Cones and the 2006 FSWE

Registration for the 2006 FSWE will begin within a few short weeks, and for those of you who are new to the process (or still undecided), you will have to choose a cone (or track) when you register.

The five available cones are: Management (MGMT), Consular (CON), Economic (ECON), Political (POL) and Public Diplomacy (PD).

Each cone has it's upsides and downsides, and although Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) do spend some time working outside of their respective cones, it is generally recommended that aspiring candidates select a cone that best 'fits' with their interests and talents.

To that end, I have included a number of links (all from the State Department's website) that I hope will assist you in making an informed decision:

Which Career Track is Right For You?

What Does a Foreign Service Officer Do?

Assignment Abroad: Experience the world of a Foreign Service Officer

Diplomacy at Work: A U.S. Embassy

Don't stress, however, if you change your mind after you register; you will be given an opportunity to change your cone/track of choice on April 8, 2006 during the Exam itself.

If you haven't already, it's recommended that you join the Yahoo! FSWE Group. You are not alone! ;)

Best of Luck.