most accurate recommendation, answer thoughtfully and honestly. Your responses are used solely for this quiz.

Work with colleagues from the Department of Defense to ensure a military ally's implementation of a Status of Forces Agreement, at times reconciling differences of opinion—both with the host nation and among American colleagues—on specific elements of that agreement.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Working collaboratively with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure a reformed 'bad boy' — now Best Actor nominee — receives a travel waiver so he can arrive at the Academy Awards on time.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Coordinate with colleagues in the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service at a U.S. Embassy in a foreign country to develop programs that promote American goods and services exports and encourage foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the United States.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Visit U.S. citizens in foreign prisons. Check on their welfare, ensure they receive fair treatment and are not subject to physical or mental abuse. According to privacy guidelines, communicate with their families in the United States.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Quickly draft a paragraph-long synopsis of the sudden resignation of a Cabinet minister in the host country where you serve, to provide Washington with an insight into how that development will affect bilateral relations—then turn that paragraph into a two-page cable that will serve as a record of your Embassy's recommended course of action.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Improve the operational effectiveness of an Embassy through innovation and effective management of information technology infrastructure and physical plant space allocations. Manage conflicts and resolve urgent demands from multiple offices and agencies in the process.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Using foreign language skills, including sensitivity to local dialects, assess a host nation's adherence to universal human rights principles by meeting with NGOs, human rights activists, and government officials.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Monitor the U.S. unemployment and GDP growth rates. Using your foreign language skills, explain the U.S. economic context to foreign government officials and entrepreneurs.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Use the latest security technology and your instincts to stop a suspected terrorist before s/he can even get on a plane destined for the United States.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Convince local media outlets to publish an op-ed promoting U.S. foreign policy goals that you have drafted under your Ambassador's name—regardless of your own personal opinion on the matter.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Draft – and re-draft after colleagues' edits — a speech in a foreign language for your boss to deliver to foreign financial audiences advocating for U.S. trade and economic policies and explaining their impact on the world.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Relying on perspectives from contacts you have developed within your host nation's legislative branch and bureaucracy, as well as foreign-language media reports, obtain an accurate picture of political dynamics following a local election and orally brief your Ambassador on how those dynamics may affect U.S. foreign policy interests.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Working as part of a team that includes representatives from other U.S. government agencies, serve as the Embassy's point person organizing all details of an American senior official's visit to your host nation to discuss bilateral cooperation on cybersecurity, including proposals for meetings, seating charts, and briefing books.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Recognizing that you may be the first, and possibly only, U.S. citizen a foreign national will ever meet; build trust and — using your foreign language skills — convince him/her to share extensive personal information with you so that you can determine if s/he is a threat to U.S. national security.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Develop fisheries sector contacts and tour a shrimping fleet in foreign waters to monitor use of turtle-excluder devices, which safeguard wildlife. Write a detailed report on your findings under a tight deadline for Washington policymakers.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Play an integral role in negotiating adoption regulations, advocating for laws that will help orphaned children find a forever family in the U.S.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Work with Department of Homeland Security colleagues to determine qualifications of members of a religious minority seeking asylum and, according to applicable law and regulations, assist families to flee an oppressive homeland for successful resettlement in another country.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Learn the ins and outs of the interagency resource management platform at an Embassy in a foreign country, organize monthly meetings, and facilitate allocation of support and operational resources for each USG agency represented.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

