Carl Remmes | 01/18/2024 | 3-minute read
Students often meet me seeking pathways into government work. So many government branches and services exist, it can be overwhelming! Additionally, each program often has its own timeline for applications and materials to be provided. These timelines can change on a yearly basis, to complicate things.
The Department of State provides an excellent internship program that can translate to making solid connections in government and a more robust resume. If you haven’t heard of the Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS), it’s worth a look. If a candidate is selected for a position, a wide variety of placements can occur. Long-time participating agencies include the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and the Federal Executive Boards.
The timeline for the Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) is changing for the 2024-2025 academic year. VSFS allows students to participate in a part-time online internship with a federal agency for a full academic year. Students will apply to projects in February, with interviews and selection in March and April, and selection in May for a start date at the beginning of the fall semester. VSFS is unpaid, but some institutions allow students to receive course credit. Three percent of new Foreign Service hires previously participated in VSFS.
Check out the official VSFS site through the Department of State HERE.
For more blogs like this one sent right to your inbox, subscribe to the ⚖️ Government, Law, International Affairs + Policy community.
