FSO Exams

[cybelle_9]

good day to all!

i will be applying for the Pre-qualifying and FSO exams for the Department of Foreign Affairs...i was wondering if you could give me tips on how to get through it.

thanks!

[cybelle_9]

anyone here took the FSO Exams for the Department of Foreign Affairs? i will be taking the qualifying exam on may 5, hope you can give me some tips...thanks! :)

[winkee]

my professor told us to review everything!! from political science, history, to current events..i heard it's really difficult and also in essay type...

so good luck and study really, really well!! *okay*

[val0918]

i'm taking the fso qualifying exam this 5 also. my testing center is at carlos albert hs, brixton hills, araneta ave qc. do anyone of you know where it is? how do i go there if i commute? tnx

[little_witch]

hello! i am currently taking up INTERNATIONAL STUDIES and i plan to take the FSO next year...

KWENTUHAN NYO AKO ABOUT THE EXAMS AH!

promise?

GOODLUCK SA INYO!! :)

[cybelle_9]

val0918: uy sorry shempre ngayon lang ulit ako nag login...i hope you were able to get to carlos albert tho :D

as for the test, mahirap siya...nakakalito...somebody told me na out of thousands who took it mga less than 50 lang yata ang kinukuha so medyo hindi na ako umaasa....

[A_star_C01]

All I know is that FSO exams are really very hard! Sabi ng prof nmen whoever passes that exams are really good ones. Sobrang hirap daw! I also want to try taking up the exams but I don't know how or wats the basic step... can u guys give me a tip?

Our prof used to give us a shortlist copy sample of the exam. We tried answering it in class but I guess tlagang mahirap nobody passed.

Can I just ask? From what school are you guys from? Bka we've been classmates n ***.:)

[cybelle_9]

actually hindi ako nag attend ng review classes...i just bought reviewers from National which was totally a waste of my money....wag niyong gawin yon dahil mali-mali ang reviewers nila! plus it was intended for the Civil Service exams...walang reviewers for FSO (well wala akong nakita).

i didn't know din how to go about it...parang suntok na lang din sa buwan....A_star_C01 i think you're on the right track in attending mga review classes or asking your prof about it...i guess that's where you can get more info

there's also this reviewer center along pasay road...kalimutan ko lang kung anong name...basta it's near El Cirkulo...buhay p ba yon???

[explorer580]

any more tips for the FSO Exam???

[jellybeans21]

kelan ba ang next FSO exams?

[explorer580]

wala pang schedule eh...pero malamang sa May. I'm waiting for the schedule nga eh.

[bishop]

good luck. has the lowest passing rate in the country. not even 3% make it.

took the qualifiers May 2003. i was the youngest examinee during that time.

[explorer580]

good luck. has the lowest passing rate in the country. not even 3% make it.

took the qualifiers May 2003. i was the youngest examinee during that time.


talaga? so did you pass? was it hard? what were the hardest topics for you? give me tips naman. thanks.

[lady_artemis]

only 1% pass the FSO. 20 only out of thousands. goodluck

[lizziebare]

ganon? sobrang hirap pala... meron bang positions sa dfa na required eligibility lang yung career service prof? may kakilala kc yung mom ko whose sister works in dfa na try ko lang daw magpass ng resume, di naman niya sinabi na kailangan fso passer ka...

[chez-o]

Hello!

Tapos na ba ang pre-qualifying this year???

I took the FSOs 5 years ago (ang tagal na.........). The pre-qualifying exams were OK. Not that difficult as I expected it to be. Fortunately, I passed. Para lang siyang Civil Service Exams na pinahirap.

Now the finals exam is an eitrely different story. The questions may not be very difficult but it will really require a lot of thinking. Out of the 800 examinees I think (who took the exam in the DFA offices in Pasay) mga 5 lang ata pumasa. At hindi ako kasama dun. LOL. 73% lang ata ako, nung tinawagan ko ang DFA (you can actually call them and ask for your score, which I did out of curiosity's sake..........di na ako umasang pumasa noh!!!!) and 80% is the passing grade.

Nung time ko the most famous personality (as in pinaguusapan ng lahat at hinanap) was Reham Tago (Bb. Pilipinas-World 19something). One of my "batchmates" was Luli Arroyo, who eventually passed but was not given a post by her mom, the President, out of delicadeza issues. Sayang, someone who passed those exams really deserve a job....ang hirap!!!

read a lot on world history, current affairs and philippine history. study really hard for the final exam. do a lot of reading and researching....and practice a lot of essay-writing. if you're fond of objective-type tests (fill in the blanks, true or false) magpractice ka na talaga ng essay-writing at talagang mapupuno ka sa essay sa 5 araw na test.

good luck...mga next year pa siguro ako kukuka ulit.

