>> The process takes quite a while.
It's very frustrating.
You take a written exam, wait for the
results of that, then take an oral exam,
wait for the results of that
and then if you pass that,
you have to go through a security
clearance and a medical clearance.
And one of our challenges is, is people
sometimes have to wait 18 months,
24 months while they're out there --
other opportunities coming abroad.
So, the Foreign Service and the State
Department's really trying to speed
up the process so we can get
the best and the brightest.
But don't be intimidated by the process either.
I mean the written exam is essentially
a graduate-rated exam that focuses more
on American society and world than a normal GRE.
And the oral exam is interaction with a group
of people and it's not -- it's all doable.
So, I urge people that are interested not to
be discouraged by the length of the process
and not be intimidated by what they
see as a very challenging exam process
because it can be gotten through and it's
really worthwhile and it's a great career.