How to: Pass the Foreign Service Oral Assessment
25 Jul
While cleaning out my computer over the last couple of days, I came across my resources for the Foreign Service Oral Assessment. I would like to think that I did well on the OA and that preparation is key. Below are my thoughts on how to pass the FSOA and the resources which I found most valuable.
You must know the 13 dimensions (they are what the evaluators use to score you) – even feel free to throw back at them the parts of the definition in your responses. But that’s not all.
- Be confident
- Be assertive
- Be kind
- Be heard
Those four things can make a big difference and add .1 or .2 crucial points to your score.
GE – Group Exercise
Aim to have your project fully funded. Always advocate for your project in the beginning, as ridiculous as your project might be. ORGANIZATION of your proposal is key. Take into account positives and negatives, how many U.S. interests are served (x out of y), and impact on the ground. After everyone has had their initial thoughts, feel free to take a step back re: your proposal if you feel it’s appropriate, but not completely right away. Maybe withdraw your project from consideration for full funding, but keep it in for partial funding.
Being heard, encouraging the quiet members to speak up and asking for their opinion, asking questions, and advocating for your project (not stubbornly) and knowing when to give in are key.
CM – Case Management
Practice this many times before the OA. Read the instructions, offer alternate recommendations, be a little creative, take responsibility and initiative, and use numbers, percentages, etc.
SI – Structured Interview
Even though it’s an hour, the time really does fly by. The key for this is to know yourself, know your history, know your strengths and weaknesses. And then, know how to tie them back in to the 13Ds.
The Yahoo FSOA group was tremendously helpful, as was the FSOT wiki. The State Department website has a section on the Oral Assessment, with a link to a PDF that tells you everything you need to know and what to expect. There should be NO SURPRISES.
But you must do one thing above all else if you really want to improve your chances of passing the OA:
Join a study group.
Better yet, join a Skype study group. On the Yahoo FSOA Group, you should be easily able to find a study group to join.
I’ve also compiled a folder of the documents which I found most helpful. I don’t remember where I found these files (some probably from the Yahoo group) and I’m not attempting to take any credit for them. These are just the ones I thought were the best. You can download it here.
Make sure to check out The Hegemonist‘s series on the Oral Assessment.
If you have any questions, I’d be more than willing to answer them below.
UPDATE: Also found a great writeup over at vonhinken.com about the oral assessment.
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