Anyone who lives or has lived in DC will tell you that there are constant events happening. These events range from special events, networking parties, meet and greets, or simple informational sessions. There is always something going on in this city and interning with the State Department helps in getting access to these events.
One of the most beneficial events I've attended thus far was the Swiss Embassy tour. I heard from four Swiss interns who told me about their process for getting hired and what they have to do as foreign service interns with the State Department. They gave me great advice if I ever wanted to be an intern overseas. Unsurprisingly, a second language is almost a must have if you want to do any kind of foreign service. Other bits of information included resume' building advice, grad school recommendations, and tools for success. Oh, and I also got Swiss scones and coffee.
Another great career event I attended involved the State Department Pathways program. The Pathways program is an advanced internship of sorts, where you work for a much lengthier amount of time, often full-time, while you're seeking a degree. Most pathways interns come here when they are in graduate school pursuing a professional degree. The Pathways Program is also seen as a way to potentially lead an intern into a career with the State Department. Unsurprisingly, these are highly sought out internships. This info session was extremely helpful because it provided valuable information that I will need if I wish to come back and intern here again (which I would love to do!). I got a look at their hiring process, what qualities they are looking for, and what kind of professional/academic experience is ideal. Luckily I will have already interned here once, so that will help!
If I had to choose one more event I've attended in DC thus far, it would be an informational briefing from the Historian's office. Similar to the Pathways event, this involved an official from the Historian's Office talking with students about how to be successful if looking into State Department careers, mostly with the Historian's Office. He listed qualities that his office is looking for and emphasized research and analytic skills. I never saw myself working in a field that was so specialized, but the talks peaked my interest none-the-less.
Of course the events I listed weren't the only ones I've attended, they were just the stand out "career" type of events. I've also attended ones involving Young Democrats, a meet and greet with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and a Washington Post sponsored live talk with the hosts of Morning Joe, Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. This kind of first-hand exposure has been extremely helpful and the insight I've obtained thus far has been invaluable, especially if I wish to return to DC in the future.
11/22/2013
11/19/2013
Organization Strengths
After carefully evaluating all of the things that my department does within the State Department, I would say our largest and most apparent strengths comes in the forms of communication and teamwork. Everything my office deals with involves engaging with the public on various levels, some of which includes press events, university outreach, visitor tours, and informal briefings. In order to coordinate these kinds of events it requires that everyone be on the same page and communicate effectively. Our job is to make things as easy as possible to engage and coordinate with others, inside and outside the organization.
It's great to work for the State Department because it's awesome, for one, but also because my department makes things interesting and approachable. We act as a team to accomplish small and large goals, like setting up a Skype event or assisting the Press Relations office with anything they need. I couldn't imagine working somewhere that didn't embrace the idea of communication to achieve success. If I were a manager or supervisor at a similar organization, I would live by the ideals of strong communication, teamwork, and consistency, which are things my office fully embraces.
Honestly, I couldn't imagine working in an office that didn't promote this mentality, which is one that I take with me wherever I'm working. In my opinion these strengths, though not our only points of pride, are the most prominent and important aspects of my department.
It's great to work for the State Department because it's awesome, for one, but also because my department makes things interesting and approachable. We act as a team to accomplish small and large goals, like setting up a Skype event or assisting the Press Relations office with anything they need. I couldn't imagine working somewhere that didn't embrace the idea of communication to achieve success. If I were a manager or supervisor at a similar organization, I would live by the ideals of strong communication, teamwork, and consistency, which are things my office fully embraces.
Honestly, I couldn't imagine working in an office that didn't promote this mentality, which is one that I take with me wherever I'm working. In my opinion these strengths, though not our only points of pride, are the most prominent and important aspects of my department.
11/12/2013
Free Write 11 - Veteran's Day Weekend
This past Veteran's Day weekend was awesome. On Friday night I was able to walk down H Street after work and get some awesome happy hour food! If you're in DC, it's definitely important that you take full advantage of happy hour deals because everything is so expensive!
Friday was fairly laid back, but on Saturday me and a couple of my roommates took a lengthy trip to Alexandria, VA. For those who don't know, Alexandria is an old and historic city not far from George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. It's a quaint little city that attracts a lot of tourists but also houses plenty of DC employees who make the 25ish minute commute.
The city itself was a ton of fun and offered a great view of the Potomic River and some beautiful historic town homes. If money wasn't an object (which of course, it is) I would certainly consider living in Alexandria. The food was great and the people were very friendly, which made the city very inviting. After exploring for most of the day, the sun went down and King St. (the most popular street) began to bustle with activity.The nightlife ended up being the real highlight of our trip to Alexandria and I definitely plan on going back soon.
On Veteran's Day my roommates and I took a trip to the Arlington Cemetery, which was every bit as beautiful as you've heard and just as large. The endless rows of memorial headstones were truly something to behold and showcased one of our nation's finest points of pride. I couldn't think of a better way to spend Veteran's Day.
