U.S. Commercial Service Employment

Foreign Service Officer

The United States & Foreign Commercial Service (U.S. Commercial Service) is one of four official Foreign Affairs Agencies under the Foreign Service Act of 1980. The U.S. Commercial Service is responsible for commercial affairs. The U.S. Commercial Service, through its customized business solutions, creates economic prosperity and more and better jobs for all Americans.

Foreign Service Officers in the Commercial Service are typically assigned to foreign posts, such as U.S. embassies and consulates, to promote the export of U.S. goods and services, attract foreign investment into the United States and defend U.S. commercial interests abroad.  Commercial Officers also serve a mandatory tour of duty at an Export Assistance Center within the United States early in their careers and are encouraged to serve tours at Department of Commerce Headquarters in Washington, DC.  
Requirements

Foreign Service Officers in the Commercial Service should meet the following requirements:

• Possess a BA or BS degree and have three years of specialized trade promotion experience.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be between the ages of 21 and 59
• Be available for a worldwide assignment and be willing to relocate approximately every 3-4 years.
• Be able to obtain Medical and Top Secret Clearances and pass a drug test.
• Assessment Application Process

The U.S. Commercial Service Assessment is a competitive, oral and written examination used to recruit and select new, tenure-track Foreign Service Officers into the U.S. Commercial Service. Candidates who pass the initial online application screening process receive an invitation for the one-day oral assessment.

Top candidates who pass an oral assessment exam are placed on a list called the Rank Order Register, which is valid for two years. The agency uses this Register to extend conditional offers of employment to candidates, as vacancies become available, pending the successful completion of a Top Secret security clearance, a medical clearance and drug testing.

Individuals with an interest in a Foreign Commercial Service Officer career can send an email to CSCareers@trade.gov to be added to our assessment information listserv.

Please Note:  The initial online application is not currently active, and there is no link to it that is accessible at this time. Those on the CS Careers listserv will receive notice and a link to the application when it goes live on USA Jobs at a yet-to-be-determined date.