Foreign National Student Internship Program

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Announcement Number: San Jose – September 2023

Position:  Winter 2023:  Foreign National Student Internship Program
Opening Period: September 2023 through January 2024
Who May Apply: Students who are citizens or permanent residents of Costa Rica
Work Hours:  Part-Time (20 hours per week)

The FNSIP is designed for students who are citizens or permanent legal residents of Costa Rica seeking internships with the U.S. Mission, in San Jose, Costa Rica. The program benefits both the Mission and students by providing participants with valuable, educational, and relevant work experience, and/or academic credits, and assists the Mission in meeting its goals, including strengthening and broadening ties between Costa Rica and the United States.

The program is open to all qualified students and provides the opportunity to work for a limited period to be determined by the Mission (no more than 4 months). Post’s FNSIP program is administered in compliance with both U.S. and Costa Rican law.

NOTE: No benefits (i.e. food or transportation) or compensation will accrue from an internship, nor any future employment rights.

Eligibility Requirements 

  • Age: Students must be at least 18 years oldat the time of participation in the program.
  • High School Degree: Students must have graduated from high school or equivalent secondary school prior to beginning the program.
  • Citizenship/Legal Residence: The FNSIP is only open to students who are either citizens or permanent legal residents of Costa Rica.
  • Meet Definition of Student: Applicants must meet the definition of student, as defined in 5 CFR § 308.101: “Student is an individual who is enrolled not less than half-time in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. An individual who is a student is deemed not to have ceased to be a student during an interim between school years if the interim is not more than 5 months and if such individual shows to the satisfaction of the agency that the individual has a bona fide intention of continuing to pursue a course of study or training in the same or different educational institution during the school semester (or other period into which the school year is divided) immediately after the interim.”
  • 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 and Medical Certifications: Applicants must receive a successful security certification and medical certification from the Embassy prior to beginning the program.
  • Medical Insurance:Applicants must have their own medical insurance, for the duration of the internship.

Available Positions

The following employment opportunity is available.

Human Resources section

Duties to be performed:

  • Recruitment duties: Filling, shredding, making copies, scanning documents, calling candidates to set up interviews, coordinating English tests.
  • Policy writing and presentations: Translate documents and update PowerPoint presentations with matters related with the Human Resources portfolio.
  • Recognition program: Ordering supplies, preparing reports, data entry on the Awards database, print certificates, make food arrangements for special events, etc. 

Consular Section

Duties to be performed:

  • Interns will work with the American Citizen Services or Visas.
  • Assist with projects related to Non-Immigrant Visas and Immigrant Visas, making copies, filing documents, correspondence, updating databases and operationally support the Unit’s processes.
  • Update database information and assist with contacting American Citizens who live in Costa Rica.
  • Participate in meetings with local government institutions such as: Red Cross, ONG organizations and other diplomatic missions.

Environmental Section

Duties to be performed: 

  • Monitoring credible ESTH news sources and trends in the region and providing brief summaries as appropriate.
  • Drafting social media posts, infographics, and documents to support Embassy’s participation in the Ecological Blue Flag Program and advance U.S. interests.
  • Carrying out journalistic and scientific research of environmental issues in Central America and the Caribbean, both primary and secondary research.
  • Supporting the Hub’s online presence by contributing to adjust and implement a brand kit for Hub’s Facebook and expand Hub’s social media outreach in Central America and the Caribbean.
  • Creating digital materials (videos, infographics, booklets, interactive maps, etc.) to show success stories from our work.

Information Management Assistant 

Duties to be performed:

  • Perform basic system administration tasks such as imaging and replacing computers.
  • Install software.
  • Provide customers operational guidance on computer application software such as the Microsoft Office suite and Internet Explorer.
  • Assist IRM staff with receiving, inventory, and dispose of IT equipment in accordance with property management guidelines.

Political Section

Duties to be performed:

  • Section needs help in management of office papers.
  • Prepare of documents for visitors, especially while the political assistant position is still vacant.

Financial Office

Duties to be performed:

  • The position serves as a Temporary Vouchering Clerk.
  • The position is responsible for preparing administrative documentation to help the Vouchering Team prepare vouchers for payment, scanning and attaching all required supporting documents, and obtaining all required electronic signatures and approval.
  • The incumbent maintains electronic vendor files and other payment records as specified.  The position also assists the Vouchering Team with records management, electronic and physical filing, resetting passwords for vendors to the payment portal, reviewing Pay Intake and other routine communication.
  • The incumbent will request services via myServices platform (including but not limited to visitor access requests, Motor Pool requests, Warehouse/Property requests, etc.) required for FMO.
  • The incumbent also provides support as escort for any maintenance service provided to the ATM at the Embassy main lobby.
  • The position reviews and updates the information, documents, forms in the Financial Management Office SharePoint site.
  • The incumbent must employ superior written and verbal communication skills to liaison with internal offices and external vendors to obtain information or provide status updates.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants must submit ALL the following information to SanJoseInterns@state.gov:

  1. Completed Internship Application Form (Pdf – 150Kb)
  2. The following documentation: Cédula, Medical Insurance and High School diploma.
  3. Letter from University specifying current enrollment on their institution.

Please note that incomplete packages will NOT be accepted after the Vacancy Announcement closing date of October 6, 2023.

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