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2017-2021 ARCHIVED CONTENT

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Career Paths

Foreign Service Officers
Worldwide

Foreign service officers deal with a variety of ever-changing challenges, which may include consular services such as screening visa applicants and issuing visas; political initiatives such as observing elections in host countries; or analyzing and reporting on issues such as HIV/AIDS, human rights, fair trade, and technology.

Foreign Service Specialists
Worldwide

Foreign service specialists are instrumental in the daily operations of U.S. embassies and consulates, as they are responsible for security, safety, and protection of people, technology, and structures. We require specific skills in the financial, technical, and support services areas. Opportunities exist in eight different categories with 19 different specialist jobs.

Civil Service
Domestic

Civil Service employees support U.S. foreign policy right here in the United States. Civil Service professionals work on everything from improving trade opportunities for U.S. businesses, to helping American couples adopt children from overseas, to monitoring human rights issues.

Consular Fellows
Worldwide

The Consular Fellows Program offers non-career appointments of up to five years and requires language proficiency in Spanish, Chinese Mandarin, Portuguese, or Arabic. Fellows work abroad with foreign citizens who want to come to the United States and U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad.

Pathways Programs
Domestic

We offer three types of developmental opportunities, collectively known as “Pathways Programs:” internships for current students, the Recent Graduates Program, and the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program.

Professional Fellowships
Domestic

Fellowships are unique and innovative executive development opportunities for graduate, post-graduate and experienced professionals across disciplines. As a fellow, you will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain insight into U.S. foreign policy and diplomacy, while exploring new career avenues.

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future