Tender for Cadets in the Israel Foreign Service 2005

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to offer you the opportunity to join the Foreign Service and develop a career that offers great variety as well as national, personal and professional challenges.

If you are highly motivated and are willing to work with complete dedication, you are invited to submit your candidacy for the Cadets Course. The Ministry offers its employees highly interesting assignments in Israel and abroad. The work includes representing Israel in Embassies and Consulates all over the world, as well as service in the Ministry headquarters in Israel, where the foreign affairs of the State of Israel are conducted.

Based on a perception of the Foreign Service as a profession that demands a combination of professional expertise on specific topics with a general education and knowledge of a range of subjects, only candidates with a full academic education will be considered. Candidates should have a good command of languages (English and Hebrew compulsory - preference will be given to Arabic or Russian speakers); demonstrate curiosity and intellectual independence; management aptitude, and political and economic analytical abilities; a rich cultural background; the ability to establish interpersonal and inter-cultural relations and to work as part of a team, as well as personal initiative and executive skills.

In order to find candidates who meet these requirements, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducts a selection process together with the Civil Service Commission. At the end of the process, which takes about a year and comprises a number of stages, only candidates who have been found suitable and who have successfully passed all the stages of the selection process, will be accepted to the Course.

Job Description

Study, training and general expertise in the areas of diplomacy that are particular to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: political, political/economic, international cooperation, political/legal, the Middle East, communications, research, geographical and cultural; and administrative matters relating to the foreign service (preference will be given to Middle East specialists).

The training period lasts five years. The first stage is a basic course lasting several months. If the cadet completes it successfully, he/she will continue to specialize and will be integrated into the Ministry's units in Israel and abroad. At the end of the five-year training period, and depending on the cadet's achievements, he/she will be integrated as a permanent employee in the Israeli Foreign Service.

Candidates must be prepared to accept any position in Israel or abroad, including in countries where service is considered to be difficult.

General Administrative Track

Job Description

Study, training and general expertise in the foreign service, specializing in administration skills unique to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: administration of missions, administration and motivation of personnel, consular matters, human resources, computerization and data, finances, material resources and budget administration.

The training period lasts for five years. The first stage is a basic course lasting several months. If the cadet completes it successfully, he/she will continue to specialize and will be integrated into the Ministry's units in Israel and abroad in administrative and consular positions. At the end of the five-year training period, and depending on the cadet's achievements, he/she will be integrated as a permanent employee in the Israeli Foreign Service.

Candidates must be prepared to accept any position in Israel or abroad, including in countries where service is considered to be difficult.

The Grade:
37 - Academic Scale, Humanities/Social Sciences

Terms of Employment:

1. During the specialization period, the cadet will be employed on a special contract, at a global salary.
2. Each cadet will be given a standing loan, which will become a grant after a period of five years of continuous service.
3. Candidates who are permanent civil servants will be employed for the duration of the course and the specialization, on the basis of their actual appointment (subject to the consent of their superiors).
4. The administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reserves the right to terminate a cadet's participation in the course, if he/she is found unsuitable.
5. A cadet who terminated participation in the course, on his/her own initiative, or who refuses to serve in the country to which he/she is assigned, and whose cadetship is terminated as a result, shall be obligated to repay the loan as well as expenses incurred, proportionate to the duration of his participation.

Requirements (both tracks):

1. Full academic education - at least a BA.
2. Familiarity with political general issues such as: economics and the Israeli economy, Judaism, the Middle East, history, geography, society and the State, international law, culture and art, administration, computerization, analytical ability, ability to conduct negotiations, team and project management, PR skills, and talent in oral and written expression, in Hebrew and English. Preference will be given to those with knowledge of other desired languages.
3. The Civil Service Commission will administer the candidate selection process (written tests, evaluation centers, examining committee - notices of the dates of the tests will be sent separately).
4. Candidates must pass suitability tests and medical and security examinations.
5. Israeli citizenship.

Comments:

1. Equal opportunity will be given to qualified men and women competing for the same position.

2. Candidates are asked to indicate, at the top of the Candidacy Form and in clear handwriting, the track that they prefer.

3. Applications must be submitted on Standard Form 2115, with the inclusion of the required documents, resumes and two photographs. The form may be submitted to any of the regional offices of the Civil Service Commission:

   Jerusalem:
   The Kirya, 3 Kaplan Street, POB 34076, Jerusalem 91340
   Tel Aviv:
   The Kirya, 10 Kalman Magen Street, Tel Aviv 51070
   Haifa:
   15 Pal-Yam Street, Haifa 31000
   Beer Sheba:
   136 Hehalutz Street, POB 10050, Beer Sheba

   Form 2115 may be obtained at any of the above offices and at offices of the Local Councils and Authorities, or on the Internet site of the Civil Service Commission: http://www.civil-service.gov.il/ 
   Soldiers may submit candidacy by ordinary letter as well. In such a case, a brief description should be given, including personal details, education and experience.

4. Candidates must ensure that their applications, together with the required documents, two passport photos and any other document that they wish to submit (together with an accurate translation in Hebrew, if they are in a foreign language) reach the Civil Service Commission, in their entirety, as early as possible, and no later than the date specified below; otherwise, such applications will not be considered.

5. During the course, cadets living outside of Jerusalem will be reimbursed for travel expenses or for the cost of overnight accommodations and, during the period of specialization in Israel, they will be eligible for reimbursement for travel expenses or partial reimbursement for rent, to be determined by the Civil Service Commission.

6. Details of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, its structure, aims and activities as well as of the Cadets Course may be found on the Internet Site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

7. Planned starting date for course: End of 2005
   Final date for submitting applications: May 10, 2005