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The conference set up was incredibly engaging and interactive. I enjoyed the fact that we were getting a feel for what type of tasks we would have to preform.
A speaker that stood out to me was Hussein Hirji , he worked for the Aga Khan Development Network in Syria, Tajikistan and Kyrgzstan before entering diplomacy. He is a former Senior Officer in West Bank and Gaza, and was responsible for political and trade issues at the Representative Office in Ramallah.
Hussein closed the conference with a speech concerning the pros and cons of a career in diplomacy.
| Pro of a Career in Diplomacy | Cons of a Career in Diplomacy |
| Those involved are generally fascinated in the work itself. | Financially not the top of the ladder. Comfortable but not impressive, its not something you would join to get rich quick. |
| Huge flow of opportunities | You wont be promoted as fast as you should be |
| People you work with will always allow you to keep learning | Inconsistency in the traveling |
| High caliber of work | A bit of a challenge for those wanting a family |
Hussein’s number advice for those wanting to enter the Foreign Service was to “ keep reading, stay engaged. Read the stuff you don’t agree with. Whatever view your government takes you need to be able to make intelligent policies.”
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