I am curious about the experiences of newly hired Foreign Service employees that are 55 plus years of age. What percentage of new hires are in this age group? Generally, how are these employees viewed?

The Foreign Service is looking for employees who represent the depth and breadth of the United States, and we expect new hires will bring unique skills and life experiences. Those who come to the Foreign Service with decades of experience will have opportunities to share that experience, but they are entry level employees on par with other entry level employees who may not have as many years of experience.  The mix of new employees can greatly enrich teams at posts, and most of these second- and third-career new hires find the experience richly rewarding.