Foreign and Commonwealth Office
“A
career in the FCO has got to be one of the most exciting and challenging
on offer to economics graduates today. You get to live and work in places
you would never see as a tourist. And you get involved in some of the most
important policy issues facing the UK today - how do we deal with an
increasingly globalised world, how do we frame our economic relations with
Europe and beyond, and how can we use economic arguments to help bring
peace and security to the world?”
Creon
Butler, FCO Chief Economist
The Foreign Office Diplomatic Service is seeking talented economists to work on international economic policy issues - reporting on how economic events around the world will affect the UK, and promoting the UK’s economic reform agenda around the world. Working for ministers and senior government officials, you'll enjoy a uniquely challenging and varied workload, where no two days are ever the same.
What will I be doing?
In London – You will spend your first two years working on global economic
policy or EU issues. You
could be a country economist working on a region of hot political interest
like the Middle East or South East Europe, an analyst looking at the
foreign policy implications of economic globalisation, or working on a
front-line policy issue like how the countries of central Europe are going
to cope with joining the EU's single market.
Overseas After two
years in London, you will go overseas as a diplomat to a G7 economy or
major emerging market - like the US, Russia or Mexico – to act as the UK
government’s eyes and ears on key economic issues - How
will September 11 affect future US economic policy? What are the long-term
prospects for Russia’s economic growth? Will Argentina’s financial
woes hit neighbours too? Or you might go to a UK mission in an
international organisation with an economic dimension - the OECD in Paris,
the UN in New York - where you will be negotiating with international
partners on key global issues, pushing forward the UK's view of good
global economic governance.
After that the career path you take will be in your hands. But you will have a full range of economics and diplomatic jobs open to you. And you should expect to spend at least half of your FCO career abroad.
Applications and further
information
If you wish to be considered for the Diplomatic Service economist option you must apply for the first round of the GES scheme (hyperlink to the on line application form) - This opens mid September 2007. You must also select the Diplomatic Service as your first option. The recruitment process is a combination of the Government Economic Service and the Diplomatic Service reflecting the need for graduates with both economics and wider skills.
The Starting Salary for the Diplomatic Service Economists is currently £24,759 with additional salary for a relevant MSc or previous experience.
You can also get more information about the Diplomatic Service Economist scheme at www.fco.gov.uk or by contacting FCO recruitment at recruitment.public@fco.gov.uk