Why is HR all messed up?
I started working in Human Resources (part of the management section) two months ago, and I'm leaving my position next week, so please...
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May 23, 2019
Mediterranean cruise (with kids): worth it?
I just completed my first cruise! In only 10 days, our little family visited Rome, Crete, Mikonos, Rhodes, Santorini, Athens, and Naples....
May 22, 2019
Cruising with kids? 10 things I wish I’d known beforehand
A few weeks ago I went on my first-ever cruise: a 10-day voyage in Italy and Greece on the Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Sea, with my...
May 7, 2019
A-100 Here I Come!
And so the journey ends! It’s been two years and two months since I applied for the Foreign Service, and last week the process finally...
May 7, 2019
How many times should you take the Foreign Service exam before giving up?
In some countries you get only one shot at being a diplomat—if you're rejected you’re done. You can't apply for the job again because, I...
May 7, 2019
Observations from HR – How to ace your job interview
Diplomats interview people all the time. As managers, they're often involved in hiring permanent staff and interns. They may also...
Apr 15, 2019
10 Things foreigners love about living in Armenia
1. It’s safe There aren’t many countries where you can leave your phone in a taxi and get it back; where you can walk down the street at...
Apr 8, 2019
Diplomacy 101: Management Affairs
Diplomats in the US Foreign Service work in one of five career tracks. Even though they are called “generalists,” which means they can...
Apr 3, 2019
Hardship postings in the Foreign Service: what you should know
It’s funny to me that many people imagine diplomats as Ivy League educated cocktail-circuit regulars who only hang out with high society....
Mar 25, 2019
23 little kids apps that are fun & ideal for traveling
Traveling with kids is a big part of diplomatic life and so far it’s been hard for me. My kids are 1 and 5—too young to understand what’s...
Mar 23, 2019
After you pass the Foreign Service exams: my 738 days from FSOA to Register
Passing the Foreign Service Oral Assessment (FSOA) back in March of 2017 felt cathartic. It was the end of a 7-month process that started...
Mar 5, 2019
17 Cool International Affairs Jobs I Didn’t Even Know Existed
When I graduated from university with a Master’s in International relations (IR), I’m embarrassed to admit, I had no clue what to do with...
Mar 5, 2019
Networking in the field of IR — it always pays off
I still remember the time when I was intrigued by the word “networking” because I didn’t know what it really meant. When I was studying...
Mar 5, 2019
What resumes in international affairs should look like: 9 do’s and don’ts
Resumes are important in many industries and international affairs is no different. There is a certain way your resume should look if you...
Mar 5, 2019
Go local: go abroad and STAY abroad to start your international career
It’s not for everyone: moving abroad for a short-term mission, internship or volunteer opportunity and staying there afterwards to build...
Mar 5, 2019
How volunteering abroad can lead to an international career
How I missed the opportunity I sometimes think back on the time when I, however briefly, considered going on a 2–year,...
Mar 5, 2019
7 Internship do's & don'ts for careers in International Affairs
Are you studying international relations, or considering moving into international relations, and you're not sure how to start out? I...
Mar 5, 2019
17 Proven Ways to Launch your International Career
I’ve written a lot about becoming a diplomat on this blog, but I just realized it’s also about something much broader than that; it’s...
Feb 19, 2019
What educational background do you need to become an FSO?
I love answering questions from readers, so I’ll dedicate this post to one I got recently: what type of educational background do you...
Feb 15, 2019
Who can become a political officer?
You don’t need a special degree to become a political officer. Like in other career tracks within the Foreign Service, diplomats learn...
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