State jobs near me

Do you wish to travel the world? Do you want to represent the United States abroad?

Dozens of Harvard students who answered "yes" to these questions attended the Institute's Office of Career Services "Career Roundtable" event on October 22 – and had the opportunity to meet and speak with the US State Department's New England Diplomat in Residence, Evyenia Sideras.

But what exactly is a "Diplomat in Residence"?

Diplomats in Residence (DIRs) are career Foreign Service Officers stationed around the United States who are responsible for giving career assistance and advice to students, professionals, and members of the community. DIRs are ready to answer questions and provide guidance to anyone interested in Foreign and Civil Service employment, internships, and fellowships.

Sideras, as the DIR for the New England area, was delighted to visit the IOP and speak with excited Harvard students interested in learning more about professions and employment in foreign and civil service, as well as State Department internship possibilities — both at home and overseas. Sideras has extensive knowledge of these issues, having served tours in Bangkok, Pristina, Cairo, Baghdad, and Washington, D.C. throughout her fourteen-year State Department tenure.

Susan Wang '17, a member of the Internships and Career Services Committee, shared the following student highlights and takeaways:

What is the role of the State Department?

The primary foreign affairs agency is the State Department. Its mission is to represent the United States to the rest of the world and to carry out foreign policy choices. The State Department, led by the Secretary of State, manages foreign policy matters for the US government and defends US interests overseas. The department is tiny, yet it has consistent recruiting trends.

Where is the State Department located?

Essentially everywhere. You may work in either civil or foreign service, depending on your preferences. The former entails more employment inside the United States, while the latter entails more work in other nations. When applying for employment or internships, it is important to decide if you want to travel a lot or not, since switching between these two areas is difficult.

How can I participate as a student?

Internships are available in the State Department, both paid and unpaid. Visit http://careers.state.gov/students to apply.

Fellowships-The State Department provides a variety of fellowships for graduate study. The Presidential Management Fellowship, the Pickering Fellowship, and the Rangel Fellowship are among them (which also includes an internship on Capitol Hill).

How can I become engaged in the professional path?

Have you decided what you want to do and where you want to specialize? As previously said, there are two major branches: Civil Service and Foreign Service. More information on both branches may be obtained at http://www.state.gov/careers/.

a. To apply for Civil Service employment, go to USAjobs.gov and establish a profile and résumé. Identify potential employment, but be sure to look broadly. Examine job postings for roles that sound intriguing. Look for fellowships and internships, and make an effort to meet new people and form connections.

a. Before applying for employment in Foreign Service, consider whether you want to be a Foreign Service Specialist or a Foreign Service Officer. The former is a resume-based application procedure that includes a specialist oral evaluation. The latter is a more involved procedure, with the initial stage being the Foreign Service Officer Test.

Maintain a clear slate.

The State Department's recruiting security procedures are stringent. For example, be mindful of your internet visibility. It is not prohibited if you have lived in or had links to a foreign country, but the security clearance procedure will take longer.