Archive for the ‘Careers’ Category

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Life in the Foreign Commercial Service

August 17, 2016

Eric Olson is an Officer in the International Trade Administration’s U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service

Life in the Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) reminds me of the title of one of my favorite books as a child, Dr. Seuss’s, Oh, the Places You’ll Go. Every time I begin the process of bidding on my next assignment, the world is my oyster. I start imagining myself living in India or South Africa or Chile – the sights, the smells, the foods, the commercial climate, the vacation possibilities. As I’m approaching bidding season soon, it’s fun to reminisce about some highlights from my prior postings:

  • Seoul, South Korea
  • Quito, Ecuador
  • Caracas, Venezuela
  • Recife, Brazil

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    Eric Olson, Senior Commercial Officer in Brazil with Claudia Batista, a Brazilian colleague at the Consulate, celebrating the opening of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

When I joined FCS in 2006 as an officer, Asia was low on my list of places I wanted to go.  So where was my first assignment? Seoul, South Korea, of course! It was my first time in Asia, so I dove in and learned how crazy I’d been for not having been more excited .  The history of Korea’s post-war renaissance was fascinating in itself. A city almost totally in ruins in 1953, Seoul was a gleaming, bustling, rapidly growing, high-tech city of skyscrapers and massive highways intermingled with charming, historic alleyways selling sundubu stew and dukbokki when I arrived in the Spring of 2006.

As a first-tour officer, I got to play a supporting role in the negotiation of our FTA with Korea, which was followed intently by the local media. We worked closely with Las Vegas and Korean Air Lines to promote KAL’s new non-stop flight to Las Vegas. I even got to fly to Vegas on the inaugural flight. Using Seoul as a base, I traveled to eight countries in East and Southeast Asia, including some places not often open to tourism. I grew to love Asia.

In 2009, I moved to Quito, Ecuador – quite different from Seoul. It was a smaller pond in which to work, but I was fortunate to be the Senior Commercial Officer, so I had a much higher-profile job, advising the Ambassador on commercial issues in a challenging commercial environment, meeting with Ministers and private sector CEOs, and leading my own team. From our perch at 9,200 feet in Quito, there were easy daytrips to volcanic spas, camping trips at the base of a volcano, rafting trips into the Amazon basin, long weekends whale watching on the coast, and, best of all, two trips to the Galápagos Islands to soak in the natural splendor.

And now I’m in Northeast Brazil. Business is growing, I’m opening up a new office, and I’m in Brazil – the capital of fun. Carnaval comes around early in the year, and Recife hosts the second-largest party in the country. I was here for the international pageantry of the World Cup and got to see the U.S. team beat Ghana in a thriller and play Germany in Recife during a massive flood that shut down most of the city.  I’ll be finishing up my tour in 2016 with a trip to the Rio Olympics.

What’s next for me? Where will I be living this time next year? What new professional challenges and personal highlights are around the corner? Oh, the places I’ll go…

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Promoting Professional Development and Thought Leadership Throughout the Department of Commerce

April 25, 2016

This post originally appeared on the Department of Commerce blog.

Post by Penny Pritzker

During my nearly three years in office, I have visited nearly 40 countries and met with heads of state, economic ministers, and more than 2,000 business leaders. From these experiences, I have observed three important constants: First: people want economic freedom. Second: foreign governments want U.S. companies to invest in their countries. Third: foreign citizens want access to U.S. products and services. Fourth:  the voices of American private sector leaders – backed with long-term-capital and world-class products and services – carry immense weight around the world.  These constants form the backbone of our vision of commercial diplomacy.

Members of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and headquarters staff gathered for a group photo at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC to commemorate the 2014 Global Markets Global Meeting

Members of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and headquarters staff gathered for a group photo at the U.S. Department of Commerce in Washington, DC to commemorate the 2014 Global Markets Global Meeting

Commercial diplomacy is, essentially, a public-private partnership – a recognition that the U.S. government and U.S. businesses have overlapping interests around the world, and that we are more likely to achieve our shared goals by working together. It is about better coordination between the public and private sectors, and it is about leveraging our business community’s knowledge and on-the-ground relationships to advance our common interests. America’s business leaders – serving as commercial diplomats – can speak directly and persuasively to the economic interests of foreign officials.  They can make the business case about how certain public policies might chill investment or otherwise hinder their development goals.

But this is not a traditional tool in America’s foreign policy toolkit. Because our vision of commercial diplomacy brings business leaders to the table as advocates and emissaries in concert with government officials, our Commerce Department officials need to develop new skills and take on new training opportunities in order to support this evolving notion of our partnership with the American business community.

