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| Photo by Amanda Kolinsky |
| Foreign Service officer David Marks talked to several classes Monday and Tuesday about the his work as a press attache for the U.S. Embassy in Japan. |
IU alumnus Marks spoke about his career as a Foreign Service officer with several classes during his visit Monday and Tuesday. One class he visited Tuesday was Ralph Winslow Visiting Professor Jim Bright’s J428 Public Relations Research and Planning class.
This was Marks’ first visit to IU to speak with journalism students, but was not the first time he had worked with journalism students and faculty. In March, Marks gave IU students visiting Japan a chance to meet with the U.S. ambassador in Japan, and he hopes to do the same when the next group of J460 International Public Relations students travels to Japan over spring break in March 2009.
During his talk, Marks explained the career path from IU grad to press attaché. He has been in the Foreign Service for 25 years and has worked in Japan, Russia, Taiwan, Germany and Washington, D.C. The Foreign Service is a division of the U.S. Department of State and has officers in 265 countries. FSOs, as they are called, implement U.S. policy in their locations.
Marks explained the long process to become a Foreign Service officer. Applicants take oral and written exams and are vetted by the government through background checks. Applicants must pass medical tests as well. Finally, their names are put on waiting lists.
Marks said applicants’ ranks on the waiting lists are determined by exam scores, additional education or skills and foreign language fluency.
“If you can speak the languages the government has listed as ‘critical’ you will have a definite advantage over the competition and will get paid more,” said Marks.
Some of the languages listed “critical” include, Russian, Chinese, Arabic and Persian.
Those hired face a four-year probationary period during which they live for two years in two different places. After the four years, they have another assessment and then are considered for permanent posts.
“People who have made it past the four year probationary period are rarely rejected from being hired permanently,” Marks assured.
In hindsight, Marks tells anyone who is trying to prepare for the exam to read The New York Times everyday for one year.
“This will give you an idea of what is really going on domestically and internationally,” he said.
When new hires are waiting to be placed in a country, it is important for them to prepare for the worst location and hope for the best, he said.
“You could get assigned somewhere like Paris or a place like Islamabad,” he said. “You really have to be ready for either one.”
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| Photo by Amanda Kolinsky |
| Senior Alex Migyanko (right), one of 16 students who will visit the U.S. Embassy at spring break, presented Marks with a gift. |
His main duty, however, is to get the United States government’s message to the U.S., Japanese and international media.
“You have to know your audience and use your judgment when trying to convey the message you want heard,” he said.
Marks said it is important to make fellow Americans curious about foreign policy.
“Almost all foreign countries have a direct interest in the United States, as does the United States in them,” he said. “Americans should really know what is going on abroad.”
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