[chez-o]

lizziebare: you can be a dfa employee with just csc eligibility if you want to be a rank and file employee. The FSO exams are for people who want to be FSOs - foreign service officials. Ibig sabihin, diplomat. So pwede ka rin magwork sa DFA - sa passport issuance, etc. etc. with just CSC eligbility. But of course, since gov't., dapat may backer ka sa loob. I-try mong kausapin yung kilala ng mom mo.

Sa FSO naman, my classmate ang sis ako na pumasa sa FSO hanggang oral exams. First assignment ng FSO 4 (entry level) yung mga difficult post (mga exoticang bansa hehehehe). Papua New Guinea first assignment niya. 3 years. After that, bongga na siya ngayon. She's in Spain ata or some Latin American country....marunong kasi siyang magKastila (in fact the foreign language segment of the FSO exam will determine your assignments after your hardship post, of course....ma medyo 2-3 years ata).

As for me, gusto ko talaga ang diplomatic career. But no, rejected ako ng DFA. So, as the saying goes, "Those who can't do, teach." So, teach ako. Hahahaha.

Hope this helps. :-)

[bishop]

talaga? so did you pass? was it hard? what were the hardest topics for you? give me tips naman. thanks.
nope, i didn't make it. :D

[bishop]

One of my "batchmates" was Luli Arroyo, who eventually passed but was not given a post by her mom, the President, out of delicadeza issues.

if i'm not mistaken, not only did Presidential daughter Luli Arroyo pass, but she did so with flying colors. from what i know, she topped that year's FSO exams.

[lizziebare]

lizziebare: you can be a dfa employee with just csc eligibility if you want to be a rank and file employee. The FSO exams are for people who want to be FSOs - foreign service officials. Ibig sabihin, diplomat. So pwede ka rin magwork sa DFA - sa passport issuance, etc. etc. with just CSC eligbility. But of course, since gov't., dapat may backer ka sa loob. I-try mong kausapin yung kilala ng mom mo.

Sa FSO naman, my classmate ang sis ako na pumasa sa FSO hanggang oral exams. First assignment ng FSO 4 (entry level) yung mga difficult post (mga exoticang bansa hehehehe). Papua New Guinea first assignment niya. 3 years. After that, bongga na siya ngayon. She's in Spain ata or some Latin American country....marunong kasi siyang magKastila (in fact the foreign language segment of the FSO exam will determine your assignments after your hardship post, of course....ma medyo 2-3 years ata).

As for me, gusto ko talaga ang diplomatic career. But no, rejected ako ng DFA. So, as the saying goes, "Those who can't do, teach." So, teach ako. Hahahaha.

Hope this helps. :-)

thanks chez-o!

[chez-o]

bishop: yah, she topped it ata. Hindi naman kase pinapalabas ang results like say, the bar exams or whatever board exams. pero sa pagkakarinig ko rin, siya nga ang nagtop. not surpising, with a foreign service postgraduate degreee from goergetown...magaling talaga.

so, kukuha ba kayo? i took the test too early kasi. kakagraduate ko lang nun months before the test (i graduated 2000, test agad nung may). mistake. u should really come prepared for the final test.

[illumina]

There's always next year. :)

[Maven]

hi! i'm planning to take the FSO exams too (but not this year. siguradong babagsak ako. :p). would you guys recommend any good world history books that i can read?

and for those who are interested, DLSU-CSB is offering FSO exam reviews. just call 5267441 loc. 202 for details. :) just found this on a newspaper ad. it costs P7500 for 72 hours of review.

good luck sa mga magtetake! :) wag nyo kaming kalimutan. :p

[intensity1214.]

may age limit ba para sa kumukuha niyan? may natatandaan kasi akong parang sinabi ng friend ko rati na hanggang 36 y.o. lang. hmmmm. thanks. :)

[intensity1214.]

did a little research, hehe!

from the dfa site:

FSO/FSSO EXAMINATIONS

Those who are vying for a Foreign Service Officer position will need to pass all three examinations in the FSO/FSSO Examinations. These examinations are (1) the Qualifying Test, (2) the Written Examination and (3) the Oral Examination.

Those who will obtain grades below 75% in the Written Examination shall not be allowed to proceed to the Oral Examination. However, they may qualify for appointment to the rank of Foreign Service Staff Officer IV, provided they meet the cutoff grade set by the BFSE for the said rank.

I. FSO/FSSO Qualifying Test - 29 May 2005

The Qualifying Test covers (1) English grammar and correct usage - 40%; (2) Reading comprehension - 20%; (3) Logical reasoning - 15%; (4) Quantitative reasoning/data interpretation -10%; and (5) Leadership/ knowledge of management concepts - 15%.

The testing centers for the Qualifying Test are in Baguio City, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Davao City, San Fernando City (La Union), Legazpi City, Quezon City, Iloilo City, Zamboanga City. Tests are also held in Washington D.C, USA, Vienna, Austria and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Only those who will pass the FSO/FSSO Qualifying Test with a rating of at least 80% will be allowed to take the FSO/FSSO Written Examination.

