A few weeks back, I wrote
about what it feels like to start a new career in the Foreign Service over the
age of 40. Today I'm turning to my colleagues in their 20s with the same
questions. The State Department hires new generalists and specialists from ages
21 to 59 (see careers.state.gov), and some of the
younger set come to A-100 shortly after graduation or as Fellows. My
particular A-100 had a good number of Fellows and recent grads, giving me a
super resource on the topic. The following is by no means any type of proper
scientific survey, but rather a collection of conversations and e-mails volunteered
by a handful of 20-something entry level officers (ELOs) from a variety of backgrounds
and in various stages of their personal life, from single to expecting a first
child.
So let's dive in. When possible, I'm going to quote instead of
paraphrase so you can hear their exact thoughts:
1. What
do you feel are the advantages to starting the Foreign Service at your age?
One
24-year old mentioned that as she had just recently earned her graduate degree months
before starting A-100, she was still in the habit and mindset of studying and
felt it was easy to keep that level of motivation up. This was certainly useful in A-100 and in the
variety of intense training that often follows.
“As a 24 year old, this will be my
first career and I have 41 years to accomplish my goals. I do not have as much
pressure as many of my fellow A-100 colleagues due to my age, which allows me
freedom to seek out jobs that might not advance me professionally advantageous
(allow I think that all positions in the FS can help your career if you do your
job well) but are of a personal interest to me. I feel that I have the chance
to make mistakes and choose the path I want without seeing each birthday as one
year closer to retirement.”
“The mid-20s is a great time to be in
the Foreign Service. Since I have neither pets nor a significant other, I
am truly worldwide available. I can get excited about serving my country
without many caveats or hesitations about places I don't want to go. And when I
do pack up and leave, I won't have a home to sell or a settled lifestyle to
give up.”
A 26-year old noted, “I can see some real advantages, such as
being younger and trying to handle the hours and amount of information you have
to take in.”
“28 feels perfect to me -
I've had four years of previous work experience, two years of grad school, and
plenty of time ahead to sink my teeth into this. I'm glad to have had a
different life outside the FS to appreciate other paths and to know more of the
real world in which policy has to operate. At the same time, I didn't spend so
long in another career that it becomes hard to break out of an old life.”
2. Do you feel there are any
disadvantages/challenges that you face or are concerned about?
A few of the recent grads
noted their concern about a lack of significant or applicable work experience
prior to joining. Believe me; this was easy to feel, even for those of us over
40, as the FS attracts people from incredibly diverse backgrounds. Some felt
that although they had internships in embassies and the State Department before
through their fellowships, they hadn’t had “regular” work experience and all
that comes with it in terms of knowing how to deal with different types of
supervisors and coworkers.
“One
disadvantage may be that since this is my first career, I might not be taken as
seriously in my first posts as someone who has done impressive things already
with their lives. While we are told that we all enter on a level playing field,
my lack of experience in the "real world" might make the transition
take a little longer than others who have had 20 years of working experience.”
A mid-20’s man without
graduate school behind him saw the positive side of starting from scratch:
“In some ways, I'm
starting at a disadvantage because I don't have as much educational or work
experience as many of my colleagues. But because of the way entry level officer
careers are structured, I have access to the same posts and positions as
everyone else. In addition, I have access to great mentoring; I get to work in
a range of positions on a range of issues in a range of regions, and I receive
excellent language training. Hopefully I'll have the chance to earn my Master's
as a mid career officer. All this means that I'm not worrying about how the
Foreign Service fits into my career plans--rather, all my career plans fit into
the Foreign Service!”
One 26-year old commented
on the requirements the State Department has for breaking into the Senior
Foreign Service, which is something a career employee could consider after
about 12-20 years on the job: “Another plus might be that I can look at this as
a long term career, but that might also be a drawback as I have to consider, 'Do I want to do what is necessary to make it into the Senior Foreign Service?' I could see someone who was a little older than I could enjoy the job in a different way since they know they don't have the years necessary to try for it anyway."
3. Are
you thinking this is a career for 5, 10, 15 or 20+ years?
This question got the
biggest variety of responses, most of them hinging upon family and personal
situations, instead of professional. Although more than one mentioned knowing
they wanted to be a diplomat since they were in grade school!
“NO IDEA. At least five to
ten. This is a privilege not to be taken lightly. But honestly, if the chance
to be married came up, and it meant leaving the FS behind, I'd do it.”
“Right now I am thinking
of this as a career for as long as it makes sense for my family... right now my husband and I want this. Who knows what is going to happen when our parents are aging and need care? At this point in my life, I am still open to whatever is the right choice for the time."
The current economic
situation came up a few times in conversation, with a few recent grads feeling
thankful to have such solid jobs when they knew other college classmates weren't as
fortunate.
“I would
love to be in for 20+ years but also appreciate that I have plenty of options
and I am not at the point where I need to stay because I need the pension for
retirement. It is also encouraging that I will hit my 20 years/over the age of
50 and still have plenty of time to either transition to a new career or stay
in until I am 65. The amount of options I have for the future, and the job
security of being an FSO, ensure that I am one of the rare recent college
graduates that feels some sense of security in my economic future.”
