Diplomatic Service officer

Diplomatic Service officers are civil servants who work to protect the UK’s security and international trade, and to help UK nationals in other countries. They advise and support government ministers as they put into practice the UK’s foreign policy. They work for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, either in the UK or at embassies, high commissions and consulates abroad.

Also known as:

Civil Service diplomatic officer
Foreign Office diplomatic officer

Work activities

The Diplomatic Service protects and promotes the UK’s interests abroad and works for justice, prosperity and safety around the world. Its officers advise and support ministers as they consider, and put into practice, Britain’s foreign policy.

International issues can be very complex. They can potentially involve issues such as:

Counter terrorism.
Conflict prevention.
Weapons reduction.
Trade and investment.
Forced marriages.
Human rights.
Child abduction.
Carbon reduction.
Climate change.

Skilled diplomats are, therefore, very important.

Diplomatic Service officers (DSOs) work in the UK for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and in diplomatic missions abroad (known as high commissions in Commonwealth countries and embassies elsewhere). There are also smaller consulates in major cities, such as New York. DSOs could have a number of specialist roles within these diplomatic missions, for example, as political officers, commercial officers, information officers, press and public affairs officers, management officers, entry clearance officers (visas) or consular officers. Political officers are responsible for researching and monitoring political, economic and social developments in the host country (where the diplomatic mission is based) and reporting them back to London. To do this, they read newspapers closely, and interview politicians, civil servants and people such as business leaders. They monitor the host country’s relations with other countries, and its political attitude towards Britain. They also advise the host country of decisions made in London.

An important aspect of the work of a DSO involves promoting British business interests abroad. Trade and investment officers must understand the local trading environment and advise British businesses accordingly. For example, they give advice to British businesses if they are thinking of exporting goods or investing in the host country.

Press and public affairs officers promote British policy abroad; they brief the local media and other opinion formers, and answer general enquiries about the UK. Consular work involves helping or advising UK nationals abroad, for example, if they have lost their passport or run out of money. DSOs might also be involved in immigration work, such as processing visa applications from people of other nationalities who wish to visit Britain.

Management officers are responsible for the mission’s budgets and the day-today running of the offices. They are also responsible for staff housing and other facilities that contribute to the smooth running of missions overseas.

Personal qualities and skills

As a Diplomatic Service Officer (DSO), you’ll need to:

Think and react quickly and calmly to a very wide range of situations.
Communicate clearly and adjust your style according to your audience.
Be able to provide very well-founded, informative briefings.
Enjoy handling responsibility.
Be practical, adaptable, self-reliant and prepared for change.
Use your initiative.
Work as part of a team.
Prioritise your workload.
Work under pressure.

You should have:

A strong interest in current and international affairs.
Drive and motivation, and the willingness to experience different societies and cultures.
Strong analytical skills. Excellent interpersonal skills.

You don’t need any prior knowledge of languages and, should you be required to learn a foreign language for a job in the FCDO, you will be provided with the training you need. However, the ability to speak one or more foreign languages would be very useful. There are many opportunities to work overseas in the Diplomatic Service. However, it is largely up to you how much of your career you spend overseas or in London. And because it’s up to you to bid for FCDO jobs as they become available, you’ll never work anywhere or on a subject that you don’t want to.

Pay and opportunities

Salaries vary depending on role and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Salaries for Diplomatic Service Officers start from around £27,000 a year. You could increase to as much as £48,000 per year over time.

Officers usually work 37-40 hours per week, based around 9 to 5, Monday to Friday, but might be required to work shifts, evenings and weekends, depending on their duties. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) offers flexible hours and also supports employees wishing to work part-time.

Competition for all posts is strong. Tens of thousands of applicants apply for just 1,000-1,200 Fast Stream positions each year.

Where could i work?

Diplomatic Service officers work for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which is part of the Civil Service. As a Fast Stream policy entrant, you will spend your first two years in the UK and then have the opportunity to bid for roles in posts abroad. Diplomatic Service officers in the UK are mainly based in London. They also work in British embassies, high commissions and consulates around the world.

What’s happening in this work area?

Like other areas of the Civil Service, the FCDO is modernising and finding new ways to be efficient and transparent. Civil Service reform aims to reduce the size of the workforce. Fast Stream opportunities might not be affected by the recruitment freeze.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local/national newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. They may also be on the Civil Service Jobs website and on the FCDO pages of the GOV.UK website. Vacancies for the Civil Service General Fast Stream are posted for online application on the Civil Service website, generally between September and November each year for a start date the following year.

Entry routes and training

Eligible graduates in any subject can enter the Diplomatic Service through either the Civil Service Fast Stream or the administrative officer entry scheme. The Fast Stream campaign opens in September each year. You will also need to pass pre-appointment medical and security clearance.

Each year, the FCDO offers work experience placements for eligible undergraduates and a one-year paid placement for a small number of economics students. The FCDO also takes students on various intern programmes. Schemes are usually launched in the Spring.

The FCDO provides on-the-job training as well as e-learning and the chance to study for qualifications. Courses offered include skills-based training in areas such as effective communication and managing and developing staff. There will also be specific knowledge-based training relevant to your role, for example, courses on international climate change. You might have the chance to study for a recognised accounting qualification or a human resources diploma. If you are required to learn a foreign language for a job in the FCDO, you will be provided with the training you need.

After two years as a Fast Stream entrant, you apply for FCDO jobs overseas as they become available. You could spend around half your career overseas. Each posting is likely to last around three or four years. You could progress to a senior post in an embassy, consulate or high commission, or to a senior Civil Service post at the FCDO in London. Administrative/operational officer entrants can progress to commercial, political or press and public affairs work.

Qualifications

Entrants require a 2:2 in any subject. The usual entry requirements for a degree course are:

Two to three A-levels.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in two to three other subjects.

Alternatives to A levels include:

Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don’t have the usual qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree course, a college or university Access course could be the way in. These courses are designed for people who have not followed the usual routes into higher education. No formal qualifications are usually needed, but you should check this with individual colleges.

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