II. FSO/FSSO Written Examination - 24, 25, 26 August 2005

The FSO/FSSO Written Examination covers six subjects. The weights of each subject are as follows:

1. English 20%

2. Filipino 5%

3. Philippine Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Conditions - Philippine history, culture, foreign policy, geography, government, development issues and goals 30%

4. International Affairs - Theory and practice of international economics and trade, international politics, international law and treaties 20%

5. World History 20%

6. Foreign Language - Arabic, Bahasa, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish 5%

Those who will obtain a grade of at least 75% in English and a composite score of at least 75% in the Written Examination will qualify to take the FSO Oral Examination.

Those who will obtain grades below 75% in the Written Examination shall not be allowed to proceed to the Oral Examination. However, they may qualify for appointment to the rank of Foreign Service Staff Officer IV, provided they meet the cutoff grade set by the BFSE for the said rank.

III. FSO Oral Examination

The Oral Examination will be held in Manila after the results of the Written Examination shall have been determined. The Oral Examination will include an assessment of the candidate’s oral expression skills, logical thinking and values and attitude. Previous records and experiences will also be considered in determining the candidate's fitness and aptitude for foreign service work.

A candidate must receive a mark not less than 80% in the oral examination in order to be certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs as eligible for appointment as FSO IV.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Age Limit - Applicants must be less than thirty-six (36) years of age on the date of the Written Examination. The maximum age limit, however, does not apply to those who have been employed in the Department of Foreign Affairs for at least two years prior to the date of the FSO/FSSO Written Examination and who meet the other qualifications required of candidates for the examination.

2. Education - Applicants must present evidence (transcript of records and diploma; certificate of graduation) of having graduated from a four (4) year bachelor's degree course or its equivalent in a college or university of recognized standing.

3. Citizenship - Applicants must be Filipino citizens.

:)

[bishop]

bishop: yah, she topped it ata. Hindi naman kase pinapalabas ang results like say, the bar exams or whatever board exams. pero sa pagkakarinig ko rin, siya nga ang nagtop. not surpising, with a foreign service postgraduate degreee from goergetown...magaling talaga.

so, kukuha ba kayo? i took the test too early kasi. kakagraduate ko lang nun months before the test (i graduated 2000, test agad nung may). mistake. u should really come prepared for the final test.
yeah ako rin, graduated March 2003, took the test nung May.

walang preparation whatsoever.

[bugstop1]

yung friend ko, she took the exams two years ago, if i am not mistaken. she passed and now she's working sa dfa jan sa may roxas boulevard. she used to be a prof in pol sci and has master's in public ad and doctorate degree in public policy and admin. sa dlsu (di po ako sure) yata *** nagreview. di pa naman *** gaanong matanda. :glee:

[feisty_virago]

Sobrang hard daw ng FSO exam, according to a friend of a friend who took it in 2003. Dapat todo prepared daw.

I have a question. So if you want to take the FSO, is it mandatory ba that you know a third language (or you're trilingual?). As in expert ka na dapat sa third language na yun?

May interview portion ba (oral exam) to test your fluency on that third language?

Thanks. :)

[intensity1214.]

at ano naman kaya ang mga tanong sa oral exam? sa mga nakakaalam, baka may tips? :)

[chez-o]

feisty: foriegn language is 5% of your total score sa 2nd written exam....it'll help a lot kung fluent ka. yes, i belive they'll ask you stuff kase ang mga magiinterview sayo, higher ups din ng dfa....na proficient din sa mga foreign language. of course, maghanda ka kung espanyol ang chosen language mo....dami sa dfa magaling magspanish e.

[intensity1214.]

hi, chez-o, nakaabot ka ba sa written part? mahirap ba qualifying? :)

[chez-o]

hindi mahirap ang qualifying parang civil service prof. lang na medyo masmahaba at mahirap nang konti. ang final written exam kakaibang kahirapan. essay lahat. sasakit kamay mo sa kakasulat. hangang qualifying lang ako. 73% lang ako sa written. haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

samples (as far as i could remember):
a) how important were the creole revolutions in shaping modern Latin America?
b) is the non-interference policy of ASEAN member nations effective in promoting peace and progress in the region?


mga ganon....

[intensity1214.]

nasagot mo ba 'yang mga 'yan? hehe! naku, kelangan pala mag-aral nang husto. :depressed:

chez-o, kelan nalalaman ang results, or gaano katagal ang entire application process? thanks.

:)

[Sheyn]

Just lurking around and I chanced upon this thread...

This week yung interest ko of taking the foreign service exam resurfaced. I haven't really told people about it. Hmmm... Would you guys advice me to take it this year? I graduated last year and am currently working for a very reputable bank. I am happy with my work though I would like to take the chance. What do you guys think? Somehow, the qualifying exam would help me decide. How does it go ba sa qualifying? Much like civil service na multiple choice o may essay na agad? I checked DFA's website and the qualifying exam for this year is on May 29. Deadline for submitting forms on May 13. Would appreciate your comments. :D

[renina]

Ateneo QC is offering review starting April, 2005. Just check out www.admu.edu.ph, fyi.