At times on extremely short notice, with several other big projects you need to complete by day's end, take notes at a meeting between your Ambassador and a host nation's Foreign Minister on coordinated contributions to a UN peacekeeping effort, then draft a same-day written summary of that meeting for the Ambassador's review.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Draft and re-draft, several times, an annual report on labor conditions in a host nation, including issues such as workers' rights and child labor.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Ensure compliance with regulations, fair treatment, and objective dispute resolution as you chair the committee that assigns housing for American employees at an Embassy.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Develop and run safety, health, and wellness programming for the Embassy workforce and their families. Get feedback and adjust programs to best serve a majority of staff.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Working with colleagues in the Embassy's Consular Section and Foreign Commercial Service, organize and staff informational booths at a local shopping mall in your host nation to promote study abroad in the United States.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Explain approved U.S. sanctions policy in detail to foreign officials and urge their formal support for potentially controversial economic sanctions that are in the U.S. interest, regardless of your personal opinion.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Negotiate with a foreign government on reciprocal work agreements and diplomatic privileges and immunities for U.S. diplomats working at the U.S. Embassy in your assigned foreign country.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Even if you have no interest in sports or athletic ability, work with American professional athletes to promote American foreign policy goals through sport.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Using perspectives from your contacts in the business community, your host nation's government, and foreign-language media reports, research and analyze imminent international mergers and acquisitions that impact U.S. markets. Brief senior Embassy officials on their economic effect and foreign regulatory review status.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Reconciling at times conflicting directives from various individuals and offices in both Washington DC and your host country, organize a press conference for your Ambassador or for a visiting Assistant Secretary who is in charge of the region where your diplomatic mission is located.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Develop a plan to oversee recruitment and hiring of qualified local candidates – IT technicians, facilities and maintenance workers, warehouse personnel, and cleaning staff — to fill a variety of positions throughout a U.S. Embassy in a foreign country. Coordinate with other embassies and international organizations on salary and benefits for local employees, ensuring the U.S. is competitive in the local labor market.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Work extra hours to set up logistical arrangements – including transportation, baggage, security, meals, and communications – coordinating with all Embassy sections for Congressional representatives and Presidential, Secretary of State, and other VIP delegations visiting your host country.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Serve as the lifeline to U.S. citizens in distress overseas, being 'on call' 24/7, and helping them navigate through routine situations like passport renewals and/or absentee voting to emergency situations like child abduction and/or the death of a loved one.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Widely and transparently enlist the support of the Embassy community, including diplomats' family members, in an ongoing program to deliver speeches and presentations to foreign audiences about American values and policy issues.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Work with your Public Diplomacy colleagues to arrange a speaking tour for a premier American agricultural expert in a foreign country. Coordinate to locate venues, and publicize the events. Draft opening remarks and, using your foreign language skills, introduce the expert at the events.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Working with Washington, organize an official team and head toward an area devastated by a hurricane to assist and/or evacuate U.S. citizens trapped there. With sensitivity, notify relatives of the death of an American citizen abroad.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Use your foreign language skills to call your host nation's Foreign Ministry and make an appointment so that you can deliver a demarche to your counterpart on religious freedom and human rights—who may or may not be supportive of American values and initiatives.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Using foreign language skills as well as a nuanced understanding of local culture, tradition, and values, plan and implement public events in your host nation that showcase American culture.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Using foreign language and interpersonal skills, develop contacts within host nation media circles to promote freedom of the press and U.S. foreign policy goals.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Analyze, and write about a foreign central bank's management of the national currency for official Washington audiences. Discuss how it will affect the country's trade and investment; describe the potential impact on U.S. interests.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Manage diverging opinions at an Embassy-wide meeting to select future leaders from various fields (political, economic, cultural, judicial, education, law enforcement, etc.) in your host country who will participate in a weeks-long study tour in the United States, then follow-up with alumni of this program upon their return to encourage continued advancement of U.S. foreign policy goals.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Working with counterparts at the United Nations who may or may not be supportive, ensure that U.S. foreign policy interests are met through the implementation of resolutions on issues ranging from multilateral sanctions to humanitarian aid.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Reconciling differences of opinion among individuals and offices in Washington DC and your overseas location, plan and implement a schedule for a Congressional delegation that is visiting to learn more about the host nation's position in the shifting geopolitical balance of the region.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Carefully monitor political unrest in a foreign country that might be a threat to traveling American citizens and report your findings to Washington and the public via punchy announcements and advisories.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Use U.S. immigration law to facilitate legitimate travel to the United States of foreign investors bringing dollars and jobs to American communities with high unemployment.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Work with your supervisor to foster strong work relationships and high morale within a multinational labor force by implementing professional development programs and training opportunities for the largest group of local employees in a U.S. Embassy.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Using your foreign language skills, manage local employees to provide administrative, performance evaluation, budget support, or human resource advice for all offices and agencies represented at a U.S. Embassy in a foreign country.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Oversee implementation of the Fulbright Program, which promotes educational and cultural exchange between the United States and foreign nations, both by applying existing methods as well as by devising new, creative ones that help realize U.S. foreign policy goals.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Using technical skills or directing staff with necessary skillsets, create attractive postings that will direct traffic to and increase public interaction with the U.S. Embassy's social media accounts.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Research, internalize, and concisely explain, orally and in writing, complex industrial regulations — including a foreign country's proposed carbon cap-and-trade and emissions tax schemes — so a non-expert can grasp their intent and effect.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Serve as the Chief Financial Officer of a U.S. Embassy in a foreign country, overseeing a multi-million dollar budget.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

Liaise with working-level staff of the U.S. Trade Representative's Office in Washington to stay up-to-date on trade agreements between the U.S. and your host country. Discuss their status with foreign officials and advocate for full implementation.(Required)

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Strongly Agree

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