7 myths about working for the US State Department

Many internationally-minded U.S. citizens consider joining the foreign service at some point. Yet recruiters say there is a lot of misinformation out there about what the State Department actually does. Like any large government body, the State Department has its own organizational culture. Given that State deals with a lot of classified information, there is perhaps a veil of secrecy that makes it more difficult for outsiders to glean insight into what a career in the foreign service entails. Here are some of the main myths cited by recruiters.

1. The foreign service exam is for fresh graduates only.

Actually, the average age of an entry-level foreign service officer is 30-32, and it is common for people to look to the foreign service as a mid-career transition. According to Deborah Graze, chief of outreach and coordinator at the Diplomats in Residence Program, said people now come to the foreign service from many walks of life, whether they are lawyers or returning Peace Corps volunteers. Another diplomat mentioned that the hiring process may actually favor older candidates, as they are best able to showcase life experience and demonstrate in-demand skills.