For thousands of upcoming college graduates, the thought of entering into the labor force is dismal, if not completely unbearable. A sagging economy coupled with a rising unemployment rate have made the prospect of finding an interesting, decently paying job seem to be a task of Herculean proportions. All over the country, firms and corporations are slashing jobs in a desperate effort to conserve funds and stay afloat amidst the current economic turmoil. But despite the national trend towards downsizing and centralization, one firm is looking for eager and willing workers -- the United States Foreign Service.
With the transition from the administration of George W. Bush to that of Barack Obama, the Foreign Service seems to be experiencing a welcome comeback. Until recently, the department had suffered from a lack of funds and personnel, as the majority of its employees were deployed to deal with urgent matters in Iraq and Afghanistan; however, a bill ratified in June 2008 allotted increased funds for hiring within the Foreign Service. Likewise, President Obama has consistently stressed his firm belief in international diplomacy, a sentiment many hope will translate into a stronger presence of the Foreign Service. Recently, the state department requested funding for 1,500 new positions, over half of which would be Foreign Service positions.
"It makes sense that more people are applying ... The more the U.S. gets involved in other countries, the more people who want to be on the ground there," said junior Zach Erickson, who took the Foreign Service test while he was abroad in Madrid last semester.
Foreign Service work, despite the glamorous patina it has acquired by way of James Bond-esque thrillers, is highly involved. Members act as emissaries of the United States, interacting with local governments, working in embassies and acting as liaisons to Americans traveling abroad. Along with handling reports, Foreign Service workers are expected to aid Americans having difficulties abroad, including problems such as negotiating with different governments on behalf of American interests, providing information about new countries, and dealing with more mundane matters like passports and other logistical issues.
Despite the setbacks of spending great lengths of time away from home and sometimes being required to perform boring tasks, the job is still appealing to internationally focused Tufts students. Working in the Foreign Service provides a unique opportunity and wide cultural exposure that, given Tufts' emphatic commitment to international affairs and global issues, many students are eager to embrace.
In order to be hired into the service, prospective employees must first complete the Foreign Service Exam.
"I heard [about the test] from a guy who works in the U.S. Embassy in Madrid. He spoke to my program about the test and the dates it was being offered," Erickson said. "I was interested partly because I'm an [International Relations] major and have always been interested in diplomacy, learning about new countries and global politics."
Erickson, who did not pass the test, explained that while the service may be eager to hire, the test itself is strenuous.
"The test had a bunch of biographical questions and questions about government policy, culture ... At the end of the test, you had to indicate the career path you were interested in in the Service ... Basically, they treat the whole thing as one long interview process."
Erin Clancy, a second-year Fletcher student and recipient of the Thomas R. Pickering Fellowship, a prestigious fellowship granted by the state department that guarantees a job in the Foreign Service upon graduation, said that her attraction to the Foreign Service grew out of a compulsion to serve the United States.
"I find the students at Fletcher to be the greatest resources for those interested in joining the Foreign Service," Clancy said in an email to the Daily. "The international diversity at Fletcher is highly valuable, and provides one the opportunity to forge friendships with people from all corners of the globe, which is an important part of doing foreign service work."
Similarly, Fletcher student and Ph.D. candidate Irina Chindea, originally a citizen of Romania, expressed great enthusiasm about a future in diplomacy, noting that she plans to take the Foreign Service exam about a year from now.
Chindea explained that her interest in diplomacy lies in new experiences. "It's really exciting to travel, get to know different cultures, serve your adoptive country," she said. "I also think it would suit my personality."
She continued that Tufts' and Fletcher's combined resources had proved helpful in her career development.
Not surprisingly, Tufts has a variety of resources for students looking to enter into the Foreign Service. The International Relations department, in conjunction with the Fletcher School and the U.S. Department of State, offers a unique Diplomat in Residence program, a feature that provides Tufts students with firsthand information about diplomacy careers.
Tufts' current Diplomat in Residence, Suneta Halliburton, is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. Before coming to Tufts, she spent four years as the Consul General at the U.S. consulate in Naples, Italy. The majority of Halliburton's postings have been managerial positions in Europe, including a post as a human resources officer in Geneva and another as a Deputy Minister Counselor for Management Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. She has also worked extensively in Washington.
Here on the Hill, Halliburton provides students with information about internships, taking the placement exam and general information about life as a diplomat.
Emily Maretsky contributed reporting to this article.