[chez-o]

intensity: try calling after 1.5 months. nung kumuha kasi ako, march yung prequal, tapos june yung final written. may na, wala parin akong natanggap na letter (dahil na rin siguro nalito sila sa address... lived in the dorm then, tapos after march, i had to leave na siyempre kasi naggraduate nako). so out of curiosity, tinawagan ko ang dfa. sabi ng girl na sumagot "wala ka pa ring letter? bat ngayon ka lang tumawag?" hinanap name ko at sabi niya, punta ako sa dfa (pasay) at magbayad. hayun kinuha ko ang exam permit ko at nagbayad. Yes, if memory serves me right, nagbayad ako ng 250 ata.

Sheyn: as i've earlier mentioned, the pre-qual if quite easy. during the time i took my prequal, kakagraduate ko lang nun at di pa ako nakapagcivil service. so pagkatapos ng exam, i thought it was like the UPCAT (UP entrance exam) or ACET (Ateneo entrance) na pinahirap ng konti. multiple choice lang lahat, grammar, abstract reasoning...just like your ordinary pre-employment exams. Multiple choice and if my memory's correct, 2 essay questions ata (?)
The prequals though, will NOT prepare you for the horrors (? ehehe) that lie ahead. Namulikat at kinalyo kamay ko kakasulat ng essay.

Brush up on your CNNs, BBCs, not to mention your Toefflers, Fukuyamas, Rourkes, Goldsteins, at kung sinu-sino pang mga political theorists.

[chez-o]

Sheyn: keep your position in the bank. kung wala kang magawa, try going to the library and read yung mga journals na international politics, political economy, etc. believe me, the pre-qualifying stuff is totally different and won't even give you a clue on what the written esams will be (right, bishop?) standard pre-employment/pre-university/civil service type of test lang talaga ang pre-quals, so those civil service reviewers will help you as far as pre-quals are concerned.

For preparation sa written exam, try reading yung mga articles na nagaanalyze ng mga effects ng kung anu-anong nagyari (history) at ang mga mangyayari pa (international/philippine history, etc). Mga tulad ng fall of communism, conversion of chinese eco to capitalism, etc.

Intensity: you can download forms na sa www.dfa.gov.ph, or you may go sa dfa pasay. fill up the forms, attach all attachments, get it notarized (yah, dapat may notario) and submit it to dfa. they'll mail you your exam permit. so, apply na as early as now, kasi napakareliable ng ating postal system hehehehe.

[intensity1214.]

:lol: @ chez-o. salamat sa info.

next year pa naman ako kukuha kasi wala ako sa pinas ngayon. siguro naman ok na ang isang taong paghahanda? :lol:

makakatulong kaya na i teach history, economics at politics? hehe.

chez-o, may idea ka rin ba sa oral exams? or ang itatanong din sa 'yo eh parang dun sa written test na talagang kung may alam ka sa history. :)

[explorer580]

renina: i couldn't find the fso review classes in the ateneo website. would you happen to have the exact link or phone number and contact person? thanks.

[Sheyn]

Sheyn: keep your position in the bank. kung wala kang magawa, try going to the library and read yung mga journals na international politics, political economy, etc. believe me, the pre-qualifying stuff is totally different and won't even give you a clue on what the written esams will be (right, bishop?) standard pre-employment/pre-university/civil service type of test lang talaga ang pre-quals, so those civil service reviewers will help you as far as pre-quals are concerned.

For preparation sa written exam, try reading yung mga articles na nagaanalyze ng mga effects ng kung anu-anong nagyari (history) at ang mga mangyayari pa (international/philippine history, etc). Mga tulad ng fall of communism, conversion of chinese eco to capitalism, etc.

Intensity: you can download forms na sa www.dfa.gov.ph, or you may go sa dfa pasay. fill up the forms, attach all attachments, get it notarized (yah, dapat may notario) and submit it to dfa. they'll mail you your exam permit. so, apply na as early as now, kasi napakareliable ng ating postal system hehehehe.

thank you for the tip chez-o. i think i should take the chance. wala namang mawawala diba? i took the civil service exam last year and it went well naman. so i guess i just need to brush up on prequalifying stuff. anyway, written exam will be on august, so somehow, relatively looong prep time [that is if i'm successful with prequal]. thanks chez-o!

