Semester of Service Volunteer- Digital Communications and Multimedia Student Volunteer

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.

Duties

• This vacancy announcement will be open from 7/30/2026 to 8/5/2026 or when 25 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. The student will support the Office of Civil Service Talent Management by developing digital communications products that increase awareness of the Department's workforce mobility programs, including Civil Service Details, Agility@State, and the Professional Development Mobility Program (PDMP). The project combines research, communications, multimedia development, and visual storytelling to create engaging resources that educate Department employees about career development opportunities. The student will: • Research Civil Service talent development programs and collaborate with program managers to identify key messages and target audiences. • Develop concepts, storyboards, scripts, and other content for promotional and informational videos. • Create and edit short multimedia products and other digital communications materials using approved Department tools. • Design visual communications that support employee engagement and align with Department branding and accessibility requirements. • Recommend innovative approaches to communicate program information through digital media and visual storytelling. • Present completed multimedia products and project recommendations to office leadership and staff, along with a portfolio of final deliverables and supporting documentation.

Qualifications

Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should: • Interest in digital communications, marketing, multimedia production, graphic design, information technology, or a related field. • Familiarity with creating digital media or video content using commonly available editing tools. • Strong written and verbal communication skills. • Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple assignments.

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 for the Spring 2027 semester. 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.

Requirements

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.

Evaluations

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.

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.

What to expect next

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

Required documents

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.

Benefits

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.