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I spent almost 15 years in the Singapore Foreign Service. The profession retains a certain level of mystique, which has led to most people having a vague notion of what the foreign service and its officers do.
I can’t claim to be an expert but I will try to share my experience here for the benefit of those who are interested in joining the civil service and those who are generally curious about what it means to be part of the foreign service.
- The Diplomat’s Handbook – PrefaceWhile I may have left the foreign service, I remain tied to it. And I want to try and give back by sharing my experience.
- Life is hard in the Foreign ServiceDiplomacy and other foreign service work has a glossy image in mass media. You should know the truth behind it.
- Joining the Foreign ServiceI can’t really tell you what you need to join the foreign service…but I can think of a few deal breakers…
- What is your currency?Every trade or service has a currency. In this post, Ill be looking at what I consider to be the currency of a diplomat.
- The first stepsDid you even wonder about life in the foreign ministry? Here’s a little sneak peek from my early years.
- The Recruitment ProcessIn this entry, let me explain to you what qualities you need to show in order to get past the recruitment and assessment process in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore.
- How to draft an emailWriting e-mails is an everyday part of life in the foreign service. Here I share a basic structure I used.
- OPENING ADDRESS FOR MODEL UNITED NATIONS, 30 MAY 2023 AT 10.30 AMWent back to Raffles Institution (JC) this morning. Was the Guest of Honour at the opening of the Raffles Model United Nations earlier today. This is the speech.