Semester of Service Volunteer - Congressional Research Volunteer Job in Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)

Vacancy No. M/HR-SVP-2026-0009 Department Department of State - Agency Wide
Salary $0.00 to $0.00 Grade NA to NA
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Part-time
Open Date 7/29/2026 Close Date 8/5/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Anywhere in the U.S. (remote job)


Semester of Service Volunteer - Congressional Research Volunteer

Department of State
Department of State - Agency Wide

Summary

Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience & valuable career-ready skills. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution & participation must be with the permission of the institution at which the student is enrolled. 

This job is open to

Students

Current students enrolled in an accredited high school, college or graduate institution.

Duties

This vacancy announcement will be open from 7/30/2026 to 8/5/2026 or when 50 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. 

Research on details of foreign policy positions and experience of the Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security and Related Programs, and the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. The student will use open-source materials and Bureau of Legislative Affairs data to develop individual biographies following a bureau-provided template for each member of each committee, as well as a Facebook using a Bureau supplied format for the committee as a whole. The student will also regularly review and update the biographies based on new statements by Members during the course of the internship. These biographies and Facebooks are included with preparation materials for Department principals, including the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, Under Secretaries, and Assistant Secretaries, in advance of calls, meetings, briefings, and hearings.
Each committee is a separate project. Time commitment will be most significant in the beginning, but less once the project moves into the updating phase. HFAC is the largest committee, and will require a larger time commitment.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

Conditions of employment 

To participate in this Program, you must: 

Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad. International students on valid visas may participate if they meet applicable immigration, visa, and agency authorities. 

Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution for the Spring 2027 semester. 

Be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. 

Commit to volunteering 8 – 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days. 

Complete all required onboarding documentation assigned by the Federal agency and your academic institution. 

Agree to volunteer. This position is unpaid. No compensation, stipends, or hiring preference will be granted from this work. You may use this volunteer experience to qualify for future jobs you choose to apply for. 

Agree to understanding volunteers are not Federal employees. 

Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale. 

Qualifications

Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. 

Specifically, applicants should: 

  • Proficiency in online research.
  • Proficiency in drafting concisely but clearly. While AI can assist, information must be verified, and some data sources limit AI access, requiring manual searching and judgement in evaluating results.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word. A basic understanding of the U.S. Congress and congressional committees.

Education

To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification. 

Students studying abroad are ineligible for application.  All remote work must be completed domestic within the United States.  
 
Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.  

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits. 

Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship. 

Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations. 

Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways. 

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.   

Your application will be evaluated by Department of State personnel to determine your eligiblity for the position and your application will be forwarded to the project manager for review.  


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

  • Include any supporting documents that don't fit within another category or are listed in the job announcement.
  • Proof of enrollment shows that you are enrolled in a school or training.
  • Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.
  • See the job announcement for what you should include in the supplemental application.
  • Transcripts may support your qualifications for a federal job and can include high school, college or other schools.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes: 
1. Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing: 
    • Your work experience to include start and end dates. 
    • Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance. 
    • Any knowledge, skills or abilities you’ve gained through education that relate to the project. 
2. Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution. 

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. 

• To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. 
• Follow the prompts to select your résumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. 
• After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process. 
• You will be taken to the online application which you must complete to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application. 

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://www.usajobs.gov/), all your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. 

For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to/application/status. 

Agency contact information

Semester of Service
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
SemesterofService@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
Not accepting applications by Mail
Washington, District of Columbia 20005
United States

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. 
 
After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application 

Department of State - Agency Wide

The U.S. Department of State, our country’s lead foreign policy agency, provides employees with a dynamic international career whether at home or abroad and unique professional development opportunities.  Each day, our employees make a difference as they advance the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity, through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance.  We embrace our talented workforce which reflects the personal, professional, and educational strengths of our country. 

Named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes, we offer a workplace that values and rewards leadership, collaboration, innovation, and personal and professional development. Visit careers.state.gov to learn more about what it's like to work at the U.S. Department of State, what the agency does, the wide range of careers this agency offers, and the benefits available to employees.

Agency contact information

Semester of Service
Phone
000-000-0000
Fax
000-000-0000
Email
SemesterofService@state.gov
Address
U.S. Department of State
Not accepting applications by Mail
Washington, District of Columbia 20005
United States