My project workload has continued to increase and has been very interesting. I worked on my first cable (formal memo), which also happened to be on a rather sensitive subject, so that was a bit of trial by fire. Very interesting though. Today I went to the top floor to get one of the final signoffs - it was my first trip up there! While I'm thinking about the top floor...
Recently the Project Director (site manager) for a project I'm supporting was granted tenure. This is a significant (and mandatory) step in the Foreign Service, so I congratulated him. I asked him to let me know what the executive bathroom on our building's top floor was like. He didn't seem to think my joke was funny. Who knows - maybe I wasn't joking because there actually IS a special bathroom up there. I didn't see one today but I didn't stay long. I think I'll keep asking people about it until someone confesses that there actually IS an Italian tailor who can let out your pants (that are clearly shrinking) while you wait. I fear Mario's job may be in jeopardy due to budget cuts though.
We had our holiday party yesterday. Our floor seemed to schedule it later than any other floor or department, I guess it's just how it worked out. We all ponied up and a volunteer group bought stuff and brought it in. There was some solid hanging out for an hour or so, good times. For reasons I can't explain, the rumors of an incoming karaoke machine failed to materialize. Too bad. I sortof suspect it had something to do with someone walking around the party with a video camera.
If you're interested in becoming a Foreign Service Specialist, there's a new Oral Assessment Study Guide available here. Of course, they don't list a sample hypothetical exercise for construction engineers. I'm sure it's because ours is the most challenging specialty and they couldn't think of a single construction engineering question that could possibly be answered in two pages. Or it was totally random. Anyway, it's still helpful.
By the way, those of you who slam the DC area should note that I got a happy holidays card from my bus driver. That's right: my bus driver. There are lots of good people here.
I volunteered for the technical evaluation panel for this new government construction project petition but I haven't heard back yet. I'm concerned they might think I have a conflict of interest. Popular Science even had a short article about it. Talk about a sweet post! It might be considered a stretch post for me but I'd finally get to use my astronaut pen as it was intended. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
(This post written while listening to Van Halen Top Jimmy.)
Recently the Project Director (site manager) for a project I'm supporting was granted tenure. This is a significant (and mandatory) step in the Foreign Service, so I congratulated him. I asked him to let me know what the executive bathroom on our building's top floor was like. He didn't seem to think my joke was funny. Who knows - maybe I wasn't joking because there actually IS a special bathroom up there. I didn't see one today but I didn't stay long. I think I'll keep asking people about it until someone confesses that there actually IS an Italian tailor who can let out your pants (that are clearly shrinking) while you wait. I fear Mario's job may be in jeopardy due to budget cuts though.
We had our holiday party yesterday. Our floor seemed to schedule it later than any other floor or department, I guess it's just how it worked out. We all ponied up and a volunteer group bought stuff and brought it in. There was some solid hanging out for an hour or so, good times. For reasons I can't explain, the rumors of an incoming karaoke machine failed to materialize. Too bad. I sortof suspect it had something to do with someone walking around the party with a video camera.
If you're interested in becoming a Foreign Service Specialist, there's a new Oral Assessment Study Guide available here. Of course, they don't list a sample hypothetical exercise for construction engineers. I'm sure it's because ours is the most challenging specialty and they couldn't think of a single construction engineering question that could possibly be answered in two pages. Or it was totally random. Anyway, it's still helpful.
By the way, those of you who slam the DC area should note that I got a happy holidays card from my bus driver. That's right: my bus driver. There are lots of good people here.
I volunteered for the technical evaluation panel for this new government construction project petition but I haven't heard back yet. I'm concerned they might think I have a conflict of interest. Popular Science even had a short article about it. Talk about a sweet post! It might be considered a stretch post for me but I'd finally get to use my astronaut pen as it was intended. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
(This post written while listening to Van Halen Top Jimmy.)
Great bog! I've been looking in to the foreign service for some time now after a recruiter from the State Department had made a presentation at my school. I spent 5 years active duty in a Naval construction battalion and am now in my final year of college studying construction management. Any pointers? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHey Michael! Please keep in mind that funding for new positions isn't guaranteed each year. Meaning no one knows when the vacancy will open again. Meaning please keep your employment options open.
DeleteAnnoying disclaimers aside: your background experience sounds great to me. Based on my vast 4 months of experience, I'd just check out the vacancy announcement and focus on the parts that interest you the most. Contract administration: good. Field inspection: good. Project management: good. The job really does involve managing construction-related issues in all phases, from reviewing designs for construction concerns to addressing post-construction warranty issues. I've been told non-english language skills aren't necessary for the job, but they do [understandably] improve your in-country experience.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Mark, thanks for the reply. I've been doing a bit of research and it seems that with a degree in construction management one could apply for either facility management or construction engineer, depending on work experience. Would you suggest one path over the other? I ask because there appears to be more positions on the facility side. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteMichael - no problem! The Facility Manager vacancy announcement (http://careers.state.gov/specialist/vacancy-announcements/fm) under Education Requirements does indicate that "additional credit" would be given for a Construction Management degree, so that looks safe.
DeleteI'd suggest you pursue the type of work you think you enjoy the most: managing facilities or managing construction. Both cover broad spectrums and - not surprisingly - significantly overlap each other. I'm afraid I don't have data on the number of FM positions. I believe there are currently about 85 construction engineers.
Both are very interesting careers, and if both are interesting to you then I'd suggest applying for both, actually. Setting aside my usual sarcasm for a moment, I think being an FM would be fantastic. I think I relate to them a lot because I really feel for the wrench-turners who make things work, so I appreciate the hard work that goes into maintaining facilities on a day-to-day basis. I highly recommend checking out Chris Grawburg's blog for insight on life as an FM (www.fmgrawburg.com).
If you have more specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me at markfsce at gmail.com. Hope this helps!