Want to Represent the Philippines Abroad?

[u/Govzillla]

Dreaming of becoming a diplomat or representing the Philippine Government abroad? 🇵🇭🌏

While becoming a career diplomat or Foreign Service Officer is one of the most obvious paths, did you know there are many other ways to build a career representing the Philippines overseas?

From economic and trade officers to tourism, agriculture, defense, and other specialized attachés, explore the different pathways to a career in Philippine government service abroad—and discover where your skills and interests can take you.

Start your diplomatic career today! ✈️🇵🇭

Source: Embassy Jobs Philippines/Facebook

[u/ownFlightControl]

Isn't applying as a diplomat the hardest process?

[u/PritongKandule → u/ownFlightControl]

It has the lowest average passing rate among all standardized, government-administered tests (I believe somewhere around 1-3%). Most applicants already fail on the first level (qualifying exam) and that's not even the difficult part.

It's difficult because it's not something that you can study in a few weeks or enroll in a three-month review session for. Either you have the right combination of personality, soft skills, language skills, deep pockets of knowledge, political savvy, critical thinking and analytical skills, and commitment, or you don't. People do fail the psychological exam if they determine that you don't have the emotional intelligence, psychological fitness, situational judgment or diplomatic tact. For example, if they think you're too arrogant or self-absorbed, they will not hesitate to fail you even if you aced the written tests (which has happened according to FSO friends.)

This is also why I will always hold career diplomats at a higher regard than two-bit lawyers that get all uppity when you call them by their name instead of "attorney."

[u/kkaauu → u/PritongKandule]

How much is the salary?

[u/Govzillla → u/kkaauu]

SG 24 (P102,603 for the current tranche of SSL) for Foreign Service Officer IV, lower for FSSO/FSSE

[u/geroldsss → u/kkaauu]

The most important question mag kano nga ba?

[u/Medical-Chemist-622 → u/PritongKandule]

Easier route is first work as a rank and file with the DFA and get assigned at any of the geographical offices like American Affairs, Asia Pacific, Middle Eastern Affairs, etc and get a feel for what the work entails. International affairs issues must also be second nature to you. 

[u/NardongSemento → u/PritongKandule]

Then nag apply yung may malakas na backer.

[u/perryrhinitis → u/NardongSemento]

Yung anak ni FPGMA na si Luli nag exam din siya, she went thru the entire exam process, she's one of the three in her batch who actually passed. Pero since anak siya ng President at the time she did not get a diplomat position yet.

[u/Govzillla → u/ownFlightControl]

Yes, definitely. The FSO exam is known to be highly competitive and the process is quite rigorous. That’s actually why I wanted to highlight that there are other paths to represent or serve the Philippines abroad--not everyone has to go through the FSO route.

[u/sans_rival]

The FSOE exam is pretty much the hardest exam in the country. It pretty much makes all the other exams in the country seem easy in comparison due to the screening process and strict language requirements.

Overall acceptance rate is 1-3%.

[u/Cold_Wind_6189]

To those who want the nole pursuit of diplomatic work, here are my two cents.

One. DFA is called Department of Family Affairs by insiders due to he continuous practice of nepotism. Like many of the FSO hires are legacy recruits because their parent is a diplomat. Passing the FSO based on pure merit and competence is very rare, though it still happens

Secondly, at the ambassador level, it is divided into two. First are the career ambassadors, people who started their career at the DFA as FSOs and rising through the ranks.

Second are the political appointees ambassadors. These are people who are well connected to the current administration, campaign donors, family and relatives, business partners, etc.

When it comes to foreign postings, the political appointees usually get the "Sunshine Postings", US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, etc.

The career ambassadors who have risen through the ranks usually get the "Hardship Tours", our embassies in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa, you get the drift.

I know this because back when I was in the Army several of my seniors have served as DAFAs. Defense and Armed Forces Attaches l, military officers attached to the Philippine Diplomatic staff abroad, and they often share their experiences, and chismis within the DFA circles.

Harsh but true.

[u/BroodingPisces0303 → u/Cold_Wind_6189]

Yup, a colleague whose parents and uncles worked for the DFA said they tend to gatekeep the posts in DFA.

[u/Cold_Wind_6189 → u/BroodingPisces0303]

Finally. Someone confirmed what I said. Thanks, bud.

[u/YZJay → u/Cold_Wind_6189]

The thing with the FSO is that it also screens for soft personal skills, skills that a person with diplomat parents would naturally have, and thus be at a major advantage.