A mid-20s returned Peace Corps Volunteer added: “For
some, salary is a consideration. While the Foreign Service may not pay as much
as some of the private-sector competition, I'm used to living on a small budget
and my Foreign Service salary seems like a fortune. In addition, working in the
Foreign Service makes it easy to save for retirement--I've got the Thrift
Savings Plan, the Foreign Service Pension System, and the money I'll save
abroad living in USG housing. By joining the Foreign Service early, I'm saving when
it makes the biggest difference.”
4. Is making Ambassador a goal for you?
During A-100, it was a
common phrase among the presenters who came to speak to us on their particular
field of expertise, “When you make Ambassador…” but the responses from my
colleagues was mixed on the subject:
“Honestly,
right now I have no interest in becoming an Ambassador. But I think that stems from lack of knowledge about the Department and how things in the Foreign Service work more than it does from a dislike of the job. I could see that becoming a goal someday, but only if I decide to make this a long-term career. As with all things in the Foreign Service, 'it depends.'"
“No. Only if
it were a small country. I want to maintain some sense of privacy.
I like the title ‘Political Section Chief’ much better.”
I like the title ‘Political Section Chief’ much better.”
“I think it should be the goal of any
FSO to reach that level. I am also realistic that only a small group of FSO's
ever reach that position and there are plenty of other great jobs in the FS.”
5. Do you have any concerns about meeting
Mr/Ms 20-something while bopping around the world? If so - do you picture being
a tandem or meeting a local someone?
In regards to the personal
side of the equation, many singles expressed concerns about trying to meet a
future spouse or partner when their new career required them to move every one
to three years. Or, the married ones wondered about starting and raising a
family on the move. Such as this ELO who shared:
“One
challenge/disadvantage I face is the question of whether or not I want to raise a family in this lifestyle. If I had older/grown children I would be thinking about where I want to go in the FS differently. Right now, I am looking at hardship posts but I know that in a few years I probably won't want to work in those kind of places, and that could harm my chances of making this a long-term career, should I choose to do so."
I heard far more worries
from my single female colleagues than from the young men regarding meeting
Mr/Ms Right in the FS. The women questioned whether or not a man from a more
traditional culture would be willing to potentially take a back seat to his wife’s
career, whereas this was not a concern among the men. The whole idea of meeting
another FSO and forming a tandem was interesting, but they acknowledged that it
comes with the inherent complications of managing two careers. In Bogota, the
other two women in my office had each met their husbands in A-100, so it’s not
such a crazy notion to consider.
The single women also
spoke more about their personal security in certain countries than the men did,
and there was one particular assignment in our class that some of the young
women agreed would NOT have been wise for them to accept. Fortunately, none of
them were assigned there. There’s a
common saying, “You can tell the country of a man’s first post by the
nationality of his wife” which is very, very often true. I heard a funny
addition to that saying recently, “…and you can tell the country of a women’s
first post by the nationality of her furniture.” This made me laugh as I could
think of a number of female friends in Bogota who had feathered their nests
with Colombian handmade furniture!
“Yes, this
is without a doubt the thing that troubles me the most and makes me question
this path. How am I supposed to go deep into a community and have enough time
to know someone well enough to marry when we are all coming and going all the
time?”
Two married
colleagues responded with:
“I do feel
lucky that I have a spouse who is so open to this life. He is ready to leave his career and move around the world and do different things wherever we are. We are open to the possibility that he might someday join the Foreign Service and we could become a tandem, but after hearing stories about so many others who struggled to be together, I think he is more interested in doing whatever he can at post rather than make the FS his career too."
“All I can say though is that you need to go into this career with a good attitude and not be so worried about your career that you forget about your current (and future) family. I am excited for the opportunity to share this experience with my wife and our daughter who is on the way and will enjoy it that much more because I have people who will be there to support me.”
6. Anything
else you’d like to add?
“I am really
glad I got that master's degree. And I finished it just in time too. However, if I was going to do things over again I would have taken more classes in public policy or political science so I was better prepared for this job. I really didn't plan for this to be my career so I operated as if I was going to go into teaching/writing history, which I am still happy with. I worry for those who make getting into the FS their only goal at this age and then get frustrated when it continues to not happen for them. I was glad I had other goals and other futures to focus on. I was moving toward getting my doctorate when I got the A-100 call and there is a good chance that when this is over, I will move back into that arena too. But really, it all depends!"
“The biggest
reasons I'm in the Foreign Service, though, have nothing to do with age--I want
to serve, and I want a job that keeps me on my toes. Being young and single
just makes it easier.”
“I'm going
to go down this road as far as God would lead, whether it's just one tour or
all the way to Ambassador. If at any time it seems like it's no longer the
right place to be, that's okay - there's not one single job that can only make me
happy. But this one seems pretty great so far!”
“Ultimately, everyone can have a long
and fulfilling career in the FS and age should not be viewed as an advantage/handicap. From being with our A-100 class
for over six weeks, I have met impressive people from age 24-59 and would be
glad to learn from and work with all of them.”
I found this last sentiment
particularly true. It was refreshing during A-100, and even now in our further
training, to continually learn from, and be surprised by, the accomplishments
of ALL my new ELO friends, regardless of age.
So, the bottom line is that whether
you’re 40+ or 24, there simply isn’t one way to come into this career, nor one
way to take it once you’re in. Which is good, because the State Department
needs people to take on the job of diplomacy at all levels of the hierarchy, in
all subject matters, in all living conditions and in every country (save a few)
around the world. Pardon the extra serving of corn here, but there certainly
are many roads to Rome!
