The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) is a nine-month, unpaid eInternship. VSFS virtually connects U.S. citizen college students with agencies across the federal government and U.S. diplomatic posts overseas to engage in digital diplomacy. This year’s projects can be found at: http://vsfs.state.gov/projects. Because these eInternships are virtual, students can have a flexible virtual work schedule during the academic year, allowing both academic and eInternship goals to be met.
The State Department is looking to American college students to help the U.S. Government across every aspect of its unclassified efforts. VSFS eInterns will increase the digital capacity of those federal agencies participating, whether technically, artistically or via increased communication. eInterns will have the opportunity to connect with each other and work collaboratively with eInterns across the country.
The Department of State and the Bureau of Information Resource Management's Office of eDiplomacy encourage college and graduate students from all majors and backgrounds to apply to the VSFS eInternship program.
Summary
The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) is a nine-month, unpaid eInternship. VSFS virtually connects U.S. citizen college students with agencies across the federal government and U.S. diplomatic posts overseas to engage in digital diplomacy. This year’s projects can be found at: http://vsfs.state.gov/projects. Because these eInternships are virtual, students can have a flexible virtual work schedule during the academic year, allowing both academic and eInternship goals to be met.
The State Department is looking to American college students to help the U.S. Government across every aspect of its unclassified efforts. VSFS eInterns will increase the digital capacity of those federal agencies participating, whether technically, artistically or via increased communication. eInterns will have the opportunity to connect with each other and work collaboratively with eInterns across the country.
The Department of State and the Bureau of Information Resource Management's Office of eDiplomacy encourage college and graduate students from all majors and backgrounds to apply to the VSFS eInternship program.
VSFS eIntern duties and responsibilities will vary according to the location and needs of each office and VSFS project. VSFS projects may be research based, contributing to reports on issues such as human rights, economics or the environment. They may also be more technology oriented, such as working on web pages, or helping produce electronic journals. Students are expected work virtually on an average of 10 hours per week on VSFS eInternship projects. Most work and projects are internet-based.
Past VSFS projects included:
Building a platform for host country and American students to exchange their ideas, experience, and knowledge about environmental advocacy
Identifying and using journalism trends to reach out to students and young journalists
Expanding a post's English learning and educational advising
Creating lesson plans on environmental conservation and for schools in remote areas of the country
Researching, interviewing, and producing a video on visa lottery winners' stories and experiences in the US for Consular outreach
Data analysis and visualization to argue the benefits of a policy change
All work recognizes that VSFS eInterns do not have U.S. Government security clearances.
In student status at an institute of higher education
VSFS eInterns will not need to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance
IMPORTANT: You are eligible to apply for the Department's Virtual Student Foreign Service eInternship program if you will be enrolled as a half or full-time student (as defined in the Education Qualifications section above.) If selected for a VSFS eInternship, you must provide proof that you have registered, or have been accepted for enrollment.
Qualifications
You must meet the requirements and submit the application on time. You should write a dynamite statement of interest which will be seen by all three project supervisors. Make sure to confirm through this site that you have successfully submitted your application through USAJobs.gov. You should receive a confirmation email. The project supervisors will evaluate your application further based on their needs and your skills to make the final decision.
Education
An applicant must be:
A U.S. citizen
In student status at an institute of higher education
A part or full-time student pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree
Additional information
VSFS eInternships are done virtually. Students must have access to the internet.
Virtual Student Foreign Service eInterns are unpaid and not Federal government employees. They are not entitled to any employee benefits. To repeat, there are no employee benefits associated with the VSFS eInternship position. Applying course credit for participating in a VSFS eInternship must be determined by the student and the academic institution.
NOTE: There is NO travel associated with, nor required for, this position. Work will be completed by VSFS eInterns from the location of their choice and in the outfit of their choice.
It is the policy of the Federal Government to treat all of its employees and volunteers with dignity and respect and to provide a workplace that is free from discrimination whether that discrimination is based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity or pregnancy), national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, age, sexual orientation, or other non-merit factors.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
The Interview Process
If a supervisor is considering you as a candidate, you might be interviewed. Project supervisors will determine the extent to which an applicant's education, experience, and background indicates that he/she possesses the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the specific VSFS eInternship. To preview questions please click here.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
In addition to using the USAJobs resume builder and completing the online application, which includes a Statement of Interest, all applicants must also provide their transcript. Both official and unofficial transcripts are acceptable as part of the application process. You must electronically submit your transcript by uploading it through USAJobs. You will be prompted to do so. If your transcript does not yet reflect your grades from either the current or most recent semester, you may still submit that transcript. If you are a first-year student and do not have a transcript, please submit a copy of your most recent course schedule to verify enrollment. If you are a first year graduate student, you must submit a copy of your most recent undergraduate transcript. Your application will not be considered if you fail to include your transcript in your application. Don’t fret about your grades; the most important part of your application is the Statement of Interest.
Recommendation letters should not be attached.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Applications must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Online" button to the right. As part of the application process, you will need to pick your top three projects from the list of offerings: http://vsfs.state.gov/projects
You have until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting your online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section.
IMPORTANT : Applicants must upload their required documents through USAJobs.
U.S. Department of State
2025 E Street, N.W.
Rm. NE6148A
Washington, District of Columbia 20520
United States
Next steps
The VSFS team (vsfs@state.gov) will confirm that you have successfully submitted your application by early August. August is interview month so double check your contact info for that period. Also, make sure to periodically check your spam folder in case our email doesn’t make it to you. All offers will go out by mid-September.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
In addition to using the USAJobs resume builder and completing the online application, which includes a Statement of Interest, all applicants must also provide their transcript. Both official and unofficial transcripts are acceptable as part of the application process. You must electronically submit your transcript by uploading it through USAJobs. You will be prompted to do so. If your transcript does not yet reflect your grades from either the current or most recent semester, you may still submit that transcript. If you are a first-year student and do not have a transcript, please submit a copy of your most recent course schedule to verify enrollment. If you are a first year graduate student, you must submit a copy of your most recent undergraduate transcript. Your application will not be considered if you fail to include your transcript in your application. Don’t fret about your grades; the most important part of your application is the Statement of Interest.
Recommendation letters should not be attached.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Don’t wait until the last minute! Applications must be submitted electronically through the "Gateway to State" system. To begin the application process, please click on the "Apply Online" button to the right. As part of the application process, you will need to pick your top three projects from the list of offerings: http://vsfs.state.gov/projects
You have until 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of this announcement to complete the application process. This includes submitting your online application as well as any required documents as defined in the Required Documents section.
IMPORTANT : Applicants must upload their required documents through USAJobs.
U.S. Department of State
2025 E Street, N.W.
Rm. NE6148A
Washington, District of Columbia 20520
United States
Next steps
The VSFS team (vsfs@state.gov) will confirm that you have successfully submitted your application by early August. August is interview month so double check your contact info for that period. Also, make sure to periodically check your spam folder in case our email doesn’t make it to you. All offers will go out by mid-September.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
