JEDDAH, 25 April 2004 — If you have what it takes to assist Filipinos anywhere in the world, protect their rights, and promote Philippine culture and trade, among other functions, then this is for you.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is now accepting applications for the position of Foreign Service Officer (FSO), Class IV.
Applicants will be required to take and pass a 3-part Foreign Service Examinations. The first examination is the qualifying test. This test covers subjects such as English grammar and usage, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, quantitative reasoning (data interpretation), and leadership or management concepts.
The test will be simultaneously held on May 23, 2004, in testing centers such as Riyadh, Washington, D.C., and Vienna, Austria for overseas Filipinos.
Those in the Philippines may take the test in the cities of Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, San Fernando in La Union, Legazpi, Quezon and Zamboanga.
The date of the qualifying examination is May 23, 2004.
Applicants must score 80 percent or higher in the qualifying test in order to progress into the next phase, which is the written examination.
“This is the hardest of the 3-part examinations. This is where the ‘best-of-the-best’ meet,” Taha Guinomla, administrative officer of the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah told Arab News in a telephone interview.
Guinomla further said that applicants’ mastery of English is the crucible. He said examiners usually first look at the English scores of the applicant before proceeding to check other subjects such as Philippine culture, economic, social conditions; international affairs like theory and practice of international economic and trade; world history. Applicants will also be tested in their knowledge of foreign language like Arabic, Bahasa, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian or Spanish.
An applicant must score at least 75 percent in English and a composite score of at least 75 percent (in other subjects) to be considered for the oral examination in Manila. Testing centers for the written examinations are the cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Pasay and Zamboanga. There is no foreign testing center for the written examinations. Dates of the written exams will be July 21, 22, and 23, 2004.
The oral examination will be held in Manila after the results of the written examinations have been determined. This examination will include an “assessment of the candidate’s effectiveness in oral expression as well as his logical and effective thinking and positive values and attitude.”
A candidate must receive at least a mark of 80 percent in the oral examination to be certified by the DFA as FSO IV.
Applicants must not be more than 36 years of age on the date of the written examination. The maximum age limit, however, does not apply to those who have been employed in the DFA for at least two years prior to date of the FSO written examinations and who meet the other qualifications required of the candidates.
Further, applicants must be a graduate of a 4-year bachelor’s degree course or its equivalent in a college of university of recognized standard. Transcript of records, diploma and certificate of graduation will be required as supporting papers.
All applicants must be Filipino citizens, according to Guinomla.
Successful candidates “must be willing to and able to accept assignments to any post where their services may be required.”
The deadline for submission of application for FSO IV examinations is April 30, 2004. Application forms are available at the Philippine Consulate in Jeddah and at the embassy in Riyadh. Interested parties in Western Saudi Arabia may contact Rosemarie Justiniano of the consulate in Jeddah at telephone number (02) 660-0348.