To that end, we are pleased to announce the Commercial Diplomacy Institute (CDI), a vehicle to advance professional development and thought leadership in commercial diplomacy. CDI will consolidate, enhance, and rebrand the suite of training programs delivered by the International Trade Administration, home to our U.S. and foreign commercial service and our primary interface with U.S. business. Our vision is that the activities and programs of the Commercial Diplomacy Institute will play an integral role in educating, mentoring, and growing future generations of commercial diplomats, including business leaders, our commercial service officers, who are in more than 75 markets around the world, and our trade specialists located in over one hundred offices in every state in the country. Training programs will focus on how to equip them to engage foreign governments in support of our work to reduce trade barriers, increase American exports, and connect foreign citizens to our goods and services.

CDI programs will include training online and in the classroom, as well as internships with industry and fellowship opportunities with leading think-tanks. The institute will host a small group of eminent visiting faculty, who will serve as a resource to our policy teams. The programs of the Commercial Diplomacy Institute will grow and expand to meet the evolving needs of U.S. businesses, and ensure that the Commerce Department is central to the U.S. government’s efforts to deploy commercial and economic tools in pursuit of our foreign policy aims.

CDI will also convene our ‘Trade Talks’ lecture series, providing a forum for discussion and engagement with leaders in business, government and the private sector. Past speakers include Karan Bhatia, Vice President for Global Government affairs and Marco Annunziata, Chief Economist, from GE, Michael Burke, CEO of AECOM, former Indian Minister of State Dr. Shashi Tharoor, and Dr. Susan Lund of the McKinsey Global Institute who presented a new report on digital globalization and data flows.  Additional Trade Talks are available on YouTube.

According to a report from the McKinsey Global Institute, digital flows now exert a larger impact on GDP growth than trade in goods. To help respond to the needs of U.S. businesses navigating the digital economy, last month, we announced the establishment of a digital attaché program. Training for attaches will be provided through the Commercial Diplomacy Institute.

As part of this pilot program, commercial service officers in selected markets around the world will focus on digital economy issues, helping U.S. companies navigate regulations and overcome barriers to trade. This initiative will drive policy and advocacy around the world on technology issues, ensure linkages between trade policy and trade promotion efforts, and provide front-line assistance for small and medium enterprises so they can take advantage of robust e-commerce channels.

This administration’s focus on commercial diplomacy stems from our recognition that in the 21st century, America’s unmatched commercial might is an essential pillar in our foreign policy toolkit. The Commerce Department has already brought America’s private sector to bear in fast-growing markets in Asia and Africa, distressed economies like Ukraine, and political hot spots like Tunisia. So, besides providing the development and training our workforce needs to be effective partners for U.S. business, the Commercial Diplomacy Institute will support and extend the Commerce Department’s capacity to help the U.S. government deepen commercial ties around the world, shape a well-functioning international economic order, and promote a future of peace and prosperity for communities across the globe.

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Newest Class of Commercial Service Officers Sworn-in By Secretary Pritzker

June 15, 2015

This post originally appeared on the Department of Commerce blog.

Secretary Pritzker Swearing in 27 Foreign Commercial Service officers and one Intellectual Property Attaché from the Patent and Trademark Office to the Commerce team.

Secretary Pritzker Swearing in 27 Foreign Commercial Service officers and one Intellectual Property Attaché from the Patent and Trademark Office to the Commerce team.

Today, in a formal swearing-in ceremony, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker welcomed 27 Foreign Commercial Service officers and one Intellectual Property Attaché from the Patent and Trademark Office to the Commerce team.  The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration.  The new officers will use their unique skills to match U.S. companies with foreign partners, reduce trade barriers, fight intellectual property rights violations, and attract investment to America’s shores.  Stefan Selig, Under Secretary for International Trade, Arun Kumar, Assistant Secretary and Director General of Global Markets and Shira Perlmutter, United States Patent and Trademark Office Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs were also in attendance.

For their first assignments, 14 officers have been selected to go to overseas posts, 9 will work in domestic field offices around the country and 5 will serve here in Washington, D.C.  The Commercial Service officers went through a rigorous screening process and were selected from over 2,800 candidates. Most of the new officers cultivated their expertise in international trade from previous federal or state government service, while others previously held positions in the private sector in fields such as energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, publishing, entertainment, and consulting. These new officers bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and real world experience to their positions that will assist them in helping U.S. companies capitalize on global opportunities.  For example, new Commercial Service Officer Suzanne “JK” Platt will leverage her many years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry to help American businesses compete and sell their goods and services worldwide.  She spent the last five years with a manufacturer, supporting their exports to Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, where she worked on commercial flows into and with the EU, while also supporting new distribution channels and operations.

Companies today are born global.  From brand new start-ups to established multi-nationals, all are looking for the next export opportunity to expand their bottom line. President Obama, the Commerce Department, and the entire Administration understand that, for domestic firms to succeed, they must reach the 96 percent of customers who live beyond our borders.

