Basic Qualifications and Skills

Qualifications

Applicants for FAS Foreign Service trainee positions must possess the following education and specialized experience for consideration into one of the following general schedule (GS) levels:

GS-09 Requirements

All educational credentials must be earned from an accredited college or university. Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

To qualify for this position at the GS-09 level, applicants must possess one of the following:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-07 level in the Federal service OR
Have qualifying education OR
Have a combination of specialized experience and qualifying education.

Specialized Experience
Experience assisting with professional work in one of the following five areas:

Analyzing economic and trade policies; or
Analyzing marketing and consumer trends; or
Conducting statistical analysis; or
Writing in economic subjects; or
Financial market analysis

Qualifying Education
To qualify for the GS-09 level based on education, applicants must have successfully completed a master’s degree (or equivalent) or 2 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, in a field of study directly related to the duties of this position, such as: economics, agricultural or applied economics, statistics, or other directly related fields of study from an accredited university.

Combination of Specialized Experience and Qualifying Education
Applicants may have combinations of successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for the GS-09 grade level.

GS-11 Requirements

To qualify for this position at the GS-11 level, applicants must possess one of the following:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 level in the Federal service OR
Have qualifying education OR
Have a combination of specialized experience and qualifying education.

Specialized Experience
To qualify based on specialized experience applicants must possess one year or more of specialized experience that was equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-09) in the Federal service that has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of the position at the GS-11 level.

Experience assisting with or performing professional work in, two of the following five areas:

Analyzing economic and trade policies; or
Analyzing marketing and consumer trends; or
Conducting statistical analysis; or
Writing in economic subjects; or
Financial market analysis

Qualifying Education
To qualify for the GS-11 level based on education applicants must have successfully completed at least three full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree such as: economics, agricultural or applied economics, statistics, or other directly related fields of study from an accredited university.

GS-12 Requirements

To qualify for this position at the GS-12 level applicants must possess one year or more of specialized experience that was equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-11) in the Federal service that has provided them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to successfully perform the duties of the position at the GS-12 level. Specialized experience may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors, be paid or unpaid, and is typically gained in the same field as the position being filled or another very closely related field.

Experience performing professional work in one of the following three areas:

Analyzing economic and trade policies; or
Analyzing marketing and consumer trends; or
Performing market analysis

AND

Experience performing professional work in conducting economic analysis and writing on economic subjects.

NOTE: There is no substitution of education allowed at the GS-12 level.

Skills and Abilities

1. Oral and Written Communication Skills – Expresses ideas and information in written and oral forms clearly, succinctly, accurately, and in an organized manner that sustains the reader or listener’s attention and interest; uses English language conventions of spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence and paragraph structure; tailors communication to the intended purpose and audience.

a. Speaking
b. Listening
c. Writing
d. Editing

2. Analytical Skills – To absorb and retain complex information drawn from a variety of sources; to draw reasoned conclusions from analysis and synthesis of available information; to evaluate the importance, reliability, and usefulness of information; to weigh relative merits of competing demands; numerical data to perform mathematical operations; to assess situations and circumstances and draw sound conclusions.

a. Gathering and analyzing information
b. Application of analyses
c. Making decisions and judgments

3. Interpersonal Skills – To interact with others in a constructive, cooperative, and harmonious manner, maintaining high standards of integrity and ethical conduct; to work effectively as a team player; to establish positive relationships and gain the confidence of others; to adjust or adapt to changing work situations.

a. Social Skills
b. Teamwork
c. Professionalism
d. Networking
e. Influencing
f. Negotiating

4. Client Service Skills – To assess client needs and provide related information or assistance; to meet or exceed client expectations; to proactively support client initiatives; to formulate creative alternatives or solutions and flexibly respond to client needs.

a. Meeting expectations
b. Stakeholder communication
c. Awareness
d. Initiative
e. Outreach

5. Cultural Adaptability/Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Communicates effectively, recognizes and respects other cultures, and uses that knowledge and experience to advance the goals of FAS; leverages diversity by fostering an inclusive workplace; and supports equal opportunity and civil rights policies.

a. Adapts behavior to other cultures
b. Adapts services and processes to cultural concerns
c. Demonstrates inclusive behavior

6. Leadership Skills – To oversee projects and resources.

a. Task and assignment management – The process of monitoring a project through its life cycle. This involves planning, testing, tracking, and reporting.
b. Resource management – The ability to manage various resources effectively. Those resources can be intangible (people and time) and tangible (equipment, materials, and finances).