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2007 Best Places to Launch A Career

19. U.S. State Dept.

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2201 C Street, NW

Washington, District of Columbia 20520

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Philosophy majors aren't unemployable after all—in 2006, 45% of new hires and 62% of interns were liberal arts majors.

Undergrad Internships

No. of undergrad internships in:

2005: 1,269

2006: 1,547

2007: 783

2006 interns from the following classes:

0% Freshman

0% Sophomores

22% Juniors

39% Seniors

39% Graduates

2006 interns from the following majors:

11*% Business

1% Computer Science

6% Economics

1% Engineering

45% Liberal Arts

1% Math

4% Science

6% Undeclared

17% Other

22% of internships paid

78% of internships unpaid

Is there an offical summer internship program? Yes

Average length of summer program: 10 weeks

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

Average hourly wage: $11.00

Are interns paid on lump sum basis? No

Average total intern compensation: $4,400

NA% of eligible 2006 interns received full-time job offers

NA% of interns with offers accepted

Applicants & New Hires

67 undergrad campuses where employer recruited 2006-07

NA undergrad campuses where employer made job offers

Applicants for entry-level jobs

2005: 20,363*

2006: 20,212*

2007: 1,612*

Entry-level hires

2005: 830*

2006: 764*

2007: 409*

Entry-level hires who were undergrad interns

2005: 4%

2006: 5%

2007: 2%

Most important characteristics for new hires:

2-Communication Skills

3-Leadership Skills

1-Other

Judgment

2006 new hires majored in:

11*% Business

1% Computer Science

6% Economics

1% Engineering

45% Liberal Arts

1% Math

4% Science

6% Undeclared

25% Other

...and are:

8% African American

5% Hispanic American

7% Asian American

0% Other

20*% Total minorities

51*% Female

NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, the data in this profile is for all three employee categories at State Dept: Foreign Service Officers (FO), Foreign Service Specialists (FS), and Civil Service CS) employees.

2005 applicants: 18,699 (FO), 841 (CS), 823 (FS). 2006 applicants: 17,138 (FO), 890 (CS), 2,184 (FS). 2007 applicants: 0 (FS), 1,059 (CS), 533 (FS).

2005 new hires: 382 (F0), 136 (CS), 312 (FS). 2006 new hires: 367 (F0), 132 (CS), 265 (FS). 2007 new hires: 188 (F0), 136 (CS), 85 (FS).

Foreign Service Written Examination takers are considered to be entry-level applicants. Foreign Service Officer applicants in 2007 are included as 0 because the 2007 Foreign Service Officer Test had not yet been given at the time of submission.

NOTE: All data in this section is based on 2006 Foreign Service hires only.

Salary & Benefits

Entry-level hires since Jan. 1

Average base salary: $55,000 to $59,999

25% earn less than $35,000

1% earn $35,000 to $39,999

12% earn $40,000 to $44,999

11% earn $45,000 to $49,999

7% earn $50,000 to $54,999

12% earn $55,000 to $59,999

3% earn $60,000 to $64,999

4% earn $65,000 to $69,999

25% earn $70,000 and above

Bonuses, Overtime & Perks

NA% received signing bonuses

Average signing bonus: $NA

NA% received performance bonus first year on job

Average performance bonus, 2006: $NA

95% of 2006 entry-level hires eligible for OT

5% of 2006 entry-level hires not eligible for OT

Reimburse employees for ed expenses?: Yes

Do employees become eligible immediately?: Yes

Maximum annual education reimbursement: $NA*

Full grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? NA

Partial grad school sponsorship for jr. level employees? NA

Time Off

Is there a Paid Time Off (PTO) Bank? No

If no, total paid vacation days:

During first year: 3

After 1 year: 3

After 3 years: 19

After 5 years: 19

After 10 years: 19

Total paid holidays: 10

Time off for religious observances: Yes

If yes, max PTO days:

During first year: NA

After 1 year: NA

After 3 years: NA

After 5 years: NA

After 10 years: NA

Total days off for religious observances: 1

Is flex time available? Yes

Sick, personal days, first year: 13

Health Benefits

Do entry-level hires have access to health plan? Yes

Employees pay part of the cost? Yes

Does health plan provide dental coverage? Yes

Extra charge for dental coverage? NA

Does health plan provide vision coverage? Yes

Extra charge for vision coverage? NA

Are same sex partners permitted as dependents? No

Pension and Profit-sharing

Do entry-level hires have access to 401(k)? Yes

36 months to full vesting in 401(k)

