The U.S. Department of State is the leading Foreign Service Agency focused on advancing the freedom of American people and international communities around the world.

The Internship:

The U.S. Department of State Internship Program is now advertising internship positions available for Spring 2016.  As with many financial, journalism, and government internship listings, it’s important to start early so not to miss many of the most prestigious internships that generally have early deadlines.


The U.S. Department of State Internship Program offers U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate students a chance to participate in a full-time, 10-week internship that provides intensive educational and professional experience working directly within America’s principle foreign affairs agency. This opportunity provides students with on-the-job training working within a government agency and gives them an insiders view of what it’s like working with Foreign and Civil Service professionals who are at the head of America’s diplomatic efforts.

As an intern, there are many tasks that you may be assigned that will give you an opportunity to better understand and work on government and international issues.

As an intern working for the U.S. Department of State, you may have an opportunity to:

• Participate in meetings with senior level U.S. government or foreign government officials.
• Draft, edit, or contribute to cables, reports, communications, talking points, or other materials used by policy makers in furthering U.S. foreign policy objectives.

• Help organize and support events, including international and/or multi-lateral meetings and conferences on critical global issues.
• Contribute to the management and administration of the Department of State and America’s foreign policy.
• Engage directly with U.S. or foreign audiences to promote U.S. foreign policy and improve understanding of U.S. culture and society.
• Witness and participate in the formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy, while working closely with the U.S diplomats and civil servants who perform America’s foreign policy initiatives.

Many students do their internships for academic credit, so be sure to check with your College to see if this is possible at your institution.

Locations:

As a Department of State intern you may be assigned to work at the headquarters In Washington, DC where approximately 50% of students do their internship; or another location within the U.S. or approximately half of all interns are based in one of the over 270 U.S. embassies, consulates, and missions to international organizations around the world. Applicants are permitted to select two bureaus or overseas posts where they would like to work. This Program is also the only one within a U.S. agency that offers undergraduate and graduate students a chance to work at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas.

Benefits:

To land a job within the U.S. government candidates usually must have relevant experience working within one of its agencies as well as having contacts that are willing to vouch for the candidate.  Doing an internship for a government agency is the easiest way to be considered for employment and students can use this experience to leverage their candidacy. This internship is unpaid.

Qualifications:

• Applicants must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student
• Applicants must be a continuing student and taking at least half-time academic course load.
• Students be at least a college junior or above.
• Applicants must agree to a pre-employment background investigation
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be considered for an internship

U.S. citizenship is required to be hired for the Department of States Internship Program.

To Apply:

To learn more about the U.S. Department of State Spring 2016 Internship Program, you can visit the website and to begin the online application process using USAJobs.

IMPORTANT:

The deadline to submit completed applications is July 1, 2015.