Ambassador Arnold A. Chacon, Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources at the Department of State, came to San Antonio on a recruitment mission. He is searching for candidates interested in working and learning about foreign services.
While in San Antonio, Ambassador Chacon spoke at the World Affairs Council (WAC) Oct. 6. and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Conference on Oct. 8. where he talked about his recruitment for foreign services.
“We hire people to help us do Foreign Affairs for the government and those opportunities range from being a typical diplomat essentially and working in the Foreign Service overseas and in Washington promoting the president’s foreign policy agenda,” Chacon said. “It also includes Civil Service opportunities at the Department of State and various passport offices.”
With more than 270 diplomatic locations overseas, participants will represent the United States and learn about different cultures and customs. Interested candidates are encouraged to check out their career website, which contains information about student internships and the testing procedures for the various career opportunities. For more information visit the site here.
The website connects candidates to a diplomat of residents in their area. Floyd S. Cable is the diplomat-in-residence for Texas that provides advice and guidance to candidates about fellowships and internships within the foreign services. Interested candidates, or anyone with questions about the foreign affairs can go through Cable for resources and answers. Email DIRCentralTexas@state.gov or call 512-471-3070.
Ambassador Chacon particularly lauded the Consular Fellows Program. This program places candidates in appropriate locations based upon their foreign language skill. Some of the responsibilities of the candidates are to adjudicate visa for foreign nationals and interacting with government officials.
Chacon said it was a ‘great way for candidates to get immediately involved.’
“With such a high demand of visas being requested there needs to be an equal number of people to process them. We have such a demand for Visa adjudicator these are the people that work alongside diplomats.” Ambassador Chacon continued.
Chacon described the program, saying candidates participating in the consular fellow’s program will receive benefits. “You get paid just like a diplomat, even though it’s a temporary assignment for 3 to 5 years. You may be eligible for student loan repayment programming may be eligible for a recruitment bonus.”
Foreign Services provides many fellowships and internships and opportunities for college students to build their networking skills, things valuable to life experience to help make a difference.
Interviewing student Krystal Garza contributed to this report.
