Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Why a career in the Diplomatic Service?

> Challenging work that often makes a difference to people’s lives

> Very early responsibility> Experience a great variety of work> Excellent training and support

Who we are

> The lead government department handling foreign affairs working in two key areas:– Foreign policy– Service delivery overseas

What we do

– We deal on a daily basis with: • Climate change• Human rights• Helping British citizens abroad• Conflict resolution• Forced marriages• Trade and investment• Counter terrorism

and so much more…

Entry routes

> Policy Entrants> Administrative Grade Recruitment> Recruitment of specialists

Affect lives – work with Government

> The Diplomatic Service policy entrant - a demanding graduate entry point into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

> An opportunity to work directly with members of the public and government ministers

> Could you make a difference to national life, turn policy into reality?

Graduate Fast Streamwww.faststream.gov.uk

Seven options:> Diplomatic Service> European Fast Stream> Central Departments> Science & Engineering> House of Commons> Economists> Statisticians

Graduate Fast Stream

The Diplomatic Service Options:

> The Diplomatic Service*> Economists

What you will do

> First two training years in London

– One year doing Policy delivery work

– One year doing Service delivery work

> Then abroad in one of 200 embassies, high

commissions or consulates around the globe

for two to three years mainly focusing on policy

Training and Career Development

> A personal training programme> Mentoring and buddying> Coaching and e-learning> On-the-job training> Self study> National School of Government

Benefits

> Starting salary from around £29,000> Choice of pension costing a maximum of

3.5% of salary> 25 days holiday, plus 10.5 public holidays> Flexible working widely available> Opportunities to work internationally

Entry Requirements

> A 2:2 degree in any discipline*> All Diplomatic Service posts are open to UK

nationals only

Security Vetting

> All our permanent staff must pass Developed Vetting

> Tests you are not susceptible to pressure from other organisations

> Your finances, criminal record and work and residency history will be checked

> Strict no drugs policy

How the scheme works

> Online application betweenSeptember and November annually– includes online verbal, numeric self-assessment

with feedback provided

> Online cognitive and non-cognitive tests> Invigilated ½ day e-Tray exercise> Two One-day Assessment Centres*

Assessment Centre

If you are successful in the online tests you’ll be invited to our assessment centre in London:– Group exercise

– Briefing exercise

– Policy Recommendation exercise

– Interview

It will be a stimulating experience and feedback is provided!

What is being assessed?

Our assessment process is wholly competency based and tests:– Drive for results

– Learning and improving

– Decision-making

– Constructive thinking

– Building productive relationships

– Communicating with impact

www.faststream.gov.uk

> Please visit the web site> There are profiles of current Fast Streamers

to read that will give you a flavour of the work we do

> Remember, application is online - and it’s not a good idea to go to the wire on the closing date!

Administrative Grades

> Administrative Assistants> Executive Assistants> Check www.fco.gov.uk/careers

Specialist Recruitment

> Specialists provide invaluable knowledge and expertise to a wide variety of FCO roles

> Recruitment dependent on business need, check www.fco.gov.uk/careers

> The range of skills they bring is extensive and includes:– Research & analysis – Legal expertise – Accountancy & finance skills – Audit, compliance and risk analysis – Information technology

Work ExperienceVisit our website www.fco.gov.uk/careersfor details on the following:

> We participate in Cabinet Office’s Summer Development and Placement Schemes– For more details please go to www.faststream.gov.uk

Blogs

• Foreign and Commonwealth Office blogsite - Global Conversations:

– Daily accounts of what it’s really like to work for us– Bloggers include the Foreign Secretary,

Ambassadors, Operational Officers and many more…

– http://blogs.fco.gov.uk

Open to all

> Our recruitment policy is aimed at bringing in a talented and diverse workforce that represents the society that we serve.

> We actively seek applications from all sections of society and offer positions to suitably qualified individuals regardless of ethnicity, religion, social/educational background, age, disability or sexual orientation.

> Appointments at all levels of the FCO are made on the basis of merit.

www.fco.gov.uk/careers

Any Questions?