By Myranda Campanella
The Department of State’s internship program has a long history of educating young professionals in the art of diplomacy. Students have the opportunity to work on substantive issues and interact with partners, foreign and domestic, to gain insight into the Department’s mission. Networking is a key component of that experience, giving young professionals the chance to interact with individuals who have devoted their careers to public service.
The Bureaus of Administration and Global Talent Management co-hosted the first annual speed-networking event in the Delegate’s Lounge at the Harry S Truman Building, Nov. 7, 2022. Fifty interns from across the Department’s Washington-area offices had the opportunity to participate and learn from more than 20 mentors. The mentors, a mix of Civil and Foreign Service officers from ten different bureaus, volunteered their time to engage with the young professionals.
Interns were split into small groups and rotated every seven minutes across stations where a pair of mentors were ready to answer questions about their career paths. Mentors shared advice for working toward a career in the Department or elsewhere in the U.S. government. Interns were also able to connect with each other, fostering new relationships.
The fall 2022 season also saw the successful launch of the Department’s first paid internship program, which aimed to achieve the secretary of state’s goals in diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruiting practices. Speed-networking was a new idea to bring interns and career professionals from across the Department together in a casual, inclusive environment. The event successfully provided an open space for communication and curiosity, and it established a new tradition for the Department’s Student Internship Program.
Myranda Campanella is an intern in the Bureau of Administration’s Executive Office.
