Glassdoor is your free inside look at US Department of State interview questions and advice. All 30 interview reviews posted anonymously by US Department of State employees and interview candidates.
US Department of State Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 30 Interviews
Interview Experience 26 Ratings
FSO at US Department of State
No Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC Mar 2013 – Reviewed May 13, 2013 New
Interview Details – Completed written test, passed the personal narratives, and was invited to the full-day oral assessments (OA). OA was a true experience that cannot be replicated outside of the testing environment.
Interview Question – Typical behavior based interview questions for the SI portion. The Group Exercise was challenging due to the limited time and cramped spaces to work. Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
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Summer Intern at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Feb 18, 2013
Interview Details – 1 phone interview: relatively easy, mostly behavioral and concerning my thoughts/opinions about current events.
Interview Question – Asked me to explain succinctly the events that were currently going on in the Middle East. Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
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No
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Intern at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Rosslyn, VA Jan 2012 – Reviewed Jan 23, 2013
Interview Details – Easy, learned about supervisor's background
Interview Question – N/A more informational than questioning Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Foreign Service Specialist at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC – Reviewed Dec 21, 2012
Interview Details – The hiring process is long and tedious. The interview process takes an entire day, which includes a considerable of waiting. You are interviewed by two or three people who tell you that they have to remain "stone-faced", so as not to display a personal interest in you.
Interview Question – How have you persuaded a group of people, many of whom you do not know, to change their current mindset to one that is similar to yours? Answer Question
Negotiation Details – There is no salary negotiation. You are paid according to the Foreign Service pay scale. Benefits and most importantly, the start date, is not negotiable, and nor are they even mentioned.
Helpful Interview?
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No
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Intern at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC – Reviewed Dec 17, 2012
Interview Details – Very tedious online application - you need to submit your resume on top of filling in your resume information into their own specific resume builder. You will also submit a statement of purpose, and this is very important. Moreover, you need to give detailed info for clearance.
Interview Question – Phone interview Qs: tell us a time you had to deal with a difficult person. Please introduce yourself in the foreign language you are studying. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Through email - very understanding - but they want full time interns. The minimum is 10 weeks and maximum is 14 weeks. Usually 8:30am to 5pm. Need strong writing and analytical skills.
Helpful Interview?
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Program Manager at US Department of State
No Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC May 2009 – Reviewed Dec 14, 2012
Interview Details – Somewhat cumbersome given the amount of documentation and training required.
Interview Question – What is your most unsuccessful venture. View Answer
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Program Assistant at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in New York, NY May 2010 – Reviewed Sep 10, 2012
Interview Details – Pretty standard interview process, they asked about my background from my resume (they'd read it, which is a plus compared to a lot of other places). The real hang-up was that after I'd gotten the offer my paperwork got lost in HR and it was a year before they tracked it down (nobody seemed to know who to call, and I was stuck on the outside).
Interview Question – Are you familiar with [XXX] software? View Answer
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Foreign Service Officer at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC Apr 2011 – Reviewed Jul 17, 2012
Interview Details – Online application followed by sitting for the Foreign Service Test. The test is a comprehensive test that tests everything from US Political and Government history to Logic, to Interpersonal Skills. Following the test there are a series of interviews. You have a group interview where you solve problems as if you were in the embassy as well as a personal interview.
Interview Question – They were all typical questions that you find in an interview. Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
Intern at US Department of State
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC Aug 2011 – Reviewed Jun 1, 2012
Interview Details – The interviewer called me and we spoke, in detail, about the position and my career goals. He then invited me to come in for an interview with a panel of three people (one Foreign Affairs Officer, one foreign service office and one Public Affairs officer). The interview lasted about an hour and consisted of a range of questions from my background, to work experience to Secretary Clinton's diplomacy style. Also, make sure to ask for their business cards at the end of your interview.
Interview Questions
- Describe and overseas experience. Answer Question
- Describe Secretary Clinton's diplomactic style. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – No negotiation was possible.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Foreign Service Officer at US Department of State
No Offer – Interviewed in Washington, DC Oct 2011 – Reviewed Jan 20, 2012
Interview Details – First took the computer based "written" test, which was three sections of multiple choice and a writing section. Second, submitted 6 personal narrative questions that pertained to leadership, initiative, and other desirable qualities. Final round is a day-long interview consisting of an interview, memo-writing, and a group session where you, along with a handful of other applicants, discuss the merits of a particular project while the interviewers monitor you.
Interview Question – Why do you want to join the Foreign Service? Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
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No
Problem with this interview?
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