Are you a student? Thinking about applying for a job at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office? Want to know what it's like to work for the Office? If so, you may be interested in the many annual work experience placements we offer each year.

There are four types of schemes which you can apply for, some lasting two weeks, with others up to a year.

Undergraduate Placement Programme – Day in the life…(Summer 2007)

Samantha Jones

I am just going into my fourth year as a linguist (Italian and Modern Greek) at Cambridge University, having recently returned from a year abroad, which I spent at the interpreting school in Trieste. I’m from Swansea, in South Wales, but was eager to spend the summer in London, partly because the majority of my friends have now graduated and are living here.

During my second year I noticed that the FCO ran an Undergraduate Placement Programme, but it was only open to ethnic minority and disabled applicants at that time. Having read through what the placement would involve I was quite disappointed that I wasn't eligible to apply, as it seemed a fantastic opportunity and far more interesting than most internships in the private sector.

Whilst on my year abroad I began applying for a variety of summer internships, and thought to check back on the FCO one that I had seen. I found that it was now running a programme open to all applicants, and so applied.

My principal academic interest is in linguistics, which places me in a very small minority at University besides a majority of language students who prefer to immerse themselves in 12th century poetry. Having toyed with the idea of a Masters and a career in academia, I was eventually deterred by the already shocking state of student debt I was in, which I didn’t fancy worsening. Having considered, and decided against, a career in interpreting, I was left completely unsure of what I wanted to do, with graduation not so far on the horizon. I therefore decided to apply to a variety of internships in legal, financial, and consulting sectors, to help me decide what I (and didn’t) want to do.

One thing which I have always been hugely interested in is politics and current affairs. I began reading the newspaper daily from a very young age (it probably helped that my parents will only buy tabloids) and even forced my friends to sit next to me, squirming, as I ranted on Question Time. I shadowed an EU interpreter for several weeks at the European Parliaments in Brussels and Strasbourg, where I sat in on plenaries and met a variety of colourful political figures from a range of parties. I had always felt, therefore, that a career in the Civil Service would interest me, and intended to apply through the FastStream, though the low acceptance rate meant that I felt it wise to consider other options.

I was delighted when I got the internship at the FCO, and it has been a worthwhile experience – for the first time I have found a workplace in which I feel comfortable, and where I wake up wanting to come in. What was refreshing was that everyone I spoke to in my time here has been so enthusiastic about their job, no matter how long they had been here, which cannot be said of a lot of other sectors. My time at the FCO has convinced me that this is what I want to do, and made me all the more determined to work towards it.

Economic Student Placement Scheme – Day in the life…(2007)

Thomas Strachan

I am a student at the University of Bath, studying Economics on a 4-year course that includes a 1-year placement in the 3rd year. The economic sandwich placement at the FCO appealed to me as it concentrated on international economics and the political economy, both areas in which I was really interested. I also have a keen interest in politics and foreign policy, and liked the idea of being able to work on high profile current issues, so was keen to apply.

I work within the Asia & Americas team, with a primary responsibility for the Caribbean and Pacific regions, as well as assisting other members of the team in their work covering other regions of the world.

The range of work I have done in the 7 months of my placement so far has been really varied. I have written papers on financial regulation in emerging markets and the impact of China's economic rise on South East Asia, and am currently working on a couple of pieces looking at regional disparities in South Asia and infant industry protection. I am a co-editor of a government international economics website, which I helped redesign in the early months of my placement and am the project manager for GEG's annual survey of economic customers in other government departments. Between now and the end of my placement, I plan to write some papers on debt in the Caribbean and the sustainable use of natural resources. I am also planning a visit to the Caribbean to learn more about the economic situation and challenges facing economies in the region.

The placement has given me an excellent opportunity to work in an area of economics in which I have a strong interest and has given me a great insight into life in the diplomatic service, and the civil service more generally. All my colleagues seem to enjoy their jobs, and the office environment is such that we can have a laugh, whilst still taking work seriously. I am really enjoying my placement and the experience has made me seriously consider applying to the FCO upon graduation.