Foreign service officers must decide at the beginning of their career which career track they will take in the Foreign Service. The five tracks are:

• Consular affairs (Help Americans and work with foreign citizens)
• Economic affairs (Study economic, trade, environmental, scientific, financial, or agricultural affairs)
• Management affairs (Lead, manage, and coordinate events and policies)
• Political affairs (Analyze political events and think about foreign policy)
• Public diplomacy (Talk to others so they understand American values and concerns)

Additional things to know:

• The choice of career track will not only determine what kind of job you will do, but could impact if you are chosen to work as a foreign service officer. For example, not many people want to work as consular affairs officers. But many people want to work as political officers. Choosing to go into consular affairs may increase your likelihood of being selected.
• Previously, each applicant needed to pass a written exam that tests knowledge of world economics, politics, geography, history, and many other subjects. There is no longer a minimum passing score but scores are used to assess candidates. Candidates still must pass a security and medical clearance before being hired.
• Foreign service officers must be willing to move anywhere in the world. This sometimes means that an FSO will move to a country at war or in poverty where their families cannot come with them. At other times, FSOs may be able to live with their family in many different countries and experience several languages and cultures.
• FSOs can earn more money if they work in countries that are dangerous or hard to live in. For example, FSOs who work in Rwanda and Romania make more money than FSOs who work in Germany or Australia.
• Foreign service specialists work for the US Department of State doing jobs similar to work they would do at an office in America. They manage embassy finances, employee training, wages, and benefits. They supervise the upkeep and construction of new embassy buildings, or install and repair the computers and other technology at the embassies. Some foreign service specialists are medical officers and security agents. They protect and care for the embassy staff and their families.