Table 1Transition record

ambassadortopolitical affairs officer

A ambassador already meets 55% of what the political affairs officer role asks for. The move turns on 4 required skills not yet in the profile.

From ambassador

55%

Overlap1

To political affairs officer

16 Skills carried over

4 Required, not held

43.1 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 43.1

This move: 43.1 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the political affairs officer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the ambassador profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 16 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A political affairs officer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a ambassador background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held analyse potential threats against national security information skills
already held foreign affairs policy development social sciences, journalism and information
already held analyse foreign affairs policies information skills
already held advise on foreign affairs policies communication, collaboration and creativity
already held foreign affairs business, administration and law
already held observe new developments in foreign countries information skills

All 16 carried skills, including the 6 the political affairs officer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 15 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 required, 3 supplementary

required, not held advise on conflict management required
required, not held write situation reports required

optional, not held represent union members optional
optional, not held maintain operational communications optional
optional, not held present reports optional

02 information skills 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held advise on risk management required
required, not held monitor political conflicts required

optional, not held assess danger in risk areas optional

03 social sciences, journalism and information 4 supplementary

optional, not held European integration optional
optional, not held European political studies optional
optional, not held good governance optional
optional, not held political economy optional

04 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held identify security threats optional

05 education 1 supplementary

optional, not held scientific research methodology optional

06 management skills 1 supplementary

optional, not held develop international cooperation strategies optional

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a political affairs officer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 16 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held advise on foreign affairs policies skill
already held advise on legislative acts skill
already held analyse foreign affairs policies skill
already held foreign affairs knowledge
already held foreign affairs policy development knowledge
already held government policy implementation knowledge
already held analyse potential threats against national security skill
already held apply conflict management skill
already held assess risk factors skill
already held diplomatic principles knowledge
already held ensure cross-department cooperation skill
already held international law knowledge
already held maintain relationships with government agencies skill
already held observe new developments in foreign countries skill
already held perform political negotiation skill
already held show intercultural awareness skill

11 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held European integration optional
optional, not held European political studies optional
optional, not held develop international cooperation strategies optional
optional, not held good governance optional
optional, not held political economy optional
optional, not held represent union members optional
optional, not held assess danger in risk areas optional
optional, not held identify security threats optional
optional, not held maintain operational communications optional
optional, not held present reports optional
optional, not held scientific research methodology optional

20 held skills the political affairs officer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role apply diplomatic principles skill
not needed by the target role apply organisational techniques skill
not needed by the target role budgetary principles knowledge
not needed by the target role build international relations skill
not needed by the target role conduct public presentations skill
not needed by the target role coordinate government activities in foreign institutions skill
not needed by the target role develop contingency plans for emergencies skill
not needed by the target role develop professional network skill
not needed by the target role ensure public safety and security skill
not needed by the target role facilitate official agreement skill
not needed by the target role government representation knowledge
not needed by the target role maintain relations with local representatives skill
not needed by the target role manage emergency procedures skill
not needed by the target role manage government policy implementation skill
not needed by the target role organise cultural events skill
not needed by the target role perform government ceremonies skill
not needed by the target role represent national interests skill
not needed by the target role set organisational policies skill
not needed by the target role speak different languages skill
not needed by the target role support other national representatives skill

5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held European integration optional
optional, not held European political studies optional
optional, not held good governance optional
optional, not held political economy optional
optional, not held scientific research methodology optional

Index

Other moves recorded from ambassador

Full index of moves from ambassador

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.