[ajoeroooo]

and also if u may wana read the book bout one's experience in the fso exams: fsoiv: starting a career in phil foreign service by marciano borja :) sabi kasi ng author (whose one of those only 9 passed in the 1992 fso exams), mahirap talaga ang mga questions, and sa oral part, u need to have an excellent communication skills kasi impromptu speech yon. iinvite kayo for instance sa isang diplo ball tapos bibigyan ka ng topic bout 15 mins. before u deliver ur speech, so kahit marami kang alam sa part1&2 ng exam, pinakamahirap parin ang oral part. i never wana discourage u from taking it, all i wana say is mag todo review & prepare talaga kayo. attending those review classes in ateneo, csb & uap may greatly help specially kung hindi kayo sure sa kakayahan nyo :)

[explorer580]

and also if u may wana read the book bout one's experience in the fso exams: fsoiv: starting a career in phil foreign service by marciano borja :) sabi kasi ng author (whose one of those only 9 passed in the 1992 fso exams), mahirap talaga ang mga questions, and sa oral part, u need to have an excellent communication skills kasi impromptu speech yon. iinvite kayo for instance sa isang diplo ball tapos bibigyan ka ng topic bout 15 mins. before u deliver ur speech, so kahit marami kang alam sa part1&2 ng exam, pinakamahirap parin ang oral part. i never wana discourage u from taking it, all i wana say is mag todo review & prepare talaga kayo. attending those review classes in ateneo, csb & uap may greatly help specially kung hindi kayo sure sa kakayahan nyo :)
hey. :) where can we get a copy of the book?

[jellybeans21]

Ateneo de Manila University
Review Classes for Foreign Service Examinations

The EUROPEAN STUDIES PROGRAM of ADMU's School of Social Sciences offers the FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICER EXAMINATION REVIEW

Subjects Offered:
* Philippine Foreign Policy
* International Law, Treaties, and Organizations
* Consular and Diplomatic Service
* International Economics: Trade, Theory and Policy
* Philippine Trade Policy and Regional Blocs
* Key Issues on Philippine Economic Development
* International Politics and Security
* Philippine Migration and Diplomacy
* Current Philippine Politics, Socio-Economic Issues
(Electoral Reform, Governance, Philippine History and Government)
* World History, 1648 to present

Lecturers: former Ambassadors, DFA officials and leading Ateneo professors

SEMINAR OPTIONS:
I. Daily sessions: 4 April - 4 May 2005
Monday - Friday, 8:30-12:00 NN
SS Conference Rms 3-4, 2nd Fl., Social Sciences Bldg.
Ateneo de Manila University

II.Saturday sessions[/B[B]]: 2 April - 11 June 2005
8:30-12:00 - 1:30 4:30 PM
Berchmans AVR, Ground Fl., Berchams Hall
Ateneo de Manila University

FEE: Php 7,800.00

ENROLMENT: March 14-31, Mon.-Fri., 8:30-4:30 PM
Sat., 8:30-12:00 NN at the European Studies Program
office, Rm. 314 Social Sciences Bldg., AdMU.
Bring ID and full-payment

For inquiries, call 426-6001 local 5238/ 39 or Email: euprogram@admu.edu.ph

[chez-o]

As what ajoeroooo said, the oral exam part will cover a lot of impromptu stuff, with matching knowledge na on diplomatic decorum, protocol, etc.

yes, intensity, it helps a lot if you are teaching those concepts. as what i'm also doing. mejo pareho pala tayo. ehehhe

[dragonrower]

my sister took this last 2000. in the final days of this exam. you will require to go up the stage & make an impromptu speech of anything related to DFA in front of all the important people in the office & some important guests too. one guy when he went on stage, he was quiet for about a minute, said thank you in front of the mic & went down the stage. he cried afterwards, i think he accepted that he failed already because of the humiliation. tough, very tough indeed

[intensity1214.]

chez-o, kukuha ka ba next year uli? ako next year. talagang paghahandaan ko ito. first time ko kasi eh. :D

psst, saan ka pala nagtuturo? ;)

dragonrower, dapat talaga sanay ka nang humarap at magsalita sa harap ng mga tao at dapat mabilis kang mag-isip. :)

[ajoeroooo]

hi explorer!! well u can find the book at any NB & PB outlets, P410 but i suggest wag ka na bumili, makihiram ka na lang sa lib nyo, u can finish reading it w/in 3 consecutive nyts!! promise :)

[explorer580]

okay. thanks! :)

[chez-o]

intensity, siguro, kung di next year, sa 2007. sa probinsya sko nagtuturo. ** sa iloilo.

[dark_justice]

How do UP, Ateneo and La Salle graduates fare in the DFA's Foreign Service Exams? I'm curious, cause unlike the PRC-officiated exams and the Bar, there is no enumeration of which schools the FSO passers came from. Considering the difficulty of the FSO's tiered exams, most passers would have come from the top schools...

[dark_justice]

to all those who have taken the FSO, please share you experience...tsaka tips sana:)

[KuyaDanny]

I just checked out some info at the DFA. I'm past the age cutoff. :(

But look here:

MONETARY COMPENSATION

The starting salary of an FSO IV – the entry level – is P19,251.00 per month. If unmarried and assigned abroad with the same rank, said officer receives an overseas allowance of US$1,316.43 per month and a living quarters allowance of US$693.18 per month, in addition to the US dollar equivalent (at the current exchange rate) of P19,251.00 monthly salary. These are the figures for low-indexed posts. Married officers receive higher overseas and quarters allowances. The lowest post index is computed at 67% for Overseas Allowance and 60% for Living Quarters Allowance. The highest post index is computed at 142% for Overseas Allowance and 120% for Living Quarters Allowance. There are gradations between the lowest and highest post indices.

