18
THE ALLEYNIAN 710
Zaki Kabir (Year 11) gains a glimpse of life working for the Foreign Office
A foreign
opportunity I began my inquiries with a light touch, asking what the working day in the Foreign Office looks like, and learning that each day involves a variety of activities, depending upon the given assignment. I discovered that working
In October 2021 I was able to interview Adrian Pisa, a member of the Foreign Office, which I saw as a great opportunity to gather some insight into what is an interesting, yet little understood, profession. My go-to question was of course, ‘What made you want to join the Foreign Office?’ Adrian’s answer alluded to a proclivity for history and geo- politics, but he did not specify having had any particular drive to enter the Civil Service. But perhaps this is the point: it may be that people don’t go searching out roles such as these, but rather that these opportunities present themselves and are often hard to turn down. Finding yourself in the unique position of representing your country is not a responsibility that can be taken lightly, nor are the details shared easily, as I was to find out during the course of this conversation.
at the headquarters of the Foreign Office in London affords a lot in the way of collaboration and a sense of being part of something bigger than oneself, whereas diplomats working overseas in an embassy have more autonomy and more responsibility, owing to the smaller platform. Daily challenges abroad are met as they arise, and include consular services responsibilities, such as helping UK nationals overseas with issues involving local law enforcement. Liaising with the hosting foreign government on bilateral agreements is another regular duty.
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