The end of the year is nearly here and with it we get to look forward to the endless possibilities of 2015!
The prospect is exciting! There are many new activities and goals I would like to try and accomplish, and many old things I would like to improve on. For instance, learning photography, traveling, and improving my Spanish.
In regards to this site though, there are three big initiatives I plan on pursuing and accomplishing. Best of all, you can be a part of it.
“The Wall”: aka, Passing the FSOT
The first is to retake the FSOT in June 2015, and pass it.
Admittedly, it was a little discouraging to miss the multiple-choice cutoff by less than a point, but that just means I am really close to passing the test.
I need to keep persevering.
One idea I have to help me pass, and perhaps readers of this post can assist me with their thoughts, is to quiz myself on essay questions that may appear on the FSOT. I will time myself and then, without editing or changing, post the essay online for your critique.
The idea is a little scary, but I believe this will be a great way to practice and learn from my mistakes. Unfortunately, besides some official recommendations provide by State, we do not know the guidelines used by the examiners to grade the essay.
That said I believe what they want to see is clear and concise arguments, and this is what I will strive for.
Two Projects – Two forms of Reader Engagement
The next two initiatives revolve around increasing user and reader engagement.
Eventually, I would like this site to become a primary resource for anybody looking to join the Foreign Service. Likewise, if you are already in the Foreign Service, you could use this site to build a community for discussion and mentoring.
Those are end goals though and I need to remind myself that I am only 12 posts in and need to work on creating more useful content.
To do that, there are two projects I plan on working on the first quarter of 2015.
Where one project I will keep under wraps for now, as it will take some finesse to put together, the other I will begin working on with the start of 2015.
And it is this second project where you can lend a hand! Guess what, it’s super easy too.
All you have to do is answer this question in the comment section:
If you could ask a Senior Foreign Service Officer any question regarding the FSOT, FSO lifestyle, common misconceptions of being a FSO, etc. What question(s) would you ask?
Anybody looking to become a FSO is bound to have some questions and I bet a lot of you have similar ones. Furthermore, this shouldn’t just be answered by those planning on becoming FSOs, but also those who already are. Perhaps you have a question about improving the odds of your next posting bid…
So, there you go!
Once the (EPIC) post is created that’s related to this question I will make sure to email all those subscribed to the newsletter. Which means, don’t forget to subscribe!
I’m wishing all of you a great 2015 and if you are taking the test this upcoming year, especially in February, good luck!