The salary for the entry level position doesn't sound bad at all. Comparable to some of the better contact center positions, with much less stress.

[Ice Burn]

^^If that's the entry level salary for Level IV consul, now I wonder how they survive on that salary if they are assigned to places like US, Canada, Europe etc..

Bigla ko tuloy naisip yung kakilala kong LIV status in Washington DC. Paano kaya nabubuhay sa Washington DC yun on that salary? Eh rent pa lang sa DC kulang na kulang na yung $693.18 per month allowance.

As for the FSO exams, the very few who pass usually have had further studies from abroad. I have yet to meet an FSO passer who did not pursue further studies abroad.

[ЅUX2BÜ]

What's the age cutoff?

:)

[n3X]

Go this from peyups.com:

"...26 na qualifiers. about 8 came from ateneo, the rest from u.p. and a few from other schools like pma, a japanese university etc."

http://www.peyups.com/posts.khtml?mode=viewtopic&topic=2319&forum=4&start=45

[KuyaDanny]

What's the age cutoff?

:)


36. Sige humirit ka. Kaya kong i-filter yon. :lol:

[_SCUD_]

SUX, pwede ka pa. 35 ka lang

[LT]

Not necessarily KD. I'd like to think that working for the Foreign Service (can that be a proper noun? hahaha) can be far more stressful. Especially mentally. Just look at the requirements and those who make the cut.

This is not to belittle those who work for call centers, of course. But I do think that passing the rigorous requirements of the post is no mean feat. What more, the actual job itself.

[KuyaDanny]

Are all FSO IVs assigned abroad? I can understand that a foreign assignment might not make financial sense. But if one lives here, it might be OK. I would think this can be a fruitful assignment for intelligent and ambitious young people who may not yet have clear ideas on what they want to do with their lives. At the very least, it's a good way to serve the country. ;)

[orange18]

FSO...ito ba *** foreign service officer/ exam?

hmm...nung nag-ojt ako sa dfa, sabi nila advantage daw kung mahilig ka magbasa na time/asia week magazine...etc.

[ЅUX2BÜ]

36. Sige humirit ka. Kaya kong i-filter yon. :lol:

Puwedeng-puwede ako ah. Nag-aral sa ibang bansa, magaling sa world history at current events, mahusay sa mga lenggwahe, marunong mag-sulat, may puso, at higit sa lahat ay sariwang-sariwa.

O, 'wag i-filter ito ha?

:lol:

[ЅUX2BÜ]

SUX, pwede ka pa. 35 ka lang

35 ka riyan! May gatas pa kaya ako sa labi.

:lol:

[KuyaDanny]

Gusto kong i-protest yung "sariwang-sariwa" kaya lang antok na ako.

Hoy, balik na sa topic. Maglingkod na kayo sa bayan.

[colbysurvivor]

the salary of FSO IV when they are assigned abroad is the same. however, they do get allowance for housing, food and i think to a certain extent transportation. this allowance is way substantial than their basic pay.

the good thing about being an FSO is that it can be your lifetime career and if you play your cards right, you'll eventually become an ambassador.

according to my friend who is now an FSO II, if you are not that bright but has the right connections, you may be admitted. otherwise, you really have to be exceptional.

[cretinous00]

Lipas na rin ako. One batchmate of mine is vice consul (Austria last time I heard.) The other just made consul general for New Zealand. And here I am still in the same lousy call center job. [joke-joke-joke!]

[LT]

'Right connections,' colby? Oh no, there goes the integrity of the screening process...

[Ice Burn]

Ambassadors are usually political appointees not career diplomats. Especially for plum posts like the G8 countries.

Right connections by the consuls are needed for their placements in countries like the G8 countries.

[LT]

I can understand that, but least they should keep the entry-level positions 'pure.' They shouldn't be corrupting these young, idealistic kids too early

[dark_justice]

yup, yung Foreign Service Exam...i want to take it but Im terribly insecure. sobrang hirap daw kasi...

[metropolitan]

mahirap talaga. magreview ka about sa logic. it would help if you can get a review book on the Careers Service Executive Exam given by the Phil. Civil Service Commission.

[la_bamba]

hi sorry naman to ask this, baka po pwede makahingi tips sa Civil Service Exam, natatakot kasi akong hindi pumasa dhail super insecured din ako. Sana po may magbigay ng tips. Sensya na sa abala. Kung ok lang din po pm nyo na lang ako, sensya na po talaga at dito ako nag ask. Thank you.

[ajoeroooo]

maraming pumapasa sa written which is the initial part of FSO, then nalalagas na sila pag oral, impromptu speech yun on a mock occassion dinner

[R3'91]

KD, cut off is 36 for "outsiders"; for DFA employees, no cut off. So if you want to take the FSO, apply ka sa DFA muna.