The President has made exporting a key priority of this Administration, resulting in 5 years of record-breaking levels of goods and services sold abroad..  The Obama Administration has set forth a robust trade agenda to help level the playing field for American businesses and their workers through modern, high-standard trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

As we look to complete these trade deals, the Commercial Service will be on the front lines of implementing these deals and ensuring American companies can capitalize on new opportunities in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and elsewhere.

The new officers will join the ranks of the Commercial Service’s cadre of talented professionals working in nearly 80countries and 100 domestic locations assisting U.S. companies in exporting and increasing sales to new global markets.

Congratulations to the newest class of Commercial Service officers.

Download commerce_departments_newest_foreign_commercial_officers_are_sworn_in_by_secretary_pritzker.mp4 (17.1 MB)

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Being Part of A Family and the Foreign Commercial Service

November 25, 2014

This post contains external links. Please review our external linking policy.

Bill Kutson is an Officer in the International Trade Administration’s U.S. & Foreign Commercial Service

Note: The International Trade Administration plans to hold an assessment in 2015 through which it will hire a new class of Foreign Commercial Service Officers. We’ll publish a series of articles about ITA’s Foreign Commercial Service to answer questions from people who may be interested in this career opportunity.

Kids play soccer outside a school in Athens.

Schools overseas can help your children make life-long friendships while you serve in the Foreign Service.

Raising happy, well-adjusted kids. Don’t worry – I’m not going to dole out advice on that one…

But one important consideration for anyone considering a career in the Foreign Service is how it will affect your family. My three kids have spent parts of their lives growing up overseas, and I’m here to tell you that the rewards of the experience outweighed any of the challenges we faced as a family.

So here are some observations, in no particular order, to consider about serving abroad with kids:

  • As vehemently opposed as kids may be to moving to a new location, they very well may be just as opposed to leaving when your tour is over.
  • Living abroad is fascinating. What’s more fascinating is experiencing it with your kids. Part of my sons’ Boy Scout archaeology merit badge was earned through visits to the Acropolis and the Ancient Agora in Athens. We also hiked Mt. Olympus. Yes, it is real. Zeus, however, was on “holiday” (it is Greece after all).
  • Your kids will forge life-long friendships with other kids through the Embassy, school, clubs, etc. These are often great springboards for you making new friendships with the kids’ parents.
  • On the first day in her new school after returning to the United States, my daughter casually told the teacher she’d been to about a third of the places on the alphabet chart with pictures above the chalkboard. My son’s track and field meet was in a different country. Pretty cool.
  • Give your kids time to adjust – both to going overseas and to coming back to the States. But also understand they’ll often adjust to some things more quickly than you.
  • The government doesn’t pay for nursery school and it’s usually not cheap. Factor that expense in if you have kids that age.
  • Schools are usually good to very good, but not always. Foreign nationals attending the schools can be very wealthy and not always welcoming of “Embassy kids.” Do your homework and learn about your options for schools. One source of info is Tales From a Small Planet, a website on overseas Expat life including schools.
  • Keep in mind that no matter where you’re living, there is still homework, grocery shopping (often more frequently than in the United States), taking out the trash, etc. Living overseas won’t magically make your kids want to make their beds or load the dishwasher.
  • And finally, take your own plastic bags and paper towels on airplanes. Turbulence and kids don’t’ mix.

The above is certainly not meant to be an exhaustive list on the topic of serving abroad with kids – just some things to think about as you consider a life in the Foreign Service. Everyone is different and has different experiences.

Living abroad while serving your country in the Foreign Service is an amazing experience. It can also be challenging. Kids can sometimes create new challenges, but my wife and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

I’ll close with this: if you’re seriously considering the Foreign Commercial Service – do it; it’s an amazing career!

It was just part of the exciting work we do as Commercial Officers, and it’s what you can be a part of if you join the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below. Or you can sign up to receive email updates from our team.

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Commercial Officers Use Superpowers for the Good of U.S. Business

November 12, 2014

Frank Joseph is an Officer for the International Trade Administration’s U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

Note: The International Trade Administration plans to hold an assessment in 2015 through which it will hire a new class of Foreign Commercial Service Officers. We’ll publish a series of articles about ITA’s Foreign Commercial Service to answer questions from people who may be interested in this career opportunity.

If a Marvel movie about a raccoon can make $300 million, why not make one about a Foreign Commercial Service Officer like me? And it’s not just because I have a mammal’s good looks or a plant’s silver tongue. Rather, my superpowers include imperviousness to 90 degree heat and 100 percent humidity and an ability to drink insanely strong coffee. All earned after three years as a Commercial Officer living in Ho Chi Minh City, working to create opportunities for U.S. exporters.

