Table 1Transition record

public affairs consultanttodiplomat

A public affairs consultant already meets 39% of what the diplomat role asks for. The move turns on 11 required skills not yet in the profile.

From public affairs consultant

39%

Overlap1

To diplomat

14 Skills carried over

11 Required, not held

63.4 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 63.4

This move: 63.4 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the diplomat role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the public affairs consultant 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 14 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A diplomat role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a public affairs consultant background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held apply diplomatic principles communication, collaboration and creativity
already held diplomatic principles social sciences, journalism and information
already held perform political negotiation communication, collaboration and creativity
already held facilitate official agreement communication, collaboration and creativity
already held present arguments persuasively communication, collaboration and creativity
already held government representation social sciences, journalism and information

All 14 carried skills, including the 8 the diplomat role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 24 missing skills fall into 7 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 5 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held coordinate government activities in foreign institutions required
required, not held represent national interests required
required, not held create solutions to problems required
required, not held show intercultural awareness required
required, not held speak different languages required

optional, not held advise on foreign affairs policies optional
optional, not held apply conflict management optional
optional, not held develop professional network optional
optional, not held ensure cross-department cooperation optional

02 management skills 3 required

required, not held apply diplomatic crisis management required
required, not held make diplomatic decisions required
required, not held develop international cooperation strategies required

03 business, administration and law 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held foreign affairs required

optional, not held international business optional
optional, not held international law optional

04 information skills 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held observe new developments in foreign countries required

optional, not held advise on risk management optional
optional, not held analyse foreign affairs policies optional

05 arts and humanities 1 required

required, not held foreign languages for international careers required

06 social sciences, journalism and information 4 supplementary

optional, not held European integration optional
optional, not held good governance optional
optional, not held public administration optional
optional, not held foreign affairs policy development optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a diplomat 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 14 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply diplomatic principles skill
already held assess risk factors skill
already held build international relations skill
already held diplomatic principles knowledge
already held establish collaborative relations skill
already held government representation knowledge
already held maintain relationships with government agencies skill
already held perform political negotiation skill
already held advise on legislative acts skill
already held facilitate official agreement skill
already held government policy implementation knowledge
already held manage government policy implementation skill
already held present arguments persuasively skill
already held protect client interests skill

The 1 learning area not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 assisting and caring 1 supplementary

optional, not held respond to enquiries optional

13 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held European integration optional
optional, not held good governance optional
optional, not held public administration optional
optional, not held advise on foreign affairs policies optional
optional, not held advise on risk management optional
optional, not held analyse foreign affairs policies optional
optional, not held apply conflict management optional
optional, not held develop professional network optional
optional, not held ensure cross-department cooperation optional
optional, not held foreign affairs policy development optional
optional, not held international business optional
optional, not held international law optional
optional, not held respond to enquiries optional

17 held skills the diplomat role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role European political studies knowledge
not needed by the target role advise on conflict management skill
not needed by the target role advise on public image skill
not needed by the target role advise on public relations skill
not needed by the target role conduct public surveys skill
not needed by the target role influence legislators skill
not needed by the target role legal research knowledge
not needed by the target role legal terminology knowledge
not needed by the target role legislation procedure knowledge
not needed by the target role liaise with politicians skill
not needed by the target role manage relationships with stakeholders skill
not needed by the target role media and information literacy knowledge
not needed by the target role moderate in negotiations skill
not needed by the target role monitor political conflicts skill
not needed by the target role perform public relations skill
not needed by the target role political science knowledge
not needed by the target role rhetoric knowledge

8 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

required, not held foreign affairs required
required, not held foreign languages for international careers required
optional, not held European integration optional
optional, not held good governance optional
optional, not held public administration optional
optional, not held foreign affairs policy development optional
optional, not held international business optional
optional, not held international law optional

Index

Other moves recorded from public affairs consultant

Full index of moves from public affairs consultant

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.