Foreign Service Officers

As a member of a foreign language club at your school, you may have the opportunity to visit other countries. If such programs don't exist, check with your school counselor or librarian about discounted foreign travel packages available to student groups. Also, ask them about student exchange programs if you're interested in spending several weeks in another country.

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), a professional association serving Foreign Service officers, publishes the Foreign Service Journal (http://www.afsa.org/foreign-service-journal). The journal features articles by Foreign Service officers and academics that can give you insight into the Foreign Service. AFSA offers a discount on student subscriptions. Check out Inside a U.S. Embassy: Diplomacy at Work (https://afsa.org/inside-us-embassy), which features profiles of Foreign Service workers, career information, and other resources.

It may be difficult finding part-time or summer jobs that are directly related to foreign service, but check with federal, state, and local government agencies and a local university. Some schools use volunteers or part-time employees to lead tours for foreign exchange students.

Read foreign service blogs. A list of such blogs can be accessed athttp://www.afsa.org/foreign-service-blogs. One suggestion to check out: "DipNote" (http://blogs.state.gov), the official blog of the U.S. Department of State.

Visit the National Museum of American Diplomacy in Washington, D.C., to learn more about the field. If you can't make it to the museum, check out its Web site, https://diplomacy.state.gov, for useful resources.

Talk with a Foreign Service officer about his or her career. Ask your school counselor or government teacher to help arrange an interview. Suggested interview questions include: What made you want to become a Foreign Service officer? What do you like most and least about your job? How did you train for this field? What are some key skills for success? What advice would you give to young people about preparing for the field and being successful on the job?