FCO Graduate Intern Scheme 2019

Just submitted mine! I wonder how many people applied, seems fairly under the radar compared to most of the CS graduate offerings.

Also they changed the deadline for application and there was a smaller application window compared to previous years. Do you think this will result in fewer applications?

I’ve also applied this! I remember reading through previous years threads and it seemed like there was a lack of interest but actually there were quite a lot of applications!

Not holding out too much hope as my academic background isn’t really directly related to the FCO as someone who has studied maybe languages or international relations would be!

I’ve also applied this! I remember reading through previous years threads and it seemed like there was a lack of interest but actually there were quite a lot of applications!

Not holding out too much hope as my academic background isn’t really directly related to the FCO as someone who has studied maybe languages or international relations would be!

I thought they didn't really look at that kind of thing as it's supposed to be 'blind' - though maybe I'm thinking of the Fast Stream?
From what I've read on threads from previous years, it seems to be based solely on the competencies. I read that some people who had relevant degrees and years of direct work experience weren't successful whereas some fresh graduates with non-relevant degrees and no professional experience were successful... Maybe someone else here has heard/read differently?

Honestly I’d never count yourself out when it comes to the Civil Service. They actively try to make recruitment as fair as possible through censored information (ie no names are revealed unless we make it to the interview stage). Saw a few people on last years thread getting annoyed that candidates that hadn’t even finished uni had progressed through the sift when they hadn’t, despite years of experience in NGOs etc. But in my view, as frustrating as it can be, the system creates a level playing field, which is great if you lack experience and annoying if you have it. Ultimately comes down to how well you wrote your competencies. Make it through that stage and then experience and personality comes to the fore.

I personally have worked for the CS post-uni (not diplomacy just standard stuff) and have a degree in International Relations, yet I’m still apprehensive about whether my competencies were up to scratch!

Hey! I also applied - didn't have much luck with the Fast Stream so hoping this might be a little more successful! But who knows with the Civil Service. I study French and Russian so the FCO would be a dream, I just hope I've answered the competency questions well enough.

Yeah I bet most of us applying to this scheme have already failed to get into the Fast Stream haha

Did everyone here get an email about the 'Customer Satisfaction Survey' from Civil Service recruiting? Seems weird that this would be sent out before the application process is complete?

Yes, I got one too. Not gonna lie, I saw RE: *job code* FCO Graduate Internship - We would like to invite... and thought it was good news until I clicked on the email haha. Though the turnaround on that would have been incredibly fast.