[KuyaDanny]

I am not civil service eligible. Problema ba yon?

[dark_justice]

ask ko lang, which is a better graduate degree for FSO aspirants, Master in International Studies or something about policy development?

[budoy]

hi... what are the pre-requisites in taking the FSO exam? can anyone just apply for the exam? what are the possible career paths if ever I do pass it?

[dark_justice]

ajoeroooo, i really have a vague idea on what happens during the orals? can youi give me more details about it? like what questions are usually asked?

[Galvantic@STS]

dark_justice, kelangan ata may treasure trail? lol just kidding. :D

[c0Rinthian]

to all those who have taken the FSO, please share you experience...tsaka tips sana:)

madali lang yung pre-qualifying exam, basic logic, arithmetic, and comm skills (filipino and english).

ang medyo madugo, yung actual FSO exams (usually held sa DFA), essay type yung exams- usually about Philippine History, Politics, Economics, Etc, tapos may foreign language part- so kung English lang o Filipino ang alam mo- malabong makapasa

Yung makapasa, ay iimbitahan sa isang "scenario" to test their diplomatic mien- usually dinner party o function- na oobserbahan kung gaano ka-discreet at "diplomatic" ang mga candidates

ite-test din ang iyong social skills, as well as your social graces and etiquette.

ime measure din ang pagiging friendly, witty, at the same time yung pagiging "reserved" nang mga diplomat aspirants.

BTW- naka set up sa "scenario" na may mga planted guests na uutot, bastos, maamoy, balahura- etc :lol:

ite test on how you can handle these kinds of people and situations as a diplomat.

[c0Rinthian]

hi... what are the pre-requisites in taking the FSO exam? can anyone just apply for the exam? what are the possible career paths if ever I do pass it?

dapat college grad ka- 35 years old and below, you have to register and pay a fee.

possible careers would be foreign corps diplomat, attache, or office work in the DFA office or in any of our embassies.

[Ice Burn]

^^Nothing. You just have to pass the bloody test regardless of what your degree is. Heck one consul I know, finished BS Chemistry and he is assigned in Spain.

But if you want to work for a Multilateral Agency like the World Bank, IMF, UN, ADB, nothing beats a graduate degree in Economics coupled with experience.

[_ozzakii]

UPd's IS is a partner program of IUJ's (Int'l Univ of Japan) and all students taking the postgrad program are required to intern in embassies for at least a semester.


http://www.iuj.ac.jp/admis/pdf/2005/IDP_Brochure.pdf
Follow the link and turn the brochure to page 10.

[a76]

Being an ambassador or consul is a very hard job. Especially when government people (specifically executive, senate and congress people) go to other countries, the ambassador is their utusan----taga-sundo sa airport---taga arrange ng mga hotel accomodation ng pamilya ng mga guests at syempre kailangan samahan ang wife and kids na mag-mega shopping! haha syempre meron pa yang sponsored breakfast, lunch and dinner.----syempre ang ambassador position is also subject to confirmation by the committee of appointments which is made up of senators and congressmen. Thus the ambassadors kailangan tumanaw ng utang ng loob.

This is the reality folks---being an ambassador or consul lalo na sa mga european countries and sa states (yung mga gustong gusto puntahan ng mga government people) is not as glamourous as you might think it is.

The only bright spot here is...that the kids of these embassy people get to study abroad and most of them stay on, get jobs and marry foreigners haha

[R3'91]

^ When Miriam Santiago (along with others) visited the country my sister was assigned in, my ate served as her "chaperone" - in other words, tour guide, tiga-bitbit ng shopping bags and woman friday. My sister wasn't even an employee of the DFA since attache siya, so s ibang department siya. Pero she understood that it came with the job. Her main complaint is actually the pay - more specifically, the delays in the arrival of their pay and allowances. One time she had to live off her savings and credit card kasi 5 months delayed yung sweldo nila. Five months!

[dark_justice]

grabe, 5 months! lagi bang ganun? or may posts na ganun lagi?

[kilooscar]

consul generals/ambassadors karamihan political appointees konting konti lang career diplomats.

pero meron rin naman career diplomats. my uncle was a career diplomat. nag retire sya when erap became pres. hindi na ata sya na re appoint.

madalas pagkatapos election, pag meron bago presidente expect marami political appointees.

[metropolitan]

hey, for those taking the FSO prequalifying exams please review topics about logic. it does not matter what your bachelor or master degree is about, what matters is that matalino ka, may etiquette at breeding ka at may alam ka sa local and international affairs (alam ha, not necessarily a strong opinon).

[tamsie]

I took the FSO exams and passed the qualifying exam and the written exam. The qualifying exam is like a college entrance exam. If you're a really good writer (concise and logical), you would only need stock knowledge to pass the written exam. I didn't take any refresher course, by the way. My undergrad course isn't even related to Foreign Service.