Vietnam wasn’t on my Foreign Service bucket list, but I assure you, I had it wrong.

Professionally, Vietnam was an amazing experience, and I have no regrets. Here you have a country that endeavors to build its very first subways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, an integrated highway system that some compare to President Eisenhower’s 1950’s American highway initiative, and an international airport from scratch. Add to those scores of hospitals, billions of dollars dedicated to water treatment projects, and major initiatives to meet energy demands. It is a promising market for U.S. exporters and a fantastic opportunity for a Commercial Officer.

Helping drive American jobs by accessing these sorts of sales opportunities gets my blood pumping. It’s why I joined the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. I worked with an outstanding team of locally hired staff led by some of this organization’s best Commercial Officers. As a team, we positioned our companies in front of key decision makers, set up sales networks and advised on market “nuances” among other duties.

Nuances – that’s where the rubber hits the road. Almost daily we coached companies how to:

  • Find further clarity to handle un-transparent regulations;
  • Sell to cash strapped buyers who make financing the beginning and ending of conversations;
  • Bid on government projects that involve foreign government “tied” aid – meaning that the country that provides funding support requires Vietnam to purchase its country’s products;
  • Convince Vietnamese buyers not to buy the least expensive solution;
  • Understand state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that make up 35 percent of GDP. SOE decision-making can be political as much as it is profit-driven; and,
  • Avoid corruption — an unfortunate fact of life in Vietnam. Many locals accept it as a necessary part of business. Our firms need to raise this and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act first thing when interviewing local partners.

And that coaching helped create success for U.S. companies. Our promotion effort to secure a $90 million sale of wind turbines is a great example of the work we do. In this case, we did that by facilitating communications between the U.S. supplier, the local Vietnamese buyer and the various Vietnamese government agencies that regulated the sale. We also helped introduce the Export-Import Bank to finance the deal as competing foreign governments introduced favorable financing to support their companies. Then, we offered up a signing ceremony witnessed by a U.S. Secretary to demonstrate how important the sale was to the U.S. government.

It was just part of the exciting work we do as Commercial Officers, and it’s what you can be a part of if you join the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service. Have any questions? Let us know in the comments below. Or you can sign up to receive email updates from our team.

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Foreign Commercial Service Officers: Assignments

October 29, 2014

Barbara Farrar is the Assignments Officer for the International Trade Administration’s U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

Note: The International Trade Administration plans to hold an assessment in 2015 through which it will hire a new class of Foreign Commercial Service Officers. We’ll publish a series of articles about ITA’s foreign commercial service to answer questions from people who may be interested in this career opportunity.

Barbara Farrar

Barbara Farrar is the Assignments Officer for the International Trade Administration’s U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service.

Some of the first questions Foreign Commercial Service Officer candidates ask are about the assignments process.

How does it work? Do I get to choose where I go? What options are there? What if I don’t like where I am sent?

The first thing that needs to be said is that when you become a Foreign Service Officer with any foreign service agency, you are signing up for worldwide assignment.  (If that phrase makes you smile and your heart beat a little faster, you may be the right kind of person for this job).

Technically, you can be sent just about anywhere. The Commercial Service has 75 offices around the globe, with the largest number of officers in the countries where U.S. companies do the most business and face the greatest challenges: China, India, and Brazil to name a few.

We are also present in many smaller markets, and we recently opened five new offices in Africa and Asia. Our ideal candidate is someone who will not be reluctant to serve in these new emerging markets. 

First Assignments: New officers come into the Foreign Commercial Service through a six-week New Commercial Officer Training program held in Washington, DC. At the outset of the program, we give officers a list of vacancies and an opportunity to express preferences based on their qualifications, language skills, and other considerations. All Foreign Commercial Service Officers are encouraged to serve in a domestic U.S. position for their first or second tours. During the training program, we hold a Flag Day ceremony when officers learn where they will serve their first assignment.

Other Assignments and Bidding: Following that first direct assignment, officers are able to bid on the jobs they want during an open assignments cycle that starts in the fall of each year. Using our electronic bidding system, we announce the vacancies that will open the following year. Many of these will include up to a year of language training prior to the assignment. Officers must bid on four positions at their grade, and are also allowed to bid on some positions above or below their grade.

Assignments Process: In the fall through the winter of each year, a panel meets four to five times to assign officers to their next assignment. The panel starts with the highest ranking officer and works its way through the team, carefully considering the candidates interested in each position and making assignments based on qualifications, experience, language skills, and additional considerations (family circumstances, medical clearance, etc.).

As the assignments officer, I have the fun job of working with the officers to help them realize their career development aspirations, and the important task of keeping the trains running on time, metaphorically, during our assignments process. 

Do you have further questions about our assignments process? Let us know in the comments section below!