I still remember the first time I heard about my internship. I was sitting in my domestic and international relations class, it was around this time last year. One of my classmates was telling us about his current internship. Everything he was saying was so passionate and he seemed like he was truly grateful for his experience so far. I reflected on the previous internships I had held, both of them were with local campaigns. They were both something I was interested in but not exactly what I wanted for a long-term career. I decided to reach out to my classmate and ask about how he got the opportunity to work within the Department of State. He explained the entire process to me as well as further elaborated on the tasks that he had completed while holding his position. As I took in his words, this internship began checking every single box I had. In-person and virtual events? Yes. Federal government experience? Yes. Networking opportunities? Yes!
Fast forward a few months to August of 2023 and I had officially joined our local Diplomat in Residences team. Antoinette has provided me with so much that I cannot even begin to sum it up in a simple blog post. Perhaps one of the biggest benefits is the guidance that she provided for my future. I never knew how large the world of international relations was before I started my internship. I was simply unaware, but now I know how many paths I can truly explore. Getting to work firsthand with a foreign service diplomat has exposed me to so many amazing things. This internship has also benefited me by allowing me to continue building on vital workplace skills like professionalism, time management, communication, etc. These skills are something that I will need in every setting as I continue in life, not just in my future career.
My internship is heavily linked to my major and even minor! I am a political science major and my favorite area of study is international relations. I am also currently minoring in German studies. This is exactly why I was initially so interested in the position. The Department of State’s main goal is foreign affairs and US Diplomacy. I believe that this is a perfect blend of what I am currently studying as well as what I will be studying once I begin my graduate program this fall.
While there are not necessarily any specific educational requirements to apply for this internship there are some that are beneficial to have. There is no required GPA or major, but being somehow connected to one aspect of the internship will help. Being in general good standing with your classes can only benefit you. This internship does require certain hours so you do not want to fall behind on your academics as that often leads to a snowball effect with your other obligations. Beyond educational requirements, I think academic habits are more important. Time management, communication, basic computer skills, and adaptability are just some of the skills that I think are related to both your education and this internship.
I know I have said it once already and will probably say it again, but there is no better recruiting tactic than getting to hear from the diplomats themselves. Antoinette would often recall her journeys in Italy, Brazil, Afghanistan, and Australia. I always felt like the public relations and cultural work she would tell us about was an area that I would thrive in. While this internship did open my eyes to hundreds of new paths just within the state department alone, I think the most important thing it taught me is that it’s okay to try a different career. Many people do not start their careers in the Department of State straight out of undergrad. It is fairly common for already established professionals to join. I think after finishing graduate school and working for a few years I could see myself returning to the world of domestic and international relations and applying to join the Department of State again.
The Department of State is quite intense when it comes to full time careers. There are many things that you must complete in order to be employed. The most important thing, if you were to consider joining the foreign service branch is the foreign service test. You must pass this test as well as multiple intensive interviews. On top of all of this, you must be able to gain security clearance. This career is not for everyone as it is a serious commitment. You must be prepared to work hard, but the satisfaction once you join in my opinion is very worth it.
If I had to leave one piece of advice for the next batch of interns, it would be to not be afraid to speak up about what you want. Our internship supervisor is so accommodating and willing to work with everyone. The idea of speaking up to a superior can be very intimidating but the environment that Antoinette creates is so supportive. It is meant to be catered to you and your strengths. Do not let the fear of maybes ruin your internship experience
I end this post with two photos that help me look back on this experience. The first photo is one of my internship supervisor, my fellow intern, and myself. This was one of the first events we held, I had just come over straight from class and was so nervous. Upon meeting my team I knew that this year-long time together would be amazing. The second photo is a certificate of appreciation that my supervisor gave to the team upon our “graduation” from our term. We sat on a Zoom call as she played the iconic graduation song and we couldn’t stop laughing. Beyond all of the academic and career advice I was given, I will always remember the relationships I made the most from this internship.
