Foreign Service Life

Are you interested in the Foreign Service, but wonder what life would be like? Are you "in shock" after your partner announced that he/she passed the Foreign Service exam and plans to join? Or do you have a son or daughter becoming a Foreign Service Officer?

Check the official State Department employment pages, http://careers.state.gov.

Browse the Overseas Briefing Center’s site; we help people research possible assignments and prepare for overseas moves. If you would like all the details, download the 2007 edition of the Foreign Service Assignment Notebook: What Do I Do Now?, a 200+ page book on the logistics of moving overseas.

The Family Liaison Office provides resources on spouse employment, educational issues, and family member support; check their site for additional information.

Read Oral Histories from Foreign Service Officers of the past at Frontline Diplomacy or learn more about the history of U.S. diplomacy.

The non-U.S. Government links that follow are for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement of the sites or their privacy policies.

The Association of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) is a non-profit organization supporting Foreign Service employees and family members. They offer many relevant articles, including a Foreign Service reading list.

Tales from a Small Planet features articles by expats, including from the U.S. Foreign Service; the Real Post Reports section provides a frank look at life in many cities around the world.