PICS Career Insights

Shannon Farrell

Diplomat in Residence North Central, U.S. Department of State

“You should apply for multiple programs; consider applying for everything you’re both interested in and eligible for.”

Tips for applying to the State Department:

• Make sure there are no typos in your application and resume
• Use good syntax agreement
• Tightly written
• Get several pairs of trusted eyes on your essays and statements for feedback before submitting

Advice/Good to Know:

• There are three general categories of employees at the State Department: locally-engaged staff, Civil Servants, and Foreign Service Officers. We also have a number of student programs including internships, fellowships, and scholarships. 
• A majority of our internship programs require a security clearance
• Keep in mind that programs often have relatively short application windows and can have a relatively long lead time.
• Many student programs as well as career Civil Service and Foreign Service Specialists opportunities utilize the federal government's  USAJobs.gov application and opportunities platform. Foreign Service Generalists start by registering for a taking our Foreign Service Officers Test at our central careers and student opportunities portal, careers.state.gov.
• All of our programs -- career and student -- require US citizenship at the time of application
• All of our programs are competitive so apply for any and all programs that you’re both interested in and eligible for.
• Our central career and student opportunities portal is  careers.state.gov
• Two primary career categories at the State Department are Civil Service and Foreign Service. In addition, there are two categories of Foreign Service Officers: Specialists and Generalists.  
• The Department values continuing education and has numerous opportunities for professional growth both at the Department's Foreign Service Institute and through specific programs for mid-career officers. 
• There is also an annual Student Loan Repayment Program available to both Civil Service and Foreign Service employees.
• Among the programs for mid-career Foreign Service Officer's to engage in full-time study while drawing a salary and benefits is completing a Master's degree while attending one of our country's war colleges. 

Student Programs at the Department of State:

• Virtual Student Federal Service Program (VSFS)
  • Open application for this annual program is July 1 - 31.
  • For currently enrolled students
  • Unpaid
  • Doesn’t require security clearance
  • 10 hours a week for 12 months

• U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program
  • 3 times a year: Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Unpaid
  • Approximately 6 to 10 weeks; both domestic and overseas
  • Open to undergraduate and graduate students, must be a continuing student
  • 3.0 GPA minimum
  • Obtaining a Department security clearance is required.

• U.S. Foreign Service Internship Program (USFSIP)
  • Once a year, but is a two-year program (two summer internships)
  • Paid a GS-4 Rate
  • Housing
  • Very small cohort
  • Highly competitive
  • Financial need is among the factors considered in selection 
  • Submit a FAFSA
  • Also focuses on encouraging applications from groups that are underrepresented
  • Must be an undergraduate with sophomore or junior standing

• Programs open to freshman as well as upperclassmen:
  • Pathways Internship Program
    • A federal government paid internship program.
    • Three categories of Pathways internships - two for current students and one for those within two years of graduation. 
    • Open to freshman
• Fellowships:
  • Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship: pickeringfellowship.org
  • Charles B. Rangel Fellowship: rangelprogram.org
    • Currently $21,500/year for tuition and mandatory fees, academic year stipend of $16,000
    • Two paid summer internships - in D.C. and overseas
    • Mentoring
    • Entry into the Foreign Service as FSO; 5-year Service Commitment
    • Minimum 3.2 GPA
    • Must be seeking admission to a 2-year, full-time masters program at a U.S. institution in a field relevant to the Foreign Service.
    • Students from underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
    • Obtaining a security clearance is required.
  • Foreign Affairs Information Technology Fellowship Program: faitfellowship.org
    • $21,500/year for tuition and mandatory fees, academic year stipend of $16,000
    • Two paid summer internships - in D.C. and overseas
    • Mentoring
    • Entry into the Foreign Service as IMS; 5-year Service Commitment
    • Minimum 3.2 GPA
    • Be a sophomore in IT-related program at a U.S.-based institution OR be seeking admission in an IT-related master’s degree program at a U.S.-based institution
    • Obtaining a security clearance is required.

Scholarships and Short-Term Exchange Programs:

• Rangel Summer Fellowships (careers.state.gov)
  • Provides funding to go abroad for the summer and do an immersion program in languages that are critical to national security
  • State Department pays for your tuition and your travel abroad
• Summer Critical Language Scholarship Program https://clscholarship.org
• Youth Ambassador Program for students age 18-29  https://www.globaltiesus.org/our-programs/youth-ambassador-program/