Okay, so here is a question for you. I got asked a while back if any of the blogs on my blogroll were from USAID. So I let those who asked which ones were.
Should I label all the blogs on the blogroll? I don't want to "other" anyone (we are all part of the Foreign Service), but maybe it would be helpful for folks looking for an EFM perspective, or an officer or specialist perspective.
So what do you think? I am willing to invest the time (because I think my blogroll is the most important service I provide and reading my ramblings is just the fee I charge!) if people want me to do it. But I won't if it would offend folks.
Thoughts?
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13 comments:
I'm starting with USAID this week and going through your blogroll was enormously helpful for me during the preemployment phase. I went through everyone and created my own labeling system looking for ones that were either relevant to me (USAID, single, female, etc) or that offered a perspective I might just be interested in. All of which is to say, I think labeling would be great and helpful.
I think you disregard how valuable your posts are. That being said, I can see a lot of value to differentiating between the types of services for people to find what they are specifically looking for (USAID, General FS, FSS, DSS, MOHs, etc.). One question, would you be willing to differentiate on lifestyle, for example a separate list for LGBT blogs - on the one hand, I think it would be a great service for LGBT FSOs and family (and wannabe FSOs), but is there any concern that (1) a LGBT wouldn't want to be highlighted in that way (I wouldn't think so since they are blogging, but maybe?) or (2) is there any concern that State would pay more attention than normal to a LGBT blog?
If the Department had a problem with LGBT bloggers, I would think I would be the first to know! But I would be happy to label folks that way. I don't think I will make separate lists though...just add a label to the name.
I too think it would be amazingly helpful to the community.
My husband was just added to the CON Register and I have been reading your blog and using your blog roll for the last 18 months as we've been going through the application process. (Both your posts and your blog roll are fantastic!) I think labeling is a great idea because it might make things a bit more efficient but I've also loved wandering through the list without any guidance. I especially love place2place and I wonder if I would have skipped it if I'd known at first that they are a FSS family. Turns out I don't have a clear opinion on this. I do have a clear opinion on your posts - they're excellent, don't undervalue them.
I also am with USAID and appreciate knowing which blogs are USAID specific. However you do that works for me :) Thanks so much!!
I'm all-for categorizing them, if you don't mind spending the time on it. When we were going through the hiring process your list was invaluable in sending me to people who had been there before.
Now that we're here almost everyone I meet has used it as a resource as well. And, the universal comment is, "It could only be improved if there were a quick and easy way to tell what perspective they're writing from".
So, thank you for maintaining it in the first place and I think categorizing it can only be an improvement. And, as long as I'm writing can I petition for a category that isn't just MOH but specifically families with children at home, as that's what I was looking for?
Hmmm . . . hopefully the problem won't be that there are too many ways to categorize.
I am not sure where to ask this but since there are a lot of knowledgeable people here I will try my luck here. If I enter the foreign service with a Master/JD but after a year or two I get my PhD, will my salary be bumped up a step as it does in the initial determination? Also, would I get a higher salary for having a Master's , JD, and LL.M.? Thanks in advance.
Seems like folks favor labeling -how very un-PC of you! :) Seriously, I will start labeling today. I am probably not going to put them in separate lists because we are all FS family.
Anonymous, you will NOT get a salary bump for degrees you receive AFTER joining the service, but you will for those you have already. I was in the same situation. I got a bump for my MA but wasn't finished with my PhD (I'm still not...don't judge me! I hope to defend in December). I won't get anything other than the satisfaction of finishing for it.
I think I'm going to be in the minority here, but I say: don't waste your time categorizing. People can take their time looking thru your links and they'll find the ones that interest them. I'm a spouse, but I don't just read spouse blogs. I'm with State, too, but one of my favs is Lees on the Go. She's with USAID, but why does it matter? She's blogging the gov't life, and she's writing well, so she's a go-to read. Her experience as an AID spouse isn't so different from mine as a State spouse, anyway. It seems to me that you would put in a ton of work for not a lot of payback. Besides: it's actually kind of fun to randomly click thru the links based on titles alone and see what comes up. There are some great stories in there.
The distinction I make, personally, is between "govt" bloggers and "expat" bloggers. Those two groups tend to tell very different stories.
Either way, I wouldn't be offended. And I love your blog. Crazy suggestion, though? I usually read you in my Reader, and the text shows as purple or yellow. The yellow is practically invisible. That, I'd change. (even if you don't though, I'll keep coming back).
labeled or not, I don't mind but I just wanted to say thanks for having the blog roll at all. I have been following you story and other for almost a year and I really hope that I pass my OA this June and can join this life!
--Kristina
As the person (or at least one of them) who loves your blog and searches (mostly in vain) for other AID blogs, I would love the labeling. I think DoS FS blogs are great, but there are insights that are different for AID. Also, since AID is much more anti-blog and has smaller numbers overall, it is really hard to find them. Thanks for all your hard work!
Thanks for labeling! I would like to point out that "FSO" doesn't = "State". Most of us working overseas for USAID are FSOs too!! I'm finding this point reinforced (wrongly) at FSI all the time. So...there are just different flavours of FSOs, but we're all in the Foreign Service. Just to complicate matters - and labeling :)
I do love following your blog - thanks for the frequent posts!
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