Max. company match as a percentage of salary: 4%

Min. employee set-aside as a percentage of salary to receive max. co. match: 5%

If 401(k) match not calculated as percentage of salary, explain:

Are entry-level hires eligible for co-funded pension? Yes

Months to full vesting in co-funded pension: 36

Are entry-level hires eligible for profit-sharing program? NA

Months to full vesting in profit-sharing program: NA

Maternity/Paternity Leave

Maximum Maternity Leave

NA* days during first year

NA* days after 1 year

NA* days after 3 years

NA* days after 5 years

Maximum Paternity Leave

NA* days during first year

NA* days after 1 year

NA* days after 3 years

NA* days after 5 years

Other Benefits

Does company match employee charitable gifts? No

Max. annual company match for employee charitable gifts: $NA

Does company pay relocation expenses? Yes

Max. annual relocation expenses? $NA

Employee Discounts

Car rentals

Cell phone/service

Insurance

Cultural events

NOTE: In 2006, the gross payment per employee qualifying for the Student Loan Repayment Program was $4,600. This year the Department anticipates awards of approximately $6,000 per qualifying employee.

Employees use accrued sick and annual leave for maternity leave in accordance with their doctor's recommendation. Also, under the Family Medical Leave Act, both fathers and mothers may take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to bond with child.

Work Environment

40 hours worked weekly by entry-level hires on average

Does average vary by business unit, department? Yes

Entry-level hire work locations...

40% in open work stations

40% in cubicles

15% in shared offices

5% in private offices

0% have no company-supplied work space

Does organization monitor e-mail?: Yes

Does organization monitor Web usage? Yes

Typical dress code

Casual Fridays

Formal/Business

Does organization sponsor employee volunteer opportunities? Yes

Does organization offer employee daycare? Most locations

Does organization have fitness facilities on site? Most locations

Training Programs

Does your organization have a formal orientation program? Yes

If yes, how many days is it? 10*

Orientation includes:

Computer Training

Guest Speakers

Diversity Exercises

Team Building Activities

Tour of Facilities

Communication Skills

$1,080* average spent on training, per new hire, in 2006

Is there a formal leadership program for entry-level hires of a year or less? No

NA

Do candidates apply directly? NA

If not, how is eligibility determined? NA

When are new hires first eligible? NA

Is program rotational? NA

If yes, number of locations or business units: NA

Minimum rotations: NA

Maximum rotations: NA

Length of program, in weeks: NA

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

After program, employees offered permanent positions: NA

After program, do employees offered permanent position receive raise? NA

If yes, amount of typical raise: NA

Is there a formal leadership program for entry-level hires of a year or more? Yes

Career Entry Program

Do candidates apply directly? Yes

If not, how is eligibility determined?

NA

When are new hires first eligible? Immediately

Is program rotational? Yes

If yes, number of locations or business units 6

Minimum rotations: NA

Maximum rotations: NA

Length of program, in weeks: 104

Minimum: NA weeks

Maximum: NA weeks

After program, employees offered permanent positions: 75% to 99%

After program, do employees offered permanent position receive raise? Yes

If yes, amount of typical raise: 20-24.9%

Does company have formal mentorship program? Yes

86% of entry-level hires participate

NA days of additional training expected

NOTE: The tuition for Foreign Service Officer orientation is $4,205 per person.For Foreign Service Specialists and Civil Service employees it is $1,800 per person.

Orientation program runs from 10 to 35 days.

Getting Ahead

Three-year retention rate: 85*%

Five-year retention rate: 77*%

How are raises determined?

Performance

When are entry-level hires eligible for first raise? One-year anniversary

How are promotions determined?

Performance and Seniority

When are entry-level hires eligible for first promotion? One-year anniversary

Evaluations

Frequency of evaluations

Annually

Important qualities

2-Analytical Skills

1-Intelligence

3-Leadership Ability

Min. tenure in years required for job change: 0

Describe any rules that apply: For Civil Service, must qualify for transfer

Long-Term Prospects

Does position of VP exist at this organization? No

If not, is there a comparable title? Deputy Secretary

No. of employees who hold VP or similar title: 1

No. of employees with VP or similar title with 20 years plus seniority: NA

Age of youngest employee with VP or similar title: NA

Seniority of youngest employee with VP or similar title in years: NA

NOTE: Retention rates include both Foreign Service (FS) and Civil Service (CS) data. CS 3-year and 5-year retention rates are 69% and 63%, respectively.

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