Foreign Service Consular Fellow
Kristina Franzoia
Foreign Service Consular Fellow – Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese and/or Spanish Proficiency at the Department of State
About the Position
This Job is for the U.S. Citizens to work abroad under the Department of State. To serve as Consular Fellow in a foreign countries embassy or consulate, one must be above the age of 21 and not have nationality in the country where one would post. It will require general knowledge of U.S. society, history and the Constitution. It will require general office work skill in handling confidential information, utilizing computer programs, and having the ability to both effectively communicate written and verbal. Candidates will be evaluated with their background experience spanning from education up to self-development.
Question & Answer
How did you find this position?
I specifically went looking for governmental jobs on their own government site and came across this Consular Service Job post.
What are the Minimum Qualifications and emphasize the skills relevant to language majors?
- General knowledge about the history, customs, culture society, economy, government, political system and the Constitution of the united state
- substantive knowledge, intellectual skills, interpersonal skills, communication skills, managerial skills, leadership skills, and motivation for applying.
- Written and oral communication skills, proper grammar usage, interpersonal communication and public speaking.
- General subject matter, psychology and human behavior, stressful situation management.
- General computer skills, software programs(Google; Microsoft).
What are the Preferred Qualifications and emphasize the skills relevant to language majors?
- U.S. Citizen
- Obtain Top-Secret Security Clearance
- Obtain Medical clearance to serve abroad
- Obtain a favorable Suitability Review Panel determination
- Be over 21(may apply at 20 to turn 21 at appointment)
- Must speak and read at the required proficiency level in a foreign language.
What are some other skills that are important for success in this field?
- Cultural adaptability
- Critical Thinking
- Experience and Motivation
- Information Integration and Analysis
- Leadership
- Negotiation
- Objectivity/Integrity
- Planning and Organization
- Presentation Skills
- Teamwork
What might be helpful to prepare for a language major to prepare for this field or position?
- Take a certified Language test.
- Graduate school might be useful( doesn’t specify how high of an education to have)
- Declare all of your awards
How is proficiency in another language useful or important in this position?
To have proficiency in this position is key for working in a foreign consulate where the language is utilized.
How is the ability to communicate and work with people from different cultural backgrounds useful or important in this position?
Working overseas this position will be working with all types of diverse backgrounds, cultures and identities, ethnicities and religions.
Anything else interesting to share about the position?
A Consular Fellow must complete 24 months of service before applying to be a Foreign Service Specialist.
About the author
name: Kristina Franzoia
institution: Boise State University
I am a student at Boise State and I have always found languages and culture fascinating. I have traveled on my own and have been on a couple exchanges to broaden and expand my worldview. In my experiences I have learned Portuguese, Basque and a decent amount of Spanish. The love for travel, languages, the influence of my own heritage and to better my speaking, are what made me want to pursue a Spanish degree with a Basque minor.