I think there were 9 of us who were asked to come back for the 3-day oral exams. I only got to day 1 (panel discussion, which is like taking a Philo oral exam because the panelists talked about Kierkegaard hahaha) because by then I had already started working. Day 2 is group dynamics. Your group is given several topics to bounce ideas off. Sayang I didn't get to day 3 dinner (protocol, impromptu speech and toast) -- would have loved the free munchies hehe.

[cassidy01]

Hi guys! wonderful thread.. may i ask lang what is the average age of people who take the exams? si luli arroyo was 30.. then some of you are already teaching and/or have finished postgrad studies.. im 22, an accountancy grad, and i plan to take the exams sometime in my future (siyempre, kelangan kong mag-aral di ba? But do i need relevant formal education or kaya nang sariling sikap?)

[R3'91]

All aspiring FSOs might find this blog veeery interesting and helpful: FAQs on the FSE (http://kurokuroatbp.com/?page_id=1502)

It's a blog of an actual FSO based in Cambodia and has several entries devoted to the FSO exams and what it is like to be one.

[d observer]

i was to get an application form and it is more on world history, the formation of a nation, international policies, trade relations. i am a graduate of foreign service 20 years ago pa. during our college days we were planning to take fso exam kaso nga mahirap at you must be fluent in one foreign language we have french & spanish, di ka lang dapat fluent magaling ka pa sa pagsusulat. according to a former ambassador na alumni ng university a diplomat should have a strong stomach hindi lang pag gre-grace ng mga ng mga kung anong openings o festivities, madalas kapag may mga pilipinong namamatay being the diplomat nanadun ka para tingnan ang bangkay ana minsan nabubulok na. those were the few words i heard from Amb. Pablo Araque na classic example ang buhay nya,he walked his hard way before becoming a career diplomat, started as a part time janitor while he studied in the evening, after earning his degree for foreign service pumasa kagad wala ng further studies di ko alam kung retired o buhay pa siya. i also did an OJT in DFA in

[d observer]

i also did an OJT in DFA in 1986. sa authentication division nsa film center pa ang passporting nuon. there was an employee na satrted lang siya as ordinary rank & file employee, passed nya fso tapos bigla sya naging vice consul.i am always mesmerized by this calssic experiences of these people. nuong time n gusto ko nag mag take ng fso 1 yr older n ko sa required age w/c is 35 . kaya i'm taking master's degree in up school of industrial relations. think ko n lang d para sa akin ang pagiging career diplomat, i am more of an industrialist-pinaganda pa no-unyonista lang naman ibig sabihin nuon.

[kilooscar]

ang uncle ko was a former consul general. career diplomat sya.

na assign sya sa Iran during Iran-Contra Affair. naging consul gen rin sya new york. maraming magaganda kwento about his different assignments.

maraming perks
exempt from customs duties sa motor vehicle, kung galing sa ibang bansa pwede ka magpasok sa pinas ng mga magagara at mamahaling sasakyan.

alam nyo ba ang inuwi ng tito ko after ng post nya sa new york pagbalik dito, "hyundai excel" yong ginagawang mga taxi. panahon ni pres ramos yon. hindi ko lang masabi sana honda dinala nya dito o kaya toyota.

in erap's term di na sya na appoint, nag retire sya and settled sa chile kasi wife nya from chile. after his retirement, benebenta nya "hyundai excel" nya plus the duties based on the original price of the vehicle, kasi hindi na raw sya related sa DFA meron rule na you have to pay the custom's duties of the vehicle if you are no longer related sa DFA. Ang problema sobra taas ng custom duty. Imagine ko mercedes benz ito.

no one was willing to buy the "hyundai excel". He decided to junk the vehicle, hindi sa mayaman para mag junk ng mga vehicle, yon lang sasakyan nya sa pilipinas, pero dahil sobra mahal babayaran nya yon na lang ang tanging option.

gusto ko sana itanong sa tito ko, lahat ba ng dating consul ganito ginawaga? yong mga naka mercedes 2 o 3 o 4 na mercedes benz ganito kaya ginagawa nila. Pero di ko sya tinanong. Binigyan ko na lang sila benefit of the doubt.

Good luck sa mga kukuha ng pagsusulit.

[R3'91]

There is a limit to the number of vehicles allowed brought back to the country. Ang alam ko, maximum yata 2. Kaya nga Maceda was accused of smuggling a few years back kasi he brought back several luxury vehicles (5 or 6) after his stint as ambassador to the US.

[damienhotstuff]

Some of our ambassadors are computer idiots. They are neither articulate nor very knowledgeable. Many pocket most of their representation allowances because they think these are a supplement to their salaries. They also do not buy their personal cars but simply depend on the embassy vehicles for official and private purposes. In other words, they engage in technical malversation.

I know of one who is so innovative about finding ways to increase her income that she even sells her privilege to ship personal belongings to companies engaged in transporting balikbayan boxes. She never purchased a personal car since she became head of mission, except to acquire then sell a vehicle upon her recall.