If you want to become a Foreign Service Office Management Specialist (OMS), writing your personal narratives is one of the most important parts of the application submission process. You need to spend quality time writing these mini-essays to make sure the Board of Examiners (BEX) have a complete picture of your skills.
If you’re just starting, I recommend checking out this article on how to become an OMS first. However, if you’ve got that down, then continue reading.
In this article, we will dive into the personal narrative prompts, suggestions on how to write them, tips to help you succeed, and my top recommendation for leveling up your writing overall.
Candidates must write six responses to prompts on leadership, interpersonal, communication, management, and intellectual skills; and substantive knowledge. Each narrative will contain no more than 2,000 characters (including spaces).
The prompts for each narrative follow:
Substantive Knowledge
Describe your skills, knowledge, and experience in managing office policies and procedures, such as developing and implementing project proposals, budgets, or knowledge management procedures.
Intellectual Skills
Describe an example of how you used your proficiency in computer technology and programs, such as those in the Microsoft Office Suite or similar programs, to collect, interpret, and/or analyze data. Comment on the technology you used and how your skill with the program helped to solve a problem.
Interpersonal Skills
Describe a situation where you used your interpersonal skills to resolve a conflict or provide effective customer service.
Communication skills
Describe an example of how you used your proficiency in oral or written communication, including foreign language skills if appropriate, to further an aim or achieve a goal.
Management Skills
Describe a situation where you had to plan, organize, and prioritize your own work, particularly where you had to handle several different tasks with close deadlines and it was important to maintain a high standard of performance. Comment on how you set priorities and allocated time, and indicate any resources you used to help prioritize tasks.
Leadership Skills
Describe a situation where you took initiative to resolve a problem or proposed an innovative solution. Indicate who was affected by the problem and in what way, and the nature of the difficulties faced.
In addition to the personal narratives, OMS candidates must also submit a Statement of Interest. The Statement of Interest discusses your:
The basics of writing your narratives are straightforward. It’s putting it all together in a concise and well-written manner that is challenging for many. To assist you in your writing, I recommend utilizing the STAR-L framework.
The reason for the “L” is so that you can showcase your learning experience and how it will contribute to success in the OMS role.
The STAR-L framework is a powerful method for structuring and presenting your experiences. It ensures that your stories are clear, concise, compelling, and demonstrate the required skills effectively, which is key when you only have 2,000 characters.
The framework consists of five components:
To effectively implement the STAR-L framework in your writing, brainstorm experiences that showcase your abilities or demonstrate personal growth. Identify the critical components of each story (Situation, Task, Action, Result, and Learning) and organize your thoughts accordingly.
From there, draft your story and edit your writing mercilessly. Ask for feedback from others. Do not use three words when you can use one.
What follows are just a few tips to help you write your narratives (in no order):
If you would like additional support to help you write your narratives, advanced tips, and a community of peers helping each other craft their essays, consider joining FSO Compass.
FSO Compass is a fantastic resource for helping you write your narratives, practice for the OMST, assemble your application, and go through the process with a community, not solo. In addition, FSO Compass runs the PN Challenge to help you focus and write your narratives and application within 30 days with accountability, review and feedback, and mentoring.
