Your guide on becoming a Foreign Service Officer

A Foreign Service Officer IV (FSO IV) serves as Principal Assistant/Assistant Director in the Department of Foreign Affairs - Home Office, as Third Secretary in Philippine Embassies/Missions, or as Vice Consul in Philippine Consulates.

As Principal Assistant/Assistant Director, the FSO IV supervises entry level and second level staff involved in research, analytical, and clerical work. The FSO IV also drafts reports, correspondences, position papers, talking points, legal opinions or agreements, attends local and international meetings and conferences, coordinates with government agencies and diplomatic missions on matters pertaining to the mandate of his/her Division.

As Third Secretary, the FSO IV may assume either the role of Economic or Political Officer or both. As Vice Consul, the FSO IV supervises entry level and second level consular staff in carrying out the functions of the Consular Section, serves as the Principal Officer tasked to handle assistance-to-nationals cases, and supervises the Administrative Section.