U.S. Department of State

Student Programs Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I liked that I could navigate around the Department of State freely and go on many coffee dates with people in different bureaus. I got a great sense for what working in the government is like, and what each bureau within the department does.

What I wish was different

It's a lot of inside, computer time. Personally, I like to be outside more, but that's not part of the job!

Advice

It's important to be proactive. I met so many great people and had valuable experiences because I went after them! Things are not simply handed to you.

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Public Affairs Intern

June - August 2018 • Shenyang, Liaoning

What I liked

Every day on the job was different. I was kept on my toes and constantly challenged. The main focus of public affairs was to inform the public on American culture and make ourselves accessible to them. Overall, it was a fantastic experience because I felt like I was actually valued there and I got to learn so much about diplomacy and Chinese culture.

What I wish was different

I honestly just wish I could have been there longer. There were a few projects that I didn't get to see to completion because I had to go back to school.

Advice

Take advantage of every opportunity to do something with the other diplomats and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to try new things.

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Intern

June - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I was treated as a full time staff member of my team and therefore had lots of responsibility.

What I wish was different

I wish that I had known more about what my role would entail before applying to the job and even before my first day.

Advice

Everyone's experiences as interns at the State Department are very different so I would recommend talking to more than one person who has interned at State before applying!

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Refugee Affairs Intern

June - August 2018 • Kampala, Uganda

What I liked

I learned a great deal about refugee issues in Uganda and how the U.S. Department of State partners with local government, the UN, and NGOs to assist and resettle refugees. I found my experience doing monitoring and evaluation in the field to be the most interesting.

What I wish was different

Advice

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U.S. Department of State Student Intern

June - August 2018 • Zagreb, Zagreb County

What I liked

I loved absolutely everything. The culture of the U.S. Embassy and work was rewarding and inclusive. As an intern, I was able to work on important projects and help facilitate both bilateral and multilateral relations.

What I wish was different

Nothing it was incredible.

Advice

Enthusiasm and a willingness to perform any task large or small goes a long way.

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Foreign Service Institute EAP Intern

May - July 2018 • Arlington, VA

What I liked

Friendly supervisors and coworkers. Relaxed, but motivated atmosphere. Applicable to my field. Learned about Foreign Service and interacted with Foreign Service Officers. Made many connections and friends.

What I wish was different

I wish working environment was a bit faster paced. I also would have liked more opportunities to teach FSOs Chinese.

Advice

Because the atmosphere is not very stressful or fast-paced, you need to seek out different working opportunities yourself. It is not handed to you, so this position is only for those willing to actively take initiative.

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Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I enjoyed working in an environment where everyone was just as passionate about foreign policy and serving American interests as I was. People were smart and dependable, it was a good culture. I also was able to get a lot of hands on experience going to think tank events, going to meetings with significant policy decision-makers, and writing briefs/memos/papers for the Secretary. I was busy most days, but I also had intern friends who didn't have much to do. Depends a bit on the office and if you're willing to ask people for work.

What I wish was different

I enjoyed my internship for the most part. The biggest thing I wish I could change was how busy and uncoordinated making policy is. The DoD, DoS, Commerce, Transportation, Energy, NSC, the White House, etc were all involved so sometimes it was hard to coordinate things or you'd complete a significant assignment and be unsure how it impacted policy in the long run. At the same time, right now is a difficult time for State. The DoD and the white house have gradually taken more control of foreign policy, and State isn't hiring.

Advice

Working at State is great and it's a fun experience, but like other internships it can be what you make of it. If you ask for work and complete the assignments on time you'll be given more responsibilities.

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Research Intern

June - September 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I really enjoyed the in-depth government experience and the interesting projects I was trusted to work on.

What I wish was different

I would not have changed a thing- the most interesting and stimulating summer!

Advice

Be ready to work hard. This internship was demanding but the learning experience made it all worth it.

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Outreach/EXEC Intern

May - August 2018 • Shanghai, China

What I liked

I loved the opportunity to work alongside the Provincial Relations/Outreach section, who supported me in challenging myself while I represented the Consulate at events across the provinces surrounding Shanghai. I was the sole representative at the "Launch Ceremony of 2018 Huzhou Global High-Level Talents Competition", the Johns Hopkins-Nanjing Center Commencement, in which I drafted the commencement speech Consul General Sean Stein read, and I was a speaker at the City of Hangzhou's International Poetry Festival of the Grand Canal.

What I wish was different

I wouldn't change a thing about my experience in Shanghai. I feel as though I made the most of my ability to travel throughout China as I spent a weekend in Beijing and I extended work trips to do more traveling in the provinces. My internship opened my eyes to the complex and layered relationship the U.S. shares with China and it has inspired me to pursue a career in diplomacy.

