US Department of State Reviews

Pros

The unique opportunity to represent the US abroad while working on substantive projects with intelligent, competent coworkers in an ever-changing work environment.

Cons

The work abroad sometimes feels directionless and the individual lacks the ability to make any substantive change. Working in third world nations or DC is more satisfying.

Advice to Senior Management

The heads up need better communication through the larger organization and needs to get a better understanding of how to use social media / internet technologies.

Pros

-Great promotions early on, ood place to start off a career.
-The best job security
-Guaranteed promotion
-Easy work-life balance

Cons

-Work can be frustratingly droll
-Poor communication among government agencies
-Infuriating bureaucracy
-You eventually hit a glass ceiling in terms of promotion and pay

Advice to Senior Management

Get behing the most competent workers and be more egalitarian. Seniority should not matter as much a competence. Work harder to retain talented individuals,

Pros

Fascinating, stimulating, committed individuals who are actually doing the work (as against those who are in a supervisory, management role)

Cons

Incompetent management; obsession at the management level with establishing and maintaining "corridor reputation" (what others think of you), sometimes at the expense of mission, and always at the expense of other people; very poor balance between quality of life and work

Advice to Senior Management

Learn to match your deeds with your words. Focus on integrity and mission. Learn to build community among those who are serving under you.

Pros

colleagues are really really great

Cons

advancement is very very glacial

Advice to Senior Management

scrap the personnel system that only takes in from the bottom

Pros

Interesting co-workers. Important work sometimes.

Cons

Office Politics can be just as bad as the private sector.

Advice to Senior Management

I agree with other posters that senior management looks down on managing.

Pros

The travel and chance to live in many overseas locales provides the opportunity for professional growth. The State Department provides free housing and pays all utilities.

Cons

Long work days and in some locations health concerns are always present. Some overseas countries are downright dangerous with very poor infrastructures and security.

Advice to Senior Management

Management is a hit or miss which can impact the morale at smaller embassies. Management seems reluctant to get rid of poor performers due to fear of the "grievance process"

Pros

There are great benefits at the state department. Many jobs require froeign travel or interaction with foreign counterparts. You always have to be on your toes because things in the worlld can change drastically. Staff is supportive and there are many resources to promote development.

Cons

Sometimes the pace of things can be kind of slow. The pace may stifle ambition if people let it. It's easy to become complacent with your job and position.

Advice to Senior Management

The state Department shuold take efforts to make sure people stay motivated. Furthermore it would be better if goals and guidelines were explained to people outside of management to know what's going on.

Pros

FSO jobs rotate every two years on average, so you always get to look forward to something new.

Cons

In Washington DC you do not get much responsibility until you hit the FS-02 level. Stay overseas until then.

Pros

You have a great work/life balance. All of your peers are really interesting, have great experiences, and keep you sane when living abroad.

Cons

It takes too long to get to senior level positions, and by the time you reach them, you've turned into a boring bureaucrat.

Advice to Senior Management

Foreign Service Nationals are not treated with enough respect. Additionally, HR does not support officers nearly enough in managing the bureaucracy.

Pros

Some of the pros for working for the U.S. Department of State are the opportunities for profressional growth. The Deparment will train its employees to succeed.

Cons

Some of the cons for working for the U.S. Deparment of State are the variations in management and effectiviness. If you work for a disfunctional office, work effectivness is difficult.

Advice to Senior Management

The leadership at the Department should trust and value its employees, especially entry-level employees. Often times good ideas are overlooked due to lack of information sharing and other "truf' issues.