FOREIGN SERVICE POSSIBLE QUESTIONS ON THE INTERVIEW

(Something-like to this effect)

1. Why do we need to consider you in the Foreign Service career? Answer:

2. What is your advantage among other applicants? Answer:
3. As a graduate of criminology, how could you use or apply your knowledge to the
Foreign Service? And what is the significance that it can contribute of being a
diplomat? And how can you be an asset? And how can you be effective as Diplomat
and in Diplomacy? Answer:
4. How can you represent/promote our country to the foreign nations in your own
way?
5. Working as a diplomat is not only promoting the country’s highlights on tourism
and other interest; but also promoting our nation’s economy to your post of
assignment. How can you work better in this field, considering that you are a
criminology graduate? Answer:
6. What are your personal traits that can be considered you to become a diplomat?
Answer:
7. Assuming that you are the envoy of the Philippines to the other country, what will
be your priorities and programs? Discuss about those short-term and long-term
plan considerations, and what will be their advantages for our economy? Answer:
8. What are the traits necessary to being a diplomat? Answer:
9. If you are blessed to take an oath as a Foreign Service Officer this year; how do
you see yourself in ten (10) years from now? Justify, how and why? Answer:
10. What are your strengths? Answer:
11. What are your weaknesses? How do you overcome such traits, and use it for positive
output? Answer:
12. You are a government serviceman, and why do your still need to transfer in this
agency (DFA)?Answer:
13. What are the functions of a diplomat (FSO)?Answer:
FSOs are the faces of the Philippines abroad to promote the country’s economy and
prosperity.
14. Why do you choose this career? Answer:
15. PERSONAL INTERVIEW

Personal Interview: Introduction

Personal Interview: Basic Interview Tips
Personal Interview: Interview Room Layout & Relevance to Questioning/Eye Contact
Personal Interview: Structure
IF ASKED: Developing Your Personal Answer to “Why Hire You?” Opening/Closing
Opportunity
IF ASKED: Developing Your Personal Answer to “Stream Preference” Question
Answering Competency-based Interview Questions: Matrix to Develop Responses
Situational Question/Answer Process
Visual “Net Out” of Response Structure
Workplace “Culture”: Informing Situational, Role Play, and Group Simulation Exercises
Levels of Responsibility in Hierarchical StructuresSituational Questions: Non-variables &
VariablesSituational and Role Play Questions
Considerations before Answering
Personal Interview: Situation Questions
–
Underlying Structure
Answer:

16. What is diplomacy in you? (career or job?)Answer:

17. What are your accomplishments in your current position? Answer:
18. What is the best accomplishment you have achieved throughout your life? Answer:
19. What is the saddest thing happen to you? Answer:
20. What are your hobbies? Answer:
21. 21 How do you use your free time? Answer:
22. What is leadership for you? Answer:
23. How do you handle stress, problems, failures and disappointments? Answer:
24. What is your stand to the standoff to some of country’s territorial claims? (Sabah,
Scarborough Shoal, Spratly Island, Sulawesi Sea Island) Answer
25. What can you say about the present political system and economy of
the Philippines? Answer:
26. What are you future plans and goals? (private and official-career life)Answer:

CONCLUDING ADVICE Delivery Skills for Interview Day: Key Reminders

Why People “Fail” the Interview/Simulation
Key Reminders for your Interview Day Personal Development Plan Sequence of Events after Your
Interview

27. What is Foreign Service (Officer) for you? Answer:

Becoming an FSO is not a career, it’s a lifestyle. It is a career representing my

country to the world.
It is truly a wandering job. Going out to places and tell the Philippine story abroad.

28. How do you see diplomacy [(FS(O)]? Answer:

A day in the life of a diplomat is a hard thing to do. You have to push yourself to learn entirely new culture.

One must be determined enough to push and push to get outside of the world.

FSOs/Diplomats attracts people whether active or proactive, and wanted to make difference.

Diplomats are alchemists. We cannot change the world every day; but we can go to sleep with that intense
feeling, that I’ve done something special.