The Oral Assessment for Foreign Service positions in all FSO and FS Specialist career tracks in the State Department as well as Comerical Officer and USAID positions is complex, arduous and dramatically different from hiring methods used outside the government. Many experienced, highly qualified candidates fail the assessment because they do not know what to expect, how they will really be evaluated, and how to prepare properly.

To address your concerns and improve your performance, our Oral Assessment Coaching explains in detail every step of the diverse and demanding interview process.

Personal Coaching

Our personal work with you entails a thorough advance review by us of your original application package and career-track selection, followed by five comprehensive telephone coaching sessions covering the elements involved in your specific Oral Assessment exercises.

You will receive:

• A review of your background, application, and any other material you submitted in the competition
• A breakdown of the “dimensions” or "competencies" used to evaluate candidates to guide your performance on each interview-day activity
• Useful insights on all the exercises used and on the conduct of assessors
• How to plan and perfect your answers for the personal Interview common to all orals, including how to handle situational, past behavior and "sales pitch" questions
• Techniques and sample materials to simplify the Group Exercise used for FSO State, Commerce and USAID oral assessments, and proven advice for delivering your presentation and functioning cooperatively with other group members
• How to digest Case Exercise information quickly and prepare your memo effectively for the FSO State and USAID evaluation processes
• Background explanation and skills to handle the extra Business Promotion, Employee Counseling and Firedrill exercises for Commercial Officers
• Instruction, samples and editorial critiques with discussion for the Short Essay particular to FS Specialist positions
• Guidance on proper deportment, avoidable pitfalls, and opportunities to advance your candidacy
• Helpful preparatory materials and tools, plus informed answers to your personal concerns

Who Can Benefit from the Counseling?

Our effective, confidence-building strategies and proven Oral Assessment advice will significantly enhance your preparation, performance and prospects to be selected for a position in the American government. Clients include first-time and previously unsuccessful interviewees. Individuals we coach from the work force include lawyers, business professionals, journalists, international organization staff and military officers seeking a new career. University clients come from all academic levels and disciplines, and a wide array of U.S. and international schools.

We receive referrals from serving and retired diplomats, government officials, and individuals we coached in previous competitions. Click here to download the Table of Contents of the FSO Oral Assessment Counseling session/materials.
Click here to download the Table of Contents of the FS Specialist Oral Assessment Consultation.

Why Use Our Services?

We are the only career coaching firm that specializes in helping candidates understand and advance in government, multilateral organization and international NGO hiring and promotion competitions—from entry level to executive level.

No service offered by government, universities or the private sector—past or present, in North America or abroad—matches our expertise or placement record over the past 25 years. The success rate of our clients in institutional hiring and promotion processes attests to the high quality training we provide. Please take the time to read the testimonials sent to us by clients and supporters displayed under Client & Supporter Comments [click here].

For additional information on what we do and why we know how to help you, see our List of Standard Programs and Services [click here], and the Profile of Our Director [click here].

Fees

Full-length Oral Assessment coaching of 9.0 hours in 5 sessions by telephone: From the U.S. or Abroad = $950 US (materials included, no taxes) Long-distance consultations are carried out only on calls placed by clients. Times can be arranged to take advantage of discount rates, international time zones, and client availability.

For More Information

Please Contact Us [click here] for more details on coaching for the Oral Assessment, and to set up an appointment.