The U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka is offering several unpaid internship opportunities to university students in Sri Lanka. The following offices in the Embassy are seeking interns: Public Diplomacy, Consular, Community Liaison Office and Human Resources Office.
Internship Dates: The 2024 student internship program will run from January through April 2024. The dates and duration of each internship are flexible and may range from eight hours to forty hours a week depending on the intern’s university schedule, student’s availability, and the needs of the Embassy. The intern’s work schedule may vary and can be full-time or part-time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Eligibility:
To be eligible to participate in the Foreign National Student Intern Program (FNSIP), applicants must meet all the following requirements:
- Minimum age: Students must be at least 18 years old at the time of participation in the Program
- Citizenship/legal residence: The FNSIP is only open to students who are citizens of Sri Lanka.
- Minimum age: Applicants must have graduated from secondary school and be enrolled in a government/private university or other accredited educational institution.
- Transcript and permission: Applicants must be in good academic standing at their current educational institution and must provide a certified transcript verifying this. Applicants must also provide written permission from the educational institution at which they are currently enrolled to participate in the FNSIP.
- Security certification: Selected applicants must be able to receive a successful security certification from the Embassy prior to beginning the program.
Compensation:
Internships under FNSIP are not compensated. Any student participating in the program is not an employee of the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Department of State, or the United States Government.
How to apply:
Interested applicants must submit the below listed documents to the Embassy’s Human Resources Office at ColomboFNSIP@state.gov. Please indicate “FNSIP” and the position title to which you are applying in the subject line. The following documents are required:
- Statement of interest;
- Sample of declaration form;
- Official transcripts illustrating good academic standing; and
- Written permission from their educational institution.
Next Steps: Shortlisted applicants will be contacted via email or phone and will be invited for an interview.
Contact Information: For questions or additional information please contact the U.S Embassy’s Human Resources Office at ColomboFNSIP@state.gov.
Deadline for Applications: October 27, 2023, by 11.59 p.m.
List of Available Internship Positions:
The following internship positions are available. FNSIP student applicants must state the specific position of interest in their application.
Internship at the Press/Media & Strategic Content Unit:
Major duties and projects: As a Public Diplomacy Intern, incumbent will play a role in supporting our press and communications team by monitoring media coverage, analyzing media trends, and assisting in the creation of engaging and informative content. The selected candidate will report to the Public Diplomacy officer and will assist in the day-to-day activities of the Press and Media team.The intern will have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that have a real impact and the inner workings of our dynamic Public Diplomacy team.
Qualification requirements: High School Diploma with 2 years of university in field related to journalism, mass communications, new media. Currently enrolled as a university student pursuing a degree in mass Communication, journalism, or a related field.
Level of English required: Level 3 Good working knowledge (conversations about familiar topics, complex documents).
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Internship at the Consular Office:
Major duties and projects: Assist Consular Chief with social media campaign and strategy; review and edit Consular website as necessary; assist team with interview translation/Interpretation; assist with in-person or social media visa outreach events; assist consular chief with creating and producing outreach videos for social media and consular waiting room.
Qualification requirements: Currently enrolled as a university student pursuing a degree in arts, liberal arts, or a related field.
Level of English required: Level 3 Good working knowledge (conversations about familiar topics, complex documents).
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Internship at the Community Liaison Office (CLO):
Major duties and projects: Assist to design and develop content on a website builder site/ Atlas. Assist to design a customized CLO app to reserve embassy’s facility outside the mission premises. Collaborate with website builder site /atlas site to design the CLO topics. Design and execute technical, analytical, and tactical dimensions for website.
Qualification requirements: Currently enrolled as a university student pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Graphic, Software Design or Information Technology.
Level of English required: Level 4 Fluent (conversations about familiar topics, complex documents).
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Internship at the Human Resources Office:
Major duties and projects: Local Student Intern will assist the HR office in several key HR programs. Depending upon the needs of the section, tasks may include screening applications; scheduling and participating in applicant testing, interviews, and orientations; maintaining personnel folders; data collection and analysis; responding to routine requests, and other personnel-related tasks.
Language Proficiency: Level 3-Good Working Knowledge in Reading/Writing/Speaking English
Qualification requirements: Currently enrolled as a university student pursuing a degree in HRM, Management or any other related field.