Friday was fairly laid back, but on Saturday me and a couple of my roommates took a lengthy trip to Alexandria, VA. For those who don't know, Alexandria is an old and historic city not far from George Washington's home, Mount Vernon. It's a quaint little city that attracts a lot of tourists but also houses plenty of DC employees who make the 25ish minute commute.
The city itself was a ton of fun and offered a great view of the Potomic River and some beautiful historic town homes. If money wasn't an object (which of course, it is) I would certainly consider living in Alexandria. The food was great and the people were very friendly, which made the city very inviting. After exploring for most of the day, the sun went down and King St. (the most popular street) began to bustle with activity.The nightlife ended up being the real highlight of our trip to Alexandria and I definitely plan on going back soon.
On Veteran's Day my roommates and I took a trip to the Arlington Cemetery, which was every bit as beautiful as you've heard and just as large. The endless rows of memorial headstones were truly something to behold and showcased one of our nation's finest points of pride. I couldn't think of a better way to spend Veteran's Day.
11/01/2013
Free Write 10 - Makin' Moves!
Yesterday I had my most busy day yet. For weeks now I've been setting up a briefing with the Illinois Farm Bureau, who was interested in visiting the State Department and learning about climate change and food security. I spent my preparation time creating speaker memos, doing background research, and searching for speakers. After all of my work it was nice to finally host a briefing, which marks the first "official" large project that I completed.
Shortly after my briefing (which lasted over two hours) I attended a foreign policy classroom that was extremely informative. My department sets up events designed to educate students about various State Department functions, so it was really cool to see that in action. In the coming weeks I hope to help set up a foreign policy classroom of my own.
The last thing I did this week was coordinate a Skype session with the University of Iowa, which was great. I enlisted a speaker to talk about U.S. efforts to promote democracy for a class of six U of I students who each had great questions, questions I definitely wouldn't have been able to think of.
Overall it has been a busy week in my office, but as I'm going along I'm getting even more satisfaction out of my work. Getting to work in an environment that's mission is to help others is very rewarding work. Next week I will be hosting another Skype session, and I will definitely discuss that in one of my posts.
Shortly after my briefing (which lasted over two hours) I attended a foreign policy classroom that was extremely informative. My department sets up events designed to educate students about various State Department functions, so it was really cool to see that in action. In the coming weeks I hope to help set up a foreign policy classroom of my own.
The last thing I did this week was coordinate a Skype session with the University of Iowa, which was great. I enlisted a speaker to talk about U.S. efforts to promote democracy for a class of six U of I students who each had great questions, questions I definitely wouldn't have been able to think of.
Overall it has been a busy week in my office, but as I'm going along I'm getting even more satisfaction out of my work. Getting to work in an environment that's mission is to help others is very rewarding work. Next week I will be hosting another Skype session, and I will definitely discuss that in one of my posts.
Demonstrating Public Service
The State Department is a perfect example of a federal agency devoted to public service. Although serving the interest of Americans is the entire department's objective, my office within the Bureau of Public Affairs engages with the public more than anywhere else in the State Department. Our mission is to engage audiences domestically and abroad, keeping everyone informed and up-to-date with what's happening in U.S. Foreign Policy as well as educating them. We do this in various ways that range from responding to letters, sending emails, general public outreach, social media, and setting up informational sessions.
This is an extremely important branch of the State Department because engaging and educating others helps the entire organization accomplish goals more efficiently, communicating with those from outside the State Department is a major public service that's vital. Besides the typical means of public outreach, my office likes to do something called "Foreign Policy Classroom" which essentially welcomes students into the State Department and an State Department official discusses a topic of interest. Just the other day I attended a classroom session discussing counter terrorism that students really enjoyed.
Similarly, my department will set up briefings for those who wish to come in and discuss current issues and how it may pertain to their organization. These simple, yet effective services are prime examples of how the State Department demonstrates public service on a regular basis. This kind of work is what I had in mind when I started my degree in 2011, it's engaging, rewarding, and above all, meaningful work.
This is an extremely important branch of the State Department because engaging and educating others helps the entire organization accomplish goals more efficiently, communicating with those from outside the State Department is a major public service that's vital. Besides the typical means of public outreach, my office likes to do something called "Foreign Policy Classroom" which essentially welcomes students into the State Department and an State Department official discusses a topic of interest. Just the other day I attended a classroom session discussing counter terrorism that students really enjoyed.
Similarly, my department will set up briefings for those who wish to come in and discuss current issues and how it may pertain to their organization. These simple, yet effective services are prime examples of how the State Department demonstrates public service on a regular basis. This kind of work is what I had in mind when I started my degree in 2011, it's engaging, rewarding, and above all, meaningful work.
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