Asylum Officer
Benjamin Kelley
Asylum Officer, United States Federal Government
About the Position
There are people who come to the United States from foreign countries seeking protection. These people are attempting to gain asylum. It is the job of an asylum officer to determine whether they are eligible for being granted asylum. The asylum officer reviews applications. They also conduct interviews and examine evidence to help decide. They also use the laws and regulations of the U.S. in making their decision. They finally make a written recommendation based on their findings.
Question & Answer
How did you find this position?
I found this position on the job website for the federal government.
Summarize the Minimum Qualifications and emphasize the skills relevant to language majors.
For this position it is necessary to be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. national. Specialized training for the job is provided by the employer.
Summarize the Preferred Qualifications and emphasize the skills relevant to language majors.
In order to conduct an interview, an asylum officer needs to have a general professional proficiency in a language. If they don’t meet this standard an interpreter is required.
What are some other skills that are important for success in this field?
Important skills are problem solving, ability to analyze and interpret data, ability to interact with people of different cultural backgrounds, and the ability to communicate effectively in speaking and writing.
What might be helpful to prepare for a language major to prepare for this field or position?
The employer does provide specialized training for the position; however, a knowledge of government policies and foreign cultures would be beneficial. A degree in political science would be beneficial.
How is proficiency in another language useful or important in this position?
Proficiency in another language allows the asylum officer to interact directly with people when conducting interviews, which can provide an advantage in the application process.
How is the ability to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds useful or important in this position?
An asylum officer makes determinations regarding people from other countries. Someone skilled in interacting with people from different backgrounds will be more proficient in analyzing the situation.
Anything else interesting to share about the position?
An asylum officer gets to use law enforcement databases to run background checks.
