A. Specialists are: Medical Specialists, Office Management Specialists, Information Management Specialists, Diplomatic Security Agents, Human Resource Specialists, etc. Officers are generalists who enter in "career tracks" (Economic, Public Diplomacy, Consular, Management and Political), but who may be expected to serve on any track

A. There is an initial orientation lasting three weeks followed by additional specialized training lasting up to 17 weeks, depending on the job specialty.

A. Foreign language skills are not a prerequisite to employment. The Department of State determines which overseas positions are "language designated" and offers language training to specialists assigned to those positions. Successful candidates who pass the Oral Assessment can raise their ranking on the List of Eligible Hires by demonstrating proficiency in a foreign language used by the Department through a telephonic assessment.

A. No. The hiring process is different for Foreign Service Specialists. For more information visit the Steps to Becoming a Foreign Service Specialist page.

A. Yes, in fact, the Management Officers do oversee many of the specialists. Office Management Specialists are the exception, as they report directly to the officers for whom they work.

A. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has implemented a program for the repayment of student loans under certain conditions. By law, the maximum any federal agency can award is $10,000 a year, or $60,000 over a lifetime. In each of the first three years of our program, the Department approved payments of $4,700. In return, an employee must agree to remain with the paying agency for at least three years. For the complete list of benefits click here.

A. Qualified Veterans who pass the specialist oral assessment may have an additional 5 to 10 points added to their score thereby increasing their standing on the rank-ordered Register of Cleared Candidates.

A. Only U.S. citizens may apply for an appointment to the career Foreign Service, i.e., you must be a U.S. citizen by the day you take the Written Exam (for generalists) or upon your application to fill a vacancy announcement (for specialists).

A. Yes. Employment opportunities for spouses vary by country of assignment. The Department's Family Liaison Office maintains a listing of job opportunities at most posts and may be contacted directly once an assignment is known. The Department also has a growing number of "tandem couples" in which both spouses work for a foreign affairs agency of the U.S. government.

A. Spouses, children under age 21, and, in rare cases, dependent parents may accompany Foreign Service employees abroad at Government expense. However, even though family members are not required to be medically cleared before an offer of employment is extended, family members must be medically cleared before traveling overseas at U.S. Government expense to accompany Foreign Service Officers on assignment. This means employees could be assigned overseas unaccompanied by those family members who do not have clearances. Further, the rules for claiming your parent or parent -in-law as a dependent are strict, and involve showing proof that they have been more than 51% dependent on you for an extended period of time. Security concerns and lack of adequate educational or health facilities at certain posts may dictate against eligible family members accompanying the officer to such posts.

A. The appointment process to become a Foreign Service Specialist requires strong commitment. Occasionally, candidates request deferral of their candidacy. Active or reserve military personnel serving abroad, or U.S. civilian government employees serving abroad, including Peace Corps, may request deferrals for the period of their overseas service, up to a maximum of two years. Requests for deferrals from any other candidates will be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, candidates should be aware that only truly compelling deferral requests can be approved. A deferral does not result in additional time for a name to remain on a register. A deferral merely "stops the clock;" at the end of the deferral period, the candidate's name will be re-added to the Register for the period of time remaining from their original candidacy.

A. Yes, certainly. They might opt to bring their own car, or they might buy one from a departing colleague when they arrive at post. There are a number of possibilities. Just keep in mind though that you are limited sometimes by certain restrictions - right-hand drive cars, sometimes limitations on retractable headlights, emissions, etc. All of this information about a particular country is readily available to you as part of the assignment bidding process so you can be well informed.

A. Yes - each overseas post and American Embassy has an Orientation Program for all new arrivals at post. You are also assigned a "sponsor," an official sponsor and a community sponsor who matches your interests and family composition. You are very well cared for!

A. Good question. Of course it depends on your state of life, i.e., married, single with kids, etc. It also depends on whether the post is a limited or full shipment post. You should always bring things that will make your home overseas your personal home. Do not bring anything that would break your heart to lose.

A. It is the policy of the Department of State to provide equal opportunity and fair and equitable treatment in employment to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, handicap, political affiliation or marital status, or sexual orientation.

A. You have lots of opportunity to enjoy the local culture - compare it to the time you have available right now when you go home after work. The host country is your home - after work every day and on weekends. You are a U.S. government representative - but you are also a resident and a tourist if you want to maximize it!

A. Foreign Service personnel can express their preference for postings, but must be willing to serve worldwide according to the needs of the Service.

A. As public servants, Foreign Service Specialists must publicly defend U.S. government policy, despite personal reservations. There is an internal channel through which an employee may present dissenting views on specific foreign policy issues. If a specialist cannot publicly defend official U.S. policy, he or she has the option to resign.