Many overseas posts are in small or remote countries where harsh climates, health hazards, and other discomforts exist, and where American-style amenities frequently are unavailable. However, careers in the Foreign Service offer special rewards, including the pride and satisfaction of representing the United States and protecting U.S. interests abroad. The Foreign Service strives to maintain diversity in the representation of gender, geographic region, race and ethnicity within its work force. Additional steps may be awarded based upon such factors as the level of graduate education, and directly related specialized experience. However, salary is limited to the maximum salary for the specific grade for which the candidate is qualified at the time of appointment.
Salaries are determined at the time offers of employment are made.
Entry level salary for current or former Federal civilian employees will be set at the rate, within the Foreign Service grade to which they are appointed, that is nearest the base salary rate of their previous salary, provided the work performed in the previous position is relevant to general services activities. 6 Performance is evaluated in writing annually by a supervisor. A Tenure Board considers General Services Officers personnel for tenure after they acquire a minimum of two years experience in the Foreign Service. Failure to achieve tenure in the prescribed time frame of four years is grounds for separation. Promotions are competitive and are based on relative performance and the number of promotion opportunities available at each level.