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Foreign service officer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical foreign service officer skills. We ranked the top skills for foreign service officers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 12.3% of foreign service officer resumes contained usg as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a foreign service officer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 foreign service officer skills for your resume and career

1. USG

Here's how foreign service officers use usg:
  • Charged with cultivating relationships with foreign individuals and institutions to promote USG policy.
  • Monitor and report to Washington on the USG's Merida Initiative programs in Mexico.

2. International Organizations

Here's how foreign service officers use international organizations:
  • Conducted high-level political and economic negotiations with international counterparts, including host governments and international organizations.
  • Draft funding contracts to be approved by the Assistant Secretary providing INL funds to the U.N. and other International Organizations.

3. Technical Assistance

Technical assistance is the non-financial assistance provided by local or international specialists. The purpose of technical assistance is to maximize the project's implementation and quality of the final product. Technical assistance consists of sharing information, the transmission of working knowledge, and other transfer of technical data which would aid the administration, management team and help build the project. The technical assistance focuses on particular needs identified by the beneficiary country and is delivered in the form of missions.

Here's how foreign service officers use technical assistance:
  • Provided technical assistance to Minister during international negotiations.
  • Career U.S. Foreign Service Officer serving in diverse senior technical assistance and policy leadership positions.

4. CUI

Here's how foreign service officers use cui:
  • Know and recognize the distinction between public release information and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

5. Law Enforcement

Law enforcement is the task of certain members of the community who work together to uphold the law by identifying, preventing, rehabilitating, or prosecuting others who break society's laws and norms. The phrase refers to the police, the judiciary, and the correctional system.

Here's how foreign service officers use law enforcement:
  • Guided bilateral and third party capacity initiatives to train local law enforcement entities to train regional police officers.
  • Coordinated visits for high-ranking officials, government staff and law enforcement.

6. DOS

Here's how foreign service officers use dos:
  • Represent the SEOIC on committees and working groups that addresses issues of critical interest to the DoS.
  • Lead coordinator of Airport Privatization initiative partnering with U.S. Military, DOS and the Afghan Government.

7. National Security

Here's how foreign service officers use national security:
  • Provided analysis to the National Security Council regarding project status in Afghanistan and local perception
  • Assisted with daily briefings on national security intelligence and became responsible for the security of the bureau s classified documents.

8. Policy Recommendations

Here's how foreign service officers use policy recommendations:
  • Drafted policy recommendations and briefing materials for Department principals on defense and security issues.

9. Disclosure Policy

Here's how foreign service officers use disclosure policy:
  • Assist the Government in interpreting disclosure policy and ensuring the appropriate DDL, TAA, or export license are upheld.
  • Assisted in the development of Foreign Disclosure policy and guidance.

10. USAID

Here's how foreign service officers use usaid:
  • Coordinate with Legislative Liaison Officers and Congressional Liaison personnel on APPF transition to USAID and Army Corps of Engineer projects.
  • Monitored over 80% of projects in person; implemented one of the most successful USAID monitoring regimes in Afghanistan.

11. Security Issues

Security issues can be related to computer-based attacks, unauthorized physical access, and/or third-party breaches to either digital or physical locations. Security issue skills include locating, identifying, and eliminating the danger in time before any damage can be done.

Here's how foreign service officers use security issues:
  • Research, develop, and author risk evaluations for U.S. policy programs in countries with critical stability and security issues.
  • Monitor and report on political, economic, and security issues of US interest.

12. Government Agencies

Here's how foreign service officers use government agencies:
  • Reviewed proposal submissions for project funding from various government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private sector and civil society.
  • Coordinated across 7-10 government agencies and U.S. embassies to devise bilateral plans to enhance collaboration.

13. Foreign Nationals

Here's how foreign service officers use foreign nationals:
  • Updated and maintained electronic databases of all decisions on disclosure, release and denial of intelligence to foreign nationals.
  • Worked overtime to complete the release of immediate release requests to foreign nationals.

14. Congressional Testimony

Here's how foreign service officers use congressional testimony:
  • Drafted briefing materials, congressional testimony and official correspondence for senior officials.
  • Reviewed CT-related congressional testimony, speeches, and political statements for accuracy and conformity with U.S. views and priorities.

15. US Government

Here's how foreign service officers use us government:
  • Act as the Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) for various US Government contracts
  • Procure office materials from various vendors in accordance with US Government regulations.
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List of foreign service officer skills to add to your resume

Foreign service officer skills

The most important skills for a foreign service officer resume and required skills for a foreign service officer to have include:

  • USG
  • International Organizations
  • Technical Assistance
  • CUI
  • Law Enforcement
  • DOS
  • National Security
  • Policy Recommendations
  • Disclosure Policy
  • USAID
  • Security Issues
  • Government Agencies
  • Foreign Nationals
  • Congressional Testimony
  • US Government
  • Private Sector
  • Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Intelligence Community
  • Press Releases
  • Caribbean
  • NGOs
  • Ambassadors
  • Human Rights
  • Foreign Exchange
  • EU
  • DOD
  • Foreign Service Institute
  • Analytical Reports
  • General Assembly
  • International Trade
  • Peacekeeping
  • Policy Papers
  • Ministry
  • Civil Society
  • Democracy
  • US Embassy
  • Immigration Law
  • Ecuador
  • Economic Development
  • CIA
  • DIA

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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