Advice

Many people ask me "how was China?" because China is not only a foreign country but to many Americans, it is a foreign idea. Through my experience interning in Shanghai, I had a first-hand perspective of the drastic change China and Shanghai in particular, has endured in such a short time. If we want to strengthen our relationship with China on a governmental level we must start by trying to better understand their culture as citizens. I have a newfound infatuation with Chinese culture and I would encourage all Americans, to open their minds to learning more about China and its rich and evolving history.

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Human Rights Council Intern

September 2018 • Geneva, Switzerland

What I liked

I love this internship because I am an integral part of the team and am constantly broadening my understanding of public diplomacy and foreign relations.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Affairs Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

I helped to prepare and report on bilateral consultations regarding North Korean chemical and biological weapons nonproliferation. Through media monitoring and talks with allies, I worked to counter Russian and Syrian Regime chemical weapons use and disinformation. I assisted with lobbying efforts and coordinated collaboration with states party to the Chemical Weapons Convention to successfully pass an attribution mechanism for chemical weapons use in Syria through the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

What I wish was different

Advice

Always go out of your way to engage with and speak to coworkers! Never be afraid to jump into a situation you are unfamiliar with, so long as you ask questions and trust your team.

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Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Affairs Intern

May - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

What I wish was different

Advice

Always go out of your way to engage with and speak to coworkers! Never be afraid to jump into a situation you are unfamiliar with, so long as you ask questions and trust your team.

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Front Office Intern

May - August 2018 • Paris, France

What I liked

I loved being in Paris and the people I was working with were also very cool. It was also really interesting to work face to face with the Ambassador.

What I wish was different

I wish it was a paid experience.

Advice

Start the security clearance ASAP if you have traveled a lot recently. Be open to changes in your job as well as offer to help in as many different capacities as you can to broaden the experience you get.

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Intern

May - July 2021 • Charleston, SC

What I liked

Getting to learn more about international organizations

What I wish was different

I wish it was in person rather than virtual

Advice

Start the security clearance early

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Intern

June - September 2018 • Seoul, South Korea

What I liked

This internship was very hands on. I was able to research and present on multiple subjects of interest to me, and I assisted at several community outreach events.

What I wish was different

Advice

Remember to pursue the areas that are most relevant to you. If you are interested, ask!

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Social service assistant

June - September 2018 • Dallas, OR

What I liked

Meeting new kinds of people and learning the computer system

What I wish was different

I had more work everyday

Advice

Be open minded and ask questions!

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Summer 2018 Intern

June - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

The State Department treats its interns super well - I got hands on experience with real tasks. There were constantly events to attend and my co-workers (all with incredible experience, some within the Foreign Service) were always offering to take me to lunch to talk about career. I loved my office in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. I learned so much, made many connections, and gained considerable confidence in myself.

What I wish was different

It's really, really difficult to do a full-time unpaid internship. It was worth it for me but very inaccessible and I'm still feeling the loss of all those hours worked unpaid. The State Department needs to make its internships more accessible if they want a more diverse, more qualified pool of applicants.

Advice

Go for it! I applied not expecting to get in, but I threw my hat into the ring and I'm so glad I did. It's an incredible experience that I feel I made the bet of by exploring the Department and meeting for coffee with individuals in each of the Bureaus I was interested in.

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Intern

June - August 2018 • Arlington County, VA

What I liked

Lots of opportunities to explore the State Department's different bureaus and network. My supervisor and coworkers were great!

What I wish was different

I wish I had more meaningful work.

Advice

Go to as many events as possible and reach out to bureaus you're interested in.

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Intern

June - August 2018 • Washington, DC

What I liked

Incredible experience to get an in-depth look at how the government handles foreign policy. Great opportunities to learn about how the State Dept. works and how to manage to get work down in a bureaucratic system. Everyone is eager to teach you and help you mature professionally and expand your understanding of foreign policy.

What I wish was different

Advice

Be proactive and always ask for more opportunities to do work or attend events. You will learn so much and become a major asset to your office if you take the time to develop background knowledge to meet the expectations of your office and bureau.

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Political and Economic Section Intern

May - August 2018 • Astana, Kazakhstan

What I liked

Living overseas in an exciting and new setting was the highlight of my internship. Tight-knit community at the embassy helped me meet many mentors. Access to high level diplomats meant I could get a perspective of the various levels of American foreign policy.

What I wish was different

More interns at post would have made my experience better as I did get lonely sometimes having no peers at the same point in their education as me.

Advice

Learn as much as possible about how embassies run beforehand by reading "Inside an Embassy". It helped me avoid having to spend weeks learning acronyms and job portfolios and let me get right into the work of being at the embassy.

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