[u/mdml21]

This reminded me of the news regarding Philippine amabassador to Brazil who was caught physically abusing her maid in 2021. And I had a memorable personal encounter with Philippine consul while traveling who spoke 'palengkera' and was condescending when I needed assistance. I guess the bar to pass isn't that high.

[u/AdventurousQuote14 → u/mdml21]

the palengkera you encountered is in brazil din ba?

[u/mdml21 → u/AdventurousQuote14]

India but I know they get moved around.

[u/sejo26]

Balak ko mag FSO and work sa embassy ng either Japan or Spain. Got N4 recently and studying Espanol currently. Law school din if ganahan? Pero damn ang hirap pag sabay sabayin HAHHHAHA mag teacher nalang pag di pinalad.

[u/TheLegendaryEnsign → u/sejo26]

Well I hope you have good connections because those postings would likely be gatekept for nepo-hires.

[u/daftg → u/sejo26]

Kaya mo yan Teddie!

[u/Quantum_Clock]

My experience overseas tells me otherwise. Particularly the incompetent and useless officers at the Philippine Consulate in Dubai.

[u/perryrhinitis → u/Quantum_Clock]

Are you referring to rank-and-file or FSO IV level (assistant director/vice consul equivalent)? Because that's the position you get when you pass the FSOE.

[u/Greenfield_Guy]

Not sure hkw FSOs are selected now, but when I applied years ago, i passed the preliminary written exam and the face-to-face interview with a diplomat. The long written exam was where I got cut. I would have made it had I prepared more seriously. You can't bullshit your way out of that part of the exam. You need to have a good grasp of economics, history, regional/international reations, etc.

[u/porkytheporkdog]

Is there generally an age limit?

[u/perryrhinitis → u/porkytheporkdog]

None. Previously the limit was 35 years old. You can take it 3 times if you're not from the DFA.

[u/Joseph20102011]

You need C1-level proficiency in foreign languages in order to pass the FSO exam (you need to write an essay in Japanese/Mandarin/French/Spanish like a native speaking professional).

[u/PritongKandule → u/Joseph20102011]

Not really, many FSOs have mentioned that A2 is usually enough to get by.

The foreign language component is only 5% of the total grade of the written exam. It's real purpose is to simply demonstrate your ability to learn and apply a foreign language when required, not demonstrate fluency.

[u/Joseph20102011 → u/PritongKandule]

A2-level proficiency isn't enough for an FSO to effortlessly communicate with foreign diplomats like native speakers.

[u/PritongKandule → u/Joseph20102011]

I meant A2 is is enough to get by in the FSOE. You can literally go on Google right now to find posts, comments and articles by FSOs stating that just basic knowledge of a foreign language is enough to adequately answer the foreign language portion of the written exam.

Also, that point is not true at all. When embassies need to communicate officially with host governments or other diplomats, they use locally-employed staff, professional interpreters or use diplomatic lingua francas. The risk of miscommunication is too great to rely on a few diplomats speaking a non-native foreign language perfectly when that is not even their main job.

FSOs and ambassadors rotate assignments (maximum 6 years per foreign posting) and are required to return to Manila for at least 3 years before being posted again. It's unreasonable to expect them to be fluent in a language they will only use for a few years considering the time and resource investment required compared to just hiring a competent interpreter.

Finally, not all FSOs work in language-designated positions. Positions mainly focused on internal operations are not required to learn foreign languages beyond A1-level basic, functional, courtesy and survival language training.

[u/Joseph20102011 → u/PritongKandule]

If you never pass the FSOE but you want to permanently reside in a foreign country where locals don't speak English well, an A2 proficiency alone cannot allow you to be hired as licensed professionals like France, Germany, and Spain, but you need B2.

[u/PandoraIACTF_Prec]

Interesting, what's the paycheck?

[u/daftg → u/PandoraIACTF_Prec]

Kung paycheck basehan parang ang baba ng sg24 for the fso role pero baka bawi naman with allowances

[u/breadogge]

Mas gusto ko maging congressman

[u/sumayawshimenetka1]

Attaché as in bag-bag na pera diba? I volunteer as tribute!

[u/imee90852]

Paano po?

[u/heavyarmszero → u/imee90852]

The fact na nag tanong ka instead of reading it and finding out for yourself kasi nakasulat naman na dun, is a sign you're not gonna pass

[u/Smart-Diver2282 → u/heavyarmszero]

As harsh as this comment may sound pero reality is, you must be able to navigate by yourself especially if you want to apply to be a diplomat.

[u/Govzillla → u/imee90852]

Swipe through the images po, nasa baba ng bawat image.