Diplomatic Services operational officer : Entry requirements

Entry to operational posts with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  is open to graduates who have at least a second class honours degree in any discipline. Applicants who wish to apply for a specialist economics diplomatic post with the Government Economic Service (GES)  must have at least a 2:1 in an economics-based subject.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed although many entrants have one.

Entry is not possible with an HND only.

For entry to the Diplomatic Service, the following criteria must be met:

• you must be a British citizen and have been resident in the UK (apart from temporary periods of travel, or study abroad) for at least two of the ten years preceding your application;
• you must pass a medical;
• you must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world - you need to consider how this would impact on your social and family life. 

Applicants are also subject to a stringent security check, known as developed vetting.

A disability may restrict the overseas locations to which you can be posted, but is not a bar to recruitment.

Selection is competency based and candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• strong interpersonal and teamworking skills;
• initiative and a self-reliant, flexible and adaptable attitude;
• a practical approach to problem-solving;
• the ability to think clearly and analytically;
• the ability to explain clearly to others matters that are sometimes complex and unfamiliar to them;
• numeracy (there is often a financial element to the role);
• an interest in foreign affairs.

It is not essential to speak a foreign language, but a knowledge of certain difficult languages, such as Arabic, Cantonese, Persian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin or Russian, or having a general aptitude for languages, can be useful.

Application to the Diplomatic Service is via online recruitment 'competitions' that take place once or twice a year. The process begins with an online aptitude test followed by the completion of a competency-based application. Applicants who are successful are invited to an assessment centre and finally asked to another selection event where they are required to make a presentation and have a final indepth interview. Because of the security vetting procedures, the recruitment process may take up to 12 months.

Entry is very competitive so it is worth being persistent if you are not accepted at your first attempt. Previous applications are not taken into account.

The service runs schemes to provide two-week work experience placements for undergraduates and one-year sandwich placements for students taking degrees with a high economics content. See the FCO website for full details. Experience through these placements will not only help you decide whether the service is for you, but will also provide you with background that may be an advantage when you apply for a permanent post.

Other relevant internships are occasionally available through Independent Diplomat (ID) , Idealist  and Working for an MP (W4MP) .

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.